The holiday season is the perfect time to unplug, slow down, and enjoy quality moments with your family. Whether you’re hosting gatherings or simply spending a cozy day at home, there are plenty of screen-free holiday activities that will keep kids entertained and engaged while creating lasting memories. Here are five fun holiday activities that don’t require a screen and will spark creativity, laughter, and festive cheer!
DIY holiday decorations
Get crafty with your kids and decorate your home together! Create homemade ornaments, garlands, or wreaths using supplies like construction paper, glitter, and felt. Kids can personalize their creations with their favorite colors or designs, and you’ll have festive decorations to hang around the house. Bonus: It’s a great way to recycle old materials like buttons, fabric scraps, or even pinecones you can collect on a nature walk!
Tip: For an easy and fun project, try making handprint or footprint art. Kids will love turning their prints into reindeer, snowmen, or Christmas trees!
Holiday scavenger hunt
Create a holiday-themed scavenger hunt that gets kids moving and exploring around the house or yard. You can hide festive objects like Christmas tree ornaments, candy canes, or holiday socks. Make a list or provide clues to help them discover each item. For a fun twist, have the scavenger hunt lead to a “surprise” like a small holiday treat or a gift wrapped in festive paper.
Tip: Tailor the hunt to the age of your kids by adjusting the complexity of the clues. For younger children, you can use pictures, while older kids may enjoy riddles and puzzles!
Holiday baking or cooking
Gather the family in the kitchen for some hands-on holiday baking! Let the kids help mix, decorate, and enjoy making classic holiday treats like gingerbread cookies, sugar cookies, or homemade peppermint bark. You can even have a “bake-off” where everyone decorates their own cookies and votes for the most creative designs.
Tip: Use holiday-themed cookie cutters or sprinkles for extra festive fun. Not into baking? Try making homemade hot cocoa mix or a simple holiday snack mix with pretzels, candy, and nuts.
Build a gingerbread house
Building a gingerbread house is a classic holiday activity that’s both fun and delicious! You can purchase gingerbread house kits, or if you’re feeling adventurous, bake the pieces yourself. Once the pieces are assembled, let the kids go wild with candy decorations, icing, and edible glitter. It’s a great way to work together as a family and get creative.
Tip: If you don’t have a gingerbread house kit, you can improvise with graham crackers, frosting, and treats you already have at home.
Holiday storytime & cozy blanket fort
Sometimes, the best holiday memories are made with a good book and a cozy space to snuggle up in. Grab some classic holiday stories—think The Polar Express, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, or The Night Before Christmas—and read together as a family. To make it extra special, build a blanket fort. It’ll create a cozy nook where everyone can get comfy and enjoy the magic of holiday stories.
Tip: If you have older kids, let them create their own holiday-themed stories and read them aloud to the family!
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