10. Enjoy a candy advent calendar. You can grab one of these at nearly any grocery store right now making it a great option if you didn’t have time to great your own Christmas Advent calendar.
11. Have a scavenger hunt for the gifts on Christmas morning to make the morning even more exciting.
12. Hide a Christmas pickle on your tree when you decorate. This Christmas tradition has been passed on for generations.
13. Get an elf of the shelf if you are brave enough. Just be sure to set a reminder on your phone every night to move that elf.
14. Host a “campout” under the Christmas tree with your children and their friends for a fun sleepover.
15. Decorate the Christmas tree and add the same topper each year so when your child is grown they remember that simple consistent thing.
16. Have a movie night with snacks and your favorite Christmas movies like the Grinch and Santa Clause
17. Tired of elf on the shelf? Why not try making your elf a kindness elf that brings tasks for your child to do an act of kindness for others.
18. Write notes to soldiers to send in the mail to let them know how grateful you are for their sacrifice.
19. Gather canned goods for the needy and take them to your local food bank. If they have room for volunteers why not help sort?
20. Give old toys to the salvation army to make room for the new stuff and help earn money to help the homeless.
21. Volunteer at the soup kitchen top feed the homeless or clean up after a meal.
22. visit your local nursing home and read Christmas books to the lonely residents that don’t have visitors.
23. Have your child help pick out the Christmas tree. This is a great way to make them feel involved. If you are lucky enough to have a Christmas tree farm nearby this can be loads of fun.
24. Take your child for hot cocoa at the local coffee shop. This is a great way to get a little one on one time with your kids and they love feeling grown up enough to go out for “Coffee” with mom during the holidays. Take advantage of holiday flavors like peppermint while you sip a peppermint mocha.
25. Have your child help you shop for gifts for others. This makes them feel good and teaches them the joy of giving to others.
26. Have your child help you wrap gifts. This fine motor skill practice is good for kids. Sure the gifts may not be perfect put your child can enjoy the time with you and the learning experience.
27. Make gingerbread houses. this is one my kids love. While the gingerbread house may never actually end up looking like a house it is loads of fun and the kids are always excited to dig in.
28. Bake treats to take around to friends and neighbors to share some holiday cheer.
29. Make a traditional fruit fruitcake from scratch.
30. Bake pies together for Christmas dinner.
31. Why not go really old-fashioned and make a popcorn and cranberry garland?
32. When I was a kid my grandma would always put fruit in the stockings. Fruit makes a great frugal stocking stuffer,.
33. Cinnamon rolls make a great Christmas morning breakfast tradition for the whole family.
34. Make a favorite side dish every year for Christmas dinner. For this is ham rolls. The only time we make them is for holidays.
35. Make a paperchain chain to decorate the house. Most years I buy a pre-glued paper chain set to make it easier for us.
36. Make paper snowflakes
37. Build a snowman or Snow fort with your kids. You can find sets of molds for easy snow fort brick building and use the same set when summer comes for sand castles.
38. Paint the snow with a spray bottle filled with water and food coloring or watercolor paint.
39. Craft your own homemade Christmas cards.
40. Christmas wreath crafts. I love the handprint paper wreaths for the kid’s rooms.
If you do Santa in your family these ideas are sure to be a hit.
41. Sprinkle Raindear food (oats) out for Santas reindeer or add carrots to the plate of cookies.
42. Leave cookies out for Santa. Don’t forget the milk.
43. Notes to Santa are a classic Christmas tradition.
44. Now you can even send notes and packages from Santa
45. Visit Santa at the mall.
46. Used powdered sugar Santa footprints behind for the kids to find.
47. Interview elderly family members at holiday gatherings. this is a great way to preserve family history and make those that may feel ignored feel loved.
48. Watch your towns Christmas parade or tree lighting ceremonies.
49. Do secrete Santa with your kids.
50. Visit your local schools holiday choir and band concerts. This is a great way to support fine arts programs as well.
51. If you are really adventurous. Give hosting a Christmas party for friends and family in the days leading up to the holiday.
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