Unique Christmas Activities for Tweens and Teens
I earn a commission from products purchased through links in this post.
Every year I plan fun activities for my family during the Advent season. When my kids were little, we did toddler-friendly activities like making Christmas patterns with pony beads and reading Christmas picture books. They adored that stuff when they were younger.
As they get older, though, those little kid activities just are not as much fun for them. In order to keep our tradition alive, I needed to come up with Christmas activities for tweens, activities they will actually enjoy.
I plan one activity every day from December 1st – December 24th. Bigger, more time-intensive activities are sprinkled in between easy, low-stress activities. We did a few of these Christmas activities for tweens last year, and they were a huge hit.
I usually start planning out activities in October. It feels really early, but some activities require advanced planning. So far this year I have already purchased tickets to a Christmas play with our homeschool co-op and a small holiday concert in our little town.
Christmas Activities for Tweens and Teens
Christmas Slime
My tweens are obsessed with making slime right now. I buy glue by the gallon to keep them in slime supplies! Switching up the slime recipe by adding red or green glitter, peppermint extract, or red/green paint can add a holiday flair.
Midnight Movie Marathon
Camping out in the living room and watching movies all night is something we pretty much never do. I’m a morning person, so the house is usually quiet by 10 p.m.
This makes it super special when we do pile blankets on the living room floor and stay up all night. We pop popcorn, make a ton of cookies, and watch Christmas movies back to back all night long – Elf, Home Alone, Christmas with the Kranks, and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation are all favorites.
This is one of our newest Christmas activities for tweens because both of my kids are finally mature enough to be safe and responsible if I fall asleep while they are still awake. They are also past the cartoon phase, so we can watch movies that the grown-ups enjoy too.
Will my kids stay awake all night? Yes, definitely. Will Paul and I be able to stay awake all night? Doubtful.
Related: Best Family-Friendly Christmas Movies
Try a New Holiday Recipe
Older kids usually have longer attention spans, so this is a great time to try new cookie recipes. I am allergic to gluten, but thankfully there are tons of awesome gluten-free cookie recipes available nowadays.
The Celebrations cookbook has amazing Christmas treat recipes, but my kids also like to scroll through Pinterest to see what looks good.f
Take a Last-Minute Trip
This is definitely a ‘bigger’ activity, but it can be really memorable. One of the great things about older kids is that they can usually pack their own overnight bag pretty reliably.
Wouldn’t it be fun to announce over breakfast that you are leaving on a secret trip in an hour or two? This definitely requires plenty of prep (making sure everyone has clean clothes to pack, arranging pet care, hotel reservations, etc.).
Visiting grandparents, old family friends, a Christmas attraction in another city, or even a cute cabin is a fantastic way to make some Christmas memories and spread a little holiday cheer.
Board Game Night
My kids love board games, but sometimes there just isn’t enough time to play their favorite – Monopoly. They are ruthless, and the game takes hours. I’m going to clear the calendar one evening, so we have plenty of time to play.
Ordering take-out and playing Monopoly sounds like a great way to get some family time, but this will work for any game. If you need a new game, check out this list of our favorite board games for tweens and teens.
Go to a Movie in a Theater
We have so many movie streaming options at home now that we almost never actually go out to see a movie. One thing I noticed the last time I went out to the movies was that theaters have gotten so much nicer recently. Most of the theaters in our town now have a wait staff to bring real meals right to the reclining seats!
Enjoy the flexibility of the homeschool lifestyle and save money by going to a matinee.
Doughnut Bar
Putting together a doughnut bar is a sweet treat for a gathering with friends or a quiet morning with the family. It is rare to find gluten-free doughnuts available commercially, but they are super easy to bake in a doughnut pan.
We set out a variety of topping options – Christmas sprinkles, crushed candy canes, shredded coconut, etc. Everyone makes their own delicious doughnut creations. Yum!
A doughnut bar can be a great addition to a tween Christmas party. It is one of the Christmas activities for tweens that scales easily for groups.
Stay Up All Night Reading
Last year we observed the Icelandic tradition of Jolabokaflod for the first time. It was instantly a family favorite, and the kids have already begged us to do it again this year.
This tradition involves staying up late, reading books, and eating chocolate. What’s not to like? I had new cozy pajamas, a decadent gourmet chocolate bar, and a few books waiting for everyone in our family when we returned from the Christmas Eve church service.
Everyone got comfortable and read late into the night. It was such a peaceful way to end Christmas Eve! One year the grandparents were visiting, and we gifted them books and chocolate on Christmas Eve too. This is one of our favorite Christmas activities for tweens because it is really enjoyed by the entire family.
Bonus: Christmas Scavenger Hunt
A Christmas-themed scavenger hunt is always fun, but tweens and teens might want to kick it up a notch.
This year I plan to make this a contest among my family. Parents and teens will pair up and compete against each other. The first group to find and photograph all of the items on the Christmas scavenger hunt will win.
The prize will likely be something simple. My family usually orders dinner on Friday nights, so maybe the winning team will get to choose the restaurant.
Keep reading . . .
- Awesome Christmas Homeschool Activities
- Fun Advent Calendars for Teens
- The Best Christmas Chapter Books for Kids
- December Homeschool Activities
- Free Printable Homeschool Christmas Planner
- Christmas Unit Studies for Homeschool Lessons
- Christmas Books for Young Adults
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.