Why not give your usual downtime activities a festive twist, whether that’s reading, playing games or watching TV? Here are a few ideas for getting into the Christmas spirit, no matter what you’re doing…
Recommended reads
No matter what age you are, you can enjoy a festive feeling each day in December while you read. Let’s start with the littlest ones; switch their usual bedtime story for a festive Mr Men tale. I was given the Mr Men and Little Miss Advent Calendar by my mum this year and it’s full of cute little books with full stories, ready for bedtime reading.
Older children can enjoy discovering the interactive letters within The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. That’s one that I personally loved during childhood and I still own it to this day! Also, Father Christmas by Raymond Briggs is another family favourite to read, and I re-watch the animation every year on Christmas eve.
For adults and older teens who are into novels, I’d definitely recommend reading any of Heidi Swain’s festive books. The stories are usually set during the run-up to Christmas and really get you in the mood for your own yule celebrations. I’ve recently finished That Festive Feeling and I love reading Heidi’s latest seasonal novel each year – it’s what marks the start of the festive period for me.
I’ve also read the Glendale Hall series by Victoria Walters and I’ve just started reading the last book in the series Dreams Come True at Glendale Hall. I’ve also read Anton Du Beke‘s A Christmas To Remember – basically, any festive title is a winner for helping you to feel festive while enjoying your daily read.
Playing seasonal games
I don’t know about you, but at this time of year, I find that our family is more likely to play board games. I really enjoy it – and it’s great to get the kids and teens involved (and get them away from screens this December!).
This week I played The Christmas Express with my niece and nephew and we thoroughly enjoyed the festive-themed game. I previously shared it in my gift guide for keeping kids entertained, so I knew they would love it.
The next game I’m pulling out this December is Christmas-Opoly by Cheatwell Games. It’s a festive twist on the classic board game and you collect presents to increase the rent value of your Christmas properties – all those little touches make it feel so festive to play. The game is suitable for ages 8+ and can last as long as the traditional game or there’s a 1 hour option, so it’ll keep them busy! Also, it’s a fab choice for grown-ups to enjoy in the evening, too.
Festive feels on the TV
Sure, it’s lovely to re-watch old festive favourite films or to discover newly released Christmas movies but sometimes you just just have a couple of hours spare to watch a whole film. So, whenever you’ve got a spare half-hour, get into the Christmas spirit by watching a seasonal episode of your favourite TV show.
I’ve previously shared an EPIC list of all the Christmas episodes of your fave TV series, which makes it super easy to find the Christmas-themed show for each season. Check out that blog post here to find festive episodes of Absolutely Fabulous, Big Bang Theory, The Darling Buds of May, Father Ted, Friends, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Friday Night Dinner, Gavin and Stacey, The Good Life, Mr Bean, New Girl, The Office, Only Fools and Horses, The Vicar of Dibley and much more!
Let me know what other activities you’ve been enjoying this December to get into the Christmas spirit. I’d love to hear your favourite fun festive ideas in the comments below.
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Some items in this blog post have been gifted to me and the pink links indicate a gifted product, affiliate link or information source. All thoughts and opinions in this post are based on my own experience and I am not responsible for your experience 🙂
