Need DCF Christmas Party Ideas

[Heidi]

I want to have a LITTLE Christmas Party for my DC families. I'm thinking on the 20th, right after hours (5:00 or so).

4 of my group are from one family (2 toddlers, a 3 & a 4), and one 15mo is from another family. There are older sibs in his family, as well. Don't know if they would come.

I would like to limit the CHAOS as much as possible, so I will be keeping the party fairly short and on a week night. I figure it will feel a lot like a LOOONNNGG pick up time!

I'm thinking the kids can help prepare a meal (as ability allows), we can play Christmas music, and they will each get a little gift from me (what about the older sibs, then?).

A long time ago, I had an older group, and taught them "Away in the Manger"
it was ok, but I ended up doing most of the singing (badly, I might add), and this group is too young to "perform". Developmentally, anyway, they are too young!

Any ideas for something cute? Maybe something they can make for their parents, or a game?

[Sunshine44]

I would...

I would just make it a party during daycare hours for the kids. Less hassle and fuss.

[melskids]

We go all out for Christmas around here!

I rented a hall on a saturday this year, because I just don't have the room for everyone and their extended families this year. ( I always invite all of their extended families...gma's, gpa's, etc)

We decorate with all the art we've done all month, and then they can take it all home.

We'll have a potluck dinner, a cookie decorating station, some other holiday themed activites and games, a visit from santa, and then watch the picture slide show I make for them every year.

I have to say though, I have some pretty awesome families (right now), and kiddos (most of the time), so behaviors aren't really an issue, and I'm looking foward to doing this for them.

[SunflowerMama]

I always do the Christmas Party during our December Parents Night Out.

It's Friday evening until 8p and we call it our Happy Birthday Jesus Party. We do crafts, decorate cookies, watch a Christmas movie and when the kids leave I give them each a gift and then a gift for the families.

Last year I bought tiles and I paint the kids' hands for a handprint and then I just write their name, date and our daycare name. I'll do the same thing this year and I'm also doing mason jars with a mix for the families. Kids are getting a book and Christmas pjs.

They are already talking about our Happy Birthday Jesus party from last year ::.

[snbauser]

We do a spaghetti dinner every year. Ours is this Friday and this wil be our 7th year doing it. It is always on a Friday night at 6pm and everyone is usually done and gone by 8pm because they have been working all day and the kids are young. It is for all enrolled kids and their families. It is very basic - spaghetti, meatballs, bread, salad, and cookies for dessert. The parents all sit together and can relax and talk while we take care of the kids. We feed the kids and then have a craft or 2 for them to do while the parents are still eating. In the week or 2 between Thanksgiving and the dinner we work on a bunch of projects and have them displayed when the parents come in for dinner. So far we have made pinecone Christmas trees and painted paper cups that we will turn into bells. We are also making stockings with their pictures on them, snowflakes, and penguins. The parents love the dinner and look forward to it each year. I have one parent who is no longer here who keeps trying to figure a way to get an invite for this years LOL!! Unfortunately I don't have the room for any more than those currently enrolled.