Great efforts were made to entertain the children during their time at Stannington and Christmas time was no different and staff tried to ensure all the patients were able to enjoy the festive period. Some children would have spent several Christmases on the wards at Stannington and this would undoubtedly have become normal for them. Members of the local community and business people would make donations to the sanatorium to facilitate this, with sweets, small gifts, and mince pies provided. Looking through various administrative records and the school log books we can see how the sanatorium was preparing for Christmas year after year. In December 1941, for example, preparations were made with the purchase of 10 children's story books, 6 games, 2 puzzles, and 12 turkeys.

In 1931 some of the children produced a magazine in which they were able to write stories and poems and also provide news of what was going on around the sanatorium and in the school. One girl took this opportunity to recount her experience of Christmas, presumably form December 1930.

"It was my first Christmas at Stannington San., but little did I know what a lovely time I was going to have. Christmas Eve was a really exciting evening, to be sure."

"As my bed-mates had told me, Santa Claus was to come round to visit us, and there we lay, patiently waiting for his arrival. We were talking excitedly of the following morning, when we would all get our surprises. Suddenly, in the midst of our excitement, we heard some of the children from other wards cheering. This was because Santa Claus was there, talking and shaking hands with them."

She goes on to explain the presents in the morning, all the children singing, plays being put on, crackers, party hats, dinner and even the Mayor of Morpeth singing for them.