How about some easy Christmas activities for the whole family this holiday season? It’s time to make memories that are low on work and high on magic.
The trick is to get your crew interested in family time. Check out these 51 tips to make some holiday cheer and create fun family traditions together.
Included are tips to do with every age, spiritual ideas, and ways to entertain out-of-town guests. Pick and choose the ideas that are good for everyone and don’t get stressed!
Easy Christmas Activities to Do with Kids
These easy Christmas activities for kids are an amazing way to spend time with your children using food and inexpensive crafts. Who doesn’t love to eat during the holidays and a good paper chain?
- Special breakfast-make a special breakfast on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. Let the kids decorate pancakes with chocolate chips, lots of whipped cream, and sprinkles.
- Gingerbread house-decorate a gingerbread house. You can buy the premade sheets with the candy and icing altogether in a kit. It’s not expensive.
- Make cookies-we love making gingerbread cookies. The kids have fun decorating them however they want. Most of the time, the gingerbread men looked a bit wonky…but they still taste good!
- Special dinner-go to a nice restaurant during the holidays that you would never go to any other time of the year. This is such an easy Christmas activity that requires very little work but is packed with good memories.
- Holiday picnic– sit on the floor in the dark next to your lit Christmas tree and eat a fun Christmas meal. Or eat pizza! Whatever is yummy for your kids is the main idea.
- String popcorn-get popcorn and string it. Hang it on the kid’s Christmas tree. Eat the rest! This is an easy cheap Christmas craft.
- Roast marshmallows– get your coat hangers out! You don’t have to have a bonfire to roast marshmallows. You can do it at your fireplace and have just as much fun! Yummy!
- Hot cocoa/cider mix for gifts-here is a great hot chocolate recipe you and your kids can put together for the neighbors. If you have kids who like to mix and stir, this is a great way to have fun in the kitchen. You can even slip in a little math with the measuring. Don’t forget to drink some too!
- Christmas crafts– Pinterest has tons of Christmas craft ideas using things around your house or from a local store.
- Colorable holiday tablecloth-Amazon has holiday tablecloths that can be colored while sitting at the table. You can do it with your kids or use it for a special meal to keep the kids busy while the adults talk.
- Make an ornament-if you are asking what your kids can make for Xmas, this is it! An ornament. There are craft kits or just get a foam ball and start painting. Get a special kid’s Christmas tree and hang them on it. Make sure you have the date on the ornament, so you can keep track of them over time.
- Paper snowflakes-this is a free easy Christmas craft that is quick to do. Fold a piece of paper into four squares. Cut holes in the sides, just don’t cut at the bottom corner. Tape it on the windows or hang it on the tree.
- Paper chain- Here is an adorable Christmas paper chain that is an easy Christmas craft for toddlers. They can glue the paper together while you make the embellishments.
These easy Christmas activities for preschoolers or elementary kids are so fun to do. You don’t have to do them all. Just choose one or two.
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Check out my book Estranged: Finding Hope When Your Family Falls Apart or Creating Family Memories on Amazon or at your favorite digital store.
What Are Some Fun and Easy Christmas Activities You Must Do?
Here are some fun, easy Christmas activities for the family you must do! These are great ideas that may quickly become a tradition every year. I think you will especially like these ideas if you are staying at home instead of traveling.
- Pictures with Santa-many times the mall or department store will have a Santa that sees kids and takes pictures. I have seen a few places that do selfies or “distanced” Santas if watching the germs.
- Christmas tree-pick out the tree or go cut one down and then decorate the tree together. Drink hot cocoa or cider while doing it. Easy Christmas activities for the whole family are not hard to do if everyone loves the job.
- Decorate the outdoors-get your kids involved in decorating the front yard. Let them put lights on the bushes, hang something from the trees, or put a wreath on the door.
- Elf on the Shelf-do elf on the shelf every day during the season. Here are 50 ideas to help you make it fun.
- Open a present-open one present on Christmas Eve just to add a little fun.
- Christmas Eve-set out milk and cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve. Don’t forget the carrots for Rudolph!
- Reindeer prints-put reindeer prints on the floor Christmas morning so it looks like Rudolph and all the reindeer came.
- Stockings-hang stockings on the mantle and fill them when Santa comes. Lots of dollar bills are always fun!
- Outdoor scavenger hunt-make a list of all the nature in your yard and have your kids find each item. Or take a walk around the block and let your kids discover a whole new world of winter wonderlands such as fir, pinecones, mistletoe, etc.
- Christmas games-Check out these 30 Christmas games to do with your family. They are great for parties too. I love these Christmas activities for the family as there are endless ones to choose from.
- Felt advent calendar-buy a cute calendar that has the month of December displayed. Let your kids put a felt piece on each day in December. They can take turns marking the days until Christmas.
- Letters to Santa-write letters to Santa. There are places you can mail them to the “North Pole.”Some post offices will take them. My favorite is to tuck them away for a keepsake.
These are wonderful easy Christmas activities that will create memories for a lifetime!
Get your two (adorable) FREE LETTERS TO SANTA TEMPLATE PDF that also make a wonderful keepsake!
How Do I Make Christmas Fun For My Kids Who Are Older?
Tweens and teens are picky about time with family. Some may even feel forced to be with you as their friends are sooo much more interesting. Try these easy Christmas activities to help you bond with these prickly creatures. In fact, you may even get a smile. Well, maybe.
- Christmas lights-drive around your area and look at Christmas lights together.
- Christmas shopping/market-do your Christmas shopping together as a family at a specialty market or shopping center that is decorated for the holidays.
- Game night-play games together as a family and listen to holiday music while drinking cocoa.
- Puzzle-have a 500 or 1000-piece Christmas puzzle sitting out for everyone to work on during the season. People will just gather at the table randomly to work on it.
- Christmas karaoke-this is the modern version of caroling. Instead of going around the neighborhood, sing and dance together at home. Have a dance party and make a video of your fun.
- Spa night-if you have girls do a spa night while watching Christmas movies. Make sure to have lots of polish, face masks, and any other beauty products they love. You can even give foot massages. These are fun easy Christmas activities for about any age.
- Christmas selfie scavenger hunt-check out these ideas on how to do a scavenger hunt holiday edition. This list is awesome to do as a family or with friends.
- Christmas charades-Check out these printable cards for Christmas charades. They will help you to get started on a fun night together with family and/or friends.
- Snowball fight-I realize this isn’t always possible, but who doesn’t love a good snowball fight when there is snow? If you are not into pelting each other, then make snow angels together or go sledding.
- Decorate a wreath or the tree-if you have a teen who likes crafts, make a wreath together or decorate the tree as a family. These are easy Christmas activities for adults and teens to do together.
- Movies at home-watch Hallmark or other Christmas movies together at home. We love to watch It’s a Wonderful Life every year together on Christmas Eve.
- Travel-get out of town and enjoy the holidays away from home with your family. Going to New York is one of the best Christmas activities to do with older kids. It is magical!
These ideas are easy Christmas activities for the whole family. Which one does your family do?
RELATED: How to Create Family Memories: 3 Ways to Love Your Kids [Printable]
Easy Christmas Activities That Are Meaningful To the Family
Here are some easy Christmas activities to do together as a family this year. In fact, it may even help you focus on something other than gifts. It is so easy to get distracted by all the shiny objects and forget what is really important–Jesus.
- Christmas Eve candlelight service-attend a candlelight church service on Christmas Eve. This is so meaningful for the whole family.
- Christmas story-read the Christmas story (Luke 2) sometime during the season. We do it on Christmas Eve.
- Celebrate Advent- read a meaningful passage out loud every week that correlates with Advent candles starting with hope, love, joy, and, finally, peace during Christmas week.
- Mission project– participate in Angel Tree, Operation Christmas Child, feed the homeless, or visit a nursing home during the holidays. This is one of the best Christmas activities for the family!
- Church services-attend church services during Advent. How about going all year??
- Christmas music-have Christmas music playing in the background during the season. Just keep it going all day. It will create a festive mood.
These ideas are meaningful and easy Christmas activities for the whole family. I hope you will remember to find a way to put Jesus first over stuff no matter what you do together this year.
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How to Entertain Your Family at Christmas?
Check out these easy Christmas activities to entertain your family during the holidays. These tips are also great for out-of-town guests who are staying with you for a few days.
- Christmas concert-attend a Christmas concert as a family. Check your local paper or the web for what is offered in your area.
- Movie theater or Drive-In-go see the latest Christmas movie in the theater. You may even have a drive-in around your area.
- Christmas play-go to a Christmas play at a local theater or church. Some churches go all out and have live animals in their productions.
- Amusement park– Check your area for amusement parks that decorate for the holidays.
- Ice skating-go ice skating together. Have your kids invite friends to come along.
- Carriage ride-many areas have carriage rides available. This is one of the best easy Christmas activities for the family.
- Live Nativity Scene-attend a live nativity scene in your area. Some of them are in a place where you can simply drive by to see it all.
- Christmas craft bazaar-many times schools, churches, or sororities will hold a Christmas market in your area. Check out the paper or the web for what is available.
You can find easy Christmas activities for your relatives in about every town if you just look at what is going on each week.
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How Can I Make Christmas More Fun?
Easy Christmas activities for the family are ones the whole family is interested in doing. Don’t force an activity, even if every other family does it.
Listen to what your family likes to do.
My kids decorated the tree a couple of times and then lost interest, so we never did it again together. I pay my daughter to do it!
On the other hand, my family loves to travel on the holidays, go on carriage rides, eat at nice restaurants, and worship together.
Last year, my 21-year-old decorated three gingerbread houses. This is a tradition that we have been doing since they were young and, apparently, she is going to keep doing it for who knows how long!
Furthermore, take time to do something you love to do… alone. Keep up your own health and enjoy the season! Don’t feel like you have to do everything on the list. They are just suggestions!
Merry Christmas from Mom Remade!
What easy Christmas activities do you do with your family? Comment below!
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Creating Family Memories Book
Get Creating Family Memories. This book will help you manage your family in a way that allows more time to be intentional with your kids. It includes a schedule too. Here’s the printable and editable schedule as a companion. You can get it at your favorite bookstore.
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Continue the conversation on Facebook and join the group Christian Family Living. This is a place for Christian women to freely talk about parenting, marriage, faith, family, and culture. Being a Christian is hard! Let’s do it together. Most of all, a sense of humor is required. Got memes? Bring it on!
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28 Comments
Nice blog such informative Blog and Good article That you have been written here nice to read and informative one I like all your Blog This one is my favorite one…
Muthulakshmi,
Thanks so much for your comments. Glad this is your favorite.
Wow! Julie, what an impressive list. I never thought about leaving a puzzle out to work on here and there. Thanks for all the new ideas!
This is a favorite thing to do with my family. Thanks for your comment.
This is an awesome list! I know where to come when I’m looking for new ideas and traditions. Thank you.
Thanks, Patti! It is a good list to start with during the holidays. The trick is to do stuff your family enjoys, not do a list to fulfill the list! Thanks for commenting.
Thank you for these wonderful ideas!
Thanks for your comment!
This is such a great list! As much as I I’ve the decorations and the eating and the presents, spending time with family truly is the best part of the holiday season.
You are so right! I think Santa was fun when they were little, but now I enjoy just seeing my kids.
Great list! I too am a Hallmark freak! I actually just decided to add a gingerbread house to our list this year. I didn’t think of a live nativity scene. Searching for one now!
I hope you find one in your area. It is pretty cool. I love watching the animals.
Love these sweet ideas! My family always made a trip to NYC each year to Rockefeller Center to skate and see the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City. Best memories that I hope I can continue when hubs and I start our family!
We have been 3 times. It is absolutely magical!
So many of these are part of my family traditions! A special breakfast, making cookies together and movies at home! My husband and I always have a “Christmas Date” and we are actually going to NYC in December for all things Christmas! So fun.
Oh, how fun! I wish we lived closer so we could do that. Hope you have a great holiday.
Thank you for including ideas for older children, it is so hard to find things the older ones want to do. So this list was perfect!
Let me know of anything you do that is fun that I have not included. I am always looking for new Ideas.
I love these sweet ideas! We do many of these but I think we need to add some more. Thanks for the wonderful share!
It is fun to celebrate the holidays with family. I love spending time with my kids.
Great list! I noticed that there are several things on your list that we haven’t tried yet so I wrote a few down already (and I’m pinning it for later too!). Thank you!
Oh, great. Let me know how it turns out!
These are great ideas! Thanks!!
No problem!
O I love these ideas! It is the season to spend as much time together as we can!
Thanks for your comment.
Grateful for this. Because I want to create memories with my brother and my Dad who is mid-80’s, as well as my husband’s family. There are not young kids around, but family is still important. Thanks!
I hope some of these ideas will make your time together meaningful.