Children’s eyes rarely shine as brightly as they do in the run-up to Christmas. All the festive lights and decorations awaken the anticipation of the little ones, which then even the adults simply can not escape.
The pre-Christmas season is especially exciting for children.
And because joy shared is joy doubled, joint ventures and activities are very popular with young and old right now. In addition to the enjoyable stroll through the Christmas market with the many tempting treats of the Advent season, there are also many great opportunities at home to enjoy the reflective time together. There are no limits to your creativity when it comes to organizing your free time, especially during the Advent weeks.
Conjures up a Christmas atmosphere with homemade lanterns
Crafting is popular with little ones all year round, but the magic of the Christmas season, with imaginative decorations and all the preparations that need to be made, makes them even more creative. No wonder boredom doesn’t stand a chance during Advent.
What is indispensable for a cozy atmosphere right now are candles. They must not be missing in the Christmas decorations. Matching lanterns are also very easy to tinker with.
You can use empty jam jars, for example, which must first be thoroughly freed of their labels. Then finger paints are used on a plate, with which the little hands give the jars an individual look – depending on their age in dotted or figure shapes. Alternatively, motifs that you can cut out of cardboard also make very good lantern decorations. Filled with a tea light, decorated with a ribbon and a small card, you have already prepared a small Christmas gift.
Increase anticipation for gifts from Santa with a wish list
The thought of Santa’s imminent visit makes many a child’s heart leap with excitement. To bridge the waiting time, it’s a good idea to create a wish list. Children don’t necessarily have to know how to write: They can also draw their wishes or cut out pictures from catalogs and stick them on. In Germany, for example, there are seven official Christmas post offices where numerous helpers are busy answering children’s letters. Alternatively, of course, you can get creative yourself and write a reply that the children will be happy to receive.
So not only is the creation of the wish list a highlight for the kids, but also the wait for the answer from Santa Claus and the question of whether the wishes will be fulfilled on Christmas Eve ensure cheerful curiosity.
Enjoy the homemade cookies
Baking and decorating Christmas cookies together is a great event. (Here with “mariella”)
Many families also have a tradition of baking cookies at this time of year. To ensure that even the youngest can enjoy the preparation, the recipes should be as simple as possible. For easy cookies you need the following ingredients:
200 g flour and a little more for rolling out
100 g soft butter or margarine
100 g sugar
1 egg
1 packet vanilla sugar
These ingredients just need to mix into a dough and then, wrapped in cling film, rest in the refrigerator for half an hour. Then you can preheat the oven to 180 degrees top/bottom heat. A smooth and floured surface is recommended for rolling out the dough. Now your little ones can cut out the cookies, which then have to be placed on a baking tray lined with baking paper and baked for eight to ten minutes until the cookies are light yellow. After they have cooled down a bit, it’s time for the decoration. Here you can choose according to your own taste, for example, between icing or glaze, chocolate, powdered sugar or edible pearls. And then it’s time to start the pre-Christmas snacking. All the cookies that you don’t eat right away will stay delicious for a long time in the tino fresh-keeping tin or the mia “magic ice” rewritable freezer tin, for example.
Enjoy fresh air and a cozy evening of cuddling
In order for all family members to get out into the fresh air during the cozy time, evening walks are suitable, during which the many lights and Christmas illuminations in other houses and gardens or in the city please the eyes.
After the short cooling down, the cuddle evening on your sofa with a delicious cocoa and a great Christmas movie or a Christmas book is even nicer.
