10 Activities to do at Home With Kids This Christmas

It’s hard to know what to say or think about this year as a whole, and now it’s Christmas. I’ve been finding it challenging to keep occupied at home this winter as so many of the activities we would usually do sadly aren’t an option this year. That being said, I thought I’d share a few activities we are enjoying or plan to do! It’s been fun coming up with ideas for activities to do at home with kids and we have a list here for you.

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10 Great Activities to do at Home with Kids

1. Bake Cookies

I don’t have great luck with cookies but I give them a try every year! We usually make molasses cookies (and go crazy with the decorating) and my grandma’s shortbread. Here’s the recipe if you want to give the shortbread a try!

Grandma’s Shortbread
2 cups butter
1 cup icing sugar
3 cups flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 tsp vanilla

Instructions
Whip until fluffy then drop teaspoons of dough onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Bake at 325 F for 12-15 minutes and enjoy once cool!

2. Decorate Gingerbread Houses

I’ll be buying a kit, we probably won’t do a good job of putting it together, and then we’ll eat the candy decorations which is still very fun!

3. Make a Pinecone Bird Feeder

My kids love watching the birds in our yard so I bought the recommended food at our local wild bird centre and we plan to make some simple feeders! Follow the instructions here to make your own.

4. Make Paper Chains

I love to decorate our tree and dining room with colourful paper chains, and they’re fun to make too! See instructions here.

5. Write a Letter to Santa

Canada Post offers a service where you write a letter to Santa and receive one in return, as long as it’s sent by December 10th for those in Canada. Their website provides instructions and templates and there are no stamps required!

6. Decorate the Windows

We’ve been enjoying decorating our windows in all seasons with these markers but they make excellent snowflakes too! We push a chair or a stool up to the window and the kids scribble away.

7. Christmas Light Bingo

Many of the commercial Christmas light events are closed here in British Columbia, but we can still enjoy lights around our neighborhood. I love the free printable bingo cards here — and don’t forget a hot chocolate for your walk!

8. Christmas Music Dance Party

It’s Frosty the Snowman on repeat over here, how about you? I use the free version of Spotify to find great children’s Christmas song mixes and then we dance away!

9. Make Potato Stamp Wrapping Paper

See here for tutorial – this will be messy (and hopefully fun!) Finish off the gift with a home made bow and tag made from last year’s Christmas cards!

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10. Christmas Movie Night and Homemade Popcorn

If you’re in Canada, here is a link to CBC’s Christmas programming. There are also lots of great shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube — too many to choose from! My husband makes his amazing popcorn and we watch a classic short Christmas movie like The Grinch!

BONUS: DIY Orange Garland

Making an orange garland is a great craft project and they look beautiful! An added bonus is it can be composted when you’re finished! Depending on your kids’ ages, you can choose the steps you want to have them help with. Find all the details in Lynn Mumbing Mejia‘s post: how to make an orange garland.

Have you discovered any new Christmas activities to do at home with kids this year?

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