December 5th is Saint Nicholas Day, so do someone a good deed in his spirit. The French bake gingerbread as a tradition.

December 21st is winter solstice so take time out from all those Pre- Christmas do’s and celebrate at home by cosying up with loved Ones.

Build a gingerbread house. Sainsburys are selling a gingerbread house kit for £4.99 which has everything you need, including cutters and edible decorations.

Have homemade hot chocolate with marshmallows

Attend Hook Christmas Cracker (6th December 2014)

Attend a Christmas Panto. (I am trying to put together a list of panto’s for 2014 but if I don’t get around to it, check out Pantomime’s 2013,  Pantomime’s 2012 and Pantomime’s 2011 for places that do Panto’s).

Go to a local school Christmas Fayre and pick up some fabulous bespoke Christmas presents.

Make Christmas Gloop (put in a couple of baubles and some glitter) 😀

Put together A personalised video message for your child from Santa (and it’s free!) (this is AWESOME!) and play it to your child.

Christmas Nature Walk – Take a walk to your local park or woods and collect pine cones and see if you can spot a robin or some holly. Check out Nature Detectives to see what you can find.

Visit your local Christmas lights. Festival Place now have their lights up or you could take a tour of your local area to see which decorations are your favourite.

Find out about Christmas in another country

Eat dinner by candlelight.(We use the electronic version of candles as I’m banned from using real candles since I set fire to my bedroom when I was 14 years old. Don’t ask!)

Read Christmas books whilst snuggled under blankets

Go ice skating at the local ice skating rink

Bake Christmas cookies and decorate them with friends whilst listening to Christmas music

Go Christmas Caroling (even if it’s just to Grandparents!)

Give something back, make a donation. You could contribute to the Christmas Food Boxes.

Heidi’s list