TEN THINGS TO DO

10 christmassy things to do

With only a few weeks left to the big day, is your PTA ready? Panic not, here’s some last minute ideas to ‘elf you along the way!

1 A CRACKING IDEA

Create and sell ‘crackers kits’. Parents can take them home as a Christmas Eve activity or stocking filler.

2 NO LICENCE REQUIRED Serve mulled apple juice. It’s very popular and doesn’t require an alcohol licence as it's alcohol free. Just add cloves, cinnamon sticks and an orange or two to apple juice and heat it up – yummy! 

3 FAIR EXCHANGE

Include a decoration swap table at your Christmas Fair. You can charge a small fee to participate as a simple way to raise funds.

4 IT’S A WRAP

Get your students to make personalised wrapping paper. Use sheets of brown parcel paper decorated by the kids. It’s bound to be charming and a real hit with all the Mums, Dads, Grannies and Grandads.

5 BE NEIGHBOURLY

If you are a secondary PTA, make sure to invite your feeder schools to your festive events. It’s a great way to boost support and to introduce students to their new school.

6 OH CHRISTMAS TREE

If you are holding your fair early enough think about including a Christmas tree sale. It takes some organisation but it can be a good fundraiser.

7 STRESS-FREE SHOPPING

Squeeze in a ‘Christmas Shopping Event’ where parents drop off their children for a morning for a charge, the kids get entertained whilst Mum and Dad do the shopping without distractions.

8 A CHRISTMAS MEMENTO

Sell named and dated Christmas baubles for £1 each. This is a simple idea – all you need is some bargain baubles, glitter glue and a steady hand.

9 MONEY DOES GROW ON TREES

Organise a Christmas money tree. Give every child a plain envelope to decorate and return filled with any amount of small change. The best decorated envelope wins a prize and at the Christmas Fair all the envelopes are hung on a tree and raffle tickets are sold for £1 each. One lucky winner gets ALL the envelopes on the tree. 

10 SAY THANK-YOU

Arrange a PTA night out to thank the team as a way to unwind after the Christmas madness.

PTA-UK Magazine November 2012 5