Christmas is almost here! Here are seventeen activities to do with your kids this Christmas. With so many options, you’ll be sure to find one that suits the needs of your family. Whether you want an activity for inside or outside, there’s something for everyone on this list. From baking cookies and making crafts to going on a scavenger hunt and decorating the tree, I have got it all covered!
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Activity One: Make a countdown calendar for Christmas!
I rounded up a bunch of DIY Advent calendars recently. If you need ideas, check out this post on 23 DIY Advent Calendars.
Activity Two: Create a gingerbread house.
You can make your own gingerbread house, or you can buy one. I have seen Trader Joe’s, Target, and Costco sell premade gingerbread houses in the past.
Pro tip: Do yous till have Halloween candy around? Save some of it for decorating gingerbread houses!
Activity Three: Random Acts of Christmas Kindness
If you need ideas, see my blog post: 15 Random Acts of Kindness
Activity Four: Make ornaments For Your Tree
I have to admit; I am the worst at making Christmas ornaments each year! This year I will probably buy a kit to help us complete this activity. I love these two kits from Etsy: Wood Ornament Kit and Clear Ball Ornament Kit.
Activity Five: Make Christmas Cookies.
What’s Christmas without Christmas cookies? Make the dough from scratch or use store-bought dough. Whatever is easiest for you! I usually invite some of the kids’ friends over for a cookie decorating party. It is pretty chaotic but so much fun!
Activity Six: Visit a Christmas Tree Farm
If you are lucky to live near a Christmas Tree Farm, go for a visit. It is a fun, festive activity for the whole family. We love the Christmas Tree Farm by us. If you are in the Fresno area, be sure to check out Hillcrest Tree Farm in Reedly, CA.
Activity Seven: Decorate the Christmas Tree
In our house, decorating the Christmas tree is a family affair. We love having a live tree, so we spend time setting it up, wrapping lights around the branches, and hanging ornaments. I let the kids decorate freely while we decorate. It takes a lot not to fix their placement, but I just remind myself that it’s their tree too.
Activity Eight: Go Ice Skating
I used to go Ice Skating before kids, and I think the time to take my kids is here. Usually, around this time of year, you can find some fun outdoor ice rinks to go to.
Activity Nine: Visit Santa
If you do the Santa thing in your household, this is always a fun activity. I don’t make my kids sit with Santa if they don’t want to, though.
Activity Ten: Make Christmas Cards
I don’t know about you, but I love getting Christmas Cards in the mail. It’s so fun to get something other than bills. We usually get our family photos done yearly and use pictures from that, but you can also use your favorite family selfie. This year if I make them soon enough, I’ll let the kids decorate the envelopes!
Pro tip: Shutterfly makes making Christmas Cards an easy task to complete. I also love Paper Culture because they are eco-friendly and plant a tree with each order.
Activity Eleven: Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt
Going to look at Christmas lights is fun on its own, but add in a scavenger hunt… that’s even better! I love this fun printable from Friday We’re in Love.
Activity Twelve: Watch Christmas Movies
There are so many great family movies to watch during the holiday season. Here is a list of my favorites, be sure to check out this post from Pure Wow listing 68 Christmas Movies to Watch with Your Kids.
Activity Thirteen: Make Paper Snowflakes
This may seem like a simple activity, and it is! But if you have a toddler or a younger kid, they will love this simple festive craft.
Activity Fourteen: Family Game Night
This isn’t Christmas-themed by any means, but game nights with the family are always fun. Some of our favorite games are Uno, Chutes and Ladders, and Candy Lane.
Activity Fifteen: Read some Christmas/Holiday Themed Books
This is another easy activity that will get your kids in a festive mood. If you need to build your holiday book collection, check out the best-selling Christmas books on Amazon right now.
Activity Sixteen: Eat a Christmas Themed Breakfast
I love any excuse to make my kids a themed breakfast. Check out Mommy On Purpose for a massive list of fun Christmas-themed breakfasts for the whole family.
Activity Seventeen: Write Letters to Santa
Get out those markers and write a letter to Santa. You can send the letter through USPS with one stamp to 123 Elf Road, North Pole, 88888. According to USPS, Santa letters will be sent when postmarked through December 10th.
Pro tip: Take a photo of the letter or just keep the letters and keep them as memories.
Christmas is a time for gathering together and celebrating with friends, family, and loved ones. I hope this list gives you some ideas to make some Holiday memories with your family this season.
Do you have any fun ideas that I might have missed?
