Festive fun to boost wellbeing

Paper snowflakes are one of the cheapest and easiest ways to make the house look Christmassy – hang them from doors and light fittings, stick them to windows or make a mobile by hanging them from wire coat hangers. And the great thing is, once the festive season is over you can simply recycle them!

Getting outside is another great way to boost your kids’ wellbeing – so next time you’re out in the park, how about collecting leaves, sticks and pinecones and then using them to make decorations? This video from CBeebies shows you how to make a mobile from an orange and some twigs!

It’s not just families who like nice food at Christmas – birds get hungry too! So how about giving the birds in your area a festive treat by getting the kids to make a homemade birdfeeder and hanging it outside your window? CBeebies has lots of ideas here.

What could be more Christmassy than the scent of mince pies, gingerbread and spices? And it doesn’t need to be fancy baking either – our Christmas pudding recipe takes just 5 minutes to make in the microwave! Or how about trying these cranberry and orange muffins? Perfect for a winter picnic in the park.

Yes it’s more baking, but this time you don’t eat it! Salt dough is easy to make – you can find a recipe here. When you’ve made the dough, roll it out and use Christmas cookie cutters (if you have them) to cut out festive shapes. If you don’t have Christmas cookie cutters you can make round shapes using a glass or the rim of an empty jam jar. Don’t forget to leave a small hole at the top of each decoration so you can attach string or ribbon to them. When they’re baked and cool, the kids can decorate them with paint or biodegradable glitter. Then add ribbon and they’re ready to hang on the tree! They also make lovely gifts for friends and family.

If the kids are looking forward to snow this year, they won't be disappointed – because they can make their own! This video from our friends at Smart Play Network shows you how.