Christmas with Children

Christmas is just around the corner! For children, the Advent season is a truly magical time. Here you’ll find activities that will add a special touch of magic to the Christmas season for the little ones!

Games, baking and crafts to enjoy throughout Advent 

Children can hardly wait for Christmas Eve to arrive. Since they don’t yet have a very good sense of time, the days can seem terribly long to them. That’s why it’s important to plan lots of fun activities that bring the family closer together and help the children forget their nerves. It could also be a great opportunity for you to take a break from the stresses of everyday life. Whether it’s winter walks in the woods or around the Christmas market, craft sessions, game nights or Christmas baking, there are no limits to your creativity. For inspiration, here are two fun activity ideas you can try with your family. 

Chocolate bark 

Making chocolate bark is not only a wonderful activity for young and old alike, but also a perfect last-minute gift idea. Perhaps your child would like to give their grandma or grandpa a treat for Christmas? Then this recipe is just the thing. 

What you’ll need: 

• 3 bars of white chocolate 
• 3 bars of milk chocolate 
• 3 bars of dark chocolate 
• Toppings of your choice 
• Baking parchment 
• 1 baking tray 

Here’s how: 

• Line a baking tray with baking parchment. 
• Take the chocolate and arrange it on the tray. If you like, you can also break some of the bars in half or into quarters. 
• Now melt the chocolate in the oven at 50°C using the fan setting or conventional top and bottom heat for about 12 minutes. You can use a fork or wooden skewer to check whether the chocolate has melted. It’s important not to heat the oven above 50°C, otherwise the chocolate will develop a white coating later. 
• Once the chocolate has melted, it’s time for the best part: decorating! You can really let your creativity run wild. For example, you can use a fork to swirl the different chocolates together, then gently press your delicious decorations into the chocolate.  
• Then all you have to do is let the chocolate cool and break it into pieces, and it’s ready. 

Here are some ideas for decorations: 

• Colorful sprinkles and edible pearls 
• Smarties 
• Mini gummy bears 
• Chopped nuts 
• Dried fruit 
• Chopped Toffifee 
• Popcorn 
• Mini cookies 

Have you finished making your chocolate, or are you more in the mood for crafts? Then here’s just the idea for you: 

Reindeer tree decoration 

This cute Christmas tree decoration is sure to win your hearts, and it’s also incredibly easy to make.  

What you’ll need: 

• Empty toilet paper rolls (one roll makes two reindeer) 
• Googly eyes 
• Thin brown paper (textured paper if you prefer) 
• Brown pipe cleaners 
• Glue 
• Scissors 
• Red wooden beads 
• Some thin string 

Here’s how: 

• Cut the toilet paper rolls in half to make two shorter rolls. 
• Cut a piece of brown paper to fit exactly around one roll and glue it onto the roll. The reindeer’s head is now ready. 
• Cut two pieces of pipe cleaner, each about 5 cm long. These will form the reindeer’s antlers. 
• Take one of the covered rolls and poke holes at the top on both sides for the antlers. 
• Thread the pipe cleaners through the holes and twist them on the inside of the roll so they can’t slip back out. You can now shape the ends sticking out into antlers. 
• For the face, glue two googly eyes and a red wooden bead for the nose onto the reindeer’s head. 
• Finally, you can put a cord in a loop and glue it firmly to the inside of the reindeer. This serves as a hanger for the Christmas tree. 

Do you have any questions? Then feel free to take a look here by. 

Your Anio Team