Essential Family Movie Night Crafts and Treats is written in partnership with ZAK Designs

If you've got kids at home, like me, you're probably attempting to do everything in your power to keep them safely ensconced in childhood pursuits and you will WANT to read this post Essential Family Movie Night Crafts and Treats.

More than anything I just want my daughter and son to have the opportunity to remain kids for as long as possible. In fact, I'd be thrilled if they'd take an interest in the pursuits that hearken back to the old-fashioned values of my teenhood like collecting stationary and creating perfume from flowers picked from the garden!

So, what is my grand-master plan? I am hell-bent on finding our common ground beginning with uncovering television shows and movies that my kids and I can share. Hence my post Essential Family Movie Night Crafts and Treats

So when it comes to a family night in, I could NOT BE MORE EXCITED about enjoying some cocoa and apple cider in our favorite kids and head over to their site ? ASAP TO NAB these collectible mugs for your loved ones.

These Zak mugs are truly the only way to enjoy a proper cup of cocoa!

And we are that family that likes to curl up and watch some family friendly fare and if it just happens to be something that will appeal to me, my 15-year-old and my 19-year-old WELL IT IS AKIN TO HITTING THE JACKPOT! And there is nothing that appeals to kids of all ages and their parents like the movie ELF!

And while we will be EATING POPCORN, and sipping hot apple cider and cocoa out of our ZAK Christmas movie mugs (all of which you can stream on Netflix too!) keep reading for a very cool craft and yummy smoothie that will help you stay busy during the holiday season aka Essential Family Movie Night Crafts and Treats.

Essential Family Movie Night Crafts and Treats

When you are ready to get Crafty, Create your own DIY Lego Box

After the kids watch their streaming Netflix movie or TV show, give em something more to do with this self-contained, easy to make DIY Lego box.

Materials you'll need:

Wooden craft box (found at Hobby Lobby)

Lego base plate (lego.com )

Heavy scissors

Craft paint

Foam brush

Painter's tape

Ruler

Superglue

Favorite Lego kits

We bought our $4.99 Lego base plate from Amazon and cut it down to size with a large scissors. We lined both the bottom and the top of the box because we didn’t want to waste any of the base plate! Get Full directions here

Ditch the chips and instead enjoy a delicious and healthy on-the-go treat: a Chocolate Candy Cane Smoothie.

Even better? Though it might taste almost dessert-like, it's actually a protein-packed snack that will keep the kids full and energized…without the sugar rush.

Ingredients. 8 large medjool dates, pits and stems removed. 1 1/2 cups milk (dairy or substitute your favorite non-dairy milk like almond or coconut) …
Directions. Combine pitted dates and 1 cup warm water in a bowl, and let sit 5 minutes. …
Playing Around: If desired, garnish with a small sprinkle of crushed candy canes.