In many families, Christmas activities to do with the children have become a big business organization where everything has to be perfect: the meal, the gifts, who to invite, etc. Is it possible to return to true values, to ensure that Christmas for children is truly a celebration for them, and not just a tribute to the gifts we give them? Instead, let’s enjoy time and fun with the family!
December is a busy month, however you cut it. Ready or not, winter is here and so are the holidays, which means you’re probably decorating your home for the season, shopping galore, finding new ways to connect and celebrate with distant loved ones, and checking your list of holiday gifts. So when you encounter rare moments of downtime, you’ll want to make the most of it, no matter what that means to you and your family.
If you have school-aged kids, they’re likely on vacation for much of December, so they’ll need to find fun and safe winter activities, indoors and out, to keep them (or you will need to find some for them).
The Christmas tree
If you go for a real fir tree, it’s a great idea to go pick it up and cut it yourself in the forest. It is always a wonderful Christmas activity for children to take a walk in the woods in search of the perfect companion for the holiday evenings. In addition, the walk outside well wrapped up, the smells of the undergrowth and the time spent together will create lasting memories for them.
Christmas decorations
Once your tree has been adopted, you will need to decorate it, as well as the rest of your home. You can of course buy the garlands, balls and other gadgets in all the stores from the beginning of November, but why not make an activity with the children and instead make them together? You will find plenty of easy-to-make ideas for crafts with children: wreaths, figurines for the nursery, original balls, colored garlands, etc. Children will be so proud to recognize all around them objects that they themselves have created for Christmas.
Send Christmas cards
To get into the holiday spirit, there is nothing better than organizing an activity with the children where you start writing greeting cards from the first days of December. And as long as you do, make them yourself during these famous family DIY sessions!
An Advent calendar
The anticipation of Christmas Day is what is most exciting! Make this moment completely magical. To keep kids looking forward to the big day, an Advent calendar is a great way to prepare for Christmas. You can find these in stores as the big day approaches, or you can make one very easily as well.
A simple way is to wrap small surprises from $ 1 stores and sweets in paper or plastic bags, write the day numbers on them, then arrange them in a pretty cardboard box or in a basket.
You can also give Christmas gifts for children from time to time: play a board game, read an additional story, go skating, have a pillow fight, do scratchies, go to the library, watch a Christmas movie glued together in bed… Each day, help your children find the bag that matches the date. You will see their eyes enlarge in proportion to the speed at which the box empties.
Get in the Christmas mood
Take out your records of traditional songs, watch thematic films, read tales, go to shows, visit a living nativity scene, sing in chorus. All these Christmas activities are good for creating a magical atmosphere with the children while waiting for the day of celebration.
Traditional Christmas dishes
Of decorated cookies, gingerbread, of fruitcakes, the eggnog. There are a multitude of smells and flavors that are connected to the holiday season. Involve your children in the preparation of seasonal sweets and make them a Christmas activity in the kitchen! Or prepare small sachets of treats together to distribute to neighbors, relatives, teachers or school mates.
Prepare a family show
Another great Christmas activity would be to organize a mini skit that tells the story of the holiday, or even a song. The important thing is to have fun and have a little something to present to the relatives.
Attach and fill the bottom of Noah
Even though Christmas stockings are usually filled with small, insignificant things, many will tell you that this charming tradition is just as (if not more) important as the “real” gifts placed under the tree. There is nothing more wonderful in the eyes of a child at Christmas than to see long puffy stockings hanging on the mantel of the fireplace or simply on nails arranged on the walls of the living room. Fill them with cute presents, or organize a magical Christmas activity and make your own presents with the kids!
Unwrapping the gifts
For everyone to have fun, an exchange of gifts organized between adults and children for Christmas is always a winner. Also think about finding ideal gifts for children, to make their Christmas magical! There are plenty of easy and fun games to be enjoyed by the whole family. It’s always more interesting to make this moment fun rather than letting everyone unpack their packages alone in their own corner.
Games
A great Christmas activity for the family: form intergenerational teams and organize a board game tournament, a quiz or any other activity that involves children and adults. Laughter and good memories guaranteed!
Music
If there are musicians around you, take advantage! An improvised musical evening is always a great success, even for children! If no one knows how to strum the guitar, don’t despair and pull out your jigs and other folklore records, and tamp the furniture. Everyone on the dance floor! Yes, yes, especially children!
The meal
An always nice way to include the children at Christmas and not to put too heavy a burden on your shoulders, is to offer each guest to get involved in the preparation: someone brings the appetizers, the another the salads, another the accompaniments, desserts, cheeses, drinks, while the children help with the cooking, the decoration, the secretaries, etc. By sharing the task, you will all be much more relaxed and at the same time be able to taste a variety of different dishes.
Decorate cookies
It’s a December activity that you can do with friends or with kids, or both. Start with simple sugar cookies or festive gingerbread shapes, lay out colorful frosting, sprinkles and candies, and start decorating for the afternoon.
Organize a cookie exchange
There are few December activities more typical than a festive cookie swap – and it doesn’t have to be Christmas-centric or even the holidays. Invite friends and neighbors over to whip up their favorite treat, then host a socially distant drop-off swap right on people’s doorsteps or reunite with your family pod for safe, cookie-filled socializing.
Embrace the outdoors
The arrival of December is far from being a reason to go back inside. This year in particular, do like the fresh air lovers of Scandinavia and embrace the concept of outdoor living, which literally means living in the open air. Depending on where you live and the intensity of your favorite activity, take advantage of the really cold and snowy first month to ice skate, toboggan, ski, cross-country ski, winter hike, ski tube or snowshoe sliding. But even if it’s just for a walk around the neighborhood or a picnic in the backyard, going outside is just as important and invigorating in December as it is in June.
Give away old toys
Toys are another great thing to give away while on vacation. Think of all the trucks, stuffed animals, dolls and sports equipment that you and your family no longer use. If they’re still in good shape, it’s probably time to give them a second life and there is someone out there who will truly appreciate them. Plus, it’s always fun to revisit old game things – so many memories!
DIY Christmas Decorations
It’s time to decorate the hallways with all the beautiful greenery, lights, garlands, and paper snowflakes you can collect. Spend a cozy family afternoon listening to holiday music, sipping hot chocolate, and creating your own decor (you’ll love making homemade ornaments or pine cone place cards).
Admire the neighborhood lights and decorations
Does your block go all out with Hanukkah or Christmas decorations? Is there a designated street in town known for its party displays? Considering what a difficult year this has been, people are excited to go further than ever with their decorations in order to spread some joy. Stroll or drive around the neighborhood with your kids to take in the spectacle of lights, trees, wreaths, candles, and other seasonal installations.
Play in the snow
If there is already a blanket of snow where you live, take the kids out to build a snowman, play touch football or capture the flag in the snow, have a friendly snowball fight or make snow angels.
Watch Christmas movies
It’s time for those seasonal movies that make you happiest, and you know what they are. Find the classics streaming on nonstop cable TV, or stream your favorites, including a new crop of HBO Original Movies and Shows, from now on.
Take a trip
It’s cold, it’s dark, it’s crowded, a long weekend in Miami can seem pretty enticing right now. Your regular winter trip might not be on the cards, but certain types of trips are still possible, as long as you take the proper precautions to be smart and safe. In fact, one of the positives of this year’s virtual work and schooling is the ability to extend your stay somewhere, whether it’s a house rental or a hotel stay. You can also bond with each other by playing road trips and having fun.
Prepare winter drinks
Invite yourself around a small bubble of friends or organize a virtual meeting to prepare and enjoy winter cocktails together. Submit a recipe anyone can mix up and show off via FaceTime or Zoom, or let everyone whip up their own favorite sip for the occasion. Mix together classic seasonal drinks, alcoholic or not, fortified hot apple cider, classic hot toddies, mulled wine, Mexican hot chocolate, spicy eggnog and chai lattes.
Make New Years Resolutions
Speaking of resolutions, as you reflect on this year’s goals, you can start thinking about your New Year’s resolutions before December 31st. Have you always wanted to start a new exercise routine, shoot for a big promotion, try meditation, or better still keep in touch with your friends? Now is the time to set intentions for the coming year so that you can make it happen.