5 Best Christmas Eve Ideas For Kids

We can all remember that excitement in the pit of our stomachs on Christmas Eve. Will Santa Visit? Have I Been Naughty or Nice? Christmas Eve is the most magical time of the year where children (young and old) are looking forward to the festivities of the following day. More and more families are choosing to throw Christmas Eve parties or create their own family traditions, such as Christmas movie nights, craft days and baking that will create fun for all the family. With this is mind I have selected 5 fabulous Christmas Eve ideas that will create fun and excitement for your children.

Christmas Eve Boxes

Christmas Eve boxes or ‘Christmas Eve Survival Kits’ have taken Pinterest by storm this year. This fun idea will supply your children with all that they need for a festive Christmas Eve and can be customised to suit each child’s personalities. Firstly take a large shoe box or any cardboard box with a lid and cover with some Christmas wrapping paper or simple brown parcel paper. On the lid of the box print of a personalised label such as ‘Jacob’s Christmas Eve Survival Kit’ or label the box like a parcel and include stamps and air mail labels to make it look like the package has come direct from the North Pole. Fill the box with Christmassy items such as a new pair of Pyjamas, a Christmas book, a Christmas DVD, hot chocolate and marshmallows, sweets and a Carrot and Mince Pie (to leave out for Santa). You can select any items that you think your child would like and make the contents as festive as possible.

Christmas Treats

Christmas is all about a little indulgence and is the perfect time to create Christmas themed treats for your children that are sure to put a smile on their face. Create little bags of sweets that can be shared out among all the younger members of your family such as ‘Reindeer Poop’ (Maltesers) ‘Snowman Poop’ (mini marshmallows) ‘Emergency Rudolph Noses’ (any circular red sweet) or get the children to make their own snowmen using giant white marshmallows, twiglets and chocolate chips. Don’t forget to make a treat for the reindeer to, with a bag of reindeer food made using rolled oats and glitter that can be sprinkled on the lawn for Rudolph and his friends.

Christmas Games

If you are throwing a Christmas Eve party for your friends and family you have the perfect opportunity to indulge in some festive games that are fun and exciting for all ages. Why not host a Christmas quiz with alternate rounds for adults and children so that the whole family can get involved. Or get the children to act out some charades of Christmas films and carols that the adults must guess. Have a game of Christmas bingo using Christmas images such as trees, snowmen and snowflakes instead of numbers. Another fun game is the ‘Snowball Toss’ where children must stand behind a designated line and throw large marshmallows through a Christmas wreath and into a bucket to win points and prizes.

Santa’s plate

I can always remember the magic I felt when I left out food for Santa and his reindeer and it had been munched up (with only a few crumbs left) in the morning. Why not create a Christmas plate especially for these treats using a simple cheap white china plate and some ceramic pens. Personalise the plate with writing such as ‘To Santa, From .....’ or ‘Santa’s Treats’  and in the centre draw shapes for the items that you wish to leave out such as a mince pie, a glass of milk or a carrot for Rudolph. Decorate the plate in classic Christmas colours such as red, green and gold and get your children to draw some pictures of snowmen, Santa or snowflakes to complete the design.

Keys and Footprints

Does your child ever wonder how Santa gets into your house when you don’t have a chimney? Well why not get them to leave a special magic key for Santa that will allow him to come in through the front door. Take a simple key shaped tree decoration, an old key or a key cut out of some wood and paint in a silver or gold paint with lots and lots of glitter. Tie some ribbon through the top and attach a tag saying ‘Santa’s Key’ then get your child to hang it on the front door before they go to bed.

While they are sleeping cut a boot shape from a piece of cardboard and leave foot prints from the door (or chimney if you have one) to the Christmas tree by sprinkling some flour or icing sugar around the shape (see picture on right).

For more festive Christmas Eve ideas for children, take a look at our latest Pinterest board - Pinterest - Christmas Eve Ideas for Kids