Countdown to Christmas – 25 family activities for December

A big part of the holiday season is creating family traditions and activities that can be anticipated with joy each year. Yet, it’s such a busy time of year and coming up with daily ideas may seem a little daunting. So, I’m sharing my Countdown to Christmas- 25 family activities for December. Some of these activities may take only 10 minutes, while others are longer activities to savour. I tend to save the longer activities for the weekends. Of course, feel free to do them in any order you like. You may also choose to do only one or two activities during weekdays and double up on the weekends if you have more time then.

Inspiration

Some of my countdown ideas are inspired by traditions from my childhood and others are ideas we have tried out with our family of five in recent years. When I was a child, we always spent the holidays with my grandparents and I have many happy memories in their beautiful and inviting home surrounded by cousins and aunts and uncles.

25 family activities for December

December 1

Start an advent tradition. It could be an advent calendar, gift drawers, Elf on the Shelf, or something else.

When our boys were young, we set up a North Pole mailbox in our home at the beginning of December and Santa delivered letters each night. The letters contained instructions and sometimes supplies for a task or activity to be completed that day. Occasionally, special treats like holiday cookies or a Christmas book would show up in the mailbox.

For the last couple of years, we have had a countdown to Christmas sign in our family room. Beside it, we keep a basket full of notes with holiday activities written on each. We draw one at random each day and receive inspiration for an activity for the day.

December 2

Create a hot chocolate bar. This could be as simple as a tray with some cute Christmas mugs, a canister full of hot chocolate mix, a jar of mini-marshmallows, and some candy canes. I like to add a little sign and some additional toppings for the hot chocolate like chocolate sprinkles and crushed candy canes.

Head on over to House Becoming Home for Angie’s DIY Hot Cocoa Bar post. She shows you how to make this adorable hot cocoa bar stand and has a free printable for the sweet tags shown here.

December 3

Make a holiday garland. This could be a simple paper chain garland, paper snowflake garland, or something more elaborate. Here are a few garland ideas from some of my favourite bloggers.

I adore this foraged fresh greenery garland from Fresh Exchange.

I love this pretty star and wood bead garland from Design Loves Detail. This would be a fairly quick and easy DIY.

This paper garland from Monika Hibbs is absolutely stunning. This is a more time-consuming project but would be well worth the effort.

This felt garland from Nana Company is just adorable and would be a great family activity. This is also a more time consuming project, but it could become a treasured family decoration that you bring out year after year.

December 4

Choose a charity your family would like to support this holiday season and brainstorm ideas on how you want to help out. Some ideas include a food drive for your local food bank, sewing fleece scarves for shelter residents, or raising/setting aside money for a favourite charity. We usually have a music night in our home or at a local retirement home and ask attendees to bring non-perishable food items to be donated to our local food bank. I think this is one of my favourite of the 25 family activities for December because it fosters a feeling of charity, makes our daily troubles seem insignificant, and brings us closer to the true meaning of Christmas.

December 5

Add twinkle lights and candles (real or faux, whatever works best for your family) around the home to add a little warmth and sparkle during a time when the days are steadily getting shorter. Why not have a little Christmas music playing in the background while you do this.

To see how I decorated this tree, check out my blog post 5 Easy Steps to a Gorgeous Christmas Tree.

December 6

Watch a holiday movie to get into the Christmas spirit. Some classic favourites include A Christmas Story, It’s a Wonderful Life, A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Polar Express, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. You could enjoy some festive snacks, like gingerbread cookies, or caramel popcorn while you watch the movie.

December 7

Visit your local tree farm and take part in the activities there. If you would be purchasing a fresh tree anyways, consider cutting down your own tree. This is a really fun tradition we have participated in most years since our boys were babies. Tree farms often offer other activities such as horse-drawn sleigh rides, Santa visits, reindeer viewing and feeding, and children’s activities. They also usually have other natural products for sale such as fresh evergreen wreaths and garlands. Our favourite tree farm has a beautiful log cabin where you can buy a lunch of hot chilli, freshly baked bread, and pie for dessert. And there’s a lovely holiday gift shop and visits with Santa in front of the fire.

December 8

Go to your local craft store and buy supplies for a Christmas wreath. Then spend an hour with your family putting together a wreath. Each person could assemble their own wreath or you could collaborate on a single wreath. If you choose to make multiple wreaths, you could use them as Christmas gifts or hostess gifts this holiday season.

This pom pom wreath by Ashley at Modern Glam is so pretty and would be a fun project for the whole family.

December 9

If your family is musical, each person can prepare a piece to be performed over the holidays at a family music night or when family and friends are visiting. Have each family member choose a piece and you can create a program for the entertainment providing musical details for family members.

December 10

In all the hustle and bustle of the season, plan a romantic evening out with your partner or your girlfriends if you prefer! Get a babysitter for the kids and enjoy the magic of the season with a dinner out, a holiday concert, or a movie. If you really can’t get out for the evening, then plan something special once the kids are in bed. It could be a holiday movie, wrapping gifts together, or listening to music with a special snack (fondue is a great one!).

December 11

Create a holiday candy bar reminiscent of the Nutcracker. My grandparents had a candy bar in their dining area every Christmas when we were children and I have very fond memories of it. Fill glass jars and urns with festive candy, including candy canes, chocolate-peppermint bark, sugar crystal sticks, old fashioned candies, and red and green gummies, jujubes, and hard candies. Don’t limit yourself just to Christmas treats though; you can share any family favourites.

December 12

Put on a favourite holiday music playlist and enjoy a festive beverage together, be it eggnog, spiced cider, or hot chocolate. Get cozy and chat about your plans for the holidays or treasured holiday memories.

December 13

If you have time, gather a few friends and have a carolling party in your neighbourhood. We have attended a carolling party for the past few years and it is one of my boys’ favourite holiday activities. All that’s needed is some sheets printed with the words for the carols, a reminder to have your friends dress warmly for outdoor fun, and some hot beverages and snacks to serve to your friends after the carolling is over. You can carol for as little as half or for an hour or more.

We’ve just passed the halfway point of my 25 family activities for December. Don’t worry if you aren’t able to do all the activities on the list. These are just ideas if you have the time.

December 14 

If you haven’t planned for professional holiday photos this season, consider setting up your own mini photoshoot. I am going to do this with my boys this year as we decided not to have professional photos taken. Clear an area in front of your tree or fireplace and lay out some nice clothes for everyone to wear. See if you can get all the photos you need in half an hour or less and then reward the children with a visit to the candy bar.

December 15

Set aside a few hours for some holiday baking. This will get you prepared for all the holiday events, school parties, and some of the baked goods can be frozen for use at Christmas. Classic gingerbread, sugar cookies, Nanaimo bars, millionaire bars, and lemon squares are a few of our favourites we make every year. Plan to give a plate or two of the treats to a family in need or someone you know who lives alone and doesn’t bake.

I love this post, Celebrating Holidays with Christmas Cookies from around the World, by 31 Daily.

December 16

Have an impromptu snowball fight. It’s such a simple act, but your children will appreciate it and remember it fondly.

December 17

Plan a surprise mid-week outing to go out for hot chocolate with your children. It could be an after school treat or a nice after-dinner activity for the whole family. We have a hot chocolate specialty restaurant in our neighbourhood, but Starbucks or something similar would also be great as they offer beverages and treats. This can be a great opportunity to discuss what your favourite holiday traditions are and what everyone is looking forward to the most this Christmas.

December 18 

If your children are young, read some favourite Christmas picture books out loud. I like to buy or borrow new Christmas books every year. If you are religious, then it might be a great opportunity to read an uplifting story of Christ.

December 19

Grab a hot chocolate for everyone and spend 20 minutes driving around your neighbourhood looking at all the lovely Christmas lights. We are lucky to have Magic of Lights near us and it’s a new family tradition we all love. No matter how cold it is, we can enjoy the lights from the comfort of our car. Check to see if your city offers a light show.

December 20

Attend a holiday concert or ballet. Some holiday favourites of ours include the Nutcracker Ballet, Handel’s Messiah, and Christmas sing-along concerts. Local churches, schools, and community groups often offer free or pay-what-you-can concerts.

December 21

Celebrate the Winter Solstice with a hearty winter stew and lighting of the candles. I’d probably subject my kids to some Solstice or winter poetry in the hopes that they’ll appreciate it one day.

Check out this post, 7 Wonderful Ways to Celebrate Winter Solstice with Kids, from Backwoods Mama.

December 22

Make a gingerbread house with the children. You can make one from scratch (the Joy of Cooking has a great recipe and instructions) or buy a gingerbread kit. Bring out some of those holiday treats you baked for a job well done!

This gingerbread house from Tikkido is simple, sweet, and looks delicious.

December 23

If you’re lucky enough to have snow just before Christmas, then build snow forts and snowmen. If your children are older you can just provide them with the requisite carrots, buttons, and extra hats and scarves for the snowmen. Of the 25 family activities for December, this is likely one of my boys’ favourites.

December 24

One of our Christmas traditions is to allow each child to open a small gift the evening before Christmas. They will appreciate the gift even more because they know it’s the only one they’ll open that day. And don’t forget to set out some cookies and milk for Santa. I also loved attending Midnight Mass as a child, but it’s not part of our Christmas tradition currently.

December  25

Christmas day is often filled with cooking, gift opening, and indoor time. Children (and adults) can get a little cranky if they spend too much time indoors, so plan a walk midday and enjoy the fresh air. Why not bring a sled to the park and help the children create even more fun memories.

I hope you have enjoyed reading my 25 family activities for December. Why not start a new holiday tradition with one or more of these activities.