Simple Christmas Eve Ideas for Families
Looking for Christmas Eve ideas for families? Discover simple, cozy, and meaningful Christmas Eve traditions for families with kids including Christmas pajamas, hot chocolate, holiday movies, Christmas Eve boxes, and festive family activities perfect for toddlers, preschoolers, and young children.
There’s something so magical about Christmas Eve when you have little kids!
The anticipation. The glow of the Christmas tree lights. Tiny voices asking if they hear reindeer on the roof for the hundredth time. Matching Christmas pajamas, messy frosting-covered fingers from decorating cookies, and everyone trying to squeeze in just a little more holiday magic before bedtime.
As a mom of three, I’ve learned that the most meaningful Christmas Eve traditions for families usually aren’t the expensive or over-the-top ones.
They’re the cozy moments in the living room. The traditions your kids start expecting every single year. The little rituals that quietly become part of your family story.
If you’re looking for Christmas Eve ideas for families, this list is full of realistic, fun, and memory-making traditions for toddlers, preschoolers, and young kids, including plenty of budget-friendly Christmas Eve ideas you can start this year!
And if you’re looking beyond Christmas Eve, I also put together 50 Family Christmas Activities at Home with even more easy ideas for Christmas Day, holiday games, cozy crafts, and simple ways to spend time together as a family.
Note: Some links may be affiliate links. That means I may make a commission if you use my links to purchase, at no extra added cost to you! I only recommend products that I personally love and believe in. Full disclaimer here.
Why Christmas Eve Traditions Matter
One of the best parts of the holiday season is creating traditions your children will remember long after they’ve outgrown believing in Santa Claus.
The good news? You don’t need elaborate plans to create meaningful memories!
The best Christmas traditions for young families are often simple, like:
- Drinking hot chocolate together
- Watching a favorite holiday movie
- Listening to Christmas music while baking cookies
- Going for a drive to see Christmas lights
- Spending intentional family time together
These little moments become the traditions kids carry into adulthood.
25 Christmas Eve Ideas for Families
Discover your next favorite cozy traditions, fun activities, and simple Christmas Eve traditions for families with kids with this list.
- Open Christmas Eve Boxes
One of the most popular Christmas Eve traditions for families with kids is opening Christmas Eve boxes.
These usually include cozy items like:
- Christmas pajamas
- A candy cane
- Hot cocoa packets
- A holiday book
- Small gifts or stocking stuffers
This is a great way to kick off the evening and build excitement for Christmas morning.
And your Christmas Eve box definitely doesn’t need to be expensive. If you want to add a small gift, browse my Best Christmas Gifts for Toddlers and Preschoolers Under $50 for mom-approved ideas young kids can actually enjoy long after Christmas is over.
- Watch a Favorite Christmas Movie Together
A cozy movie night is one of the easiest Christmas Eve ideas for families at home.
Some family favorites include:
- Home Alone
- The Polar Express
- Elf
- The Santa Claus
Bigger kids might also enjoy It’s a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story. A cozy Christmas movie marathon with popcorn and blankets is always a hit. If you have toddlers, preschoolers, or younger elementary kids and need more movie ideas, I also rounded up 27 G-Rated Christmas Movies for Kids that are perfect for a family holiday movie night.
- Drive Around Looking at Christmas Lights
Pile everyone in the car with blankets and hot cocoa and go look at neighborhood light displays! This is one of those simple traditions that feels magical every time.
We put the kids in Christmas jammies & I also surprise them with some cheap Christmas lights from the dollar store for this tradition, too.
- Bake Christmas Cookies Together
Whether you make elaborate treats or simply bake sugar cookies, kids love helping in the kitchen.
Try:
- Reindeer Oreo Cookies
- Gingerbread cookies
- Frosted sugar cookies (don’t forget the cookie cutters!)
- Peppermint Brownie Bites
- Candy cane cookies
It’s messy, chaotic, and honestly one of the most fun Christmas activities with young children.
- Sprinkle Reindeer Food Outside
Toddlers especially love this tradition.
Make simple “reindeer food” with oats and edible sprinkles, then head outside before bed to sprinkle it on the lawn for Santa’s reindeer.
- Say Goodbye to the Elves
Does your family do the Elf on the Shelf tradition? Don’t forget to plan ahead for them to return to the North Pole with Santa on Christmas Eve!
Our tradition is that Christmas Eve morning the kids find the elves with a goodbye letter, letting them know they get to actually hug and carry around their elves for a little bit before putting them on top of the Santa sack under our tree, so they can ride home in Santa’s sleigh.
If you need help creating one too, I made some free printable elf goodbye letters you can use in your own home, too!
- Read Christmas Books Before Bed
Reading holiday stories together is a wonderful way to calm kids down before bedtime.
Our family favorites include:
- This version of the Night Before Christmas (because the illustrations are stunning)
- Little Red Sleigh
- The Polar Express
Find lots more age-appropriate Christmas book choices on our list of the Best Christmas Books for Kids.
- Make Homemade Hot Chocolate
Set up a little hot chocolate station with:
- Marshmallows
- Whipped cream
- Candy canes
- Sprinkles
This becomes an easy but memorable festive activity year after year!
- Listen to Christmas Carols Together
Turn on Christmas music while wrapping presents, baking cookies, or cleaning up after dinner.
Kids love singing along to classics like Jingle Bells. If you need more ideas, I’ve compiled some of our favorite children’s Christmas songs here too.
- Go to Midnight Mass or a Christmas Eve Service
For many families, attending church is an important part of celebrating the true meaning of Christmas. Even if your children are very young, this can become a meaningful annual tradition.
Our own church has Christmas Eve service in the afternoons, making it a little less stressful with young kids.
- Have a Special Christmas Eve Dinner
Your Christmas Eve dinner doesn’t have to be fancy! Some families make homemade pasta, while others order Chinese food every year.
The important part is simply gathering together. My own family makes something different every year. One year we made lasagna, the next year we had a turkey, and last year we did a big spread of finger foods.
- Make a New Ornament Together
Creating a new ornament each year is a wonderful way to build memories over time. When your kids are older, decorating the tree becomes a walk down memory lane.
And if your kids are already in crafting mode, you can keep it going with one of these Easy Christmas Toilet Paper Roll Crafts for Kids. They’re especially great for toddlers and preschoolers and use supplies you probably already have around the house.
- Wear Matching Christmas Pajamas
Matching pajamas might be cliché at this point, but honestly? Kids absolutely love them… and the photos become treasures later.
We’ve gotten ours from Old Navy, Target, Burts Bee’s Baby and Little Sleepies in the past! There are so many great options out there.
- Have a Christmas Karaoke Party
A family Christmas karaoke party is surprisingly hilarious!
You don’t need a fancy karaoke machine either. A quick search on YouTube works perfectly.
- Make Christmas Cards for Neighbors or Family Members
Simple handmade cards can become a meaningful way to spread holiday cheer. You can also pair this tradition with a conversation about kindness and generosity.
My collection of Christmas Giving Poem Ideas for Families includes original poems and simple ideas for helping children focus on giving and the true spirit of Christmas during the holiday season.
- Create a Holiday Snack Board
Fill a tray with cheese, crackers, fruit and dips! Make a second one of special treats, like cookies, candy canes and candy.
Serve it with a pull apart puff pastry Christmas tree for extra fun. Kids think snack boards are the height of luxury.
- Take a Family Walk After Dark
Bundle up and walk around your neighborhood looking at decorations and lights. Don’t forget the glow sticks!
- Watch Santa Trackers Together
Young children are completely fascinated by Santa trackers, and it adds to the excitement before bed time.
- Have a Family Game Night
A Christmas Eve game night is a fun way to slow down and connect.
Bring out the board games, holiday-themed bingo, card games and trivia games! A little friendly competition usually leads to lots of laughs.
Another fun option is turning Christmas Eve into an adventure with our Free Printable Christmas Scavenger Hunt Clues for Kids. The clues are easy to set up and can be used on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.
- Let Kids Open One Present
A small gift, book, or pajamas can make Christmas Eve feel extra exciting without overshadowing Christmas Day.
- Build a Gingerbread House
This is chaotic in the best possible way. Use frosting, candy, and paper plates for easy cleanup.
Make it even more fun by having a grown ups versus kids competition! Winner gets to choose the next activty.
- Have the Kids Decorate the Dinner Table
Let kids make name cards with stickers and stamps. It’s an easy Christmas activity and adds a personalized touch.
This becomes a family favorite very quickly! They can also choose any additional tabletop decorations.
- Make a Christmas Memory Jar
Write favorite moments from the past year on slips of paper and read them together.
- Start a New Family Tradition
The best new family traditions are often the simplest. Choose one thing your family can realistically repeat every year.
And remember, the fun doesn’t have to end once Christmas Eve is over. If you’re wondering what to actually do once Christmas is over, it’s the perfect time to start planning for a Fun & Festive New Years Eve with Kids!
- End the Night With Gratitude
Before bed, talk about favorite memories from the year and what everyone is excited for in the coming year. Even toddlers can express gratitude through art. Provide crayons, markers, and paper, and ask, “Can you draw something that made you happy today?”
It’s a simple but meaningful way to end the evening on a high note. These gratitude activities for kids and families can also help if you need more ideas.
Making Christmas Eve Feel Magical Without Overspending
One thing I always want parents to remember: your kids do not need a Pinterest-perfect Christmas.
The most beloved family-friendly Christmas Eve traditions are usually the simple ones:
- Watching holiday movies together
- Baking cookies
- Singing Christmas carols
- Drinking hot cocoa in pajamas
- Laughing together in the living room
Those are the moments that stick. Especially for toddlers and young children, the magic comes from togetherness.
You don’t need to start twenty new traditions this year. Pick one or two simple Christmas Eve ideas for families that feel realistic for your season of life.
Over time, those traditions become part of your family’s story. And someday, your kids may continue them with families of their own.
That’s the real magic of Christmas Eve.
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