It's that time of year again: Christmas lights are blinking madly all over our little island, carols can be heard from shop stereo systems as they fill the streets with Christmas cheer, and pretty soon children will be on their school holidays. So how can we keep the wee ones entertained and into the Christmas spirit during their vacation?

Here are a few things you and your kids can do together during the holidays.

1. Decorate your Christmas tree while you have a Christmas movie marathon
Let your children help you with the tree decorations as you watch some good old-fashioned, feel-good Christmas films. Some great classics are: A Christmas Carol (my personal favourite is the 1999 Patrick Stewart version. Perhaps it's because he plays Professor X, but I watch it every year), Miracle on 34th Street, Home Alone, A Charlie Brown Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life.

If you, like my parents, have been blessed with wonderfully weird children who aren't into typical kid's movies, then you could also watch The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Gremlins.

2. Make home-made Christmas cards
This year why not create your own, personal, unique cards with your children? All you need is some cardboard, scissors (don't forget to supervise and help them when they need to use these), and anything you wish to use to create the perfect card – glitter, cotton wool, fabric, crayons, paint – just let their imaginations run wild.

Play carols in the background and sing along while you make your awesome cards, for some added Christmas cheer.

3. Make paper snowflakes
One thing that comes to mind (and that we see in pretty much every Christmas film) when we think of the holiday season is snow! Unfortunately, this is something we never get to see in Malta, but that doesn't mean that you and your children cannot have a white Christmas. Paper snowflakes aren't very difficult to make – it just takes a little bit of practice – and all you will need are a pair of scissors and some plain, white paper.

Check out these step-by-step instructions on how to make paper snowflakes.

You can stick these to your windows, hang them on your Christmas tree, or even from the ceiling using some thin string and sticky tape.

4. Read Christmas stories
Picture this – your Christmas tree is set up and the fairy lights are fading in and out, while outside the wind is howling into the chilly night air. You and your children are snuggling up underneath a cosy blanket on the sofa with some hot cocoa, and a good book before bed. Sounds great, right?

Reading books is a wonderful way to spend time with your kids, and there are plenty of great Christmas titles to choose from. Once again my favourite is A Christmas Carol (and yes, I read it every single year without fail). Other brilliant titles are: The Polar Express, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and The Night Before Christmas.

Happy holidays!