With all the fun events and traditions that surround Christmas, I feel like every night could be family night. And doesn’t that sound fun? I mean we’d need to break it up with a date night every week or so but other than that, it’d be my ideal way of spreading Christmas cheer.
What is family night? It’s exactly what it sounds like – a night to do something together as a family. Having family night activities consistently creates strong bonds, lots of memories and time together to teach and talk
I know what it feels like to be maxed out, worried about your to-do list and wondering if you have the patience to be sweet at the end of the day. These activities don’t take long but your kids will remember the time you spent together much longer than they’ll remember what you ate for dinner, what the house looked like or even what they opened on Christmas morning.
Take the time to enjoy this magical season together!
Day 1 : Make paper snowflakes 
If you have scissors and paper at your house, you are in business for making paper snowflakes. Fold and cut, and fold and cut, and fold and cut some more until you’re happy with your masterpiece.
While you fold and cut,
- Talk about how all the snowflakes are different and that is good.
- Talk about how when you make a mistake (like a wrong cut that ruins your snowflake), it’s okay. Throw it away and start again and see mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow.
- Talk about the beauty and wonder of real snowflakes.
A couple of practical reminders:
- Set a time limit for how long you’ll cut because this is the sort of activity that could go on all night. And I know you really don’t have time for that.
- If you have little people, use coffee filters instead of paper, they are much easier for little hands to fold and cut.
- Be prepared to sweep or vacuum up a lot of little paper pieces when you’re done.
Day 2: Have a hot cocoa bar 
How often do you have hot cocoa at your house? It’s pretty rare at our house and a total treat. It makes having a hot cocoa bar a great reason to gather all together in the kitchen at the end of a busy December day.
What do you need for a hot cocoa bar? I tend to not be over the top, so we usually just get the following:
- Milk
- Hot chocolate mix
- Mini marshmallows
- Crushed peppermints or candy canes
- Whip cream
But there are endless ingredient options if you want to go all out.
While you sip,
- Talk about what you are each most excited about this Christmas
- Talk about what your favorite traditions are that your family does
- Talk about what can make the season most enjoyable for your family (i.e. “we all need to remember to use please and thank you every time” or “we might be more tired because of all the late nights we have planned so please remember to speak kindly even when you feel tired”).
A couple of practical reminders:
- It’s more efficient to make a large batch of hot cocoa on the stove than have each person warm up their own mug. I also find you get more quality time to talk because there is less bustling around the kitchen.
- Make sure it isn’t so hot that it can burn your little people. If it is, you can drop in a scoop of Blue Bell Dutch Chocolate to cool it down quickly.
Day 3 : Go on a visit to someone who would appreciate being remembered
This is a great way to do service as a family and can help everyone with the warm, fuzzy feeling of Christmas spirit.
Think of 1-2 families or individuals you know who would appreciate being remembered or who might be lonely. Reach out to them and see if you can come visit. When we do our Christmas visits, we go caroling (yes, like actually singing songs at people’s doors) but if that terrifies you, just plan a visit.
Before you go,
- Talk to your kids about why you feel this individual could use a visit
- Talk about ways you can be interested in their life and questions you could ask
- Share your feelings of gratitude for the many blessings you have in your life, especially your family members
A couple of practical reminders:
- Sometimes it feels uncomfortable to go into someone else’s home but if they have invited you in, get over it and give them the gift of your time and love and light while you are with them
- Prepare your kids so they have clear expectations – “we’ll probably be there 30ish minutes” or “she has a lot of fancy things that we can’t touch”.
- Be cognizant of the time you are there and your family’s limitations. Sometime a quick dropoff is best for little kids while teens and tweens can be more attentive for a longer visit.
Day 4 : Decorate gingerbread men
Obviously, this is one of the family activities that does take some preparation but it’s so worth it. In 2019, I asked the kids what their favorite Christmas tradition was and four of them chose decorating gingerbread men. That’s ⅔!
I make our gingerbread men and cream cheese frosting from scratch. The years I’m really on top of life, I bake them before kids get out of school and they hang out in the freezer until we’re ready to decorate them. But you can make them the day of, make them from a box, or pick up sugar cookies or gingerbread men cookies from your local grocery store.
My favorite candies to decorate gingerbread men with –
- M&Ms
- Mini M&M’s
- Mini marshmallows
- Gum Drops or dots
- Red Hots
- Pull apart licorice
- Chocolate Chips
- Mini Chocolate Chips
Again, your goal is to have everyone gathered together so try to prepare everything ahead so you can also sit and decorate alongside your loved ones.
While you decorate, talk about
- Why we love sugar so much and tips for balancing eating treats during the holidays with meals and healthy snacks.
- The classic story of the gingerbread man and how he got tricked. What tricky things do your kiddos need to be aware of? Chat about those.
A couple of practical reminders:
- Don’t put all the candy bags out, it’ll be candy overload. Instead fill muffin tins about half way full of each candy that is a decorating option and then you can refill as needed.
- Put the frosting in piping bags with different decorating tips and then close them tightly with doubled up rubber bands so when people squeeze, the frosting only comes out the tip.
- Write names on paper plates and then have them put their finished cookies on those plates. I often finish decorating what’s left and give it away but make sure that I don’t give away cookies the kids made (for sentimental and sanitary purposes).
Day 5: Have a Christmas storytime 
When I think about Christmas as a girl, one of the things I think about is my mother reading us Christmas stories. She tried to do one each night of December and while I’m sure we missed plenty, the memory has stayed and those are still some of my favorite Christmas stories that I read to my own kids.
Maybe one every night isn’t doable for you, but take a night or some time as a family and read your favorite Christmas stories or Christmas picture books.
As you read,
- Take time to stop and talk about the stories
- Answer questions that come up or pose some of your own
- Admire the pictures and illustrations
A couple of practical reminders:
- Print out some coloring pages if you’re reading just stories and there is nothing to look at
- Sometimes teenagers think they’re too old for storytime. Invite them to come listen but don’t force them
Day 6: Drive around and look at Christmas lights 
The lights are one of the things that make Christmas so magical. Find a house, a street or a neighborhood near you that goes all out for Christmas and make sure to swing by one night to see them in all their twinkling radiance.
While you look, talk about
- Which houses are your favorite and why
- Why light brings joy, hope and comfort
- How Jesus is also known as the Light of the World
A couple of practical reminders:
- For your kids who have devices, have them leave them at home or make sure they are put away during your drive and do the same for yourself.
- If you have little people, feed them early and have them bathed and ready for bed when you leave. It makes coming back home and putting them to bed a much smoother process.
Day 7 : Sing Christmas carols 
You know it’s Christmas when our favorite Christmas songs are heard over and over in our homes, cars, stores and schools. Let’s be honest, sometimes those Christmas carols come out at other times during the year but they are en force during the Christmas season. And I love it.
Make a family night out of singing Christmas carols. You might say that you aren’t musical or that you don’t sing but that doesn’t matter. Singing together at Christmas can be done by everyone.
If you have a piano and someone who plays, gather around the piano. If you don’t, pull up some Christmas karaoke on YouTube and gather around the TV. Either way, make singing together a family activity this Christmas.
Day 8 : Involve for your kids in giving 
How do you teach kids to be grateful? How do you help them learn about generosity and sacrifice? One of the ways you can do this is to involve them in giving. Christmas is a great time to give and there are lots of organizations and occasions to choose do it.
Select an avenue for giving that you can do as a family. This could be a local food pantry, a Toys for Tots drive, a Giving Machine or another local or global opportunity. Involve your kids in the decisions of where to give and what to give (in the confines of your decision of how much to spend).
While you plan, talk about
- How the Savior taught it’s “more blessed to give than to receive.” Why do you think?
- The difference between needs and wants. Have kids talk through their needs to see how all of their needs are met.
- What sacrifice is – to give up something valuable or precious, often with the intent of accomplishing a greater purpose or goal. What is your greater purpose or goal with this giving?
A couple of practical reminders:
- If you don’t have an ideal place to volunteer or donate towards, ask around. You probably have that one friend who is plugged into the community and would be able to give you some ideas.
- Make sure your giving experience is appropriate for your kid’s ages and purposely try to make it fun. If you’re donating to a food pantry, allow them to choose their favorite snacks or cereal to give as well as addressing the most pressing needs of the pantry.
Day 9 : Attend a Christmas concert 
You can tell I’m a big fan of Christmas music, right? I mean it couldn’t be Christmas without the music. Even the very first Christmas had angels singing and even if Mary wasn’t up to singing a whole lullaby, I like to imagine she at least did some humming to soothe her newborn babe.
Find a Christmas concert to attend for a family night activity. Many concerts at Christmas are free and geared to families so it’s a great time to introduce attending a formal concert to your kids. If you’ve never been to a concert or taken kids to a concert, your local high school concert is a great place to start. Typically the band, orchestra and choir will all have different concerts. For this year, it’s a little late to attend a school concert but there are also community groups, churches and professional concerts to attend.
During the concert,
- Don’t talk. That’s part of learning formal concert etiquette.
Some practical reminders:
- Because talking isn’t acceptable during a concert, talk beforehand about what is expected.
- If you need to communicate, do so in between pieces and be as quiet as possible.
- Choose a concert that is an appropriate length for your family to sit through. If kids begin to get restless, leave in between pieces when you can tell they’ve maxed out. It’s better to have a positive experience than stay to the bitter end.
- Clapping is encouraged but don’t clap until after the conductor has dropped his or her hands. Whistling and yelling should be saved for sporting events and typically doesn’t belong in a concert setting (at least the concert setting I’m envisioning).
Day 10: Bake a treat together 
I think of Christmas and baking as best pals, don’t you? It just seems like the kitchen is the place to be leading up to Christmas. And the truth is, there are so many amazing Christmas treat to make that sometimes it’s hard to decide between them all.
Invite your kiddos into the kitchen to make some of your favorite Christmas treats together. One of Paul’s favorite memories as a kid was making treat plates and taking them around to neighbors. He still talks about making caramels and buckeye balls and other varieties of treats.
While you bake, talk about
- Why you’re making the treats you chose. Is this something you think sounded so good? Is this something your mom or grandmother made?
- How perfect isn’t really a thing in this life and that’s okay. We do our best but rarely will things turn exactly like they’re supposed to. We can learn to be happy with our best efforts.
A couple practical reminders:
- It’ll be much more messy and chaotic than if you do it by yourself, so just be prepared and think of it as a parable for life.
- Set age-appropriate boundaries so kids are safe. Young kids need to stay clear of hot pans or the oven while older kids should be taught and encouraged to learn to handle them safely.
- If you don’t want all of the newly made treats, take them around to your neighbors or friends.
Day 11: Watch a Christmas movie 
Cuddle up tonight and watch a Christmas movie all together. If you want to make it more special, hype it up by all getting into Christmas PJs before you start the show or by planning a special treat with it.
However you do it, gather together and enjoy the spirit of Christmas by watching a great family Christmas movie together.
Day 12: Read Luke 2 and act out the nativity 
Every Christmas Eve for as long as I can remember, we have acted out the Nativity story while Paul or my Dad has read from Luke 2 and Matthew 2. It’s a wonderful way to focus on Jesus Christ amidst the anticipation of Christmas presents.
You can literally act it out – giving assignments for people to be Mary, Joseph, shepherds, etc or you can use a Nativity set you have and give each person different figurines to put into place when their part is read. You can also just read the scriptural account or watch a movie of the Nativity.
While you act it out, talk about
- What feelings you might have had if you were a shepherd or wiseman coming to see the baby Jesus
- Your feelings about Jesus Christ and His life and ministry
- How your family can make a difference in the lives of those around you to serve and lift them
A couple practical reminders:
- If you choose to act out the Nativity, consider inviting some friends or extended family to do it with you so you can have all the parts.
- Costumes don’t need to be elaborate – some bathrobes, hand towels, tinsel and dress-ups can easily convert kiddos into shepherds, wisemen and angels.
- Being aware of time will make it a better experience for everyone. Don’t start so late that you’re running into bedtimes and once you do start, move things along so kids don’t get bored or distracted.
Family Nights really matter
- Family Traditions
- Family Nights
- Family Fun Nights
- Family Routines
- Family Home Evenings
Lots of names and essentially all the same thing. It’s the means we use to draw our family together, strengthen relationships and create memories.
None of these events are once-in-a-lifetime events or over-the-top evenings and they don’t need to be. They are small and consistent efforts that yield great returns over time.
They are the activities kids can count on to make Christmas feel like Christmas at your house. They are the times you can sit side by side and share what’s most important to you and what you hope will eventually become important to your kids.
Can’t wait until Christmas? Enjoy the same benefits Christmas traditions bring by having consistent family dinners.
COMMENTS