Get into the holiday spirit with these fun Christmas activities for families who want to spend some good ol’ fashioned quality time together.
As much as I want to wave goodbye to 2020 as desperately as the next person, the holiday season is a time to really practise being present.
Besides the pandemic, this year has had me focused on some big work goals and the holiday season reminds me of how important it is to slow down and reflect on all I’ve achieved — this is especially important when you own your own business as it can be easy to just never switch off.
Taking the time to bond with your family doing festive activities is a great way to bring some normalcy back into your life before closing off the year.
In this article, we are leaving personal development and network marketing strategy at the door and purely focusing on festive activities you can do with the whole family — because it’s time to take a break and have some fun!
1. Make Your Own Garland
Step outside the box this holiday season and get creative with your Christmas garlands. I like to sometimes shift away from the typical faux pine and greenery and try some other homemade types — popcorn, dried fruit or even marshmallows!
Try upcycling some leftover popcorn after a movie night!
All you need is a needle and some thread or fishing line. Try using fresh cranberries, too.
Younger kids can count out the berries or popcorn to make a fun alternating pattern, and parents or older kids can do the threading.
This activity is so much fun, especially for smaller kids, you can then spend time using what you’ve created to decorate inside the house.
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2. Try a Non-Tree Tree
Image Source: Brian Woodcock
Looking to go against the status quo this holiday season?
Broaden your “tree-rizon” by creating a tree shape our of items you currently have or arrange holiday photos and cards in a tree shape on a blank wall.
Have a look at some alternative tree ideas here.
3. Hold A (Socially Distant!) Neighbourhood Cookie Swap
Now is the time to show off those cookie decorating skills and host a cookie swap with your neighbours or friends.
Share recipes and ideas and taste the yummy batches of cookies everyone has baked to perfection.
There is nothing more fun than getting creative in the kitchen, especially when it results in something sweet to eat!
4. Play Secret Santa
One of my favourite Christmas activities for families is doing Secret Santa!
This is such a fun thing to do as a lead up to Christmas or even on the day.
It’s a great way to gift give without breaking the bank (which is much needed during a pandemic).
You can set a spending limit so that you can find cheap (but fun) Christmas gifts or DIY Christmas gifts that are thoughtful and tailored to the person whose name you picked.
What is your favourite family Christmas activity? Please let me know in the comments below!
5. Create (Or Buy!) An Advent Calendar
Advent calendars are such a great way to count down until Christmas. Whether you’ve purchased one or not yet, crafting one is so much fun!
The idea pictured here is so simple and easy to recreate: Get some small paper bags, label them with a number and fill them with trinkets or chocolates, even a message of love could work so beautifully.
Here are some more advent calendar ideas to choose from.
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6. Make Salt Dough Ornaments
Make the Christmas tree even more special this year with this easy DIY salt dough ornament recipe — which is great for kids of all ages (that means you, too, Mom).
This is one of my favourite Christmas activities for families as it enables you to create ornaments that you can keep for a long time. It’s so much fun to do especially for tapping into your inner child and getting creative.
7. Make Bird Seed Ornaments
Here’s a perfect Christmas activity for you to do with your kids — and it yields some pretty practical results too.
This birdseed ornament not only looks sweet but it’ will also help attract birds to your garden, and not to mention these make the most amazing homemade gifts.
Aimee Herring
8. Surprise Someone By Delivering Homemade Holiday Treats
Whether it’s the cashier at your local Tesco or Waitrose, they’re sure to be undoubtedly suprised and elated with a delivery of Christmas treats.
There’s nothing quite like making someone’s day, especially when they least expect it.
Check out our best ideas for homemade Christmas food gifts here.
9. Volunteer
Because giving back to your community is the greatest way to celebrate the holidays. Do some research on where you could contribute your time as a family.
Helping to serve food at a local homeless shelter is a beautiful way to give your time or maybe helping with packing for a Christmas box drive for orphaned children.
Have a discussion as a family and ask your kids to give suggestions on what might be close to their heart to contribute towards to.
10. Go See The Neighbourhood Christmas Lights And Decorations
This is one of my favourite family Christmas activities! Everyone piles in the car, and you all go on a nighttime tour of your town to check out the beautiful festive holiday lights and decorations.
I love looking at how elaborate and detailed some of the lights and decorations are — makes you feel like you’ve entered a different world!
11. Wreath-Making
Who doesn’t love a festive wreath?!
This is a great DIY Christmas decoration activity.
Take the kids outside for a quick winter walk to gather tree branches, pine cones and anything else they like, or trim some from the bottom of your Christmas tree or get some at the store.
Attach your greens to a foam or wire ring (a bent metal coat hanger works well) and allow the kids to decorate it with Christmas ornaments and bows.
Or make this preschooler-friendly paper wreath featuring tracings of your child’s cute little hands.
12. Christmas Movies
A classic Christmas movie marathon is a must-do! We love to make up a Christmas bed in the TV room so we can get all nice and cosy.
Get everyone to write down their favourite holiday movie, put it in a hat and then pull out one to see which one you watch first.
Cuddle up under blankets with a warm cup of hot chocolate and some popcorn to make it even better!
13. Bake Christmas Cookies
Peanut-butter blossoms! Snickerdoodles! Shortbread! Gingerbread men! The list of melt-in-your-mouth cookies is endless! Here are some family favourites.
Children of all ages can get involved in the kitchen on “baking day.” Get the younger kids to add pre-measured ingredients, stir the bowl and decorate cooled cookies, while the older kids help.
What’s also fun is to have a cookie “bake-off,” get some friend’s involved too and have a ball!
14. Build A Gingerbread House
This is one of the most classic christmas activities for families to do. Get everyone together with some gingerbread walls and roofs and all the candy and frosting you can get your hands on.
Set everyone up with their own house, or work in teams to see who can make the most festive looking gingerbread house.
Part of the fun (and challenge) is keeping your house from falling apart!
Follow these instructions for an easy gingerbread house.
15. Homemade Christmas Ornaments
Make decorating the Christmas tree even more special each year by starting a new holiday tradition — by adding a new kid-made Christmas ornament.
Mark the year on each ornament so that you can keep track of when each one was made!
What I love about this Christmas activity is that it can become a family tradition that tracks your child’s growth and creativity each year.
16. Give An Unexpected Gift As A Family Christmas Activity
The sad reality is that there are many people who feel terribly alone, especially during the festive season.
Ask a local nursing home or senior centre if any of their residents need a little pick-me-up, and drop off a small gift or some baked treats to show that someone’s thinking of them.
Dropping them personally would be even better, so find out if it’s possible to visit and observe all social distancing precautions.
17. Make A Christmas Playlist
Nothing like some classic Christmas jams to put everyone in the holiday spirit!
Get the whole family to contribute with their favourite Christmas songs and make an ace playlist!
Here are 40 Modern Christmas Songs You Need on Your Holiday Playlist.
18. Go On A Christmas Scavenger Hunt
Divide the family into teams and ask them to find a range of Christmas-related items or take pictures doing a festive task.
Think along the lines of making a snow angel or singing a Christmas carol to the neighbours.
19. Play Christmas Freeze Dance
This is one of my top Christmas activities for families!
Instead of vegging out in front of the telly after a big meal, get into the festive spirit of things with a game of holiday freeze dance.
Turn on that playlist you made earlier and choose one of you to pause it at random.
Whoever’s still dancing after the music stops is out.
20. Take A Holiday Card Photo
Let’s be honest, we all love a good family holiday card photo. Have fun with this and dress up in your most festive wear or don’t be so serious and take one with silly faces.
I also love taking one when we’re on holiday somewhere special.
Just don’t take yourself too seriously with this one, it’s meant to be fun!
It’s brilliant getting to look back on previous images every year.
21. Plan A Family Photoshoot For A Memorable Christmas Activity
We all know I love photoshoots, especially when it includes the whole family!
Find a photographer to help with this or if you’re watching your budget look for a student photographer who may be looking to get some more practise.
The best shots are usually the ones that are more natural, so get the family to relax and just let go.
22. Create Snowglobes From Mason Jars
Looking for Christmas activities for families that are both fun and practical?
Making snowglobes is just the thing!
They make stunning seasonal gifts from kids, and not to mention they are so much fun to make.
Help your kids build the the best winter snowglobe with theses instructions.
23. Have An Ugly Jumper Party
We all have at least one or two ugly Christmas jumpers stuffed at the back of our cupboards. Now is the time to bring them out and have some fun.
Ugly jumper parties are a great way to get silly during the holidays. Invite your loved ones over and hold a competition for the most creative, funny, or elaborate outfits.
Pair this with the Christmas freeze dance activity and it’s bound to be a bloody good night!
24. Make Decorations Out Of Old Christmas Cards
Recycle old holiday cards and turn them into the sweetest Christmas card craft decorations.
Take a look here on how to recycle greeting cards to learn how to transform them into a festive Christmas tree decoration.
25. Make Festive Homemade Pizzas
Homemade pizzas are delicious and so much fun for everyone to get involved and make together.
Staying within the Christmas theme and all try making festive homemade pizzas for a change!
The kids will have a proper blast creating these fun and yummy designs:
- Snowman Pizza by Watching What I Eat
- Holiday Pizza Wreath by Half Baked Harvest
- Christmas Tree Pizza by Rhodes Bread Bake-N-Serve
‘Tis The Season To Be Jolly!
After the seriousness of this year, it’s about time we put work to one side, take a well deserved break and have some festive fun with the family.
I hope these 25 fun christmas activities for families has sparked some inspiration for your household! I know it has for mine.
Feel free to share any comments you may have below, I always love hearing from you.
Please click the social icons to share this with your network and help inspire them to action today!
With love,
Nat
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