Holiday-themed activities are my lifeline right now, y’all. I’m in my cramped Ohio apartment, the radiator’s clanking like it’s haunted, and my kids—6 and 9—are bouncing around like they mainlined sugar cookies. The holidays are nuts—school’s out, it’s freezing, and I’m one spilled hot cocoa away from locking myself in the bathroom. So, I’m all in on holiday crafts for kids to keep my little monsters from turning the couch into a trampoline. It’s messy, I’m no craft goddess, but these holiday-themed activities? They’re keeping us afloat, even if I’m picking glitter outta my teeth.
Last week, I tried to be That Mom and set up a “cute craft corner.” Epic fail. I pictured us making perfect paper snowflakes, but it looked like a glitter tornado hit my kitchen. Glue on the dog, sparkles in my coffee—total trainwreck. But my kids? They were in love. They didn’t care our snowflakes looked like they fell off a truck. It was chaos, but they stayed busy for, like, an hour, which is basically a Christmas miracle.
Why Holiday-Themed Activities Are My Thing
I’m not artsy, okay? I burn toast, my gift-wrapping’s a disaster, and I once glued my finger to a pinecone. No lie. But holiday-themed activities don’t care if you’re a mess. Kids just wanna make stuff and feel the holiday magic. I learned this when I tried to “fix” my son’s gingerbread house. He slopped neon green icing on it, and I was like, “No, buddy, it’s gotta be red!” Big mistake. He cried, I felt like garbage. Now I let them do whatever, even if it’s a green gingerbread house that looks like it’s from Area 51.
Here’s why I’m hooked:
- They’re cheap. I’m using random junk—paper, glue, yarn from when I thought I’d knit scarves. (Spoiler: I didn’t.)
- They’re easy. Switch from crafts to games when the kids get antsy.
- They make me feel like I’m kinda winning at mom life, even when I’m googling “glitter in eye emergency” at 1 a.m.
If you want fancy ideas, Martha Stewart’s holiday crafts are pretty dope, but I tone down her perfectionist stuff to match my chaos.
My Favorite Holiday-Themed Activities (That Don’t Totally Suck)
Crafty Mess: Holiday-Themed Art Projects
Holiday-themed activities like crafts are my go-to ‘cause they keep my kids busy without destroying everything. Last weekend, we made snowman ornaments with cotton balls and pipe cleaners. I thought it’d be adorable, but my daughter gave hers “emo hair” with tinsel. It’s ugly as sin, and I love it. It’s on our tree, outshining my fancy ornaments.
Try this:
- Grab cotton balls, pipe cleaners, googly eyes from the dollar store.
- Let the kids make whatever—snowmen, reindeer, or my son’s “holiday blob thing.”
- Pro tip: Newspaper on the table, or your kitchen’s gonna sparkle forever.
Games to Stop the Meltdowns
When crafts get boring, I switch to holiday-themed activities that let my kids move. They’re like hyper puppies, so we do “Santa’s Sack Race.” I grab pillowcases, toss in jingle bells, and make ‘em hop across the living room. I tried it once, tripped on a toy car, and face-planted into the Christmas tree. Super embarrassing, but the kids laughed for ages.
How to do it:
- Grab pillowcases or grocery bags.
- Add something jingly for holiday vibes.
- Set a racecourse—watch out for toys unless you want bruises.
Parents.com has more games that don’t need you to be a party-planning pro.
Baking Fails That Kinda Worked
Baking’s my favorite holiday-themed activity, even though I’m a kitchen disaster. We tried star-shaped sugar cookies last week. I screwed up, added way too much salt, and they tasted like sadness. But my kids? They slapped on so much icing and sprinkles, those cookies were basically modern art. We ate the okay ones, laughed, and I swore to read the recipe next time.
Baking tips from a hot mess:
- Go for simple recipes. Allrecipes has ones I can’t totally ruin.
- Let the kids decorate like crazy. It’s not about eating—it’s the fun.
- Maybe have a fire extinguisher handy. Kidding. I think.
My Big Holiday-Themed Activity Screw-Ups
I’m no expert at holiday-themed activities, and I’ve got glitter stains to prove it. My worst mistake? Thinking I could make it all perfect. I’d plan these big projects, but my kids just wanted to smear paint and talk about “evil snowmen.” Letting go was my biggest win. Also, cheap glue sticks are the worst—I spent an hour picking glue off my fingers. Never again.
Another flop: I tried a holiday scavenger hunt with zero planning. Hid stuff around the house, forgot where half of it was, and my 6-year-old found a candy cane in my sock drawer. Total mom fail, but we laughed so hard, and now it’s a family joke.
Wrapping Up This Holiday Chaos
Holiday-themed activities are my messy, imperfect way of getting through the season. I’m sitting here, coffee cold, staring at a pile of yarn and glitter that’s basically my living room now. It’s not cute, but it’s real, and my kids are happy. That’s what matters. If you’re drowning in holiday madness, just try one activity—grab some paper, let the kids go nuts, and call it a day. You’re doing fine, even if it feels like a circus.
