The easiest way to make DIY holiday activities at home is to keep them simple, flexible, and fun for everyone involved. Stock up on a few basic craft supplies, choose activities that scale across age groups, and let go of the pressure to make everything perfect. The holidays are about connection, not perfection. Below, we answer the most common questions families have about planning holiday fun at home, from crafts and games to baking and knowing when to head out for a change of scenery.
What are the easiest DIY holiday activities for families with kids?
The easiest DIY holiday activities for families with kids are ones that require minimal setup, use supplies you likely already have, and can be adjusted for different ages. Think paper snowflake cutting, handprint ornament making, holiday card decorating, and simple wreath assembly using construction paper or natural materials from outside. These activities need almost no prep and deliver big on fun.
The key is choosing activities with a low barrier to entry. You do not want to spend more time setting up than actually doing the activity. Some reliable crowd-pleasers include:
- Paper snowflakes: All you need is white paper and scissors. Fold, cut, unfold, and marvel. Even toddlers can participate with safety scissors.
- Handprint cards or wrapping paper: Stamp little hands in paint and turn them into reindeer, Christmas trees, or snowmen. These double as keepsakes.
- Salt dough ornaments: Mix flour, salt, and water to create a moldable dough. Kids shape and decorate them, and you bake them in the oven. Simple and satisfying.
- Holiday coloring pages: Print free templates online and set out markers, crayons, and colored pencils. Perfect for younger kids who need a lower-energy option.
The best DIY holiday crafts at home are the ones where the process matters more than the outcome. Resist the urge to fix or perfect what kids create. The lopsided ornament or the smudged card is often the one that gets treasured the most.
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What supplies do you need to set up DIY holiday crafts at home?
To set up DIY holiday crafts at home, you need a core kit of basic supplies that covers most projects: construction paper, scissors, glue sticks, markers, tape, paint, and brushes. Add a few holiday-specific extras like glitter, ribbon, googly eyes, and foam stickers, and you have everything needed to run a full afternoon of holiday crafts for kids of any age.
Here is a simple shopping list to keep on hand throughout the season:
- Construction paper in red, green, white, and gold
- Child-safe scissors and at least one pair of adult scissors
- Washable paint in holiday colors
- Glue sticks and liquid craft glue
- Glitter glue (less messy than loose glitter)
- Foam stickers, googly eyes, and pom-poms
- Ribbon, twine, and yarn
- Cardstock for sturdier projects
- Old newspapers or a plastic tablecloth to protect surfaces
One smart strategy is to put together a dedicated holiday craft bin at the start of the season. When kids want to do something creative, the supplies are already organized and ready to go. This removes friction and makes spontaneous holiday crafting much easier for parents.
How do you keep kids of different ages engaged in the same holiday activity?
To keep kids of different ages engaged in the same holiday activity, choose projects with multiple roles or difficulty levels built in. Assign age-appropriate tasks within the same activity so everyone is contributing at their own level. A younger child can paste and glue while an older sibling draws and cuts. Everyone works on the same project, but at the right level of challenge for them.
This approach works because it creates a shared goal without requiring identical skills. Some specific strategies that help:
- Layer the complexity: For a holiday card project, toddlers stamp or glue, school-age kids write messages, and teens can design the layout or add detailed illustrations.
- Assign helper roles: Older kids love having responsibility. Make them the “craft assistant” who helps younger siblings thread ribbon or apply glue safely.
- Set a shared outcome: When everyone is contributing to one final product, like a family holiday banner or a decorated wreath, the motivation stays high across all ages.
- Offer parallel options: Let each child make their own version of the same item. A three-year-old and a ten-year-old can both make a paper ornament, just at very different levels of detail.
The secret to keeping mixed-age groups happy is making sure no one feels bored or left behind. Rotate who leads each step, celebrate every contribution equally, and focus on the experience of doing it together rather than the finished product.
What are the best DIY holiday games to play indoors with the whole family?
The best DIY holiday games to play indoors with the whole family are ones that require little to no equipment, scale for different ages, and create genuine moments of laughter and friendly competition. Holiday bingo, gift-wrapping relay races, trivia, and charades with holiday themes are all easy to set up and endlessly entertaining for mixed-age groups.
Holiday bingo and trivia
Holiday bingo is one of the most versatile indoor holiday activities you can create at home. Print or hand-draw bingo cards filled with holiday images or words, use candy or coins as markers, and you have a game that works for ages four to eighty-four. Holiday trivia is equally easy to put together using questions from different difficulty categories so everyone from kids to grandparents can participate.
Active and relay-style games
For families who like to move around, a gift-wrapping relay race is a brilliant option. Divide into teams, set a timer, and see who can wrap a box the fastest using mittens or oven gloves. It sounds simple, but it produces some of the best holiday memories. Other great active options include a holiday scavenger hunt around the house or a snowball toss using crumpled white paper balls and laundry baskets as targets.
The goal with indoor holiday games is to create just enough competition to get everyone invested while keeping the stakes low enough that everyone stays in good spirits. The best family holiday fun at home comes from laughter, not scorekeeping.
How do you turn holiday baking into a fun family activity?
You turn holiday baking into a fun family activity by giving every person a job, embracing the mess, and focusing on the process rather than producing perfect results. Assign roles based on age, put on a holiday playlist, and treat the kitchen as a creative space rather than a production line. When kids feel ownership over what they are making, baking becomes one of the most memorable holiday activities for families.
Here is how to structure a family baking session that actually works:
- Choose forgiving recipes: Sugar cookies, no-bake chocolate clusters, and gingerbread are all great options because they tolerate a bit of chaos and are easy for kids to decorate.
- Prep before you start: Measure out ingredients in advance so the activity flows without long pauses. Kids lose interest during delays.
- Assign clear roles: Younger kids pour and stir. Older kids measure and mix. Teens can take on more complex steps like rolling dough or managing oven timing.
- Make decoration the main event: Set up a decorating station with icing, sprinkles, and candy. This is where kids of all ages shine and where most of the fun happens.
- Let go of perfection: A cookie covered in too many sprinkles is a perfect cookie. Celebrate creativity over neatness.
Holiday baking also creates a natural opportunity for storytelling. Share family recipes, talk about holiday traditions, and let the kitchen become the heart of the home during the season. The cookies are great, but the conversation is the real ingredient.
When should families consider going out instead of staying in for holiday fun?
Families should consider going out for holiday fun when energy at home is running low, kids need a change of scenery, or the occasion calls for something more special than a typical afternoon. Going out adds novelty, removes the cleanup burden from parents, and gives the whole family something to look forward to together. It is also worth considering when you want an activity that genuinely works for every age group without requiring extensive planning.
Some clear signals that it is time to head out include:
- Kids are restless or bored with the usual at-home options
- You are celebrating a birthday, milestone, or special holiday occasion
- The family wants friendly competition in a more exciting setting
- You want an activity that requires no setup or cleanup on your part
- Teens or older kids need something more engaging than standard crafts
Going out does not have to mean abandoning the spirit of togetherness that makes holiday activities meaningful. The best outings are ones that still put play and connection at the center, just in a bigger, more energized environment.
How SPIN helps families make the most of holiday fun
When staying home is not enough and your family is ready for a real outing, SPIN is the perfect place to bring everyone together for holiday fun that works for all ages. Here is what makes us the ideal destination for family groups during the holiday season:
- Olympic-grade ping pong tables equipped with premium Stiga paddles, suitable for complete beginners and competitive players alike
- Large-format social games like Uno, Connect 4, and Jenga for when you want to mix up the fun between matches
- A chef-driven menu of shareable, snackable bites and a full beverage selection, so no one goes hungry between games
- Family-friendly daytime hours across locations in New York, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, and more
- Private party packages perfect for holiday birthday celebrations and family milestones
- On-site SPIN pros who can offer tips and engage with guests of every skill level
Whether you are planning a casual holiday outing or a full celebration, you can reserve a ping pong table online up to seven days in advance for weekends. Walk-ins are also welcome when space is available. Come play with us this holiday season.
