Looking for affordable, fun holiday activities to enjoy with kids? Below are easy, low-cost ideas that make great family traditions and also work perfectly as advent calendar surprises. If you want simple ways to keep children entertained during the winter season without overspending, try one or more of these creative suggestions.
Christmas Activities for Kids
Neighborhood Movie Night
Host a holiday movie night for family and friends. Invite a few households to gather, ask everyone to bring a snack to share, and settle in for a cozy evening. Kids love watching seasonal favorites repeatedly, and adults enjoy the chance to socialize and relax during the holidays.
Here are family-friendly holiday films to consider (mostly rated G or PG):
- The Grinch
- Elf
- Arthur Christmas
- Home Alone
- The Christmas Chronicles
- Noelle
- Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
- That Christmas
- 8-Bit Christmas
- The Polar Express
Build a Holiday-Themed Lego
Creating a holiday Lego display has become a beloved tradition for many families. Pick a seasonal set—like a Lego Christmas tree—assemble it together around Thanksgiving or early December, and display it through the season. After the holidays, disassemble and store the pieces and instructions in a labeled box so the set is ready for next year. It’s a simple, repeatable tradition that kids enjoy rebuilding each season.
Holiday Storytime at the Library or Bookstore
Check local bookstores and libraries for free holiday storytimes. Many bookstores host children’s authors who read seasonal books, and local libraries often schedule storytelling, ornament-making, and other holiday crafts. These events are usually free and offer a festive, child-friendly way to celebrate the season and discover new stories.
Make Reindeer Food
Making reindeer food is an easy, engaging activity for children of all ages. Start by decorating small paper lunch bags or cloth drawstring pouches with stickers, markers, pom-poms, googly eyes, and other craft supplies to create cute reindeer faces.
Mix rolled oats with a small amount of birdseed and, if you like, a pinch of edible sprinkles. Fill each bag with about one cup of the mixture, fold or tie the bag closed, and set it aside for Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve, children can sprinkle the mix in the yard to help Santa’s reindeer find the house and enjoy a small snack.
Make or Decorate Stockings
Designing your own stockings is a charming family tradition that adds personality to your holiday decor. You can sew stockings from scratch, follow simple DIY patterns, or buy plain cotton or felt stockings and let kids decorate them with sequins, fabric markers, felt shapes, and adhesive gems. Customized stockings are easy to update each year and make a special keepsake.
Visit a Holiday Market
Holiday bazaars and local markets are full of festive sights and smells—live music, handmade gifts, and seasonal treats. Check community calendars or local newspapers for school fundraisers, craft fairs, and neighborhood holiday markets. These outings are usually low-cost and great for browsing gift ideas while enjoying holiday ambiance.
Bake Christmas Cookies
Baking cookies with kids can be messy but highly rewarding. If you prefer a quicker option, use premade dough and let children help roll, cut shapes, and decorate with icing and sprinkles. For a from-scratch approach, try gingerbread sandwich cookies or chocolate-hazelnut cookies. Hosting a cookie swap with other families or neighbors can be a fun way to share treats and recipes.
Nighttime Drive to See Holiday Lights
Load up on holiday tunes, grab hot chocolate, and take a drive around town to admire neighborhood light displays. Visiting the most elaborately decorated houses always brings extra excitement for kids and is a simple way to soak up seasonal cheer.
Wrapping Party
Turn gift wrapping into a creative afternoon by letting kids make and decorate their own wrapping paper. Provide plain kraft paper, stamps, paint, stickers, and ribbon so children can design unique wraps for presents. This activity is both practical and creative, and it’s a great way to personalize gifts.
Tree Trimming Party
Make decorating the tree a family celebration. Lay out ornaments, DIY crafts, and supplies, then brew hot chocolate and choose which handmade garlands and ornaments to hang. Popular DIY garlands include popcorn and cranberry strings, dried citrus slices, or candy garlands. Children enjoy contributing homemade ornaments and helping transform the tree.
Create a Christmas Countdown Calendar
Advent calendars are a fun way to build anticipation for the holiday. You can craft one by wrapping small surprises individually, using numbered envelopes, or creating a reusable fabric calendar with pockets. Each day’s small activity or treat becomes a mini celebration leading up to Christmas.
Make a Christmas Wreath
Wreath-making can be adapted to every skill level. Younger children can help glue simple decorations onto a foam ring or string cranberries and popcorn for a rustic garland-style wreath. Older kids and adults can try more elaborate wreaths using fresh greenery, berries, and asymmetrical designs for a sophisticated look.
Assemble a Holiday Puzzle
Holiday-themed puzzles are relaxing group activities that suit quiet afternoons or rainy days. Choose a puzzle size that fits your family’s patience level and work together to complete a festive image. Puzzles also make a nice surprise hidden inside an advent day.
Make Homemade Ornaments
Crafting your own ornaments is an easy, personal holiday project. Use materials like air-dry clay, beads, painted wood, or felt to create shapes that can hang on the tree. Homemade ornaments become treasured keepsakes and can be made in large batches for gifts.
Christmas Crafts Workshop
Many craft stores offer seasonal workshops where kids can create ornaments and decorations for a small fee or for free. Alternatively, host a crafting session at home with a selection of easy projects: cardboard gingerbread decorations, paper snowflakes, or a DIY tree skirt. These home workshops are flexible and let kids explore different crafts at their own pace.
Make Festive Outdoor Lanterns
Decorative outdoor lanterns add charm and light to your yard. Kids can decorate jars or tin cans with paint, stickers, and cutouts, then place battery-operated candles inside to safely illuminate a porch or pathway.
Ice Skating
Ice skating is a classic winter activity. Whether at an outdoor rink or a local indoor facility, skating paired with a mug of hot chocolate creates a memorable holiday outing. Rent skates if you don’t own them and enjoy the festive atmosphere together.
These are simple, budget-friendly Christmas activities to share with kids this season. Try a few and make them part of your family’s holiday traditions. If you have other favorite traditions to recommend, consider adding them to your own list of activities to enjoy each year.