The Christmas holidays are a magical time for children—a chance to unwind, get creative, and embrace the holiday spirit. With snow falling (hopefully!) and cold winter days keeping us indoors, it’s the perfect opportunity to engage in activities that spark imagination and keep young minds active.

If you’re looking for ways to entertain your children this Christmas, here are some fun and festive ideas tailored for young creatives aged 8-12.

1. Write a Christmas Song

What better way to celebrate the season than by writing a Christmas song? Encourage your child to express their thoughts about the holidays—whether it’s the joy of decorating the tree, the excitement of presents, or simply spending time with loved ones.

Songwriting allows children to explore their creativity, build confidence, and even process their emotions. At Song Academy, we run holiday songwriting workshops (our next one is on the 16th of December!) and offer song feedback to help budding songwriters bring their ideas to life. Why not inspire your child to write a song and perhaps even enter our Young Songwriter Competition in the new year?

How to do it:

1. Brainstorm themes: Encourage kids to think about what Christmas means to them—family, snow, presents, or even funny holiday mishaps.
2. Start with a melody: Hum a simple tune together, or use a keyboard or online tools like Chrome Music Lab.
3. Write the lyrics: Help them jot down rhyming lines about Christmas traditions or feelings, e.g., “Waking up to see the snow, stockings hung all in a row.”
4. Perform it: Once complete, let them perform their song for family or even record it on a phone to share with loved ones.

2. Christmas Crafts

Snowflakes, baubles, and festive garlands—Christmas crafts are a great way to keep little hands busy. Set up a crafting station with glitter, paper, and glue, and let your child create their own decorations. It’s an activity that’s not only fun but also brings a personal touch to your holiday décor.

Ideas for kids:

• Paper Snowflakes: Fold white paper into quarters and snip out shapes to create unique snowflakes.
• Salt Dough Ornaments: Mix 1 cup of flour, ½ cup of salt, and ½ cup of water. Roll out, cut shapes, bake, and paint them once cooled.
• Pinecone Decorations: Collect pinecones, paint them white or gold, and hang them with ribbon.

How to display: Hang your creations on the tree, string them into a garland, or use them as table centrepieces.

3. Baking Festive Treats

From gingerbread men to mince pies, Christmas baking is a classic activity that kids love. Teach them simple recipes, let them cut out shapes, and add their own decorations. Bonus: you’ll end up with a house that smells like Christmas and delicious treats to enjoy with a cuppa!

How to get started:

1. Use a simple sugar cookie recipe or buy pre-made dough.
2. Provide icing in festive colours (red, green, white) and decorations like sprinkles, edible glitter, and chocolate chips.
3. Let kids turn their cookies into mini works of art—snowflakes, reindeer, or even their name spelt in icing.

4. Build a Snowman or Have a Snowball Fight

If we’re lucky enough to have snow this Christmas, bundle up in scarves and gloves and head outdoors! Building a snowman or having a snowball fight is a timeless way to embrace the season. For added fun, why not challenge your child to write a song inspired by their snowy adventures?

How to do it:

• Building a snowman: Gather snow into three large balls for the body and head, stack them, and decorate them with a carrot nose, pebbles for eyes, and a scarf. Let kids add their own flair—maybe a hat, gloves, or even sticks for arms.
• Snowball fight: Set ground rules like “no throwing at faces” and create teams or just free-for-all fun.

5. Create a Christmas Playlist

Get into the festive mood by creating a Christmas playlist together. From classics like Jingle Bells to modern hits, explore the music that makes the season magical. You could even include your child’s own Christmas song in the mix for a truly personal touch!

How to do it:

1. Choose classics: Add songs like Jingle Bells, Silent Night, and Last Christmas.
2. Include modern hits: Add contemporary favourites like All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey or Underneath the Tree by Kelly Clarkson.
3. Personal touch: Record your child’s own Christmas song and include it in the playlist. Let them title it and introduce it as the “family’s hit of the season!”
4. Use streaming platforms like Spotify or YouTube to create and share your playlist with family and friends.

Activity idea: Have a mini dance party at home with your playlist or play it as background music during festive activities.

6. Storytime by the Fire

There’s nothing cosier than gathering around the fire (or a warm blanket) with a good book. Choose a festive story, or better yet, encourage your child to write their own Christmas tale. This could be the perfect starting point for a new song or a family tradition.

How to set it up:

1. Pick festive books such as The Polar Express, The Snowman, or Father Christmas. Alternatively, read short poems like Twas the Night Before Christmas.
2. Create a warm setup with blankets, cushions, and hot chocolate. If you don’t have a fireplace, use fairy lights for a similar cosy effect.
3. Encourage kids to share their thoughts on the story or illustrate their favourite scenes.

7. Host a Family Talent Show

End the holidays with a family talent show where everyone can showcase their skills. Whether your child performs their original Christmas song or puts on a skit, it’s a wonderful way to celebrate their creativity and bring the family together.

How to organise it:

1. Plan a night during the holidays and announce the “show” a few days ahead so everyone has time to prepare.
2. Have each family member showcase their talent—whether it’s singing, dancing, comedy, or even juggling.
3. Encourage your child to perform their original Christmas song or create a festive skit with siblings.

Add some sparkle: Use fairy lights for a makeshift stage and provide props or costumes. Consider recording the event to revisit the memories later. Everyone loves a home movie!

8. Make Homemade Christmas Cards

Encourage kids to create their own Christmas cards for friends and family. Provide them with coloured paper, glitter, and markers to design heartfelt messages. This is a great way to teach the joy of giving while unleashing their creativity.

How to get started:

1. Fold a piece of card stock in half to make the card base.
2. Draw or paste a festive design on the front.
3. Help your child write a heartfelt message inside, such as “Wishing you a magical Christmas filled with love and joy!”
4. Add a final touch with glitter or stickers.

Tip: These handmade cards can be sent to family members, and neighbours, or even delivered to a local care home for extra goodwill.

9. Host a Christmas Movie Marathon

Transform your living room into a cosy cinema for a day of festive films. Family Christmas classics like Home Alone, Elf, or The Polar Express are sure to delight kids of all ages. You could even challenge them to write a short song inspired by the movie’s themes.

How to set up:

1. Gather blankets, and cushions, and dim the lights for a cosy vibe.
2. Prepare snacks like popcorn, hot chocolate with marshmallows, or festive biscuits.
3. Create a simple movie schedule or let the kids vote on which movie to watch next.

Extra fun: After watching, ask your child what they’d include in their own Christmas movie. Could they write a song for the soundtrack?

10. Go Carol Singing

Bundle up warm and head out with your family or a local group to go carolling. Singing classic Christmas tunes together can help children develop confidence in performing and could even inspire them to create their own carol.

How to organise:

1. Print out lyric sheets for popular carols like Silent Night or Deck the Halls.
2. Bundle up in warm clothes, scarves, and gloves.
3. Choose a few stops or homes to visit (let neighbours know in advance if needed).

Make it special: Encourage your child to add their own twist by writing a festive verse to a classic carol or performing an original Christmas song.

11. Create a Gingerbread House

Building and decorating a gingerbread house is a fun, hands-on activity that lets kids explore their artistic side. From icing roofs to placing candy decorations, it’s both creative and delicious!

What you’ll need:

• A gingerbread house kit (available in most supermarkets) or homemade gingerbread pieces.
• Icing sugar for “glue.”
• Decorations like sweets, sprinkles, or chocolate buttons.

Steps:

1. Assemble the gingerbread pieces using icing as glue. Let it set for about 10 minutes.
2. Decorate the house with colourful sweets, creating patterns or festive scenes.
3. Add powdered sugar on top for a “snowy” effect.

Tip: While working, encourage kids to talk about what Christmas means to them—this might inspire ideas for songwriting!

12. Set Up a Winter Scavenger Hunt

Organise a scavenger hunt indoors or in the garden with a Christmas twist. Create clues themed around Christmas traditions or seasonal objects like candy canes, baubles, or snowflakes.

How to plan:

1. Write clues with festive riddles, e.g., “I’m hung on the tree and sparkle at night. What am I?” (Answer: A bauble).
2. Hide items like candy canes, small gifts, or paper snowflakes around the house or garden.
3. Give your child a checklist or map to follow.

Extra fun: After the hunt, have your child write a short poem or song inspired by the items they found.

13. Design Festive Costumes

Let kids play dress-up by creating their own festive costumes. Whether it’s as a Christmas elf, a snowflake, or even a reindeer, this can lead to imaginative play or even a mini Christmas-themed performance.

What you’ll need:

• Basic craft supplies like felt, glitter, and safety pins.
• Household items like old clothes, cardboard, or hats.

How to do it:

1. Create reindeer antlers using a headband and cardboard cutouts.
2. Turn an old red jumper into a Santa outfit with white felt and a cotton wool beard.
3. Make an elf costume with green paper, adding bells for extra fun.

Take it further: Host a mini Christmas play or fashion show to showcase their costumes!

14. Read and Act Out a Christmas Play

Encourage children to write a short Christmas play or script, then act it out with family members. This combines storytelling with performance and could spark ideas for songwriting too.

How to start:

1. Choose a classic Christmas story like The Night Before Christmas or A Christmas Carol.
2. Divide roles among family members and use simple props like scarves, hats, or kitchen utensils.
3. Let your child improvise lines or add their own spin to the story.

Creative twist: After acting out the play, encourage your child to write their own Christmas-themed script or song.

15. Visit a Christmas Market or Light Display

Take advantage of local Christmas markets or light displays for a festive outing. These can provide a magical atmosphere and lots of inspiration for creative projects, including songwriting.

Including these ideas in your blog post will offer parents a well-rounded selection of activities to keep their children entertained and inspired over the Christmas holidays.

How to enjoy it:

1. Wrap up warmly and bring a thermos of hot chocolate.
2. Let your child explore stalls selling handmade goods, festive treats, and decorations.
3. Visit light displays and encourage your child to describe how the colours and shapes make them feel.

Inspire creativity: After the visit, suggest they create a song or drawing about their experience.

16. Decorate the Christmas Tree

Make decorating the tree a family event filled with creativity and festive cheer! Some people do this on the first day of December but if you leave it till Christmas Eve then we won’t judge.

Whether it’s classic red and gold, rustic natural ornaments, or a mix of tinsel and bows, involve your child in deciding. You can even hang the DIY ornaments you made (see activity 2) or add personal mementos like photos, or create decorations that reflect highlights from the year.

17. Sew Christmas Stockings

Get crafty with your child by creating unique Christmas stockings to hang by the fireplace.

How to do it:

1. Materials: Pick fabric like felt, flannel, or cotton in festive colours. Use scissors, needle and thread (or fabric glue for younger children), and embellishments like buttons, pom-poms, and ribbons.
2. Templates: Use online templates to cut stocking shapes, or let your child draw their own pattern on paper.
3. Assembly: Sew or glue the two halves together, leaving the top open for gifts. Add your child’s name or initials for a personal touch.

Bonus activity: Fill the stockings with small treats, handwritten notes, or mini toys and let your child surprise family members with them.

18. Making a Fun Christmas Quiz

Challenge the family’s festive knowledge on Christmas Day with a Christmas-themed quiz! Is it even Christmas without a little healthy competition between family members?

How to do it:

1. Categories: Divide questions into sections like Christmas trivia, movies, songs, traditions, or history. For example:
   • What’s the name of the Grinch’s dog?
   • What’s the best-selling Christmas single of all time?
   • Which country started the Christmas tree tradition?
2. Create the quiz: Write the questions on colourful cards or use a free online tool like Kahoot for a digital quiz.
3. Hosting: Assign a quizmaster, divide into teams, and keep a scoreboard.

19. Playing Board Games & Cards

A cosy game night is a perfect way to bring the family together during the Christmas holidays. Board games and card games offer fun, laughter, and a chance to build family traditions.

How to do Christmas games right:

1. Choose family favourites: Select classics like Monopoly, Scrabble, or Cluedo for a fun mix of strategy and competition. For younger kids, try games like Snakes & Ladders or Guess Who.
2. Festive twist: Pick Christmas-themed games, like holiday trivia or a festive edition of charades. You could even create a custom Christmas Pictionary set with clues like “Santa’s sleigh” or “snowman.”
3. Card games: Play simple games like Go Fish, Crazy Eights, or Rummy. My families go to is Uno!

20. Get Ready for Santa

The excitement of preparing for Santa’s arrival is a magical part of Christmas for kids. Create fun and meaningful traditions kids will love to build the anticipation!

How to do it:

1. Write a letter to Santa:
   • Provide paper, crayons, and stickers for kids to decorate their letters.
   • Encourage them to share not just their wish lists but also stories or kind messages for Santa.
   • Post the letter together or leave it near the tree for Santa to find.
2. Prepare Santa’s snack:
   • Set out the classic combo of milk and cookies, or make it special by baking homemade treats with your kids.
   • Don’t forget carrots or apples for the reindeer! Create a “reindeer food” mix with oats and glitter (biodegradable, of course) to sprinkle outside as a welcome snack.
3. Set the scene for Santa’s visit:
   • Help your child tidy up the living room or make a special space for Santa’s gifts.
   • Lay out stockings or personalise a “Santa Stop Here” sign to place by the door or fireplace.
4. Track Santa’s journey:
   • Use apps or websites like NORAD’s Santa Tracker to follow Santa on his way around the globe. This adds excitement and keeps the magic alive!

Wrapping-Up Our List Of The Best Christmas Activities For Kids

The Christmas holidays offer a fantastic opportunity for children to explore new interests and hone their talents. Songwriting is a particularly enriching activity, combining creativity with self-expression—perfect for keeping the Christmas spirit alive and keeping the kids busy.

At Song Academy, we’re here to support young songwriters on their journey. Check out our holiday songwriting workshops or get feedback on your child’s creations. Who knows? This Christmas could be the start of their songwriting career!

Happy holidays from all of us at Song Academy!