Christmas is a time for joy, togetherness, and creativity, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by joining in the family Christmas activities. At Rowans Nursery, we understand how special the festive season can be for enjoying those magical moments.
That’s why we’ve crafted this guide full of fun, family-friendly ideas to inspire your holiday season. From creative crafts to local adventures, these activities are sure to bring plenty of Christmas cheer for you and your little ones.
Creative Crafts at Home
Decorating Pine Cones: A Glittering Tree Decoration
One of the easiest and most delightful Christmas crafts for children is decorating pine cones. This activity combines a fun outdoor adventure with creative time at home. Here’s how you can make the most of this charming holiday tradition:
- Go on a Pine Cone Hunt: Bundle up and head to your local park or wooded area for a family pine cone scavenger hunt. Make it a game by challenging your little ones to find the biggest or most uniquely shaped cones.
- Prepare the Pine Cones: After collecting, wash the pine cones thoroughly to remove dirt and insects. Dry them completely—placing them in a low oven for a short time can speed this up and make the cones open fully.
- Set Up a Craft Station: Cover a table with newspaper or a washable tablecloth to make cleanup easy. Arrange child-safe paints, brushes, glitter, and other fun decorative items within easy reach.
- Encourage Creativity: Let your children choose their favourite colours and decorations. Metallic paints like gold and silver can give a festive touch, while glitter adds sparkle that children love.
- Add a Ribbon for Hanging: Once the paint and glitter are dry, attach a loop of ribbon or twine to the top of each pine cone using hot glue (adults only). You can let your child pick the ribbon colour to match the decorations.
- Create a Pine Cone Garland: For an extra creative twist, string multiple decorated pine cones together to create a beautiful garland for your mantel or staircase.
- Display Their Work: Hang the decorated pine cones on your Christmas tree or use them as table centrepieces. Your child’s unique creations will add a personal and heartwarming touch to your holiday decor.
DIY Christmas Candles: A Festive Christmas Eve Tradition
Making candles can be a wonderfully relaxing and creative bonding activity for families, perfect for setting the mood on Christmas Eve. Here’s a detailed guide to making it a memorable experience:
- Gather Your Materials: Visit a craft store to pick up pre-made candle wax flakes, wicks, festive moulds, and any decorations you’d like to use, such as glitter or small dried flower petals.
- Custom Scents: Introduce your child to the concept of scents by letting them choose festive additions like dried orange peel, cinnamon sticks, or even a few drops of essential oils like peppermint or vanilla. These will give the candles a lovely holiday aroma.
- Set Up a Safe Workspace: Lay down newspaper or a heat-resistant mat on your table. Arrange all materials and tools, ensuring that younger children are supervised at all times, especially when handling hot wax.
- Melting the Wax: Gently melt the wax flakes. This step requires adult supervision, but children can watch the process and learn about how solid wax transforms into liquid.
- Preparing the Moulds: Let your child help secure the wick in the centre of the mould using a wick holder or chopstick. This step gives them a sense of ownership in the process.
- Pouring the Wax: Carefully pour the melted wax into the mould. Encourage your child to sprinkle their chosen festive additions, such as glitter or cinnamon, into the wax as it cools. They’ll love seeing how their decorations create unique patterns.
- Cooling and Setting: Allow the candles to cool and set completely. This might take a few hours, so use the time to read a Christmas story together or enjoy a hot chocolate break.
- Adding Finishing Touches: Once the candles are set, remove them from the moulds and decorate the outside with ribbons or small holiday-themed stickers. Your children will feel so proud to present these as gifts to grandparents or use them as part of your Christmas decor.
- Create a Candle-Lighting Tradition: Use the candles during Christmas Eve dinner or storytelling time, creating a warm and magical atmosphere that becomes a cherished family tradition.
Homemade Christmas Cards: Heartfelt Greetings
Crafting homemade Christmas cards is a perfect way to get children involved in spreading festive cheer. These cards can become treasured keepsakes for family and friends. Here are some ideas to make this activity even more enjoyable and creative:
- Set Up a Festive Crafting Station: Arrange all the materials, such as coloured card, glue, child-safe scissors, markers, and festive embellishments like glitter, stickers, and ribbons. Add some Christmas music to set the mood.
- Incorporate Unique Designs: Help children cut out festive shapes like stars, snowflakes, or reindeer using stencils or cookie cutters as templates. These can be glued onto the cards to add texture.
- Handprint and Footprint Cards: Use washable paint to create adorable designs. A green handprint can become a Christmas tree, and a footprint can be turned into a festive reindeer with the addition of antlers and a red nose.
- Personalised Messages: Encourage children to add their own special messages inside each card. Even simple phrases like “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” in their handwriting add a heartfelt touch.
- Add Sparkling Embellishments: Use glitter, sequins, or metallic markers to make the cards shine. Encourage children to use their imagination and experiment with different patterns.
- Interactive Elements: Attach small bells, bows, or even a fold-out paper snowman to make the cards extra special.
- Photo Cards: Include a small photo of your child or family to make the cards even more personal and memorable.
- Deliver with a Personal Touch: Let your children hand-deliver their creations to neighbors, grandparents, or friends. This adds a meaningful layer to the activity and spreads joy in your community.
By involving your child in every step of the process, they’ll feel a great sense of pride and accomplishment in creating something beautiful to share with loved ones.
Local Festive Activities in Sutton Coldfield
Children’s Entertainment: Sparkling Shows and Events Sutton Coldfield comes alive during the festive season with a range of child-friendly events guaranteed to bring a smile to little faces. Highlights include:
- Kids on Canvas: The Christmas One: Hosted on December 23rd at Quinto Lounge, this art workshop is designed for children aged 7-12. Participants will create festive-themed masterpieces while enjoying hot chocolate in a supportive and creative environment.
- Santa’s Grotto: Every weekend from November 30th to December 22nd, the Gracechurch Shopping Centre hosts a magical Santa’s Grotto. Children can meet Santa, share their Christmas wishes, and take home a special certificate to commemorate the experience.
Christmas Markets: A Winter Wonderland
Sutton Coldfield’s Christmas Market at The Parade runs from November 28th to December 22nd. This enchanting market features wooden chalets offering handmade gifts, festive treats, and warm drinks. Highlights include:
- Family Entertainment: Expect live music, festive games, and workshops perfect for kids.
- Festive Treats: Indulge in hot chocolate, gingerbread, and roasted chestnuts while you explore the stalls.
- Ice Skating Rink: Complementing the market, an ice-skating rink at Gracechurch Shopping Centre provides a fun activity for families. Open during market hours from November 28th to December 22nd, it’s a great way to introduce children to this classic winter sport in a festive atmosphere. Surrounded by twinkling lights and cheerful music, this rink is perfect for creating magical holiday memories.
Winter Walks: Enjoying the Outdoors Together
Make the most of crisp winter days by exploring Sutton Coldfield’s natural beauty. These activities not only bring your family closer to nature but also create lasting festive memories:
- Sutton Park: One of Europe’s largest urban parks, Sutton Park offers a stunning array of trails for families to explore. Take a stroll through frosty woodlands, watch the ducks on the frozen ponds, or let the children enjoy spotting local wildlife like squirrels and winter birds. Bring binoculars for a closer look and a thermos of hot chocolate to keep everyone warm. Plan your visit during the early morning or late afternoon to enjoy the magical golden light of winter sunsets.
- Festive Scavenger Hunt: Turn your family walk into an exciting adventure by creating a Christmas-themed scavenger hunt. Include seasonal items like holly, pine cones, and mistletoe, or challenge the kids to spot houses with twinkling Christmas lights. You can even print or draw a checklist for the little ones to tick off as they go along. Reward them with a small festive treat at the end for their efforts.
- Picnic in Nature: Wrap up in cozy layers and pack a festive picnic. Choose seasonal delights like mince pies, gingerbread biscuits, and mulled apple juice served in insulated mugs. Spread out a blanket in a sunny spot or under a cluster of evergreen trees for a truly magical setting. Add in a storybook or Christmas carol session to make the moment even more special.
These local activities make it easy to fill your Christmas season with fun and memorable experiences for the whole family. Keep an eye on updates for more festive recommendations tailored to Sutton Coldfield families.
Cherishing Family Time This Christmas
This holiday season, let’s embrace the magic of spending time together as a family. From crafting sparkling decorations to exploring the festive wonders of Sutton Coldfield, there are endless ways to make this Christmas truly special. At Rowans Nursery, we wish you a joyful and creative Christmas filled with love and laughter.
