Top 10 Family Activities To Do Whilst Decorating For Christmas!

It’s that time of year when we start to decorate our homes and garden for Christmas. Involve the whole family in preparing for the festive season with these great activities.

1. Wreath making

The whole family can get involved with making a special wreath for your front door, or to hang inside the house. For little ones, cut a hole in the middle of a paper plate and let them decorate their paper plate wreath with glitter, feathers, gems, buttons and ribbon.

These are great for inside the house, or for them to hang on their bedroom door. Need some inspiration? Take a look at our craft department in store, which has lots of materials you can use!

For a more traditional wreath, you can find everything from wreaths rings, to foliage, wire, dried fruits and more, In our floristry department. Not keen on making a wreath entirely form scratch?

You can also buy plain wreaths, which have either artificial or real foliage as a base. Then choose your decorations, ribbon and more to make it your own. Don’t forget, we also sell hot glue guns in our craft department, which can be helpful when attaching decorations (but must be used by an adult or with supervision).

2. Making decorations together

Younger children may bring some of their own creations home from school or nursery which are great keepsakes to hang on the tree, year after year. It can be great fun to make decorations from scratch as a family at home; whether it’s using the inside of an old loo roll and some cotton wool and other materials to make an angel tree topper, or using some craft kits to create something special.

We have some great kits in store, including needle felting kits to make felt gingerbread men, stockings and Santa figures. We also have some great wooden hanging decorations which are ready to be painted, as well as festive pom-pom kits, cross stitch and even a make your own felt nativity scene kits in store.

3. Sorting out existing decorations

This might seem like a boring task – getting the old decorations out of the loft and sorting through them before decorating the tree – but it can be a great way to reminisce as well as get the kids involved!

Make it into an activity by getting everyone to sort decorations into colours schemes or themes.

Once you have your decorations in order you can decide which ones will go where and also see where to plug any gaps you might need.

Looking to update or add to your collection? We have some fabulous sets and individual tree decorations to choose from in store and online. We also have some great storage solutions for when you come to pack your precious decorations away once the festive period is over.

4. Baking

Fill the house with the smell of Christmas this year. Baking is a great activity to do, especially with younger children as they love to get involved and see (or eat) the fruits of their labour!

There are plenty of recipes online for Christmas sweets, cakes and cookies, plus we have some fantastic kits for making your own gingerbread men and gingerbread houses in store.

5. Board games and puzzles

Need to keep them occupied whilst you decorate in peace? Get an old puzzle or board game out to keep them occupied!

This can be a great activity, accompanied by some festive music or your favourite Christmas film. Are your favourite games and puzzles looking a bit tired?

We have some great options in store, including festive puzzles for the whole family, which also make great gifts.

6. Homemade advent calendar

Make a homemade advent calendar or Christmas crackers for your dinner table.

A homemade advent calendar can be a great way to make something special for your children they can use again and again.

There are lots of ideas online – from gluing envelopes with special messages into a recycled piece of cardboard cut in the shape of a tree, through to wooden sets of 24 drawers which can be painted or decorated however you wish, you’re sure to find something to suit your family.

7. Letters to Santa

Little one’s love writing letters to Father Christmas, Saint Nick, Santa, or whichever name they call the man in red.

We have some lovely kits in store with letter templates and stickers included, or you can simply use the paper and envelopes you have at home.

Gather some fun stickers and pens to use to make it fun!

If your children want to post their letters, Royal Mail offer a service where they will make sure they get a reply, as long as letters are sent before Monday 9th December 2024.

Alternatively, there is a reply letter you can download on their website and print off.

8. Make Your Own Festive Pom-Pom Gonk

Choose your favourite colours and create your own customised pom-pom gonk!

You can even turn your pom-poms or gonks into hanging baubles, or connect your gonks with string to form a gonk garland.

This is a great craft activity for both children and adults, though we would recommend adult supervision at all times due to the use of scissors and hot glue. Check out our ‘how to’ guide online.

9. Elf on the Shelf

Get the kids to prepare for the Elf’s arrival!

They can use an old shoebox and material to make a bed; Use some old dolls clothes to leave them a new outfit; write jokes to leave out for the elf, or even write a story or draw a picture for them.

Need some inspiration? Check out our Elf on the Shelf range in store, which also includes craft activities and clothes to dress your elf in.

10. Homemade Crackers

These can be a fun addition to Christmas dinner – get the kids to make the Christmas crackers and write their own jokes to go inside!

All you need is a few empty toilet roll tubes, some wrapping paper and some string or ribbon to tie the ends with. Add whatever fillings you like, be it small gifts, sweets or something special to you as a family.

Not enough time to make your own? We have plenty of ready made ones in store and online.