44 Simple Christmas Traditions Kids Will Remember
Looking for some simple Christmas traditions kids will always remember? We‘ve rounded up the best ideas for this busy season. They are all really easy to set up and your kids will love them! Build memories that last a lifetime.
The Beauty Of Christmas Traditions
Every year, a few weeks before Christmas, my parents took us out into the countryside to pick holly. Armed with leather gloves and pruning secateurs, my parents sent us kids out ahead to scout out the best holly bushes. We would fill a bag with the stuff to decorate the house.
Holly picking was an important part of my Christmas growing up. It wouldn’t have been Christmas without that outing, and it will always evoke very happy memories for me. It’s been 50 years, but I can still remember dressing up warmly and the thrill of excitement, because it meant Christmas was coming.
When my kids were still at home, we always found time to enjoy some simple Christmas traditions that didn’t require a lot of time or preparation. It made the season truly magical and built memories that my boys cherish.
That is the beauty of family traditions, isn’t it? Those repeated rituals create a sense of closeness and foster a feeling of belonging.
Two Things With Christmas Traditions
- A tradition doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive. It is just something you do every year.
- Choose Christmas traditions that you will enjoy as much as your children, so that it doesn’t become a chore for you.
I have gathered together a few simple family Christmas traditions Most of them require little preparation and none of them are expensive.
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This post is part of my Christmas Activities collection. You can find all my Holiday & Seasonal Activities here, or head to the Kids Activities resource hub where you’ll find hundreds of fun ideas all in one place.
Lighting Up The Darkness
Light is an important part of our celebrations at this time of year. It probably goes back to ancient winter solstice rituals celebrating the return of the sun.
Candles, lanterns, lights all make great Christmas traditions. Here are some great ideas for lighting up the darkness.
Make And Light An Advent Wreath
An Advent wreath is a tradition that comes to us from the church. If you are interested you can learn more here.
- Yellow Bliss Road has published some lovely photographs of very simple Advent wreath. If you prefer to use the more traditional circular shape simply use a round plate or tray.
- Michelle at A Mommy’s Adventure has instructions for making a hand print Advent wreath from hand prints. What a lovely way to make a family wreath that is safe for younger children to play with.
- Sun Hats and Wellie Boots show you how to make a traditional Advent wreath using natural materials.
- The Kids Craft Room has some instructions for making simple Advent candles
Make Lanterns
Ice lanterns are the best thing to use outdoors. They are easy to make and look gorgeous. You will find instructions over at Steam Family. If you would like to add some colour try these
Votive jar lights are great for indoors. Hop over to Buggy and Buddy to fin out how to make a lantern from a mason jar. Try making a tin can lantern or baby food candle jars. If you don’t have time to make one, you can still enjoy a candle. Pop it inside one a purchased lantern.
Go Stargazing
Bundle up in cozy layers and head outside to enjoy the magic of a quiet night spent stargazing under the winter sky. This idea is perfect for families who live in areas with little light pollution—you’ll get the best view of the stars!
On Christmas Eve, just before bedtime, take your children outside and look for the Christmas star (just so you know it’s the brightest one in the sky). When you spot it excitedly exclaim, “Now we know for sure that Christmas is almost here.
Christmas Traditions With Candles
Make December special by lighting candles a little more often. Candles help create a magical atmosphere of connection. When we light a candle, we send a message that our time is special, and we want to connect. Light a candle at supper, story times, or for family rituals.
Here’s a special family candle lighting ritual for the winter solstice.
Light A Candle For Peace
Gather around a candle. Light it and explain that all around the world people light candles as a sign of their hopes for peace.
Play or sing Light a Candle For Peace. Preschoolers will love to sing along.
Ask older children to look at the candle and imagine what it would be like to live in a world where there was no more fighting or arguing. Afterwards invite the children to say one way they could show kindness in the world. Affirm them with the word, “(Child’s name) you are a peacemaker.”
Reading Christmas Cards
Set aside the Christmas cards and print the email messages you receive. Light a candle and gather together. Open the cards as a family or read out the messages.
When you have finished, invite children to cup their hands together in front of their mouths and whisper, “Christmas love. Christmas blessings.” On the count of three everyone blows the blessings out to all the people who sent cards.
Safety With Candles
- Obviously children should be carefully supervised around lit candles and keep lighters out of reach.
- If you are worried about naked flames, use an electric candle or candles inside a lantern with a little door like this one.
- Use a simple candle snuffer to extinguish the candles. It prevents hot wax splashing on tender skin. Children love using them!
Enjoying Christmas Lights
Spread a blanket under the Christmas tree, then lie down with your kids and gaze up at the twinkling lights above you. It’s a simple way to slow down and soak in the magic of the season together.
Switch off all the lights in your home, leaving only the soft glow of the Christmas tree, and gather everyone for a cozy sing-along with your favorite holiday songs. It’s a peaceful and joy-filled way to end the day together.
Go for a walk (or drive) to admire Christmas lights. Make your outing a fun family activity with this Christmas Lights scavenger hunt.
Christmas Countdown Traditions
Advent calendars make for an easy Christmas traditions. They are a wonderful way to help children countdown the days until Christmas. You could simply go out and buy one and there is nothing wrong with that. If you want to make something unique choose one of these ideas.
Print out a copy of our Coloring Advent Calendar and let your kids color a festive picture each day as they count down to Christmas. It’s a fun and creative way to build anticipation all month long.
Christmas Activity Cards
This December, make memories with our Christmas Activity Cards for kids. Christmas is about making special memories with loved ones; our cards make it easy. Discover 24 enjoyable and easy family activities that don’t need much preparation. We’ve also included 8 fillable cards to add your traditions and ideas. You can get the cards here.
Make or buy a fillable Advent calendar with small gifts or surprises for each day. Choose a special time each day—like after dinner or just before bedtime—to open it together and make the countdown feel extra magical.
The Waldorf family published some pictures of a lovely home sewn Advent Spiral.To simplify draw a large spiral on blue or purple card stock. Stick 24 self-adhesive stars along the spiral.
Head over to Spell Outloud to find instructions for making a simple Advent chain. This link includes a free download for the chain links.
A Different Countdown
If you have a nativity scene, set up the stable in a central location on December 1st. Retell the story of the journey Mary and Joseph made to Bethlehem.
Start Mary and Joseph on their long journey by placing them some distance from the stable. Every day have your children move the figures closer to the stable, until they arrive on Christmas Eve.
There are some lovely kid friendly nativity sets that won’t break easily.
Decorating A Yule Tree
In the times of the druids, evergreen trees were decorated with ornaments and offerings. People decorated the tree with things that represented their hopes of the new year. Love charms, fruits, nuts, and coins were popular – representing love, successful harvest, fertility and wealth.
Revisit this ancient tradition by decorating a tree in your yard. Wilder Child suggests we make it an act of kindness by creating edible ornaments for the animals to enjoy.
An orange can symbolize the return of the sun. Try making orange pomanders on the winter solstice. They smell divine and make lovely gifts. Here is a simple tutorial. Alternatively dry some orange slices to make to natural decorations.
Try our simple and easy printable ornament craft—just print the design, let the kids color it in, cut it out, and hang it on the tree. It’s a fun and mess-free way to add a personal touch to your holiday decorations. Grab the free printable to get started!
Spend some time cutting out paper snowflakes or making colorful paper chains with your kids. These simple crafts are easy for all ages and add a homemade touch to your Christmas decorations.
You can find more ideas for homemade ornaments here.
Make Some Handprint Art
Handprint art is an easy project. Download and print a sheet with a partial design and add your kid’s handprints to complete the picture. Do this each year and watch the handprints grow. They also make great gifts for grandparents.
We’ve got several designs
Enjoy Some Quiet Christmas Traditions
Simple things can make the best Christmas traditions. The following ideas do not require much preparation, but will make this time special. They all create space for some quiet time in a busy season.
Coloring Together
Take a break from the holiday hustle and enjoy some quiet coloring time with our adorable cute Kawaii Christmas coloring pages. . It’s a relaxing activity that can bring a little calm to the festive season. we also have some free printable Christmas cards to color.
Christmas Storytime
Gather your Christmas books and maybe borrow a few new ones from the library. Place them in a small basket or storage container by your Christmas tree. Each night sit by the tree and read 2-3 books. You don’t need a lot of books, because children love to hear the same stories over and over.
Want to make it really easy? Snuggle on the sofa and listen to an audio book with your kids. Try The Best Christmas Pageant Ever for younger children or The Christmas Carol for older ones.
Make up a Christmas story round Robin style. Sit in a circle and start telling a story, bring it to an exciting point then pass it on to another family member. The story is then passed in a circle to all members of the family.
Share a favorite Christmas memory with your kids and turn it into a cozy storytelling moment. It’s a sweet way to pass down family traditions and let them hear what the holidays were like when you were their age.
Fun Christmas Traditions
You don’t need to spend a lot to make the holidays special. These fun Christmas traditions focus on simple joys, quality time, and meaningful memories—without breaking the bank.
- Find Rudolph’s nose! Hide a small red ball in the house. The person that finds it gets a small treat and hides it the next day!
- Turn up your favorite festive tunes and have a family dance party right in the living room. It’s an easy, no-cost way to burn off energy and share some laughs together during the holiday season.
- Gather the family and play a lively round of Holiday Charades, acting out festive phrases, songs, or traditions. It’s a fun and free way to get everyone laughing and moving.
- Work with your kids to create a holiday playlist filled with everyone’s favorite Christmas songs. Play it in the car or at home to keep the festive spirit going wherever you are.
- Make a batch of hot chocolate, gather the family, and enjoy your holiday playlist together. It’s a cozy way to wind down and soak up the Christmas spirit.
- Get a few bottles of shaving cream and have family members make a Santa beard on their face. Crazy right? Don’t forget to take pictures!!!
- Hang some mistletoe in a favorite spot and make a point of using it often—especially when the kids are watching! It’s a sweet and silly tradition that adds a little extra love and laughter to the season.
Make Some Christmas Treats
Baking and creating festive goodies together is one of the sweetest Christmas traditions. Whether you’re decorating cookies, making candy, or whipping up a favorite family recipe, these fun Christmas treats are a delicious way to spend time together and make lasting holiday memories. Here’s a Few Ideas
Grinch Pretzels
Our fun Grinch pretzels combine sweet and salty in every bite, making them a holiday favorite. Covered in green candy and topped with a red heart sprinkle, They make an easy Christmas treat.
Make the cutest Graham Cracker Reindeer with your kids using this easy and fun recipe. They’re a great pick for Christmas parties, school events, or an afternoon treat that everyone will love.
Grinch Charcuterie Board
Our Grinch-inspired charcuterie board is perfect for holiday parties, movie nights, or Grinch-themed fun. It’s easy to make, super cute, and full of simple ingredients everyone will love.
Looking for more ideas? Try our other Christmas treats that kids can make.
Acts of Kindness Make Great Christmas Traditions
Advent is the perfect time of year to do some acts of kindness as a family. It helps shifts the focus to giving than receiving.
Christmas giving Jar
Brush thin white glue (mix with a little water) onto a clean glass jar and cover with tissue paper squares.
Repeat until the entire jar is covered. Brush on another layer of glue and leave to dry. Tie a ribbon around the neck of the jar. Use the jar to collect spare change. After Christmas roll and count the money. Perhaps you could use it to give the gift of a Kiva Loan.
You’ve Been Mugged
Start a fun “You’ve Been Mugged” holiday chain! Fill a festive mug with Christmas goodies, then place it in a gift bag with a door hanger, tag, and simple instructions. The lucky recipient gets to enjoy the treats, then refill the mug and surprise someone new. Our printable kit includes everything you need—gift tags, door hangers, posters, and step-by-step instructions.
Preparing The Manger
Display a small manger somewhere in your home. This doesn’t have to be elaborate. A small cardboard box will suffice and shredded paper makes an easy substitute for hay. Children may enjoy painting the box to make it special for baby Jesus. Place the hay in a large bag.
Once the manger is in place, invite children to help prepare it for the baby Jesus. Have them add a big handful of straw to Baby Jesus’s manger every time they do something kind or helpful. On Christmas Eve, children can place a small figure of Baby Jesus (doll) in the soft bed of hay.
Go Shopping For The Foodbank
Take the family on a special shopping trip to pick out items for the food bank, and let each child choose a few things to donate. It’s a meaningful way to teach generosity and remind everyone what the season is truly about.
Kindness Elves
Start a new Christmas tradition this holiday season with the magic of the Kindness Elves. This wonderful alternative to the elf on the shelf will put the emphasis back on giving. Kindness Elves come into your home at the start of Advent and each day they encourage your children to do small acts of kindness. Get more details here.
Kindness Cards
Our Christmas kindness cards are an easy way to help kids focus on giving rather than receiving. Kids will enjoy the Christmas countdown as they share the gift of kindness each day. They make great elf notes or Advent activity cards. Get your set here.
Related: Looking for other ways to reach out and help others? Take a look at our list Christmas Acts of Kindness.