Festive Fun: Christmas Activities for Families in Norbury, Tooting, Balham & Streatham
- Caroline Curtis
- 24 minutes ago
- 9 min read
The festive season is upon us, bringing magical moments for children (and adults alike).
From sparkling lights to nature-inspired crafts, community events and family Christmas activities across South West London.
This guide highlights the top Christmas things to do around Norbury, Tooting, Balham, and Streatham, as well as Lucky Beans' own celebrations.
2025 Christmas Events in Norbury, Tooting, Balham & Streatham
During this festive period, South West London offers a variety of events perfect for families with nursery-age children.
Here are some of our top highlights:
Christmas Lights & Activities Across SW London
With singing from local schools and local choirs, the Christmas lights switch-on will be taking place at Bedford Hill on Sunday, 30th November, 1 pm - 5 pm.
Fun for the whole family, Wee Ravers are hosting an afternoon of music and dancing on Sunday, 7th December, 1 pm - 4pm at Tunnel 267. A perfect children’s Christmas party close to London SW17.
There will be a festive creative corner, face painting, a soft play zone for children under 5, and a multi-sensory dancefloor with bubbles, lights, and magical snow. With a special appearance from Santa’s Elves, giveaways and a raffle with incredible prizes!
Looking for a kids' Christmas craft at Balam? St Thomas with St Stephen Church will be holding a FREE Elf bootcamp for children on Saturday, 13th December, 2 pm - 4 pm. The afternoon will be filled with crafts, cookie decoration, games, and lots of festive fun, including a visit from Santa! Every child will also receive a certificate on completing their training and graduating as an elf. To book your place, visit churchsuite.com.
The mayor of Wandsworth will switch on the lights of Tooting’s Christmas tree on Thursday, 4th December, at St Nicholas Church, Church Lane, 4 pm - 8 pm.
You’ll be able to enjoy live performances from choirs from the local schools, pet Christmas donkeys, take part in various Christmas activities, and take a look around all the stalls.
You can find more information on the Facebook event found here.
Friday, 5th December, will see Finton School and Trinity Road Chapel singing various carols ready for the Christmas lights switch-on. This will take place on Bellevue Road, 4 pm - 5 pm.
On the same day, Friday, 5th December, Furzedown will also see its festivities starting at 3 pm until 5:30 pm. Christmas Tree lights switch-on at Mitcham Lane / Thrale Road with singing from children at local schools.
Christmas Fairs & Markets
Balham - Sunday 30th November 1 pm - 5 pm
The Treatment Rooms & Studios, a health and well-being space, is putting on an indoor Christmas Market. Stalls will be filled with handmade crafts and gifts, live music, and festive refreshments - full of family Christmas activities.
There will also be a chance to win fantastic prizes by entering the raffle draw.
Streatham - Sunday 7th December 10:30 am - 3:30 pm
The Rookery Christmas Fair & Market, now in its 11th year, is said to be better and bigger than ever this year! You’ll find beautiful handmade crafts and gift stalls, local producers, delicious food and drinks, with the sound of carol singing echoing through the air.
The Woodland Trail & Santa’s Grotto will be open later, until 5:30 pm - there is no need to book this, just turn up. Children’s entry fee is £7.
Entry is a monetary donation that will contribute towards the funds for SCCoop to help maintain the Rookery. More information can be found at Eventbrite.
Norbury - Saturday 6th December, 11 am - 3pm
At St Phillip’s Church Christmas Fair this year, you’ll find raffles, tombolas and Santa’s Grotto, along with festive food and drinks. Adults £1 entry fee. More information can be found here.
Norbury - Norbury Park Winter Celebration, Sunday 7th December, 4:30 pm - 6 pm. Join Friends of Norbury Park with kids' arts & craft activities, Carol singing, and a visit from Santa. Entrance at Heatherset Gardens. More information can be found on their Facebook page.
What Makes These Events Special for Under-5s
When planning Christmas activities for nursery-age children, there are a few things to think about.
The best events offer:
Sensory experiences that engage young minds without overwhelming them
Shorter durations of 30 minutes to an hour, perfect for small attention spans
Parent-and-child-friendly spaces with accessible facilities
Free or low-cost entry, making festive fun accessible to all families
Outdoor elements that allow children to experience the season in nature
Top Tip: When attending local Christmas events with nursery-age children, try to arrive early in the day or during quieter periods. Little ones often enjoy the experience more when they can explore at their own pace without large crowds.
Lucky Beans Festive Activities & Nursery Celebrations
At Lucky Beans Childcare, we create meaningful Christmas experiences for young children.
We try to build our festive activities on our forest school ethos, which supports the children’s development.
Our Christmas Plans Include:
Forest School Christmas Adventures – As always, we'll be taking our learning outdoors with special seasonal forest school sessions.
Children will discover natural Christmas decorations in the woodland, learn about winter wildlife, and create nature-inspired festive crafts using materials they've collected themselves.
Festive Craft Days – Our nursery will transform into a creative winter workshop where children can make their own Christmas cards, decorations, and gifts for loved ones.
We focus on process over product, allowing little hands to explore different textures, colours, and materials in their own unique way, rather than creating a uniform outcome.
Christmas Story Time – We cosy up for some special festive stories that capture the magic of the season, while introducing themes of kindness, sharing, and celebration.
We'll incorporate songs, puppets, and interactive elements to keep our youngest learners engaged.
Seasonal Sensory Play – Our indoor and outdoor learning environments will feature Christmas-themed sensory activities. These experiences support early development while making the season tangible for little ones.
How We Keep It Age-Appropriate
All our Christmas activities are carefully designed with our age groups in mind.
We understand that nursery-age children experience the world differently, so we:
Keep activities flexible and child-led, allowing each child to participate at their own comfort level;
Maintain our regular routines to provide security during an exciting but potentially overwhelming time;
Continue our commitment to outdoor learning, even during festive celebrations;
Include all abilities and developmental stages in every activity;
Balance excitement with calm, quiet spaces for children who need them.
Christmas Ideas for Young Children
One of the wonderful things about South West London is the abundance of green spaces perfect for family outings.
With places such as Tooting Common, Streatham Common, Rookery Gardens and Norbury Park, there are plenty of places to visit this season.
This Christmas, why not embrace the forest school approach and create your own nature-inspired festive adventures with kids' Christmas crafting?
DIY Nature-Led Christmas Activities
Take a basket and collect natural treasures like pine cones, interesting twigs, and evergreen sprigs that you can use for Christmas crafts at home; excellent for older toddlers.
Pine Cone Decorations – Simply add string or ribbon to collected pine cones for instant tree decorations. For extra sparkle, children can glue on small pom-poms or paint the tips white for a snowy effect.
Nature Wreaths – Use a cardboard ring (cut from a cereal box) as a base and help children glue on their collected evergreens, twigs, and berries. It's an excellent fine-motor activity that creates a unique decoration.
Twig Stars – Gather straight twigs of similar length and help children arrange them into star shapes, secured with string or glue. These look beautiful hanging in windows or on a tree.
For babies and young toddlers, create a sensory basket filled with safe, natural items collected on your walks – smooth stones, large pine cones, soft moss (dried), and interesting leaves. The different textures and weights provide wonderful sensory exploration.
Look out for winter birds such as Robins, Goldfinches, or even Sparrowhawks. Maybe some of their feathers can be found floating around that children could collect.
Examine frost patterns on cold mornings. You may even want to place some of the natural items you found in a bowl of water, add in some glitter for extra winter sparkle, place it in the freezer overnight and see how it sparkles in the sunlight.
How Lucky Beans uses Forest School to Celebrate the Festive Time
At Lucky Beans, our forest school approach doesn't take a break for Christmas – in fact, it becomes even more relevant.
We believe that connecting children with nature during winter helps them understand seasonal change, resilience, and the beauty of the quieter months.
Activities of our forest school Christmas fun at nursery may include:
Observing how trees and plants adapt to winter
Learning about animals preparing for the cold season
Creating winter-inspired art using mixed materials
Developing independence through dressing appropriately for outdoor play in cold weather
Building appreciation for the natural world in all seasons
We encourage families to continue this learning at home by planning your own festive outdoor adventures.
Even short trips to local green spaces after nursery hours or at weekends can provide valuable learning experiences about nature in winter time and create lasting memories
Parent Tips for Enjoying Christmas Activities with Young Children
The festive season should be joyful for everyone, including parents.
Here are our top tips for making Christmas activities with nursery-age children as smooth and enjoyable as possible:
Before You Go
Check the Basics – Before heading to any Christmas event, verify:
Is the location accessible with a pushchair? Many festive markets and events can be crowded, making buggy navigation tricky.
Are there toilets and changing facilities nearby? This is essential with young children.
What's the expected duration? For under-5s, shorter is usually better. An hour is often plenty.
Is advance booking required? Many Santa grottos and popular events need pre-booking to avoid disappointment.
Dress for Success – December in South West London can be chilly and unpredictable. Layer up children with:
Warm, waterproof coats
Hats, gloves, and scarves
Comfortable, warm footwear suitable for walking
Spare clothes in your bag (little ones are remarkably good at getting messy, even at Christmas events!)
Pack Smart – Your festive outing kit should include:
Snacks and water (hungry children = unhappy children)
A small toy or book for waiting times
Wipes and tissues
A portable phone charger (for capturing those special moments)
During Activities
Follow Their Lead – Not every child will want to sit close to Santa or join in with every activity, and that's absolutely fine.
The best Christmas memories come from experiences your child genuinely enjoys, not ones they feel pressured into.
If your little one prefers to observe rather than participate, that's learning too.
Time It Right – Plan outings around your child's natural routine.
A well-rested child who's had lunch will cope far better with a festive event than one who's tired or hungry.
Consider visiting popular attractions at less busy times – weekday mornings are often quieter than weekend afternoons.
Build in Downtime – If you're planning multiple festive activities, space them out.
A busy schedule can be overwhelming for young children, even when the activities are fun. Balance exciting outings with quieter days at home.
How to Involve Children in the Festive Spirit
Make your little one part of the Christmas preparations:
Let them help decorate – Even very young children can hang unbreakable decorations on lower branches or help arrange festive displays (with supervision).
Create together – Whether it's making cards for grandparents or decorating biscuits, doing activities together is more meaningful than perfect results.
Share stories – Read Christmas books together, talking about the pictures and stories to build excitement and understanding.
Practice giving – Help children choose or make small gifts for family members, introducing the idea of kindness and thinking of others.
Bring nature indoors – Let children arrange their collected pine cones, holly, or evergreen sprigs in a basket or tray as a centrepiece. It's their contribution to the festive home.
How Lucky Beans Supports Children's Well-being at Christmas
We know the festive period can be busy and sometimes overwhelming for young children.
At Lucky Beans, we maintain our focus on wellbeing by:
Keeping routines consistent – Even during festive celebrations, we stick to familiar mealtimes, nap times, and daily rhythms that help children feel secure.
Balancing excitement with calm – For every stimulating Christmas activity, we ensure there's time for quiet play, rest, and our usual outdoor forest school sessions that children find grounding.
Offering choices – Children can choose their level of participation in festive activities. There's no pressure to join in if they're not ready.
Creating a calm environment – Despite the excitement of Christmas, our nursery remains a peaceful, nurturing space where children can simply be themselves.
Join Us This Christmas
Want to see what's happening at Lucky Beans this Christmas?
We'd love to welcome you and your family.
Whether you're already part of our nursery community or considering joining us, this is a wonderful time to visit and experience our approach to early years education.
Book a tour to see our indoor and outdoor learning spaces decorated for the season, ask us about our festive events, and discover how your little one could be part of the Lucky Beans family.
You can also follow us on social media for regular updates, photos from our Christmas celebrations, and inspiration for festive activities you can try at home.
This Christmas, let's celebrate the wonder of childhood together, embracing both the magic of the season and the beauty of nature, right here in South West London. From all of us at Lucky Beans, we wish you and your families a joyful, peaceful, and magical festive season.
Contact Lucky Beans today to learn more about our festive plans and early years provision in South West London. We can't wait to share the Christmas magic with you!
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