Christmas Fun Ideas For Nigerian Kids

By Rebecca

18 November 2019

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December is a festive month, not just in Nigeria but all over the world. Schools close for the year in readiness for the approaching holidays.

For kids, holidays should not be all about playing video games, watching television and sleeping all day. Holidays should be an avenue for them to bond together with other family members, learn new stuff even while having fun. In Nigeria, there are several fun places to take kids on a vacation that would facilitate great family bonding.

If you are struggling to make a choice from the various vacation destinations to take your children to this Christmas, then sit back, relax and enjoy this article as we take you on a journey through great fun ideas for Nigerian kids this Christmas.

1. Visit a kids-friendly park

You can still visit a park for kids. Chances are there would be stalls, a carousel or swing. Take your food with you and just relax on a blanket while the kids run around. You can visit parks like Dreamworld Africana (Dreamworld Africana ? The Excitement Never Ends!) situated at KM 20 Lekki-Ajah Expressway Lagos. Rufus and Bee is a games arcade, restaurant, bowling alley, and sports bar all wrapped up in one, it is located in Lekki off Remi Olowude, Lekki, (2nd roundabout). Hi-Impact Planet (Visit Hi-Impact Planet For Great Family Experience) is an amusement theme park and resorts on the outskirts of Lagos along the Lagos?Ibadan Expressway ? KM 12 Lagos Ibadan Expressway Ibafo.

2. Visit a museum

Take your kids to a family-friendly museum to chill. Visit Mindscape Children Museum to really thrill the kids. Children love this museum, they can role-play as builders, run a restaurant, go shopping and many other activities to get creative.

3. Shop, eat and wander through a fair

So many fairs are coming up this month. Stalls offer all kinds of tempting trinkets and delicious food for the family. Your kids will love wandering around, sampling the wares and buying a gift or two for people back home. Whichever way they turn, they?ll feel as though they are having the time of their life.

4. Movies

Movies are always a fun way to hang out with the family. It is very important to check the ratings for family-friendly movies before going ahead to watch the movie.

Top Five Cinemas In Lagos

5. Traveling to the village (hometown) 

Many Nigerians tend to leave their state of origin to other states during Christmas. It sometimes happens to be the only time they have to travel and see their relations. Taking kids along makes it very special as they get to see people they haven't seen for a long time. Children get excited when they know they will be meeting with people who live in a different space from them. It gives them stories to share with their friends once they get back to school. You just have to ensure they have fun during the trip so you have no regrets.

If you would prefer to travel by road, check here for the top 5 road transportation companies in Nigeria

6. Santa Claus 

Santa Claus, known in Nigeria as Father Christmas, is the best and unforgettable aspect of Christmas for kids and even some adults too who like to have fun. Nigerian kids love Santa so much that they keep disturbing their parents to take them to see him. There are lots of Christmas shows that take place during Christmas where Father Christmas can be sighted.  

7. Buying new sets of everything for the new school year

This is one very fun thing you should try to involve your kids in as it gives them extra vibes and stories to share once they get back to school. Take them out and get them new clothes for the festive season, get them gifts as rewards for behaving well during the year. You can get them new school bags and shoes to make their holiday greater. They will look forward to resumption just so they can show off their newest items. If you feel it would be too stressful getting the kids out for this, then surprise them at home with something new.

8. Ikeja City Mall Lagos

ICM is a great place for kids to have fun. It has a large playground where kids can run about and play. You can also go with the kids into the mall to do some shopping or see a movie. If you want to have fun with your family and friends, this is the perfect place if you live in or around Ikeja.

Other fun places you can take your kids to this Christmas include:

 1. Obudu Mountain Resort 

Topping this list of fun places to take kids to is the popular cattle ranch located in Southern Nigeria. This epic destination is easily one of Nigeria?s most visited vacation spots. It was formerly called Obudu Cattle Ranch but was rehabilitated by the Cross River State Government some years ago. It has ultra-modern rooms, coupled with the pleasing views of high mountains. 

If you want to take your kids to a relaxing place in Nigeria, this resort is the best location. Besides being an amazing place to bond with your children, it also provides an atmosphere to appreciate the beauty of nature while enjoying the crisp and clear air. There are loads of other activities like the cable car ride, the water park with giant slides, horseback riding, golf course, bonfires and lots more. 

2. Agodi Parks and Gardens 

For families who want solitude but still want to have a great time, then this park is the best pick. The beautiful Agodi park is located just at the foot of the Mokola hill and surrounded by evergreen forestry.

There are so many family-friendly features and attractions which are suitable for kids. They include a mini zoo, wide picnic spots, play area for children, water park, swimming pool, among others. There are also some cool food spots around the park so you can easily fulfill your kids? cravings.

3. Ikogosi Warm Spring 

Another top vacation spot in Nigeria is this natural warm water spring, which flows side-by-side with cold water spring. It is located in a dense forest on a hilly landscape in Ekiti state. The main attraction is the spot where the hot and cold water meet distinctively. There are also mouthwatering Nigerian cuisines available in the resort, coupled with the intercontinental dishes. 

It also boasts of an outdoor pool, gym, restaurant, bar, and an amphitheater which make the destination worthy of being on the list of top fun places to take kids to this Christmas. The resort is filled with suitable accommodation and recreational facilities that are perfect for any family vacation.

4. Abraka Turf and Country Club

 Located in the ?Big Heart of the Nation? (Delta State), this vacation spot boasts of clear rivers, savannah vegetation, and natural reserves. The holiday retreat, which doubles as one of the fun places to take kids for fun this Christmas in Nigeria, is a great place filled with so many recreational activities that children would definitely enjoy. The rivers located in these vacation spot flow in a rhythmic manner and they are a great sight to behold.

 This private country club is fully equipped with numerous state-of-the-art amenities coupled with a lot of outdoor activities that children enjoy. You could teach them how to play tennis, go canoe-kayaking, horseback riding, polo, fishing and golfing. Older children, especially those in secondary school would totally love this country club. 

5. La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort

If you want to stay in Lagos with your kids this Christmas and have fun with them, then this resort is the best option for you. It is far away from the usual hustle and bustle of Lagos at Ibeju-Lekki. The resort is blessed with calm and iconic views from the Atlantic Ocean, which is absolutely awe-inspiring.?

In La Campagne Tropicana, the hospitality syncs perfectly with the modern luxury that oozes out of the Nigerian culture. In the resort, there are many attractions ranging from the beach, mangrove forest, canoe-kayaking and lots more that will keep your kids entertained. The resort also boasts of magnificent flora and fauna that cannot be found just anywhere. They include snake species, seahawks, ducks, epiphytes, monkeys, egrets, bats, snake trees, squirrels and lots more. Your children would love the experience and it would linger on in their hearts for a very long time. 

6. Okomu National Park

 Another beautiful vacation spot that families can go to in Nigeria is the Okomu National Park Located in Edo State. The park is home to over 150 bird species, including eagles. The evergreen vegetation also doubles as a safe haven for some endangered species like forest elephants, white-throated monkeys, and more than thirty other wildlife species. 

Your kids would be amazed by the way the animals move around, especially the birds when they give their beautiful acrobatic displays. The resort also has a comfortable, neat and fully air-conditioned accommodation. The relaxing atmosphere of Okomu National Park makes it difficult not to include the destination in this list of fun places to take kids for fun this Christmas.

7. Oguta Lake Holiday Complex

Given the popularity of Oguta Lake, you will definitely be surprised that a lot of people have still not visited this amazing destination. Located far away in the eastern part of Nigeria, Oguta Lake Holiday Complex is another exotic resort suitable for family vacations. The golf course in the resort is of international standard, so golf lovers would absolutely love it.

The children can get to play and have endless fun at the recreational park. There are lots of swings, cruise boats, and other fun stuff. An amazing side attraction in the lake resort is the confluence of the lake and the Urashi River. Aside from sightseeing, it is also a great place to swim while appreciating the undiluted beauty that nature possesses. Take your family there on a vacation and bask in the euphoria of its splendor and glamour.

8. Yankari Game Reserve and Resort 

If you have been looking for the perfect chance to explore northern Nigeria, then Yankari Game Reserve is where you should make the perfect stop. Located in Bauchi state, this spectacular reserve boasts of a variety of animals you cannot find just anywhere. These include fishes, birds, hippos, elephants and baboons. 

The kids would be amazed and thrilled at the sight of these animals. A huge side attraction in the reserve that tourists and visitors find amazing is the Wikki Warm Springs, which is a swimming ground filled with warm water. There is also a cave system in the resort known as the Marshall Cave system where kids can play their favorite hide and seek. Yankari Game Reserve is a perfect place for families to have fun and some adventure. 

9. Olumo Rock

Made out of a great outcrop of granite rocks, Olumo rock is located in Abeokuta, Ogun state. The highest peak on the rock is almost 140m above sea level. Located in the rock are several caves that are as wide as 25ft and as long as 20ft. While this is not exactly a vacation spot, it is the closest we have to hiking in Nigeria. Take your kids on a trip to Olumo rock and allow them to explore and enjoy the mountainous views. The sight is extremely breathtaking, and with the help of tour guides, children can actually learn more about the Egba people and their culture.

To conclude, always ensure your children are safe while going on vacation. Caution them never to talk to strangers or even accept gifts from anyone they don't know while on vacation. Be sure to never let them stray out of sight.

To have memories of the vacation, make sure you take a camera along with you so as to capture and record the amazing moments with your family.

You can also check out exciting places to have fun here.

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