14 festive family activities to get you in the Christmas spirit

1. Create your own Book themed Advent Calendar

We all know that the world of Advent Calendars has expanded significantly since the days of simply finding a piece of chocolate behind a door. So, if you fancy putting together an Advent Calendar with a difference, without breaking the bank, why not create a book-themed calendar?

Before you rush out to buy 12 or even 24 new books, the trick is to gather all of your child's Christmas or winter-themed books you've put away for the year, add a few new titles, if needed, and wrap them up. You could even include fillers like hot chocolate sachets, bookmarks, or a bag of chocolate coins. The fun will be in the unwrapping, and you can enjoy a new story each day. Now, if someone could create an adult version, we'd be very happy indeed!

2. Open a festive reading café at home

If you want to encourage your child to read more books over the Christmas period or simply make it more fun, try setting up a little café space in your home and make it festive. Think tinsel and twinkly lights draped around a couple of cosy chairs. Take their café order and place some festive reads for them to choose from. They'll love the experience of having their drinks delivered, and you may even get time for a warm cup of something yourself!

3. Make and send some Christmas cards

Keep the kids busy with a Christmas card production line. You could download our Wimpy Kid and Christmasaurus card templates to keep things simple or get extra creative by drawing your favourite Christmas characters. Can you see your child's favourite from our line up below?

It's the perfect way to get kids creative and practicing their drawing skills. Now just remember to hide the glitter (don't worry, we won't tell them).

4. Have a baking day

It is the season to eat and be merry so when it feels a little too cold to venture outdoors, cook up some yummy treats, with easy to follow recipes, that make a fun activity to do together.

Some of our tried-and-tested recipes include these The Snowman-inspired cookies and Christmas tree-shaped biscuits.  They also make the perfect Christmas gift whether it's a last minute present for your school teacher, family or friends. So give them a go, bag them up with a pretty ribbon and that's another task ticked off your Christmas to-do list!

5. Book tickets to a Pantomime

For many, Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a visit to the Panto and of course who could blame them? After all, these shows are based on some of our favourite characters like Peter Pan, Cinderella or even Robin Hood. Once you get home you could read the book and put on your own show!

For those unable to get to a theatre this year, Cbeebies's annual Pantomime will be Beauty and the Beast, and is available to watch on iPlayer mid-December.

6. Watch a famous Christmas story on stage

If Panto isn't quite your thing then there are plenty of other Christmas-infused shows to take your kids to. One of our favourites is The Snowman which has screenings around the country, with a live orchestra plus there's an extra special surprise with a visit from the Snowman himself!

And if you are planning a visit to London this December, then theatre highlights include Noel Streatfeild's

Ballet Shoes at The National Theater and Maddie Moate, author of A Very Curious Christmas, will be appearing at The Apollo Theatre with a fun-packed show full of magical experiments and fun festive facts.

7. Map out and wander around a Christmas light trail

Never underestimate the power of a family walk to keep the kids entertained, especially when there's something fun to see along the way. Grab your torch, wrap up warm, and head out for a wintery walk to see the twinkly lights in your area. Kids will love the chance to explore their surroundings at night and can stay engaged with a festive game of I-spy. Extra bonus points for any Christmas trees spotted along the way.

8. Start a festive film club

You can't beat a good ol’ Christmas movie from the comfort of your own sofa. Turn it into a family weekend ritual during December and give everyone a chance to pick a festive film to watch. The only prep work you’ll need to do is to crack open the selection box. Bliss! Here are a few of our favourite book-to-film adaptations.

9. Host a Gingerbread House building competition

Father Christmas has left an elf house for you to build and decorate... the most impressive, festive-looking house wins. Ready, steady, go! All you'll need is a couple of gingerbread house kits from the shops, a few friends and it will result in hours of fun! Remember to get a prize for the winner!

10. Make your own Christmas decorations

It is easy to over-consume at Christmas with temptations in every shop, but with the environment being an important topic for both adults and children, there are many ways to set the tone for a more sustainable Christmas. One of these ways is making your own Christmas decorations, and little ones will be eager to help.

Gather some greenery from outside to bring colour to an empty vase, or find an online tutorial to help you make a wreath—they are surprisingly easy. Alternatively, try making these gorgeous snowflakes to hang from your tree or string across your wall.

11. Put together a scavenger hunt

Another fun activity to do at home, especially if it’s cold and wet outside, is a scavenger hunt. Put together a list of things to find, such as an ugly Christmas jumper, a red decoration or pinecones. Alternatively, the organiser of the hunt could place different clues around the house that everyone has to search for together. The end reward can be a token for a warming hot chocolate.

12. Start a new Christmas Eve tradition

Of course, you may be planning to make a Christmas Eve box  - a tradition for many families. But have you heard of Jólabókaflóð? It translates to "The Christmas Book Flood", the Icelandic tradition of gifting books to each other on Christmas Eve and spending the evening reading them straight away accompanied by heaps of chocolate and warm drinks. At the very least, you'll have a calm and peaceful evening before the Christmas day madness begins.

13. Give something back

Christmas is a time of giving; there’s no better time to donate than during the festive season. If you are planning to have a clear- out before Santa drops off some new things, then try to do so well before the Christmas holidays begin. Your items might just well be the sought-after present for another child and it gives parents plenty of time to shop around.

We know there’s nothing nicer than receiving a book for Christmas, so if you are able and willing, consider giving £10 to the BookTrust to send a special book gift to a vulnerable child.

14. Create a Christmas memory book together

Christmas is a time for creating memories, and although you may feel caught in an endless cycle of shopping, wrapping, and keeping everyone fed, the time (and years!) can go quickly.

Why not capture your favourite moments in a journal? You may have ideas about what is important for your family, but our suggestion is to ask your kids some prompt questions and fill in their answers. What was their favourite part of the holidays? What present did they like best? Which book were they reading? What is their wish for the New Year?

Ask the questions you'd like to record, and your memory book will be a lovely reminder of these special and precious years.