Every year I get excited to see all of my friend's children, and of course, my nieces and nephews dressed in adorable outfits and attending all sorts of events throughout the holiday season. From their Christmas recitals to winter parties; the holiday season is truly meant to bring joy. This year, things look a lot different. Some private Daycare's or schools may be hosting events for the holidays; while others have completely cleared any activities from the calendar. Families near and far are second thinking their annual reunions, winter vacations or even the notion of getting together for Christmas dinner.
Many of the parents I know (including myself) are wondering what to do with their children if the slew of activities that always happen every year are just not able to happen this year. I personally am concerned with filling the time for my hyperactive 4-year-old and curious 1-year-old. I, like so many other parents do not live near family, and know that my own stress and anxiety levels are starting to tingle as the thought of the Christmas break at my children's daycare comes to mind.
To put my nerves and of course yours at ease; we will get through the end of year together! For after all, every parent in the world is literally in the same boat... right? While that may put some of you at ease, I know that for the majority of us we need to implement a plan of some sort to help us sail through the holidays and create memorial moments with our children. After all, we can't give up and let 2020 devour our holiday spirit.
Here are 15 ideas and fun activities to do with your children this holiday season. Each idea/activity has been thoughtfully curated by me including hand-selected pieces that will make your children sparkle at home or on the go.
1) Decorate your home
Most families have already put up their main Christmas tree by now and probably decorated their living room. Here's a thought, let you kids decorate their rooms for the holiday. From DIY to store bough - the ideas are truly endless for your child decorating their rooms.
Here are few ideas that could spark some fun:
Get them a mini tree
they can put all of the crafts they create on the tree
they can put sibling gifts under the tree
they can select a theme for their tree ex. Batman Tree or Frozen Tree
Hang a garland
pick their favorite colors
string some lights
spell out words that bring delight
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2) Baking in the Kitchen
If you have a child over the age of three, teaching them the basics of baking is a great way for them to develop thinking, creativity and problem solving skills, as well as, a fun activity for both parent and child. Just remember to bring your patience and accidents and messes will probably happen.
There are so many ideas for holiday baking together. Search the web for ideas on "easy baking recipes for kids" or check out some of my own recipes below:
Santa's Cookies (COMING SOON)
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3) Going to visit the snow
If you live near mountains or are close to locations where it snows; a day trip to the snow is a great way for the children to play in a new environment and experience something they don't get to do everyday. Taking a little sled could be a fun way for them to experience the outdoors. Be sure to bundle up and think ahead about any stops/rests or equipment needs for your family and vehicle may need.
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4) Virtual or Real Santa Photos
Santa photos are so different this year. I learned that the regular place we go to will have a virtual Santa... meaning we just walk into a room and stand there. I get a crack out of that! Having said that, some malls and photographers are offering real in person photo shoots with Santa behind a plexiglass or other interesting and safe setups. My kids haven't had a good time yet with Santa, as it usually ends in tears or tantrums; but some kids have a wonderful time with Jolly Saint Nick. If you are planning on capturing any family photos this holiday be sure to take a look at the holiday selections below for the perfect holiday outfits for children.
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5) Making Gingerbread Houses
Building gingerbread houses is always a great activity to do with children no matter the age. You can build it with good old gram crackers, homemade icing and candies of your choice. This works really well for children over 5. For children under 5, using gingerbread kits is the best way to go as pieces fit together well and they are pre-built to minimize the mess. This activity can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 4 hours depending on the detail you put into building a perfect house. If you have multiple children, having them create their own gingerbread houses is a great way for them to get hands-on, tactile, and sensory learning; plus children will love showing off their creations.
Here are a few photos of my then three-year-old Arianni working on her Gingerbread house. While I helped her quite a bit, she loved getting messy. I put the kit into a tray and lined it with foil to minimize the mess.
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6) Holiday themed movie night
One of my favorite things to do during the holidays is watch a movie with the family and eat a lot of unhealthy snacks! Well, you don't need to do the latter, but watching a great holiday movie can really increase the holiday spirit in the home.
Here are my favorite holiday movies for children:
Olaf's Frozen Adventure (watch it on Disney+)
Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas (watch it on Disney+)
Jingle All the Way (watch it on Hulu)
Home Alone 1 (watch it on Disney+)
Home Alone 2 (watch it on Disney+)
Jingle Jangle a Christmas Journey (watch it on Netflix)
Noelle (watch it on Disney+)
Klaus (watch it on Netflix)
The Christmas Chronicles (watch it on Netflix)
The Princess Switch (watch it on Netflix)
7) 12 days of Christmas Books
No matter what your child's age, reading a wonderful Christmas book will spark their imagination and creativity, not to mention will help with their reading skills and their sleeping skills! What better way to celebrate the holidays then to gift them 12 books to read leading up to Christmas Day. Below are our family's top choices for Christmas or holiday themed books.
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8) Hold a fun holiday themed sibling party
There are a lot of small activities you can do with your children, but if you want them to get really excited about something have them plan a small party in the house with their siblings.
Tips:
If your children are old enough to make decisions, give them an opportunity to decide the theme, color scheme, what snacks they will eat and what they will do.
My four year old came up with the inspiration for the December Tablescape with her Gingerbread Dance Party theme. We hung up garlands, blew up an inflatable gingerbread man and baked some goodies for her party of two!
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9) Donate old pajamas and get new ones of Christmas Eve
Children grow so fast that by the time the holidays come around they need a new set. This year my children have outgrown two sizes of pajamas (GASP), so we are collecting all of them that are still in good condition and donating them to a local charity. Similarly, my husband and I will also be giving a pair of gently worn pajamas to donation. Teaching your children the value of giving and receiving has been an important part of my upbringing and I am so happy to be able to share those lessons with my daughters.
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10) Visit Christmas Lights
Getting the kids out of the house is a perfect way to change up their daily routine, can help reduce stress or anxiety that anyone in the family may be facing and can be a beneficial break for everyone.
We've been making a point to take walks with the kids at least twice a week. There's about a 1-hour window of time from when work ends and the sun sets. We decided that during the month of December, we would go for nighttime walks in and around our neighborhood. We bundle up the little ones with jackets, scarfs, gloves, hats and sometimes blankets to ensure their warm and take them for a 30 minute stroll. We have noticed that the kids love seeing the neighborhood Christmas lights and decoration, and this has become a great way for the kids to focus their attention on something different right before dinner. It has also been a great way for my husband and I to get in a little physical activity amidst the long sessions of sitting while working from home.
Another great way to see Christmas Lights is to go for a relaxing drive to see your city or town's Christmas Tree Lane. To make the drive more relaxing, play holiday music and bring lots of snacks for the kids to munch on while you admire the glowing lights. My favorite treats for the kids include: homemade hot chocolate, apple cider, gram crackers, minty marshmallow, gingerbread cookies and pretzels.
11) Go through gently used toys and donate them to nearby shelters
Another great way to teach your children generosity and the concept of giving is to donate their gently used toys. The holidays are a great time to go through your child's toys with them and identify the toys they have outgrown.
Discuss the concepts of generosity, giving, and sharing if your child is from age 2-5. Model the behaviors as best as possible. Explain to to them how your actions will help other families. It is important to incorporate these concepts into your child's routine by age 5. For children older than 5 you can have them make the decisions on what to give and why they would like to share their toys with others. Talk with your older children about how it makes them feel when they share their toys with others and the impacts their contribution will have on other families. If your older children have allowances, you can ask them if they would like to have make a financial contribution to a cause they are feel strongly about.
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12) Hold a neighborhood cookie swap that's "safe"
A fun way to have your children interact with other children during the holidays is to hold a virtual cookie swap. Choose an easy cookie recipe with either ready made ingredients or make your cookie dough from scratch. Schedule an hour to virtually bake together with your neighboring family or a time for you to virtually decorate your cookies together. Drop them off at each other's door step when their done and enjoy!
13) Have a Secret Santa with their cousins, close friends or neighborhood children
If your children are unable to see cousins, friends or neighborhood children due to stay at home orders, you can still keep the holiday spirit alive with the gift of giving. Arrange a Secret Santa gift exchange with a few of your children's favorite cousins or friends. You can select from a fun array of themed gift options to make the exchange even more fun. Be sure to mail off gifts at least two weeks prior to Christmas to make sure they arrive in time or schedule it early to do the exchange the week leading up to Christmas.
Fun Secret Santa gift exchange themes:
Under $10 - $15:
My Favorite Super Hero exchange
Book exchange
Unicorn exchange
Rainbow gift exchange
Disney princess exchange
Personalized gift exchange
Shop the gifts under $15 look book:
Under $5
Ornament exchange
Cookie exchange
Lollipop exchange
Bookmark exchange
Puzzle exchange
14) Fireside gathering at home
There is no better feeling than "cozy and warm" during the cold holiday season. A fun way to entertain your little ones is to create a fireside retreat in your home. Create a makeshift or pretend fire in your living room or snuggle close to the fireplace. Make S'mores, hot coco, apple cider with all the fixings. Tell stories, play games or watch a fun holiday movie to enjoy the setting you've created.
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15) Play Christmas Freeze Dance
You don't have to play Christmas music, but move to some grove instead of hanging on the couch. Moving your body and your child's will help stimulate coordination, flexibility, and agility. You can even plan in freeze dance party every weekend leading up to Christmas Day to give your child something to look forward to. Play that music, let them rock out and the last person dancing when the music stops is out!
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