25 Christmas Traditions for Families With Young Kids

25 Christmas Traditions for Families With Young Kids Save
This site uses affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

There is just something about Christmas when you have little kids. The excitement over seeing Christmas lights, the constant questions about when Santa is coming, and the way they somehow manage to find every single ornament you just put on the tree.

And if you have young kids, you probably already know that Christmas can get pretty expensive. Between presents, decorations, school activities, and everything else that comes with December, it adds up FAST.

But here’s the thing. Some of the best Christmas memories have absolutely nothing to do with how much money you spend.

I don’t know about you, but I want my kids to grow up remembering all the fun little things we did together during Christmas. The nights we stayed up watching movies, the cookies we made, and the silly traditions they looked forward to every single year.

And you really don’t have to plan something elaborate to make that happen.

If you’re looking for Christmas traditions to start with your family, especially if you have toddlers, preschoolers, or younger elementary age kids, I’ve put together 25 ideas that are actually doable.

Some are completely free, some require a little planning, and a few are things you can pull together at the very last minute. Because we all know how December goes when you have kids!

Have a Christmas Pajama Night

25 Christmas Traditions for Families With Young Kids Save

I feel like Christmas pajamas are one of those things that make everything feel a little more festive, even when you’re literally just sitting on the couch.

Pick a night in December for everyone to put on their Christmas pajamas, make some popcorn, and watch a movie together.

You can go all out with matching family pajamas if that’s your thing, but honestly, the kids probably won’t care if everyone matches. They just want to be included in something fun.

If you want to make it a yearly tradition, let your kids pick out their pajamas at the beginning of December. Then save them for your special Christmas movie night.

And yes, wearing those same pajamas approximately 500 times before Christmas is completely acceptable.

Make Homemade Christmas Ornaments

If you have little kids, you NEED to make at least one homemade ornament with them every year.

Not because the ornaments are going to look amazing. Let’s be honest, some of them are going to look a little questionable.

But because one day you’re going to pull out a tiny handprint ornament and wonder how their hands were ever that small.

Salt dough ornaments are a great option because you probably already have most of the ingredients in your kitchen.

You can also buy clear plastic ornaments and let the kids fill them with pom poms, glitter, or little pieces of ribbon.

Write their name and the year somewhere on each ornament. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did when you’re decorating the tree years later.

Start a Family Christmas Game Night Tradition

Another fun tradition you could start is having a Christmas game night with the kids. And honestly, this is one of those things that can be as simple or as elaborate as you want.

If you don’t feel like coming up with a bunch of games yourself, I actually have a Christmas Game Bundle with 10 printable games, including Christmas Trivia, Emoji Pictionary, Christmas Riddles, and even a fun What’s Your Elf Name game.

You can print out the games, grab some snacks, and make a whole night out of it. Some of the games are better suited for older kids, so if you have little ones, you can always pair them up with someone who can help them read.

And the best part is that you can save the games and pull them out again next Christmas!

Check Out My Christmas Game Bundle Here!

Drive Around Looking at Christmas Lights

This might be one of the easiest Christmas traditions you can start with your family.

Get everyone in their pajamas, grab some blankets, and drive around looking at Christmas lights.

You don’t even have to go anywhere special. Sometimes the houses in your own neighborhood put on a better show than the places you have to pay to visit.

If you want to make it extra fun, bring hot chocolate in travel cups and let the kids vote on their favorite decorated house.

You could even make a little Christmas lights scavenger hunt with things like a giant inflatable Santa, a house with blue lights, candy cane decorations, and a reindeer.

Just be prepared for your kids to ask to do this every single night afterward.

Start a Christmas Eve Box Tradition

Christmas Eve boxes are such a cute idea, especially for younger kids who can barely contain their excitement the night before Christmas.

The idea is pretty simple. You put together a small box of things they can enjoy on Christmas Eve.

Some fun things to include are:

You definitely don’t need to fill the box with expensive gifts. In fact, I would keep it pretty simple since they’re about to get presents the next morning anyway.

You can also reuse the same box every year instead of buying a new one.

I love the idea of making this something the kids get excited about opening together before settling down for the night.

Bake Christmas Cookies Together

I know baking with little kids can be a complete disaster.

There’s flour everywhere, someone is eating the sprinkles straight from the container, and somehow a recipe that should take 30 minutes turns into a two hour project.

But that’s kind of what makes it fun.

Pick one day every December to bake Christmas cookies together. Sugar cookies are great because the kids can help cut out shapes and decorate them afterward.

And if you don’t feel like making everything from scratch, grab some premade cookie dough. There is absolutely nothing wrong with making things easier on yourself.

You can even let each child decorate a special cookie to leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve.

Just make sure you take pictures because the decorated cookies are usually pretty hilarious.

Let Your Kids Pick Out a New Christmas Ornament

This is such a simple tradition, but I think it’s one of the sweetest ones.

Every year, take your kids to pick out one Christmas ornament that represents something they loved that year.

Maybe your toddler is obsessed with dinosaurs. Get a dinosaur ornament.

Maybe your daughter has spent the entire year talking about princesses. Let her choose a princess ornament.

Or maybe your child just wants the biggest, sparkliest ornament in the entire store.

That’s fine too.

Write their name and the year on it, and let them hang it on the tree themselves.

Over time, your Christmas tree will be filled with little reminders of what your kids were interested in at different ages.

And how fun would it be to look back at those ornaments when they’re teenagers?

Have a Christmas Movie Marathon

You really can’t go wrong with a good Christmas movie night.

Instead of watching movies randomly throughout December, pick one night every year for a Christmas movie marathon.

Let everyone choose a movie, make a big bowl of popcorn, and bring all the blankets and pillows into the living room.

Some fun Christmas movies for younger kids include:

Obviously, you don’t have to watch all of them in one night, especially if you have toddlers who can barely sit through a 20 minute cartoon.

You could also make this a Friday night tradition throughout December and watch a different movie each week.

Make a Christmas Countdown Paper Chain

Remember making paper chains when you were little?

They’re still just as fun, and they’re one of the cheapest Christmas activities you can do with kids.

All you need is construction paper, scissors, and tape or glue.

Make 24 paper loops and connect them into a chain. Starting December 1, let your child remove one loop every day until Christmas.

For toddlers and preschoolers who don’t fully understand how many days are left until Christmas, this is such a fun way to help them visualize the countdown.

You can even write a little Christmas activity on each paper strip.

Nothing complicated. Things like reading a Christmas book, wearing Christmas socks, or having hot chocolate are perfect.

And if you forget to remove a loop one day, just take two off the next day. No big deal.

check out this Christmas Paper Chains Festive Printed Creative Paper if you want some paper thats already festive instead of plain colored paper.

Decorate a Gingerbread House

Is decorating a gingerbread house with young kids messy? Absolutely.

Is the finished gingerbread house probably going to look nothing like the picture on the box? Also yes.

But kids LOVE this activity.

You can buy a gingerbread house kit that already has everything included, which makes the whole process a lot easier.

If you have toddlers, I would actually recommend getting a premade gingerbread house instead of one you have to assemble.

Otherwise, you’ll spend half the activity trying to keep the walls from falling down while your kids eat all the candy.

Let them decorate however they want. It doesn’t have to look perfect.

You can even make it a little family competition if your kids are old enough, or have everyone work together on one giant gingerbread house.

Take a Family Christmas Picture Every Year

You don’t need to book an expensive professional photo session to start this tradition.

You can literally set your phone on a timer and take a picture in front of your Christmas tree.

The important part is doing it every year.

You could have everyone wear matching pajamas, dress up in Christmas outfits, or just take a picture in whatever everyone happens to be wearing.

Personally, I think the less stressful you make family pictures, the better.

Because trying to get multiple young kids to look at the camera and smile at the exact same time is basically an Olympic sport.

Save your pictures in a special album so you can look back and see how much everyone changes from year to year.

Have a Christmas Breakfast Tradition

Christmas morning is already exciting enough, but having a special breakfast makes it even more fun.

And no, you don’t need to wake up at 5 AM and prepare some elaborate homemade breakfast.

You can make cinnamon rolls, Christmas shaped pancakes, French toast, or whatever your family enjoys.

If your kids are anything like most kids on Christmas morning, they’re probably going to be more interested in their presents than sitting down for a full breakfast anyway.

That’s why I love the idea of choosing something simple that you make every single year.

Eventually, your kids will start associating that special breakfast with Christmas morning.

Write Letters to Santa

Writing letters to Santa is one of those classic Christmas traditions that never really gets old.

And even if your kids aren’t old enough to write yet, they can still participate.

Let toddlers draw pictures of what they want for Christmas while you write down their requests.

Preschoolers can practice writing their names, and older kids can write their own letters.

You could even save a copy of each letter in a Christmas memory box.

Imagine looking back years later and seeing the random things your kids asked Santa for when they were little.

I’m sure there will be some pretty funny requests in there.

Make Reindeer Food on Christmas Eve

If your kids get excited about leaving cookies for Santa, they’ll probably love making something for his reindeer too.

One simple option is mixing plain oats with a few small pieces of dried fruit.

Put the mixture in a little bag or container and let your kids set it outside on Christmas Eve.

I would skip glitter and plastic decorations since those aren’t safe for wildlife.

You can even make a cute little label that says it’s special food for Santa’s reindeer.

This is a really easy tradition to add to your Christmas Eve routine, especially if you already leave out milk and cookies.

Read a Christmas Book Every Night

25 Christmas Traditions for Families With Young Kids Save

I love this idea because it’s something you can do without spending a bunch of money.

Starting December 1, read a Christmas book together every night before bed.

You can use books you already own, borrow some from the library, or slowly build a collection over the years.

If you want to make it extra exciting, wrap each book in Christmas paper and let your kids unwrap one every night.

And no, you don’t need to buy 24 brand new books. Reusing the same books every December is completely fine.

You can even let your kids choose which book they want to read.

Some nights they’ll sit through the whole story, and other nights they’ll lose interest halfway through.

That’s just life with little kids.

Let Your Kids Decorate Their Own Mini Christmas Tree

If you have young kids who constantly rearrange the ornaments on your main Christmas tree, this tradition might actually save you some frustration.

Get them a small tabletop Christmas tree and let them decorate it however they want.

You can use plastic ornaments, handmade decorations, colorful ribbon, or anything else that’s safe for their age.

And here’s the best part.

You don’t have to fix it afterward.

If all the ornaments end up on one branch, let them stay there.

If your toddler decides the tree needs 15 candy cane decorations and absolutely nothing else, that’s their creative vision.

Let them keep their tree in their bedroom or playroom so they can enjoy it throughout December.

Have a Christmas Craft Day

Instead of trying to squeeze in random crafts throughout December, set aside one day for a big Christmas craft session.

Cover the table, pull out the craft supplies, and let the kids make whatever they want.

Some easy Christmas crafts for younger kids include:

  • Paper plate Santa faces
  • Cotton ball snowmen
  • Popsicle stick Christmas trees
  • Handprint reindeer
  • Paper snowflakes
  • Christmas coloring pages

You can find tons of simple Christmas crafts that use supplies you probably already have at home.

And don’t feel like you need to make every craft look Pinterest perfect.

Sometimes the projects that turn out the funniest are the ones you’ll want to keep forever.

Visit Santa Every Year

If your family celebrates Santa, taking the kids to see him can be such a fun yearly tradition.

You can usually find Santa at local malls, holiday festivals, community events, and Christmas tree farms.

Some places even offer free pictures if you take them yourself.

And if you have a toddler who is absolutely terrified of Santa, don’t force the picture.

Seriously.

You can still make it a fun outing by walking around, looking at decorations, and enjoying the Christmas atmosphere.

Sometimes those pictures of kids standing approximately 10 feet away from Santa are the funniest ones anyway.

Make a Family Christmas Bucket List

At the beginning of December, sit down with your kids and make a list of things everyone wants to do before Christmas.

Let each child choose one or two activities.

You might end up with things like making cookies, going to see Christmas lights, building a gingerbread house, or having a Christmas dance party.

Write everything on a big piece of paper and hang it somewhere everyone can see.

Then cross off activities as you complete them.

I would keep the list realistic, though.

You don’t want to turn Christmas into a month of trying to squeeze in 30 different activities while everyone is already exhausted.

Five or six fun things that your family actually has time for are plenty.

Have a Christmas Dance Party

This is probably one of the easiest Christmas traditions on the entire list.

Turn on some Christmas music and have a dance party in the living room.

That’s it.

You can make it extra fun by letting the kids wear Santa hats, Christmas pajamas, or silly holiday accessories.

You could even turn off the regular lights and dance with the Christmas tree lights on.

Little kids don’t need much convincing to dance around the living room, and it’s a great way to burn off some of that endless December energy.

Plus, it doesn’t cost anything.

Which is always a bonus during Christmas.

Donate Toys Before Christmas

This is a really meaningful tradition to start while your kids are young.

Before Christmas arrives, go through their toys together and find a few things they’re ready to pass along.

Explain that the toys can go to other children who might enjoy playing with them.

Of course, you’ll want to make sure the toys are clean, complete, and in good condition before donating them.

And I wouldn’t force your child to give away a favorite toy just because you think they have too many.

Let them participate in choosing what they’re comfortable donating.

You can also have your kids help pick out a new toy to donate to a local holiday toy drive if your budget allows.

It’s a simple way to make giving part of your family’s Christmas traditions.

Have a North Pole Breakfast

If you’ve never heard of a North Pole breakfast, it’s basically a Christmas themed breakfast with a little extra fun added.

And before you start imagining some elaborate setup with a million decorations, it really doesn’t have to be that complicated.

You can serve pancakes with strawberries, Christmas colored sprinkles, cinnamon rolls, or even regular cereal in festive bowls.

Add a Christmas tablecloth, play some holiday music, and maybe put a small Christmas surprise at each child’s seat.

You could do this on December 1 to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season.

Or save it for a weekend when everyone has time to enjoy breakfast together.

Either way, the kids will probably think it’s the coolest thing ever.

Make a Christmas Memory Jar

This is one of those traditions that becomes more special the longer you do it.

Get a jar or small box and keep it somewhere in your house throughout December.

Whenever something funny, sweet, or memorable happens, write it down on a piece of paper and put it inside.

Maybe your toddler called Santa something hilarious.

Maybe your kids made up their own Christmas song.

Or maybe you had a really fun day together that you don’t want to forget.

On Christmas Eve or Christmas night, open the jar and read everything together.

You can save the notes afterward in a memory box.

I think this would be especially fun once your kids are old enough to start writing their own memories.

Let Your Kids Choose a Christmas Gift for Someone Else

Kids spend a LOT of time thinking about what they want for Christmas.

Which is completely normal, especially when they’re little.

But I also think it’s nice to give them an opportunity to experience the excitement of picking out something for someone else.

You could take them to the dollar store and let them choose a gift for a sibling, grandparent, or another family member.

Give them a small budget and let them make the decision.

And try not to interfere too much, even if they choose something completely ridiculous.

Sometimes those are the gifts that end up being the most memorable.

You can also let them help wrap the present and keep it a surprise until Christmas.

Have a Special Christmas Eve Routine

Christmas Eve is already such an exciting night for little kids, so why not turn it into a tradition of its own?

You can choose a few simple activities that your family does every Christmas Eve.

For example, you might:

  • Eat your favorite dinner
  • Open Christmas Eve boxes
  • Put on Christmas pajamas
  • Read a Christmas story
  • Leave cookies and milk for Santa
  • Set out reindeer food
  • Take a family picture by the tree

You don’t need to do all of these things.

Actually, I would recommend choosing just a few so the evening doesn’t become overwhelming.

Because getting overly excited kids to settle down and go to sleep on Christmas Eve is already enough of a challenge.

The fun part is that after a few years, your kids will know exactly what to expect and start looking forward to those little routines.

Start a Christmas Morning Family Tradition

This one can be whatever works best for your family.

Maybe everyone gathers in the living room and opens presents together.

Maybe you always take a picture of the kids sitting in front of the tree before they start opening gifts.

Or maybe you have a rule that everyone eats breakfast together before opening presents.

You could also make it a tradition to open gifts one at a time so everyone gets to see what the others received.

I know that might sound impossible if you have really young kids who want to tear through every present in sight.

But even something as simple as taking the same Christmas morning picture every year can become a tradition your family loves.

The important thing is finding something that feels right for your family and sticking with it.

Making Christmas Traditions With Little Kids

If there’s one thing I would keep in mind when starting Christmas traditions with young kids, it’s that you don’t need to do everything.

Seriously.

You don’t need an elaborate Christmas Eve box, a perfectly decorated gingerbread house, matching family pajamas, and 24 days of planned activities to make Christmas special.

And you definitely don’t need to spend a fortune.

Pick a few traditions that sound fun and actually work for your family.

Maybe this year you start with Christmas movie nights, baking cookies, and driving around looking at lights.

Then next year you add something new.

Before you know it, your kids will be asking when you’re going to do those same activities again because they’ve become part of what Christmas means to them.

And I think that’s the best part about starting Christmas traditions while your kids are little.

It’s not about doing the most.

It’s about finding those little things your family loves doing together and making time for them every year.

Related posts