Are you trying to plan special Christmas activities for teens in your family? You might be surprised to know it isn’t as hard as you think to keep the magic alive after your kids have grown up.
Making holiday plans that work for everyone can feel overwhelming especially as your kids get older. As a mom myself, I am going to give you my go-to Christmas activities for teens that make our holidays feel special.
You are going to learn about all the Christmas activities for teens that we do including giving back, shopping, and more.
After learning all about all the activities for teens you are going to be ready to start new traditions that will bring magic to your holiday.
This post is all about the best Christmas activities for teens that parents need to know about.
Best Christmas Activities For Teens
1. Talk To Them About Their List Of Wants.
Teens are not babies and they have real opinions about their wants and needs. Talk to them. Ask them to come up with ideas for gifts they would really like to have for Christmas. Surprisingly, your teen might want practical gifts more than big-ticket items. Want to know some of the asks in my house this year?
SHOES:
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Basic shoes will be worn and will make great gifts. And teens love a new fresh pair of sneakers to wear on their first day back.
Cleats:
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Cleats, sports gear or apparel used for extracurricular activities are great items to get teens. But, allow them to choose. They are old enough to have a voice in the things they want or need.
School Supplies:
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Fresh school supplies make great stocking stuffers! And, believe it or not, teens tend to want and sometimes even ask for new pens, pencils, and highlighters.
If your teen is struggling to make a list for you, help them out. Break down each area of your teen’s life and come up with things from each category. Do they need a new coat, warmer sheets, new beauty supplies, or even items for a room makeover?
2. Reinvent Old Traditions
You don’t need every holiday tradition to remain the same. Teens are fun and able to do a lot more than your once little kids. Allow them to find new and exciting cookie recipes for your baking day. Keep your “Elf on the Shelf” but have fun with how you move him and make them laugh. (Mine recently wrote in chalk “You’re Old” to my son who recently turned 18.) Let them help address and mail Christmas cards instead of just smiling in them. Better yet, let them plan the card photo shoot.
- Make the gingerbread houses:
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- Have a blast with an Elf on the Shelf
Price at time of post: $44.95
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- Involve your teens in the holiday baking
Check out these sites for some fun recipes:
Baking with your teen means you might have to take a back seat. Enjoy it and take on the role of the clean-up crew. Trust me, it’s pretty amazing to watch your once-little kids take over the role of the head baker. And, if you let them plan the cookie recipes, be ready to try new things. You never know… they might become new family favorites!
3. Include Their Friends And Significant Others
Let me say it again, include THEIR friends in your holiday plans. By doing this, you will have an active fun house all holiday season. Plan a baking party or cookie swap and set it all up for them. Plan a “Secret Santa” sleepover or “White Elephant” party at your house. I know you want private family time during the holidays, but they really want to be with their friends too. So go ahead, invite the teens, you won’t be sorry.
Check out these ways to get teens to have fun:
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Price at time of post: $13.99
4. Find Ways To Give Back
Nothing gets the entire family in the holiday spirit like giving to people in need. Your teen might not want to donate time to the soup kitchen and that’s ok. Do a little research and find other ways to give back. My teens volunteered to help wrap gifts for overwhelmed busy moms of younger kids.
- Host a holiday food drive
- Knit hats, scarves, or blankets
- Adopt a Family
- Buy a meal or coffee for someone
- Clean out closets and donate warm clothing
- Make care packages
- Donate toys to a local toy drive
- Donate to your local hospital
5. Start New Traditions
Most likely, you started family traditions when you were much younger. They may have come from your own childhood. But, what if you and your teens want to start something brand new? It’s never too late to create activities and holiday events that the whole family can look forward to year after year.
- Go Christmas Caroling
- Attend a Community Tree Lighting
- Take a Trip – Santa can follow you anywhere!
- Go Ice Skating
- See a Holiday Show/ Movie
- Make and Exchange Gifts
- Exchange Gag Gifts
This was all about Christmas activities for teens that will bring holiday cheer to your home this year.
You may also like:
- 9 Unique Advent Calendars You Won’t Want To Miss
- 9 Practical Gifts That Will Be Used And Loved
- 11 Cool Stocking Stuffers For Men That They Will Like And Use
May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve.” ~ unknown
