During the winter months, my twin 5-year-old boys start showing signs of cabin fever fast! One of our favorite indoor activities is doing a follow-along workout video that gets their energy out without needing any equipment.
The best part? It’s totally free!
Let’s be honest — kids love the idea of writing to Santa way more than they like sitting still to do anything that feels like schoolwork. The good news? Writing a letter to Santa doesn’t have to feel like homework at all.
That’s exactly why we’re making this activity simple, fun, and stress-free for both parents and kids.
Instead of staring at a blank page, kids get to use this Official Letter to Santa printable that guides them through the fun parts — checking boxes, writing a little, and sharing what matters most to them.
This printable is designed to keep kids engaged without overwhelming them. It includes:
A fun “Nice / Naughty / A Bit of Both” checkbox (because kids love honesty!)
A short space to share something they did that was extra nice
Room to write or draw their Christmas wishes
Cute holiday graphics that instantly make it feel special
Younger kids can draw or dictate their answers, while older kids can write on their own — no pressure, no long paragraphs, and no complaints.
Once the letter is finished, you can:
Read it together and talk about their answers
Leave it by the tree or fireplace
Mail it to Santa
Save it as a keepsake to look back on in future years
These little letters often turn into some of the sweetest holiday memories.
To make things easy, we’re providing this free printable Letter to Santa right here. Just print it out, hand over some crayons or markers, and let the magic happen.
It’s festive, fun, and feels like play — not homework — which is exactly how holiday activities should be.
Let me introduce you to Christmas Story Stones — a simple, creative game that turns everyday materials into magic.
Story stones don’t even have to be stones. You can use salt dough, just like in our previous post, or anything you have on hand. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s imagination, storytelling, and togetherness.
Story stones are small objects with pictures or symbols on them. Each image represents an idea, character, place, or action. When you put them together, they help tell a story.
For Christmas, your story stones might include:
A Christmas tree
A snowman
A star
A reindeer
A gift
A fireplace
A bell
A candy cane
Each stone becomes a story prompt, and when combined, they create endless holiday tales.
You can make these with items you already have at home.
Options include:
Real stones from outside
Salt dough shapes
Air-dry clay
Cardboard circles
Wood slices
Once dry, draw Christmas images on them using:
Markers
Paint
Crayons
They don’t have to look perfect. In fact, the more homemade they are, the more special they become.
There are no complicated rules — that’s what makes it fun!
Basic Rules:
Put all the story stones in a bag or basket
Each player draws 1–3 stones
Take turns creating a story using the images
You can:
Tell one complete story
Build a story together, one stone at a time
Let kids act it out as they go
There’s no wrong answer. Silly stories are encouraged!
This simple activity does so much more than entertain.
Story stones:
Build imagination and creativity
Encourage storytelling and communication
Help kids think outside the box
Create screen-free family time
Boost confidence as kids share ideas
And during the holidays, they slow things down and bring everyone together — which is what the season is really about.
One of the best parts?
These story stones can become a holiday keepsake.
Pack them away with your Christmas decorations and bring them out each year. Over time, they become part of your family’s traditions — a reminder of stories told, laughter shared, and memories made.
You can even write the year on the back and watch your collection grow.
Christmas doesn’t have to be expensive to be magical.
Sometimes the most meaningful moments come from:
A table full of art supplies
A few handmade story stones
And time spent together creating something special
If you’re looking for a free, creative, and memory-making Christmas activity, story stones are a wonderful place to start.
The holidays are often filled with stuff—gifts, decorations, parties, and busy schedules. But some of the most meaningful memories you can create as a family don’t cost a single dollar. They come from giving your time, your hands, and your hearts to others.
Volunteering together as a family—whether at a soup kitchen, food bank, or gift-wrapping station—can be one of the most powerful bonding experiences you’ll ever share.
When families volunteer together, something special happens. You step outside your normal routine and work as a team for a purpose bigger than yourselves. Kids see their parents leading by example. Parents see their kids develop empathy, patience, and gratitude.
It’s not about perfection—it’s about presence.
Volunteering helps everyone:
Appreciate what they already have at home
Understand that not every family’s situation looks the same
Feel proud of making a difference, even in small ways
And those lessons stick far longer than any toy ever will.
You don’t need special skills or a lot of time. Many organizations welcome families, even with young kids.
Soup Kitchens & Community Meals
Families can help serve food, refill drinks, clean tables, or simply greet guests with a smile. Even younger children can help by handing out napkins or saying “hello.”
Food Banks
Sorting canned goods, packing boxes, or organizing shelves is a great hands-on activity that kids love. It feels like a scavenger hunt with a purpose.
Gift-Wrapping Stations
Around the holidays, many charities set up gift-wrapping drives for families in need. Wrapping presents together is fun, creative, and incredibly meaningful when kids know those gifts are going to someone who truly needs them.
Something magical happens when you work side by side as a family without distractions—no phones, no screens, no rushing. You talk more. You laugh more. You notice each other.
Afterward, conversations change:
“I’m glad we have food at home.”
“I didn’t know people needed help like that.”
“Can we do this again?”
Those moments are priceless.
Volunteering is one of the best examples of free family fun. It doesn’t cost money. It doesn’t require fancy planning. But it delivers connection, perspective, and memories that last.
If you’re looking for a way to slow down, reset priorities, and truly live the spirit of the season—try giving back together.
Sometimes the greatest gift you can give your family… is showing them how to give to others ❤️
And the best part?
It doesn’t cost a thing.
Tonight, we’re trying something fun, simple, and totally free:
The kids are cooking dinner!
They have no idea yet — which makes it even better. A surprise “Kids Cook Night” turns an ordinary evening into something exciting. And instead of one big planned recipe, tonight’s dinner is going potluck style. Every child picks a dish (or part of one) to make, using what you already have at home.
Family fun doesn’t have to mean spending money.
No tickets.
No travel.
No gadgets or supplies needed.
Just:
Your kitchen
Your kids
Your normal groceries
And a little imagination
It’s an activity that brings the family together, teaches real-life skills, and gives your kids a sense of pride — all at zero cost.
When children get involved in the kitchen, they learn:
Responsibility
Creativity
Following directions
Trying new foods
Teamwork
And maybe best of all… they learn that they can do things on their own.
Kids absolutely glow when they’re trusted with a task that feels grown-up.
Tonight’s surprise can easily grow into something bigger:
A monthly Kids Cook Night.
Do it once a month and you’ll start to see real growth:
Better cooking skills
More confidence
Kids taking ownership of their dish
Less “I don’t want that!” at dinner
More bonding and family memories
This becomes a rhythm, a ritual — something the whole family looks forward to.
In a world where everything seems to cost money, this is a reminder that the best moments don’t.
It’s free.
It’s simple.
And it’s meaningful.
Just a kitchen full of ingredients, a family full of excitement, and a meal made with love (and maybe a sprinkle too much salt from small hands).
That’s what memories are made of.
So tonight… the kids cook.
Next month… they’ll be even better.
And every time, you’ll be creating free, fun, unforgettable family moments.
If you’re stuck inside on a snowy day and want something fun, creative, and actually Instagram-worthy, salt dough ornaments are where it’s at.
They’re super cheap to make, easy to customize, and they last forever — like, “find them in a Christmas bin 10 years later and still smile” forever.
Let’s get into it. 👇
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 cup warm water
A mixing bowl
Rolling pin
Cookie cutters (or just cut shapes with a knife)
Straw or toothpick (to poke the hole for hanging)
Baking sheet
Paint, markers, glitter, ribbon — whatever you want to decorate with
That’s literally it. No fancy ingredients. No running to the store in a blizzard.
Mix the flour and salt in a bowl.
Slowly add the warm water while stirring.
When it starts coming together, switch to using your hands and knead it like you're making bread.
You want the dough to be smooth and not sticky.
If it’s too sticky → add a little flour.
If it’s too dry → add a tiny splash of water.
Boom. Dough done.
Sprinkle some flour on your table or counter so it doesn’t stick.
Roll the dough to about ¼ inch thick — not too thin, not too chunky.
Use cookie cutters to make shapes like:
stars
trees
snowmen
gingerbread people
hearts
dinosaur shapes (because why not?)
No cookie cutters? Use a knife or trace around a cup to make circles.
IMPORTANT: Use a straw or toothpick to poke a little hole at the top so you can hang it later.
Place your shapes on a baking sheet.
Bake at:
Low and slow works best so they dry out evenly.
They’re done when they feel hard and dry.
Let them cool completely before painting.
This is the fun part — make them YOUR style.
You can decorate with:
Acrylic paint
Permanent markers
Glitter glue
Puffy paint
Nail polish (yep, teens use it all the time)
Stickers
Fake snow spray
Once everything is dry, tie a ribbon or string through the hole and hang it on your tree.
Salt dough ornaments aren’t just for your tree. Try these:
Put someone’s name or the year on it. Boom — instant meaningful gift.
Perfect for little kids or pets. It’s adorable AND hilarious.
Write a name on the ornament and tie it onto a wrapped present.
String a bunch together and hang it across a doorway or fireplace.
Think:
Grinch
Olaf
Santa
Baby Yoda
Sonic (for Lex & Julian 😉)
Hang them on door knobs, bulletin boards, or around your window.
Salt dough ornaments are one of those crafts that look fancy but are secretly super easy.
They’re perfect for snow days, family time, or just something creative to do when you need a break from screens.
Plus — every ornament you make becomes a little memory you’ll keep year after year.
