21 Christmas Traditions for Kids That Will Usher in the Holiday Spirit

Amelia Bedelia might get confused and bring scissors to the event, but trimming in this context simply refers to decorating the Christmas tree with ornaments and lights (and tinsel, if you wish). It’s a time-honored tradition that the whole family can participate in, and the end result will bring holiday cheer to any living space.

One of my favorite holiday traditions as a kid was getting my advent calendar on December 1st. We always got the store-bought chocolate ones, and I remember the excitement of opening the little windows one day at a time until Christmas Day arrived. There are plenty of other options, though—last year my son requested a Pokémon advent calendar (and yes, that’s a thing)! And if you’re crafty you can even make your own custom calendar to use for years to come.

Kids have been sending letters to the North Pole in the hopes of bending Santa’s ear since time immemorial, and the United States Postal Service is happy to help keep the tradition alive. The holiday season is in full swing so kids can start sending their wish lists to Santa ASAP. You can learn more about the program here.

Growing up we had porcelain nativity sets that my sisters and I always loved assembling near the tree. Adopt this classic tradition or see if there’s a local church putting on a nativity reenactment for a magical performance that brings the Christmas story to life.

Holiday markets pop-up left and right at this time of year, and they are a wonderful place to spend time shopping for unique gifts, handmade ornaments for the tree and festive treats. Even if you’re not looking to spend money, holiday markets are a particularly cheerful and vibrant place to browse and listen to Christmas music, or even live caroling performances if you’re lucky.

My kids and I love walking through the Brooklyn neighborhood of Dyker Heights, which is famous for its over-the-top Christmas light displays. Chances are you can enjoy a similar experience with your brood, since nearly every city across the country has some neighborhood enclave that takes Christmas lights to the next level. There are also plenty of drive-thru options that allow you to enjoy the beauty from the comfort and warmth of your car, preferably while sipping hot chocolate and listening to a festive soundtrack of carols.

Cozy up on the couch for a family movie night with a holiday theme. There’s such an abundance of kid-friendly Christmas movies that you can sample every genre—from classics (Miracle on 34th Street, anyone?) to animated faves like the Nightmare Before Christmas and quirky comedies like Elf.

For kids who haven’t already aged out of this classic Christmas tradition, there’s nothing more exciting than the opportunity to meet Santa in person…and what do you know? He’s waiting to make that wish come true at a mall near you. You only have a relatively short window to score those precious photos of your tot on Santa’s lap before the cat is out of the bag, so don’t sleep on it.

Kids don’t have money and shopping for gifts with yours makes the gesture slightly less meaningful. The solution? Have them craft up some homemade gifts instead, so the thought and effort are there. Homemade soaps and luminary jar crafts have been really successful with my kids because the process is easy enough for their participation and the finished product is worth keeping—but when it comes to Christmas crafts for kids, you have options.

Sugar cookies, Mexican wedding cookies, thumbprint cookies…there are plenty of Christmas cookie recipes to choose from and it’s a fun and festive way to pass some time in the kitchen with your kids. Sugar cookies are my top pick just because decorating them with frosting and sprinkles really extends the activity, but you can even whip up a whole assortment and send them out as gifts to friends and loved ones.

Hot chocolate is a seasonal staple and the homemade variety beats any store-bought Swiss Miss, hands down. Check out some of our favorite homemade hot chocolate recipes for inspiration, and then encourage the kids to get creative with their own add-ins by making it a contest to see who can whip up the tastiest beverage.

Assembling and adequately decorating gingerbread houses is a family-friendly activity that could very well take you the better part of the afternoon. There’s also plenty of room for creativity and, as with the homemade hot chocolate activity, lends itself well to a little friendly competition. After all, it’s not hard to slather edible decorations on the constructed house…but to do it in an aesthetically pleasing manner is a whole different story.

Also known as bûche de Noëlle, this very festive Christmas cake resembles a log and features a pillowy soft cocoa-flavored sponge cake with a mascarpone whipped cream filling and a rich ganache frosting on top. Feel free to experiment with other flavorings for the mascarpone filling. (I love using hazelnut extract.) Either way, this is a special occasion-worthy baking experiment that will test the skills of both you and your younger kitchen helpers.

Remember those Christmas cookies you baked? Set aside a few for the dude flying all over the world on Christmas Eve, and don’t forget a glass of milk to wash it all down. Word on the street is that you’re guaranteed a spot on Santa’s ‘nice list’ if you don’t neglect the reindeer; I hear carrot sticks are their snack of choice.

Some families have a tradition of gifting each other Christmas-themed (often matching) PJs on Christmas Eve to wear that night. Change into them before proceeding to the next tradition on the list…and definitely take advantage of the built-in family photo op.

No matter how old my kids get, this gentle, lyrical picture book never loses its magic. The soothing poem, first published anonymously and later attributed to Clement-Clarke Moore, is a holiday classic that sets the perfect mood for a peaceful bedtime—particularly when read in front of the fire on Christmas Eve.

In my home, Christmas morning breakfast is more like Christmas morning brunch—namely because I can’t keep my kids away from the presents for longer than it takes me to brew coffee. That said, when all the gift unwrapping is done and everyone realizes their hunger, I like to have a skillet or sheet pan egg dish ready to go because they can feed a crowd and come together quickly. (Psst: you can browse some Christmas breakfast recipe ideas here.)

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the consumerism that surrounds Christmas, which is why it’s so important to remind your kids that the spirit of giving is what Christmas is really all about. Look into volunteer opportunities in your area (soup kitchens, food banks, toy drives, etc.) and see if there’s some way they can help those in need before asking Santa for what they want.

Out with the old, and in with the new…but why not ensure that all the old stuff your kids no longer play with find their way into the right hands? Local homeless shelters and non-profit organizations are likely accepting gently used toys and there are plenty of national initiatives, including the aforementioned one by the USPS, that allow you to “adopt” a child and donate something directly from their wish list to Santa.

OK, this one is new to me…but apparently this game is a whole lot of fun for kids, and it sounds like a great way to buy yourself that extra time you need to brew a pot of coffee on Christmas morning before your brood starts ripping packages apart like a pack of wolves. To play, you will first need to invest in a pickle ornament. From there, it’s pretty straightforward: one person hides the pickle while the search party members are out of the room; the first person to find the pickle is the winner (and also the person who gets to hide it next). It’s like hide and seek, except much better because small pickle ornaments are easier for kids to hide than, well, themselves.

Waste not, want not…but once the kids are done opening presents it might look like there’s not much to salvage from the waste. Wrong! Take those scraps of wrapping paper and use them for a cool and creative crafting project that yields colorful paper beads. There are numerous tutorials out there and the process is completely kid-friendly. Best of all, the fruits of their labor will facilitate many rainy day jewelry making projects.