Are you looking to create a family Christmas bucket list to spend more time together this holiday season? Look no further with these holiday activities and free printables.
The holiday season can be a very busy time of year. As a mom to three littles, I know just how easy it is to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season and miss out on the little things.
This is why I created a family Christmas bucket list, as a fun way to ensure I am slowing down and spending quality time with the ones I love.
On my list you will find holiday activities from a Christmas advent calendar and watching Christmas movies to paper snowflakes, gingerbread houses and more!
After reading about these family Christmas bucket list ideas you are going to be so excited to start one with your own family.
This post is all about the ultimate family Christmas bucket list.
Best Family Christmas Bucket List
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1. Advent Calendar
Try a countdown to Christmas advent calendar.
We like to do a Christmas book advent calendar starting December 1st, where we read a new holiday story each night leading up to Christmas.
A few years back I wrapped up 25 Christmas books for each of my two kids and let them open one each night. It was fun for them to see the pile get smaller and smaller the closer we got to Christmas.
If you want to do this I highly recommend you start look over the summer. I found SO many Christmas books at garage sales and book sales that were in great condition and a fraction of the price.
When my third child was born, it was around Thanksgiving/Christmas time and I just didn’t have the extra time to wrap up a ton of books so I got the Disney Storybook Advent Calendar (pictured above), which I was pleasantly surprised with. This year we might try the Marvel Storybook Advent Calendar.
It is hard to tell by the pictures but they are really big (almost 2 ft tall) and when you open it up it has 25 compartments with numbers. Each compartment has a Disney Christmas book already wrapped up (our books pictured below are already unwrapped).
I highly recommend this for anyone with school-aged kids or older toddlers who can sit for long stories. While the books themselves look small, the stories are actually pretty long so not the best option for young toddlers.
Disney Storybook Advent Calendar
Marvel Storybook Advent Calendar
2. Hang Decorations
There is no better way to get in the Christmas spirit than hanging decorations. Do this as a family and let your kids help decide where to put your holiday decorations.
They will love getting to help and this will most likely be something they remember doing for many years to come. I myself remember getting to help decide where decorations go when I was little.
We used to have a Christmas skating pond decoration that you could turn on and the skaters would move around. It was my favorite holiday decoration and I remember trying to decide where to put it each Christmas.
3. Make Paper Snowflakes
Get out some paper, markers, and scissors and make some paper snowflakes. This is such a great activity for all ages.
It is so fun to see how creative and different everyone’s snowflakes are. They make great winter decorations so be sure to hang them in the windows when you are all finished.
4. Donate to a Toy Drive
If you are able, consider donating to a toy drive to help brighten a child’s day! You can also sponsor a family where you buy gifts for a family in need.
5. Listen to Christmas Music
Listen and sing to some Christmas music together. I love listening to the music channel during the day, so the day after Thanksgiving we flip it to the Sounds of the Season channel.
6. Watch a Christmas Movie
Snuggle up on the couch, pop some popcorn and have a Christmas movie night. These are a few of our family’s favorite Christmas movies.
- Polar Express
- The Grinch
- The Santa Clause
- Elf
- Jingle All the Way
{RELATED POST: 7 Insanely Fun Family Movie Night Ideas Your Kids Will Love}
7. Gingerbread Houses
Pick up a premade gingerbread house kit like this one or make your own with graham crackers, icing, and miscellaneous candies. This family Christmas bucket list idea is perfect for all ages.
Gingerbread House Kit
8. Make Ornaments
Bring out all the craft supplies and make some ornaments. You could make salt dough ornaments or use craft supplies such as ribbons, paint, pinecones, scrabble letters, yarn, popsicle sticks, photos, twine, wood, buttons, paper, and anything else you have on hand that could be used to make ornaments.
Not only do these make great decorations for the tree, but they are little keepsakes that you will be able to pull out each year and reflect on years past and the memories you made bonding as a family.
Scrabble Letters for Crafts
9. Write Letters to Santa
Have your kids write a letter to Santa. We have a Letters to Santa Mailbox similar to this one that our kids put all their letters and pictures for Santa in. His elves then pick them up at night and deliver them to him.
If you are looking for a Letter to Santa template for your kids you can download my free printables below.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS FREE PRINTABLE
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS FREE PRINTABLE
If you have young toddlers who are not able to write letters to Santa yet but enjoy coloring pictures for him, then feel free to print off the template below.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS FREE PRINTABLE
10. Donate Food
Visit your local food pantry and see what foods they are in need of. Then, as a family either go through your own pantry and find those items or go shopping for the food and then donate them.
Food pantrys are always in need so if you are able, continue doing this even after the Christmas season has passed. Not only are you helping out in your community but you are bonding as a family and teaching your kids the importance of giving back.
11. See Christmas Lights
Drive around your neighborhood or take a family walk to see all the beautiful lights and decorations. I always admire the houses that go all out decorating for the holidays.
12. Send Christmas Cards
Send out some holiday cheer to your family and friends with Christmas cards. You can print off cards with family pictures or spend some family time making homemade cards.
Your friends and family will love getting your card and knowing you all are thinking of them during the holiday season. For a special touch write a personalized message inside of each card.
If you are looking for a way to display the holiday cards you receive, this Christmas tree card holder rack is the perfect way to hang your cards during the holiday.
13. Read Christmas Books
If you have young kids like myself, reading Christmas stories is such a great way to bond and get into the holiday spirit. Pull out any Christmas stories you have or go to your local library and check some out.
Here is a list of some of our family’s favorites.
- Olaf’s Night Before Christmas
- Bear Stays Up For Christmas
- Llama Llama Holiday Drama
- Disney 5 Minute Christmas Stories
- Snowmen at Christmas
Olaf’s Night Before Christmas
Llama Llama Holiday Drama
{RELATED POST: 49 Best Christmas Books For Kids You Need To Read Aloud This Year}
14. Picture Taken with Santa
Take your kiddos to see Santa and get a picture with him. Most malls have a Santa but you could also check your local area for events that Santa may be at.
Oftentimes, these events do not have the long line the mall Santa has and you don’t have to pay for the picture. Win, win!
15. Play Christmas Games
Family game nights are such a great way to bond as a family. During the holiday season try playing some Christmas games such as Christmas Bingo, Christmas-opoly, or Merry Grinchmas.
Christmas-opoly
Merry Grinchmas!
{RELATED POST: 150+ Family Charades Ideas That Will Leave You Laughing Uncontrollably}
16. Give Out Candy Canes
Grab a box of candy canes like these and give them out to strangers or put some on the doorsteps of your family, friends, and neighbors. This small gesture is a guaranteed way to put a smile on someone’s face.
Brach’s Mini Candy Cane Tub
17. Go On A Sleigh Ride
Check out your local area to see if they offer sleigh rides during the holiday season. This can be a fun, magical activity the whole family will love.
18. Pick Out a Tree
Head to your local Christmas tree farm and pick out a tree as a family. This is sure to be a family tradition your kids will remember and want to pass down to their kids.
Before you leave, don’t forget to take measurements and also bring along the tape measure.
19. Take a Family Picture
Get the whole family together for a picture over the holiday season. It will go perfect on your family’s Christmas cards.
20. Christmas Scavenger Hunt
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS FREE PRINTABLE
Scavenger hunts are so much fun and perfect for all ages. Feel free to download and print my Christmas scavenger hunt to do as a family.
If you have young kids who can not read yet, you can print the one below that has pictures!
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS FREE PRINTABLE
{RELATED POST: 7 Insanely Fun Printable Fall Scavenger Hunt For Kids}
21. Wear Ugly Sweaters
Pick up some ugly sweaters like these for the family to wear. For some added fun throw an ugly sweater Christmas party with your family and friends.
22. Do Random Acts of Kindness
As a family come up with a list of random acts of kindness you can do together. Then, do them as a family. You never know the impact your simple act can have on someone else.
Here is a list of some random acts of kindness you can do as a family.
- Compliment a stranger
- Donate or Volunteer
- Shovel a neighbor’s driveway
- Pay for a stranger’s library fees
- Leave your waiter/waitress a generous tip
- Put a positive note in a library book
- Pick up litter
- Return someone’s cart at the store
- Leave positive notes around town
- Make thank you cards for service workers
23. Make Cookies for Santa
Don’t forget about Santa! On Christmas Eve make some cookies with your kiddos to leave out for Santa.
If your kids are anything like mine they love helping out in the kitchen, whether it be measuring out ingredients or just mixing the ingredients together. Baking makes for a great bonding activity!
24. Do a Secret Santa
Secret Santa gift exchanges can be a fun activity to do with extended family. First, decide whether you are going to do handmade gifts or store-bought gifts. If you choose to buy gifts make sure to set a price limit.
To play, just write everyone’s name on a piece of paper and stick them in a jar or hat and let each person draw out a name.
Whoever you draw is who you will buy/make a gift for. Then, get together around Christmas to exchange the gifts.
25. Eat Candy Canes
Pick up a box of candy canes and hang them on the tree. One night, sit down as a family and enjoy a candy cane together. They taste even yummier with a mug of hot cocoa.
26. Wear Matching Pajamas
This is one of my favorite bucket list activities that I hope my children don’t grow out of. Each year I put together a family Christmas Eve box that has matching Christmas pajamas for us all to wear on Christmas Eve.
Our Christmas Day is usually pretty laid back where we spend the whole day in our comfy Christmas jammies.
The Children’s Place Matching Christmas Pajamas
Burt’s Bees Matching Family Christmas Pajamas
Christmas Bucket List Printable
Here is the free Christmas bucket list printable. If you are interested in trying these holiday activities with your family, feel free to download and print it off.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS FREE PRINTABLE
If you would rather create your own family Christmas bucket list you can download the blank template below.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS FREE PRINTABLE
This Post Was All About The Ultimate Family Christmas Bucket List
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