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Guest Picks: A Kid-Friendly Christmas
Keep the kids entertained on their holiday break with these winter-inspired activities
I'm the founder and editor of onecharmingparty.com. I think about and plan children's parties all day long.
I'm the founder and editor of onecharmingparty.com. I think about and plan... More »
How can you relax at Christmastime if you're worried the kids are going to break all those fragile ornaments and holiday decor? And how can kids stay entertained in those weeks off from school? This year a few kid-friendly Christmas ideas are just the trick to keep everyone happy. Check out some of these fun activities and sensible decorations for the little ones in your life.
— Brittany from One Charming Party
— Brittany from One Charming Party
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Make a few sweet treats with your kids at Christmastime, or surprise them with an after-school snack. Frost regular cupcakes with vanilla frosting, stick a red jawbreaker or gumball onto a straight candy cane with some frosting, and you have the North Pole. The North Pole tags are available as a download here.
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These kits are an easy way to make your cupcakes look festive in a snap. Am I the only one who forgets until the last minute they signed up to take a dessert to a holiday party? Now no one will have to know.
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This is one of my favorite cake stands. It's sturdy enough to handle being accidentally tipped over (or dropped on a soft surface), and the bright blue color is sure to bring a smile to a child's face. It's perfect for displaying all of those yummy treats you'll be making.
by Heliotrope
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If kids are going to help in the kitchen, make it special and keep their clothes clean. This owl apron is made of laminated cotton for easy clean up — bonus!
by World Market
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Nothing is easier than making a dessert from a box, and your kids will still have a blast helping you stir the ingredients. You can find gourmet kits at inexpensive prices that will wow your taste buds.
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Let your kids help you wrap presents for friends, relatives and neighbors. Practice makes perfect with this job, so the younger they start and the more experience they get, the sooner they'll be wrapping those gifts like a pro.
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Sometimes elegantly wrapped presents are, well, too boring for kids. You can make their presents fun with some kid-friendly labels. Plus, these letterpress tags are sophisticated enough to keep you happy.
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Small children love decorations, so for many years we didn't have any ornaments on the lower half of our Christmas tree. If you like a fully decorated tree, look for soft and durable decorations that kids can touch and not break. I adore this wool, felted ornament. I wouldn't want my kids to play with this gorgeous decoration, but it definitely wouldn't break if they did.
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If you want to make ornaments with your kids, simple and inexpensive kits are available online. These are great ideas for school parties as well.
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Hang real candy canes on your tree. They will be fun and colorful, and it won't matter if they break. Just don't be surprised if you find a few half eaten or missing.
by The Land of Nod
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You can also use those gorgeous candy canes to fill a cute stocking. Around our house, Santa likes to add fun toys and extra presents to the kids' stockings for some added excitement.
by Garnet Hill
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When you're a kid, it takes forever for Christmas to finally get here. To help the time pass, buy or make a simple advent calendar. Fill small socks and mittens with little gifts for your children to open each day as they countdown the days to Christmas.
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| If you're going to go outside in the winter, make sure those little hands are covered — and looking cute! Handmade mittens are always in style and easy to find online. |
by The Land of Nod
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If you live in a snowy area, you know how cold your hands can get during a snowball fight. I wish I had one of these snowball makers when I was a kid.
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If you think snowball fights are in bad taste, then put your snowy skills to work building a snowman. There are lots of kits for dressing your snowman, or you can use items from around your house. My kids will stare out the window at their snowman friend for days as he slowly melts away.
by Garnet Hill
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If you want to take your outdoor experience up a notch, you can take the kids sledding. It's always a thrill, and the basic plastic sleds that I grew up using have definitely been improved.
by Epicurean Foods
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My kids and I decorate gingerbread houses every year. It's a great way for all of us to express our creativity, but don't be surprised if the candy slowly goes missing.
by Barnes & Noble
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Powdery hot cocoa is definitely the easiest to make, but if you'd like to give it a try, making hot chocolate from scratch is fun and rewarding. My kids prefer the instant gratification of the powder, but they never complain when I make the real stuff.
by Dean & DeLuca
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There are lots of recipes online for making your own homemade marshmallows (or you can always pick some up at the gourmet food store). Try using cookie cutters to make cool shapes for a little fun in your hot chocolate.
by Shop Sweet Lulu
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Hot chocolate, and almost any other drink, tastes better with a colorful straw. Your kids will love the bright red stripes. My favorite trick is to trim the straw with scissors so that it's more proportional to the cup.
More: Holiday decorations
More: Holiday decorations
Comments
Amy Renea Those snowball makers are TOTALLY on my list for the kids this year!
18 months ago · Like
Bright Bold and Beautiful Love the handmade marshmellows ~ my kids would love that!! Also, a fun gift from the kitchen to make with your kids: http://brightboldbeautiful.blogspot.com/2011/11/monday-inspiration-and-gifts-from.html 
18 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on Dec. 6, 2011.
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