Christmas activities when it’s just too cold outside

It’s the most magical time of the year again (well…almost). Yes, we are talking about Christmas! Although it’s the most magical time of the year, it’s also the coldest. No one wants to be outside when it’s cold, but we want to make the most of Christmas time. That’s why we put together this list of 20 festive ideas to enjoy together.

1. Write a letter to Santa

One of the most significant Christmas activities every child loves – writing a letter to Santa. Get the stationery out and let your child write their letter to Santa telling him how good they’ve been. Kids love telling Santa all the presents they’d like him to bring. It encourages them to use their imagination and ask for something out of the ordinary, like a real-life unicorn. It’s pretty much impossible that Santa can deliver this, but hopefully, they’ve forgotten they’ve asked for that come Christmas Day.

2. Decorate the Christmas tree

It’s December, so what Christmas activity can all the family take part in? Decorating the Christmas tree of course! This is the defining moment when you know it’s almost Christmas and the kids hyper level increase by the day. Gather all the decorations and tree from the loft and make you your home feel festive. It’s time to decorate the Christmas tree. Children will love this Christmas activity as it encourages them to be creative. They can choose how your tree looks and have fun bringing the Christmas spirit to your living room.

3. Bake Christmas cookies

One of the best Christmas activities to do when it’s cold outside is bake Christmas cookies. Kids love making a mess and eating sugary snacks so baking cookies is a perfect idea. The activity teaches kids to be creative as they can cut the cookies into different Christmas themed shapes. Baking is also a good incentive to teach children to cook and help out in the kitchen. Children will enjoy decorating their own cookies with icing and sweets, but we’re sure they’ll enjoy eating them more!

4. Make your own Christmas cards

It’s a fun idea to implement some arts and crafts into your Christmas activities. Instead of buying Christmas cards, why not make your own? Let the kids get creative with paint and glitter and create their own Christmas cards to send to loved ones. Family and friends will love receiving the homemade cards and will hang them with pride. This is great a Christmas activity you can carry on each year.

5. Watch Christmas films 

When the weather is cold outside, the best thing to do is close the curtains and watch back-to-back Christmas films. There’s no better feeling than being snuggled on the sofa in your pajamas on a winter’s day watching Christmas films. You could pick a different Christmas film to watch each day of December. Grab some snacks and drinks and it’ll feel like you’re at the cinema.

6. Christmas present scavenger hunt 

If you’re still looking for Christmas activities you can get up to indoors, why not try a scavenger hunt? Wrap up some small gifts such as teddies and chocolate and hide them around the house. Kids will have fun searching the house for them and will enjoy unwrapping the gifts. The game will keep them entertained for hours and will make them even more excited for the big day.

7. Christmas photo booth

Set up a photo booth indoors and stock it with festive props that can be used for photos. It’s a great way to get in the festive spirit and have fun with the props. It will make for a great family photo. You could use the it for a Christmas card or get it printed for the family photo album.

8. Read a Christmas book 

One of the most simple but effective Christmas activities you can enjoy indoors is reading a Christmas book. When the weather is cold outside, escape to a magical land filled with elves, reindeers and Santa. Kids love reading and hearing about Christmas, it fills them with excitement. This activity will help your child with reading and engage them more with books.

9. Host a virtual Christmas karaoke 

We all love Christmas songs, don’t we? Even if we do hear the same songs re-played every December, we can’t help but sing along to them all. A fun Christmas activity you could do from the comfort of your living room is host a virtual karaoke. Get family and friends together on Zoom and take turns singing Christmas songs.

Top tip: You could make the activity more fun by turning it into a competition and scoring each other. Pretend it’s your very own X-Factor, with the winner receiving a prize.

10. Make a Christmas Eve box

Start a new family tradition and make a Christmas Eve box together. In recent years, this idea has become more popular and is inspired by other countries. Children will have some small presents to open on Christmas eve and it will maximise the Christmas spirit. Use a cardboard box, wooden crate or chest to create your Christmas Eve box and decorate however you like. Gifts you can place in your Christmas Eve box include:

• Pajamas
• Candy
• Bath bomb
• Teddy
• Book
• Jigsaw.

11. Make some homemade gifts 

There are many different Christmas activities you can do with your children, but a special one is making homemade gifts. Making your own Christmas gifts for loved ones shows love and thought.

There’s something more special about making a gift than buying a gift from a shop. Making your own gifts will teach kids the importance of gift giving.  It is not about the money spent on it but thought behind it. It’s about giving someone you love a thoughtful gift. Some ideas of handmade gifts you can create include:

• Cookies
• Candles
• Bath bombs
• Blankets
• Jewellery.

12. Make a gingerbread house

 A sweet Christmas activity that can be enjoyed by adults and children. After all, how could you refuse decorating a house that’s covered in icing and sweets? The best Christmas activities involve food so kids and adults will have fun making this together.

Turn it into a competition: Make the activity more fun for those who like to compete. Post the completed gingerbread houses on social media and ask friends to rate them. The winner gets to open the first present on Christmas morning.

13. Create your own baubles

The perfect Christmas tree doesn’t exist without some beautiful baubles. Why buy basic baubles, when you could create your own?

Give your Christmas tree a bit of individuality by letting the children create their own baubles. Buy some plain glass or plastic baubles and let your kids get creative. Let them paint their names or create pictures with glitter and hang them from the tree. Bring the baubles out each year to remind them of this fun activity you all did together.

14. Christmas Coloring 

A simple Christmas activity that can be enjoyed by all ages is colouring in pictures. Buy some Christmas themed colouring books or print some pictures off the computer. Grab all the pens and pencils and enjoy a relaxing afternoon colouring some festive characters.

You could even ask your kids to draw their own Christmas pictures and hang them on the fridge.

15. Go to a Christmas pantomime

An annual outing for all the family to enjoy at Christmas time is visiting the pantomime. The pantomime is definitely more for adults than the kids with the jokes and innuendos to keep us chuckling. For the kids, they will love the characters, costumes and lights. It’s a great way to get the kids involved in the theatrical world and support local theaters.

There’s a range of pantomimes to keep kids (and adults) entertained including:

• Cinderella
• Robin Hood
• Jack and the Beanstalk.

Take a look at your local theaters to see what productions they’re hosting. There’s something for everyone.

16. Visit Santa’s Grotto

Preferably one inside a shopping center so you don’t have the que in the crisp cold air. The most important and best Christmas activity 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. After meeting Santa, it will remind them to stay on the nice list until the big day.

17. Get involved in the shoebox appeal

Not all children are lucky enough to receive gifts at Christmas and it’s important to teach children that. A selfless Christmas activity you can participate in is creating a shoebox for the less fortunate. The idea behind the shoebox appeal is to give a gift to those who wouldn’t normally receive one at Christmas. No one should wake up Christmas morning without a gift. At Santa Academy, we like to make everyone feel included.

Some items you could pack into your shoebox include:

• Cuddly toy
• Skipping rope
• Pens and pencils
• Notebooks
• Toothbrush
• Soap
• Clothes.

18. Make an advent calendar

Nothing says December 1^st like cracking open the first door of the advent calendar. Instead of buying the usual ones from the shops, create one of your own. Buy a range of candy and sweets and fill up an advent calendar of your own.

19. Elf of the shelf

It’s that naughty elf that everyone has been talking about. Although he’s a naughty elf, everyone loves it when he makes an appearance at Christmas time. You can have fun creating naughty scenarios your children won’t believe when they wake up on a morning. The kids love this element of Christmas, wondering what the elf gets up to when they are asleep. This is a modern Christmas tradition that has grown over the last few years, but kids and parents love it.

20. Put on a 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.

Bring this traditional Christmas activity to your living room and gather some guests and put on your own show. Let the children take charge of the show, pick their own roles and make their costumes.

Video their performance and watch it back later.

Still looking for Christmas activities to enjoy at home?

We hope we’ve provided you with plenty of ideas for how to keep entertained over the festive period. Santa Academy is here to make your Christmas memorable and fun. And we have so many ideas for things to do for Christmas!

Download our Santa Academy activity packs and enjoy all the Christmas activities as a family.

Keep up with Santa Academy! Find new Christmas stories every day on the Lacus Herald from December 1st, written by our Author, Jill. Be sure to stay up to date  with the latest news from Lacus Island.

Find more fun, festive tips and ideas, such as:

• Easy Christmas crafts for kids
• Christmas printables
• Things to do near you for Christmas
• Christmas activity book ideas
• Christmas art ideas
• Christmas party ideas for kids
• Tips for helping kids to read
• Christmas baking for kids
• Christmas countdown ideas for your family
• Christmas writing ideas
• And many more!