Cheap, Inexpensive and Fun Ways to Entertain Kids During Christmas

Christmas is a very exciting time for children and all the excitement can make for some very rowdy kids. What I have learned as a parent is that the best way to control and corral rowdy kids is to give them something to do and to keep them busy. Busy, engaged kids have less time to bounce off the walls.

Entertaining children at Christmas need not be expensive either because there are several inexpensive ways to entertain them. Plus you will be building priceless memories they will remember always.

Over the years I have found that simple is usually better when planning activities for kids. Things like Christmas parades, Santa events, Christmas tree farms and making homemade Christmas ornaments. All of these types of activities make for good memories as well as good times at very little expense.

Christmas parades make for a great family outing. They are cheap, usually free to spectators, offer holiday music, glittering floats and generally convey a very merry holiday spirit. If you're lucky, and live in the right area, you might even get a snow flake or two. Bundle up, take along a couple of camp chairs and a thermos full of hot chocolate and make some holiday memories. Check with your local city hall or library for parade dates.

Younger children get excited about "Santa" even if they balk at actually meeting or talking with him. One even that is done in many towns is Breakfast with Santa. These events usually offer some sort of light breakfast such as pancakes and many also offer pictures with Santa, give-a-ways, raffles and door prizes. Breakfast with Santa is usually sponsored by local volunteer organizations like Volunteer Fire Departments, Church Leagues or Lions Clubs. Contact your local chapters for information on Christmas events for children.

Christmas trees delight children and what better way to bring home a little Christmas cheer than with a real tree. But, instead of just buying a real tree from the parking lot of the grocery store why not take the kids to a Christmas tree farm where they can actually pick out their own Christmas tree. In addition many tree farms offer other activities such as hay or sleigh rides, hot chocolate and cider and craft shops. What could be merrier than a sleigh ride?

Another way to entertain your kids at Christmas is to get them busy making homemade Christmas ornaments to hang on the tree. Not only is this activity easy, fun and very inexpensive it will also build some lasting memories. All you need is some tape, glue, ribbon, hole punch, ornament hooks and some old, or new, Christmas cards. You may also want to include embellishments such as beads, buttons, glitter and scraps of lace. Instruct your kids to cut images from the cards and use them to make ornaments. Use the glitter, buttons, beads, etc. to decorate, punch a hole, thread the ribbon, attach a hook and presto, you have a homemade Christmas ornament to hang on the tree. My mother hung one such ornament of our tree for years until it finally fell apart from age.

Entertaining kids at Christmas doesn't have to be expensive and if done right will result in the best gift you could ever give your kids, your time, attention and wonderful memories.