With the holidays just weeks away, are your kids already excited while waiting for gifts and parties? Here are some gourmet activities to keep them busy. On the program: making decorations with simple ingredients, developing menus, and lots of cookies!

1. Make a homemade Advent calendar

This year, rather than buying a calendar from the store, do it yourself by incorporating your children’s favourite treats. If you decide to fill it completely for December 1, be sure to place non-perishable foods such as candy, chocolates or cookies wrapped in an airtight bag. If filling it at the last minute, you can be creative and put in squares of sugar with cream, homemade gingerbread cookies, fudge or truffles, wrapping them in plastic wrap, wax paper or a small bag.

2. Make salt dough decorations for the tree

Even the little ones will be able to make salt dough to make decorations. Here’s the simple recipe:

Ingredients

• 2 parts flour
• 1 part salt
• 1 part water

Steps

1. Mix the flour and salt, then stir in the water.
2. Knead until you get a ball that has the consistency of modelling clay. If the dough is too dry, add more water and if it is too wet, add more flour.
3. Shape the salt dough into the desired shape. Drill a small hole in the top of your decoration to insert a ribbon to hang it on the tree once it is cooked.
4. Dry your decoration for a few hours to let the water evaporate, but without it cracking.
5. Put the decoration in the oven at 200°F (100°C) until it hardens. The time will vary depending on the thickness of the salt dough. Monitor cooking often so that the decoration does not crack.
6. If desired, paint the decoration.

3. Include kids in the development of the Christmas menu

Ask your kids to suggest a few items for the Christmas menu, whether it’s small bites they’d like to eat or their favourite desserts. You can even ask them to help you complete the grocery list. They will be proud to have contributed to the meal once everyone is around the Christmas table.

4. Drying citrus slices to decorate gifts

To create original gift wrapping, decorate it with dried citrus slices. Vary the colours with oranges, grapefruits and limes.

1. Preheat the oven to 175°F (80°C) and cut citrus slices 1/8 in. (3 mm) thick.
2.  Place the citrus slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and cook them for about 2 hours, turning them halfway through.
3.  Dry the citrus slices in the oven (turned off) for 2 hours or overnight.

5. Make cookies to give as gifts

Make a personalized gift for your child’s teacher, educator or coach by baking cookies. There is no shortage of choice: chocolate chip and spice cookies, shortbread cookies, oatmeal cookies, etc 

6. Plan fun dinners for the holidays

The holidays are not just for Christmas and New Year’s Day; there are also two weeks of vacation to plan. Ask the children to decide what they would like to eat during this time or to design themed evenings: a Mexican evening, breakfast for dinner and a picnic in the living room are some easy ideas.

7. Make a popcorn garland

Get out the thread and needles to make an ultra-easy garland. Simply thread the popcorn with a needle to tie the kernels together. You can pop the corn yourself or buy popcorn from the store, available in several flavours, so you can use different colours that will brighten up the fir tree, the banister or the fireplace mantel.