Are you a parent? If so, are you children looking forward to Christmas this year? Whether your children are toddlers or teenagers, there is a good chance that they are excited with what Christmas may bring. In the weeks and days leading up to Christmas, you will find that their excitement just keeps on building. To hang on to that excitement, you may want to think about decorating your home for Christmas. Decorating your home for Christmas is a great way to keep your children’s excitement going strong until Christmas does finally arrive. When it comes to decorating for Christmas, you will find that you have a number of different options. Your first impulse may be to decorate your home on your own, but you may want to think about letting your children help you. You will find that there are, literally, an unlimited number of benefits to letting your children help you decorate for Christmas, no matter how young or old they are. As previously mentioned, there are a number of benefits to letting your children help you decorate your home for Christmas, no matter what their age. Despite the fact that children of all ages could benefit from helping you decorate for Christmas, there are some children who could benefit more than others. For instance, young children, especially toddlers, are in the learning stages of their life. This stage is where children can benefit the most from a small amount of responsibility and encouragement. Encouraging your children to help you decorate for Christmas, by hanging up pictures or by completing another small task, you could be encouraging them to use their mind, their imagination, and their decorating skills!Perhaps, the best way to go about decorating your home for Christmas is together. Unfortunately, in today’s world families don’t get to spend as much time with each other as they should. That is one of the reasons why Christmas is so important; it is one of the times when all families get to come together. Instead of decorating for Christmas by yourself or letting your children do it all, you all should decorate for Christmas. In addition to helping build up the Christmas spirit, decorating for Christmas as a family is one of the best ways to spending well needed bonding time together. The best part of decorating, for your kids, may be the actual decorating process, but there is something else that your kids may also enjoy. They may also enjoy helping you pick out Christmas decorations. By taking your kids with you to the store, they could easily help you pick out Christmas decorations. If you are shopping for Christmas decorations on a budget, you are advised to visit your local dollar store or department store. These stores usually have low-cost Christmas decorations, many of which will appeal to children. If, by some chance, you can’t find the decorations that you or your children were looking for, you could easily make their own Christmas decorations. In fact, making homemade Christmas decorations is another fun experience, all on its own. Regardless of whether or not you ask your children for assistance, when decorating your home for Christmas, you are urged to decorate. For children, Christmas decorations help to keep them excited about the upcoming holiday. That is why Christmas decorations are an important part of the holiday season.
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Why You Must Allow Your Children Decorate Your Home for Christmas
Christmas Decoration Opinion for Children
Are you a parent? If so, there is a good chance that you already know just how much kids love the holidays. That is why you may want to think about letting your children help you decorate for Christmas. In fact, in addition to just letting them help you hang Christmas decorations, you may also want to let them make their own handmade Christmas decorations. Not only will you find that there are a number of benefits to doing so, but you will also find that there are a number of fun and exciting Christmas decorations that they can easily make. Almost every family that celebrates Christmas has a Christmas tree; therefore, there is a good chance that your family will have one. One fun and exciting Christmas craft project that your children could do involves making their own Christmas ornaments. Christmas ornaments can be made from regular paper or any other type of material. In fact, you can purchase a number of Christmas ornament cutouts or guides from your local craft store. These ornament pieces are likely plain, but already shaped like something, such as a star or a cross. It would be up to your child to paint their ornament. This type of Christmas decoration craft project is great for small children or those who may be making their own Christmas decorations for the first time. In addition to Christmas trees, a large number of families have small Christmas signs or pictures throughout their home. These signs and pictures often state a Christmas message or have a picture of Santa. Your children could easily make their own paintings or drawings, often with the supplies that can already be found inside your home. Your child’s picture would likely look great on your refrigerator or you could even frame the picture and hang it up somewhere else inside your home. This type of Christmas decoration craft project is ideal for children of any age and, as previously mentioned, is a great way to save money since you likely already have all of the needed supplies. Another fun Christmas decoration that your children could do is make a centerpiece for your dinning room table. In fact, you may also want to use that centerpiece for your Christmas dinner. If you are looking for a somewhat elegant centerpiece, you could easily have your children make their own. You can do this by purchasing artificial flowers, a large bowl or vase, as well as other decorative items. Your children can easily arrange these items to create their own unique centerpieces for your dinning room table. It may also be a good idea to let them be crafty. Your child may also be able to create a centerpiece in the shape of Santa or a Christmas tree by using construction paper and a few other small supplies. The above mentioned Christmas craft decoration ideas for kids are just a few of the many that exist. In addition to using your own craft ideas, you can also find a number of other fun Christmas craft projects for kids online. You can find a collection of ideas by performing a standard internet search. Also, in your local library or at one of your local book stores, you may also be able to find a collection of Christmas craft books for children. These books tend to outline the supplies needed, as well as give detailed directions on how to make Christmas decorations. These decorations may include Christmas drawings or paintings, tree ornaments, table centerpieces, and much more. Regardless of which type of Christmas decorations you allow your child or children to make, they will likely enjoy the experience, especially if you participate as well. For a child, there is nothing like seeing their Christmas drawings hanging on the walls or their Christmas ornaments hanging on the tree. That is why you are advised to let your children make their own Christmas decorations. As mentioned above, there are a number of decorations that they can easily create; decorations that may require little time and money.
How the Child (Children) Decorate the Christmas
Children are innocent and they love the Christmas holidays very much, especially they like helping their parents decorate for Christmas. Children are fond of making their own handmade Christmas decorations, and there is a lot of exciting Christmas decorations that they can easily make.
For small children or those who may be making their own Christmas decorations for the first time, you can buy some ornament cutouts or guides shaped like star or cross from your local craft store, and then the child can paint according to these shapes. Besides this, Christmas ornaments can be made from regular paper or any other type of material.
For children of any age, it is very easy for your children to make their own Christmas paintings or drawings with the supplies found inside your home. Parents can put the paintings on your refrigerator or you could even frame the picture and hang it up somewhere else. Children can draw paintings on a large sheet of paper. After drawing, parents can use it as wrapping paper. This makes a double gift and a ideal way to save money.
Children will be excited if you use centerpiece for your dining room table. With artificial flowers, a large bowl or vase, some Christmas balls, as well as other decorative items, the children can create a somewhat elegant centerpiece. It is easy for them to arrange these items to create their own unique centerpieces for your dining room table. They may be able to create a centerpiece in the shape of an Angel, a Santa or a Christmas tree by using construction paper if your children are a little older.
Children will enjoy the experience no matter what kinds of Christmas decorations you allow your child or children to make, especially if you participate as well. For a child, the favorite thing they want to happen is seeing their Christmas drawings hanging on the walls or their Christmas ornaments hanging on the tree.
Holidays With Children in Barcelona – Arriving in Barcelona, Getting Around Barcelona, Barcelona Family Attractions and Parks, Play Areas and Beaches
In recent years, Barcelona has established itself as one of Europe´s most popular tourist destinations, and it is not difficult to understand why. With its balmy all-year climate, its avant-garde architecture, its burgeoning gastronomy, its fabulous beaches, proximity to the Costa Brava & ski-slopes as well as its eclectic mix of shops, Catalunya´s capital can be justly proud of what it has to offer visitors. Transformed by the 1992 Olympics, the city has attracted millions of curious independent travellers and, in the last few years, it has become increasingly popular as a family destination. The website mumabroad. com, a local site written by parents living in Barcelona with recommendations from local mums, shows you why the city has so much to offer kids, from its child-friendly accommodation and restaurants to its numerous outdoor activities and day-trips.
Arriving in Barcelona with the kids
Nowadays there are many airlines who operate in and out of Barcelona and not surprisingly most visitors arrive by air. Below we have listed a few options on how to reach the city centre. The most popular option is the Airport Bus due to its frequency and ease of access from the airport. Taxis can be expensive and most won´t have car seats although Spanish law requires that all children under three years of age must use a child seat. Failure to do so will result in a fine of 90 euros.
Barcelona Taxis
Just outside the arrivals hall you will find the Barcelona Airport taxi rank. Fares to Barcelona cost approximately 25 Euros and the journey time is around 30 minutes.
Barcelona Airport Bus
The Barcelona Airport Bus stops in front of Terminals A, B (Arrivals) and C and takes passengers to the centre of Barcelona (Plaza Catalunya). Departures from Mondays to Saturdays from the airport are from 6am to 1am; and from Plaza de Catalunya from 5:30am to 12:15am. Buses run every 7 to 15 minutes. Single Fare: 3. 90 euros
Barcelona Airport Train
The Barcelona Airport train station is located opposite the arrivals and departure halls. The Line C10 goes to Barcelona Sants and takes around 30 minutes and costs 2. 50 euros. The first train from the airport is at 6am and the trains run at 30 minute intervals until 11. 44pm. From Barcelona Sants it is likely you will need to take the metro or a taxi as it is not in the centre of town.
Getting Around Barcelona with the kids
Barcelona By Metro
The Barcelona Metro is not such a popular choice for young families visiting the city, due to the fact that there are a limited amount of lifts for buggies, which means accessing the trains can be a real chore. Travel is cheap however and you can purchase a book of 10 tickets for around 7 euros. The ticket is valid for any journey on the metro although if you need a new ticket for journeys on the same day. For many, taxis are the transport of choice (see below). However if you are visiting Barcelona with older kids or if you decide to brave the system anyway, the timetable is below:
Mondays -Thursdays, Sundays & Holidays: 5am to 12am.
Fridays: 5am to 2am
Saturdays: Non-stop service
Barcelona By Taxi
For many families, taxis are the transport of choice as they are relatively cheap and even ones without car seats will accept young babies and toddlers for short journeys. You can flag them down (green light means they are empty) or many hotels will also call a taxi on your behalf. Be warned though English is not widely spoken amongst taxi drivers in Barcelona so it is a good idea to write down your destination on a piece of paper.
Barcelona By Tourist Bus
The open top double-decker Barcelona Bus Turístic is a fantastic way to get around Barcelona with little ones (children under 4 travel for free). You can hop off or hop on at any of the 44 stops. You will receive an information guide about each of the enroute attractions as well as a discount voucher booklet. The buses go between every 5-25 minutes and the timetable is at each of the 44 stops. First buses call at most stops between 9am and 9. 30am A one day ticket for adults costs 20 euros and for children (4-12) 12 euros. You can buy tickets on the bus or at any of the tourist offices in Barcleona. The service operates daily apart from 25th December and 1st January.
Family Attractions in Barcelona
Nou Camp Tour
An absolute must for all football-mad kids. The guided tour of the third biggest football stadium in the world includes visiting the stadium,tunnel & pitch area. Admission: 11,50 euros adults 9,20 euros for children under 13 years.
Av. Aristides Maillo 12-18 Metro Collblanc, Les Corts, Badal or Maria Christina
Barcelona Zoo
Zoos aren´t everyone´s cup of tea, but Barcelona Zoo has a lot to offer children. As well as big cats, penguins, gorillas, hippos, bears etc there is a twice daily dolphin show at and a children´s farm with pigs, horses, rabbits & guinea pigs. The play area in the centre of the zoo is excellent, including a mini absail area and climbing frames. On the downside drinks & snacks are quite expensive and it gets very crowded at weekends. Open from 10am until 7pm in summer and until 6pm in the winter.
Parc Zoologic de Barcelona S. A, Parc de la Ciutadela s/n, 08003 Barcelona Metro Arc de Trionfo or Barceloneta (+34) 932256780 www. zoobarcelona. com
Barcelona Aquarium
This is the largest aquarium in Europe and includes an interactive space called Explora. Admission: Adults 13 euros. Children 4-12 years 9 euros. Under 4s free. Worth it just for walking in the vast transparent shark tunnel! There is a really good interactive children´s area. You are also among the shops and restaurants of the Maremagnum – a good place for lunch. Open 9. 30am – 9pm.
Moll d’Espanya, Port Vell. Metro Drassanes (+34) 932217474
Tours of Barcelona
If you come to Barcelona with your children, fear not! Organised tours take place in the old town which can be enjoyed by parents and children alike. The idea is to include visits, games and stories to keep the attention of the younger ones (and the odd easily-distracted adults). These might include an artisanal sweet shop where they can see how the candies are made, an original toy workshop, an old-fashioned milk bar where they can indulge in a creamy traditional milkshake, guessing games in the food market, and more. With the little ones occupied, there is time to explain to the grown-ups of the group the anecdotes on the history, culture, cuisine and associated tales of the city.
Poble Espanyol
This is a mini-disneyland with every Spanish region in cameo and it provides great day out for children. Entry is 8 euros for adults and 5 euros for kids. Family ticket 16 euros (with children between 7 and 12 years). Opening times Monday 9am – 8pm Tuesday to Thursday 9am – 2am Friday 9am – 4am Saturday 9am – 5am Sunday 9am -midnight
Metro Espanya. Buses 55, 13. Tourist Bus Stop:Poble Espanyol (+34) 935086300 www. poble-espanyol. com
Tibidabo Amusement Park
Mix of fun rides and state-of-the-art attractions including a multimedia experience which allows children become part of a cartoon. There is also a mechanical Puppet museum dating back to 1899. Entrance fee: adults 15 euros, children under 110cm height 4 euros. Unlimited use of rides and attractions. Open every day from 11am apart from Christmas Day and Boxing Day
3-4 Plaza del Tibidabo By Train: Get FGC from Plaza Catalunya to Avenida Tibidabo then follow signposts to the Tramvia Blau at the end of Balmes in Placa John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Take the Tramvia to the Mirablau and then the Funicular to the top of the Mountain. By Bus: Take the Tibibus from Plaza Catalunya
Port Aventura Theme Park
Hugely popular theme park around an hour outside Barcelona. You can be flung around eight inverted loops on Dragon Khan (supposedly the largest roller-coaster in Europe) or get soaked on Tutuki Splash. There are also shows with bubbles, birds of paradise, Mexican and Chinese themes.
Located near Salou/La Pineda, off A7. Buses go from from Passeig de Sant Joan and for trains from Passeig de Gracia. Look for trains on the Salou line and you need to get off at Port Aventura. The park also has areas designated for small children such as play areas, small rides, children´s swimming pools and the hotels offer special services for children such as menus, entertainment and monitor led activities. There are many baby changing facilities at the park and you are also able to rent prams.
Chocolate Museum
Located in an ancient convent in Calle Comerc (number 36) in el Borne, children can learn everything about chocolate including its medicinal, nutritional and aphrodisiac qualities. There are also some fantastic chocolate sculputures and workshops to teach you how to make chocolate. Best of all you can sample the goods! Admission 3,6 euros
Las Golondrinas
Double decker pleasureboats take you from the harbour to the breakwater. Good fun, good value with some great views of the city. Every half hour leaving from the bottom of Las Ramblas until 7pm. Adults 5 euros children up to 12 years 2,50 euros
Montserrat
Half the fun is getting there. The cog railway up the mountain is a must for children and railway enthusiasts alike . Once there, children will be awestruck by the wacky shaped rocks and for the more active there are numerous walking tracks, caves. Montserrat is of course famous for being the home of Our Lady of Montserrat and a Benedictine monastery.
Trains (R5) go from Placa d’Espanya metro. You can either get a train and cable car ride or just the train (and rack railway). Journey is approx one hour and they leave at a quarter to the hour. Get out at Montserrat Aeri Station if you have chosen the cable car or in Monistrol de Montserrat station to change to the Rack railway.
Magic Fountains of Montjuic (Font Magica)
This is a great stop for some evening entertainment for the children. The Font Magica is a colourful water and classical music extravaganza held each night. Thurs-Sun 9pm, 9. 30pm, 10pm, 10. 30pm, 11pm. From October to April just Fridays and Saturdays 7pm, 7. 30pm, 8pm and 8. 30pm
La plaza de Carles Buïgas, just above the Avenida de Maria Cristina. Metro Espanya . Walk towards the MNAC between the two large towers at Placa Espanya
Beaches, Parks and Play Areas for Kids in Barcelona
Park Güell
Probably the world´s most enchanting public park created by Barcelona´s most famous son, Antón Gaudí. Loosely based on Hampstead Heath in London, the park boasts sparkling mosaic stairways, multicoloured buildings and fairytale fountains. It is pure fantasty and kids will love it.
How to get there: Bus 24 from Plaza Catalunya stops right outside the main entrance. Metro Vallcarca (walk out the metro down Avenida Militar for 4 blocks, turn left at Baixada de La Gloria and take the outdoor escalators to the Park entrance. It is signposted).
Ciutadella Park & Play area
The Ciutudella Park is Barcelona´s most centrally located green space, sandwiched between the districts of Poble Nou, Barceloneta and San Pere. For families, there are a huge amount of facilities and activities including the Zoo, the Geology Museum, the Hivernacle (currenlty being renovated) and the boating lake. You can also rent out bikes at the main entrance (www. bicing. com). Located at the top end of the lake, twice daily toddlers can enjoy free toys and games in addition to the permanent swings and slides. There is even a sprinkler in the summer which the kids love! 11am-2pm every day and 4. 30pm-6. 30/7pm from mid september to mid June. 5. 30pm-8. 30pm from mid June to mid September
Mar Bella & Base Nautica
Mar Bella beach is about a 20 minute walk north of the Port Olimpic (left facing the water) and probably the most child-friendly of all of Barcelona´s beaches. It is clean and quiet and you can find a children´s play-area, lifeguards, sunbed hire, showers and a beach restaurant (chiringuito). The Base Nautica is can also based here, where you can hire small sailing boats, canoes and kayaks.
Parc de Collserola
Often overlooked but this Natural Park is literally a breath of fresh air and so close to the centre of town. The park is huge (22 times the size of New York´s Central Park) – the largest city park in the world. The information centre provides numerous walking guides and hikes to Tibidabo, the Torre de Collserola or the town of Vallvidrera.
Take train to Baixador de Vallvidrera from Plaza Catalunya and you arrive right in it.
Barceloneta
Barceloneta beach is popular with families due to its proximity with a huge choice of restaurants and the pedestrian walkway along Passeig Maritim, where you can also cycle. The beach gets very crowded in summer but is regularly cleaned. Likewise the water – for a city beach – is suprisingly clean. We suggest you don´t plonk yourself on the nearest available space but walk a little further on towards the Olympic Port where it gets much less crowded.
Metro Barceloneta or any Passeig Maritim bus route. For daily information on the city´s beaches call (+34) 934810053
Parc del Laberint d’Horta
This 17 acre park really warrants a short trip from town. It is a fairytale park with its pretty walkways, canal, romantic gardens, cascade and of course, the maze which kids will love. Entrance fee 1,90 euros
Pg Castanyers 1. Directly behind the Velodrome. Metro Mundet.
