I love Christmas break with my family! Nothing is more fun than getting to relax for a few weeks with fewer responsibilities. If you are like me, I like to do fun things together that we don’t normally have time to do. I have a few favorites but overall, I am open to just about anything.
For most families, they have already spent a ton of money for gifts under the tree. So forking over money for more entertainment is a challenge. You want to make memories and sometimes that costs more money than what you’ve got left.
I am here to help! I have a few things that you could add to your “fun things to do list” that shouldn’t cost much.
Here we go!
1. Pile up in the car and go look at Christmas lights!
I am sure you have thought of this but let’s make it a bit more fun! Create a “Polar Express” ticket for each member of your family on your personal computer. Take along snacks, hot chocolate and wear your favorite Christmas jammies. Be sure to listen to Christmas music on your journey and make it all about the memories. I suggest asking friends and family ahead of time where the best places will be for seeing lots of lights. This will ensure you have a great time.
2. Bake Cookies
This is kind of a no brainer but it is something we tend to overlook. Children value your time much more than you think. Get a recipe or two out and have the entire family get involved. Have Christmas music playing and have fun! Top the night off with your favorite movie.
3. Christmas Caroling
This is something that has kind of been lost as the years have gone by. When our kids were small we did this several years in a row and they LOVED it! We would make our list of people we planned to carol for, make cookies and Christmas treats in advance and set out on our night of Christmas fun. The girls always loved to put the treat bags/tins together for the families or elderly people who were on our list. They still talk about it as teenagers! It was a way of not only making a memory but teaching them that loving and giving to others is really the greatest part of Christmas.
4. Attend a Christmas Program at a Local Church
There are always tons of programs and children’s plays this time of year. As a general rule, many of these are free to the public. Find one that looks appealing to your family and make plans to attend. To make it more fun for everyone, invite another family who has kids of the same age. I have found that programs that are held on a Sunday morning during typical service times are generally the ones that are free.
5. Mall Walking to see Christmas Decorations
Go to a local mall and enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas! Most malls have very large Christmas tree as well as decorations throughout the entire building. Take a few family pictures with your cell phone or camera. There will be plenty of people who can snap a family photo for you. Splurge and have a cup of hot chocolate or a cookie. I suggest taking any gift cards you received for Christmas and buy something fun for yourself.
6. Make S’mores
I grew up making these so am surprised when I find someone who doesn’t know what they are. So, let me explain just in case you aren’t familiar. A s’more is stacking a graham cracker, a piece of chocolate, a slightly melted marshmallow and another graham cracker on top. You eat it like a sandwich. The key here is to have a heat source in order to warm or slightly soften the marshmallow so it melts the chocolate. We have done everything from fire side s’mores outside, fireside inside, and even a candle in the house to melt or toast our marshmallow. Kids of all ages really enjoy it and it is a great way to make memories. You can add it to almost any type of special night you are creating for family fun.
7. Watch your Favorite Christmas Movie
This is the best for me personally! I have several I love to watch at Christmas with my family. We have popcorn, potato skins, cookies, or any type of fun finger food. Sometimes we just do one movie or we’ll do a movie marathon and watch a few on the same night. Not sure what to watch? Here are a few of my personal favorite.
- It’s a Wonderful Life
- The Christmas Carol (the remake with Jim Carrey)
- The Grinch (with Jim Carrey)
- The Nativity Story (2006)
- Miracle on 34th Street (1994 with Richard Attenborough)
8. Set up a Hayride with Friends
This is so much for everyone! Bundle your family up and be sure to take snacks. I suggest adding blankets for everyone as well depending on where you live and how cold it is. You could end the night at someones house with a big bonfire. Roast hot dogs and marshmallows and sing Christmas carols.
9. Make Christmas Crafts and Deliver to a Local Nursing Home.
My husband and I did this some during the holidays a few years in a row before we had kids. We didn’t do crafts but we did take a few gifts. It is so meaningful to see their light up when you arrive. Sometimes those patients are all alone and family might either be very far away or they have no family at all. You might be the one bright spot in their holiday. Get on Pinterest and pick out a few crafts that your family would enjoy making together. Find a local nursing home or rehabilitation facility and hand deliver those items. If you like to sing this would be a great time of year to add that in to your visit.
Regardless of what you choose to do remember it is not about how much money you spend but the memories you are making with family and friends. Time is something you can never get back. Make the most of what you have been given. You will never regret making memories.
Always in your corner! XXOO
