We all know that it can be tricky trying to get the kids to sit down at the best of times, but when you're tired or sick it seems even more difficult. They always manage to get a burst of energy the moment you want to snuggle up on the couch with a hot cup of tea, and it’s enough to make you want to cry!
Thankfully, there are plenty of things that you can do with them that require very little effort from you, but are guaranteed to keep them happy for hours.
If you are feeling a little lazy or are in need of a sit down, you can keep the kids entertained this festive season with these ten fun activities.
1. Make Christmas cards
‘Tis the season and all! Simple and easy to make, not only will they look lovely, they’ll also save you a fortune. Why not take a little inspiration from these thumb print cards from Nick Jr. - no major mess involved.
2. Play eye spy
There are plenty of things in the house that you can spy from the comfort of the couch. Why not make it extra fun by adding a bowl of popcorn to the mix and only looking for things that begin with the letters in the word Christmas – amazing.
3. Build a fort
If you have never built a fort on your couch before you’re missing out! Grab whatever blankets you have around the house and throw them over the chair until you've set up the perfect little nook.
4. Get creative and start your own Christmas story
Armed with a pencil and some paper, you and the kids can spend the afternoon coming up with your very own Christmas story – the more imaginative the better. Get one person to write a sentence on the page, folding it down before passing it to the next person, who writes another sentence. Keep going until the page is completely folded and you'll be treated to something very special.
5. Come up with your own fairy wishes
This one doesn’t involve doing anything really! Make yourself comfortable on the couch with the kids, and then ask them to come up with things they would ask their fairy to magic, if they had one. But before you do this, why not make your very own Christmas fairy wand – Nick Jr. have a really simple Ben and Holly one on their website.
6. Write a letter to Santa
It's a truly special moment watching your little one write down all their wishes in their letter to Santa - these are the moments you'll cherish forever.
7. Play a board game or two
You are bound to have one or two board games hiding in the attic that don’t involve a lot of setting up before playing. Chess is a great game to play if you fancy a quiet afternoon - it sits perfectly on your lap! Snakes and ladders works really well with younger kids.
8. Christmas tree decoration
Before you settle down for an afternoon on the couch, head out to the garden or the local forest and gather as many pine cones as you can – the more you get the more fun you’ll have. They work great as Christmas tree decorations and you can make anything you want, but we love this Zack and Quack one.
9. Play hairdressers
Pop the kids up on the back of the couch, sit down in front of them and give them free rein on your hair. While you might not want to leave the house sporting your new do, you’ll definitely have a lot of laughs.
10. Watch the TV
From Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom to Dora and Friends, and Peppa Pig to PAW Patrol, Nick Jr. have plenty of shows to keep both mums and kids happy! The ideal way to spend a cold and rainy afternoon.
