Here at STAG Mumbler, we are always keen to hear your recommendations of things for our Mumblers to do during the holidays. If you have any suggestions, or you’re running a festive business, activity or event, simply drop us an email telling us all about it at stag@mumbler.co.uk and we’ll get you listed!
We are adding to this page all the time, so please keep checking back.
Have you checked out our Christmas Food & Drink Inspiration page? From homemade festive baking treats, turkey tips, to the ultimate roast potatoes, we’ve packed it full of ideas.
Here at STAG Mumbler, we know how hard it can be when Christmas is fast approaching and how busy and challenging this time 
of year can be for many parents and carers.
Perhaps some of these things are going through your mind as you read this….
Who’s coming for Christmas this year? Who do I need to buy for? What do I buy them? Where can we hide all the presents?
Should we send cards or do charitable donations, adopt a donkey, or perhaps spend a crafty afternoon trying to do homemade cards with the children?
What on earth am I going to do, the limited edition doll they want is out of stock everywhere!!
If you like the main tree to look extra special (i.e. done by you to your high standards), why not buy a baby tree for the children to decorate themselves and then they can have their very own special tree.
adding a little note in it from that year. The book can then be passed down the family tree. Imagine reading the same book you knew your grandparents had read to your parents each Christmas Eve and reading their memories and imagining what it was like for them.
Christmas is a great time for taking family photos, but not everyone likes to pose. Make it more fun with this little game. Get everyone to write a series of poses, animals or celebrities etc on a piece of paper and put them in a bowl. Take it in turns to pull out the paper, strike a pose to match the paper and let everyone guess who or what you are. Nominate someone to be on standby with a camera for each one and you’re guaranteed to get some great and no doubt very funny pics.Wishing all of our wonderful Mumblers and their families, a super special Christmas and amazing New Year.
What on earth is Hygge we hear you ask?If you haven’t discovered it yet, it’s an absolute must! We first discovered it a year or so ago and just love everything it stands for.
Oxford Dictionaries describe Hygge as ‘A quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture)’.
STAG Mumbler describes it as ‘An opportunity to break the routine of normal life, spend quality time together as a family, doing 
the things you might not normally make time to do…..all wrapped up in the ultimate of cosyness.’
The cold, dark nights are coming and the shops are already taking the wrapping off their Christmas delights. While we know some mumblers are yearning the summer back, here at STAG we just adore winter, it’s probably why we have two Christmas babies. December is certainly our favourite time of the year.
cosy matching socks, the choice is yours.
games, telling ghost stories, sharing your favourite memories of the year, chatting about your dream holiday and what it might look like, telling jokes, playing with lego, making Christmas cards, singing your favourite songs, playing the guitar….the list is endless.
Our first tip is to try and add some variety to your walking route so you are not doing the same old circuit again and again. If possible try and change your route as much as you can to try and see new things. Play some of the games below whilst walking along or have an I spy list so you have something to look out for. That always seems to make sure little legs don’t get as tired.
This idea is pretty similar to how you might pass time on a long car journey. Try and think of different games you can play together whilst walking along. Here are a few suggestions:
Make up your own simple ‘I spy’ lists to take out on your walk and tick off. You can do a new list each time you go out. You can include anything from road signs to nature! We’ve listed some ideas below:
If you have a magnifying glass, why keep your eyes on the ground and go looking for some bugs in your street. Just remember not to touch or pick anything up. Just look at the insects if you are out in public. If you want to do some real bug hunting, and if you have a garden, then that is the safest place for a full bug hunt.
Letting your child take some photos can add some variety to your daily walk and they will probably love being in charge of the camera. Try writing a list before you go out of things to photograph. It’s also a good way to ‘collect’ the items on your ‘I spy’ lists.
You could set a theme for the photos you take on your walk and print them off when you get home to turn into a collage.
Of course, you also get to enjoy ‘editing’ 3 million photos from your camera/phone when you get home. 😂
Ok, so it’s not going to be as fun as a trip to the park, but why not try balancing on any lines you see, not standing on the cracks or jumping over any covers in the pavements. Please engage in this activity responsibly, and remember to keep at least 2 metres apart from others not in your family at all times.
As a lot of us are simply walking around our local neighbourhoods at the moment there are probably plenty of road and street signs to see. Ask your child to read the signs or ask them what they think they mean.
You could design your own trail for your children around your local streets. Decide on a simple circular route and write down basic directions and clues for them to solve. The clues can be based on street signs, road signs or shop names, even manhole covers – there are plenty of words out there when you start looking. The answer to the clue should reveal one letter and then all the answers (letters) make up an anagram your child needs to work out at the end.
Why not try to beat your previous day’s step count…another lap around the block anyone? 😂
Or you could do the same walk a few times and see if you can beat your time! Might get everyone moving along to try and shave a few seconds off your personal best!
Give your child a map (either print off a map of your local area or use your phone). You can teach your child how to read the map, identify north and south, and try to navigate. Maybe you can encourage your child to plan a route or draw a map of your route before you head out.
You could also use a mapping app on your phone and show your child how to use it.
With special thanks to our lovely sister site, York Mumbler for this super blog.
If there’s ever a time board games have come into their own, its now! We’ve pulled together a few of the most popular board games by age and listed them below – it might remind you of an old favourite or introduce you to a new one. Have fun ❤️
😍 These are just a few we’ve played ourselves or seen recommended time and time again – if you know of any you think others would enjoy PLEASE share them.
⭐️For really little ones (aged around 3)
❤️Hasbro Cootie
This game lets your little ones build their own bug – the player who builds their bug first wins. Helps your little ones learn body parts as well as unleashing their creativity as they build different bugs each time. A real hit with parents and kids alike.
❤️Orchard Toys Shopping List Memory Game
Orchard’s best feeling game! Players turn over cards to match items on their shopping list. They’e encouraged to say their item out loud before adding it to their trolley. My 3 year old played this with her 2 year old friend and they both got stuck in.
❤️Candyland
A real favourite amongst families, it’s one of the few games which are genuinely suitable for younger kids as it requires no reading or strategy – players simply have to follow directions. With characters named Giggly Gumdrop and Mally Mallo, whats not to love?!
⭐️For ages 4-6
❤️Peppa Pig Muddy Puddle
You really can’t escape her. If she isn’t on your TV she’s in your living room in the form of a game. Little ones love her though so if anything’s going to hold their attention, its a Peppa Pig Muddy Puddle game! With easy to understand rules, the aim is to get George to Peppa by jumping through muddy puddles with the help of Peppa’s friends, being sure to avoid any holes which might appear along the way.
❤️Orangutwang
Along the same lines as the ever popular Buckaroo, players take turns to hang animals and fruit on the orangutang until it all gets too much and he throws them off! Easy to set up and requires no thought so a good bet for younger kids.
❤️Charades for Kids
Who doesn’t love a game of charades?! The beauty of this game is that the whole family can join in – as well as written cards there’s also picture cards so even the really little ones can play along.
⭐️For ages 6-8
❤️Spy Code Operation Escape Room
Enjoy the excitement of an Escape room challenge from the comfort of your living room! This game, often said to be as much fun for adults as kids, tests your spy skills by challenging you to solve a series of tasks to free the captured player before the time runs out. Encourages team work and problem solving.
❤️Battleship
Battleship is the classic naval combat game which lets you hold head to head battles. You must search for the enemy’s fleet and then destroy them one by one whilst protecting your own fleet.
❤️Bank Attack
You’ll need to work together as a team under intense pressure to crack the vault and release the gold hidden inside! Each player will be given a role and you’ll then use and swap tools to open the vault in 5 minutes before the alarm goes off. It’s making me nervous just writing about it!!
⭐️For ages 8-10
❤️Monopoly Voice Banking
This game is proving hugely popular with families. It features lights and sounds, and comes with an interactive Mr Monopoly banking unit. Mr Monopoly is the Banker and manages the players’ money via his top hat. Players travel around the board aiming to be the person with the most money and highest property value to win!
❤️Stoopido
Some light hearted fun, everyone looks silly playing the Stoopido Game. Kids will love making their parents look ridiculous by piling them up with plastic glasses, noses, hats, ears and eyes.
❤️Make and Break
Race against the clock to build the most structures in the allotted time. Try to replicate as many of the structures on the cards as you can in the time indicated by the dice – the cards vary in difficulty but it’s the luck of the draw which challenge you’ll have to do.
⭐️For ages 10 and over
❤️Einstein Eats Eggs
A twist on classic charades, the box holds 1,200 crazy alliterative phrases like the colossal chickens clucked. You have to describe them and your teammates need to guess as many as they can in 90 seconds. A lot of fun for all ages.
❤️How To Rob A Bank
One player is the bank, the others are the robbers. You must plan your actions using the playing cards but keep your strategy a secret. Then take turns revealing your actions by moving, picking up money bags, triggering alarms, and more!
❤️Know Quiz
kNOW! is the first board game that is powered by the Google Assistant, which means that you can play a multi-activity quiz game that is always evolving and up-to-date.
Ask questions that have never been possible to ask in a quiz game before:
“Hey Google, how many days until Christmas?”
“Hey Google, how many episodes of “Midsomer Murders” are there?”
With over 1,500 questions for you and other players to compete, you can ask your
Google Assistant for the most up-to-date answers to see who wins!
On Instagram? You can follow us on there too at @mumbler_selby_tad_and_goole_
More info for 2023 coming soon
Is there a more magical time of year to pick up a book?
Check if your local library is taking part.
We’ve brought back one of our old favourite blogs this year to help assist you with some Elf inspirationIn our experience, parents of younger children can be grouped into the following categories:
At STAG HQ we have a parent from two of the above camps. Kathryn made a very wise decision a few years ago to opt out of this modern Christmas tradition. She knew that making a commitment to moving an elf around every night would not fit in with her already crazy December calendar of Christmas things to remember, attend and prepare for. I however, decided to dive in with both feet having been inspired by a friend of mine on Facebook who was documenting her Elf on the Shelf antics. There have certainly been times where I have regretted doing so – like when I remember that I haven’t moved the elf in the middle of the night, or when I am completely out of ideas, but I have to say that I absolutely adore doing it and look forward to the month of December. I would also definitely say that I enjoy it more than my girls seem to as well but hopefully they’ll look back at the photographs one day and appreciate the effort?! They will right??
So whatever camp you’re in, I thought it would be nice to share a few of my personal tips for anyone needing or wanting inspiration. If you’ve been an Elf on the Shelf convert for years or if you’re just thinking of starting the tradition this year, then hopefully you’ll find this blog helpful.
Top Tips for ‘Elfing’:
Happy ‘Elfing’ Mumblers and I know it’s early but have a fantastic December!
Caroline x x
We love a good quiz here at STAG HQ, but we know it can take time to pull one together, so we’ve done it for you. Be it face to face or via Zoom, sit back, relax and have fun with family.QUESTIONS
1.How many ghosts show up in A Christmas Carol?
Four
2. Elvis isn’t going to have a white Christmas he’s going to have a….
Blue Christmas
3. Which Hollywood actor played six different roles in The Polar Express?
Tom Hanks
4. Which country did eggnog come from?
England
5. Which country started the tradition of putting up a Christmas tree?
Germany
6. According to the song, what did my true love give to me on the eighth day of Christmas?
Eight maids a milking
7. How many gifts in total were given in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” song?
364
8. How do you say “Merry Christmas” in Spanish?
Feliz Navidad
9. Three of Santa’s reindeer’s names begin with the letter “D.” What are those names?
Dancer, Dasher, and Donner
10. What was the first company that used Santa Claus in their advertising?
Coca-Cola
11. Which author wrote the book “A Christmas Carol?”
Charles Dickens
12. What is the date of St. Stephen’s Day?
The 26th December
13. According to legend, London sweet shop owner Tom Smith was poking a fire when he got the inspiration to invent which traditional Christmas item?
The Christmas Cracker
14. Which English leader banned the singing of Christmas songs?
Oliver Cromwell
15. Jimmy Boyd sang which hit Christmas song at 12 years of age?
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
16. Which airport was taken over on Christmas Eve by terrorists in the film “Die Hard 2”?
Dulles International Airport, Washington DC
17. There are 365 days in a year. What number day is Christmas Day?
359
18. What is a female turkey called?
Hen
19. What’s the fun name for the sausages wrapped in bacon traditionally eaten with the Christmas dinner?
Pigs in Blankets
20. Stollen is the traditional fruit cake of which country?
Germany
21. In what classic novel does the protagonist set sail for a sea voyage on a cold Christmas day
Moby Dick
22. Which group sang “Don’t leave me alone like this, Don’t say it’s the final kiss” in their bell-tolling Christmas no.1?
East 17
23. In what decade was the first Christmas Card sent in the UK?
1840’s
24. In which fictional world, created by CS Lewis, is it always winter but never Christmas?
Narnia
25. In the early 1800s, the first gingerbread houses were reportedly inspired by what famous fairytale?
Hansel and Gretel
26. Name the animatronic cassette-playing bear toy that every kid wanted for Christmas in the mid 80s.
Teddy Ruxpin
27. What well-known Christmas carol became the first song ever broadcast from space in 1965?
Jingle Bells
28.In what modern-day country was Saint Nicholas born?
Turkey
29. What holiday movie sequel includes a cameo by Donald Trump?
Home Alone 2
30. Which of Santa’s reindeers are named after the weather?
Donner & Blitzen
Yoga, mindfulness and relaxation designed specially for kids aged 3+, used in schools and homes all over the world.
Jamie delivers her sessions in a fun and interactive way, with themes to suit all ages, including Frozen, Harry Potter, Trolls and many more.
