For children, the excitement of Christmas often centres on the big day itself, but for many parents, the real joy can come a little later. The quiet stretch between Christmas and New Year – often called Twixmas or sometimes Twixtmas (from the word betwixt, meaning “between”) – is a chance to slow down and enjoy time together without the pressures of the usual routine.
While this period can be perfect for rest, we know it’s not always easy to switch off completely – and children often have energy to spare! So here are some simple, affordable ideas to help you make the most of this welcome winter window.
Get outdoors
Nature is a wonderful antidote to the festive rush. Fresh air and gentle exercise can help everyone feel refreshed – and it’s a lovely way to spend time together.
Wrap up warm and head out for a winter walk in a local park or woodland. Here are some ways to turn it into an adventure:
- Spot wildlife.
- Look for frosty patterns on leaves.
- Take photos of wintry landscapes to create a family memory album.
For more ideas, take a look at our articles: Ways to enjoy the outdoors with your family this Christmas and Ideas for spending time with a child when there’s ‘nothing to do’.
Start those New Year’s resolutions early
If you’re thinking about healthy habits for the year ahead, Twixmas can be a good time to start small. Although self-improvement can be seen as a chore, it can also be empowering to set in motion changes that will make us healthier and happier in the long run.
Some changes work better when you’re liberated from worrying about work or the school run and can change your daily habits (such as quitting smoking) but some also benefit from the extra time you have – for example cooking more healthily. With that in mind, here are some recipe ideas that are great for cooking as a family:
And if you and your family want to introduce a bit more activity into your days, see our article: How to get active as a family – and keep the habit going.
Stay indoors and get cosy
If bad weather is putting everyone off going out, that’s okay! Twixmas is also about relaxing. Make the most of time at home with:
- A family movie night – let everyone take a turn at picking a favourite.
- Board games or jigsaw puzzles.
- A creative afternoon – build with LEGO, draw, or bake something simple.
For ideas to help you spend quality time with the very youngest members of the family, read our article about Baby sensory activities to try this Christmas.
Switch off (literally)
Phones and tablets are great for keeping in touch, but they can also be distracting. Why not try a short digital detox? Put devices away for an hour and:
- Read a book together (for support with this, see our article Tips to get children reading).
- Share stories from your own childhood.
- Play a board game, or another game that doesn’t need screens.
For more ideas on connecting offline, see Having meaningful conversations with children and young people.
It’s playtime
Play is vitally important for children, helping them develop socialisation skills and literacy. Playing also provides a safe space for children to make mistakes and teaches them that sometimes learning new skills takes time. Not only that, but it’s good for the grown-ups to have some fun too. So don’t be afraid to strap on your kneepads and show them how not to use the skateboard they got for Christmas!
Read more in The role of play in child development and how you can play more with your child and How playing with your child brings your family closer.
Reflect and look ahead
Twixmas is a natural pause before the new year begins – all the calendar milestones are behind us, but the new year hasn’t yet started. Take a moment to think about what you’ve enjoyed this year and what you’d like to do more of.
Some families write down hopes for the year ahead and tuck them away with the decorations. This can be a lovely tradition that shows how much can change in a year. One mum told us how her family does this:
“Every year we put a note in our decoration box saying what we wish for in the following year. It’s something my parents did, and that my grandma did with my mum before that. It really shows how much things can change in a year, such as when my mum wasn’t very well one year and was struggling with depression. She wrote a note wishing to be happier and when she read the note the following year she was so much better, which was wonderful.
“I’ve done it since I was a child and at the beginning I used to wish for silly stuff, like bigger toys. But as I got older it became more personal – like when I was pregnant and I asked for a healthy baby. Instead, it became about my hopes and dreams.”
We hope you enjoy this special time and start the new year feeling relaxed and happy. But if you’re finding family life difficult for any reason, FamilyLine is here with free support, practical information and guidance.
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