Holiday Outdoor Games

Don’t let the December cold keep you indoors this entire holiday season. Get outside and have some fun with your kids during the holidays. There’s so much to do outside this time of the year; so many fun things to see and places to explore. Today, we’re sharing 15 outdoor holiday activities to do with kids. Many of these outdoor activities can be done no matter where you live or what holiday (if any) you celebrate. This December, make it a goal to spend more time outside celebrating together in nature. Put your own twist on these outdoor activities and make them your own. Maybe they’ll even become yearly traditions! So, what are you waiting for? Bundle up and get outside!

Special thanks to all the amazing members of our Instagram community that allowed us to share their special images in the post. We appreciate you all so much!

When you think of the holidays, you probably don’t immediately think about outdoor adventures. We want to change that! Regardless of how many things are going on inside this time of year, kids need outdoor play. They need to burn energy, explore and play outdoors. They need fresh air and sunshine (what little there is this time of year) and room to move! Kids should be enjoying nature and the outdoors year-round. The holiday season is no exception.

Play Pickle Ball Like A Pro With Dallas Outdoor Games Maker Autside

There are so many fun things to do and experience outside in December. We’re sharing just a few of our favorite ways to get outside, get active and have fun amidst the holiday chaos. I have a feeling that the more of these activities you incorporate into your holiday, the more fun you and your kids will have! We’re hoping you make getting outside a priority for your family this holiday season.

Making a holiday wreath with kids is such a fun craft. My favorite craft projects usually start with time outside, exploring and collecting materials. For a holiday-inspired wreath, head outside and look for evergreens and anything colorful. Bring a bag with you to collect all your finds and goodies. You’ll need quite a few branches, so consider bringing scissors or something to use to safely cut the plant without damaging it (leave this with a grownup). Make sure you’re in a public area or have permission to make any cuts to trees/plants or take anything.

Once you’ve collected enough materials, head home and arrange everything around a wreath structure or even a cutout piece of cardboard. Choose your method of adhesion (hot glue, rubber bands, etc.) and get started! Let the kids help as much as they can and give them free rein over their creation. When all’s done, add a few pinecone embellishments, some holly berries or a big bow. Finally, hang on the door for all to see!

Joyin Ring Toss Games For Kids, Fun Family And Friends Toss Yard Games For Adults & Family, Easy To Assemble Lawn Ring Toss Backyard Games For Indoor Holiday Fun Or Outdoor

While lemonade stands might be all the rage in the summer, hosting a hot chocolate stand in the winter is a great way to put those entrepreneurial skills to good use. The cooler weather is a great excuse to put a new spin on a traditional outdoor childhood activity. Plus, get your little ones in the giving spirit by selecting a charity or cause to receive half (or all) of the profits of their shop. Then, help your kids come up with everything they need to set up a booth to sell hot cocoa, spiced cider, coffee, tea, or baked goods. All you need are your supplies, some change, a table, and a big sign! Choose a location where you’ll encounter some foot traffic and voila!

Going on a holiday lights walk is one of my kids’ favorite holiday traditions. We choose one night in December (close to Christmas) to bundle up and go for a holiday walk to see lights. The kids get dressed up in their warmest clothes and grab a blanket of their choice. We fill travel mugs with hot chocolate and marshmallows. Then we load everyone up in the wagon, stroller or buggy and go for a walk around the neighborhood.

The kids stay nice and toasty in the wagon, all snuggled up together. I drag or push them down our street and around a couple of blocks in our neighborhood to find the houses with the best lights. We ooh and ahh over the decorations and pick our favorites. Sometimes we’ll even bring a Bluetooth speaker with us and play holiday songs and sing along to the music. Depending on how cold it is, we usually stay out around 30-40 minutes. But even 10 minutes up and down our own street feels great once you’re outside and moving!

Fun Outdoor Games For Families

Ice skating outdoors is one of my favorite things to do with the kids during the holidays. There’s something magical about being outside in the crisp air, all bundled up, and slip-sliding around on ice skates under the twinkle lights. Many cities have wonderful outdoor ice skating rinks that are open around the holidays. They’re usually open in the evening, surrounded by lights, so it’s one of the few outdoor activities that you can do in the evening since it gets dark so early.

Make a full family event out of ice skating and see who’s the best. Most rinks have skate rentals for kids as young at two. Plus, there are lots of options for kids that are still learning, including buckets and braces. And for the grown-ups, there’s always the wall to hold onto! After your skate, head out to dinner or for dessert and make a special night out of it!

Making bird seed feeders for the birds and squirrels is a wonderful way to teach kids about kindness and compassion. My kids love making eco-friendly bird feeders from supplies and materials we have at home. Our favorites are pinecones dipped in peanut butter and then rolled in birdseed. Not only do the kids have to get out and explore to collect the pinecones, but they get to get messy while they make these. We also love cutting apples in half and leaving them out for the animals. If we have snow, we’ve even gone to our local park and make a giant birthday cake out of snow and decorated it with birdseed, carrots, lettuce leaves and orange slices for the animals. Here are three fun and easy options for making bird feeders with kids.

Fun Outdoor Games For The Whole Family

There are so many great reasons to choose to cut down your own (or purchase a live) real tree.  Heading out to the woods or local tree farm is a great way to get some fresh air and exercise in the cold month of December. It’s also a fun family tradition you can start and continue doing each year. When you purchase a live tree you’re also supporting a farm that depends on the income from those trees to continue to run. While the trees are growing, they help clean the air we breathe. Once the trees are cut down, they’re replaced with new ones. When they’re in your home, they smell heavenly!

Once you’re finished with a real Christmas tree, it can often be repurposed. Many cities collect the live trees and turn them into wildlife habitats, mulch or other products, or use them to help with erosion.  In these cases, the tree gets another life before it decomposes. If you need tips on what to do before you go tree hunting or how to choose the right tree, we’ve got a great post with tips on cutting down your own tree.

This is another one of my kids’ favorite holiday traditions. Every year, all the kids on our street go house-to-house caroling. It’s honestly one of the most adorable things I’ve ever seen and I hope we continue this tradition forever! The kids love it so much. They sing 2-3 songs at each house and collect a donation to give to a local charity. We print off a few the lyrics of around 10 songs for the big kids and the little ones that can’t read shake jingle bells and try to sing along as best they can. We usually hit about 10 houses and then head back to a neighbor’s house for cookies and hot chocolate.

Best Christmas Games & Activities For Kids

Don’t celebrate Christmas? No worries! There are a million other songs you could sing! No one said that caroling had to include Christmas songs. Make a list of some of your kids’ favorite songs or Google fun/silly kids’ music and learn a few songs. Bust out your favorite Disney songs, like Let it Go, Hakuna Matata and Bare Necessities. Some of our favorites for little ones include: Ram Sam Sam, She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain, You are my Sunshine, Twinkle Twinkle, Ants Go Marching, Baby Shark, Wheels on the Bus and Take Me Out to the Ballgame.

Another great family tradition to start is to go on a holiday hike. We all tend to overindulge around the holidays and take full advantage of the delicious food and drinks. It’s also easier than ever to skip exercising and opt for snuggling on the couch or watching a movie

Ice skating outdoors is one of my favorite things to do with the kids during the holidays. There’s something magical about being outside in the crisp air, all bundled up, and slip-sliding around on ice skates under the twinkle lights. Many cities have wonderful outdoor ice skating rinks that are open around the holidays. They’re usually open in the evening, surrounded by lights, so it’s one of the few outdoor activities that you can do in the evening since it gets dark so early.

Make a full family event out of ice skating and see who’s the best. Most rinks have skate rentals for kids as young at two. Plus, there are lots of options for kids that are still learning, including buckets and braces. And for the grown-ups, there’s always the wall to hold onto! After your skate, head out to dinner or for dessert and make a special night out of it!

Making bird seed feeders for the birds and squirrels is a wonderful way to teach kids about kindness and compassion. My kids love making eco-friendly bird feeders from supplies and materials we have at home. Our favorites are pinecones dipped in peanut butter and then rolled in birdseed. Not only do the kids have to get out and explore to collect the pinecones, but they get to get messy while they make these. We also love cutting apples in half and leaving them out for the animals. If we have snow, we’ve even gone to our local park and make a giant birthday cake out of snow and decorated it with birdseed, carrots, lettuce leaves and orange slices for the animals. Here are three fun and easy options for making bird feeders with kids.

Fun Outdoor Games For The Whole Family

There are so many great reasons to choose to cut down your own (or purchase a live) real tree.  Heading out to the woods or local tree farm is a great way to get some fresh air and exercise in the cold month of December. It’s also a fun family tradition you can start and continue doing each year. When you purchase a live tree you’re also supporting a farm that depends on the income from those trees to continue to run. While the trees are growing, they help clean the air we breathe. Once the trees are cut down, they’re replaced with new ones. When they’re in your home, they smell heavenly!

Once you’re finished with a real Christmas tree, it can often be repurposed. Many cities collect the live trees and turn them into wildlife habitats, mulch or other products, or use them to help with erosion.  In these cases, the tree gets another life before it decomposes. If you need tips on what to do before you go tree hunting or how to choose the right tree, we’ve got a great post with tips on cutting down your own tree.

This is another one of my kids’ favorite holiday traditions. Every year, all the kids on our street go house-to-house caroling. It’s honestly one of the most adorable things I’ve ever seen and I hope we continue this tradition forever! The kids love it so much. They sing 2-3 songs at each house and collect a donation to give to a local charity. We print off a few the lyrics of around 10 songs for the big kids and the little ones that can’t read shake jingle bells and try to sing along as best they can. We usually hit about 10 houses and then head back to a neighbor’s house for cookies and hot chocolate.

Best Christmas Games & Activities For Kids

Don’t celebrate Christmas? No worries! There are a million other songs you could sing! No one said that caroling had to include Christmas songs. Make a list of some of your kids’ favorite songs or Google fun/silly kids’ music and learn a few songs. Bust out your favorite Disney songs, like Let it Go, Hakuna Matata and Bare Necessities. Some of our favorites for little ones include: Ram Sam Sam, She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain, You are my Sunshine, Twinkle Twinkle, Ants Go Marching, Baby Shark, Wheels on the Bus and Take Me Out to the Ballgame.

Another great family tradition to start is to go on a holiday hike. We all tend to overindulge around the holidays and take full advantage of the delicious food and drinks. It’s also easier than ever to skip exercising and opt for snuggling on the couch or watching a movie