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Fun activities to do at home  

Activities do not need to cost a lot of money (or sometimes any money at all) to be meaningful and memorable. Some of the best memories are made by doing simple things at home or around the community. Enjoying the time, you have together is what is most important. Below are some very low-cost or free activities that require no/minimal resources, most of which you will have around the house already. Enjoy!  

Art of Nature

Cut out a frame shape from a piece of cardboard/paper/card. Put sticky tape down on one full side of your frame. Go for a walk around the local park, streets or even your garden. Collect leaves, flowers, grass and anything else you find and stick it to your sticky tape to create your ‘art of nature’.  

Creating Snowflake

All you need is paper and scissors. Add glitter to spruce them up. Cut paper into circles and fold it up. Cut out small shapes from the edges. Open up to find a unique snowflake.  

Make a den

Using blankets, duvets, cushions off the sofa and any other items you have around the house, create a den in your living room. Extend it a little further and cosy up inside the den for a family movie night altogether.  

Winter walk

Go for a wintery walk around one of ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿’s well-known spots.  Arthur’s Seat, Portobello Promenade, Colinton Tunnel, Water of Leith, Calton Hill, Dalkeith Country Park, Figgate Park, The Meadows or Cramond Beach.  

Remember you can apply for a free travel card (bus and tram) for children. Pop into your local library for help to apply.  

Treasure hunt

Are you ready to find the treasure? Create a list of things to find around the house or spot out on a walk.  

Lego challenge

Challenge your imagination. Can you build: a robot, a bus, a Christmas tree, an igloo, Santa’s sleigh, or a maze?  

Make Paper Chains

Cut strips of paper approximately 1cm thick. Glue each end of a strip together to make a ring, slide the next strip through the ring and glue the ends together. Continue until the desired length.  

Biscuit Decorating

Decorate some delicious biscuits for the whole family to enjoy!  Items needed: Digestives, icing sugar, decoration (sprinkles, chocolate, etc)  

Jar of favourite Christmas movies

In a jar add all the family Christmas movie favourites. Take it in turns to pick out a mystery film to enjoy together. Enjoy with hot chocolate and microwave popcorn.  

Minute to win it challenges

Sock wash: How many pairs of socks can you throw into the laundry basket in one minute?  

Face the cookie: Place a cookie in the centre of your forehead. Without using your hands, move the cookie down into your mouth. The first to get the cookie in their mouth wins!  

Clothes challenge: How many items of clothing can you put on in one minute? You can wear socks, pants, scarves, anything!  

Whipped cream challenge: Squirt some cream onto the back of your hand. You have one minute to hit your forearm and catch the cream in your mouth.  

Defying Gravity: Give each player three balloons. They have to keep all three balloons up in the air for a minute.  

Make your own Christmas cards! 

Grab some pens and paper. Fold your paper in half and decorate the front with your favourite festive designs. Friends and family will love the handmade gesture this Christmas!  

Party Games

Play some traditional party games to some Christmas music. Why not give musical bumps and musical statues a try?  

Garden Centre Christmas Displays 

Visit the local garden centres to admire the great Christmas displays.  

Christmas decoration walk 

Take a walk around your local community, spotting all of the lights and decorations people have displayed in their windows and gardens. You can count how many snowmen/Santas you see or how many stars/snowflakes.  

Recipes to try

Shortbread  

Ingredients  

150g plain flour, plus extra for dusting  

100g butter, chilled and cubed  

50g caster sugar, plus 1 tbsp for sprinkling  

Method  

1. Heat the oven 170C/150C fan/gas 3. Put the flour, butter and sugar into a mixing bowl. Use your hands to combine the ingredients until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs, then squeeze until it comes together as a dough.  

1. On a lightly floured surface, use a rolling pin to roll out the dough to ½ cm thick. Cut the dough into fingers and place on a lined baking tray. Use a fork to create imprints, then sprinkle with the remaining caster sugar.  

1. Chill the dough in the fridge for 20 mins, then bake for 15-20 mins until golden brown. Remove the shortbread fingers from the oven and leave to cool on the tray for 10 mins.  

Vegetable Soup  

Ingredients  

200g chopped vegetables such as onions, celery and carrots  

300g potatoes, cubed  

1 tbsp oil  

700ml stock  

Method  

1. Fry the vegetables and potatoes in a pan with the oil for a few minutes until beginning to soften.  

1. Cover with the stock and simmer for 10-15 mins until the veg is tender. Blend until smooth, then season.