Keeping Busy this Christmas
Cold, wet days needn’t put a dampener on Christmas spirit; there are many fun and easy things to do that can get us all in a festive mood! Here are some of our top Christmas activities that can be enjoyed with those you support, to help bring a little Crimble cheer …
Homemade Christmas Cards
Christmas cards are always more special when they’re handmade – and significantly cheaper than shop-bought cards! With basic items, like gold and silver paper, and glitter glue from any superstore, the sky’s the limit! If you or the person you care for is crafty, you can get as creative as you like; but at its most basic, a simple motive of bells and holly, or a snowman, is all that’s needed to make a card that will make the recipient smile. Add an even more personal touch by cutting up old Christmas cards to make thoughtful gift labels, by cutting them into label shapes and using a hole-punch to threat the ribbon through.
Deck the Boughs!
Making or putting up Christmas decorations might not be feasible for some in later years, so if you know someone you care for celebrates Christmas, find out if they could use a little help! For those who go to town at Christmas on decorations, it can be a whole night’s work; but very little is needed to create a Christmas atmosphere in the room where someone spends most of their time. Even little activities like untangling the Christmas lights or unboxing baubles can bring back fond Yuletide memories of childhood or parenthood, and help to top-up on Christmas cheer.
Simple Christmas Treats
There are many quick and simple treats that need not take a lot of time or expense, but can be a lovely gift to give to friends and family. Find out what, if anything, the service user likes to – or used to – make as treats. Things like fudge or shortbread, cookies are great – but anything can be made christmassy with a dusting of icing sugar! One of the simplest no-bake things to make is Marshmallow Snowmen – great for those little elves who come to visit!!
Marshmallow Snowmen
Time: 20 minutes | Cost <£5
- Bag of Marshmallows
- Icing sugar
- Black and Orange colouring (or packet of edible gel pens)
- Bag of pretzel sticks, such as Twiglets
- Place 3 marshmallows on top of one another, stuck together by brushing a little water on the base, and pressing lightly.
- Break the pretzel sticks in half and insert into the middle marshmallow to create snowman arms
- Decorate the face with an orange carrot and two coal eyes, and the body with black buttons
Let the gel or icing sugar set and wrap in cellophane tied with some ribbon at both ends.
Voila! Marshmallow Snowmen!
Christmas Shopping from the Couch
For those who are unable to leave home, finding Christmas presents for loved ones can be difficult – particularly when they are not confident in using technology. An online shopping day can be a practical way of enabling service users to choose gifts from shops they can’t get to. Make your time a little more special with some hot chocolate and Christmas music in the background, just to get everyone in the mood! It’s not only about the shopping; there’s the added lift of having something we’ve ordered being dropped on the doorstep. Who doesn’t get a buzz from a postal delivery!
