I am a big fan of Christmas, and really, who isn’t. But since I have had kids I get into the holiday WAY more. I don’t have to beg my husband quite so much to enjoy the little things with me because my kids are so into it! Each year I will check the local event calendars from libraries, shopping centers, and church activities and combine it with some of our favorite traditions.
One thing I do try to keep in mind is that less can be more. So Christmas movie nights with a little hot coa coa can be repeated through the month and a nice way to embrace the season without too much hussle and bussle.
I usually already have most of my Christmas stuff up by the first of December, so of course you can adapt any of these ideas, this is just what I am thinking for this year. And with any planning keep in mind that plans will probably change. Kids get sick, you get tired, or sometimes you just forget!
1. Schedule out the advent calendar with your family while listening to Christmas music. Decorate the tree.
2. Let is snow, let it snow, let it snow. Make paper snowflakes.
3. Go to dinner with someone you love. FHE (teach about the birth of Christ and let the children act it out or play with little people nativity.)
4. Christmas movie with Nana and popcorn *Classic Rudolf (parents can go shopping, out to dinner or attend other outside commitments.)
5. Dollar Store gifts with siblings. Have an outing for sibling to pick out gifts to give to each other.
6. Write a letter to Santa. Deliver it to a special box or in person.
7. “Prints” activity. Make salt dough ornaments or reindeer feet. Save the project each year and watch their hands/feet grow through the years.
8. Write a Christmas letter to a soldier/missionary.
9. Read a Christmas story together around the Christmas tree. ( I like to make the Sunday activities focused more around Christ’s birth.)
10. Deliver neighbor gifts
11. Swimming with friends. I love this tradition because it is something we forget to do in the winter and the kids have so much fun.
12. Make gingerbread “trees” out of upside down old fashioned ice cream cones. Much easier to decorate and they don’t fall apart.
13. Go to see temple square lights (or any lights display close to your home.)
14. Go to the Church History Museum. We love this tradition for the interactive nativity scene where the children can dress up as sheperds, mary, or the angels.
15. Attend a neighborhood Christmas party/sweater party/Christmas Concert.
16. Nativity movie with Popcorn.
17. This night we are having a cousin pajamas breakfast for dinner party. We will be watching “The Polar Express.” Once the movie ends we will give each child a “ticket” to board their own “polar express” go drive around and see the lights in your neighborhood!
18. Wrap gifts
19. Make a goal for the new year or a “gift” you would like to give to god and save it in your stocking for the next year.
20. Watch a Christmas Classic: Elf and eat pancakes, A Christmas Story, or Charlie Brown Christmas.
21. Go to a local library reading time or community event. Many free choir performances are available and music brings the spirit of the season like nothing else.
22. Watch “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”
23. Family Party, Go see santa.
24. Read the story of Christ’s birth from the bible and have the kids dress up as different roles: sheperds, wise men, mary/joseph. We always use items from around the house like robes, towels, and paper towel middles to hold up the stars. Open pjs for Christmas morning
25. Family time. We are starting a new tradition of a eggs/sausage/hashbrown casserole that can be prepared the night before and popped in the oven the morning of. Another idea I like is to have the kids open their stockings on their parents bed first before going to see the Christmas tree. Take this time to talk about your love for your family and the true reason for the season.
These are some of my ideas for this year, what are yours?
Hello! I am Camille, a wife, mother of four, Disney obsessed, certified teacher, and believer in creating your best momlife the way you see fit. Motherhood comes with its ups and downs, my hope is you’ll find something here to make your life a little better/easier. Let’s be friends on social!
I love this idea, I think we’ll do this next year. I always have grand plans for things to do around Christmas time and then I forget, this would be a fun way to organize my activities and then actually get them done!
It makes me so happy to see so much focus on our Savior. I hate sometimes how commercialized this holiday has become and how “politically correct” everyone tries to be what with “happy Holiday” greetings, rather than what it really is all about; “Merry CHRISTmas!”
I love these ideas!!