What do you do with kids on Christmas day (if you don't travel or have a house full of people?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you all typically do for the past few years?

Have you NOT read the thread? There are four pages of ideas.

[Anonymous]

My kids always do better with some kind of exercise midday on Christmas. Exercise is very regulating to them.

It might be that they get a gift that encourages exercise -- remote control cars to chase, or new rollerblades, and some of the adults take them to the park.

It might be a family game of soccer or flag football or laser tag.

It might be the kind of games someone proposed with teams or some kind of handicapping (e.g. the winner is the person who scores the most points above their age, or different starting points)

Or it might just be something like a bike ride or a hike.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not OP but I'm really enjoying reading everyone's Christmas Day ideas and traditions. Here are some of ours:

- We do gifts in two parts so it takes longer. Stockings happen first thing and often include little items people will want to put on or play with -- new slippers, a wind up toy, a Rubik's cube.

- We make "first breakfast" after stockings, usually something like biscuits from a dough that we put together the previous night so it doesn't take long. We make tea, coffee, and hot cocoa so everyone gets a hot drink with breakfast.

- Then the rest of our gifts. We take turns with each person opening while others watch, so even though we don't do a million gifts, this takes a while. We also have this game we play with the cat where we give him empty boxes and torn wrapping paper as "gifts" and that extends this as well.

- People hang out on their own for a bit after this. We'll put on music and DH and I will do some prep for lunch/brunch. No screens during this time, by tradition. It's for reading, playing with gifts, trying on your new socks or sweater. Cozy time.

- Lunch/brunch. A sit down meal and our biggest meal of the day. Sometimes it's breakfast-y, but some years we do elaborate sandwiches or soup and fancy grilled cheese, whatever sounds good.

- After lunch we play the board game my mom always sends as a family gift.

- Family walk or hike, weather permitting. Even if it's snowing (especially if it's snowing?) or raining we'll generally go out and just walk the neighborhood. The only time we skip this is freezing rain, which sucks.

- Home, people get cleaned up with showers and changing clothes, more solo time putting gifts in rooms.

- Dinner is leftovers from previous night (that's our big Christmas dinner, there's always tons of food) or from lunch if they prefer. We don't all sit down together for dinner, it's chill and people can decide what and when they want to eat.

- Around 7 we put on a family movie (recent selections: Home Alone, Die Hard, Jurassic Park, Singin' in the Rain -- we figure out what we're going to watch in the days leading up to Christmas with suggestions and voting until we find something everyone is happy with). We all pile on the couch and snuggle in. Little kids go to bed right after the movie.

It's funny because when I spell it all out like this, it sounds kind of regimented, and I guess it is in the sense that we do plan the meals and the movie in advance and the schedule was developed over time. But it's really a very relaxed day. One of my favorite days!

OP here and I like this a lot. But the part that made me LOL was “try on your new cozy socks”. Perhaps you missed the part of my post where I said my kids have no chill. I have 3 boys under 10. If I told them to try on socks and a sweater, they would scream.

Otherwise, I like the general idea.

[Anonymous]

Christmas is always at home, and just our immediate family. We do presents then a big brunch before going outdoor ice skating. If there's a place to stop for hot chocolate afterwards, great. Then home to play with new christmas toys (usually legos) while we make christmas dinner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a family that does family Olympics. Lots of different games or challenges for points and they have a trophy they keep all year.

This sounds like fun! I saw a hallmark movie recently where they did something like this.

If I were forced in to doing this, I would rehome myself immediately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not OP but I'm really enjoying reading everyone's Christmas Day ideas and traditions. Here are some of ours:

- We do gifts in two parts so it takes longer. Stockings happen first thing and often include little items people will want to put on or play with -- new slippers, a wind up toy, a Rubik's cube.

- We make "first breakfast" after stockings, usually something like biscuits from a dough that we put together the previous night so it doesn't take long. We make tea, coffee, and hot cocoa so everyone gets a hot drink with breakfast.

- Then the rest of our gifts. We take turns with each person opening while others watch, so even though we don't do a million gifts, this takes a while. We also have this game we play with the cat where we give him empty boxes and torn wrapping paper as "gifts" and that extends this as well.

- People hang out on their own for a bit after this. We'll put on music and DH and I will do some prep for lunch/brunch. No screens during this time, by tradition. It's for reading, playing with gifts, trying on your new socks or sweater. Cozy time.

- Lunch/brunch. A sit down meal and our biggest meal of the day. Sometimes it's breakfast-y, but some years we do elaborate sandwiches or soup and fancy grilled cheese, whatever sounds good.

- After lunch we play the board game my mom always sends as a family gift.

- Family walk or hike, weather permitting. Even if it's snowing (especially if it's snowing?) or raining we'll generally go out and just walk the neighborhood. The only time we skip this is freezing rain, which sucks.

- Home, people get cleaned up with showers and changing clothes, more solo time putting gifts in rooms.

- Dinner is leftovers from previous night (that's our big Christmas dinner, there's always tons of food) or from lunch if they prefer. We don't all sit down together for dinner, it's chill and people can decide what and when they want to eat.

- Around 7 we put on a family movie (recent selections: Home Alone, Die Hard, Jurassic Park, Singin' in the Rain -- we figure out what we're going to watch in the days leading up to Christmas with suggestions and voting until we find something everyone is happy with). We all pile on the couch and snuggle in. Little kids go to bed right after the movie.

It's funny because when I spell it all out like this, it sounds kind of regimented, and I guess it is in the sense that we do plan the meals and the movie in advance and the schedule was developed over time. But it's really a very relaxed day. One of my favorite days!

OP here and I like this a lot. But the part that made me LOL was “try on your new cozy socks”. Perhaps you missed the part of my post where I said my kids have no chill. I have 3 boys under 10. If I told them to try on socks and a sweater, they would scream.

Otherwise, I like the general idea.

Well for them, maybe they try on their new inflatable dinosaur costume. You know them best. The point is that we give gifts with an eye towards them being something that will engage and distract kids during the break.

One thing we learned early on is that Christmas is not a good time to give kids a "stretch" gift that might require a lot of concentration they have not yet demonstrated the ability for, or like a crafting gift that is going to require tons of oversight. We give stuff like that sometimes, jus not at Christmas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a family that does family Olympics. Lots of different games or challenges for points and they have a trophy they keep all year.

Bad idea. The littlest kids are at a disadvantage and don't always lose gracefully. Seems like a recipe for crying, tears, and disappointment.

Or it's a great way to teach teamwork, not being a sore loser, being a graceful winner, etc.

Yes let’s make Christmas a frustrating learning experience. So fun.

Haven't you taught your kids any resilience? Or that a game is ... just a game?

DP. IME, Christmas is not a good time to test your kids' "resilience." Later in the break, sure. On a normal weekend, great. Christmas Day? Kids are generally both overstimulated and oddly bored. Do you not remember this feeling from being a kid? There is so much build up to Christmas even if your family does not make a big deal of it. You spend weeks rehearsing your Christmas concert at school. You see lights, trees, other decor go up. Talk of Santa. Other kids talking about their Christmas plans. Grandma calling to ask for your Christmas list. There's just a lot of build up and then it all culminates on Christmas morning and it's like "wheeeeeee!" and then there's a weird let down. Like you've been waiting and waiting for something to happen and now it has happened. You have also likely eaten more sugar in the last couple days than normal and may not have slept well.

It is not a good time to put your kids in competition with one another, especially not if some of the kids have an obvious advantage over others and there is one kid who is pretty much guaranteed to lose every competition unless you create one that pretty much guarantees a win, and doing that won't really teach resilience either, will it?

Christmas Day is for gentle, relaxing activities that will help kids handle the come down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a family that does family Olympics. Lots of different games or challenges for points and they have a trophy they keep all year.

This sounds like fun! I saw a hallmark movie recently where they did something like this.

If I were forced in to doing this, I would rehome myself immediately.

Feats of Strength. It's Festivus. It would be preceded by the Airing of Grievances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a family that does family Olympics. Lots of different games or challenges for points and they have a trophy they keep all year.

Bad idea. The littlest kids are at a disadvantage and don't always lose gracefully. Seems like a recipe for crying, tears, and disappointment.

Or it's a great way to teach teamwork, not being a sore loser, being a graceful winner, etc.

Yes let’s make Christmas a frustrating learning experience. So fun.

Haven't you taught your kids any resilience? Or that a game is ... just a game?

I hope you get your kids nothing for Christmas to stay true to yourself. What, aren't they resilient enough to handle it? Wimps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe go out to the movies. Weather permitting go for long walks / Play in the snow.

You could also ask around and see if any local soup kitchens have volunteer opportunities.

Np. I don't think soup kitchens need three high needs kids to 'help'.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a family that does family Olympics. Lots of different games or challenges for points and they have a trophy they keep all year.

Bad idea. The littlest kids are at a disadvantage and don't always lose gracefully. Seems like a recipe for crying, tears, and disappointment.

Why do assume everyone is cut throat killer? I remember going to one and the kids just did the activities with no award ceremonies

[Anonymous]

8yo and two elderly grandparents in town visiting.

We do coffee/cocoa and Santa presents and stockings first thing.

Pause and do breakfast and watch the Disney parade.

Then the main round of gifts (from and to one another) and lunch. Afternoon play and quiet time. If snow, kid plays in snow. If no snow but warm-ish, we do a walk or playground (whoever wants to go). If cold, we do games or a craft inside.

Late day we drive to see lights, then do a last round of gifts (from extended family), then dinner and dessert.

Other than parade, I try not to have the TV on that day.

I am a scrooge and begin packing away decor in the evening.

[Anonymous]

We don't celebrate Christmas but when kids were younger, we enjoyed the day by heading outdoors, local hiking destinations were always uncharacteristically empty, so the kids could run wild. And dinner at a Chinese restaurant (or get takeout if kids are still full of energy).

To make the hike feel more special, maybe wear Santa hats and pack hot chocolate in a thermos?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a family that does family Olympics. Lots of different games or challenges for points and they have a trophy they keep all year.

Bad idea. The littlest kids are at a disadvantage and don't always lose gracefully. Seems like a recipe for crying, tears, and disappointment.

Why do assume everyone is cut throat killer? I remember going to one and the kids just did the activities with no award ceremonies

Just let it go, this is a bad idea for 3 little boys on Christmas Day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the younger set, we send them to daycare. If they’re open and we’re paying, they go.

On Christmas?? BS.