Things to do with kids at Christmas

20 Things to Do at Christmas as a Family

The holiday hustle and bustle can take the Christmas cheer and make it a rushed season. How do you keep the kids from going stir-crazy and mom from losing her mind?

If you’re wondering how you will keep your family entertained this Christmas season, then it’s time to take a minute and get mom creative. Enjoy these 20 ideas of things to do at Christmas with kids! Get those kids off their mobile and gaming devices to make some sweet memories together with these family-friendly ideas.

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1. MAKE GINGERBREAD HOUSES

If you have the time and the ability, don’t buy the pre-fab houses. Make your own gingerbread house.

2. ADVENT CALENDAR

Find an inexpensive advent calendar that will give your kids something to look forward to every day in the countdown to Christmas. We love sock Advent calendars!

3. CHRISTMAS LIGHT DRIVE-THRU

Take a trip through a Christmas light display! Some of our favorites are in Ohio! Ultimate Guide to Christmas Light Drive-Thru’s in Ohio

4. DECORATE YOUR FRONT DOOR LIKE A PRESENT OR CHRISTMAS SCENE

With a bit of wrapping paper, a ribbon or a bow, your front door is transformed into a stunning wrapped gift!

5. CHRISTMAS MOVIE NIGHT

Converge around with a bowl of popcorn and cups of hot chocolate to select your favorite Christmas movie for an evening of family fun. Can’t decide which is your favorite? Make it a double feature!

If you are from central Ohio you can rent out The Strand Theater for a socially distanced evening of fun.

6. RED AND GREEN PAPER CHAINS

Everyone loves cutting and gluing strips of red and green paper to create a paper chain to hang indoors! This has been a Gleason family tradition for years!

7. GO CAROLING

This holiday season go and sing Christmas carols OUTSIDE of the windows of the nursing homes or 10 feet back from your neighbor’s door.

8. MAKE A SNOWMAN (OR SNOW ANGELS OR SNOW FORTS)

If you have snow this year, make the most of it! Snowmen, snow angels, snowball fights, and snow forts are fun for all ages! As I write this snow is starting to fall for our first snow of the year.

9. SEND HOLIDAY CARDS TO SOLDIERS STATIONED OVERSEAS OR NURSING HOME

Send a bit of holiday joy to a soldier stationed overseas by having your kids make holiday cards to send to them. Christmas Cards for our troops

10. PAPER SNOWFLAKES

Paper, scissors, and some strategic folds and cuts are all that is required for the beautiful creations your family can create on a December afternoon! I am a visual learner so enjoy this Tutorial video
Make Paper snowflakes

11. CREATE CHRISTMAS COOKIES

This messy but fun holiday tradition is one of our favorites. Enjoy an afternoon creating Christmas cookie masterpieces to share with friends and family over the Holiday season!

12. POPCORN AND CRANBERRY GARLAND

While this is a craft from years gone by it is still one your family can enjoy creating. We did this one time and it took us the whole Christmas season to make but it was beautiful.

13. CHRISTMAS GAME NIGHT

Pick your favorite board game and settle in for a night of family fun!

14. WRITE LETTERS TO SANTA

If your little ones believe in Santa Claus, have them practice their letter-writing skills with a letter to the North Pole. This is a great way to teach them writing skills and gather their Christmas wish list.

15. VISIT A LIVING NATIVITY

There are a few of these around Ohio, but I am sure a simple google search will bring up what is nearby. Our go-to is Marmon Valley Farm in Bellefontaine, Ohio

16. MAKE COLORED PLAYDOUGH

Young kids will love playing with this red and green playdough, and you’ll love making memories creating the dough together! Email me your favorite recipe and I will add the link!

17. MAKE ORNAMENTS

Homemade ornaments from the kids are a sweet memory you can pull out year after year, and they cost very little. Now that I am a grandma I am creating these with my grandchildren too!

18. HAVE A FAMILY SLUMBER PARTY UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE

My husband has done this for years with our children and even with teenagers in the house, it is a tradition that lives on! Christmas Eve party under the tree ❤

19. HAVE A CHRISTMAS DINNER PARTY

Dress up in your finest holiday cheer and have a festive meal.

20. ROAST MARSHMALLOWS IN THE FIREPLACE OR HERSHY’S S’MORES KIT

This is a family favorite! Enjoy an evening of s’mores making. You can order the kit from this Amazon affiliate link: HERSHEY’S S’Mores caddy, Brown

Smore's Kit

Enjoy the holiday season with your family and friends! We wish you the MERRIEST of MERRIEST Christmas.

The Gleason Family

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