The 12 Ways of Christmas

December is racing by with calendar doors popping open all over the place and it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! You recently all shared your top tips with us for making Christmas especially exciting. We had some *brilliant* suggestions for sprinkling extra magic over the festive fun and so (along with a few of our own) we thought we'd post a round up here! So here’s our ideas for The 12 Ways of Christmas!

NSPCC Letter from Santa

1. Write and post a letter to Santa - and get a FREE reply courtesy of the Royal Mail - visit www.royalmail.com/letters-to-santa for details (your letter needs to be sent by 14 December 2011 to get a reply by Christmas Eve). Or why not donate to the NSPCC in the process - click here for how. Or if you're lucky enough to have an open fire - let your letter get sucked up the chimney (just like magic!) - but don't forget to arrange your own 'reply'!

2. Visit www.portablenorthpole.tv to get a FREE personalised video message from Santa for your little one. By all accounts, they are AMAZING!

Gingerbread People

3. Get creative in the kitchen - seek out some festive child-friendly recipes on the web - we like the look of these gingerbread people! And if they turn out ok why not bag them up and give some of them away as gifts?



4. Cosy up on the sofa (perhaps with some new PJ's courtesy of an early surprise gift from "Mrs Claus") and watch a classic Christmas movie/cartoon - The Snowman, Home Alone, Disney's Christmas Carol and The Polar Express are just a few of our favourites!



5. Read a Christmas-themed story each night before bedtime in the run up to the big day - we like One Snowy Night, The Grinch and the ever enchanting ‘Twas the Night before Christmas!



6. Take your little one to meet the man himself - Santa! There are so many places to visit Santa in and around Skipton you really are spoiled for choice - you can see him on a train, on a boat, in his grotto, in a caravan in the woods or even in a cave! Check out the MooBaaKids Events page for our pick of the best places to see Santa during December.

Reindeer Dust!

7. Get your Christmas Eve ritual sorted before they go to bed:


* Let them sprinkle some "reindeer dust" (aka dry porridge oats mixed with glitter!) outside your front door so that the reindeer know where to land!
* Put out a mince pie, a glass of your favourite tipple and a carrot for Santa and his reindeer.
* Put out your "Santa Stop Here" sign
* If you don't have a chimney and therefore have trouble explaining how Santa gets in - leave a special "Santa key" out for him (which is any old key - obviously don't use your actual door key - with a bit of red ribbon tied to it!) so that Santa can let himself in
* And if you really want to go to town (and have a helpful volunteer) - with the little ones safely indoors get a friend to dress up as Santa and shake some bells outside the kids' window. Let the little ones listen out for the bells and then let them have a look out of their window to see him for themselves - you could even let them take a photo as 'proof' for years to come! * Don't forget to 'track' Santa on Norad as he delivers presents all around the world on Christmas Eve!

Enchanted Forest at Stockeld Park nr Wetherby

8. Take your little one along to a local festive performance and soak up the atmosphere - could be a pantomime, nativity play or carol service. There are lots of suggestions on our Events page! For a special treat you can't beat The Christmas Adventure at Stockeld Park nr Wetherby. With an enchanted wood (featuring talking trees and twinkly lights), a real ice rink, a magical maze, Santa's grotto, festive cafe and a shop filled to the brim with festive decs, you simply can't go wrong! You can also select and bring your own Christmas tree home with you.



9. For younger ones why not get together with some friends and arrange your own little Christmas party and share the burden - all bring some food, music and arrange a secret santa gift exchange for the kids



10. Put any leftover wrapping paper across the door to your living room and on Christmas day morning let the kids burst through it to discover what Santa has left for them.

Santa's footprints!

11. To PROVE that he exists, sieve some icing sugar over a pair of big wellies/boots by the fireplace / front door to make Santa's snowy footprints (and you can do miniature ones using your little one's shoes for the elves/fairies!)



12. For slightly older kids - slap on some Christmas tunes and let them help decorate the Christmas tree. Or for added excitement and maybe for younger ones, let the "elves" visit at night and put up the Christmas tree while they are alseep in bed - a lovely treat for them to wake up to in the morning!



Whatever you do with your little ones to make the magic countdown special and the big day sparkle, enjoy! Don’t forget to have your camera to hand oh, and be good or Santa will know! x