25 Activities to Do With Your Kids This Christmas
Christmastime is always a favorite time of year for many families including ours, but can also be stressful and busy! It can feel like there are endless to-do lists, but it’s so important to take time to enjoy some time with loved ones.
We try to balance the busy with low-key fun, from baking to light displays to movies.
Are you looking for ideas for making memories with your kids during the holiday season? If so, check out this list of 25 activities to do with your kids this Christmas. These activities are fun, entertaining, and are sure to leave everyone smiling and laughing.
Visit a Holiday Lights Event
Once it gets closer to the holiday season, it’s common for different places to have light shows that you can walk through. If you want to see some incredible lights on display, check out what types of light shows are available in your area. Your children will love seeing the bright lights and incredible colors while walking around. Just be sure to dress warm, especially if you’re in Minnesota!
Here is a list of light displays and events in Minnesota. Some of my favorites include Bentleyville in Duluth, and Glow Holiday Lights in St. Paul.
Do a Drive-Thru Light Show
If you don’t want to do too much walking, or it’s just too cold outside, consider going to a drive-thru light show. With these light shows, you can stay in the car and follow a path to see some incredible light displays, including fun Christmas-themed characters, such as Frosty the Snowman and Santa Claus. Often the lights are timed to music you can tune into on your radio. It’s an experience of a lifetime that you don’t want to miss.
Christmas in Color is one drive-thru light show that takes place in various areas of the country including Shakopee, Minnesota, where we’ve gone several times. We love it!
Attend Local Kid-Friendly Events
Check for any kid-friendly Christmas-themed events taking place in your area. You never know what types of fun events you might find. For Twin Cities area events, check out my calendar.
Check Out Your Local Farmer’s Market
Consider taking a trip with the kids to the local farmer’s market, where you may be able to go on a hayride or get a bunch of delicious treats. Some of the treats you might find while you’re there include fresh apple cider and baked treats to serve at Christmas dinner to your loved ones. You can’t go wrong when going to one of these hot spots.
Have an At-Home Holiday Movie Night
Pick out a holiday movie to watch with the family, such as The Grinch or Elf. Set the movie up and prepare some hot chocolate and other delicious snacks to eat while watching the movie as a family. It’s a fantastic way to spend quality time bonding while enjoying an excellent Christmas movie.
Don’t have access to movies at home? Borrow some DVDs from the library, or subscribe to a streaming service. Find a list of deals here.
Bake Christmas-Themed Goodies
Get the kids to lend a helping hand with preparing Christmas-themed goodies, such as cookies, pies, and other delicious treats. You can teach them how to make some of your favorite desserts!
Make a Gingerbread House
First, buy the supplies needed to make a gingerbread house. It’s fun trying to get the pieces of the house to stick together before adding gumdrops and other candies to them (but even more fun eating them!).
Create a Christmas Wreath
Grab some supplies from your local arts and craft store and work together with your children to make a Christmas wreath. Each person can create a custom piece that you’ll get to hang somewhere around the home for decorative purposes.
Go Ice Skating
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to go ice skating. Don’t own skates? Many places rent out skates. Even if you don’t have much experience on the ice, it’s a way to have fun and try something different with your loved ones while creating some great memories.
Visit Santa at the Mall
Be sure to take your children to the mall or an event at your local community center to see Santa. Not only can they tell him what they’d like to get for Christmas, but they can also take a picture with him to have as a keepsake for years to come.
Collect Food for the Less Fortunate
Give the gift of giving back to others by collecting food for the less fortunate with your children. It will teach them to have compassion and empathy for other people in difficult situations during the holiday season.
Make Homemade Gifts
The best gifts can be those that are homemade. Make something fun like these Peppermint Marshmallow Cocoa Spoons (the recipient can enjoy dipping them in warm milk!).
Or create gift coupons with ideas for how to give your time, like these free printable gift coupons. There are some filled in with ideas, and some that are blank for you to fill out.
Build a Snowman
If you have any snow outside, take full advantage by building a snowman with the kids. Did you do this as a kid? You can wrap his neck in a scarf, add some button eyes, and put a carrot in his face for his nose.
Make Ugly Christmas Sweaters
Grab some old sweatshirts and customize them to create ugly Christmas sweaters! You can get creative while using paint, fabric dye, bleach, hot glue, and other items to put the sweaters together.
Not feeling creative? Shop local thrift stores for some good ones at a cheap price.
Create Homemade Ornaments
There is nothing quite as special as preparing homemade ornaments with your children. There are many options online with tutorials and lists of supplies needed. Need ideas for special ornaments that you can make to hang on the Christmas tree? Here is a list of fun Christmas ornaments kids can make, or try making this DIY Gumball Machine Ornament.
Make Homemade Hot Cocoa Bombs
Make homemade hot chocolate bombs with the kids and let them customize their drinks. For example, you can let them add extra marshmallows, caramel syrup, chocolate syrup, and other add-ins that will taste great. You can also make different kinds including white chocolate bombs.
Go Sledding
If you already enjoy sledding, try a new location! Here in Minnesota we have plenty of hills to sled down. It’s a fun way to pass the time while getting some exercise, too.
Decorate for Christmas
Get in the Christmas spirit by decorating the home together as a family. Let the children help with adding ornaments to the tree and hanging decorations in the windows. Or encourage them to make decorations!
Have a Christmas Song Karaoke
Consider a fun night of Christmas song karaoke, where everyone can sing a Christmas song of their choice. There are plenty of great songs to choose from. Or have an old-fashioned singalong around a piano, or invite someone who can play guitar.
Make Custom Christmas Cards
You and your kids can make custom Christmas cards together. They can be as simple or creative as you want. You’ll only need a few items, such as glitter, glue, cardstock, paint, and markers to prepare these cards from scratch.
Did you know you can make pop-up Christmas cards too? Try this homemade Christmas Tree pop-up card.
Drive Around to Look at Decorations
Take the kids on a ride around the neighborhood to look at all the wonderful decorations. This was one of our family’s favorite things to do at Christmastime! It’s even more enjoyable when you live in an area where most or all of your neighbors decorate for the holiday.
Make Decorative Christmas Trees with Plates
Use paper plates and green paint to create decorative Christmas trees. After decorating them and letting them dry, you can hang them up around the home.
Make Holiday Cookies
Make holiday cookies, such as gingerbread, or chocolate chip cookies with red and green M&Ms mixed into the batter.
Go Christmas Caroling
If you want to take a more traditional approach to celebrate Christmas, take the kids out for a night of caroling. You can even get your neighbors in on the fun.
Have a Pajama Party
Have a pajama party with matching pajamas, yummy holiday treats, and enjoyable Christmas movies!
If you want to have fun with the family this holiday season, be sure to consider doing some of these activities that are fun for all ages.
Need some more ideas?
Here’s a free, fun printable with 25 ideas (including some different ones than are on this list!).
