The holidays have a way of speeding everything up — the schedules, the to-dos, the expectations, the noise. And yet, our kids? They don’t need more. They just need us and a little rhythm. Moments that mark this season as special (but obviously without adding one more stressful thing to your plate)
So here’s a holiday bucket list designed for families who want to slow down, savor this holiday season, and make space for memories that feel special and actually doable.
Everything here is easy. We are not striving for perfection… just connection.
A Cozy Christmas Movie Night
Pajamas. Blankets. Popcorn.
That’s it. Pick one holiday movie and make it your yearly tradition. Kids love the ritual of doing the same simple thing every year — it becomes its own kind of magic.
This is one of those nights where nobody has to plan or scramble. You just snuggle up and let the glow of the screen feel like early childhood all over again.
Drive to See Christmas Lights
We do this almost weekly during the Christmas season. It’s a Saylor family fav. 😉 Load everyone into the car in pajamas, bring hot cocoa in travel cups, turn up the Christmas music, and slowly drive through neighborhoods.
Every age loves this — babies, toddlers, big kids, even teens. There’s something about lights on houses that makes the world feel gentle and slow. Easy & magical.
Special Baking Day
Pick one thing. Truly — just one. We’ve done it all depending on mental capacity and energy levels (eh hem.. moms). We’ve done from scratch, boxed, frozen dough. Give yourself grace and pick something that feels doable and fun.
Options like:
- Cookies
- A cinnamon loaf
- Banana bread
- Puppy Chow
- Muffins
- A boxed mix your kids can dump in themselves
Kids don’t care if it’s homemade or not… they care that they’re doing it with you.
Take a picture of their floury hands or messy smiles. These are the moments you’ll want to remember.
Decorate the Tree Together (Even If It’s Imperfect)
Let them hang things where they want. (seriously.. don’t rearrange.. they feel so proud of themselves)
Let the ornaments cluster in one hilarious section.
Let the tree lean a little.
The joy is in the doing. Years from now, you’ll remember their tiny hands stretching as high as they could reach — not whether the decorating looked Pinterest-perfect.
Build a Blanket Fort + Have a “Glow” Night
Bring out blankets, pillows, Christmas lights, flashlights, or battery candles. Crawl inside with snacks. Read a book or watch a show. Let everything feel soft and slow.
It’s instant magic, and you barely have to do a thing.
Make an “Extra-Special Hot Cocoa” Night
Let the kids choose the toppings:
- Sprinkles
- Mini chocolate chips
- Crushed candy canes (let the kids crush them in a bag)
- Caramel drizzle
- Reese’s cup melted at the bottom
Keep it simple. Maybe let them choose the mugs.
A two-minute moment becomes a big memory because kids feel the specialness instantly.
Do a Family “Yes Night” (Draw From a Bowl!)
Let the kids come up with a few ideas for each category, write them down on a slip of paper, and draw one:
- A silly idea (inspo 5-min dance party to fav Christmas song, eat dessert before dinner, parents vs. kids pillow fight etc.)
- One treat (inspo microwave mug cakes, popcorn in bed, etc.)
- One game (inspo hide-and-seek in the dark, would you rather, freeze dance, board games)
Then say yes to whatever you pull. Kids remember this forever — truly.
Create a Simple Keepsake Ornament
Easy ideas that last forever:
- A printed photo + a simple ornament frame (Hobby Lobby has lots of crafty options or simple popsicle sticks) My kids LOVE decorating a little wooden frame. These make super sweet ornaments.
- Handprint artwork. Use fun colors, glitter, puff balls, etc.
- A clear ornament filled with paper scraps in your child’s favorite colors.
Whatever you choose, add the year. Future you will be so grateful.
Make a Christmas Countdown Chain
Use scrap paper, cut strips, and let the kids decorate them. Inside each loop, write one tiny activity:
- “Give a hug”
- “Watch Elf”
- “Eat a candy cane”
It’s simple, adorable, and gives kids something to look forward to each day.
Bonus: A Gentle, Christ-Centered Advent Rhythm (With a Free Printable!)
December moves fast — but Advent invites us to slow down, breathe, and remember why we celebrate at all. It’s a season of anticipation, of hope, of preparing our hearts for the most meaningful story ever told.
Advent doesn’t need to look like big projects or perfect routines. It can be simple, sacred, and woven right into your evenings with the kids.
Try small nightly activities like:
• Lighting a candle and remembering that Jesus is the Light of the World
• Tearing off one link of your Advent countdown chain and reading the short Nativity line together
• Sharing one thing you’re thankful to God for
• Hanging a single ornament on a tiny tree as you talk about waiting for Jesus’ birth
Kids don’t need a big production to understand the wonder of this season.
They learn through warmth, repetition, and the softness of these little moments — gathered close, listening to the story that changed everything.
If you’d like a simple guide to help you ease into Advent this year, I put together a kid-friendly Nativity countdown chain. Each strip is a sentence or two from the story of Jesus’ birth—ready to print, cut, and turn into a paper chain. Every night, you’ll snip off one link, read it together, and let your family slow down and breathe in the beauty of the season.
