If you and your family celebrate Christmas, then you may have some tried-and-true traditions you can't go the merry season without checking off. From hitting the slopes on skis or sleds to decorating sugar cookies with red and green sprinkles, there are piles of festive activities the whole family can enjoy. And when it comes to fun Christmas activities for kids, there are even more entertaining games and kid-friendly craft projects to take on as you mark down the days until Christmas Day.
While living in states where a winter wonderland is highly likely to occur is breathtaking on Christmas morning, this weather can make traveling for certain activities cumbersome. But the following ideas are totally stress-free as you can do the majority of them while sitting by a crackling fire at home. Just because you don't have to go on as long of a journey as Santa Claus, these Christmas activities for kids will be just as fun and entertaining as the best Christmas riddle out there. Plus, you can even turn some of these ideas into DIY decorations to deck your halls all merry and bright!
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1
Make snowman spoons for hot cocoa.
Creating Christmas decorations that look good enough to eat are perfect for creating beautiful holiday memories. All you need to make a festive popcorn garland is string, a needle, plus fresh popcorn, and cranberries.
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3
Make your own holiday card display.
Instead of taping all of your holiday cards to a window or sliding door, grab your kids and get to work on this fun craft that adds to your winter wonderland. Cut three pieces of garland to desired length (we used a longer one in the center). Wrap the top of each garland around a wooden hanger, securing with hot glue and let it dry. Hang it up on the wall and use clothespins to secure the cards.
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Literally! Think your walls are dull? Hand the kids some Christmas lights and let them go to town as they brighten up the hallways.
5
Stage the family Christmas photo.
6
Estimate Santa's time of arrival.
7
Recycle used bottles for holiday decor.
8
Decorate a window display.
Take your windows from boring to magical with a touch of color, festive stickers, and beautiful stars all applied by some imaginative children filled with Christmas spirit. Need some inspo? Check out our favorite Christmas window decoration ideas.
9
Enjoy holiday themed pancakes.
Allow kids to get creative by making shapes and decorating pancakes as holiday-related characters. They can even take it a step further and make fun waffles with an Olaf waffler maker.
10
Design a Christmas village.
Creating a Christmas village complete with faux snow, trees, and figurines is the perfect way to get kids to exercise their imagination as they become little designers and landscapers for this holiday decor staple.
11
Make a Christmas tree out of everyday objects.
Who said the best Christmas trees come from the ground? From glass ornaments to toilet paper rolls and accessories, kids can have a lot of fun throwing together what they can find to create the most unique and whimsical trees.
Why make a snow angel outside in the cold when you can make a light angel indoors? Have each kid take turns laying on the ground while the other makes the angel outline with string lights. Turn it into a contest by timing to see who can make one the fastest!
13
Get a personalized video from Santa.
14
Drive to see Christmas lights.
Bundle up the kids in their warmest clothes and take a drive to see Christmas lights display. Or go on a walking tour if your city decorates downtown for the season.
15
Make paper snowflakes.
Creating special snowflakes out of paper with your little one is the perfect way to bring a little bit of the winter wonderland feeling they love so much inside.
16
Donate your kids' old toys.
Christmas is an excellent time to clear out the clutter of toys that no longer capture your children's attention. They'll be making room for new ones and helping kids in need at the same time — a wonderful feeling all around! Check Money Crashers for a list of charities that accept pre-owned toys.
17
Create your own Advent calendar.
18
Give your kids a mini tree.
Give them an ornament each year, and they'll have a collection of at least 18 (and the memories to go along) by the time they move out.
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19
Put together an ice wreath.
20
Make your own holiday ornaments.
21
Decorate festive cookies.
22
Read 'A Christmas Carol' out loud.
Charles Dickens' classic novella is a powerful reminder of the importance of redemption and empathy. Read it to or with your kids by a fire while sipping a mug of hot cocoa.
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23
Turn a regular cookie jar into a snow globe.
Forget your same-old cookie jar this year and replace it with this adorable snow globe made from an airtight jar. Use a fine-tipped brush to paint small white dots on the outside of a glass jar. Fill bottom of jar with snowball cookies. Place small plastic trinkets inside for a snow globe-inspired vignette.
24
Give your front door a makeover.
25
Build a gingerbread house.
26
Adopt an Elf on the Shelf.
27
Pick out a Christmas tree together.
Rather than just letting them help you decorate the Christmas tree, you could also let them pick it out from the lot — or better yet, chop down your own at a local tree farm!
Take advantage of the cold temperatures and go ice skating. Not only will you have fun, but the kids will be exhausted at the end of the day, and you'll be able to put them to bed easily.
29
Write and send out a letter to Santa Claus.
Get your kids to spend time writing and decorating their letters to Kris Kringle.
Rather than shoveling the previous night's snow, bundle up the kids to go sledding. Unlike ice skating, they won't have to worry about falling on the ice.
31
Stream a local production of "The Nutcracker."
The classic Christmas ballet is an excellent opportunity to get kids interested in the arts at a young age. Search a local ballet company or ticket platform to see upcoming performances.
If you're snowed in or would rather not get on the road while it snows, make a snowman! Just remember to dress it up with a scarf, some buttons, and a hat.
33
Host Christmas karaoke.
34
Drop off food at a food bank.
Use the vacation boredom to teach your kids the importance of helping others. Take them to drop off some food at your local food bank or homeless shelter so they can bring joy to other people.
35
Watch a holiday movie.
Is there anything cozier than putting on your warmest fuzzy socks and watching a Christmas movie like Elf, while sipping on a warm drink and munching on Christmas cookies?
36
Host an ugly sweater contest.
Nothing kicks off the holiday season like an ugly Christmas sweater party. This theme is something both kids and adults can get behind.
37
Decorate the Christmas tree.
38
Spend an afternoon wrapping.
39
Build your own model train exhibit.
Is there anything more enchanting than seeing a model train zip through a small-scale Christmas village? Make your own train choo choo all around the house.
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40
Personalize everyone's stockings.
Terri Huggins Hart
Terri Huggins Hart is an award-winning journalist, lifestyle writer, parenting writer, and race and culture writer who is convinced she's figured out the trick to living life with no regrets: do what you love, give love, lead with love.
Elizabeth Berry
Editorial Assistant
Elizabeth Berry (she/her) is the digital editorial assistant for Woman’s Day, where she covers seasonal recipes, holiday gift ideas, and other lifestyle topics for the website.
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