The holidays are a great time each year to make special memories with your entire family, including the young ones! As we celebrate Christmas as it's meant to be, we know that holiday activities for children are something that are essential to making those long-lasting memories and celebrating the values that you keep close.
Here are some of our favorite Christmas activities for children that you (and the whole family) will have fun doing with them!
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Why Christmas Activities Are Beneficial for Children
Engaging kids in Christmas activities not only keeps them entertained but also helps develop important life skills. Crafting ornaments, baking cookies, or even putting on a holiday play encourages creativity, teamwork, and patience. These activities offer a great way to bond as a family, creating cherished memories while instilling the spirit of giving and faith.
Christmas Activities for Children
Pick Out the Christmas Tree
Whether you go to a lot or a Christmas tree farm, involve your kids by letting them help pick out the Christmas tree. It will feel like an important task for them and they’ll be more invested and appreciative of helping with the decorations.
Engage your children even more in this holiday activity by sharing the history of the Christmas tree. Not only do they get to have fun in this holiday activity, they learn something, too!
Decorate the Christmas Tree
Of course, the only logical thing to do after buying the Christmas tree is to decorate it! Put on some fun Christmas music, grab the ornaments, and let the kids help decorate! Take the time to explain to them any fun or keepsake ornaments that you’ve collected over the years.
Make this a spiritually grounded activity by throwing on some worship Christmas music. Turning this holiday activity into a praise and worship time allows your children to also exercise their spiritual "muscles" as well.
Make Popcorn Garland
What’s better than a diversion, decoration, and snack all in one? (Nothing we can think of!) This Christmas activity doesn’t require many materials, and can be the start of a new family tradition. And it’s great on a chilly winter day or during a snowstorm! Need some help getting started? Check out this tutorial.
While this might take some concentration, especially for the little ones, make this an engaging family Christmas idea by turning on a kids Christmas movie while making the garland.
Visit a Holiday Market
Keeping the kids busy while gift shopping can sometimes be a real challenge. Make it an event for the whole family by visiting a holiday market to do your shopping! (Don’t skip the hot cocoa booth!)
This Christmas activity for kids can be made more meaningful by allowing them to pick out one gift to donate to charity, or a special gift for a very important family member of their choosing. Putting meaning behind these holiday activities can deepen the value of these activities in the eyes of your children.
Go Sledding or Ice Skating
Even if you don’t live in a snowy region, many cities offer pop-up ice rinks during the holiday season, making it easy for families to enjoy winter activities like ice skating. Ice skating is a fun way to get kids active and embrace the festive spirit! If you’re lucky enough to live in an area with snow, head to a nearby sledding hill for even more winter fun. These outdoor Christmas activities provide memorable, seasonal adventures for the whole family.
Make a Meal or Purchase Food for a Local Shelter
Teaching your children to serve and give to others who are less fortunate is a gift unto itself. After all, it is the season of giving! Let them help make a meal or choose some canned or nonperishable foods to donate to a local shelter. Allow them to come with you when you drop it off, as well.
As Christmas becomes synonymous with the season of giving, this family Christmas idea helps deepen everyone's sense of gratitude and generosity during the holidays.
Drive to See Christmas Lights
It’s amazing what some people can do when it comes to decorating their house with Christmas lights! (Have you seen those houses that sync their light displays to music?) Drive around—or walk if it’s not too cold—and rank your neighborhood favorites as a family.
Family Christmas activities can make memories of a lifetime, and traditions that trickle down through generations. Making holiday activities like looking at Christmas lights a family tradition can make a lasting impact on your children.
Make Your Own Advent Calendar
Count down the days of Advent this Christmas season by making your own advent calendar! Advent calendars can help your children remember the reason for the season—as well as providing a fun daily surprise! Not sure where to start? Check out this tutorial.
Advent calendars are a great holiday activity for children to incorporate faith into your holiday festivities. For more inspiration, check out our best Christmas Bible verses for the holiday season.
Build a Model Train
While your children might need adult supervision for this activity, their excitement and joy when the train is going around the track is unmatched. Finding a model train kit that’s kid-friendly isn’t hard! Here’s one that is relatively affordable and easy for children to help create.
This fun holiday activity for Children reminds us of the wishes that mayor Brian Ortega made in the fourth grade, as seen in "Once Upon a Chirstmas Wish," starring Mario and Courtney Lopez. This Great American Christmas Original movie will be streaming on Pure Flix starting November 29.
Host a Gingerbread House-Building Competition
Kids absolutely love hands-on holiday fun, especially when it involves delicious treats like building gingerbread houses. Gather some gingerbread house-making kits or get creative with homemade materials, split the family into teams, and enjoy a festive competition! Set a time limit to add excitement, appoint a family member as the official judge, or let friends online vote on the best design. Building gingerbread houses is a perfect Christmas activity that combines creativity, family bonding, and holiday spirit!
Plan a Christmas “Crafternoon”
Christmas crafts offer endless fun for kids of all ages, and there are so many to choose from! These holiday crafts for kids not only keep them entertained but also create a host of unique Christmas decorations for the home. Explore this extensive list of festive crafts to keep kids busy and inspired this season. One favorite holiday craft idea is gingerbread playdough, which brings sensory play and Christmas creativity together!
Donate Old Toys
Make room for new Christmas presents under the tree by encouraging your children to donate a few of their old toys to charity. This holiday activity teaches kids the importance of generosity and the joy of giving back. By donating toys, children can help brighten another child’s Christmas, making it a season of giving and compassion. It’s a meaningful way to celebrate the true spirit of Christmas while clearing space for new holiday treasures.
Read Classic Christmas Tales
Turn bedtime into a special Christmas tradition by reading classic holiday stories to your kids. Share magical tales like The Polar Express, ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, A Christmas Carol, and more. These timeless Christmas stories capture the holiday spirit and create cherished memories as you read together each night. Discover an extensive list of classic Christmas books that are perfect for family storytime during the holiday season! Check out an extensive list of classic Christmas stories here.
Bake Christmas Cookies
No Christmas season is complete without Christmas cookies! Get the children involved for an afternoon of fun! Who doesn’t like decorating cookies knowing a delicious, warm, freshly-baked cookie awaits. Need some ideas? Here’s a list of Christmas cookies to bake with your children.
Pajama Movie Night
There’s nothing better than getting in your favorite holiday pajamas and gathering the family around for a Christmas movie night! We have you covered at Great American Pure Flix with some great Christmas movies that your children will enjoy with you. (Don’t forget the hot cocoa to sip on while you watch.)
However you and your family celebrate the Christmas season, we hope that you have a wonderful and joyful time making new memories. For more inspiration this holiday season, sign up for the Pure Flix Insider email newsletter.
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