21 Must-Do Winter Break Activities, Christmas Holidays Bucket List

With Winter break & Christmas just around the corner, sharing 21 fun must-do bucket list activities to try over the upcoming holidays!

Even amid all things 2020 and COVID, most people are in the swing of ‘normal life’, and truth be told, normal life (work, homeschooling, and a million other things) doesn’t always leave a ton of free time for true unplugged family time.

When we are busy working and managing our everyday lives, we can go days or even weeks sometimes without getting to spend true quality time with the ones we love #GuiltyAsCharged

With Christmas just around the corner, many of us are looking forward to some extended downtime with loved ones and you may be wondering what to do with your extra free time?

Honestly, there is no dearth of ideas and activities!

There are some fun activities, some better known than others, that you should consider adding to your list of to do’s over the holidays!

You can thank me later! 😉

Check out these 21 must-do bucket list things to enjoy during your winter break, and unplug to recharge as you celebrate the holidays and anxiously await 2021.

21 Fun Winter Break & Christmas Holidays Bucket List

1. Have a movie marathon

Movie marathons are fun for the whole family and are the PERFECT way to wind down after a busy few weeks leading up to the holidays. Pick a day, pick your perfect Christmas jammies and cuddle up on the couch with your loved ones. To make the marathon run smoothly, prep your snacks in advance. Popcorn is always a popular favorite, but be sure to prep some healthy snacks too since this will be an all-day affair. Slice up some fruit and veggies with a dip into containers the night before. Put juice boxes or other preferred beverages in the fridge too. Make hot chocolate in the morning that you can sip on during the day too (P.S. The crockpot works perfectly for this).

2. Go sledding

If you live in an area that sees a white Christmas, get your sled or tube out and get outside to enjoy the beauty of nature. This activity is great because even with any COVID protocols in place, you can still enjoy with your loved ones. We love to find a place that has a smaller hill or section for the little ones and a section that is bigger for the adults. It’s great when we can all take turns and have fun safely. Consider packing a picnic lunch for when you’re tired out and need a break. Sledding can truly be an all-day affair! BONUS: your kiddos are sure to sleep amazingly well after spending all day in the fresh air!

3. Check out a local museum

Before you consider this one, be sure to check for any COVID protocols or restrictions that may be in place in your area. Museums tend to be hidden gems in many places and can be often overlooked or taken for granted in our towns/cities. When we have downtime over the holidays, checking out your local hidden gems is a great way to spend the time. Museums are also packed full of interesting information and a great learning experience for kids.

4. Have a home spa day

Sure this one seems like the perfect fit if you have a daughter, but it can be for sons too! Spa days (self-care) don’t need to be complicated either. Set up a foot soak station, and let the kids soak their piggies. Once they are nice and soft and warm, grab some lotion and give them a nice relaxing foot massage (tickling optional). After that, grab the nail polish if desired and paint their toes in festive holiday colors. Next up, you could offer manicures with hand massages and fancy nail polish too! If you’re feeling brave, take your turn and let the kids paint your nails too! They will love it! Don’t forget the spa snacks to keep your little customers happy!

5. Make a family memory scrapbook

Us parents in the digital age have hundreds and thousands of photos of our kids and family memories. How many of us ever actually do anything with those photos? Christmas break is the perfect time to sit down with your child/ren, pick out your favorite photos, and create a scrapbook. Kids will love helping to choose the pictures and pasting them into the book. If your kids are older, you can consider giving them a stack of photos of their own and letting them create their own book too. Set up your supplies at the kitchen table, enjoy snacks as you create your scrapbooks. If you’re not feeling super crafty, arranging your photos in albums works too!

6. Take a hike

No matter where you live, a hike is a great option to add to your holiday calendar. The exercise and fresh air are fantastic for your health, mind, and well-being (or as I say, mind, body, and soul). Be sure to dress in layers, and take special care to keep your head and feet warm. Take a small backpack with snacks and drinks. Be sure to take your phone (duh!) or camera to capture your day and the beautiful scenery, especially if there is fresh snow!

7. Spend a day crafting (aka doing crafts)

Jump onto Pinterest and create a Christmas craft board in advance of your holidays. There are thousands of ideas out there for fun crafts that can involve children of all ages. Once you’ve chosen as many crafts as you can handle in one day, head out or order your supplies online to be prepared when your day comes.

8. Redecorate or rearrange your kids’ rooms (or any room in the home for that matter).

Kids’ rooms become cluttered with toys, clothes, and other items. Christmas break is the perfect time to redecorate and rearrange their rooms. Go through their items, donate clothing, toys, and other items to make space for new items. Taking some time to simply rearrange furniture can also make space feel brand new and give a facelift to the space. Redecorating can be as simple as rearranging decor they have, changing out photos in frames, or painting furniture if you need to make a drastic change.

9. Strap on the skates

Many arenas still have public skating available or in some places, outdoor skating may be an option. Skating is a fun activity for the whole family and it’s budget-friendly too! Get some exercise, and brush up your skills!

10. Build a snow fort

If you’re buried in snow, make the best of it! Dig out a fort, and if you’re wanting to get intricate, build a tunnel too! Your kids will love it and it’s a great unplugged family activity.

11. Volunteer, together

Look into volunteer options in your area, and consider what you are comfortable with. Some ideas include adopting a senior, or family from your community and drop off a Secret Santa gift for them, collect supplies to donate to a local shelter, or contact a local animal shelter and walk dogs in their care. Of course, be mindful of what is safe given the current circumstances.

12. Go camping indoors

If camping is something you enjoy as a family, why not camp indoors. Gather your blankets and pillows and set up camp in your living room. Sit around a lantern, tell stories, eat snacks, and enjoy each other’s company before dozing off in a pile of snuggles.

13. Get out and snowshoe

Snowshoeing is always growing in popularity. It’s a relatively affordable hobby to get into, is a great experience, and can be enjoyed by all. It’s a lovely way to see the beautiful scenery too.

14. Take family game night to a new level

Instead of sitting down to play one or two games for family game night, organize a tournament for fun prizes for winners. Make it into a family game day, with multiple family-friendly games to experience or back to back sessions of beloved games. Some popular favorites are Monopoly, Risk, Go Fish, War, Crib, or even video games.

15. Crank the tunes at a dance party

Dance parties are a favorite for all kids of all ages. Crank up the tunes (Christmas-y or not) and get into the groove while you laugh and have fun. A dance party is a perfect place to blow off some steam and have fun.

16. Bake up a storm

Baking is the perfect way to spend some quality time together and explore your creativity. Your kids will have a blast mixing ingredients and decorating. These sweet treats also make great snacks for the holidays and even better gifts for loved ones or neighbors that can be dropped off safely for others to enjoy!

17. Learn something new

With the holiday downtime, consider learning something new. A new language, hobby, or sport is a good place to start! Research your options to distance learning online and make it a family affair if you can.

18. Research virtual tours

If you’re a Facebook user, you’ve likely seen all of the events for virtual tours of places all over the world. Research the ones that are upcoming, and pick out a few that are a good fit for your family. Tune in to watch and learn something new about a new place in the world.

19. Create a family swap

If you have friends close to home that you won’t be able to see over the holidays, create a family swap plan. Put together a small basket of items for their family and vice versa. Drop them off on their step as a nice Christmas surprise. You can include homemade baking, a meal, and a Christmas movie, book or activity they can do together. A sense of togetherness has been lacking this year and this can make you feel connected.

20. Host a (virtual) family showcase

We all have unique skills, some of which our loved ones may not even know about! Host a family showcase night and give each member of your family the opportunity to share their talent. Sing your heart out, dance the night away, perform a magic trick-whatever it is, show it off!

21. Put pen to paper

Writing a story can be a fun and rewarding experience to share with your child. Work together as a family to create a story that can be shared for years to come. A fun way to do this is to have each family member add a sentence and then continue to go around taking turns until you have a full story. Spend the evening reading it as a bedtime story!

As you look forward to the Christmas season, these ideas are sure to spark some inspiration for how you want to spend your time.

We can never get our time back so enjoy these rare and precious times with your loved ones!

Happy Holidays Y’all xx

“Winter is not a season, it’s a celebration.”

Namaste,

Kusum

21 Must-Do Winter Break Activities, Christmas Holidays Bucket List

With Winter break & Christmas just around the corner, sharing 21 fun must-do bucket list activities to try over the upcoming holidays!

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