Fun Holiday Ideas the Whole Family Will Enjoy

If you’re looking for some fun ways to spice up your holiday traditions this year, read through this list of kid-approved activities that will make the season one to remember.

An Advent Calendar

If you don’t already partake in the advent calendar tradition, this is the year to start. There are a variety of advent calendars available—from boxes that contain chocolates to wall mounted calendars with Christmas scenes your children will adore (especially when finding the right number to open is like a glorified game of “Where’s Waldo?”).

Give Your Time

Instilling gratitude and the importance of volunteering to your children should be started as soon as possible, and there’s no better time than the holidays. Make a new family tradition by heading to a local soup kitchen to volunteer your time. You and your children will benefit from the perspective it provides, and you’ll get to do something wonderful for people who are down on their luck this Christmas season.

An Ugly Christmas Sweater Extravaganza

An ugly Christmas sweater exchange will be fun and hilarious for everyone. Get the neighbors in on the action and ask everyone to bring a meal item—potluck and a sweater party all rolled up into one! If you want a leg up, grab a few Tipsy Elves Christmas sweaters soon to find the best prices—your sweaters will surely be the most envied and your kids will love wearing the funny designs to school during the cold winter months ahead.

A Holiday Run

If your family loves to be active, get moving this holiday season with a holiday-themed run. Most cities offer a variety of holiday runs for great causes, and you can build up some family cheer while jogging through the crisp winter air. Depending on your geography, it might be in your best interest to compete in a holiday fun run before or right after Thanksgiving to ensure weather doesn’t spoil the fun.

Make Christmas Treats

If there’s one thing the kids look forward to as Christmas draws near—besides unwrapping their presents, of course—it’s the delicious treats that mark the occasion. There’s a variety of ways you can turn sweet treats into a wonderful family tradition. You can create a gingerbread house that your kids will wish they could really live in, but beware, you’ll probably have to swat the candy house decorations out of your significant other’s hands more than once. For another Christmas treat idea, especially for your little ones, make sure to set out a plate of cookies with them for Santa to munch on (and make sure “he” eats them by the morning).

Survey the Lights

Many cities have neighborhoods that go all out with their Christmas decorations. Sniff out the one nearest to your home and bundle the kids up for a walk around the winter wonderland. Many houses now have radio-oriented light displays—you can listen to a radio station blasting Christmas carols and their lights will flash in tandem with the beat.

White Elephant Shindig

Invite the neighbors and their kids over for a fun and silly white elephant gift exchange. Make sure everyone knows the price limit—$10 is usually a good price point—and make sure you buy family-appropriate presents. Your gift could be a whoopee cushion, an inflatable snowman, or a book of silly Christmas limericks, for example. The kids will get a kick out of the unconventional gifting process, and you’ll wind up with some unique items that will make you smile whenever you see them.

Write Letters to Santa

Help your kids pen some great letters to Santa this year, and make sure you and your spouse get in on the action. It’s both great for tradition and serves a practical purpose. You’ll find out exactly what your little ones desire most this holiday season, and you can relive the joy of childhood with your very own letter. Bring the kids with you to drop off the letters in the mail, addressed to the North Pole, and make sure all their Christmas wishes come true—as long as they’re plausible, of course.

The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year; family gatherings, gratitude, and delicious feasts should be enjoyed to the fullest. Try out any of these family-approved holiday celebration ideas and make this year one to remember.

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Girl on Fire

Photographer at Loudmouth Photography

Brandy is the wife to a carpenter/musician and the mother of 3 amazingly awesome homeschool/unschooled girls. Brandy is a Photographer as well as a Coach for the Weebellion as part of Rolling Rebellion Jr. Roller Derby. Brandy is passionate about many things and suffers from a very painful and degenerative neurological disease called CRPS/RSD.

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