CHILDREN are the ones Christmas should be all about. More specifically, apple-cheeked angels stoked with festive glee rather than screaming, snotty savages lunging out of the supermarket trolley at the latest Barbie.

But there is plenty to be thankful for. Under the age of five, Father Christmas still looms large in their imaginations.

So that bulging stocking at the foot of the bed is still good for a bit of bribery and corruption on the behaviour front.

l A great place for boys and girls to catch the main man is Millets Farm in Kingston Road, Frilford. Santa’s Magical Wonderland Grotto uses a handy ticket system, ruling out those highly stressful waits in queues.

In Frosts Garden Centre you can browse a fantastic Christmas food and gift marquee and travelling souk with some tempting exotic wares to support Oxfordshire children’s charity Seesaw. Visit milletsfarmcentre.com or call 01865 391923.

lForget the competitive, commercial parenting treadmill – there are fantastic ways to have fun across the county for mere pocket money. First stop is a woodland ride at Shotover Country Park. Charlotte Marshall of Pony Pursuits offers relaxed, safe horse and pony sessions as part of her mission to make riding accessible to everyone, regardless of background or ability. At £15 for a half-hour ride (various prices and times available, and private party bookings), her collection of eight, good tempered native-breed horses and ponies offer rides for tots of any age. The only stipulation is they need to be old enough to sit up unaided – her youngest protegee so far is just nine months. Meanwhile, parents can join in with a hack out on one of the larger gypsy cobs or take the reins and trot alongside through the stunning woodland and bridleways. Little girls will probably put a pony on their Christmas list after this, but the good news is if they’re hooked, you can ask Charlotte about pony shares to muck in with grooming and feeding to have a stake in your own My Little Pony. Visit www.ponypursuits.co.uk or call 07748 598 560.

lThere’s nothing like a burst of all-out activity to help kids crash out for an unbroken night’s sleep. IKids (formerly Jambinos) in the leisure park at Grenoble Road, Oxford, offers three party huts, soft-play zone and bouncy fun on the enclosed trampolines, as well as art and craft classes.

lSimilarly, check into Snakes and Ladders in Audlett Drive, Abingdon, which hosts a sleighful of Arty Crafty Christmas sessions on every Thursday in December. Included in the prices of admission to the fun factory, these allow you to make all kinds of cards, tree decorations and trinkets without having to vacuum glitter out of every orifice at the end of a messy day at home. The site also boasts all manner of soft-play, including an almighty three-tiered climbing frame. Visit snakes-and-ladders.co.uk or call 01235 522 227.

lFor an even more colourful grotto of creativity, step into Unique Creations in Banbury Road, Summertown, past the patchwork elephant on sentry. The genius of this day out is you and your tots can enjoy all manner of arty activities in pairs or parties while whisking up some gifts into the bargain. It opens seven days a week and is sure to help you and your kids conjure up all kinds of presents. Try your hand at Decopatch, glass fusing and slumping and jewellery making, or there is ceramic painting. Even the tiniest babies can make their mark on the world with delicate hand or footprint-decorated baubles, photoframes, plates and more. Visit uniquecreation.co.uk or call 01865 553 554.

lJust across the road is the recent addition of bonkers but brilliant Barefoot Books. Open seven days a week, this riot of eastern promise brings books to life with a fiesta of free workshops and events throughout the year, but there’s an even more jam-packed diary for Christmas. Sundays feature letter-writing to Santa, Michelin-starred food labs and pinata-making. There’s also Santa’s secret toyshop, a traditional Swedish St Lucy’s Day and Hannukah Fun to broaden the cultural offerings and much more besides. Visit barefootbooks.com or call 01865 311 100.

lToddlers deserve a show just for them and you’ll find cosiness at Didcot’s Cornerstone Arts Centre. This year’s Christmas Show is One Snowy Night for ages three-plus, based on the heart-warming books by Nick Butterworth. Seats made specially for toddlers can be reserved and the centre is designed with parents in mind – baby changing and toddlers in the midst of potty training are not a problem and you can even grab a bottle-warmer from the cafe bar. The show is also linked to a colouring contest. Tickets £9 (£6 concessions). Visit cornerstone. arts.org or call 01235 515144.

lJanuary onwards is the perfect time to take little ones to see the new additions to Farmer Gow’s in Fernham Road, Faringdon. Daily meet-the-animals sessions are held at 11am and 2pm, giving the chance to greet chicks, piglets, goat kids and lambs to encourage you that nature is getting its spring in its step after a long winter. Visit farmergows.co.uk or call 01793 780 555.