In this guide, we'll walk through various ideas that can transform your family Christmas into an unforgettable celebration. Whether it's about tradition or trying something entirely new, these activities will help bring the true meaning of Christmas to life in your household.
Create Family Christmas Traditions That Last
Every family should have a few special traditions that are revisited year after year. Traditions help us build connections and give everyone something to look forward to each year. Here are some engaging ways to celebrate Christmas that can quickly become long-standing traditions for your family.
1. Decorate the Christmas Tree Together
Decorating the Christmas tree can become a special ritual that every family member participates in. Assign everyone a role: one person can hang lights, another can place the star, and everyone else can hang their favorite ornaments. Consider making homemade ornaments that reflect personal stories from each year—a snowflake for a snowy vacation or a small painted house for your new home.
Play Christmas music or even carols sung by the family as background entertainment during the decorating process to set the festive mood.
2. Advent Calendar of Kindness
Instead of traditional chocolate-filled advent calendars, consider creating an Advent Calendar of Kindness. Fill each day with small tasks for each family member that encourage kindness—both towards each other and the community. Ideas could include "Bake cookies for a neighbor," "Call a grandparent and tell them you love them," or "Write a thank-you note to your local postal worker."
This daily practice helps cultivate gratitude and reminds children of the true spirit of giving at Christmas.
3. Make a Christmas Movie Marathon Night
Choose one night in December and watch Christmas classics together as a family. Set up blankets, pillows, popcorn, and hot cocoa to make it a cozy evening. Create a mix of films that appeal to different ages—from animated favorites for the youngest to heartwarming classics like It's a Wonderful Life for the adults. Make this movie night something everyone anticipates as December rolls in.
Include a family discussion before or after each film to talk about lessons, favorite scenes, or even just funny moments that made you all laugh.
4. Read the Christmas Story Aloud
Reading the story of Jesus’ birth together is a wonderful way to refocus the celebration on its true purpose. Let each family member take turns reading different parts. This can happen on Christmas Eve by the fire, perhaps with candles lit for an even more reverent atmosphere. It helps remind everyone, especially children, of the significance of Christ's incarnation.
Bake and Cook Together as a Family
Cooking and baking can bring the whole family together, and Christmas presents many wonderful opportunities to fill your home with the delicious smells of holiday foods.
5. Bake Christmas Cookies Together
Choose a day to bake Christmas cookies together. Let everyone choose their favorite type of cookie to bake, then work as a team to create a variety of sweet treats. Use cookie cutters shaped like reindeer, stars, Christmas trees, and angels, and let kids decorate the cookies with frosting and sprinkles.
Make it extra special by packing the cookies up in small boxes and sharing them with friends, neighbors, or those who may be lonely during the holidays. The joy of giving is multiplied when everyone has a role in creating these gifts.
6. Cook a Family Recipe for Christmas Dinner
If your family has a recipe that has been handed down over generations, include that in your Christmas dinner menu. Gather as a family to prepare it—from peeling potatoes to stirring the gravy—and talk about the history of the dish. Sharing the backstory behind the recipe helps children connect with their heritage and value family ties.
Give Back Together as a Family
Christmas isn’t just about what we get; it’s about what we give. Giving back as a family strengthens your bond, instills compassion in children, and truly reflects the spirit of Christmas.
7. Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen or Shelter
Volunteering together as a family can be one of the most meaningful activities of the season. Consider serving meals at a local shelter, collecting toys for underprivileged children, or helping prepare food baskets for those in need. The act of giving as a unit encourages humility and helps children appreciate the blessings they have.
8. Make Care Packages for the Homeless
Gather as a family to create care packages that include warm socks, gloves, snacks, and hygiene products, and deliver them to local shelters or places where homeless people congregate. Include a handwritten card or message to spread the warmth of the season.
Let your children help choose the items to include in each care package so they feel an active part of the giving process.
9. Donate Toys to a Toy Drive
Take your children shopping for toys they would want themselves, and have them donate these to a toy drive. It helps to know that they are giving joy to another child who might not have much under the tree this year. This teaches empathy and makes giving a very personal and memorable experience.
Outdoor Family Activities for Christmas
10. Go Christmas Caroling in Your Neighborhood
Organize a small group of family members or neighbors to go caroling. Singing Christmas carols can spread cheer to others, especially elderly neighbors who might not get many visitors during the holidays. Caroling is a lovely way to be together as a family and also touch the lives of others.
11. Take a Christmas Lights Tour
Pile into the car and spend an evening touring the neighborhood, looking at Christmas lights. Pack some snacks and hot cocoa in thermoses to make it an adventure. Children will love seeing the different light displays, and everyone can vote for their favorite house at the end of the drive.
If your community has a special light display in a park or botanical garden, make an annual trip to walk through the lights. This tradition can be something everyone looks forward to.
12. Build a Snowman or Have a Snowball Fight
If your climate allows, spend a day playing in the snow together. Building a snowman, creating snow angels, or having a snowball fight are great ways to be active and laugh together. For families who live where snow doesn’t fall, improvise by making snowmen out of craft supplies or building a "snow fort" inside with pillows and blankets.
Get Creative with Family Crafts
13. Make Handmade Christmas Cards
Instead of buying holiday cards this year, sit down as a family and create your own. You can use colored paper, markers, ribbons, and glitter to design cards with personal messages. Send these cards to family members, friends, or even residents in nursing homes.
Let the youngest members draw and decorate while older members help write messages. This ensures everyone is included in the creative process.
14. Create a Family Christmas Scrapbook
Set aside time to create a scrapbook that captures your family's Christmas memories. Include photos from past celebrations, cards, and notes. Have each family member contribute a favorite memory from each Christmas. This is a wonderful way to reflect on past holidays and celebrate how your family traditions have evolved over the years.
Attend Christmas Services Together
15. Attend a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Take time to attend a Christmas Eve service together as a family. Candlelight services often include the reading of the Christmas story, songs, and moments of reflection. This is a powerful way to end the hustle and bustle of preparing for Christmas and remind everyone about the birth of Jesus Christ.
16. Participate in a Nativity Play
Many churches host Nativity plays during the Christmas season. Encourage your children to take part in this reenactment of Jesus’ birth. Whether as Mary, Joseph, a shepherd, or even an angel, children will better understand the meaning of Christmas by participating in the story. Watching your children bring the story to life can also be an incredibly moving experience for parents.
Craft a Meaningful Christmas Eve Ritual
17. Exchange Thoughtful Gifts on Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve, consider exchanging smaller, meaningful gifts. These could be homemade, such as a crafted ornament or a heartfelt letter. The focus is on the thought, love, and care behind the gift rather than its material value.
As a family, discuss the idea of "gifts from the heart." Talk about how a gift doesn’t need to be expensive but should reflect something personal about the giver and receiver.
18. Give Each Other a "Gift of Experience"
One unique way to celebrate is to give each other experiences rather than items. These could be "Good for one family game night" coupons, "Help with homework" tokens, or even a "Dinner made by dad" certificate. Such gifts can bring joy long after the holiday is over, and focus on spending quality time together.
Celebrating Together at Reach Academy
Christmas is about more than just decorations, presents, and activities—it is about being with the ones we love and celebrating the birth of Christ, who brought us the gift of hope. Creating meaningful family traditions during this season ensures that our children understand the importance of love, generosity, and faith.
At Reach Academy, we strive to cultivate these values year-round. If you’re looking for a place where your children can grow academically, spiritually, and emotionally while being reminded of the beauty of Christmas and the miracle of Christ’s birth, consider joining us. Together, let’s make every season, especially Christmas, a time of wonder and joy for our children and families.
Contact us to find out more about Reach Academy.