Morning folks...

My Daycare Christmas Party is coming up this Sunday and it has been a really different experience from previous years. I used to rent out the OEYC but they are no longer accepting private rentals. It was a blessing because the whole place was kitted out with toys of every nature. I literally turned up with food, had full use of the big kitchen and made arrangements for a Santa to come and visit. This year I also found out that my Santa has retired so I have had the task of finding another one who isn't ridiculously expensive and/or looks like they belong on a wanted poster.

So I have rented out a function room at a local town facility. I have use of the onsite kitchen also. I eventually found a Santa who I feel pretty good about too. I've had to put a lot more time and effort into planning activities to keep the kids entertained.

I bought a 5 ft cardboard house for them to decorate with their families. I have paint dabbers, crayola products aswell as tinsel, battery operated lights, stick on decals and all number of decorations to stick to the house. It is also big enough for the kids to go in and out of.

I have a hopscotch rug and bean bags.

Cinnamon scented play dough which I will make similarly to salt dough. We will make decorations from it and they will be sent home a few days later.

I always make reindeer food with them. I fill my sand and water table with a mix of coloured sugar and rolled oats. I have little pots and spoons so they can fill and dump and when they are finished they put the lid on and decorate with stickers. They sprinkle this out as an annual tradition on their front yard for the reindeer on Xmas Eve.

I also have some huge jumbo colouring pads and crayons.

I also take a big rocking chair that I decorate for Santa and my own kids are going to set up an artificial tree and decorate it so when Santa visits there is a nice backdrop for photographs.

Food this year I have been far less ambitious due in part to the extra work involved in activities. Meatballs, puff pastry appetisers, veggie and meat, kale salad, blt pasta salad, ham and cheese sliders, veggie tray, stuffed mushrooms and leek and potato salad. One of my daycare parents is a wicked baker and is on maternity leave. She asked if she could help so she is making ginger cookies which will be half dipped in white chocolate and then covered with sprinkles. Also shortbread bites and Christmas tree cupcakes. I am also making a winter fruit salad.

I can't tell you how much I love to entertain so this really isn't any trouble for me. I love doing it outside of the home as it means that more of the adult family members and extended family are able to attend and see the kids in a way they may not often get to see. Also the house decorating activity is a great opportunity for parents and grandparents to actually play with their children.

I went to the book outlet last weekend and really lucked out by getting in on a one day $1 book sale. I always buy special books as the gifts from Santa. It cost me a whole $1 per kid. I love a good bargain!

I don't typically do my Xmas party this early which has thrown me off a little but in some ways it will probably be good to get it over and done with earlier so I can have all of my December weekends for family stuff.

During December in my daycare I have lots of activities planned. I plan my activities in September and place an order on line for all my crafting needs. We are decorating paper mache gingerbread ornaments, making jingle bell reindeer decorations, pasta wreaths, pom pom xmas trees and more. Every year I cut out a huge Xmas tree from green poster board for each child and stick them to the wall. Each day they add another decoration to the tree and then it goes home on the last day of care. I have a felt Xmas tree with decorations, a small artificial tree with small baubles for them to decorate over and over...a great fine motor activity, and I have a Xmas treasure basket which is full of Santa hats and plastic baubles. I also go to the library and take out enough books for 1 a day xmas story time. I wrap them up and each day the kids take it in turns unwrapping a book and we read it as a group. For Family Xmas gifts I have DIY picture snowglobes. I have 2 sets of siblings so needed to purchase less globes which saved me money, and I will wrap them up as gifts for the parents.

I am off from Dec 23rd to Jan 2nd included. I usually take the whole school break off but in 2017 I have quite a bit of time off planned in March, the Summer and October in addition to my usual Xmas time off so I opted for a shorter break.

Do other providers have plans? Parties, activities, outings? I'm a little nuts for this time of year, can you tell?!? lol I love arts and crafts and I have an amazing group right now so can't wait to get started on all of my plans on Monday!!