Posted by Start making holiday magic this season with these fun Christmas traditions for kids!
From holiday crafts to baking and decorating and everything in between, I’ve got lots of ideas to make Christmas with your little ones the most special time of year.
Let the holiday fun begin!
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Visit Santa
One of the best Christmas traditions has to be a family outing to see Santa Claus. Whether your kids want to sit on Santa’s lap or not, you can make seeing Santa a yearly tradition your kids won’t forget.
My kids are still a bit weary of having their picture taken with Santa. So every year we go to a plant nursery where they can see the jolly big guy from afar but also do other memorable things. We go into Santa’s workshop, get gelato, watch the holiday train go around and see the koi fish in the pond. Before we leave, I let them buy an ornament for the tree.
Take The Same Photo Every Christmas
Every year I take a photo of my kids in front of the Christmas tree with a Santa stuffie we’ve had since my eldest was a baby. It’s fun to see how big they’re getting next to stuffie Santa year after year.
I have a friend whose family does the same thing except their photo is of all the kids with dad holding up the littlest one to put the star on top of the tree.
It’s such a fun Christmas tradition, plus you can use the photos to make holiday cards each year.
Wear Matching Pajamas
Speaking of taking holiday photos, one thing that always makes Christmas photos even more festive is when the kids (or the whole fam) wear matching holiday pajamas. My littles love getting their Christmas PJs. Carter’s always has really cute ones, so I can never resist.
Decorate A Gingerbread House
Another thing we do to kick off the holiday season is decorate a gingerbread house. It’s a good thing they include a lot of candy in the kit because it doesn’t all make it onto the house! 😋
Make Christmas Art
Christmas art can be used to decorate the house, make holiday cards, kept as a memento or given to grandparents as a thoughtful gift from baby or kids. For younger children, check out these fun Christmas footprint art ideas here.
Give An Open Early Gift
I remember how hard it was to wait for Christmas as a kid, which is why my mom used to always get my siblings and me an open early gift. She still does this for my kids, which gets them very excited. Usually it is something small like a Christmas book or an ornament for the tree.
It could also be a Christmas-themed toy or activity. The key is that it gets put away with the decorations after Christmas so it remains special for the holidays.
Here are some ideas:
- Christmas puzzle (check out this scratch and sniff one!)
- LEGO Duplo Gingerbread House
- Little People Nativity Set
Advent Calendar
An advent calendar is also an exciting way for kids to get a little something each day while they eagerly count down until Christmas. When I was a kid, it was always a chocolate advent calendar, but now there’s so many more fun toy advent calendars including Paw patrol, LEGO, Hot Wheels, Little People and Bluey.
Watch Christmas Movies
Nothing sounds better to me than snuggling up in some blankets with my little ones and watching a Christmas movie on a cold December night. They love the newer animation of The Grinch but of course there are so many great holiday movies that you could watch a different one every night until Christmas!
Sip Hot Cocoa
While the kids are watching Christmas movies, make them a cup of hot cocoa. Put it in a holiday mug (they’ll love this!) and add some marshmallows on top. It’ll give them that warm and fuzzy feeling we all love about a Christmas tradition.
Bake Sugar Cookies
Speaking of sweets, baking sugar cookies with the kids is a must during the holidays. I swear the kids get more excited about cutting out the shapes and decorating the cookies with icing and sprinkles than they do about eating them. Although they do like eating them 😆 So grab a set of holiday cookie cutters and then follow this recipe here. It’s really good but makes a lot so be prepared to give some away to the neighbors!
Pick A Christmas Tree
When you go to get the Christmas tree, bring the whole family and let the kids pick out the perfect tree. Whether you go to a Christmas tree farm, a nursery or just Home Depot, make the outing a special Christmas tradition every year by stopping for hot cocoa or a cookie on the way.
Decorate The House
Getting out the bin of Christmas decorations is almost as good as Christmas morning. My kids love seeing what kind of surprise ornament is wrapped in all that tissue paper and then putting each one on the tree. Their second favorite thing is watching the Christmas blow up go up in the front yard every evening.
This year I’ve decided to take on a new decorating tradition though and surprise them by decorating their bedroom doors with this fun snowman door craft. Maybe next year I’ll make Grinch doors or Santa doors and so on in keeping with the tradition.
Listen To Christmas Music
What are Christmas traditions without a little music? While you’re decorating (or baking cookies or anything else holiday related for that matter), turn up those Christmas tunes! If you have Spotify, check out this playlist of Christmas Classics – it’s my favorite and feels very nostalgic of being a kid during the holidays.
Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt
Seeing the Christmas lights is all part of the magic of the holidays. Every year we drive to a neighborhood that’s known for its over the top Christmas light display and then walk around admiring it all. Whether you’re walking or driving, you can make it extra fun for the kids by doing a Christmas light scavenger hunt.
Play “Reindeer Games”
It wouldn’t be the holidays without spending some family time together playing games. Last year a relative gifted us this Grinch bingo game that became an instant hit. It would also make a great open early gift.
Make Fudge
When I was a kid, the only time of year my mom ever made fudge was during the holidays. Needless to say this dessert is a nostalgic Christmas tradition for me. I remember sneaking pieces of it from the freezer it was so good 🤫😂 Hers was chocolate but my family loves this white chocolate peppermint one that is so incredibly easy to make. (The kids will love smashing up the candy canes!)
Elf On The Shelf
Have some fun with the Elf On The Shelf and remind kids that Santa is watching! If you already own one, find some mischievous ideas here. Or take the stress of planning what to do with your elf each day with an Elf On The Shelf kit.
Host A Christmas Party
If you love hosting, have an annual Christmas party that’s ugly sweater for the adults and holiday PJs for the kids. Include some of the Christmas traditions I mentioned like playing “reindeer games”, decorating a gingerbread house, making hot cocoa, listening to Christmas music or watching movies all while eating sugar cookies.
Write A Letter To Santa
You’ll never have to guess what your child wants for Christmas once they write the official letter to Santa. You can use my free printable letter to Santa template to make those holiday wishes come true.
Leave Cookies For Santa
Of course, it is tradition to leave cookies or treats for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. You can make this extra special with a cookies for Santa plate. Have the kids help arrange the cookies on the plate and pour a glass of milk for Santa.
Don’t forget to leave carrots outside for the reindeer too!
Be A Santa To Someone In Need
Teach your children that the Christmas season is about being kind, thoughtful and generous to others in need.
Have your kids each fill a bag with toys they don’t play with anymore to “send back to the North Pole” for Santa to fix up in his workshop for children in need.
Younger children can also help shop for a local Christmas drive while older kids might find opportunities to volunteer their time for a good cause.
Make A Holiday Wreath
I love this holiday craft because the whole family can participate. Make one for your own door or gift one to a teacher or neighbor!
Check out this tutorial here to learn how to make one.
Make A Handprint Ornament
If you have a baby, making a handprint (or footprint) ornament is pretty much non-negotiable. They’re only this small once so grab an ornament kit and capture an impression of that tiny print to forever decorate your Christmas tree.
Track Santa On Christmas Eve
With all the technology we have today, of course kids can now track Santa’s whereabouts on Christmas Eve. This gets them so excited, I mean, it must be real! We use the free Santa Tracker app to count down and find out where jolly ol’ Saint Nick is at.
Go On Vacation
One of my favorite Christmas traditions is taking a family vacation. For many years from the time I was 12, my family spent every Christmas and New Year’s in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. And I gotta say, now that I’m all grown up with a family of my own, I really miss my sunny Mexican holiday sometimes! I have such fond memories of that time, that I’d love to have vacation be part of my family’s Christmas tradition. Perhaps when my kids are a little older (and won’t miss the toys).
Christmas Traditions Your Kids Won’t Forget
I hope you have a great holiday making memories with your family!
Here’s a quick recap of all twenty-five Christmas traditions for kids:
- Visit Santa
- Take The Same Photo Every Christmas
- Wear Matching Pajamas
- Decorate A Gingerbread House
- Make Christmas Art
- Give An Open Early Gift
- Advent Calendar
- Watch Christmas Movies
- Sip Hot Cocoa
- Bake Sugar Cookies
- Pick A Christmas Tree
- Decorate The House
- Listen To Christmas Music
- Do A Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt
- Play “Reindeer Games”
- Make Fudge
- Elf On The Shelf
- Host A Christmas Party
- Write A Letter To Santa
- Leave Cookies For Santa
- Be A Santa To Someone In Need
- Make A Holiday Wreath
- Make A Handprint Ornament
- Track Santa On Christmas Eve
- Go On Vacation
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