For many, Christmas Eve is a time of prayer and reflection as it leads into the celebration of Christmas Day.
It is also a time when families come together for merriment, fellowship, and, of course, food.
If this annual event finds you looking for ideas on how to organise your own special party with your kids at home, you’ve come to the right place.
Tips for a Fun Christmas Eve Celebration with Kids
The following tips will help you enjoy the holiday season with your children and guests at home, by creating a special atmosphere that your family and friends will remember for years to come.
Kids’ Holiday Rituals and Traditions
It is essential that kids have a healthy, fun tradition at this time of year that they look forward to and bring back every year.
Here are some ideas that you can try:
- Christmas tree – If there is a Christmas tree in your home, make it a point to add the last of the decorations or a very special decoration on the tree on Christmas Eve. Do this surrounded by the whole family for an almost ceremonial effect.
- Letter From Santa – Getting a Letter from Santa is an amazing experience for the kids. Plan a special night when all the kids get to write to Santa and leave their wish lists.
- Christmas treats – Try to make your children’s favourite Christmas treats. Try a new recipe and see what they like. Do not forget, you can also give them a small present on Christmas Eve so that they feel extra special.
- Christmas Eve Box – Give your kids at least one surprise present in their Christmas Eve Box on Christmas Eve! Surprise them with toys or funny things that they would never expect and always remember.
Organise a Special Gift for Your Kids
Giving a special gift to kids on Christmas Eve is a tradition that some families keep alive.
Make up a collection of things that your kids love and put them into a box. Then as the family watches, open it one by one to see what is inside.
The Night Before Christmas Eve
On the night before Christmas Eve, let the kids create their own ornament and hang it on the tree. If there is no tree, make one out of materials in your home. Be creative!
Create a special bedtime routine with some elements that they love and will remember, such as lights, characters, or songs.
Let them close their eyes and be carried away by their imagination to this special night when they will see who is coming to visit them all Christmas night long. This makes the kids more excited than ever.
Invite Family and Close Friends
If you are inviting family and friends, remember your house may be limited in size.
Be sure to invite only those people whom you know will be able to make it to the party.
For safety reasons, do not allow the kids to go out of the party room unless they are being supervised by an adult.
Pick Fun Activities with Children in Mind
Fun Christmas craft activities and games for kids can be a great way to celebrate.
If there is no tree and the kids are still making their own ornaments, this becomes a good activity to do together.
Otherwise, try decorating cookies or making gingerbread ornaments.
Make It Memorable With a Fun Theme
Being creative about the Christmas Eve party makes it more inviting for your guests and gives them something to talk about later on.
You can make it funny, whimsical, or even educational; whatever you think will work best for you.
A Christmas Eve party with a theme can be very entertaining for the kids. Make sure to have a lot of fun activities for them such as treasure hunts, games on the floor, etc.
You can make this party with your family or friends, but to be a good host you have to have enough food and drink to satisfy everyone – this could be a lot given the time of year!
Prepare Finger Foods and Appetisers
Christmas Eve is the time to enjoy good food with your family and friends.
Make sure that you remember this and plan your menu accordingly.
Appetisers are a great way to start a get-together as they offer your guests something quick to eat. A wide variety of appetisers will allow everyone to find something for their tastes.
A wide variety of finger foods is preferable to full meals because this way you can offer a more diverse menu and everyone will feel satisfied once they leave, without feeling stuffed with heavy meals.
Sing Family Favorite Christmas Songs
Singing Christmas songs and carols is a tradition that many families enjoy.
Choose a few of your favourite Christmas songs and get the kids to learn them.
Ask the kids if they want to sing along or sing them in another language (make sure you have enough translations for all of your guests!).
Facilitate a Group Activity with Younger Children
Younger children will love to do a fun activity with their parents and/or any adults in attendance.
Keep in mind that children need to be supervised by an adult at all times during this time so they don’t play with fire, for example.
Keep a Clean House
In order for you to have a fun time at your party, it is important that you leave the cleaning for later so you can enjoy the party with your family and friends.
Prepare everything before the guests arrive and make sure there are no toys scattered anywhere.
You can organise this in advance by keeping all Christmas decorations in one place and then, after the celebration, take them out of the room so that you can enjoy a clean environment once again.
Make a Christmas Wishlist
Kids love Christmas wishes because it is the time and place when they can ask for everything they want from Santa.
You can use this opportunity to make them feel extra special by having them make a wishlist of everything they want for Christmas.
