Christmas Activity Lucky Dip

Given that December is such a busy month, you’d think the words “I’m bored” would never be uttered. And to be fair, they seldom are in our house. What is said, on repeat, is: “Can I…?” Can I eat some chocolate coins? Can I watch more telly? Can I open a present? Perhaps this Christmas Activity Lucky Dip should be called the “Can I” Lucky Dip – but either way, it helps!

Christmas is just so exciting, and overstimulating, that it’s understandable children (and adults!) can feel a bit overwhelmed. But a lot of the busyness is down to us grown-ups. We have lots of work to do, plenty of preparations to make, and so we need a way to keep the little ones entertained while we wrap presents or peel parsnips! Having a lucky dip to provide suggestions of Christmas stuff to do, is actually lovely, and it’s a great way to keep both boredom and badgering at bay! 😆

It’s simple. Find a nice Christmasy pot or tin and fill it with activities on little folded pieces of paper. I usually put together a little Christmas craft tray at the beginning of the season so that everything is at hand, and the fun can begin without me searching for glue sticks or sticky tape! But the dips don’t all have to be crafts. Choose activities that suit your family and your plans – and ideally, ones children can do independently if needed. If you don’t have time for baking mince pies, don’t include that option!

And, of course, this isn’t just for children. In fact, I think it would be lovely for couples who want a bit of a surprise at the weekend or need inspiration for something festive to do together.

Here are some suggestions:

Crafts and Creative Activities

Make paper chains
Make pomanders
Make infoor snowballs
Make a stained glass window decoration
Make posh Smartie favours
Make a giant gingerbread man
Make potato print Christmas cards
Make a stained glass window
Make a stained glass etea-light holder

Games, Music and Fun

Watch your favourite Christmas movie
Play a board game
Go carolling
Dance to Christmas music
Decorate your path with Christmas chalk drawings

Outdoors and Experiences

Visit Father Christmas
Collect greenery for a wreath
Visit houses with spectacular Christmas lights
Go on a nature walk
Visit a Christmas market

Food and Treats

Make some hot chocolate
Decorate a gingerbread house
Make elf donuts
Bake Mince Pies
Make peppermint creams

Writing and Reading

Write a Christmas poem
Read a Christmas story
Write some Christmas cards

Top Tips. I colour code the activities. For example pink activities will need grown up assistance, blue and mainly craft based, green are outside of the house and yellow are completely independent. Because some days, you really don’t want to be faced with a child who just drew ‘go and visit a Christmas market’ from their Lucky dip!

And if youre including crafts, why not gather the supplies together in a craft tray so that children can get started straight away.

Most of these ideas are fairly low tech, which will add to my plans for an old fashioned Christmas. You can offer the lucky dip when the children need a pick me up, a distraction or a reward, or just pick one each day like an Advent calendar. I hope they help make your Christmas especially magical.