How to keep the kids busy and me sane on Christmas
December 19, 2012 8:31 AM
We are hosting the family Christmas celebration this year. I've got the food, the gifts, and the decorations under control. I need help with the entertainment. In particular, entertaining eight kids in a very small house.
Our family gatherings are usually hosted by the folks with larger houses and playrooms. The kids are turned loose upon arrival and when they get too boisterous are herded into the playroom. This won't work in our house, since not only do we not have a playroom, but barely have a room big enough to fit all eight children. (And despite having children ourselves, our house is not particularly child-friendly.) I'd like to plan some activities to keep the kids entertained and keep the Christmas-bouncing-off-the-walls to a minimum.
The children range in age from 3 to 11. Playing outside is not really an option. Table space for crafts or board games will be very limited. Whole family activities are good, but things that keep the kids busy while the adults eat and socialize are even better. I know I could probably corral most of the kids with a movie, but it would be really nice to have some other tricks up my sleeve (and maybe even create some new holiday traditions!).
Our family gatherings are usually hosted by the folks with larger houses and playrooms. The kids are turned loose upon arrival and when they get too boisterous are herded into the playroom. This won't work in our house, since not only do we not have a playroom, but barely have a room big enough to fit all eight children. (And despite having children ourselves, our house is not particularly child-friendly.) I'd like to plan some activities to keep the kids entertained and keep the Christmas-bouncing-off-the-walls to a minimum.
The children range in age from 3 to 11. Playing outside is not really an option. Table space for crafts or board games will be very limited. Whole family activities are good, but things that keep the kids busy while the adults eat and socialize are even better. I know I could probably corral most of the kids with a movie, but it would be really nice to have some other tricks up my sleeve (and maybe even create some new holiday traditions!).
I have a Christmas party during which the children are successfully distracted by (1) gingerbread house decorating (read: eating candy), (2) being supervised while they do crazy jumps on an old sofa, (3) sitting in a walk-in closet that has Lego (this one is so desirable that there were tears over an exclusion last year). A decorate-your-own cupcake bar is another good sugar distraction of appeal to a broad age range. You can set plastic tablecloths or whatever down on the floor if you're short on table space.
posted by kmennie at 8:46 AM on December 19, 2012
posted by kmennie at 8:46 AM on December 19, 2012
I've recommended these in other AskMes - there's a game I was taught once in a kids' theater group, and another game that I was taught in Girl Scouts, that are moderately active without being destructive; they're simple enough that little kids can get into them, but complicated enough that bigger kids will still cope.
1. The first one is a weird sort of variant on Simon Says. At the start of the game, pick one person to be "It." That person goes and waits outside the room, while the rest of the gang picks another person to be "leader". The identity of "Leader" is kept secret from "It". Then everyone sits in a circle and the "Leader" starts some simple action - snapping fingers, tapping the top of their head, etc. - and the other kids copy them. Every so often, the "leader" changes their gesture, and so do all the other kids.
You call "It" back into the room, and "It" has to figure out - purely through observation and watching everyone - who the "leader" is. Once they do, the "leader" is now "it" and you start the game again.
2. The second one is also one of those "there's no winner, we all win together" games from the 70's. You start with everyone standing in a circle. Everyone sticks their arms out in front, then shuts their eyes and starts walking forward. When they feel someone else's free hand, they grab it. Once everyone's holding hands with someone, they open their eyes. Now you're left with everyone holding hands in a big huge tangle in the middle of the circle.
And NOW the trick is - to untangle that tangle of hands, without letting go, until your'e all standing in a circle holding hands normally. You may end up with some people facing backward and some forward, or two rings of people; this is okay too, all you have to do is untangle. (You can let go hands briefly if not doing so would require some truly impossible contortions.)
--
There's also the classic logic-puzzle game going on a picnic, which kept me and my brother and some cousins entertained at other family gatherings.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:48 AM on December 19, 2012
1. The first one is a weird sort of variant on Simon Says. At the start of the game, pick one person to be "It." That person goes and waits outside the room, while the rest of the gang picks another person to be "leader". The identity of "Leader" is kept secret from "It". Then everyone sits in a circle and the "Leader" starts some simple action - snapping fingers, tapping the top of their head, etc. - and the other kids copy them. Every so often, the "leader" changes their gesture, and so do all the other kids.
You call "It" back into the room, and "It" has to figure out - purely through observation and watching everyone - who the "leader" is. Once they do, the "leader" is now "it" and you start the game again.
2. The second one is also one of those "there's no winner, we all win together" games from the 70's. You start with everyone standing in a circle. Everyone sticks their arms out in front, then shuts their eyes and starts walking forward. When they feel someone else's free hand, they grab it. Once everyone's holding hands with someone, they open their eyes. Now you're left with everyone holding hands in a big huge tangle in the middle of the circle.
And NOW the trick is - to untangle that tangle of hands, without letting go, until your'e all standing in a circle holding hands normally. You may end up with some people facing backward and some forward, or two rings of people; this is okay too, all you have to do is untangle. (You can let go hands briefly if not doing so would require some truly impossible contortions.)
--
There's also the classic logic-puzzle game going on a picnic, which kept me and my brother and some cousins entertained at other family gatherings.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:48 AM on December 19, 2012
If there is an empty wall, you can hang newsprint and have the kids create a holiday mural.
posted by oceano at 9:06 AM on December 19, 2012
posted by oceano at 9:06 AM on December 19, 2012
They can play "Ha Ha!" Everyone lies down on their backs. Each person has his or her head on someone else's stomach. This in itself will use up some time as they all figure out how to position themselves. One person says "Ha! Ha!" which causes the head on his or her lap to bounce a bit. That person says "Ha! Ha!" and so on, and pretty soon everyone is laughing with bouncy heads.
You can pin the names of famous people (or even each other) on their backs and have them figure out whose names they have on their backs by asking the other questions.
posted by Dolley at 9:23 AM on December 19, 2012
You can pin the names of famous people (or even each other) on their backs and have them figure out whose names they have on their backs by asking the other questions.
posted by Dolley at 9:23 AM on December 19, 2012
Sardines! It's pretty much my favorite game, ever, and you don't need a big space to play because you use all the little spaces. Big kids can be partners with the little kids, but even the three-year-old will understand it. Adults can join in as they desire.
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:29 AM on December 19, 2012
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:29 AM on December 19, 2012
Christmas cutout cookies + colored frostings/sprinkes/etc. + little kids = edible magic!
posted by Doohickie at 11:47 AM on December 19, 2012
posted by Doohickie at 11:47 AM on December 19, 2012
Would you please reevaluate your conclusion that you can't go outside? Is there any reason you can't all take a walk together or plan some other outside activity? With maybe the whole family or perhaps just a couple of adults with the kids? Tell everyone before hand: 'we have great outside activity of X planned - please bring appropriate clothing.' You will come home work out with the nice feeling of having achieved something together, worn out and not so hyper.
You can:
- walk around to look at the best christmas lights
- arrange fun activities like a scavenger hunt or something
- stop at a playground or two
- You can stop for mulled wine or hot cider (or bring it along)
- You can even sing songs together (bring along some sheet music)
- Some kind of photo project - all take a picture in front of the X
- Do you have a favorite neighborhood stroll? Any reason you can't take your family along?
- Why not make a fire and roast chestnuts together if there is somewhere to grill?
- Play soccer / football or some other game together in a park?
- go ice skating or sledding somewhere? - Everyone has to bring their sled?
posted by jazh at 2:20 PM on December 19, 2012
You can:
- walk around to look at the best christmas lights
- arrange fun activities like a scavenger hunt or something
- stop at a playground or two
- You can stop for mulled wine or hot cider (or bring it along)
- You can even sing songs together (bring along some sheet music)
- Some kind of photo project - all take a picture in front of the X
- Do you have a favorite neighborhood stroll? Any reason you can't take your family along?
- Why not make a fire and roast chestnuts together if there is somewhere to grill?
- Play soccer / football or some other game together in a park?
- go ice skating or sledding somewhere? - Everyone has to bring their sled?
posted by jazh at 2:20 PM on December 19, 2012
I came into say the same as xingcat. We loved doing this as kids. If the writing of a show seems too much, you can use Christmas as a built-in theme. Add in a couple of carols and you have a show (maybe print out some carol lyrics ahead of time).
posted by mikepop at 8:36 AM on December 20, 2012
posted by mikepop at 8:36 AM on December 20, 2012
3rding mikepop and xingcat. My fondest holiday memories (with similar ages/age differences) are of us kids putting together everything from plays to a puppet show to 'how to cook a turkey'. We just got to use one of the bedrooms for our planning. Going outside was harder, but we typically did some of it (my uncle would take us while the cooking was going on; we would do this at my grandma's condo, which wasn't that big). WE also played a lot of cards, which doesn't take up much space.
posted by eleanna at 8:14 PM on December 21, 2012
posted by eleanna at 8:14 PM on December 21, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by xingcat at 8:42 AM on December 19, 2012