10 Creative and Festive Activities to Keep the Whole Family Busy This Holiday Season
The holidays are a magical time for connection, creativity, and yes, a little chaos. With more downtime at home, it’s tempting for kids, tweens, teens, or even adults to disappear behind screens. But there are plenty of fun ways to stay entertained, spark creativity, and enjoy the season together. Here are 10 festive ideas that work for almost every age, no chargers required.
1. DIY Holiday Gift Wrapping Station
Set up a wrapping station with brown paper, twine, stamps, and paints. Encourage everyone to get creative, messy fingers are allowed, glitter is optional (but highly encouraged). Challenge each other to wrap gifts beautifully, eco-friendly, or with the most unusual twist imaginable.
2. Host a Christmas Bake-Off
Bring out the competitive spirit and bake something festive. Cookies, cupcakes, cakes or all three! Let kids decorate however they like, and watch the adults try (and fail) to resist taste-testing everything immediately. Winner gets bragging rights, but everyone wins the sugar rush.
3. Handmade Gift Making
Encourage making gifts that come from the heart: friendship bracelets, candles, bath bombs, or hand-decorated mugs. These thoughtful creations spread holiday cheer and give everyone a sense of pride in their handiwork.
4. Festive Room or Space Makeover
Give older kids and teens freedom to transform their room or corner of the house with fairy lights, garlands, paper snowflakes, or homemade decorations. Younger children can join in by making paper chains or painting festive scenes. Bonus: the whole house feels a bit more magical.
5. Christmas Movie Charades
Pick a festive film or favourite holiday activity and act it out without words. From tangled fairy lights to awkward family dances, everyone joins in. Warning: laughter may be loud enough to be heard down the street.
6. Create a Hot Chocolate Bar
Set up a DIY hot chocolate station with toppings like marshmallows, whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and candy canes. Let everyone experiment with flavour combinations – peppermint and bacon is optional (and probably best avoided).
7. Holiday-Themed Photoshoot
Stage a photoshoot using props, silly hats, and festive outfits. Younger children can run around pretending to be elves, while older ones can practise creative photography. The result? Instagram-worthy memories and endless laughter when reviewing the shots.
8. Christmas Lights Walk
Bundle up, grab gloves and scarves, and explore the neighbourhood lights. Turn it into a scavenger hunt or a photo challenge. Fresh air, twinkling lights, and the occasional “ooh” and “ahh”, perfect for all ages.
9. Festive Journaling or Scrapbooking
Encourage everyone to keep a holiday journal or scrapbook. Include photos, drawings, ticket stubs, or funny notes. Younger children can dictate stories while older kids add captions and doodles. The keepsakes are priceless and provide laughs for years to come.
10. Organise a Family Game Night
Hand over the reins to older kids or let younger ones help plan a holiday-themed game night. From board games to festive trivia, it’s a chance for everyone to get competitive in a joyful, not-too-serious way.
Quick Age-Friendly Guide
Toddlers & Preschoolers
DIY Gift Wrapping: crayons, stamps, stickers
Festive Room Makeover: paper chains, garlands, handprints
Holiday Photoshoot: silly props and festive hats
Primary-Aged Kids
Christmas Bake-Off: cookies, cupcakes, decorations
Handmade Gifts: cards, treats, bracelets
Festive Journaling or Scrapbooking: photos, drawings, mini stories
Tweens & Early Teens
Hot Chocolate Bar: experiment with toppings and flavours
Christmas Movie Charades: act out favourite films and holiday activities
Holiday-Themed Photoshoot: creative photography and props
Older Teens & Whole Family
Christmas Lights Walk: scavenger hunts, photography challenges
Organise a Family Game Night: festive trivia, board games, and homemade challenges
Pro Tip: Mix and match! Many activities work for multiple age groups, team up younger kids with older siblings or adults for bigger projects like a joint scrapbook or room makeover.
