There is so much fun and wonder to be found in the Christmas season. Sometimes it can feel a little bit overwhelming with the many things to do, places to go, and people to see. In the hustle and bustle, it can be easy to forget to cherish the time we have with our children. It is important and so sweet to make sure we help our children grow in their understanding of Christ’s birth. There are many things we can do to reflect and respond to His great sacrifice. Here are some simple ideas that I hope might be helpful for your family this season. Enjoy these fun Christmas activities for kids!
Christmas Activity for Kids #1: Craft a Giving Tree
Growing up, my mom did this with me and my brothers, and we had the best time. It has stuck with me all these years, and when we had children old enough to enjoy it, we started to implement this into our home as well.
There is such joy in giving, especially as a reflection upon the mercy given to us in Christ. Each year, we set up a little Christmas tree and fill it with homemade ornaments made by the kids. Whenever guests come over, we let each person pick their own ornament from our “Giving Tree” to take home. Our children cannot wait for this part of hosting, and it’s typically one of the first things they bring up to our friends and family. It is such a joy to see their joy in giving!
There are so many great crafted ornament ideas. Two simple ideas we have used are salt dough ornaments and painted globe ornaments:
- Salt Dough Ornaments are so simple with many recipes you can find easily online. We use Christmas cookie cutters to cut them out. The ornaments get baked in the oven, and the kids can hand paint them with acrylic paint once they harden and cool. Then, with a fine-tip permanent marker, we add a Scripture verse with the individual child’s name and the date on the back. Before baking, make sure you make a hole in the top of each ornament to tie a ribbon!
- Painted Glass Globes are our second homemade ornament. Clear, hollow glass ornaments are relatively inexpensive and easy to find. Take the top off, and drip some different colored acrylic paint into the ornament. Put the top back on and give it a shake (our children’s favorite part, of course). We let them dry inside egg cartons, placing them upside down with the top off. Afterwards, we tie some Christmas ribbon on top with a little Christmas tag that includes a Scripture verse and a date.
Christmas Activity for Children #2: Bake Together!
Another way you can practice a generous spirit with your children is to bake with them! There are so many fun recipes you can try as you create little treat tins to take to friends, family, or neighbors. You can even make special little trips to their homes and leave a surprise Christmas tin of goodies on their doorstep. A couple of ideas for fun treats are Peppermint White Chocolate Bark, Cheesecake Stuffed Gingerbread Cookies, or Salted Caramel Popcorn.
One thing I have tried to practice is really letting the kids help. Admittedly, this can be difficult when I am focused on wanting to keep a clean kitchen. However, in the same way that we want to teach our children to be generous with others, we can strive to be generous with our children in this. Plus—it’s a blast!
Christmas Activity for Little Ones #3: Sing Hymns and Read Poems Together
Is there anything in the world more beautifully written than a Christmas hymn? Fill your home with life-giving music this season that points to Christ. Sometimes creating a space for the kids to be filled with wonder can be as simple as lighting a couple of candles and turning on a playlist of curated hymns. If you’re looking to go deeper, consider taking a different hymn each week of December and studying it together, leading up to Christmas. You can dive into the history and memorize it together. Some good ones include “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus,” “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” or “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”
Christmas poems are also a beautiful addition to read aloud. There are many to choose from, such as this one written by Wendell Berry, “Remembering That It Happened Once.” Poems like this can help spark insightful conversations that welcome gospel presentations.
These are only a handful of Christmas activities for kids designed to help point your little ones to Jesus this season, and you can add your own spin to them! I have seen that these little acts of generosity not only help draw our children toward truth but also guide my own heart toward the joy of the gospel, bringing that joy into our homes and hearts.
Come, Thou long expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us;
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
More Fun Christmas Activities for Kids
We hope that you find these ideas for family-bonding Christmas activities inspiring! If you’re looking for more ideas for a very merry Christmas, check out these other blog posts to discover the best stories to read aloud this Christmas, ten more Christmas activities for your whole family, and activities for the twelve days of Christmas.
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