Fun Things to Do with Kids this Holiday Season

Hi friends! How’s the day going? Hope you’re having a wonderful almost-Friday. I’m looking forward to this weekend because we have some fun holiday activities for the kids planned. I’ll share our holiday bucket list with you below!

It’s been an interesting day over here. P is dancing the “one nap or two naps” dance (always a pleasure) and I’ve been waiting to see what she was feeling like today. We dropped Livi off at school, took the pups for a walk and played all morning. She didn’t go down for her first nap, so I tried again after lunch, and thankfully SUCCESS.

Tonight I teach cardio barre and I’m also spending some time planning out fun things to do this weekend.

Holiday Activities for Kids and Families

San Diego has so many enjoyable holiday events for kids and families, and even more so during the holiday season. I thought I’d put together a little list if you’re looking for ideas for your kids–or nieces and nephews! Please share any of your own ideas below; I’d love to hear them and get some new inspiration!!

Holiday activities for kids and families - There are so many fun things to do with kids during the holidays! Here are some things that are on my holiday bucket list that you might enjoy with your own family! fitnessista.com #holidayactivities #holidays

-Make a gingerbread house. Trader Joe’s has excellent kits and it’s always a fun activity to make these houses after P goes to bed. The best part is watching the candy slowly disappear from the perimeter…

Decorating a gingerbread house with Livi

-Volunteer and focus on giving. I want to teach our kiddos the value of giving to others and try to include them in holiday philanthropy. Liv has helped me pack up food to donate, and each year we sponsor the adoption fees of some of the older dogs at the Humane Society. I’m always looking for ways to inspire gratitude and sharing with the kids, so if you have any traditions, I would love to hear them! This is a purse idea from last year that I’ll likely replicate this year. 

-Drive around and check out holiday lights. This is one of our all-time favorite holiday pastimes. We’ll play Christmas music (Pentatonix and Michael Buble) and drive around the find the best lights. In Tucson, we’ll park the car and walk through Winterhaven, which is a totally decked-out neighborhood (I’m pretty sure it’s part of the HOA agreement that you have elaborate Christmas light displays).

Winter haven Christmas house

I’m pretty pumped that P can experience it this year! Livi remembers it and can’t wait to go back.

-Watch a Christmas movie and drink hot cocoa. I’ll never forget Liv’s first hot cocoa. (At Starbucks, if you ask for “kids temp” they make it lukewarm instead of hot.) We were outside Nordstrom Rack and I wanted a coffee, so I figured it was a great time to introduce her to this wintery treat. Needless to say, it rocked her world. We love watching movies together and some of our favorites are the old Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman and Elf.

Explore local holiday events. For all of my San Diego friends, here is an awesome list of free activities.

Outdoor Christmas tree

-Bake cookies! Decorate, pack some up to share with friends/neighbors and eat the rest. 😉

-Make a craft. Thanks to Pinterest, there are so many options available, depending on whether you’re a Martha Stewart or a not-so-craftypants like yours truly. I definitely want to make a couple of *easy* crafts with the girls during Liv’s break, and really liked this idea and this idea. One of my favorite holiday creations was this felt tree! I’m currently in the process of digging through storage to see if I can unearth it for miss P.

Felt Christmas Tree

-Make a holiday food together. Our family’s holiday food is tamales, which is exciting because everyone in the family loves them. I’ll probably bring Liv along for the tamale-making fun and know that we’ll have our New Years menudo together. What foods make you think of the holiday season? Mine are definitely my mom’s grammies and my nana’s enchiladas on Christmas Eve. 

Matching jammies!! The best. I’m trying to figure out if I can convince the Pilot to wear nutcracker pajamas. Hmmm.

Nutcracker jammies

So tell me friends: what are you looking forward to this month? Fun traditions you do with your kids or family?

xoxo

Gina

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8 Comments

  1. Brittany on December 1, 2016 at 1:31 pm

    These are great traditions! Ours are usually:
    Driving and looking at the Christmas lights.
    Baking cookies (this year we are also making candied pecans).
    We are going to the Christmas party at the library. They read the kids a story, have hot chocolate, cookies, etc.
    Saturday me and my husband are taking both girls to Bass Pro to have Santa pictures. This is our first year doing it but they have free crafts and Christmas things for them so I’m hoping it’s great and we can make that a tradition!
    Christmas pajamas to open on Christmas Eve and wear that night.
    My little town has a horse and wagon Christmas parade so I always take the girls to that. It’s fun and Santa is at the end.
    My oldest is always in the church Christmas play so that’ll be fun to watch as always.
    Gingerbread houses, Christmas books, Christmas movies, Christmas music, EVERYTHING! It’s the best time of the year! I’m also making a felt tree. My youngest is 10 months old so this will be her 1st Christmas which makes it even more special!

  2. Julia @ Drops of Jules on December 1, 2016 at 3:27 pm

    As a fellow local San Diegan, my favorite is December Nights! We will be going this weekend; will you be there? I’d love to meet you!

  3. Sarah @ The Blonde Giraffe on December 1, 2016 at 4:35 pm

    These are all such good ideas for activities with the littles!! Love those nutcracker pjs!!

  4. Kristen on December 1, 2016 at 6:35 pm

    My son is almost 5 and he is at a great age to really start understanding the importance of giving so we are focusing more on that this holiday season. We’ve had multiple tradgedies in and around my town in the past few days and weeks. So I’m hoping to use them to teach my son a little selflessness. We’ll be picking out some toys and winter clothes for other kids and he’s already told me that he wants to help the animals at the animal shelter. <3

  5. Bethany on December 1, 2016 at 8:11 pm

    I LOVE the matching PJs! I got me and my son a matching set this year. The hubs is out of the country for Christmas but said he would play along next year! I am holding him to it!!! lol

    This is my son’s first Christmas and I plan to making a Christmas plate with his handprint as a tradition. I will make it at our local Arts and Crafts and then get glanced!

  6. Brynn on December 2, 2016 at 3:36 am

    Now that Mitch is two, it seems like we can do so much more. I’m looking forward to decorating the tree, watching Christmas movies and making cookies together!

  7. ann on December 7, 2016 at 10:01 am

    I love these pajamas did you see them in the store? They are out online

  8. Cassie T on December 9, 2016 at 6:54 am

    I did your new Booty Workout yesterday and am delightfully sore today 😀 Modified slightly – no box jump after the burpees since I did the workout from home, and I have had some pain in my lower back (and no KB at home), so I replaced the KB swings with a plie squat + DB row. It was the perfect amount of time and sweat to get in a quick workout but not have to wash my hair 😉

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