Family Winter Activities to Keep the Holiday Spirit Alive

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Keep the magic of the holiday season alive all winter long with these fun and heartwarming winter activities for the whole family, from outdoor adventures to cozy crafts and meaningful traditions.

Once the Christmas tree is packed away and the holiday hustle has quieted, it’s easy to feel a bit of a letdown. But winter still offers plenty of opportunities to keep the festive spirit alive and make the season memorable.

By keeping the holiday spirit alive in your home you can help avoid some of the winter blues and keep some of the family closeness we feel during the holidays.

Fun Family Winter Activities

Embrace Winter’s Beauty with Outdoor Activities

It’s easy to stay stuck inside during the winter months but there are a lot of mental and physical health benefits to getting outside more.

“Some studies have shown that being outside triggers physiologic responses in our body that help reduce stress levels. Some feel that we have a strong connection to nature because of the way we evolved from living in nature for survival and that helps us feel peaceful in that setting.” – The Physical and Mental Benefits of Getting Outside in the Winter

You also will get more vitamin d which is great for physical and mental health. Just getting sun for 5 to 15 minutes, 2 or 3 times a week, shows a lot of great benefits for our health.

There are a lot of great winter outdoor activities to try out. Just make sure to wear the right clothing and you can have a lot of fun this winter with these activities.

Ice Skating
Sledding
Building a Snowman
Winter Hikes or Nature Walks – make it more fun by downloading the Seek app to help you identify plants and animals you may find along the way.
Go on a Winter Wonderland Picnic – don’t forget the hot drinks and cozy blankets.

Extend the Holiday Spirit at Home

December 25th really is just the start of Christmas. There are 12 days of Christmas and it can be fun to celebrate all of them. You can also find other ways to keep the spirit alive even more than just the 12 days of Christmas.

Keep some of your lights up all winter.
Have a Christmas movie night and eat some of your leftover holiday treats or make that Christmas cookie recipe you never got around to making.
Have a winter crafting night and make items like snowflake garlands, decorate mugs, or use some of your Christmas cards to create fun new crafts.
Decorate your home for winter. You can repurpose some of your Christmas decor to create a winter wonderland.
Decorate for Valentine’s Day. I love to redecorate my tree for Valentine’s Day and leave it up even longer. Decorating your spaces for another holiday can help keep the excitement alive.

Share Kindness and Warmth with Others

One of the best parts of the holiday spirit is the kindness it often brings. Keeping that part of the season alive helps everyone keep the spirit alive.

Volunteer as a family at a food bank or shelter.
Organize a winter coat drive.
Restock some little libraries with books you are done with or pick up some cheap ones from the thrift store.
Write thank you notes to friends and family.

Create Warm and Cozy Moments

Little intentional moments can help us keep that holiday spirit alive long after the Christmas trees are gone.

Cook warm seasonal meals together, things like stews, soups, and freshly baked bread.
Set up a hot cocoa bar and use it often, especially for movie nights.
Start a new winter family tradition like reading a book aloud by the fireplace or weekend s’mores nights by an outdoor fire. Get creative.
Create a memory book with photos, ticket stubs, and other keepsakes from Christmas.

Plan Ahead for Next Christmas

Getting a head start on some of your Christmas planning for next year can also keep the memory of this Christmas alive.

Start planning gift ideas for next year.
Making homemade gifts now can also be fun.
Reflect on this past Christmas together and set some goals for a stress-free Christmas next year.

By incorporating these family winter activities, you can turn winter into a time for creativity, connection, and joy—keeping the magic of the holidays alive long after the decorations are stored away.