Ready to make this the best holiday season ever for your family? Then, all you need is a fresh stash of ideas and inspiration to help you keep the kids engaged, entertained, and filled with the joy of the season. From festive crafts to delicious baking adventures, the holidays are the perfect time to create memories with your family. Here’s a list of ten fun and creative holiday activities that will keep your kids busy and your home full of holiday cheer.
1. Holiday Baking
Nothing says “holiday spirit” like baking. From hot chocolate to cake toppings, Sweet Diplomacy’s allergy-friendly options are just what Santa ordered. Holiday-themed cookie decorating is also the perfect blank canvas for kids to unleash their creativity. Grab some colorful icing, sprinkles, and edible glitter, and let the fun begin!
Elf-Approved Insider Tip: Check out these easy decorating ideas for more inspiration.
2. DIY Ornament Crafting
Turn your living room into a mini craft studio and let kids design their own ornaments. From salt dough creations and popcorn strands to painted pinecones and shells, these ornaments will not only keep your little ones busy, but they’ll also add a memorable touch to your holiday decorations.
Elf-Approved Insider Tip: Take a look at Pinterest’s holiday craft ideas for kids for more fun ideas.
3. Holiday Movie Marathon
Create a cozy vibe with blankets, hot cocoa, and a lineup of family-friendly holiday classics. Have your kids vote on their favorite holiday movies and let the viewing party begin. To make it extra fun, consider pairing themed snacks with each movie!
Elf-Approved Insider Tip: Check out this list of top holiday movies for kids.
4. Gingerbread House Decorating
A classic holiday activity that never gets old, decorating gingerbread houses is fun for kids of all ages. Use a pre-made kit for simplicity, or bake the gingerbread from scratch for an extra layer of fun. And don’t be afraid to think outside the box! Think of fun themes like a Reindeer workshop or Christmas at the beach.
Elf-Approved Insider Tip: Host a gingerbread house competition and let kids vote for categories like “Most Creative” or “Most Festive.”
5. Holiday Scavenger Hunt
Create a scavenger hunt with holiday-themed clues and treasures around your home or backyard. Include items like candy canes, mini stockings, or small toys. You can even incorporate learning into the activity by adding riddles or trivia questions to the clues for bonus points.
Elf-Approved Insider Tip: For tips on crafting scavenger hunts, check out these lists.
6. Festive Pajama Photo Shoot
Get the kids dressed in their holiday pajamas and set up a fun photo shoot at home. Let your inner diva shine! Use props like twinkling lights, faux snow, and holiday decorations to capture Insta-worthy images for your holiday posts.
Elf-Approved Insider Tip: Turn the photos into holiday cards or digital greetings for friends and family.
7. Create a Holiday Playlist
Let your kids pick their favorite holiday tunes and create a family playlist. Spend an evening dancing and singing along to festive songs while decorating the tree or baking cookies.
Elf-Approved Insider Tip: Check out Spotify’s curated holiday playlists for inspiration.
8. DIY Snow Globes
Crafting homemade snow globes is a surprisingly simple project with a big “wow” factor. Use mason jars, small figurines, glitter, and water to create magical decorations.
Elf-Approved Insider Tip: Add glycerin to the water to slow the glitter’s fall for a more mesmerizing effect.
9. Write Letters to Santa
Set up a mini “Santa’s Workshop” and help kids write their letters to Santa. Make sure you have fun stationery, stickers, and colorful pens on hand. You can mail the letters to Santa’s official address or keep them as keepsakes.
Elf-Approved Insider Tip: Check out the USPS’s official Letters to Santa Instructions.
10. Explore the Outdoors with Holiday Lights
Bundle up and take the family on a holiday lights tour. Whether walking through your neighborhood or visiting a professional display, kids will love the sparkling magic of holiday lights.
Elf-Approved Insider Tip: Visit Holiday Light Finder to locate magical displays near you.
Make This Holiday Season Unforgettable
The holiday season offers inventive ways to engage kids in creative projects, from baking and decorating cookies to designing snow globes. So, gather your supplies, play some festive tunes, and let the holiday magic flow. And remember, there’s no wrong way to enjoy these holiday activities. Improvise, experiment and enjoy!