S2 E35 Ten Ideas for Holiday Fun as a Family

With the holidays just around the corner, I wanted to share some fun and meaningful ways to engage your kids (especially at the elementary-aged levels) in learning, thinking, and creativity during this festive season. The best part? These ideas aren’t just educational—they’re also perfect for making memories and spending quality time together as a family, and even better… They're low budget too!

Here we go!

1. Baking and Measuring Together

There’s something magical about being in the kitchen during the holidays. Invite your child to help bake cookies or make a favorite dish. Measuring ingredients teaches fractions and volume, following a recipe builds sequencing skills, and mixing it all together is just plain fun!  Having a taste or two along the way with a cup of hot chocolate or cider makes it even better.  

Letting your child take the lead on a new recipe? Even better! It’s a great way to boost their confidence, teach them to problem-solve, and maybe even discover a new family favorite.

2. Create a Family Game

Whether it’s a board game, a card game, or a physical game like a holiday-themed obstacle course, designing a game together is a fantastic exercise in creativity and critical thinking. Your child will practice planning, strategy, and maybe even a little rule negotiation (always a valuable life skill).

Plus, once the game is done, you’ll have something unique to play together as a family—over and over again!

3. Host a Scavenger Hunt

Remember my season one episode about creating scavenger hunts? The holidays are the perfect time for one. Hide clues around the house or yard, and make the final prize something festive—maybe a small gift, a special treat, or just a family movie night coupon.

Not only does this encourage problem-solving, but it also gets kids moving and thinking outside the box.

4. Explore Advent Puzzles

Here on my website, I’ve been posting daily advent puzzles—fun, bite-sized math or language challenges for you to enjoy with your child. These puzzles encourage logical thinking and perseverance, and they’re a great way to keep those math muscles flexing even during the break.

I’ll continue releasing puzzles until December 24th, so if you haven’t checked them out yet, it’s not too late!

5. Holiday Thank-You Cards

Making homemade thank-you cards is a wonderful way to blend creativity and gratitude. Your child can practice handwriting, spelling, and design while learning the importance of saying "thank you." It’s also an excellent way to reinforce those lessons we discussed in the why manners matter episode earlier this season.

6. Set the Table or Wrap Gifts

Involve your child in holiday preparations by having them help set the table or wrap gifts. Counting plates, measuring gift wrap, or designing their own tags are simple tasks that sneakily build math and spatial skills like estimation and measurement as well as plenty of fine motor skills.

7. Put on a Holiday Play

I used to put on plays with my cousins during the holidays, and it was always a highlight. Encourage your child to write a script, gather costumes, determine the musical score and direct a performance. Whether it’s just for your family or shared on a video call with grandparents, this activity builds storytelling, communication skills, collaboration, and confidence.

8. Design the New Year’s Eve Event

Let your child help plan the menu or design invitations for your New Year’s Eve gathering. This involves decision-making, creativity, and even a little budgeting if you talk about what you need to buy. It’s a great way to include them in the festivities while giving them a sense of responsibility. If you need a party planner for your child, remember I have one for free with the party planning episode.

9. Make a Holiday Fort

Gather blankets, pillows, and maybe some twinkle lights, and create a cozy family fort in the living room. Then, snuggle up and watch a holiday movie together. It’s a simple but meaningful way to slow down and connect.

10. Paint the Windows

Turn your windows into holiday masterpieces! Mix washable paint with a little dish soap for an easy-to-clean medium, and let your child create festive designs like snowflakes, ornaments, or even a snowy winter scene. (I tried a similar ratio as what is listed in Coffee Cups and Crayons to be effective.)

This activity sparks creativity and fine motor skills while allowing your child to explore symmetry, patterns, and artistic expression. Plus, it’s a festive way to brighten up your home for the season!

Why These Activities Matter

All of these ideas are designed to do more than just keep your kids busy. They help your children think critically, solve problems, and build creativity and deep, lasting memories—all while deepening your bond as a family. And isn’t that what the holidays are all about?

Closing Thoughts

As we wrap up this episode/posting—and this season—I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you. Whether you’ve listened to one episode or all of them, whether you’ve shared the podcast with a friend or left a review, your support means the world to me.

Thank you again for being part of the Raising Thinkers community. Wishing you and your family a joyful, restful holiday season and a very Happy New Year.