Inside: Just because they are getting older, doesn’t mean Christmas can’t be fun. Here are 25 Christmas activities to do with teens this holiday.
Christmas with teens can look and feel so different than when they were little. They are rarely as excited about all the Christmas activities and Christmas traditions that you’ve done for years as a family.
Their eyes don’t sparkle with excitement during the season the way they used to. They don’t ask to watch classic Christmas movies with you over and over again as they happily snuggle in your lap or lie next to you on the couch. Busy schedules may make it difficult to get them to commit to an afternoon of cookie baking, and some of your favorite family Christmas activities may now be things they’d rather go do with their friends.
But all of this doesn’t mean they’ve outgrown Christmas entirely. You can’t still lay claim to some of those cherished Christmas activities and insist they participate in at least a few with you and the rest of the family. Sometimes, they think that they’re supposed to be too grown and mature to do these things, but in their hearts they still love it and in the end will be so glad that you “made them do it.” Also, it is possible that they would totally still be on board, but you just need to come up with some new Christmas activities for teens that are better suited to their ages and interests.
If you feel you’ve lost some of the magic now that you’re in the Christmas season with teens, here are 25 fun holiday activities they’ll enjoy (and that you can do together). And don’t give up! If one is a big fail, well, keeping trying until you find the one that fits your teen(s).
25 Christmas Activities To Do With Your Teens
1. DIY Ornament Crafting
Set up a crafting station with supplies for teens to create their own unique ornaments. You can also try this Scrabble Tile Christmas Ornament Kit or this Ugly Christmas Sweater Ornament Kit that is sure to get the whole family laughing!
2. Holiday Movie Marathon
Pick a mix of classic and newer holiday movies for a cozy movie marathon. In our house, we enjoy some classics like Elf, Polar Express, and Home Alone, but we always try a new holiday flick on Netflix too. Just don’t forget the snacks! Teens will usually cooperate if you offer their favorite foods.
Related: The Best Christmas Movies to Get Your Teens to Snuggle on the Couch Again
3. Gingerbread House Competition
Did you ever notice how much easier it is to get teens and tweens to buy in to an activity once you make it a competition? How about a friendly family battle to see who can create the most elaborate gingerbread house! Gather materials to make your own or order a kit to get you started.
4. Cookie Decorating Party
This one never gets old! Bake a variety of cookies and set up a decorating station with different icings and toppings. Just like with gingerbread houses, you can purchase a cookie decorating kit that comes with all sorts of goodies and inspiration, or design your own station with sprinkles, icing, and whatever else your family desires to make their cookies the most festive.
5. Christmas Scavenger Hunt
Creating a festive scavenger hunt with Christmas clues and challenges is an idea that might take a little time and planning, but your teen or tween is sure to enjoy it. This printable teen scavenger hunt can help you start brainstorming ideas—just tailor your list to make it holiday-themed!
6. Ugly Sweater Decorating
Not sure what to wear on Christmas? How about designing your own ugly Christmas sweater? To do this activity, you’ll need to provide plain sweaters and various decorations like puffy paints, sequins, patches, and of course jingle bells for a fun and festive ugly sweater decorating session. Don’t forget the craft glue or sewing supplies! Here’s a book you can order now for inspo.
7. Board Game Night
Select holiday-themed or classic board games for a night of friendly competition. Need ideas? Try the 12 Games of Christmas or this cute Christmas game that you play while watching all your favorite holiday movies.
Related: 40 Awesome Board Games For Teens They’ll Want to Play Again and Again
8. Secret Santa Gift Exchange
If you can get all the kids, their cousins, and maybe Grandma and Grandpa on board, organize a Secret Santa gift exchange! Your kids can also do this with their friends as a fun way to celebrate the holidays and not feel pressured to buy for all their besties. Check out our list of gift ideas for teens and tweens to get you started.
9. Outdoor Ice Skating
Visit a local outdoor ice skating rink for a fun and active winter activity. The best thing about ice skating is it’s for all ages and ability levels! Just make sure to bring a coat, hat, and gloves (and plan on having some hot chocolate after).
10. Holiday Karaoke Night
If you don’t have a karaoke machine, the holiday season is a good time to invest in one! Get ready to belt out all your favorite holiday music. (Dibs on singing Mariah first!) Or, as an alternative, you can try out a karaoke app and still have a memorable and festive night with your teens and tweens.
11. DIY Hot Chocolate Bar
Set up a station with different hot chocolate toppings like whipped cream, marshmallows, and sprinkles. Much like cookie decorating, you can design your hot chocolate bar yourself with all your favorite fixings, or grab a kit beforehand like this Hot Cocoa Bar Kit or this Hot Chocolate Bomb Kit.
12. Virtual Game Night
When all else fails, gaming with your teens and tweens is a surefire way to get them on board for a little family time. Connect with friends virtually for a game night using online gaming platforms and get ready for some (hopefully) friendly competition!
13. Holiday Photo Booth
Your teen or tween will surely emerge from their room for a holiday selfie station, right? For this idea, you just create a festive photo booth with props and backdrops for memorable pictures. There are lots of options online for this, but here’s one we particularly like.
14. Holiday Recipe Cook-Off
Do your kids like to cook? Have a friendly competition to see who can create the most delicious holiday dish! Or, to go along with the holiday movie idea, cook up some recipes from your favorite family Christmas classics. (Check out this Christmas Movie Cookbook for ideas!)
15. Outdoor Light Tour
This is a long-standing tradition in our household that my teens still enjoy. We bring candy and hot cocoa in to-go cups and drive around our neighborhood to look at lights every year. Playing Christmas music in the car is a must for this one! Some neighborhoods will even provide a map of houses that are a must-see!
16. DIY Christmas Cards
Why buy pre-made holiday cards when you can DIY? Get those creative juices flowing with card-making supplies to craft personalized Christmas cards. Grandma and Grandpa will love getting these in the mail! Here’s a fun paint-by-number card kit you might want to try.
17. Escape Room Challenge
Teens and tweens love escape rooms, so use the holiday season to capitalize on that! You can visit a local escape room or set up a DIY escape room at home with holiday-themed clues. Or, snag a Santa-themed escape room game like this one that has all of that already planned out for you.
18. Holiday Pajama Party
Who doesn’t love hanging out in comfy pajamas? This is a great way to get your teens to hang out with you. (Whether you attempt matching family Christmas pajamas is your call.) The idea is to host a cozy pajama party with festive snacks, movies, and games and end up having some quality family time from the comfort of home.
19. DIY Snow Globe Crafting
Little kids love making snow globes, but do you know who else does too? Teens and tweens! Gather materials like jars, glitter, and small holiday figurines and see what you can create. Or, order a DIY Snow Globe Kit and make it easier on yourself! Just don’t forget to turn on some holiday tunes in the background.
20. Holiday Baking Challenge
The Christmas season is the ultimate time of year to tie on your apron and bake some yummy desserts. From classic Christmas cookies to Grandma’s special pecan pie, there are endless options your teens can choose from for a holiday baking challenge. Need inspiration? Try this Christmas Baking Cookbook to get you started.
21. Christmas Caroling—IRL or Virtual!
Christmas carols are one of the best parts of this time of year, so teach your teens and tweens how much fun this old fashioned tradition can be. You can do it old-school and knock on the doors of your friends and neighbors, or you can carol virtually using all the technology the 21st century has to offer. Here are some classics to add to your list.
22. DIY Gift Wrapping Station
Set up a stylish gift-wrapping station with various wrapping papers and embellishments. Make it a competition to see who can come up with the best wrapped gift, the most creative wrapping paper, or even the worst wrapped gift. (Purchasing a Christmas Gift Wrap Kit ahead of time might help!)
23. Holiday Trivia Night
Test everyone’s knowledge with a festive trivia night featuring Christmas-related questions. This Christmas Trivia Game can get the job done, or, come up with your own questions. For example, what is the origin of the Santa Claus story? Why do we decorate trees? What does “Yuletide” mean? Your kids will have fun and learn a thing or two!
24. Outdoor Winter Sports Day
As a person who lives in the northern Midwest, I can attest personally to just how fun outdoor activities are in the winter snow. Kids (and adults!) of all ages never tire of sledding or tubing down a giant hill, cross-country or down-hill skiing, or snowboarding. Or, for another fun “winter” game, how about The Ultimate Freeze Tag Game? Your kids will love it.
25. Volunteer Together
Spend time volunteering at a local charity or community organization to spread holiday cheer. This is an excellent way to bond with your teens and tweens and show them the impact they can have by giving back to their community. During the holiday season, there are lots of opportunities to serve food at soup kitchens, provide homeless shelters with necessary items like socks, gloves and hats, toothbrushes, and sanitary items, or buy Christmas gifts or meals for a family in need.
Hopefully, you will find some new family favorites from this list of Christmas activities for teens. Just remember to tailor these activities to the preferences and interests of your family so you can all enjoy some of that holiday joy.
Just because your kids aren’t little anymore, that doesn’t mean Christmas can’t still be fun and memorable. You just have to be willing to let go of what it used to be in order to realize all that it can be. And on the bright side, at least your teens won’t be waking you up at 5 a.m. Christmas morning!
Looking for a book that will help you feel less alone during these challenging years of raising teens?
We recommend You’re Not a Failure: My Teen Doesn’t Like Me Either by Whitney Fleming. With this book, you can flip the narrative about raising teenagers by taking control of your emotions and responses to create a loving, supportive relationship.
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