So , I thought I might add some tips to help you amuse the Children as the School Holiday is about to look down upon Us!
To be honest , even the Grinchiest , Scroogebag of the Season will fondly say Christmas is for the Little Ones , but deep in their hearts they love to see the children and get to bask in their excitement , or play with their new toys! Yes , I mean you , all you naughty Lego Nabbing , Kite Stealing , Bike Rustling Folks in the Forum.
I have even seen evidence of Yellow Bluebell riding a Space Hopper , I know what you all get up to when Aunty Bee has her back turned. Just keep off the Pogo Sticks , I know from last year , not a good plan.
Yet , it's the days before Christmas and in-between that many of us worry or begin to feel guilty about when it comes to our little Treasures. Before Chronic Illness or Mobility issues , we could be physically hands on , taking the kids off their over stretched parents hands . We manned endless trips to Grottos , Skating Rinks , Shows and Fairs. Gave lifts , rushed about collecting and hiding presents then delivering them in the middle of the night . We could go on winter adventures and take icy walks , while carrying a packed lunch big enough to feed the whole of Santa's workshop and juggling with enough winter woollens that no child knew that December didn't feel like July.
But Chronic Fatigue or Pain , and various other symptoms, can make us feel that we just can't do what we need to help amuse our offspring . Sometimes , I will be honest, a little Healthy Human Envy comes in when I hear that , Blah! Blah! is taking them to see reindeer at the Zoo or sledging down Mount Everest . It's just stuff we may not be able to do , we may even feel we can't cope with babysitting at all , and most of us wonder how we can entertain them and still get a rest.
Well , Be Not Afraid , I bring Glad Tidings of Good Cheer , for here is my All Time , Top Ten List of Stuff to Do with Kids Big and Small that have always , not just got me through hard day's with my children and their chums , but actually are still enjoyed by them in their twenties !!!
So like a good old BBC DJ , here's Aunty Bees Countdown of Rest and Play .....
🎨🎨🎨10. COLOURING PAGES / DRAWING PADS/ DOT to DOTs🎨🎨🎨
Easy to sort out and keeps them amused while older ones watch a film or you need a quiet sit down with your feet up. Download and print festive free pages or pictures of the favourite characters to colour. Get them to draw their fantasy snowman or elf , make it a contest , kids are more competitive than our HU forum in a Christmas quiz but have a prize for All( sweet or a balloon) play Hangman , noughts and crosses etc. Or buy some card and get them making cards for their parents and relatives if you have them before Christmas , The pen can be mightier than the PlayStation.
🃏♣♣♣♣9. PLAY CARDS♣♣♣♣🃏
Try quieter games than Snap so you don't get hysterics and a headache. Find the Pairs , Rummy , Chase the Ace . Choose a game at a level that all ages can cope with , sit them around a table near your favourite chair and begin the Fun. Remember one of your favourite memories being taught card games by your Grandparents ? Believe it or not , that hasn't changed . Even try a new game like UNO or TOP TRUMPS.
🔳🔲🔳🔲🔳🔲8. The mighty Rubik's Cube . 🔲🔳🔲🔳🔲🔳
The bane of my weary existence , brilliant for the over 10's to 100's !
Don't trust me , well let me tell you Mr . Bee started taking his into his secondary school last year , it was the Schoolyard Craze for 2018. Our local shops could not get them in fast enough , Argos ran out as it spread. Annoys the hell out of Aunty Bee though , all that flipping clicking , and the fact that I still can't do it even with the cheat sheet. So , if noises give you a headache , get them trying to solve it when you are out of the room or having a nap. Do not be surprised if everybody is playing with them by Boxing Day .
🎍🎍🎍💟💟💟7. STRESS and GLUE FREE DECORATIONS💟💟💟🎍🎍🎍
Paper and popcorn chain making , easy in front of a film or with music playing in the background , you can buy cheap paper kits that have sticky ends for £1 .
Popcorn threads on a thread with a needle for the Over 7's , they will do this for hours and enjoy having you pretend to tell them off for stealing a few. Get plain Microwave or prepopped bags if you can't use a pan , make it before they arrive so there's no need for kitchen carnage . Put them on your tree or let them take them home. They will do this for hours!!!
There are loads of cheap Decoration making kits out there too. It's No Mess Art Therapy for All!
⛄⛄⛄❄❄❄🎂🎂🎂6. DECORATE YOUR CAKE / or Plasticine 🎂🎂🎂❄❄❄⛄⛄⛄
The photo above shows what can be done by kids and you as a Christmas Tradition each year. They love it , you can use a pre iced and shop bought cake , get premade coloured fondant icings , glitter sugar , icing pens , sprinkles . Show them how to do a design or print off pictures if you aren't crafty . Then photograph it and send around the Family. Believe it or not , being ALLOWED to decorate the centre piece of Christmas Tea is one of my children and their friends memories of feeling grown up. You can do mini scenes on cupcakes too. And it's all done sitting at the kitchen or dining room table.
😁😂😂😂😀😉😚😄😅5. ACTUALLY WATCHING!😁😁😁😂😂😋😄😄😄😅
This is something my children and friends always remember , that even when I can't take part , I enjoy the show. Sit and watch them play a game , ride the bike , fly a kite , put on a little imaginary show with their toys , spoon balancing , the lot. Kids love the people whom pay attention to their antics not just those that take part and get stuck in , but then wander off to make endless sandwiches , chat to adults or play on their phones.
🍪🍪🍪🍥🍥🍥🍥4. GINGERBREAD / COOKIE DECORATING.🍥🍥🍥🍥🍪🍪🍪
Again a no bake activity , just fun , and less mess . Those icing pens and sprinkles or little sweets come out again. You bake the biscuit of choice before they come ; or buy shop bought gingerbread or shortbread cookies. Every body gets a plate to work on and uses their imagination , you can do it at the table like the cake. Wet wipes for hands! My girls and their friends would sit at little tables and watch a film while they worked , I was known to drop off in the middle! They can even be hung on a tree .
💂💒💒👰🌉🇬🇧3. PROPER LEGO , not the showy stuff!!!🇬🇧🌉👰💒💒💂
If they have it at home get them to bring it with them , if not ask around to borrow some . It also pacifies adults when you pass it around and turn it into a competition to make something fun whilst you have a nap. Start a challenge . This is a love for all ages , to create a Tree , Snowman , Stocking , or go on the Lego Fanclub website and download and print off their simple plans on sheets for festive makes , they can do it as a table game too ! Photograph them for next year's Christmas cards.
🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲 2. Proper Board Games 🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲
All of my friends and their children loved the fact that we were computer free , board games rule in ' The Asylum' . Kids all loved to visit because I would sit and play a game. Mr. Bee runs an After school Games Club that has 67 members every week , including Cool , Blue Haired Six Formers. They amuse everyone as you nap with another adult in charge , or you play too. Choose games that aren't too long or loud and no running around ( avoid Cranium!) if you play . Our Family Favourites include , Snakes and Ladders , Pass the Bomb , Articulate , Exploding Kittens, Pictionary , Tipple Topple and Cluedo . Give them Risk or Monopoly if your are sleeping!!
And what is Number 1 ......... 🎬🎥🎥🎥 The Family Film. 🎥🎥🎥🎬
Yes , all children do far too much over Christmas , everybody demands their attention Relatives , School , Clubs , Santa ! Want to be their favourite person ? Get blankets , a big bowl of popcorn and a few sweets , cuddle on the sofa and watch a film . Make the same film or films a tradition for just you , if it involves singing all the better!!! Magic Moments can be Movement Free anytime of year !!!
So , now , hopefully you should be able to survive the Big Children and Little Ones without having to work to hard and still look like Super Mum or Dad , Gorgeous Granny or Grinch Free Grandad . And even get a bit of Stress Relief for yourself too.
Reclaim that childhood Forum Kids , Gold Stars all round , Aunty Bee xxx
The photo is of one of the efforts by my girls and their friends xxx
Anymore wonderful ideas , please add your suggestions in the replies , have fun!!
