How to Make Christmas Entertaining Fun for Kids

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

Rather than letting them sit in front of the TV while you run around like a decapitated chicken preparing for your annual holiday party, get your kids involved in the process.

Children are great helpers, especially if you give them specific tasks to accomplish. To keep them engaged, have them work on age appropriate jobs. For example, if you have a preschooler, task him with creating colorful homemade placemats made from construction paper, markers and glitter glue. (You can laminate their masterpieces when they are done.) Likewise, you can get your teens involved in party prep by having them make festive centerpieces from fresh fruits (lemons, limes, cranberries, etc.) and evergreens.

Another way to get children involved in holiday party prep is to invite them into the kitchen to assist with the following kid-friendly dishes:

EDIBLE PENGUINS

Ingredients:

18 jumbo black olives

18 small black olives

One 8-ounce package of cream cheese

1 carrot, at least 6 inches long and 1-inch in diameter, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch slices

18 decorative toothpicks

Directions:

Cut a slit from top to bottom on one side of each jumbo olive.

Insert about 1 teaspoon of cream cheese into each jumbo olive to fill cavity.

Cut small notch out of each carrot slice to form feet. Press cut-out notch piece into center of small olive to form beak. (If necessary, pierce olive with small paring knife or toothpick to make hole for carrot piece first.)

Using a decorative toothpick, stack head (small olive), body (jumbo olive) and feet (carrot slice) together.

Make adjustments so that the beak, cream cheese breast and notch in carrot slice line up.

The penguins will stand better if the larger holes in the olives are facing downward.

SANTA CLAUS CUPCAKES

Ingredients:

1 package cake mix (vanilla, chocolate or yellow) baked according to package directions

1 can vanilla frosting

2 tablespoons red decorator sugar

48 chocolate chips

24 red cinnamon candies or red M&Ms

1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows (approximately 144)

Directions:

Bake cake mix as directed on box to make 24 cupcakes using muffin cup liners.

Allow the cupcakes to cool completely.

Frost each cupcake.

Sprinkle the top 1/3 of each cupcake with about 1/8 teaspoon red sugar to form Santa's hat.

Use chocolate chips for eyes and M&Ms for nose.

Cut two marshmallows in half lengthwise and arrange to form rim of hat.

Cut four marshmallows in half crosswise and use to cover lower part of cupcake to form Santa's beard.

Related Articles:

Festive Family Fun: Making Pinecone Christmas Trees and Paper Plate Snowmen

Last-Minute Holiday Crafts

Making Homemade Holiday Gifts

Holiday Crafts for Kids: Cards and Ornaments

How to Make Homemade Christmas Wrapping Paper and Ornaments

How to Make a Simple and Festive Christmas Wreath

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger