Meaningful December Activities for Kids
For many Christian families, the Christmas season is all about celebrating the birth of Jesus. The story of Santa can sometimes feel like it overshadows the true meaning of Christmas or creates confusion, especially for younger children.
Whether you avoid Santa entirely or keep him as a fictional figure, here are some wonderful, Christ-centered ways to make December meaningful and fun for kids without the focus on Santa.
1. Holiday-Themed Scavenger Hunt
Organize a holiday scavenger hunt around the house or yard, hiding festive items like mini candy canes, holiday stickers, or small toys. Create a checklist or a simple map, then let kids search for each item. This activity combines excitement and exploration, keeping kids active and entertained in the lead-up to Christmas.
Quick Tip: Tailor the scavenger hunt for different ages by adjusting the level of difficulty, from easy clues to slightly trickier puzzles.
Shop the Essentials:
- Mini Candy Cane – Perfect for hiding little holiday treats throughout the scavenger hunt.
- Holiday Sticker Set – Festive stickers that kids can collect as they complete their search.
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2. Craft Personalized Ornaments Together
Spend an afternoon crafting unique ornaments to hang on the tree, give to family, or keep as cherished memories. Use materials like salt dough, clay, or clear ornaments that can be filled with small treasures or painted. Kids love getting creative, and each ornament becomes a little piece of holiday memory.
Quick Tip: Use permanent markers or paint to add the date to each ornament, creating a homemade collection to look back on each year.
Shop the Essentials:
- Clear Fillable Ornaments – Ready to fill with festive decorations or paint.
- Paint Pens or Sharpies – Perfect for personalizing ornaments with names, dates, or designs.
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3. DIY Hot Chocolate Station
Set up a hot chocolate station where kids can make their own holiday drinks. Include a variety of mix-ins like marshmallows, whipped cream, crushed peppermint, or caramel drizzle. Let each child choose their toppings and make it an event by pairing it with cozy blankets and a holiday movie.
Quick Tip: Create homemade hot cocoa mix ahead of time and store it in jars for easy preparation and a festive, DIY touch.
Shop the Essentials:
- Hot Cocoa Mix – A rich and creamy cocoa base for everyone to enjoy.
- Mini Marshmallows – A classic, must-have topping for every hot cocoa cup.
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4. Create a Winter Nature Wreath
Head outside to gather pinecones, holly branches, evergreen sprigs, and other natural elements to create a beautiful winter wreath. This project is perfect for a hands-on family activity that brings a touch of nature into your holiday decor. Once complete, hang it on your front door as a seasonal decoration.
Quick Tip: Add a ribbon or bow for a pop of color, and consider including cinnamon sticks or orange slices for a seasonal scent.
Shop the Essentials:
- Wreath Frame – The base for creating your holiday masterpiece with natural elements.
- Decorative Ribbon – Adds a festive pop of color to your nature-inspired wreath.
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5. Make a Family Holiday Scrapbook
Gather old holiday photos, ticket stubs, and memories from previous Decembers, and start a family holiday scrapbook. Let each child decorate a page, add captions, or draw pictures. The scrapbook can be revisited every year, giving kids a way to see how traditions have grown and changed over time.
Quick Tip: Print a few photos from each year’s celebrations and add a new page annually, creating a family keepsake that captures the magic of each holiday season.
Shop the Essentials:
- Scrapbook Album – A sturdy, blank album ready for holiday memories.
- Holiday Sticker Pack – Perfect for decorating each page with festive details.
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6. Create a Nativity-Themed Advent Calendar
Instead of a Santa-themed Advent calendar, create a Nativity-focused countdown to Christmas. Each day, kids can open a new part of the story, piece of the Nativity scene, or Bible verse related to the birth of Jesus. This turns each day of December into an opportunity to learn about and celebrate Jesus’ arrival.
Quick Tip: Look for DIY Nativity scene calendars where kids can add a new figure each day, building up to the full scene on Christmas morning.
Shop the Essentials:
- Nativity Advent Calendar – A beautiful, Christ-centered way to count down to Christmas.
- Daily Advent Devotional for Kids – Short devotionals to guide kids through the season meaningfully.
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7. Read Daily Stories from the Bible or Christian Picture Books
Set aside a cozy time each day or evening to read a part of the Christmas story from the Bible or a Christian picture book. From the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary to the visit of the wise men, kids can learn the story in small parts, making it easy to understand and remember.
Quick Tip: Choose different books for each night or follow along with a children’s Bible that provides a short reading plan for December.
Shop the Essentials:
- Children’s Bible – Ideal for daily readings about the Nativity story.
- Christian Christmas Picture Books – Fun, engaging books for a child-friendly look at the Christmas story.
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8. Participate in a “Giving Tree” or Charity Drive
Teaching kids to give to others is a beautiful way to capture the spirit of the season. Many churches and organizations have giving trees where families can choose a child or family in need to buy gifts for. This practice helps kids understand the joy of giving and can lead to important conversations about empathy, kindness, and generosity.
Quick Tip: Have each child pick a gift for someone their age to make it personal and relatable.
Shop the Essentials:
- Giving Tree Tags – If your church has a giving tree, involve your kids in picking out tags and choosing gifts.
- Holiday Wrapping Supplies – Let kids wrap their selected gifts to add a personal touch to their giving.
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9. Bake Treats and Share with Neighbors
A simple but heartfelt activity, baking treats together gives kids the chance to practice hospitality and generosity. From cookies to homemade bread, let kids be part of the baking process, and then bring the treats to neighbors, friends, or those in need.
Quick Tip: Print out Bible verses or short Christmas messages to attach to each treat, spreading a little more cheer with each gift.
Shop the Essentials:
- Holiday Cookie Cutters – Fun, festive shapes that kids will love using.
- Mason Jar Set – Perfect for filling with treats to share with neighbors.
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10. Organize a Family Christmas Worship Night
Set aside a special night for family worship. Sing Christmas hymns, read scripture, and pray together as a family. This can become a memorable family tradition that helps keep the focus on Jesus, creating a peaceful and reflective evening in the midst of a busy season.
Quick Tip: Prepare a song list ahead of time and include traditional carols with a focus on the birth of Christ, such as Silent Night, O Holy Night, and Away in a Manger.
Shop the Essentials:
- Christmas Carol Songs Book – Perfect for finding hymns and carols for family worship.
- Candle Set – Soft candlelight can create a peaceful, worshipful atmosphere.
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11. Bake Scented Christmas Spice Ornaments
Baking Christmas spice ornaments is a wonderful, hands-on way to fill your home with festive scents and create decorations that last. Using ingredients like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, kids can help create beautifully spiced ornaments to hang on the tree or give as gifts. These ornaments dry hard and keep their scent, becoming a fragrant reminder of the season’s warmth.
Quick Tip: Use cookie cutters in festive shapes and add a small hole at the top of each ornament before baking to make hanging them easy.
Shop the Essentials:
- Nigella Lawson’s Christmas Cookbook – Filled with recipes and inspiration, this book is a perfect guide to holiday baking and festive spice blends.
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12. Host a Birthday Party for Jesus
A wonderful way to celebrate Christmas without Santa is by hosting a birthday party for Jesus. Decorate with streamers, make a cake, sing “Happy Birthday,” and let kids know that Christmas is ultimately about celebrating Jesus’ birth. This joyful event can help kids focus on the reason for the season in a way that’s relatable and fun.
Quick Tip: Have each child “bring a gift” to Jesus, such as a good deed or a prayer intention, reinforcing the spirit of giving.
Shop the Essentials:
- Birthday Cake Mix – Bake a special birthday cake to celebrate Jesus’ birth.
- Party Supplies – Streamers, balloons, and birthday candles to make the celebration memorable.
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13. Do a Family Nativity Play
Organize a simple Nativity play with your family as the cast. Let kids dress up as Mary, Joseph, angels, or shepherds and act out the Christmas story. You can even use stuffed animals or dolls to represent the animals and baby Jesus, making it a fun, interactive way for kids to engage with the story.
Quick Tip: Record the play to share with extended family or make it a yearly tradition, with everyone playing different roles each year.
Shop the Essentials:
- Nativity Dress-Up Kit – Simple costumes for a child-friendly Nativity play.
- Props Kit – Small props to help bring your Nativity play to life!
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14. Write Letters to Jesus Instead of Santa
Instead of writing letters to Santa, encourage kids to write letters to Jesus. They can share their hopes, dreams, and gratitude, and even make promises for how they’ll show kindness to others. This helps shift the focus from receiving to giving, allowing kids to feel a deeper connection to their faith during the holiday.
Quick Tip: Keep these letters in a family journal or a special box, so kids can look back on them each year and reflect on their growth.
Shop the Essentials:
- Decorate a Keepsake Box – Purchase a good quality keepsake box and decorative it yourself. A place to store letters to Jesus over the years!
- Christmas-Themed Stationery Set – Festive paper for kids to write their special letters.
Available on Amazon.com [ad]
15. Volunteer Together as a Family
One of the best ways to spread holiday cheer is by giving back. Volunteer as a family at a local food bank, soup kitchen, or community event. Serving others reinforces the Christmas message of kindness and compassion and provides kids with a rewarding, hands-on way to experience the joy of giving.
Quick Tip: Reach out to local organizations early in the season to reserve volunteer spots, as many families look for holiday service opportunities.
Shop the Essentials:
- Winter Hats and Gloves – Essential items to donate if your community accepts winter clothing.
- Gift Hampers – Create care packages to deliver to a local shelter as a family.
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The Takeaway
Celebrating December without Santa can still be filled with joy, meaningful moments, and a focus on the deeper message of the season. These family-friendly activities highlight togetherness, generosity, and traditions that can draw families closer to the heart of Christmas. From crafting handmade decorations to baking fragrant treats and helping others, these ideas help keep the holiday meaningful and centered on what matters most.
With these activities, December becomes a time of love, connection, and warmth, giving kids lasting memories that celebrate the season’s true spirit.
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Share
As always, I’d love to hear from you! What are your favorite family traditions to keep Christ at the center of the holiday season? Share your ideas in the comments below, and let’s inspire each other to make this Christmas season even more special!
Last update on 2025-04-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
