I’ve created a list of Christmas activities for kids and families that is perfect for an Australian Summer Christmas. Not a hot chocolate, snowman or ice-skating mention in sight!

Christmas is a time of magic and wonder. Of traditions, delicious food and coming together to celebrate. And it can be a time of long to do lists, an overbooked calendar, cranky kids and stressed parents. Just keeping it real here!

This year some of our favourite Christmas traditions, like visiting the Myer Christmas windows and attending Carols by Candlelight, just aren’t going to be possible. So, I wanted a list of Christmas activities my family could do that is more focused around home.

Because magic is something you make.

Outdoor Christmas Activities

• Go for a walk and decorate a branch with items you find.
• Hang Christmas lights.
• Have a picnic. Amp up the Christmas with themed plates and food, like these watermelon Christmas trees, Rudolph pears or strawberry Santa hats.
• Hold a candy cane treasure hunt.
• Hire a jumping castle. It’s probably not as expensive as you’d expect and you could chip in with another family of two to reduce costs further.
• Drop a Christmas surprise off at someone’s door.
• Go on a Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt.
• Camp outside in your backyard.
• Have a Santa Beard contest with shaving cream.
• Gather twigs to make Christmas decorations.

Indoor Christmas Activities

• Count down to Christmas Day with an advent calendar. From a simple paper chain to Christmas activities you open for each day to toy sets like Lego and Playmobil, there are so many wonderful ideas.
• Gift a Christmas box to start the holiday season. Each year I give my girls a new Christmas t-shirt, tree ornament and book. I splurged on personalised Christmas boxes to present them in each year (I love a good tradition!) and they open them December 1st.
• Be visited by an Elf on the Shelf. There are countless ideas for antics these cheeky creatures can get up to.
• Plan an online shopping date for kids to purchase presents for their loved ones.
• Send Christmas cards.
• Watch a Christmas movie. Even better, have a Christmas movie marathon.
• Decorate your Christmas tree.
• Hold your own Christmas tree lighting event. Issue the kids invitations and set a countdown to built anticipation.
• Write a letter to Santa.
• Read Christmas books. Add to the sense of occasion by unwrapping a different book each night.
• Make a playlist of your favourite Christmas songs, crank up the volume and have a dance party.
• Receive a video from Santa.
• Give Christmas manicures and pedicures.
• Have a Christmas dress-up contest.
• Grab some props and have a silly Christmas photo session.
• Do some face painting. This set is crayon style for kids to use. They will adore painting your face too!
• Hold a games night. Some of these and these Minute to Win it style ideas could be great fun. Or how about turning each other into crepe paper Christmas trees? For something more sedate, Christmas Song Pictionary.
• Make a holiday greeting video and send it to family and friends.
• Surprise someone with a secret decoration attack.
• Have a Christmas scavenger hunt. This set of free printables includes clues and mini challenges to complete.
• Wear matching Christmas PJs.
• Have a sleepover under the Christmas tree.

Food Activity Ideas

• Decorate a gingerbread house.
• Set out the ingredients and make ice cream sundaes or banana splits.
• Have a festive breakfast with reindeer pancakes. I think this Christmas tree pancake stack is adorable too.
• Make homemade ice cream. Peppermint, cranberry and vanilla or dark chocolate gingerbread all sound delicious!
• Bake and decorate biscuits.
• Make a popcorn garland for the Christmas tree.
• Bake gingerbread people.
• Make Christmas icy poles.

Christmas Craft Activities

• Decorate wrapping paper.
• Make Christmas tree ornaments, like these using salt dough, air dry clay or with beads.
• Make giant gingerbread people.
• Create a Christmas tree sun-catcher or stained glass ornaments.
• Make a Christmas wreath.
• Create gift tags.
• Make a bird seed ornament.
• Hold a Christmas tree building challenge. Love this idea with lollies and toothpicks, but you could use magnets, blocks…
• Build a sleigh for Santa out of Lego.

Hope you enjoy this list of Australian Christmas activities!

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