Christmas provides an opportunity for families to reset and focus on what they treasure most – each other. To help fill your homes with that special magic that comes with the season, aka the Spirit of Christmas, we have six great activities you can participate in as a family to increase connection, love and laughter.
1. Personalised Cards
Ask everyone to make their own personalised cards for every member of the family, writing a heartfelt message inside about why you love them and are grateful for them. Once finished, hide all the cards in the branches of the tree, to be found, opened and bring in tons of love on Christmas Day.
2. Christmas Cooking and Crafting!
Spending time together baking or creating makes great memories and tasty treats! There’s so many great ideas and recipes to try, but here’s a few of our faves:
Try making a gingerbread house, either from scratch or a kit. You can do it all together, or make a fun competition out of it.
Make your own Christmas tree ornaments and Christmas wreath. DIY snow globes with mason jars.
Bake Christmas cookies. You could even bake them for neighbours and friends and do a surprise drop off at their door, bringing some extra Christmas cheer into their lives.
3. Check Out Your Local Christmas Lights
Taking a drive to look at the Christmas Lights is a magical experience for the whole family. It’s also nice to bring treats with you to share with the families who put lots of effort into their displays. You may even want to vote as a family for your favourite display and go back to their house with a fun trophy you’ve made, for example, “The Smith Family’s Annual Best Christmas Light Display Award 2021’. You could also have a box of chocolates to give them. I guarantee it will make their day.
4. Start the Tradition of Christmas Themed Game Night
The internet is full of fun Christmas-themed game ideas to build a fun family night around including; Christmas Would You Rather, Christmas Song Pictionary or Charades, Minute to Win It Christmas Games, Celebrity Heads – Christmas Edition, Pin the Heart on The Grinch, Build A Snowman Race (making a human snowman from toilet paper and other props), and you could even make a Christmas Piñata.
5. Hold a Christmas Movie Marathon Night
We all know how much kids love to stay up late… why not host a family slumber party in the lounge room, bringing out the mattresses, the popcorn and the Christmas movies for a fun night in? There are so many great movies to choose from, but my favourites for the family include: Elf, The Grinch, Home Alone, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and The Muppet Christmas Carol.
6. Do Something Charitable
This gives your family an opportunity to make someone else’s Christmas special. We all know it’s better to give than receive, and making charitable acts part of your Christmas experience will only increase the joy in your lives and homes. You could pick out a gift for an annual Toy Drive such as the Salvation Army or Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal, donate to a charity (for humans or animals) or even volunteer. It’s an opportunity to teach your children about charity and service and bring the spirit of Christmas into your lives and the lives of others.
