Are you ready to get into the holiday spirit this year? Find out my favorite ways to countdown til Christmas with family. Plus, get my free Christmas countdown printable sign!
This post about Christmas countdown was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
My kids started asking about Christmas in October this year. I’m not even kidding.
Instead of telling them “not yet” for the millionth time, I decided to get creative with ways we could actually countdown together. Because honestly, half the magic of Christmas is the anticipation leading up to it.
I pulled together 10 ideas that work for different families and different budgets. Some are free, some cost a bit, but they’re all designed to make December feel special without stressing you out.
And yes, there’s a free printable at the end so you can actually track how many days are left. Because visual countdowns make everything more fun.
1. Watch Christmas Movies Together
This one’s easy and honestly my favorite way to get into the holiday spirit.
You don’t need fancy plans. Just grab some blankets, make hot chocolate, and pick something festive. We rotate between the cheesy Hallmark movies (I’m not ashamed), classic Disney films on Disney+, and Netflix originals.
Pro tip: If you’re watching with little kids, maybe preview some of those “childhood classics” first. Some of them are weirdly dark by today’s standards.
Put on a movie while you’re baking cookies or wrapping presents. It doesn’t have to be a whole production.
2. Make a Winter Bucket List
Sit down as a family and brainstorm everything you want to do this season.
It can be simple stuff like singing along to Mariah Carey, making hot cocoa bombs, or driving around to look at Christmas lights. Or bigger things like going ice skating, visiting a Christmas tree farm, or trying snowshoeing.
The key is letting everyone add their ideas to the list. My kids always come up with things I wouldn’t have thought of, and it makes them way more excited about actually doing the activities.
Keep the list where you can see it and cross things off as you go.
3. Try Random Acts of Kindness
This year has been a lot. The world could use more kindness.
Challenge your family to do something nice for someone else every day in December. It doesn’t have to be huge.
Kids can go through their toys and pick ones to donate to families who need them. You can adopt a family for Christmas and buy gifts or groceries. Write thank you notes to teachers, mail carriers, or neighbors who’ve helped you this year.
Sometimes it’s as simple as calling someone who’s been lonely.
My kids actually love this one because it makes them feel like they’re making a real difference.
4. Read a Christmas Book Every Night
There’s something cozy about shutting off screens and reading together before bed.
If you have little kids, pick a different Christmas book each night. Our favorites are Little Blue Truck’s Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 12 Days of Christmas, and The Night Before Christmas.
For older kids, you could read a chapter a night from something longer like Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone or The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
It’s become one of our favorite traditions because everyone actually slows down for once.
5. Get an Advent Calendar
Okay, I’ll admit it. We’re advent calendar people now.
We started a few years ago with LEGO Harry Potter advent calendars and the kids went nuts. This year they’re obsessed with LEGO Star Wars.
But there are so many options for 2025. Pokemon Funko Pop calendars, Hot Wheels calendars, beauty calendars for teens. Or just go classic with chocolate.
The daily surprise gives kids something to look forward to without going overboard.
6. Enjoy One Special Christmas Treat Each Day
We all know December is filled with cookies, candy, and way too much sugar.
Instead of eating everything in sight, what if you picked one special treat to enjoy each day? Something that actually feels intentional.
Maybe it’s a peppermint mocha every morning. Or one piece of fudge every afternoon. For kids, it could be a candy cane, a Christmas cookie, or hot chocolate before bed.
The point is making it something you only have during the holidays. That way it actually feels special instead of just another Tuesday.
7. Play a Family Game Each Night
Carve out 20-30 minutes each evening to play something together.
It doesn’t have to be the same game every time. Rotate who picks. Board games, card games, even video games count.
Our current favorites are Trouble, Sorry!, and Chutes and Ladders. If your kids are a bit older, check out my list of the best games for 6-year-olds.
It’s amazing how much connection happens when phones are down and everyone’s just playing together.
8. Add One Ornament to the Tree Each Night
Instead of decorating the whole tree in one shot, spread it out over December.
Hang one ornament each night. Talk about where it came from or why it matters. If it’s handmade, share the story behind it.
This works especially well if you have a lot of ornaments and not a lot of time. Every family member can take turns picking which one goes up that night.
You could also make this a craft activity. Get ornament kits or follow my tutorial for DIY reindeer ornaments. You can even turn this paper poinsettia craft into an ornament.
9. Do a Christmas Craft
If your kids love making things, this is perfect.
December has more craft ideas than any other month, so you’ll never run out of options. We’re doing this easy Red Christmas Truck craft this year because my boys are obsessed with trucks.
I’ve also got 41 different Christmas paper crafts you can try. Most use supplies you already have at home.
It doesn’t have to be Instagram-worthy. It just has to be fun.
10. Host Christmas Karaoke
This one gets loud, but it’s hilarious.
Every night, each family member picks a Christmas song to perform. Sing it for real or lip sync. Dress up in costumes if you want to go all out.
My kids take this SO seriously and it cracks me up every time.
You can keep it casual and just do it for fun, or let everyone vote on their favorite performances. Either way, it’s the kind of silly tradition that becomes a favorite.
Download Your Free Christmas Countdown Printable
You can’t really do a countdown without something visual, right?
This printable works a few different ways. Print it on thick paper and frame it. Attach clothespins to hold the numbers. Turn the numbers into magnets and stick it on your fridge.
However you use it, it makes the countdown feel real. Kids love physically changing the number each day.
Get Your FREE Christmas Countdown Printable
Pick one of these ideas or try all ten. There’s no right way to countdown to Christmas as long as you’re spending time together and making memories that’ll last way longer than the presents ever will.
Loving this Christmas countdown activities post and looking for more Christmas printables? Find out how to make a Paper Christmas Truck, Santa Letter Writing Tips, and 41 Incredible Christmas Paper Crafts!
