Magical Holiday Activities for Kids and Families
Festive ideas, crafts, and traditions to make the holiday season extra special.
Quick answer
The most memorable holiday activities for kids are simple traditions repeated each year: a family story night, homemade ornaments and cards, a kindness advent calendar, baking together, a holiday lights walk and gifts children make themselves. Choose a few that fit your family rather than trying to do everything.
Key takeaways
- Children remember rituals more than presents — repeat a few simple traditions each year.
- Kindness activities help kids feel the spirit of giving, not just receiving.
- Homemade gifts build creativity and pride.
- Protect sleep and downtime to keep the season calm.
Cozy traditions to start this year
Holiday story night
Pick one evening a week for hot cocoa, blankets and a seasonal story. Add a new book each year and build your own family library. Browse our holiday picks.
Twelve days of read-alouds
Wrap twelve books (library books work!) and unwrap one each night in the lead-up to the holidays.
Holiday lights walk
Bundle up and go on a walk to vote for the brightest house on the street. Bring a flashlight and a thermos.
Family memory jar
Write favorite moments from the year on slips of paper and read them together on New Year’s Eve.
Easy holiday crafts for kids
Salt-dough ornaments
Mix flour, salt and water, cut shapes with cookie cutters, bake low and slow, then paint. Write the year on the back.
Coloring-page gift wrap
Plain brown paper plus crayons becomes one-of-a-kind wrapping paper. Grandparents love it.
Handmade cards
Fold card stock, add stickers, drawings and a message. Even toddlers can contribute a scribble and a handprint.
Paper snowflakes
Fold, snip and unfold — every snowflake is different. Tape them to windows for instant decoration.
How can kids give back during the holidays?
Kindness advent calendar
Instead of a treat each day, open a small act of kindness: draw a picture for a neighbor, help with dinner, call a grandparent.
Toy and book donation
Let children choose a few gently used toys or books to donate. Talk about who might enjoy them.
Thank-you drawings
Kids draw pictures for mail carriers, teachers or bus drivers — the people who help every day.
Bake and share
Measuring, mixing and decorating cookies teaches math and patience — and sharing them teaches generosity.
Research with 9- to 11-year-olds found that children asked to perform acts of kindness for a few weeks became more accepted by their peers and reported greater well-being. The holidays are a natural time to start the habit.
“The best holiday traditions are the small ones children ask for again next year.”
How do I keep the holidays calm for kids?
- Protect sleep. Late nights add up quickly; keep bedtimes as steady as you can.
- Schedule nothing days. Leave unplanned time between events for play and rest.
- Prepare for big gatherings. Tell children who they’ll see and what will happen; agree on a quiet spot if they feel overwhelmed.
- Keep screens in balance. Holiday movies are fun — pair them with books, crafts and outdoor time.
A simple, calm holiday week plan
Not sure where to start? Pick one small thing a day. This plan mixes creative, kind and cozy activities without filling every hour:
| Day | Activity | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Make paper snowflakes for the windows | 20 min |
| Tuesday | Holiday story night with cocoa | 20 min |
| Wednesday | Draw thank-you pictures for helpers | 15 min |
| Thursday | Bake and decorate cookies to share | 45 min |
| Friday | Holiday lights walk | 30 min |
| Saturday | Salt-dough ornaments (bake, then paint on Sunday) | 40 min |
| Sunday | Add favorite moments to the family memory jar | 10 min |
Holiday stories and gifts that last
Books make thoughtful gifts that are opened again and again. These picks are lovely for the season:
Frequently asked questions
What are some cheap holiday activities for kids?
Story nights, a holiday lights walk, paper snowflakes, salt-dough ornaments, coloring-page gift wrap and a kindness advent calendar cost little or nothing.
How do I teach my child the spirit of giving?
Involve them in giving: let them choose toys or books to donate, make handmade gifts and cards, and try a kindness advent calendar with one small act each day.
What holiday crafts can toddlers do?
Handprint cards, sticker decorations, coloring-page wrapping paper and painting salt-dough ornaments are all safe and simple for toddlers with supervision.
Sources & further reading
- Layous et al., Kindness Counts: Prompting Prosocial Behavior in Preadolescents Boosts Peer Acceptance and Well-Being, PLOS ONE (2012)
- Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley — research on kindness, gratitude and empathy
- HealthyChildren.org — parenting guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics