There are so many wonderful ways to get kids excited about Christmas (and about things other than presents!) that we just had to share a few.

Even if you typically hate crafting and prefer store-bought over baking, there are ideas here for you to enjoy the holiday season that will help you educate, entertain and have fun with your kids.

MOVE

• Visit Kareela Village Night Markets for pop-up stalls, free Santa photos and kid’s craft activities. Even if you’re doing most your shopping online this year, it’s a nice idea to encourage your kids to go and pick something out for somebody they know (or a disadvantaged family) so they experiencing giving as well as receiving.
• Head to the city for a Christmas adventure. There’s plenty of festive pop-ups around and even an app you can use to take a self-guided tour of all the lights and decorations on the City of Sydney website.
• Check out the range of Christmas workshops at The Rocks. While you’re there, snap some photos at the light displays, like the Giant Christmas Tree at the top of Jack Mundey Place, the soldiers on Surgeons Court, Mistletoe Lane (down Kendall Lane), the Giant Snowglobe on George Street, just outside the steps from First Fleet Park or you can even hop aboard the train at Jingle Rock Station on Playfair Street. 
• Head out for a COVID-safe (or not) Santa photo in the Shire or further afield.

MAKE

• There are a million and one Christmas craft ideas online (and even that might be an understatement!). We like these simple craft projects from Bright Star Kids, which include useful cards and decorations that won’t just end up in your bin.
• Let the kids help lighten your load by making food for entertaining. The Christmas food ideas from Pacific Fair are so simple that they don’t even require recipes and can be made in minutes, even with toddlers. Little kids and primary school-aged children might prefer these still-simple but slightly more involved and very fun Christmas recipes from Kids on the Coast or Beanstalk Mums.

PLAY

• For a great selection of games that you can play on Christmas day or in the lead-up, check out Essential Kids. Older kids and even adults will enjoy these fun Christmas games from Minted.
• One idea we really love is dropping a surprise gift at someone’s door with an anonymous card- let the kids feel like Santa for a night!

READ

• As always, you can find a stack of books on your chosen theme from the Sutherland Shire libraries and Christmas is no exception! Santa is coming to the Shire is a big hit as you can point out each suburb that the kids will recognise.
• Grug, Pepper Pig, Thomas the Tank Engine, Grumpy Cat and virtually every kid’s character you can name has had a Christmas book made about them, so if you want to pick your kid’s a book you know they’ll love to read, you can search for those at Booktopia.

LISTEN

• What is Christmas without (at least a few) carols? This is our pick for the best kids’ Christmas Spotify playlist.
• Looking for Christmas-themed podcasts for kids? Red Tricycle have got you covered.

WATCH

• This year, to celebrate its 30th anniversary you can head to Event Cinemas to watch Home Alone on the big screen!
• Or enjoy new films from any of your favourite streaming services: The Wishmas Tree (Amazon Prime), Elf (Stan), The Grinch, The Polar Express, Fred Klaus, Arthur Christmas, Jingle Jangle (Netflix), The Santa Clause (Disney+).
• Free-to-air fans can enjoy the Bluey Christmas specials (ABC iView). 

We hope some of these ideas help you create beautiful memories with your kids during this extra special time.

Have a magical Christmas x