The holiday season is the perfect time to strengthen family bonds and create cherished memories. What better way to celebrate than by making each day of December leading up to Christmas extra special? This 25-day countdown of Christmas activities is brimming with fun, engaging, and meaningful ideas to help your family fully embrace the festive spirit and build traditions that will last a lifetime. Get ready to make this Christmas unforgettable!
Day 1: Deck the Halls Together – Decorate the Christmas Tree
Begin your Christmas countdown by transforming your home into a winter wonderland! Decorating the Christmas tree as a family is a classic and heartwarming way to kick off the holiday season. Gather your ornaments, garlands, and twinkling lights, and let everyone participate in making the tree shine. Encourage children to hang ornaments, arrange tinsel, and place the star or angel on top. Share stories and memories associated with special ornaments, and consider starting a tradition of adding a new ornament each year to represent your family’s growth and experiences. This activity not only beautifies your home but also creates a collaborative and joyful start to your Christmas celebrations.
A beautifully decorated Christmas tree with colorful ornaments and wrapped presents underneath, symbolizing festive family traditions.
Day 2: Letters to Santa – Share Wishes and Gratitude
Encourage the spirit of giving and reflection by having a “Letters to Santa” day. Set up a cozy and inviting writing station equipped with festive stationery, colorful pens, crayons, and stickers. Invite your children to write letters to Santa, not only listing their Christmas wishes but also expressing gratitude for the good things in their lives throughout the year. This activity promotes thankfulness and imaginative thinking. After writing, you can choose to mail the letters to a designated Santa address or keep them as precious keepsakes to revisit in the future, reflecting on your children’s dreams and thoughts from this Christmas season.
Day 3: Crafting Christmas Cheer – Homemade Christmas Cards
Unleash your family’s creativity and spread holiday cheer by making homemade Christmas cards. Gather art supplies such as colored paper, construction paper, markers, crayons, glitter, stickers, stamps, and any other decorative elements you have on hand. Let your children’s imaginations run wild as they design unique cards for friends and family. This hands-on activity is a wonderful way to personalize your holiday greetings and teach children the joy of giving something made with love. Consider adding personal messages to each card to make them even more special and meaningful for the recipients.
A creatively crafted homemade Christmas card featuring a white bunny in a snowy scene, conveying a warm and personal holiday greeting.
Day 4: Festive Film Fun – Christmas Movie Night
Settle in for a cozy and relaxing evening with a Christmas movie night. Choose a family-friendly Christmas film that everyone will enjoy. Pop some popcorn, prepare hot chocolate or warm apple cider, and snuggle up on the sofa with blankets and pillows. Classic kid-friendly options include The Polar Express, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Elf, Home Alone, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Dim the lights, turn off distractions, and immerse yourselves in the heartwarming stories and festive atmosphere of a Christmas movie, creating a perfect bonding experience for the family.
Day 5: DIY Decor – Salt Dough Ornaments
Get crafty and create lasting Christmas decorations with DIY salt dough ornaments. Salt dough is simple to make using common household ingredients: flour, salt, and water. Mix the ingredients, roll out the dough, and use cookie cutters to create festive shapes like stars, trees, gingerbread men, and snowflakes. Bake the ornaments until hardened, let them cool, and then let your children unleash their artistic talents by painting and decorating them with glitter, paint, and markers. These homemade ornaments become treasured keepsakes that can be hung on your tree year after year, each one carrying special memories of your family’s creative time together.
Day 6: Twinkling Lights Adventure – Christmas Light Spotting
Embark on a magical adventure by going Christmas light spotting around your neighborhood or town. Pile into the car, bring along thermoses of hot cocoa or warm drinks, and drive around in search of the most spectacularly decorated houses. Make it interactive by turning it into a game: rate the decorations on a scale of 1 to 10, create a checklist of items to spot (like a Santa, snowman, reindeer, or a specific color of lights), or even create a scavenger hunt with clues related to Christmas decorations. This activity is a fun way to appreciate the festive spirit of your community and enjoy the beauty of Christmas lights together.
A suburban house adorned with bright and colorful Christmas lights, showcasing the festive spirit of neighborhood decorations.
Day 7: Sweet Creations – Make a Gingerbread House
Indulge in some sweet architectural fun by making a gingerbread house. You can opt for a pre-made gingerbread house kit or go completely from scratch using graham crackers, gingerbread cookies, or homemade gingerbread. Set up a decorating station with icing (in piping bags for easier decorating), candies of all sorts (gumdrops, sprinkles, chocolate chips, etc.), and let your children’s imaginations run wild as they decorate their gingerbread houses. This activity is not only fun and creative but also a delicious way to spend time together. Don’t forget to capture photos of their creations before anyone starts sneaking bites!
Day 8: Winter Wonderland Indoors – Craft Paper Snowflakes
Bring the beauty of a snowy winter indoors by crafting paper snowflakes. Teach your children the simple yet magical art of folding and cutting paper to create intricate snowflake designs. Provide them with various types of paper (white, colored, glittery), and let them experiment with different folding and cutting techniques. Once they have a collection of snowflakes, decorate windows, walls, or hang them from the ceiling to transform your home into a winter wonderland. This is a simple, affordable, and visually appealing activity that brings a touch of winter magic indoors.
Delicate white paper snowflakes hanging against a soft blue background, creating a serene and wintery atmosphere.
Day 9: Baking Christmas Memories – Christmas Cookies
Fill your home with the delicious aroma of freshly baked Christmas cookies! Spend a day baking and decorating Christmas cookies as a family. Choose a few favorite cookie recipes (sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, peanut butter blossoms, etc.), gather your ingredients, and get baking! Let the kids help with measuring, mixing, rolling out dough, and using cookie cutters to create festive shapes. Once baked and cooled, the real fun begins: decorating! Set out icing, sprinkles, candies, and let everyone decorate their cookies to their heart’s content. Don’t forget to set aside a special plate of cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve!
Day 10: Jingle Bell Beats – Christmas Playlist and Dance Party
Get your bodies moving and spirits soaring with a Christmas dance party! Create a playlist of your family’s favorite Christmas songs – from classic carols to upbeat holiday pop tunes. Turn up the music and let loose in your living room! Dance, sing along, and have fun being silly together. This is a fantastic way to release energy, get everyone in a festive mood, and create joyful memories through music and movement. You can even add some fun props like jingle bells or Santa hats to enhance the party atmosphere.
Day 11: Meet and Greet – Visit Santa Claus!
Make a special trip to visit Santa Claus and experience the magic of Christmas firsthand. Many locations offer opportunities to meet Santa, from shopping malls and Christmas markets to special Santa workshops and events. Let your children share their Christmas wishes with Santa, have their photos taken, and experience the wonder of meeting the jolly man himself. Consider checking out special events like Pet Parties, Pajama Parties, or sensory-friendly days offered at various locations to make the experience even more tailored to your family’s needs. Visit WhereIsSanta.com to find a Santa location near you and book your time slot!
A joyful family posing for a photo with Santa Claus, capturing a magical Christmas memory.
Day 12: Welcoming Wreath – Make a Christmas Wreath
Add a personal touch to your front door by creating a DIY Christmas wreath as a family. You can use a pre-made wreath form (grapevine, wire, or foam) or get creative with materials like evergreen branches, pinecones, berries, ribbons, and ornaments. Involve your children in choosing decorations and arranging them on the wreath. This collaborative project results in a beautiful and personalized wreath that you can proudly display on your front door, welcoming guests with your family’s festive creativity.
Day 13: Game On! – Family Christmas Game Night
Plan a fun-filled family Christmas game night. Choose Christmas-themed games like Christmas bingo, “Pin the Nose on Rudolph,” holiday trivia, or Christmas charades. You can also adapt classic board games by giving them a holiday twist – for example, use Christmas-themed tokens or create holiday-related trivia questions for a game of Trivial Pursuit. Prepare some festive snacks and drinks, and get ready for an evening of laughter, friendly competition, and quality family time.
Day 14: Spreading Kindness – Donate Toys and Clothes to Charity
Inculcate the spirit of giving and generosity in your children by involving them in donating toys and clothes to charity. Go through their toy boxes and closets together and select items that are gently used but no longer needed. Explain the importance of helping families in need during the holiday season and let your children participate in packing the items and delivering them to a local charity or donation center. This activity teaches valuable lessons about empathy, compassion, and the joy of giving back to the community.
A cardboard box overflowing with colorful toys, symbolizing charitable donations and the spirit of giving during Christmas.
Day 15: Cozy Comfort – Christmas Pajama Day
Embrace ultimate relaxation and family bonding with a Christmas pajama day. Declare a day where everyone stays in their Christmas pajamas all day long! Watch holiday movies, read Christmas stories, drink hot chocolate, play board games, and simply enjoy a relaxed and cozy day together at home. This is a perfect opportunity to slow down, unwind from holiday hustle, and cherish each other’s company in comfortable festive attire.
Day 16: Anticipation Builder – Create a DIY Advent Calendar
If you haven’t already, create a DIY advent calendar to build anticipation for Christmas. Advent calendars count down the days until Christmas, typically with a small treat or activity for each day. You can make a simple advent calendar using small bags, envelopes, boxes, or even repurposed materials. Fill each day with small candies, chocolates, stickers, small toys, or written activity prompts for each day leading up to Christmas. Opening a day of the advent calendar each morning becomes a fun and exciting daily ritual.
Day 17: Harmonious Holidays – Go Caroling (or Virtual Caroling)
Spread Christmas cheer through music by going caroling in your neighborhood. Bundle up in warm clothes, gather your family, and walk around your neighborhood singing classic Christmas carols. Share the joy of music and festive spirit with your community. If outdoor caroling isn’t feasible, organize a virtual caroling session with friends and family using video conferencing. Sing your favorite carols together online and connect with loved ones near and far through the power of music.
A family holding music sheets and singing Christmas carols outdoors, spreading holiday joy through music.
Day 18: Storytime Magic – Have a Christmas Storytime
Immerse yourselves in the magic of Christmas stories by having a cozy Christmas storytime. Choose classic Christmas books to read aloud as a family. Popular choices include The Night Before Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Polar Express, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and A Christmas Carol. Create a cozy atmosphere by snuggling under blankets, dimming the lights, lighting candles (safely), and enjoying warm drinks while listening to heartwarming Christmas tales.
Day 19: Handcrafted Reindeer – Create Handprint Reindeer Crafts
Get crafty and create adorable reindeer using your children’s handprints. This is a simple and fun craft that results in cute keepsakes and decorations. Use brown paint to paint your children’s hands and press them onto paper to create reindeer antlers. Add googly eyes, red pom-poms for noses, and draw on mouths to complete the reindeer faces. These handprint reindeer can be used as ornaments, gift tags, or simply displayed as festive artwork, and they make wonderful personalized gifts for grandparents or family members.
Day 20: Festive Outing – Visit a Christmas Market or Tree Farm
Experience the festive atmosphere of a Christmas market or tree farm. Many towns and cities host Christmas markets during the holiday season, offering crafts, food, festive decorations, and often live entertainment. Visiting a Christmas tree farm allows you to select a fresh Christmas tree and enjoy the outdoor winter atmosphere. These outings provide a change of scenery, offer opportunities for unique holiday shopping, and immerse your family in the sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas.
Day 21: Gratitude in Writing – Write Thank You Notes for Teachers and Friends
Encourage your children to express gratitude by writing thank you notes for their teachers, friends, neighbors, or anyone who has made a positive impact on their lives during the year. Provide them with stationery, pens, and guidance on writing heartfelt thank you messages. This activity teaches children the importance of appreciation and kindness, and sending thank you notes is a thoughtful gesture that spreads holiday cheer and strengthens relationships.
Day 22: Personalized Stockings – Make Personalized Christmas Stockings
Get ready for Santa’s arrival by creating personalized Christmas stockings for each family member. Purchase plain stockings (fabric or felt) and let your children decorate them using fabric paint, glitter, sequins, felt cutouts, buttons, and other craft supplies. Encourage everyone to design their stocking to reflect their personality and interests. Once decorated, hang the stockings by the fireplace, on the mantel, or along the stairs, ready for Santa to fill them with treats and gifts on Christmas Eve.
Festive red and white Christmas stockings hanging on a fireplace mantel, ready to be filled with holiday treats and gifts.
Day 23: Warm and Cozy – Have a Hot Chocolate Bar
Create a festive and indulgent hot chocolate bar at home. Prepare hot chocolate (homemade or using a mix) and set out a variety of toppings for everyone to customize their drinks. Offer marshmallows (mini and large), whipped cream, candy canes (crushed or whole), chocolate chips, sprinkles, caramel sauce, chocolate syrup, cinnamon sticks, and festive straws. Let each family member create their own personalized hot chocolate masterpiece and enjoy your warm drinks together while watching a holiday movie or reading Christmas stories.
Day 24: Christmas Eve Tradition – Read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’
Make reading ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas a cherished Christmas Eve tradition. Gather your family together in a cozy spot, perhaps by the fireplace or under the Christmas tree. Dim the lights, snuggle up, and read aloud the classic poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. This heartwarming story sets the perfect tone for Christmas Eve, building anticipation and excitement for Christmas morning.
Day 25: Christmas Morning Joy – Christmas Morning Magic
Wake up to the excitement of Christmas morning! Gather around the Christmas tree to open presents, share joyful moments, and express gratitude for each other and the holiday season. Enjoy a special Christmas breakfast together, perhaps with festive dishes like pancakes shaped like Christmas trees or reindeer. Spend the day playing with new toys, enjoying family games, watching Christmas movies, and simply spending quality time together, cherishing the magic of Christmas Day.
A happy family opening Christmas presents together on Christmas morning, filled with joy and holiday spirit.
Conclusion
These 25 Christmas Activities For Families offer a diverse range of ideas to fill your December with joy, laughter, and meaningful moments. From crafting and baking to outdoor adventures and cozy nights in, these activities are designed to help your family create a magical and memorable Christmas season. Embrace these suggestions to build lasting traditions, strengthen family bonds, and make this holiday season truly special for everyone.
