Every year on the first Saturday of December I host a Grandma Camp. It is a jam packed day from 8am to 8pm entertaining my little sweet peas. We play games, do crafts, and eat all day. It’s an amazing time filled with fun cousin bonding. We call it Christmas Camp.
I wanted to share this year’s Christmas Camp schedule with you along with food and crafts examples. Here are simple ideas on how you can host your own Christmas themed event. For more tips, read my post on How to Run A Successful Grandma Camp here.
Invitation to Set Up Theme
My invitation to Christmas Camp this year was a simple Christmas Card addressed to the campers. I always send invitations the week of my camp. This helps the little ones begin to get excited about the weekend event without having to wait too long for the day to arrive.
Christmas Camp Schedule
I make a schedule for all of my camps to help me plan and prepare for the day. Here is what my Christmas Camp Schedule looked like:
- 8:00-8:30 Arrive at Camp. Decorate Take-Home Buckets
- 8:30-9:00 Reindeer Pancakes
- 9:00-9:30 Ornament Crafts & Bird Feeders
- 9:30-10:15 Reindeer Games
- 10:15-10:30 Candy Cane Hunt & Hand Bird Feeders
- 10:30-11:00 Free time while Grandma prepares lunch
- 11:00-11:45 Lunch and Clean up
- 11:45-12:15 Photo Shoot
- 12:15-1:00 Play dough fun with Christmas cookie cutters
- 1:00-3:00 Chill Zone
- 3:00-3:30 Snack time
- 3:30-4:30 Free time
- 4:30-5:15 Hang Christmas Lights on ‘Gingerbread House’
- 5:15-6:00 Karaoke & Dance Party
- 6:00-6:45 Dinner
- 6:45-7:15 Christmas Lights Walk
- 7:15-7:30 Jammies and Brush Teeth
- 7:30-8:00 How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- 8:00 Parent Pick-Up
Activity Breakdown
I had buckets ready for each child to decorate with Christmas stickers as soon as they arrived. This is where they kept all of their projects and treats when completed. It is a great way to keep things organized. Remember to send home with them at end of night.
Breakfast to Get the Fun Started
Next we had reindeer pancakes for breakfast. It is always fun having some of your food geared around the theme.
Crafts & Service Projects
We do simple Bird Feeders and crafts during our day. I made sure to include craft ideas that were easy enough for the small ones. My ornament ideas and crafts worked on skills such as working with glue and using scissors. This is a great way to work on fine motor development. To ensure that I am not wasting time searching for supplies, I always prep my activities. I precut for the smaller kiddos to guarantee that I am ready for each activity. Here are some more Christmas ornament ideas for kids.
Bird Feeders 
Service Project
It is ok to skip things that you have put on your schedule. You may need to allow for longer engagement on an activity that they are enjoying. I like to plan extra activities that I can easily fit in as well. Some of the kids finish sooner than others and may like something else to do. Being flexible, but organized is key for a fun day.
Themed Activities
We also had a candy can hunt, played board and cards games, colored, had a photo shoot, and watched a Christmas movie. Try this Winter Bingo Printable Game.
More Food Fun
Lunch and Dinner were not Christmas themed foods. It was more important to make meals that I knew my sweet peas would eat. I didn’t want to have hungry campers due to picky eaters.
Our snack later in the evening was a fun treat that did go with the theme. Here is the recipe for The Grinch Muddy Buddies snacks that we devoured during our movie.
Chill Zone
I planned “chill zone” time into our day. Some of my campers still require naps, and the older ones like to have some peace and quiet for a scheduled amount of time. This asured that I didn’t have any grinches ruining the day.
Christmas Lights
Earlier in the day, I took out all of my extra Christmas lights, gaudy garland, Christmas decorations and bows. I locate an empty cardboard refrigerator box to set up in the family room. The sweet peas went to town decorating their own “gingerbread house”.
After dinner, we bundled up and headed out for a walk around the neighborhood. The grandbabies loved seeing all of the beautiful Christmas lights.
End of a Magical Day
About 30 minutes before mommies and daddies arrived, we got on our jammies and brushed our teeth. We put pillows and blankets into our “house” and snuggled in for “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”.
I sat back and relaxed with a warm cup of hot chocolate, reflecting on my fun day with my sweet grandbabies. I hope this gives you some great ideas on how you can host your own Christmas Grandma Camp. Send me some pictures and comments when you do! 🧡 ~Susie Pea
Here are some more fun ideas that I do with my sweet peas. Mud Kitchens, Geocaching with Kids, & Easy Animal Habitats to Make with Kids. And just added, Family Traditions that Bind Us.
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I can hardly wait to do grandma camp!
It really is a great time! Don’t forget to enlist help from great grandmas and teenaged cousins if you need. Sometimes we need a few more hands!
You are very creative. Keep up ideas like your granny camp. As a retired working mom, looking for fun things to do with grandkids. Loved your camp ideas! Great illustrations!