It’s never too early to start planning for Christmas! With kids, the rush of the holiday season is no joke! Don’t get swept away with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Give your kids memories that they will never forget with these fun family Christmas traditions.
When I had my son, there were holiday traditions I wanted to start in my family. No one told me that as a mom that meant preparing for Christmas super early. When I tried to find matching Christmas pajamas in November, they were sold out everywhere! I’m really going to try and get ahead of it this year! These are some of the fun family Christmas traditions we will enjoy.
Why start family Christmas Traditions?
Christmas means so much more than Santa visiting with gifts. It’s the most wonderful time of year to create memories with your kids that will last forever. They will remember your Christmas traditions and fun times over any gift they could possibly get.
It’s never to late to add new family Christmas traditions to your holiday festivities. These are some really great ideas to get you started!
Family Christmas Traditions
1. Bake Christmas cookies
This is one of my favorite family Christmas traditions! Baking is a great way to spread holiday cheer! Have your kids each choose their favorite cookie and have a baking day. We like to make extra to give to the mailman, neighbors and Santa!
2. Decorate the Saturday after Thanksgiving
Choosing a specific day that you decorate on every year makes it easy to look forward to! You can decorate November 1, December first, the day after Thanksgiving or whatever you and your family decide!
3. Make Christmas cards
This was something I did with my students when I was a teacher and a tradition I want to carry on with my family. Making and decorating your own Christmas cards is a really fun activity! Make lots to give to a local elderly home or hospital to spread extra Christmas cheer.
4. Pick out a tree
There is nothing better than going to pick out your family Christmas tree! Drive to a local farm to choose and cut down your own. Or you can head to Christmas tree lot or local nursery!
If you are allergic, don’t like the mess or simply prefer a faux tree, you’ll love this post on the most affordable and pretty trees on Amazon!
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5. Write letters to Santa
Grab your paper and pencils and write to Santa! You can drop your letters into the North Pole’s mailbox at Macy’s. As a kid, I always put mine in the mailbox addressed to Santa at the North Pole. (Just be sure to grab them before the mailman does!)
6. Make a Christmas bucket list
Early December, sit down with your kids and decide what fun activities you can put on your Christmas bucket list. It can be watching your favorite movie, drinking hot chocolate or visiting Santa at the mall. Having your kids help come up with ideas is a great way for them to feel involved and incorporate their ideas into your family Christmas traditions.
7. Find the pickle in the tree
There are lots of variations of this game and Christmas tradition! When I was growing up, my parents would hide a pickle ornament in our tree. When we found the pickle, we got our new Christmas ornament for that year. You can add your own twist to the game or find the pickle just for fun! It’s actually really hard to do!
Here is the pickle ornament if you want to start this tradition!
8. Get new ornaments
This was one of my favorite family Christmas traditions growing up. Every Christmas we got a new ornament that symbolized our year. We got our ornament when we found the pickle! As we got older and moved out, we got to take our ornaments so we had them for our own tree,
I love the ornaments from Hallmark. You have to get them early or they sell out! Etsy has some adorable and customizable ones too!
9. Make new ornaments
Fill your tree with memories of the homemade ornaments you make as a family! This is sweet way to spend time together. Pinterest has so many fun options to craft ornaments as a family!
10. Go see Christmas lights
Get your favorite pajamas on and drive through he neighborhood to look at Christmas lights! Decide as a family who has the best display!
You can also check out if anywhere local puts on a holiday light display!
11. Wear matching Christmas pajamas
Give the memory and gift of matching Christmas pajamas the night you decorate for Christmas. You can wear your new PJs as you decorate! Plus, then you can wear them all December long! Your kids will love waking up Christmas morning in their matching Pjs. Then you will have great Christina’s morning pictures too!
12. Give back
The Christmas season is all about giving. Teach your kids this with a lovely family tradition of giving back. Donate to your local food bank or Toys-for-Tots. Volunteer at your local church or shelter.
13. Fill shoe boxes for the less fortunate
One great way you can give back is by filling a shoe box or small container with toys and books. Operation Christmas Child sends your box of goodies to a child in need. It’s fun and easy to do. You can learn about filling a shoe box here or you can build one virtually here.
14. Make hot chocolate
Cozy up on the couch or by the fire with some sweet hot chocolate. Create a memory by making your own. Your kids will love following along with this recipe! I won’t tell if you use a premade packet! Drink your hot chocolate and spend time talking and enjoying your Christmas decorations.
15. Watch a Christmas movie
Pick a movie night, make some popcorn and enjoy a new or favorite Christmas movie! Keep your Christmas lights on to make it more festive!
** RELATED: 7 Gift Christmas Rules for Kids
16. Have a Christmas movie marathon
Everyday leading up to Christmas, let your kids choose a Christmas movie to watch! This is festive and a fun way to countdown to Christmas! Don’t forget the snacks!
17. Feed the reindeer
I loved making reindeer food as a kid! It was magical to me to spread the reindeer food outside so they could see our house with the glitter and sprinkles and eat our homemade treat. You can find the reindeer food recipe here!
This recipe also has a free printable so you can give your reindeer food as gifts!
18. Read Christmas stories
Grab your favorite Christmas stories and books to read by the twinkling lights of the tree. Cozy up in your matching Christmas pajamas while you read!
19. Decorate gingerbread houses
If you are like me, I don’t know the first thing about baking gingerbread houses. Luckily, they have these kits you can buy! Buy one for each child and host a gingerbread house decorating competition! Make it extra fun by having grandparents act as judges!
This kit comes with four houses so you can create a gingerbread village. I also love this foam kit that you decorate with stickers and crafts! If you are wanting to bake your houses, here is a kit with the cutouts need!
** RELATED: Free & Beautiful Christmas Decor
20. Advent Calendar
The countdown to Christmas will never be more fun than with an advent calendar. They have calendars you can buy at the store that come with chocolates. As a kid, we had our own calendar that my mom filled with different treats and small toys. I love this because our calendar became special to us, and I loved when it was my turn to open the door.
21. Track Santa
What could be more exciting than knowing where Santa is on Christmas Eve?! Start tracking him December first by visiting https://www.noradsanta.org
22. Donate toys
Santa will be visiting and bringing new toys. Have your kids pick out a set number of toys to donate. One tradition is to have your kids leave their “old” toys by the tree Christmas Eve. Santa will take them back to the North Pole to fix or wrap for other kids.
23. Elf on a shelf
The elf on the shelf is quickly becoming a family favorite tradition! Read the Elf on a Shelf story to your kids and follow along as the elf gets into mischief throughout the holiday. This is fun for parents and kids alike. The elf reports back to Santa if anyone is bad, so kids will be on their best behavior! You can grab your elf on a shelf and story here!
24. Gift exchange
Have your kids do a family gift exchange as siblings. Set a small price point or have your kids make toys and crafts to gift to each other. Your kids will love getting a gift and love thinking of the perfect gift for their sibling.
25. Sing Christmas carols
Have a dance and sing-a-long party with your favorite Christmas carols! Be silly and have fun dancing around the tree with everyone’s favorite carols and songs!
Family Christmas Traditions
Creating family Christmas traditions is a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday season and spend time together as a family. Create moments with your kids that teach them how the holiday season is about family, not about what Santa puts under the tree. What family Christmas traditions do you have in your family!?
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