Christmas Activities: 75+ Fun Ideas for Families, Kids, Adults & At-Home Nights

There’s a moment in December when it hits you: the tree is up, the lights are on… and everyone is still just scrolling their phones.

Most people remember activities far more than presents. Years later, they’ll talk about the time someone burned the cookies, the ridiculous game Uncle Raj invented, the walk where it started snowing halfway through – not what was in their stocking.

This guide is built for that. Real-life Christmas activities that:

work for different ages and energy levels
don’t require a Pinterest-level craft room
actually feel fun instead of forced

Whether you’re planning for kids, teens, adults, work friends or a mix of all of the above, there’s something here you can run with tonight.

Why Christmas Activities Matter More Than “Perfect” Gifts
How to Use This Guide (And Mix Ideas)
Cozy At-Home Christmas Activities
Family Christmas Activities Everyone Can Join
Christmas Activities for Kids
Indoor Christmas Activities for Cold or Rainy Days
Outdoor Christmas Activities
Christmas Party Activities for Adults
Work Christmas Party Activities for Adults
Christmas Activities for Adults at Home (No Party Needed)
Christmas Activity Sheets & Worksheets (Low-Prep Lifesavers)
25 Days of Christmas Activities – A Simple Countdown Plan
Low-Cost & Free Christmas Activities
Virtual & Long-Distance Christmas Activities
How to Capture and Share These Moments
FAQ: Real Questions People Ask About Christmas Activities

1. Why Christmas Activities Matter More Than “Perfect” Gifts

Ask people what they remember most from past Christmases and you hear the same kinds of answers:

“The year we sang so loud the neighbours complained.”
“The time the power went out and we played cards by candlelight.”
“The Christmas my dad built a fort in the living room and slept there with us.”

Very few people say, “That one sweater from 2013.”

Activities:

give people something to do, not just something to open
break up awkwardness between relatives who don’t see each other often
create shared stories you can quote for years

The pressure to buy the “right” thing goes way down when you know the night itself is going to be fun. A simple present plus a great game or walk or baking disaster becomes a much better memory than an expensive gift and a boring evening.

2. How to Use This Guide (And Mix Ideas)

Think of the ideas here like building blocks. You’re not supposed to do all 75. Pick a few that match:

the weather where you are
the ages and attention spans of your people
your energy level (pulling off a big scavenger hunt is different from “we have one hour after work”)

Good rule of thumb: combine one active thing, one relaxed thing, and one little tradition or ritual.

For example:

Afternoon: Christmas craft or baking with kids
Evening: short walk to look at lights
Night: one simple game + a Christmas movie

That mix works better than trying to cram five activities into a single day or doing nothing and hoping fun somehow appears on its own.

3. Cozy At-Home Christmas Activities

These are the “we’re staying in, it’s cold out, everyone’s in socks” options. Great for small families, couples, or anyone who wants Christmas activities that don’t require tickets or driving.

3.1 Build a “Christmas Nest” in the Living Room

Instead of just turning on a movie like any other night, make the setup part of the activity.

Drag mattresses, cushions and blankets into one big “nest.”
Let kids (or adults) string fairy lights around it.
Make a rule: once you’re in the nest, no phones unless you’re taking a quick photo.

Pick one Christmas movie everyone can tolerate, pile in, and treat it as an event rather than background noise.

3.2 DIY Hot Chocolate Bar

People remember small, interactive food setups way more than a perfectly plated dessert.

Line up:

mugs
different hot chocolate mixes or melted chocolate
toppings: whipped cream, marshmallows, candy canes, cinnamon, sprinkles, crushed cookies
add-ins for adults: a shot of coffee, liqueur, or flavoured syrups

Let everyone build their own ridiculous drink. It takes pressure off the main dessert and keeps people hanging around the kitchen talking.

3.3 Christmas Book Night

One quiet evening idea: everyone brings or borrows a Christmas-themed book or short story.

Collect blankets and pillows in the living room.
Light candles or turn on the tree lights only.
Spend an hour reading – kids with picture books, adults with novels or essays.

To make it feel more special, wrap a few second-hand books and let people pick one “mystery book” they’ll read that night and then swap around.

3.4 “The Great Leftover Challenge”

This is fun right after Christmas Day when the fridge is chaos.

Split into teams.
Each team has 20–30 minutes to turn leftovers into a new dish: a sandwich, a wrap, a mini pie, a frittata, whatever.
Someone not cooking does judging based on creativity and taste.

It turns “ugh, leftovers again” into a game – and clears the fridge without complaining.

3.5 Board Game Marathon With House Rules

Instead of half-heartedly pulling out one board game, declare a short “tournament.”

Choose 2–3 games that work for the group’s age range.
Set a rough time limit per game so things don’t drag.
Add funny house rules (for example, everyone has to wear a silly hat while they’re losing).

If you have a big family, create a kids’ table and an adults’ table with different games and let people move between them.

3.6 Silent Christmas Disco at Home

Perfect for apartments or houses where you don’t want to shake the walls.

Ask everyone to bring headphones and a phone or, if you have it, use a shared playlist.
Turn off the main music and let everyone hit play at the same time on a Christmas playlist.
You all dance in the living room in silence except for laughter and the occasional off-key singing.

From the outside, it looks ridiculous. Inside the headphones, it’s pure chaos in the best way.

4. Family Christmas Activities Everyone Can Join

These ideas work when you’ve got a mixed crowd: grandparents, toddlers, teens, people who would happily run a 5K and people who would very much not.

4.1 Family Christmas Olympics

Pick four or five silly mini-events, such as:

who can wrap a present fastest (and neatest)
candy cane ring toss (use bottles or cups as posts)
snowball toss with cotton balls or paper into buckets
ornament spoon race (carry an unbreakable ornament on a spoon)
tree decorating speed round (who can decorate a mini tree or plant fastest)

Create simple scorecards or just keep it loud and chaotic. The prize can be something silly: a handmade “gold medal,” the last slice of dessert, or choosing the next movie.

4.2 The Christmas Memory Tablecloth

Lay a plain white or light-coloured tablecloth on the table and put out fabric markers.

Ask everyone to write or draw one memory from that year: big or small.
Kids can draw; adults can add short quotes or moments.
Date it somewhere discreet.

Roll it up and reuse it every year. Over time, the table itself becomes a family timeline you literally eat on.

4.3 Build-Your-Own Christmas Photo Booth

You don’t need props from a party store.

Hang a plain sheet or fairy lights against a wall.
Put out whatever hats, scarves, sunglasses, tinsel, and random items you have.
Use someone’s phone on a tripod or propped up on books with a self-timer.

Have a few “official” shots (whole family, cousins, grandparents with grandkids) and then let people go wild with silly photos. Those pictures usually end up being everyone’s favourites.

4.4 “One Special Thing” Show-and-Tell

Before everyone arrives, ask each family member to bring one object that meant something to them this year: a concert ticket, a medal, a toy, a recipe, a photo.

After dinner, everyone takes two minutes to tell the story of that object.

It’s a structured way to catch up on each other’s lives without the usual small talk. It also gives quieter relatives a turn to speak.

4.5 Christmas Lights Walk (Or Drive)

Simple, but powerful.

Map a short route with the best lights in your area.
Bring a thermos of hot chocolate or coffee.
For kids, print a simple “Christmas lights bingo” card: giant snowman, moving reindeer, Nativity scene, inflatable Santa, house with only white lights, etc.

If it’s too cold to walk, do it as a car ride with blankets in the back seat and a Christmas playlist.

4.6 Family Gratitude Ornament Ritual

Before Christmas, buy or make a simple set of blank ornaments or wooden discs.

On Christmas Eve or Day:

Give everyone one ornament and a pen.
Ask them to write one thing they’re grateful for from this year.
Hang them on the tree together.

Keep them in a labelled box and bring them out each year. It’s a gentle way to mark time without forced speeches.

5. Christmas Activities for Kids

Kids don’t need complicated plans. They need something to focus their energy on that isn’t just sugar and screen time.

These “Christmas activities for kids” work at home, at grandparents’ houses, or even in small classroom or Sunday school settings.

5.1 Santa’s Workshop Afternoon

Turn your kitchen or dining table into a mini “workshop.”

Set out:

plain gift bags or kraft paper
stickers, markers, crayons, stampers
ribbon, tape, scraps of wrapping paper
old Christmas cards for cutting out pictures

Let kids:

decorate bags for gifts they’re giving
make their own “North Pole” signs
create tags for each family member

You can quietly get some actual wrapping done while they’re occupied.

5.2 Christmas Scavenger Hunt at Home

Hide small items around the house and give kids a list with words or pictures, such as:

a star
three candy canes
something red and sparkly
a snowman
an angel

You can:

hide real objects,
use items already on the tree and around the house,
or mix in little treats or clues leading to a final surprise.

Adjust difficulty for age. For older kids, make each clue a riddle; for little ones, use simple drawings.

5.3 “Decorate a Door” Contest

If you have a long hallway or several doors in the house, assign one to each child (or each sibling pair).

Provide:

butcher paper or wrapping paper
tape or blu-tack
markers, scissors, scrap paper
leftover decorations

Set a timer and let them transform each door into something festive: Santa’s workshop, a snowman, a Nativity scene, a gingerbread house. Adults can judge or you can do silly awards like “Most Sparkly,” “Most Creative,” or “Most Likely to Make the Neighbours Talk.”

5.4 DIY Christmas Puppet Show

Give kids:

paper bags or socks for puppets
scrap paper, googly eyes, yarn, tape and glue
a cardboard box or table with a sheet over it as the “stage”

Ask them to put on a short show after dinner:

They can retell the Nativity, write a silly story about elves, or make a “news report from the North Pole.”
Keep expectations low and focus on cheering loudly for whatever they come up with.

5.5 Kid-Friendly Cookie Decorating

Instead of stressing over picture-perfect cookies, set up decorating as a full activity.

Pre-bake simple shapes: stars, trees, circles.
Put frosting into bowls or small squeeze bottles.
Offer toppings: sprinkles, mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, crushed candy canes.

Kids decorate, eat a few, and choose one cookie they’re most proud of to put on a special plate “for later.” Take a photo of each child holding their favourite before it disappears.

6. Indoor Christmas Activities for Cold or Rainy Days

Sometimes the weather just says “nope.” These indoor Christmas activities rescue those long afternoons or evenings when everyone’s restless and going outside isn’t realistic.

6.1 Indoor Snowball Fight (No Bruises, No Melted Ice)

Make “snowballs” out of:

balled-up white socks
soft foam balls
crumpled tissue paper

Clear a safe space in the living room. Create “bases” with cushions or furniture and let teams throw to their hearts’ content.

Add rules if you want:

Only hit below the shoulders.
If you’re hit, you have to freeze until someone tags you.

It’s ridiculous, but it burns a lot of energy in 10 minutes.

6.2 Christmas Escape Room at Home

You don’t need a full professional kit. Think of it as a series of clues leading to a final surprise: a treat, a family photo, or an envelope with “movie night” inside.

Ideas for clues:

Simple ciphers: “A = 1, B = 2” and they decode a short message.
Jigsaw puzzle: tape a clue to the back of a puzzle and make them finish it first.
Hidden message with lemon juice or white crayon + paint.

Adjust difficulty based on age. For little kids, make it more like a treasure hunt with obvious arrows and picture clues.

6.3 Indoor Christmas Picnic

Spread a blanket on the floor under the tree.

Serve finger foods instead of a formal meal: sandwiches, cut-up veggies, small desserts.
Eat sitting cross-legged instead of at the table.
Play quiet Christmas music in the background.

It sounds simple, but changing location and posture makes regular food feel special. Toddlers and younger kids in particular love this.

6.4 House-Wide “I Spy: Christmas Edition”

Choose one person as the “spy.” They quietly select a Christmas item somewhere in the room or house: an ornament, a decoration, a certain stocking.

They say: “I spy with my little eye something that is [colour/shape/texture].”

Everyone else takes turns guessing. Whoever gets it becomes the next spy.

You can make it less competitive and more exploratory with smaller kids: as they guess, they have to walk around and really look at the decorations, not just shout answers from the sofa.

6.5 Christmas Craft Afternoon for All Ages

Cover the table with an old sheet or paper and set out:

coloured paper and card
glue sticks and tape
ribbons, string, stickers
leftover gift wrap and tags

Suggested simple crafts:

paper chain garlands
homemade gift tags
cut-out snowflakes taped to windows
“stained glass” shapes using tissue paper and clear contact film

Put on music and let people work at their own pace. Don’t aim for Pinterest-worthy results; aim for everyone’s hands being busy and relaxed.

7. Outdoor Christmas Activities & “Christmas Activities Near Me”

If the weather cooperates (or you’re stubborn enough to layer up), outdoor activities give everyone a change of scenery and burn off the sugar rush.

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel; you just have to be intentional.

7.1 DIY Christmas Lights Tour

Instead of randomly driving around hoping to spot lights, plan it like a tiny excursion.

Ask friends or check local groups for “must-see” streets and houses.
Map a short loop that starts and ends near home.
Pack a thermos of hot chocolate, simple snacks, and blankets for the car.

Make it interactive:

Give kids a “lights bingo” or checklist: giant Santa, moving reindeer, house with only white lights, Nativity scene, house where they’ve clearly gone overboard, etc.
Let someone different be “DJ” for each stretch of the drive.

If you live in a city with official light shows or drive-through displays, pick one night and make it the “big outing” of the season rather than trying to fit in everything.

7.2 Neighborhood Decoration Walk

This is the low-key cousin of the lights drive.

Choose a route that’s stroller and grandparent friendly.
Go just after sunset so lights are on but it’s not too late.
Hand kids a disposable camera or an old phone just for photos.

You’re basically saying, “Let’s move our bodies for 30 minutes and turn ‘taking a walk’ into a mini event.”

7.3 Christmas Market or Fair

Most areas have some version of:

Christmas markets
church fairs
school or community craft markets
“winter village” pop-ups

These can be overwhelming if you try to do everything. To keep it fun:

Set a simple budget in advance for treats or small purchases.
Decide on a “mission” (find one new ornament, try one new food, buy one gift from a local maker).
Give kids a small amount of cash they can spend how they like.

You support local people, get out of the house, and basically outsource the ambience.

7.4 Caroling (Low-Pressure Edition)

Caroling doesn’t have to mean full choirs and perfect harmonies.

A low-pressure version:

Pick two or three neighbours or relatives who’d really appreciate a visit: someone older, someone who lives alone, someone going through a tough year.
Choose three easy songs everyone knows at least the choruses of.
Walk over with a small treat or card, sing on the doorstep, chat for a few minutes, move on.

It feels almost old-fashioned in the best way, especially for people who don’t get many visitors.

7.5 Outdoor Game Day

If you’ve got a yard or a park nearby, bundle everyone up and declare a “snow games” or “field day.”

Ideas:

snowman-building contest (or “decorate the snow pile” if the snow is terrible)
sled races or “best sled trick” runs
if you don’t have snow: Christmas kickball, frisbee, simple relay races while wearing Santa hats

Warm up afterward with hot soup, grilled cheese, or the hot chocolate bar from earlier. The activity isn’t meant to be polished; it’s just an excuse for fresh air and laughter.

7.6 “Christmas Activities Near Me” – How to Actually Find Good Ones

When people google “Christmas activities near me,” they’re usually overwhelmed with event listings.

A quick way to create your own short list:

Check your city’s official website or tourism board for free or low-cost events.
Look up local churches or community centers for concerts, pageants, live Nativities, or charity events.
Search “[your city] Christmas market,” “[your city] holiday lights,” “[your city] winter fest.”

Then choose just one or two:

one event that feels big and special (a concert, parade, market)
one event that’s short and easy (a local craft fair, kids’ activity, or neighbourhood display)

Put them on the calendar early so December doesn’t slip by in a blur of “we should go somewhere” but never actually going.

8. Christmas Party Activities for Adults

Adults are a strange mix at Christmas parties. Some people love games; others just want snacks and conversation. A good set of activities gives everyone an entry point without forcing anyone into full-on charades if they hate that sort of thing.

8.1 Low-Effort Icebreaker Games

These are for the first hour, when people are still arriving and not fully relaxed yet.

Two Truths and a Christmas Lie
Everyone shares three short statements about a past Christmas: two true, one false. The group guesses which is the lie. Keep it snappy; it’s fun to hear the strange stories that come out.

Holiday “Would You Rather” Jar
Fill a bowl with little slips of paper:

Would you rather have snow every day in December or never see snow again?
Would you rather cook the Christmas dinner or clean up afterwards?
Would you rather get one big present or many small ones?

Pass it around and let people answer one or two each; no scorekeeping, just conversation starters.

8.2 Creative Gift Exchange Games (Beyond Standard Secret Santa)

Standard Secret Santa is fine, but these twists can be more memorable.

White Elephant With a Theme
Pick a theme: “something cozy,” “something edible,” “something local,” “something from your childhood.” Everyone brings a wrapped gift matching the theme. Take turns choosing or stealing gifts, but limit steals so the game doesn’t drag.

Storytime Swap
Everyone brings a small gift. Before opening, the host reads a short Christmas story with the words “right” and “left” sprinkled often. Each time you hear “right,” you pass your gift one way; each time you hear “left,” you pass it the other way. Whatever you’re holding at the end is yours.

8.3 Games That Work After a Drink or Two

If your crowd is up for silliness:

Christmas Lip Sync Battle
Pick well-known songs, split into teams, give everyone 10 minutes to plan, then let them perform. No actual singing required. Use hats, scarves, and whatever props you can find.

Hallmark Movie Pitch
In small groups, people have to invent a plot for a fake Hallmark Christmas movie using three prompts:

a setting (small town bakery, ski resort, busy city office)
a main character type (grumpy CEO, single dad, burnt-out teacher)
a twist (secret royal, mistaken identity, saving the community center)

Each group has two minutes to pitch their movie. The winning team gets something silly like a golden remote control trophy.

8.4 Chill Table Activities for People Who Hate Big Games

Always have something at the side for quieter guests:

a big jigsaw puzzle everyone can chip away at
adult colouring pages with Christmas designs and good pencils
simple conversation cards in a bowl at the coffee table

The point is not to force everyone into the center of attention. Good parties have multiple “levels” of activity going at once.

9. Work Christmas Party Activities for Adults

Office Christmas parties are tricky: you want people to bond without making them cringe or regret anything on Monday.

9.1 Low-Risk, Low-Embarrassment Activities

Desk Decoration Contest
Let people volunteer (not everyone has to participate). Give them a day or week to decorate their desk or department area. At the party, do a walkaround and give small prizes for “Most Festive,” “Most Creative,” or “Funniest.”

Cookie or Snack Swap
Ask people to bring a favourite homemade or store-bought holiday snack with a little card explaining what it is and why they like it. People leave with a small box of assorted goodies and conversation that isn’t just about KPIs.

9.2 Team Games That Don’t Feel Like Training

Office “12 Days of Christmas” Challenge
Split into teams and give each team a checklist inspired by the song. For example:

“5 Golden Rings” – take a picture of five circular objects in the office.
“3 French Hens” – find three items with French on the label.
“2 Turtle Doves” – snap a photo of two people wearing something that matches.

Keep it short (20–30 minutes) and let teams roam around. It’s silly, but it gets people moving and working together.

Holiday Trivia
Mix general Christmas trivia with questions about your workplace:

“Which year did we move into this office?”
“Who’s been here the longest?”
“How many coffee pods did we order last December?”

Keep questions light and avoid anything that would put newer staff at an obvious disadvantage without a teammate who knows the answers.

9.3 Charity-Focused Activities

Many people prefer when work events include some “doing good” aspect.

Ideas:

Assemble care packages for local shelters during part of the party.
Hold a raffle where tickets raise money for a chosen charity.
Let employees vote ahead of time on which organization the company will donate to this year, then announce the final amount at the party.

It shifts the tone from “forced fun” to “we got together and did something decent.”

10. Christmas Activities for Adults at Home (No Party Needed)

Not every adult wants a big crowd. Some years are about staying in with one or two people and keeping it low-key.

10.1 At-Home Wine or Hot Drink Tasting

Pick a theme:

different mulled wine recipes
local craft beers
hot chocolates from different countries
teas or coffees with festive flavours

Print or scribble little “tasting cards” where you rate each option for sweetness, spice, and overall coziness. It gives the evening a bit of structure without anyone having to leave the couch.

10.2 Couples’ Christmas Planning Night

It sounds unromantic, but it can actually be fun.

Make a simple grazing board.
Put on a background playlist.
Talk through what you each want from December: which events you care about, which you can skip, what you want to start or stop.

Then pick one or two new traditions to try this year. You’re turning a potential stress conversation into a shared activity.

10.3 Adult Craft or DIY Gift Night

If you enjoy making things:

candle-making with essential oils
homemade bath salts or sugar scrubs
simple painted ornaments
assembling jars of cookie or brownie mix as gifts

Play a movie or podcast in the background and treat it as a “we’re hanging out and making stuff together” evening.

10.4 Story Swap Night

Everyone brings one short true story from their life that somehow touches Christmas or winter: funny, sad, weird, whatever.

You take turns telling them, then maybe write the titles of each story on a page at the end of the night. Over years, you could build quite a collection.

11. Christmas Activity Sheets & Worksheets (Low-Prep Lifesavers)

There are days when nobody has the energy for a big setup. That’s when activity sheets earn their keep.

You can keep a folder of:

colouring pages (Nativity scenes, Santas, snowmen, ornaments)
dot-to-dots and mazes with holiday themes
word searches (“Christmas activity worksheets” are easy to find or make)
simple crossword puzzles for older kids and adults

Ways to use them:

quiet time while adults cook or clean
a small “kids’ table” activity stack at family dinners
travel entertainment for long car rides

If you like, you can design your own sheets around your family traditions or local landmarks and print a new batch each year.

12. 25 Days of Christmas Activities – A Simple Countdown Plan

Advent calendars don’t have to be all chocolate. A lot of families like the idea of a “25 days of Christmas activities” countdown but give up when it feels like too much planning.

Here’s a realistic approach.

12.1 Keep Activities Short and Mix Big with Tiny

Instead of 25 huge activities, think of it like this:

5–6 “bigger” activities (baking day, lights tour, party, market)
8–10 medium activities (crafts, movies, game nights, small outings)
the rest very small activities (write a card, light a candle, listen to a song)

That way if work or life explodes, you can swap in a small activity without guilt.

12.2 Sample 25-Day Activity Calendar

You can rearrange, but here’s a template:

Make a Christmas playlist together.
Write or draw one thing you’re grateful for this year.
Bake or buy a treat and share it with a neighbour.
Watch a Christmas movie in your “nest.”
Do a Christmas craft or colouring page.
Take a walk to look at lights.
Read a Christmas story or a chapter from a book.
Have a hot chocolate bar night.
Call or video call someone far away.
Play a Christmas game (charades, trivia, or a board game).
Decorate a door or corner of your home.
Have a “no screens” evening with candles and music.
Do one small act of kindness secretly.
Make or buy an ornament for this year.
Do an indoor snowball fight.
Donate toys, clothes, or food together.
Write a letter to your future self about this Christmas.
Do a silly Christmas photo shoot.
Have a picnic under the tree.
Make a memory tablecloth or add to it.
Visit a Christmas market or community event.
Cook or order a favourite comfort meal.
Read the Christmas story or talk about what the holiday means to your family.
Open one small gift or Christmas Eve box.
Do absolutely nothing structured—just enjoy the day.

You can write each activity on a slip of paper and tuck it into an envelope calendar or box. Let kids take turns drawing one each day.

13. Low-Cost & Free Christmas Activities

You don’t need a big budget for a good December. Some of the best activities cost almost nothing.

Library Christmas Trip – Check out holiday books, DVDs, or attend a free event.
DIY Photo Shoot – Use whatever you have: a phone camera, a window for light, and a plain wall.
Gratitude Night – Everyone says one good thing about each person in the room. It feels cheesy; it also hits harder than most presents.
“No Lights But the Tree” Hour – Turn off every light except tree lights and candles. Just sit, talk, or listen to music.
Game Swap – Instead of buying new board games, swap with a friend or neighbour’s family for the week.
Home Talent Show – Kids do magic tricks, adults read poems or tell stories, someone plays three chords on a guitar and calls it a concert.

If money is tight, be honest with kids and relatives. Make the focus activities and time instead of stuff. You might be surprised how little anyone actually misses the extra gifts.

14. Virtual & Long-Distance Christmas Activities

Distance doesn’t have to kill the mood; you just have to plan for it.

14.1 Synchronized Movie Night

Choose a time and a movie you all have access to (or use a party-watch feature if your streaming service has one).

Start a group video call before the movie.
Count down and hit play at the same time.
Pause once or twice to react together or chat.

It’s not the same as a living room full of people, but it still feels like “we did something together.”

14.2 Virtual Game Night

Some games work surprisingly well online:

simple trivia (host reads questions; teams answer in chat or on paper)
charades (the person on camera acts; others guess)
Pictionary with a digital whiteboard or just drawing on paper and holding it up

Keep it short, 45–60 minutes, especially with time zones.

14.3 “Christmas in a Box” Care Package

For relatives or friends who can’t come home:

pack small items that smell or taste like “home” to you: snacks, local coffee, a tiny decoration, handwritten notes, printed photos
send it early enough that they can open some things before Christmas and some on the day

Include a list suggesting when to open each item: “Open this on the day you put up your tree,” “Open this on the evening we’d normally be baking cookies together,” etc.

14.4 Shared Digital Photo Album

Create a shared album on your favourite service and encourage everyone to add photos of their December activities:

kids decorating trees
grandparents on their lights walk
attempts at new recipes

Check in throughout the month and comment on each other’s pictures. It becomes a slow, ongoing activity instead of just a one-off post on social media.

15. How to Capture and Share These Moments

Activities turn into memories when you either talk about them later or have something you can look back on. You don’t need a full production crew—just a little intention.

15.1 Take Fewer, Better Photos

Instead of snapping a hundred blurry shots, aim for a handful of “anchor” photos each event:

one wide shot of the whole room
one close-up of hands doing something (mixing dough, hanging ornaments, holding mugs)
one or two candid laughs or reactions

That’s enough to bring the memory back without filling your phone with noise.

15.2 Make a Tiny “December Highlights” Album

At the end of each week, save 5–10 of your favourite photos to a special album. On New Year’s Eve or sometime in January, sit down and scroll through the whole month.

If your extended family is scattered, you can share that album link with grandparents or siblings who couldn’t be there.

15.3 Send Moments, Not Just Still Photos

Sometimes you want more than a picture. Short, personal videos capture voices and expressions your future self will be grateful for.

You might:

record the kids shouting “Merry Christmas, Nana!” from your living room
film a quick clip of the family lights walk
capture Grandma’s reaction when she opens a sentimental gift

Instead of burying those clips in a chat thread, you can wrap them into a little experience of their own. One easy way is to turn your video into a magic greeting—where the person you’re sending it to scans a code or taps a link and suddenly your message appears right there in their space, like a living Christmas card. Platforms like MessageAR are built for that: you record once, share a simple link or QR, and they can replay that moment whenever they miss you, no app install or tech stress needed.

It’s a subtle upgrade, but it makes even a simple “Merry Christmas from our couch” feel like a miniature event.

16. FAQ: Real Questions People Ask About Christmas Activities

“How many activities do we actually need?”
Far fewer than you think. Two or three intentional things spread through December will be remembered more than a packed calendar everyone is too tired to enjoy.

“What if my family just wants to sit and scroll on their phones?”
Start small and low-pressure. Suggest one game, one walk, or one movie night where phones are put aside for an hour. Don’t force it every night; just prove once that it can be fun.

“How do I include grandparents who can’t move around much?”
Choose activities that come to them: indoor games, storytelling, crafts at the table, reading with grandkids. Put them in the “host” role so they feel central rather than sidelined.

“We’re on a tight budget. Is it worth bothering with activities at all?”
Honestly, this is where activities shine. A walk to see lights, a homemade hot chocolate bar, a board game you already own, a gratitude circle—these cost almost nothing and often feel warmer than anything money can buy.

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