Did you know that some of us here in the UK start thinking about Christmas as early as August?
Online searches for Christmas-related topics start to climb in mid-August each year before skyrocketing in mid-November and tailing off after the big day.
Google searches for the term ‘Christmas’ follow a consistent pattern year after year, with searches starting to pick up in mid-August. Data from Google Trends for 2021 “Christmas” searches.
You may have started to think about the big day yourself, perhaps you’ve started your Christmas shopping, or you may have even started to prep Christmas dinner…. but what about planning activities to keep the kids entertained over the holidays?
We’ve created a list of our top family Christmas entertainment ideas to keep tantrums and boredom at bay this festive season.
Here are the best family Christmas experiences, games and events for Christmas 2022:
1. Play fun kid friendly Christmas games
Christmas is all about spending time with family, so plan games that the whole family can join in with.
Get their imaginations flowing and everyone giggling with a game of festive charades, place sticky notes on each other’s foreheads for a game of “Heads Up” or plan a Christmas scavenger hunt.
And if you’ll be busy in the kitchen or wrapping presents, why not plan or invest in some kids Christmas party games?
Have them race each other to see who can wrap presents the quickest, hold a Christmas songs karaoke competition or challenge them with a downloadable escape room kit.
Or dig out an old board game – sure to keep them occupied for hours!
2. Let the kids open a Christmas present early
Got lots of Christmas preparations to sort but need to keep them entertained?
Consider letting them open a smaller present on Christmas Eve – the new toy will bring them fun whilst giving you time to wrap those last minute gifts!
And if you’re not sure which kids’ Christmas gifts to get your child for Christmas, take a look at our guide to the top kid’s toys for Christmas 2022.
Keep them occupied with an early gift. Did you know we have a range of Christmas food hampers for the whole family to enjoy?
And we’ve got Christmas eve hampers for big kids too!
3. Test their knowledge with a family Christmas quiz
A few rounds of Christmas trivia are sure to bring hours of festive fun!
Try our family Christmas fun quiz here or for younger children, try this Christmas quiz for kids.
Quizzes make a great family activity for Christmas eve, boxing day or any day throughout the holidays.
4. Facetime a relative
Video calling a family member is a lovely way to make them a part of your Christmas celebrations.
The call will give your little one a chance to show off their presents and tell everyone about all the festive fun they’ve been having.
Arrange a Christmas video call with a relative. Photo by Surface on Unsplash.
5. Tune in to a Christmas show or film
When you’ve got a whole Christmas dinner to prepare, it’s not always easy to keep the kids occupied.
Tuning in to some family Christmas tv shows during the preparations or popping on some kid’s Christmas movies or family Christmas shows on Netflix during the evening can calm them down after all the excitement of the big day.
Want something to watch together? Try one of the family home entertainment Christmas classics such as Trolls Holiday (2017), Klaus (2019) or The Grinch (2018) - now the highest-grossing Christmas film of all time!
6. Get them involved in the kitchen
There’s always lots to prep for Christmas dinner so whilst you’re cooking away, let them be your sous chef!
Younger children can help with mixing, taking leaves off sprouts and even mashing potatoes with supervision.
Or how about challenging the whole family to a festive bake-off or a biscuit decorating competition?
Get baking this Christmas. Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash.
7. Take the kids to a Christmas event
There’s ample opportunity for a family day out during the holidays, with festive events running across the country.
Head to a nearby National Trust property to see decorated historic houses, Christmas lights and illuminations; at some sites, you can even pay a visit to Father Christmas himself!
There are also children’s Christmas pantomimes running at many local theatres, ice skating rinks at many Christmas markets and plenty of child friendly Christmas events running in local village halls throughout the country.
Need some more inspiration for family Christmas fun? Check out our guides:
- Theme parks to visit this festive season
- Festive family trips
- The best Zoos to visit this Christmas
- Family Christmas visits to historic houses
- The top Christmas gardens for 2022
8. Make a gingerbread house
Buy a gingerbread house kit and get decorating with the kids or challenge yourselves and bake the gingerbread too – making gingerbread from scratch can be tricky, so make sure to supervise children.
What do you need to decorate a gingerbread house?
- Icing sugar (for sticking your decorations on)
- Chocolate buttons
- Smarties
- Jelly sweets
- Candy canes
Decorate a gingerbread house with your favourite treats. Photo by Isabela Kronemberger on Unsplash.
9. Get crafting!
Set up a craft table and get creating!
Here are some of our favourite Christmas crafts:
- Turn your toddler’s footprints into a mistletoe Christmas card
- Gather twigs and tie them together to create your own twig ornaments
- Personalise a stocking with ribbon, stickers and pom-poms
- Make a pasta Christmas tree
Will you be trying any of these family Christmas activities at home over the holidays?
Or do you have something else planned? Let us know on our socials!
And if you’d like to entertain the kids with some festive treats, take a look at our range of luxury Christmas hampers for kids.