15 Christmas activities for kids who love being outdoors

1. Go for a Christmas light walk

There’s nothing more magical than seeing houses decorated for Christmas. This is a great idea if you’re looking for things to do with kids for Christmas. They’ll enjoy walking in their community and spotting all the colourful decorations and lights. Keep the kids going and walk to your local park and see which displays you can spot.

Top tip: Play a game

Why not turn the activity into a game? See how many reindeer decorations you can spot or count the number of lights on a house? You could even drive further and see some special displays.

2. Visit a Christmas lights switch on

This is the perfect family activity as the switch on is the official countdown to Christmas.

Imagine your little one’s face when they see the Christmas tree light up. It will give them that sense of joy that Santa will soon be here. The light switch on is a perfect opportunity to grab a hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows. Slurp it up and keep warm whilst watching the twinkling lights. Children will feel the magic of Christmas and it’s a tradition that can be kept up year upon year.

Most towns and villages will have a Christmas switch on at some point. You should find one by searching “Christmas activities near me”.

3. Go on a present hunt

For fun Christmas activities for kids why not organise a present hunt in the back garden. It’s so simple to do but will keep the kids entertained. The activity will make kids that little bit more excited about opening presents on the big day. Make the activity more fun by dressing up as festive characters such as a Rudolph or a frosty snowman.

The idea behind this is to wrap up little gifts for your children to find.

You could also adapt this idea to hiding presents around your local park for other children to find. This is a great idea to teach kids the true meaning of Christmas spirit – giving.

Ideas for presents include:

• Sweets
• Soft toys
• A small jigsaw
• A book.

4. Ice Skating 

If you’ve been searching for “Christmas activities for kids near me” no doubt, you will of came across ice skating. It’s a fun winter activity, although slightly dangerous for younger children. However, many skating rinks now accommodate children of all ages, providing equipment to help with balance.

There’s something magical about being wrapped up in the cold crisp air around on the ice. Make it a family event and turn it into a competition to see who the best skater is. Give the winner a Christmas-themed prize such as a candy cane or a bell. It will make the activity that little bit more fun for the kids (and the adults too of course).

5. Build a snowman

We all dream of snow at Christmas time don’t we? We know children do as it means days off school and playing in the snow having fun. So, of course, the best Christmas activity for children to do when it snows is to build a snowman right?

I’m sure most parents are all too familiar with Olaf so get your little ones out creating their own Olaf.

Make it a fun-tastic experience, use props and accessories to dress your snowman up. Why not go for a theme and dress your snowmen as a character?

6. Create an outdoor nativity play 

The nativity play is part of each child’s life, something they remember for years to come. For most parents, it’s the first time you see your little one on stage dressed as a cute little donkey.

Although traditionally the nativity play is held indoors on stage, it’d be much more fun hosting it outside. Bring the spirit of Christmas to a playhouse outside and children can make a pretend inn. Turn it into a show for neighbours and children can showcase their acting talents to all.

7. Sing Christmas carols

Still searching for “Christmas activities near me”? One of the most traditional outdoor activities to do over the festive period is go carol singing. Get the kids dressed in their festive jumpers and start an annual tradition with them. Visit neighbours or the elderly and let the children fill their ears with festive cheer. Raise money for a local charity. The kids will love singing to make others happy whilst giving back to those less fortunate. You could donate to a homeless shelter or food banks as these are crucial around the festive period.

Traditional Christmas carols songs to sing include:

• Deck the Halls
• Oh, Christmas Tree!
• We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

8. Go on a sleigh ride

A unique and exciting Christmas activity for children to do is go on a sleigh ride. Even the idea of this will have them jumping up and down with excitement. Many places offer sleigh rides, through woodlands, parks or farms so it’s worth having a look at what’s out there. Your child’s face will light up riding through a wonderland with twinkling lights. It will make the festive period a little bit more magical for your child and a memorable experience. A sleigh ride through the cold crisp air snuggled with a blanket will give your kids a thrill. Why not take a video whilst on the ride and watch it back later or post it on social media?

9. Reindeer prints

It goes without saying that Santa wouldn’t be able to ride his sleigh without his trusty reindeers. So, when thinking of Christmas activities for kids, a simple but effective idea is finding templates of reindeer hooves. A fun idea would be to create prints that disappear in the ground. Children will wonder how did the reindeers get here and where have they gone? The perfect time to do this is on Christmas day. Your children know Santa has been and they’ll be amazed at the prints.

10. Create natural decorations and hang them outside

Having fun around Christmas time doesn’t have to be expensive. Some activities can be done from your back garden. Kids love getting crafty and playing with paint, glitter and glue so they’ll enjoy making Christmas decorations. You’ll be surprised at what you can find outside and what you can make. Some natural decoration ideas you could make include:

• Make a star using sticks and hang them from your tree or door
• Create your own wreaths and hang them from the door
• Decorate acorns in paint and glitter with a Christmas theme.

This Christmas activity for children will turn them into little creative superstars but will give your home a festive feel. You could keep the decorations and hang them up year upon year. Relatives love receiving gifts from little ones too, so get the kids to make extra decorations for the family.

11. Visit a Christmas market

The ultimate Christmas activity for all the family is visiting a Christmas market. The kids will be in awe with everything going on. Everything Christmas related all in one place, your kids will be amazed, but your wallet probably won’t be!

Any kid who loves Christmas (and let’s face it that’s all kids) will love attending a Christmas fayre. Here’s what they’ll be able to see and do:

• Market stalls – hand-picked gifts such as sweets, jewellery and handmade gifts for loved ones.
• Music – from school choirs to local bands, kids love music and love to dance around.
• Attractions – if your kids love a thrill, they’ll enjoy the rides such as the teacups, the Ferris wheel and bumper cars.
• Food and drink – this is more for the grown-ups who are there for the bratwursts and mulled wine. But kids love a hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and marshmallows and a fluffy waffle smothered in chocolate sauce. We’re hungry just thinking about it!

12. Go pick out a Christmas tree

Another family tradition and one of the best Christmas activities for kids is picking the perfect Christmas tree. Find a local farm or woodland that you can buy your Christmas tree from. Kids will enjoy picking out the perfect tree that they can decorate when they get home. The activity will make your kids’ faces light up as picking the Christmas tree means Santa is on his way. The perfect bribery to get your kids to behave. Get the kids to decorate their own baubles to add to the tree. Kids like getting crafty. Let them get messy with paint, glitter and stickers to create festive baubles.

13. Watch a Christmas film at a drive-thru cinema 

Nothing screams “IT’S CHRISTMAS” like watching back-to-back Christmas films until December 25^th and even beyond. Why settle for watching Christmas films at home when you can watch them on a giant screen in your car? Sitting in the comfort of your car in your pyjamas (Christmas ones of course). Grab some snacks and a duvet to make it cosy. Make it a weekend thing through December and turn your car into your cinema room and watch some Christmas classics. Kids will love the idea of watching The Grinch and The Polar Express in the dark outside.

14. Sensory play with fake snow

What do you do when there’s no snow, make your own of course? Bring the snow to your kids and give them a pretend white Christmas. Use soap flakes to create a fun and messy play activity that your kids will love. The activity is a great way to incorporate a bit of a Christmas at home. Your child may mess up their clothes but it’s all about having fun. Kids will learn through play and enjoy exploring the fluffy snow mixture and squelching it in their fingers.

15. Meet Santa

The most important and best Christmas activity for children is meeting Santa. Every kid wants to meet the man himself. After all this big friendly giant with a jiggling belly brings kids presents. It’s a magical experience when the elves invite the children into the grotto. It’s such a big build-up, especially if it’s their first time meeting Santa. As a parent, you don’t want to miss that experience. Your child’s face will be ecstatic when they see him and tell him everything they want (all at your expense). Of course, you must get a photo with Santa and add it to that collection each year. Once they’ve met Santa it will remind them to be good until December, 25^th. No child wants to be on the naughty list.

Would your child like to help Santa this year? They can join Elf Ed, Reindeer Recruit or Fairy Fellow this festive season.

 Still looking for ideas?

Finding Christmas activities for kids near you or fun Christmas activities can be tricky, especially if you’re on a budget. There are so many activities to your kids into the festive spirit. The most important thing is to have a fun, happy and safe Christmas.

The Santa Academy Team are here to provide the ultimate Christmas experience for you and your children. We want to give you the ultimate Christmas experience for you and your family. Have fun and enjoy Christmas together. After all, it is the most wonderful time of the year. Stay in the loop with Santa Academy by subscribing to our mailing list.

Keep up with Santa Academy! Each day you can find new Christmas stories every on the Lacus Herald, written by our Author, Jill. Your children can stay up to date with their favourite festive characters and all the latest news from Lacus Island.

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