25 Special Things To Do On Christmas Day For Families

This post is all about things to do on Christmas day.

This image shows a mom and her daughter in front of a Christmas Tree. The mom is holding a red ornament, showing her daughter. They are both wearing Santa Hats. There is text overlay that says "Special Things to do on Christmas Day" — By: Heather

Holidays With Families – What To Do On Christmas Day

Christmas is around the corner yet again! It’s so important to me that Christmas Day is always a special and memorable day for my child. When I growing up, my parents always made the day so amazing, so when it comes to figuring out what to do on Christmas Day with my own family, all I need to do is look back at my childhood!

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Every family has different approaches and ideas of what Christmas day and even Christmas season should be about. And that totally fine. I think we can all agree though that we want the day to be about love, joy and family.

My parents made it all seem so natural and seamless. I never knew that it actually took planning and effort to make Christmas Day so fun and special and the kids! Now that I’m a mom, that responsibility falls on me, and to be honest, I couldn’t be happier about it. I LOVE planning a fun-filled Christmas Day for my little family!

So, as your resident Christmas OBSSESSED mama, let me help you out by giving you some awesome ideas for fun things to do on Christmas Day with your family! These are great if you have young kids, or older kids.

Things to Do On Christmas Day At Home

Make A Family Gingerbread House OR Have A Competition!

Gingerbread House Christmas Cookie Kit – Create A Treat E-Z Build Gingerbread House and Holiday Cookie Decorating Kit with Icing and Bonus Cookie Pack, 52.42 oz

Create A Treat 2-in-1 Holiday Gingerbread Decorating Kit includes one Christmas Gingerbread House and 12 Gingerbread Holiday Cookies in 6 fun Holiday shapes.

This is such a fun thing to do on Christmas Day or even on Christmas Eve if you’re going to be to busy on Christmas Day.

You can either team up as a family and make one totally awesome Gingerbread house, or get a few kits and break up into teams (or one-on-one), and see who can build the BEST Gingerbread house! You can take pictures of them, and post them on Social Media for your friends to be the judges. The Gingerbread House with the most “likes” wins!

If you need help finding some good kits, here are some of my “go to” kits.

The Elf on the Shelf Holiday Gingerbread House Kit

Create A Treat E-Z Build Gingerbread House and Holiday Cookie Decorating Kit

If you want to be an over achiever, HERE is one where you bake the ginger bread pieces yourself using the molds. (But like, who has time for that?!)

Cook A BIG Dinner

This one goes without saying for most families. My mom always made the BEST and BIGGEST Christmas Dinners. She’d have appetizers out all day, such as crab dip, veggies with ranch dip, chips, my dad’s homemade salsa, cheese and crackers, and so on.

Then for dinner, make all the classics! Turkey and/or Ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, stuffing, deviled eggs, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, etc.

Everyone will be so sleepy and ready to rest off the busy day after a yummy dinner like this. (Tip: Do as much “pre” work as you can the day before, and use aluminum trays for cooking, and paper plates for serving. Minimize those dishes!)

Watch Christmas Movies

Keep those Christmas movies on loop!

You can get a FREE 30 Day Trial for Amazon Video Here, where you can stream thousands of movies, and even songs. I have really loved Amazon Video ever since we got rid of our DVD Player. It took me a while to give in and get ride of the DVD player…but we’re in the world of streaming now! Finally had to give in…

If you haven’t taken that plunge yet though, check out this Christmas Classics DVD, with all the best Christmas Movies from your childhood!

Candy Cane Hunt

Who says the “hunts” have to be reserved for Easter?!

Hide Candy Canes all around the house and see who can find the most! A fun twist would be to make a “Map” for the kids to use in their search for the candy canes!

Host A White Elephant Exchange

Have some friends and family over for a White Elephant Gift Exchange. Everyone brings a gift (usually a low ticket item, or even a gag gift to make things more fun), and then you take turns opening a gift. Draw numbers to determine the order in which people chose and open gifts. The following people can pick to either chose an unwrapped gift from the pile or they can steal a previous person’s gift. Anyone who gets their gift stolen can also then choose a new gift or steal from someone else.

Bake Cookies

Fill the house with the warm cozy smell of fresh baked cookies! Break out grandma’s famous recipes, or keep it simple and the the “break and bake” cookies from the grocery store. Either way, everyone will have lots of fun in the kitchen. Don’t forget to blast the Christmas tunes while you bake!

Decorate Ugly Christmas Sweaters

Get everyone laughing with Ugly Christmas Sweaters!

Get some fabric glue, and spread out all the ugly sweat decorations, and see just how ugly you can make them! Then everyone can rock their sweaters for Christmas Dinner!

Wear Matching Christmas Pajamas

The Children’s Place Family Matching, Festive Christmas Pajama Sets, Cotton

The Children’s Place unisex-child Family Matching, Festive Christmas Pajama Sets, Cotton

Christmas Day is the perfect day to stay in pajamas all day! So why not take it a step further and have matching family pajamas! This will make for some super cute pictures every year!

“Dear Santa, They’re The Naughty Ones” Pajamas

Make Crafty Christmas Decorations For Next Year

Max Fun 100PCS DIY Wooden Christmas Ornaments Unfinished Predrilled Wood Circles for Crafts Centerpieces Holiday Hanging Decorations in 10 Shapes

Package Included: 100 Blank Wood Circles in 10 different shapes, each shape contains 10 pieces, (Christmas Trees, Bells, Angels, Reindeer, Socks, Snowmen, Hearts, Stars, Snowflakes and Blank Wood Circles) 100 Jute Twines, enough for any craft project you have to go on, great for hanging on your Christmas tree.

Making Christmas Crafts if one of my all time favorite things to do on Christmas Day! Not only is it fun, but it also creates something that can last a lifetime, and be passed down from generation to generation. (Especially the ones that turn out really good!)

When your kids are still really young, you’ll want to keep it pretty simple. This ornament set is perfect for painting new Christmas Ornaments every year! Don’t forget to mark the year.

Sing Christmas Songs

If you’re looking for fun things to do at home, break out the karaoke machine and sing some Christmas Songs! Don’t forget to take some videos! You’re going to want to look back at this for a good laugh!

Christmas Scavenger Hunt

Sale

Outset Media Christmas Scavenger Hunt Game – Includes 220 Cards with Holiday Themed Objects Found Both Inside and Outside The Home (Ages 6+)

PLAY INDOOR OR OUTDOOR: Game includes an indoor deck and an outdoor deck of hunting cards.

Turn Christmas Day into an adventure with this fun Christmas Scavenger hunt! It’s perfect for kids 3+ (even though the box says 6+, my 3 year old can totally participate with this!).

It includes 2 card decks, one for indoor, and one for outdoor. Both filled with common items that would be around during Christmas Season.

GET IT HERE

Make A Special Christmas Morning Breakfast

Make a nice pot of hot coffee and start the day with a scrumptious Christmas breakfast! You can make it extra special by using Cookie Cutters like these to make Christmas Themed pancakes! My mom used to do this for every holiday, and I LOVED it as a kid.

Family Game Night

Sale

Zobmondo!! The Santa Claus Game, Great Christmas Board Game for Boys and Girls, Award-Winning Educational Game, Kids’ Game for Ages 3 and Up

HOLIDAY GAME TEACHES KIDS ITS FUN TO GIVE! Be transported into the wonder of Christmas as your children act as Santa, discovering the joy in giving gifts and belting out their best “Ho Ho Ho!”
PERFECT FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES! Each player chooses a sleigh full of teddy bears, dolls and treats. As your children play the game they deliver presents, sing holiday songs, and twirl like a snowflake.

A family game night is one of the best things to do to wrap up the fun-filled day! This highly rated Christmas Board Game “The Santa Clause Game” is perfect for ages 3 and up! It has an emphasis on GIVING gifts, rather than receiving.

Christmas BINGO and Christmas TRIVIA are both also really fun options that the whole family will love!

Read Christmas Stories

Reading together is one of the best things that you can do with your children. We live in a world today where both parents and kids have their faces buried in a screen the majority of the day.

Make some yummy hot chocolate and bring out those delicious Christmas cookies that you made earlier. Turn off the TV, and put down the phones. Then gather around the fireplace, or on the couch and enjoy some family reading time!

Here are some of the best Mom & Kid approved Christmas books:

The Christmas Pig by J.K. Rowling

The Animals Speak – A Christmas Eve Legend by Marion Dane Bauer

Reindeer Antler Ring Toss

2 Set Inflatable Reindeer Ring Toss Game With Antlers and 12 Rings, Family Christmas Party Games

2 SETS IN 1 PACKAGE — 2* Inflatable Antler Hats, (12* Inflatable Rings– 6* Red, 6* Green), 1 * Hand-held Pump；you can have 4 person playing at the same time. Great to take out and play during the whole month of December, or anytime of year really! Family of all ages had fun with this!

This game is a total riot. Get everyone laughing on Christmas day with this fun Reindeer Antler Ring Toss Game!

Put the inflatable antlers on your head and see who can toss the rings on successfully. It’s the perfect way to fill your home with laughter on Christmas day.

Make Thank You Cards

Hicdaw Kids Greeting Card Making Kit, 9Pcs Card Making Kits for Kids Thank You Card Kit DIY Handmade Card Making Supplies Art Crafts Crafty Set Teacher’s Day Gifts

❤️CARD MAKING KIT-9pcs card making kits include blank cardboard, envelopes and different styles of cutting stencils, the cutting stencils include bees,butterflies,flowers,watering cans,balloons,white clouds, raindrops,birds and more,you can make your own handmade thank you cards by combining cutting dies to your liking and sticking to blank cardboard.

Forget about the boring store bought thank you cards! Get a fun Greeting Card Making Kit and teach your kids about the importance of giving thanks and showing appreciation. They probably received a boat load of gifts earlier in the day, so spend some time crafting awesome thank you cards.

It’ll make the process more fun for the family AND it will make the “Thank You” card much more special for the recipient.

Make Cards For Your Local Nursing Home

Christmas Day is a great time to reinforce the lessons of compassion for your fellow man. Sadly, there are so many elderly people in nursing homes that have no family or friends around to spend the holidays with.

Use the Greeting Card Making Kit to make special cards to drop off at your local nursing home. Be sure to include a nice note in the card wishing them happy holidays and a happy new year.

Pin The Nose On The Reindeer

Christmas Party Games for Kids Pin The Nose On The Deer Kids Christmas Games for Party Christmas Activities for Families Pin The Nose On The for Adults Christmas Games

➤FUNNEST CHRISTMAS GAMES FOR KIDS: pin the nose on the is diverting christmas games for kids. When the children put on the blindfold, they will feel different and exciting experience. Chrismtas pin game is the perfect domiciliary game for Christmas period. At this special time, our kids christmas games will also make your family have a memorable Christmas festival.

Pin The Nose On The Reindeer is a super fun thing to do on Christmas day if you have younger children! (Not going to lie though…I could see this being really funny for the adults too after having a couple cocktails!)

Special Things To Do On Christmas Day Away From Home

If you’re wanting to get out of the house on Christmas Day, there’s plenty of fun and meaningful things you can do that will create lasting memories for your family!

Volunteer

Volunteering to help those less fortunate on Christmas Day is an amazing way to teach your kids valuable lessons about the world around them. It’s very easy to get stuck in your “bubble” and be unaware of other’s around you.

You can volunteer at placing such as your local soup kitchen, homeless shelter, nursing home, animal shelter, etc.

Take Toy Donations To A Local Shelter

What better day that Christmas to unload some toys? Involve your children in the process of going through their GENTLY used toys and picking ones that they want to give to those less fortunate. Then you can take them to your local shelter or Goodwill.

I also really like the idea of taking your children shopping for some NEW toys to donate. So many of our kids gets pretty spoiled on Christmas morning with fun new toys and gadgets. So it’s also really important to incorporate giving and generosity!

Go Look At Christmas Lights

Going to look at Christmas Lights is the perfect thing to do on Christmas Day! You can drive around to different neighborhoods and streets to admire everyone’s lights, or you can bundle up and go for a family walk around your own neighborhood!

Attend a Tree Lighting Ceremony

Check to see if your town (or neighboring town) has a Tree Lighting Ceremony. Most areas have something like this where they light up a big beautiful tree, and Santa and Mrs. Claus are usually in attendance!

Just google “Tree Lighting Ceremony near me” and I’m sure you’ll find something!

Get Pictures With Santa

If you attend a Tree Lighting Ceremony, you’ll likely be able to get pictures with Santa there. Otherwise, check out your local mall or fire station!

Attend A Church Service

Even if you don’t regularly attend Church, Christmas Day is a great time to go. Most churches have lovely Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services, and it’s a great way to be reminded of “the reason for the season”.

Go Ice Skating

Hit up a nearby ice skating rink for some family fun!