Is it just me, or does summer vacation start with ambitious plans of nostalgic 1990s style summer fun activities and end with kids who’ve forgotten how to tie their shoes while setting a new world record for consecutive days of dirty hair and cups of Goldfish?

If you’re nodding so hard your neck hurts, welcome to the club. 

Let’s be real: summer parenting without a plan is like grocery shopping while hungry. It’s inevitably chaotic, potentially expensive, and you somehow end up with things nobody actually needs. (Looking at you, Costco impulse-purchased blow-up water slide.)

After years of summer survival mode (which often consisted of me hiding in my room, eating ranch cornnuts, scrolling Instagram while wondering if screen time limits are really that important) I’ve found something that works with both big and little kids. So today, I’m sharing a sanity-saving tool with you: THE WEEKLY SUMMER SCHEDULE FOR YOUR KIDS.

Not just any schedule, mind you. A flexible, simple, realistic summer routine that gives your kids the structure they benefit from while preserving your sanity. It’s also great for summer babysitters! It takes the pressure off them entertaining the kids all day and guarantees the kids won’t have endless screentime. 

Why Your Kids (and You) Actually NEED a Weekly Summer Schedule

Before we dive into these game-changing templates, let’s talk about why unstructured summer chaos isn’t actually the carefree childhood experience we think it is.

Kids thrive on knowing what comes next. This is especially true if you have a neurodivergent kiddo. It’s like how you feel when your favorite bakery closes unexpectedly – disoriented, betrayed, and suddenly unable to function as a normal human being. (I’m still mourning you, Pearl Snap Kolaches. ) 

Research shows that kids with some structure during the summer months…

• Retain more academic skills (bye-bye, summer slide!)
• Experience less anxiety (fewer meltdowns = less gray hair)
• Develop better independence (hallelujah!)
• Spend less time glued to screens (so long self-imposed guilt trips)

Plus, a good daily schedule means you’ll stop hearing “What are we doing today?” every 3.7 minutes, which honestly is reason enough for me.

That’s why I’ve sketched out a basic, daily summer schedule that you can tailor to your family’s wake-up time. It’s divided into 5 blocks that can be adjusted to fit your family’s needs. It’s just enough structure to give your summer some predictability and routine without making you feel tied down to the clock. If you’re a Type B like me, this one’s for you!!!

So let’s jump into the schedule!

Block 1: Rise and Shine

First up in our daily summer schedule for kids is the morning routine block. Because how the day starts pretty much determines the trajectory of the afternoon and evening. 

First 1- 1.5 Hours of the Day: Morning Routine

• Rise and Shine: Feed the pets, breakfast, get dressed, brush teeth, etc.
• Morning Chores: 20ish minutes of age-appropriate responsibilities 

I REALLY enjoy a slow morning routine, as do my girls. Sitting, reading, and drinking coffee in the morning is probably my favorite activity of the day. So I’ve included plenty of time for that. Let the kids enjoy a slow morning, too. Just because there are chores to do doesn’t mean there isn’t time to first enjoy a slow breakfast and play with the kitties before scooping poop out of  the litter box. 

Pro tips:

• Create a visual checklist for younger kids with pictures of each task.
• For tweens and teens, resist the urge to wake them before 9 AM unless absolutely necessary. The hormone-fueled creatures need their beauty sleep and trust me, NO ONE wants to deal with a sleep-deprived 13-year-old. If you don’t believe me, I’ll loan you mine for a day. 

Block 2: Move Yo Body

Next up: Move your body and play. Those video games and iPad screens will win unless we set the expectation to get outdoors and move around.

I planned this block for early in the day because I live in Texas, and we are literally dying outdoors by 10 am. If this block needs to wait until evening when the summer sun isn’t melting you alive, then alter accordingly. But you’d be surprised how well a sprinkler and some lemonade can keep the kiddos cool and comfy outdoors. 

1.5 Hours: Get Moving!

• Outdoor play, bike rides, sports, yard games, playground, walk the dog, etc.
• Wet Wednesday Special: Water play activities, swimming, etc. 
• Field Trip Friday: Museums, splash pads, water parks, the movies, the skating rink, etc. Beat the heat and have fun all day!

An outdoor block is non-negotiable, no matter the time of day you plan it. The science is clear: physical activity improves focus, mood, and cognitive function. Sunshine gives you all that vitamin D you need for a healthy immune system. Time in nature boosts mood and reduces stress for EVERYONE. This block is for you, too, grownups! 

Block 3: Brain Time (That’s Actually Fun!)

There’s no need to separate “learning time” from “creative time. They’re two sides of the same developmental coin. The goal is to make this fun, so the kids have no idea their brains are working. It’s like hiding vegetables in brownies. You can fill this block with arts and crafts and other activities from your summer bucket list.

Theming your days gives kids something specific and novel to look forward to while providing the predictability that their developing brains love. Plus, it makes it a lot easer on you to plan! Win, win for everyone.

1.5 Hours: Brain and Create Time:

• Make-it Monday: Extended craft, art project, or DIY Building project. (I love Kiwi Kits for this! My dad has been doing these with all the grands, and it’s been a great bonding and creative activity that’s minimal prep.)
• Try-It Tuesday: Learn about something new, then try it! (think recipes, art techniques, gardening, coding, sewing skills, etc.)
• Wordy Wednesday: Reading adventure day! This is a great time to head to your local library or used bookstore. Join a reading challenge at your local library, Half Price Books, Barnes and Noble. You can find a full list from Money Saving Mom. You can also incorporate language-based games for older kiddos, like Scrabble, Bananagrams, Scattergories, etc. 
• Thoughtful Thursday: Community service planning and creation (create cards, make a meal for someone, etc). Social-emotional learning is just as important as skills learning. Having a specific time each week to focus on this is integral to growing emotionally-healthy humans. 
• Field Trip Friday: Need I say more? If you’ve got littles, you might want to start wrapping it up, and heading back home for the next block. (My favorite!)

Block 4: The Afternoon Sanity Recoup

It’s time for lunch and a mandatory decompression time (aka nap time). Besides morning coffee time, this might be my favorite block of the day. Also known as iced coffee hour.

1+ Hours: Refuel and Recoup

• Lunch (pro tip: let the big kids make it and clean up!)
• Rest/Quiet time (for EVERYONE)

Eat a quick lunch and relish some rest time. If your kiddos are past the napping stage, encourage them to do some quiet activities wherever you prefer.

This is when I choose to pull out the screen time. If I want some guaranteed quiet to read a book or get some writing done, I know I’ll get fewer interruptions if they can watch a movie or play some Roblox. But you do you, and what’s best for your family.

Block 5: Free Play with Friends

If you’re lucky enough to live in a neighborhood with kids or can easily rotate play dates with friends, then this block that combines socializing with free play is easy and so good for kids’ develpment. 

2+ Hours: Free Play and Social Time

• Unstructured indoor or outdoor play with minimal parental helicoptering (ahem)
• Friend time (playdates, neighborhood activities, etc.)
• Solo hobby exploration

This is where the real childhood memories happen. Remember running through sprinklers with neighborhood kids until dinner? Making mud pies in the backyard? Recording cassette tapes full of your own original songs? (Just me?) This is that block. It’s a non-negotiable, magical time when kids can let loose their creativity, learn negotiation skills, conflict resolution, and creative problem-solving.

Putting It All Together (Without Losing Your Mind)

Now for the moment of truth: how to implement this schedule without becoming the summer drill sergeant your children will complain about to their future therapists.

1. Print it out and display it prominently

Stick on the refrigerator, not buried in a drawer of good intentions next to the Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown DVD your postpartum self bought back in 2010. 

2. Use verbal or visual cues for transitions

Maybe it’s a timer, or silly song or dance that signals “It’s time for the next thing!”

This doesn’t have to be hard and fast. If your ADHD kid is hyperfocused on a science project, if it’s possible, let them finish. But if it’s absolutely necessary to transition, don’t just spring it on them and exepct them to obey immediately. As a mom of a kid who STRUGGLES with transitions, I give multiple heads-ups, especially if we have to leave the house at a specific time or are expecting company.

And be sure to offer praise when they do transition well. It’s something to celebrate! 

3. Build in flexibility

This is a FRAMEWORK, not prison. The best summer schedule is one that is realistic. Some days you’ll nail every block. Other days, you’ll abandon ship by 10 AM and have a movie marathon. Both are fine! I’m naturally a fly by the seat of my pants kind of person, so adhering to a summer daily routine is TOUGH for me. I have to give myself some grace and know that it’s not always gonna happen, and that’s totally ok. 

If you don’t want to start full-out, maybe just have 2 days a week of schedule and the leave the rest open to whatever. You know yourself and your kids best, so do what works. 

4. Prep the day before

Make a Michaels order for those craft supplies, pack bags for outings, and generally become the overnight summer fairy your post-late-night Netflix marathon zombie self will thank you for. 

5. Lower your standards considerably

That Pinterest craft will not look like the picture, no sirree.  Your zoo field trip in the 95 degree heat might will likely end with ice cream bribes. Your child might take pool baths 8 days in a row. IT’S ALL FINE.

The real goal here isn’t perfect summer productivity. It’s finding the balance between structure and freedom where kids thrive, and parents maintain just enough sanity to make it to mid-August.

Remember, the most important thing isn’t checking every box on the schedule. It’s being present enough to notice when your kid makes up a ridiculous new dance move, builds something amazing with sticks in the backyard, or suddenly wants to tell you about their elaborate fantasy world while helping with dinner prep. Above all else, it’s minimizing the screentime and encouraging kids to experience the world and use their imaginations.

What summer scheduling hacks have saved YOUR family? Drop them in the comments because we’re all in the sweaty, popsicle-stained trenches together!

The post Free Printable Weekly Summer Schedule For Parents (and Babysitters) Who Are Done With The Chaos appeared first on MEREDITH ADKISSON.

Tired of being cooped up inside? As the weather warms up and nature begins to reawaken, spring offers the perfect opportunity to come out of hibernation, pry ourselves off the couch and away from screens, and plan some memorable adventures together during this gorgeous time of the year! 

The best part? Creating lasting memories doesn’t require a lot of money or elaborate plans – just genuine connection, creativity, and a willingness to set aside some time together for some fun activities. Here are 45 Spring bucket list ideas that will help your family bond, explore, and grow together without breaking the bank.

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Spring Bucket List Ideas List: 

Ready for some springtime family fun? Here’s our round-up of 45 creative and fun spring bucket list ideas to get you started. It’s time to make some springtime memories! 

Backyard Scavenger Hunt

Create an exciting treasure hunt in your own backyard by making a list of natural items for kids to find, like leaves, bugs, and flowers. Turn it into a friendly competition with simple prizes like choosing dessert or picking the next family movie night film. It’s sure to be a great time for the littles! 

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Spring Scavenger Hunt

Start an Outdoor Garden

Give each family member their own small plot or container and let them choose whatever fruits and vegetables or flowers they wish to plant and grow. You can start from seed or opt for seedlings. Watching their plants grow builds patience and responsibility while providing endless opportunities for conversations about nature, science, and life. It’s one of my very favorite spring activities. Even my teenagers enjoy it!

Puddle Jumping Adventure

What child (or playful adult) can resist a good puddle? During a spring rain shower, don your rain boots (or go barefoot if it’s late spring), grab an umbrella, and head outdoors for a splashing session. Rainy days don’t have to be boring days!

Homemade Kite Flying

 Transform basic materials like paper grocery bags, cardstock, newspaper, string, and wooden dowels into DIY kites (check out this easy tutorial here!). Flying a kite is something every kid should try at least once, and these DIY kites make it even more memorable! 

Bubble-Blowing Bonanza

Mix up a batch of homemade bubble solution using dish soap, water, and a touch of corn syrup or glycerin for extra-durable bubbles. Create unique bubble wands from household items like plastic bottles, straws, or wire hangers. The dogs will even love this activity, as they run around and chase the bubbles. 

Sunrise Picnic 

Pack hot chocolate and breakfast treats for an early morning adventure watching the sunrise. Bring blankets, snuggle up, and relish the changing colors in the sky – it’s a magical way to start the day that feels extra special.

Tree Bark Art Gallery

Turn your neighborhood trees into an art project by creating bark rubbings using paper and crayons. As you collect different patterns, research the tree species together and create a family field guide of local trees.

Rainbow Flower Hunt

Challenge your family to find flowers in every color of the rainbow, documenting your discoveries with photos or drawings. If you’re short on flowers at your home, visit a local nursery or botanic garden. 

Butterfly Garden Project

Research which butterflies are common in your area and plant their favorite nectar flowers. Even a few containers on a patio can attract these beautiful insects, and children love monitoring the garden for visitors. We planted milkweed last year and have attracted hundreds of monarch butterflies to our backyard! 

DIY Bird Cafe

Transform pinecones into bird feeders using peanut butter and birdseed. Hang them where you can watch from inside, and keep a family log of your feathered visitors – you’ll be surprised how quickly kids learn to identify different species.

Rock Pet Paradise

Let everyone choose special rocks to transform into pet characters using weatherproof paint. Create homes for them in your garden or in your plants indoors. 

Pressed Flower Art

This is one of my very favorite spring activities! Collect flower petals and leaves and press them between wax paper. Once dried, use them to create bookmarks, cards, or frame-worthy artwork that preserves spring’s beauty. For an awesome tutorial and more ideas from My Moonstone Kitchen click here.

Fairy Garden

Fairy Gardens embrace the magic of springtime. Create your own by using natural materials like sticks, leaves, and flower petals to build tiny homes for imaginary garden residents. You could also use craft supplies you have lying around, like popsicle sticks or clay. This activity sparks creativity and can become more elaborate over time as your fairy garden village expands.

Nature Journal Chronicles

Start nature journals documenting seasonal changes, complete with drawings, pressed leaves, and observations. Even young children can contribute with drawings, photos, or dictated stories. You can continue this journal through every seasonal change. 

Visit Your Local Farmer’s Market

Visit a local farmer’s market to shop for fresh produce and skip the grocery store. Markets are an excellent place to shop as you talk about supporting local farmers and the benefits of eating locally grown foods. Plus you can enjoy some delicious spring fruits and veggies or other treats and eats for sale. 

Feed the Ducks

Who doesn’t enjoy feeding ducks? Even as an adult, this is a fun and relaxing activity for me.  Take some duck-friendly foods (please not bread) like sweetcorn, frozen peas, oats, seeds, or rice, and treat those feathered friends at your local pond or park. 

Weekly Library Adventure

Make your local library a regular destination. Create themed reading lists about spring, Easter, baby animals, nature, and outdoor adventures. Lots of local libraries offer special seasonal activities and storytimes, as well, so take advantage of those! 

Backyard Bird Songs

Use the Merlin Bird ID app by Cornell University to learn common bird calls in your area, then practice identifying them during outdoor time. It makes bird-watching even more enjoyable!

Weather Watch Station

Turn your family into meteorologists by tracking daily weather patterns, temperatures, and cloud formations. Create simple charts that even little ones can help fill out with weather stickers or drawings. Create your own or use an inexpensive weather journal. 

Springtime Photography

Choose a specific tree, flower patch, or garden area to photograph throughout the spring season. Creating this visual timeline helps everyone notice subtle changes and develop photography new skills. Here’s a great beginner video for shooting quality landscape photos with a phone. 

Kitchen Science Lab

If you’ve got time to kill and are stuck indoors make an educational activity a fun one! Set up simple science experiments using household items. You can find lots of fun, easy science experiment ideas here. 

Kid Olympics

When the warmer weather hits, head outdoors! Create your own Olympic sporting events using household items – egg-and-spoon races with plastic eggs, obstacle courses with hula hoops, or sack races using old pillowcases. Think old-school field day events. Invite the neighbors over for some extra competition. This is a grat spring break activity for when the kids are all home from school with nothing to do. If you have teenagers around, you can let them facilitate. 

Bike Ride

Start with short family bike rides and gradually increase distance as everyone builds confidence. Create fun destinations like a favorite park or ice cream shop to make each ride special.

Backyard Camping

Set up tents in the backyard for a close-to-home adventure. Include classic camping activities like stargazing, storytelling, and flashlight shadow puppets. If it’s too cold or wet out, living room camping works, too. 

Sidewalk Chalk Art and Games

Transform your driveway or sidewalk into a giant canvas for hopscotch, artistic creations, or game boards. Invent new games and rules together, making your outdoor space an ever-changing playground. It’s fun and practically free!

Weekend Picnics

Make a family goal to picnic in a different spot each weekend – from your backyard to local parks or nature areas. Pack simple sandwiches and snacks, bringing along games, a frisbee or books for added entertainment. It’s a great way to spend time out of the house together without the added expense of dining out. 

Windowsill Herb Garden

Start an indoor herb garden that even apartment dwellers can enjoy. Kids love to plant and grow herbs, and it’s a great way to get your kids to eat more adventurously when they use their herbs to help cook meals. 

Fruity Popsicle Workshop

It’s finally feeling warm enough for a frozen treat! Turn your kitchen into a popsicle factory using fresh fruit, juice, and silicone popsicle molds. Get the kids involved and let them create their own flavor combinations and conduct family taste tests when they’re frozen.

Garden Tea Party

Host a festive outdoor tea party. Serve simple homemade treats, make iced herbal or sweet tea, make a bouquet of spring blooms, and encourage everyone to dress up – even if it’s just with paper crowns you make together.

Make Dandelion Honey

Transform those “pesky” yard flowers into a sweet treat by making dandelion honey (with adult supervision). The process of carefully collecting and preparing the flowers teaches children about foraging and cooking while creating a delicious vegan treat. Just make sure you choose dandelions from a yard or field that hasn’t been treated with chemicals. 

Community Clean-Up

Organize a community clean-up with friends or neighbors. Tackle a local park or nature area and designate a couple of hours for cleaning and time afterward for snacks and celebrating your hard work. 

Sidewalk Messages

Spread joy throughout your neighborhood by writing encouraging messages and creating cheerful drawings with sidewalk chalk. It’s amazing how many smiles a simple “Have a Great Day!” can generate.

Good Neighbor Squad

Help elderly neighbors with simple spring yard work like mowing the grass, pulling weeds, or planting flowers. This teaches children the value of community service while strengthening meaningful intergenerational connections.

Plant Swap Social

Organize a plant exchange where friends or neighbors can get together to trade cuttings, seedlings, or divided perennials. It’s a fantastic way to expand your garden while building community relationships. Plus, you’re sure to learn some fantastic gardening tips from experienced growers. 

Museum Days

Take advantage of free or discounted admission days at local museums and nature centers in your area. This is especially nice for those cold or rainy spring days. 

Bug Detective Agency

Create a bug observation station with magnifying glasses, notebooks, and field guides. Children naturally love investigating tiny creatures, and this structured observation helps develop scientific thinking skills.

Create a Rock Collection

Start a family rock collection, learning about different types of rocks and minerals. Local parks, beaches, or even your own yard can become geological treasure troves.

Wind Chime Workshop

Create wind chimes from recycled materials like shells, old keys, bells, metal washers, or bamboo. Experiment with different materials to create unique sounds while learning about music and physics.

Time Capsule Project

Fill a weatherproof container with family photos, drawings, predictions, and special items to open next spring. I’ve created this free printable About Me page for you to include in your time capsule. For more fun time capsule ideas, click here. 

Nature Mandala Design

Collect natural materials like leaves, petals, and stones to create beautiful circular patterns on the ground. You can affix it to wood or paper to create more permanent decoration, encapsulating this beautiful season. Everyone will love the final product!

Paper Boat Regatta

For the little engineers in your life, design and fold paper boats. Then take them to a nearby pond or even a swimming pool to test them out. National Geographic has an easy little DIY boat tutorial you can try here.

Build an Outdoor Fort

As soon as March rolls around, the kids are itching to get outdoors. Encourage them to gather sticks, branches, leaves, and other materials you have around the garage or house to create forts or hideouts. These special spaces become magical kingdoms for imaginative play and quiet reading nooks. It will keep the kids outside all day!

Flower Power Craft Time

Create beautiful tissue paper flowers to share with friends, family, or neighbors. Choose a color theme, like pastels, neutrals, or vivid colors. My girls loved decorating their rooms with them and creating bouquets to give to their grandmothers. Here’s any DIY tissue paper flower tutorial to follow along with. 

Take a Day Trip

Overnight trips get expensive so take a little day trip. Choose somewhere within an hour or two of your home. Explore new parks, hiking trails, downtown areas, museums, or other sites that are free or low cost. Pack a cooler of food for the road, turn on an audiobook or favorite tune,s and make a fun springtime adventure!  Spring is the perfect season for a little road trip adventure!

Spring Cleaning

This one is more for the grown-ups, but we all know the benefits of a good spring cleaning. There’s nothing like clearing the clutter and having a nice, deep-cleaned home. If you clear out enough stuff, you can host a garage sale and use the profits to take your family out and celebrate your success!

Wrapping Up: Spring Bucket List Ideas

Spring offers countless opportunities to unplug, get outside, and create meaningful memories with our families. These 45 spring bucket list ideas prove that you don’t need expensive equipment or elaborate plans to have fun together – just some creativity and the willingness and presence to embrace simple pleasures like sunny days and nature. 

As you work through this bucket list, remember that the goal isn’t to complete every activity perfectly, but to enjoy the laughter, learning, and connection that comes from spending quality time together. Your children may not remember every detail of each activity, but they’ll always remember how these special moments made them feel. Here’s to making a spring season filled with joy, discovery, and screen-free family fun!

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The post 45 Creative Spring Bucket List Ideas: Budget-Friendly Family Fun (plus a free download!) appeared first on MEREDITH ADKISSON.

Christmas bucket list – three words that simultaneously fill me with Pinterest-worthy dreams and mild panic as I picture myself hot-gluing candy canes to wreaths at midnight while covered in glitter. But here’s the thing: amid the chaos of this magical month, having a list of possible memory-making moments actually helps me slow down and savor the season instead of watching it fly by in a blur of gift-wrapping and sugar cookies.

Listen, this isn’t about adding more “must-dos” to your already overflowing plate (because heaven knows we’re all one class party signup away from a complete tinsel-covered meltdown). Instead, think of this as your permission slip to pick and choose the joy-sparking activities that work for your actual, real-life family. Whether you’re the mom who has her advent activities color-coded by mid-November, or you’re still finding Halloween candy in your coat pockets (no judgment here), I’ve got 59 Christmas bucket list ideas to help you make this December feel a little more magical and a lot less frantic.

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Festive and Crafty Christmas Bucket List Ideas

Because nothing says it’s the holiday season like a light dusting of glitter on every surface of your home, right? These decorating and craft ideas range from “Pinterest-perfect possible” to “at least we tried!”

Decorate your Christmas tree as a family

As much as you’d like to take this over (just me??) it’s even more special to have the whole family involved. Pro tip: Lower your expectations and embrace the ridiculousness of a bare bottom third of your tree. Just accept defeat now instead of battling your toddler or cat all freaking month. 

Make paper snowflakes for window decorations

Let the Queen of Christmas Crafts herself show you how to create some gorgeous snowflakes. Warning: You will find paper scraps until Valentine’s Day. Worth it.

Create a holiday wreath using natural materials

Channel your inner crafty goddess and raid your backyard for supplies. Pine cones, twigs, and maybe that missing soccer sock – it’s all fair game.

String popcorn, dried oranges, or cranberry garlands

A classic Christmas activity that teaches patience, hand-eye coordination, and why we shouldn’t eat decorations. Ask me how I know.

Build a gingerbread house from scratch

Or grab a kit from Target. Both count, and only one might save your sanity.

Create handmade Christmas cards

Because nothing says “I care” like glitter-covered fingerprints and slightly wonky drawings of reindeer.

Make salt dough ornaments

Create memories and backup Christmas gifts all at once. Win-win!

Design a festive table centerpiece

Think fir branches, pinecones, glass ornaments, and candles. You could also add some cranberries or dried oranges for a pop of natural color. Bonus points if it survives until the actual Christmas dinner.

Make paper chain decorations

Simple enough for toddlers, satisfying enough for teens who pretend they’re too cool for crafts.

Create an advent calendar with daily activities

One my favorite ways to countdown to Christmas morning! Mix in easy wins like “drink hot cocoa”  or “watch Elf” with your more ambitious plans and surprises. Trust me on this one.

Outdoor Christmas Bucket List Ideas

Let’s be honest – December is more magical when we’re not all cooped up inside watching the walls close in. Here’s how to embrace the great outdoors, even when your fingers are questioning your life choices.

Quick note: Some of these depend on actual winter weather cooperating. No promises there, Mother Nature has her own agenda, especially here in Texas.

Build a snowman

Or a snow blob. Or a snow turtle. Or a wanna-be shaving cream snowman. Whatever speaks to your artistic soul and the actual snow conditions you’re working with.

Go sledding

Nothing brings out the kid in all of us like hurtling down a snow-covered hill on a piece of plastic while questioning all our life choices. You can even find some man-made snow hills around the holidays, so us southerners can experience a little snow magic, too.

Take a winter nature walk and collect pinecones

Free decor and built-in entertainment. Plus, it’s educational if anyone asks.

Make snow angels

The perfect excuse to lie down outside and take a mom break. I mean, make memories.

Have a family snowball fight

Remember: alliances will be formed and broken, and someone will definitely cry. Possibly you.

Go ice skating

Hold hands, laugh together, and try not to think about how many people have fallen here before you.

Create winter bird feeders

Because being kind to our feathered friends totally makes up for forgetting to move the Elf three nights in a row. Try this easy DIY bird feeder project with the kids. 

Take a nighttime walk to look at neighborhood lights

Wrap up warm and get into the holiday spirit with some festive Christmas lights. Hot chocolate in travel mugs required. Bonus points for wearing pajamas under your coats.

Take family photos in matching winter outfits

Yes, we’re that family now. Embrace it. And fake that festive Christmas cheer if you have to. 

Go on a winter scavenger hunt

Turn “I’m cold” into “I found it!” with a list of winter treasures to discover.

Kitchen Adventure Christmas Bucket List Ideas

The kitchen is where some of December’s best memories are made. It’s also where you’ll find sprinkles in July, but that’s part of the charm.

Bake Christmas cookies

Start with good intentions of following Great-Grandma’s sugar cookie recipe and end up embracing the beauty of break-and-bake. Either way, memories are made.

Make hot chocolate from scratch

Because sometimes we need to remind ourselves why we usually buy the packets.

Host a family cookie-decorating party

Turn on your favorite holiday playlist and bake the night away. Prepare to find icing in places you didn’t know existed. The photos will be worth it.

Try a new holiday recipe from another culture

Expand those horizons. Think Hungarian Beigli, Greek Koulourakia, Danish Brunkager, or South African Malva Pudding. Your kids might even surprise you and try some. 

Make peppermint bark

The easiest impressive-looking treat you’ll ever make. Don’t tell anyone how simple it is.

Make mulled apple cider (for the grown-ups)

Your house will smell amazing, and you’ll feel like a colonial-era domestic goddess. 

Prepare homemade gifts from the kitchen

Nothing says love like slightly burnt caramel wrapped in cellophane. All jokes aside, a tub of homemade Chex mix or puppy chow might be the key to my heart. 

Create a holiday trail mix

Mix Christmas M&Ms, white chocolate chips,  holiday-shaped pretzels, dried cranberries, and whatever else your heart desires. 

Make homemade eggnog (also for the grown-ups)

If you think you hate eggnog, you’ve never had a good ol’ spiked eggnog cocktail. Brandy will be your new bestie. 

Have a holiday pizza-making night

Red sauce and green peppers count as Christmas colors, right? To make it extra festive for the kiddos, try these adorable Christmas tree pizzas!

Christmas Bucket List Ideas that Spread Joy

December gives us so many chances to show our kids that giving truly is better than receiving (even if they don’t totally believe us yet).

Shovel snow for elderly neighbors

Build muscles and good karma all at once.

Donate toys to a local charity

The perfect opportunity to teach giving while secretly decluttering before the new toy tsunami hits.

Volunteer at a local food bank

Nothing puts “we have nothing to eat” complaints in perspective quite like this. It’s important to teach our kids empathy and generosity towards the less fortunate in our communities. 

Make care packages for homeless shelters

Teaching compassion one gallon-sized bag at a time. Care package item ideas include socks, water bottles, granola bars, crackers, wipes, toiletries like toothpaste and toothbrushes, hygiene products like soap and deodorant, protein bars, jerky, first aid supplies, blankets, and clothing items like shirts and underwear

Write letters to soldiers overseas

Because everyone deserves a little holiday cheer, especially those far from home. If you’re not sure how to get started, DoingGoodTogether.org makes it easy.

Participate in a giving tree program

Shop for someone else’s Christmas wishes and watch your kids’ hearts grow three sizes. You can find a Salvation Army Angel Tree near you or check with local schools, YMCAs and community centers, as they’ll often have their own giving tree program. 

Collect coats for a winter clothing drive

Marie Kondo your closets for a cause. Just make sure it’s clean and in good condition. 

Bring treats to local first responders

Thank the people who work while we celebrate. 

Carol at a nursing home

What you lack in pitch, make up for in enthusiasm. You can also ask if you can bring small goodie bags for the residents. This might be the sweetest memory you make all year. 

Host a neighborhood hot chocolate stand for charity

Like a lemonade stand, but with more marshmallows. Donate the profits to your favorite charity. 

Host a Christmas party for your friends or family

Who better to show some Christmas love to than the people who mean the most to you? Make it stress-free opt for takeout or catering. 

Cozy Indoor Christmas Bucket List Ideas

Sometimes the best December moments happen when we’re all piled on the couch in matching pajamas (that we totally didn’t buy just for the ‘gram).

Have a Christmas movie marathon

Make a cup of hot chocolate and get ready to debate whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Again.

Read holiday stories while snuggled by the fire

Or the space heater. Think outside the box. The little ones won’t care 

Create a holiday music playlist

Create a roundup of the best classic carols with modern hits (Yes, Ariana! No, Wham!) and share your playlist with the family. You’ll be listening to your favorite Christmas songs all month. 

Do holiday-themed puzzles

Test your family’s patience and spatial awareness all at once. 

Have an indoor camping night with twinkle lights

All the fun of camping, none of the cold. 

Create a family holiday time capsule

Future you will thank present you for this one. You can download my printable holiday time capsule activity and use it each year. It’s a simple and fun way to document your kids’ growth throughout the years. 

Build a blanket fort for storytime

Because everything is more magical in a fort, hang some twinkle lights, bring the oversized pillows and blankets, and get cozy for some quality time together. 

Play board games in pajamas

Spend an evening playing board games in your coziest robe and slippers. Monopoly might end in tears, but at least you’re comfy. 

Have a holiday dance party

Shake off the winter blues and work off some cookie calories. Expect eye rolls from the teenagers. 

Extra Special Christmas Bucket List Ideas

Yes, these require actual pants and possibly combing hair, but they’re worth it.

Attend a Christmas tree lighting

From little towns to big cities, a Christmas tree lighting is the perfect way to kick off the Christmas season. 

See Santa

Capture the magic, or the terror, or both. All make great memories. 

Attend a local holiday parade

Bundle up, bring hot chocolate, and wave at every single float

Drive through holiday light displays

The perfect activity for when you want to be festive but also antisocial.

Watch a live holiday performance

Whether it’s a professional production of the Nutcracker Ballet or your kid’s school play where they forget all their lines, it’s all magic.

Stay at a hotel decorated for Christmas

Recreate your own Home Alone experience this December complete with overpriced room service and gangster movies. 

Ride a North Pole train

All aboard the Polar Express! Don your jammies and book a holiday train ride near you!

Attend a Christmas market

Ditch the big box stores and Amazon this year. Shop small and support the local artisans in your community. You’ll find one-of-a-kind stocking stuffers and gifts for everyone on your list. 

Host a family New Year’s Eve countdown party

Who says midnight has to be at 12? Netflix has countdown videos for every time zone.

Wrapping Up: 55 Christmas Bucket List Ideas

• Keep it simple – You don’t need to do all 55 things. Pick what works for your family and ignore the rest.
• Be flexible – Sometimes the best memories come from when plans go hilariously wrong.
• Document the chaos – Take pictures, even of the mess-ups, especially of the mess-ups.
• Remember your “why” – This list isn’t about creating perfect moments; it’s about being present with your people.

So there you have it, friends – your permission slip to make this Christmas season your own kind of special with our Christmas bucket list ideas. Whether you tackle five activities or fifty, remember that the real magic isn’t in checking things off a list; it’s in those little moments when you look around at your beautiful, chaotic family and remember why it’s the most wonderful time of the year.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go vacuum up some glitter. Again.

The post 59 Festive Christmas Bucket List Ideas: Holly Jolly December Activities (Plus Free Printables!) appeared first on MEREDITH ADKISSON.

Friendsgiving, the beloved unofficial holiday that combines the best of friendship and Thanksgiving, has become an annual celebration for so many.  Whether you’re hosting for the first time or looking to spice up your annual gathering, we’ve compiled a list of the best Friendsgiving ideas to inspire your next Friendsgiving party. From decor and themes to activities and menu ideas, these easy Friendsgiving ideas will help you create a perfect Thanksgiving dinner party this year for you and your favorite people. 

This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission. These come at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business!

Friendsgiving Decor Ideas

Setting the right atmosphere is one of my favorite parts of getting ready for a party, and Friendsgiving is no exception. The right decor can transform your space into a warm, inviting haven that captures the essence of gratitude and togetherness. From rustic elements to creative DIY projects, these are Friendsgiving ideas that will make your space cozy and festive and will help make your guests feel right at home.

Rustic Charm

Keep it simple and use burlap table runners, mason jars, and natural accents for a cozy farmhouse feel. 

Autumn Leaves Centerpiece

Create a stunning centerpiece for your Friendsgiving table with colorful fall leaves, pinecones, and candles. 

Gratitude Tree

Here is a simple and thoughtful Friendsgiving idea. Set up a vase full of tree branches where guests can hang tags with things they’re grateful for. You can download our printable leaves to hang on your Gratitude tree here.

Pumpkin Place Cards

Use mini pumpkins as place-setting holders for a cute and festive touch. If you have beautiful penmanship, use paint pens to write directly on the pumpkins. Or you can opt to fold mini place cards to set on top of the pumpkins. 

Fairy Lights Galore

Drape string lights around the room for a warm, cozy ambiance.

Harvest Table Runner

Create a stunning tablescape using mini pumpkins, gourds, fall flowers or greenery, and lit candles. This Friendsgiving idea creates a warm, idyllic ambiance for your dinner table.

Thankful Placemats

Provide kraft paper placemats and colored pencils or markers for guests to write or draw what they’re thankful for. This simple table decor is perfect for Friendsgiving dinners involving the kiddos. 

Autumnal Scent Bar

Light fall-scented candles around the room.  Or set out warm-scented essential oils that guests can combine with a carrier oil in a glass dropper bottle to create their own custom blend. Here is one of my favorite fall aromatherapy blends that transports you into the mountains during autumn:

Friendsgiving Photo Booth

Create a color-themed backdrop with cute props for memorable photos. This is the perfect Friendsgiving decoration that lends to some of the best mementos.

Unique Friendsgiving Themes

Why settle for a traditional Thanksgiving when you can put a creative spin on your Friendsgiving celebration? Picking a unique theme can add an extra dash of fun to your event, giving your friends something extra to look forward to and talk about long after the gathering is over. This list of Friendsgiving ideas ranges from globally inspired concepts to nostalgic throwbacks, ensuring there’s something to suit every friend group’s personality.

Friendsgiving Brunch

Ditch the traditional Thanksgiving meal and instead, host a late-morning gathering with fall-themed breakfast and lunch options. Opt for pumpkin french toast, sweet potato quiche with turkey breakfast sausage, or whatever your favorite brunch foods might be! Warm up with maple cinnamon lattes. And don’t forget the cranberry mimosas!

Friendsgiving Potluck with a Twist

Allow each guest to choose a country, and have them bring menu items inspired by that cuisine. Upgrade the typical Thanksgiving main dish, side dishes, or desserts, which in my (probably unpopular) opinion, gets rather stale. Swap those mashed potatoes for patatas bravas from Spain or ditch the mac and cheese for Käsespätzle from Germany. 

Outdoor Bonfire

Take the celebration outside with a bonfire, warm cozy blankets, and hot drinks.

Decades Theme

This is one of my favorite ideas and I can’t wait to try it! Choose a specific decade and encourage guests to dress up and bring era-appropriate dishes. Grandma’s hand-me-down cardigan and jello mold never looked so good!

Plant-Based Feast

Here’s your chance to plan a delicious Friendsgiving meal for your animal-loving friends! Challenge everyone to bring delicious vegan or vegetarian dishes to your Friendsgiving gathering. As a vegetarian, I can say that such a meal would be much appreciated!

Pajama Party

This might be the easiest Friendsgiving theme idea. Host a cozy Friendsgiving where everyone wears their favorite PJs. No worrying about what to wear and you can head straight to bed with your full belly after the party. 

Farm-to-Table Friendsgiving

Level up your Friendsgiving feast. Source all your ingredients locally and create a menu that showcases the best of your region’s seasonal produce, while you support local farmers and ranchers. 

Friends-giving

This is the ultimate Gen X/ Millennial Friendsgiving. Make your Friends-giving the real deal with a Friends-themed fall party, complete with matching turkey shirts, a turkey-head hat for photo ops, some Friends trivia, and of course a re-watch of that classic episode. 

Fall Festival

If playful is your thing, plan a Fall festival-themed Friendsgiving that will make the neighbor kids jealous. Bring out carnival-style games, snacks, and fall carnival decor. Have bags of caramel popcorn prepared as party favors.

Fun Friendsgiving Games and Activities

Friendsgiving isn’t just about the food – it’s about creating memories and sharing laughs and love with your chosen family. Incorporating games and activities into your celebration can help break the ice and keep the energy high throughout the event. From traditional Thanksgiving-inspired games to creative twists on classic party activities, these unique Friendsgiving ideas will ensure your celebration is filled with belly laughs, friendly competition, and happy people as they go back home.

Game Night

After the meal bring out all your favorite Friendsgiving party games for the ultimate game night with your pals. From family-friendly games to adult-only games, you’ll be laughing for hours! Keep the party going with your favorite game night drinks and snacks!

Check out all our favorite Friendsgiving Game Ideas in this post:

Friendsgiving Bingo

Pull out the Thanksgiving Bingo cards to keep your guests entertained before or after the big meal. Have simple fun but fun prizes for the winners, such as $5 gift cards, mini bottles of liquor, cute Tupperware containers, fall decor to take home, etc. 

Pie-Eating Contest

If your guests are into it, host a friendly competition to see who can finish a mini-pie (or full pie if your guests can stomach it!) the fastest. You’d be surprised by how competitive this can get.

DIY Craft Station

Set up an area for guests to make their own fall-themed crafts, like candles, wreaths, or centerpieces. Or get a headstart on the upcoming holiday season with some merry little Christmas crafts!

Collaborative Playlist

Every party can use some mood music. Create a shared playlist where each guest adds their favorite Thanksgiving or friendship-themed songs.

Friendsgiving Olympics

The best Friendsgiving party is full of ridiculousness, and this idea has plenty of it. Bring out your crazy party-planning skills. Organize silly competitions like pumpkin bowling, turkey trot relays, old-school bobbing for apples, and pumpkin spice taste tests. 

Gratitude Jar

If you’re not on board with the crazy shenanigans and want to instead foster a gracious and beautiful Friendsgiving atmosphere, create a simple gratitude jar.  Throughout the event, have guests write notes of gratitude to put in a mason jar, then read them aloud towards the end of the evening with a toast to your cherished friendships. This is an easy way to add thankfulness to your Friendsgiving celebration.

Seasonal Cocktail Competition

This is guaranteed to make the party even more fun. Challenge guests to create cocktails with a fall theme and then vote on the best one. For non-drinkers and kiddos, create autumn-inspired mocktails instead. I can’t think of a tastier idea for Friendsgiving!

Friend-Themed Charades

This will get you laughing and is perfect if the kids will be involved with the Friendsgiving party. Play charades with words or phrases related to Thanksgiving. You can download my free printable Thanksgiving Charades here!

Friendsgiving Food and Drink Ideas

While turkey and stuffing might be Thanksgiving staples, Friendsgiving offers the perfect opportunity to get creative with your menu. These food and drink Friendsgiving ideas put a fresh spin on holiday classics and introduce new flavors that will have your guests drooling. Whether you’re looking for innovative serving suggestions, unique recipe twists, or interactive food stations, we’ve got you covered!

Cookie Decorating

Set up a space for Thanksgiving cookie decorating. Use either homemade or bakery-made sugar cookies. Provide tubs of icing, sprinkles, and other fall-colored edible decorations. Box them up in little treat boxes as DIY party favors to enjoy at home. 

Dessert Potluck

Make a Friendsgiving party a great party with extra desserts! Ask each guest to bring their favorite fall dessert to share. And remember, there’s no such thing as too many pecan pies. 

Hot Apple Cider Bar

Want a Friendsgiving party to be epic? This just might be the ticket. Set up a station with various toppings and mix-ins for hot apple cider. Think caramel sauce, cinnamon sticks, red hots, whipped cream, spiced rum, or bourbon. 

Friendsgiving Charcuterie Board

Create a large grazing board with meats, cheeses, fruits, and nuts. It’s the perfect appetizer to get the Friendsgiving party started.

Thanksgiving Sushi

If fusion food is your thing, then this is for you: Thanksgiving sushi. Okay, hear me out. Serve turkey, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce rolled in nori for a fusion twist for an unusual yet delicious side dish. (See recipe here)

Fall Soup Party

Forgo all the traditional Friendsgiving menu ideas and plan a Friendsgiving soup party with your favorite fall soups. Think chicken and dumplings, butternut squash soup, zuppa toscana, broccoli cheddar soup, beef stew…are you drooling yet? When it comes to a Friendsgiving with your favorite peeps, sometimes cozy comfort is the best option.

Cranberry Sauce Flight

Offer a tasting of various homemade cranberry sauces. And if you don’t feel like making your own, create your own flight with some of Stone Wall Kitchen’s fabulous gourmet flavors, including Apple Cranberry Chutney, New England Cranberry Relish, Orange Cranberry Marmelade, Holiday Spiced Cranberry Sauce,  Hot Pepper Cranberry Jelly, and Cranberry Horseradish Sauce.

Build-Your-Own Pie Bar

Provide mini pie pans, pre-made crusts, and various fillings for guests to create their own individual desserts. Enjoy the aroma of the freshly baked pies that can be eaten at your feast or taken home as a party favor. 

Leftover Care Packages

Provide cute containers for guests to take home leftovers. I love these adorable aluminum ones that are super affordable and pretty funny. Let guests bag it up with these autumn gift bags for the most aesthetically pleasing leftovers. 

Extra Special Touches to Make It Memorable

Let’s talk about those little extras that really make Friendsgiving pop. Think heartwarming activities that’ll bring out all the feels and fun ways to capture the moment. These Friendsgiving ideas are all about adding those personal touches that’ll make your Friendsgiving feel extra special. Trust me, your friends will eat this stuff up (pun totally intended)!

Friendsgiving Invitations

Create some cute Friendsgiving invitations to send to your guests! You can find so many free options on Canva! It’s my favorite place to find attractive templates that I can edit or create my own designs. These can then be printed or sent digitally. But receiving an invite in the mail does make it feel extra special! 

Polaroid Moments

Have a Polaroid-style camera for guests to take and print photos. I love the Fujifilm Instax Mini, as a budget-friendly option with great features and consistent print quality! 

Volunteer Together

Spend part of the day volunteering at a local food bank, animal shelter, community clean-up, etc. before your celebration. No time to cook after? Opt for a Friendsgiving dinner out or delicious take-out. 

Friendsgiving Awards

Create fun awards and prizes for your guests to make your Friendsgiving even more fun! Award ideas could include “Best with a Carving Knife,” “Most Festively Dressed,” “Sauce Boss,” etc. Keep it silly and light. No one wants hurt feelings at their Friendsgiving Dinner. 

Virtual Friendsgiving

This probably isn’t the most ideal Friendsgiving idea. But sometimes distance or illness makes it impossible to be with our closest friends. Set up a video call for friends who can’t attend in person to join in for a Friendsgiving toast or game.

Friendship Plant Exchange

It doesn’t have to be Christmas in order to have a gift exchange. Have guests bring small potted plants to exchange with one another. Plants are one of my favorite gifts and are a beautiful daily reminder of the person who gifted them to us. 

“Favorite Things” Gift Swap

If plants aren’t your thing, organize a gift exchange where everyone brings their favorite item under a set price limit. Cozy blankets, a cherished book, or a favorite kitchen gadget are all to-be-loved ideas for a Friendsgiving gift swap with your closest friends.   

Friendsgiving Cookbook

Have everyone bring typed copies of their dish’s recipe. Compile all the Thanksgiving recipes into a cookbook. You can purchase inexpensive binders with clear front pockets, print a quick cover, punch holes in the recipes, and tada! It’s a Friendsgiving cookbook you can add to every year! You can access my template here!

Friend-Focused Toast Time

Designate a time for guests to give short toasts celebrating their friendships. This could be before the meal or even after dessert. Find a moment when your guests are feeling relaxed and the mood is high. This is the perfect way to cap off a successful Friendsgiving. 

Wrapping-Up: 45 Creative Friendsgiving Ideas

Friendsgiving is all about celebrating our friendships and expressing gratitude for the people who make our lives so much richer. With these 45 creative Friendsgiving ideas, you have a wealth of options to make your Friendsgiving celebration truly special. Mix and match these suggestions to create an event that reflects your friend group’s personality and interests. Remember, the most important ingredient for a successful Friendsgiving is the love and laughter shared among friends. And the food. You can’t forget the food. Happy Friendsgiving!

The post 45 Creative Friendsgiving Ideas to Make Your Celebration Unforgettable appeared first on MEREDITH ADKISSON.

If you’re reading this, you might be feeling that it’s time to shake up your Turkey Day. If you’re weary of the same old Thanksgiving routine that has your kids reaching for their phones faster than you can say, “Pass the cranberry sauce,” you’re in the right place. We’ve got 25 Thanksgiving traditions that will help take your Turkey Day from ordinary to a memory you’ll want to replicate for years to come.  

Whether you’re planning a large family gathering, an intimate Thanksgiving celebration, or hosting Friendsgiving for all your pals, these traditions are perfect for either occasion. So let’s dive in and check out these 25 Thanksgiving activities that will bring your family together and nurture an atmosphere of fun, love, and gratitude. 

This post contains affiliate links to products we love and recommend. These may earn us a small commission but come at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting our small business!

Free Thanksgiving Traditions Downloads

You can find our free printable gratitude tree leaves and kid-friendly Turkey Day Scavenger Hunt, as well as our editable template for your family cookbook down below in our post. Or simply click the buttons to jump ahead to them:

Why Mix It Up This Thanksgiving?

Just like any special holiday, Thanksgiving is often full of busyness and pressure. The shopping, cleaning, cooking, hosting, family drama, and expectations can take a special day and pile on the pressure and stress until you feel more burnt out than an over-cooked turkey.

Planning some intentional Thanksgiving traditions aside from the usual cooking marathon and Thanksgiving dinner can allow you to take a break from the busy and monotonous and focus on the important. 

These ideas are all about bringing the family together, creating lasting memories, relaxing and actually enjoying each other’s company. No cringe, less fuss—just time together with a focus on what’s really important. 

We’ve grouped these ideas into categories, so you can easily pick and choose fall activities to curate a special Turkey Day that’s unique to your family’s personalities and likes. Feel free to skip over what doesn’t work for you and opt for traditions that your whole family will enjoy. 

Practice Gratitude: Thanksgiving Traditions that Cultivate Thankfulness

1. Gratitude Tree

Set up a small “tree” with blank ornaments. You could use a tabletop-sized artificial tree. But I like to put several thin tree branches in a large vase to use as my thankful tree. It makes a beautiful centerpiece for your Thanksgiving holiday table or sideboard! Throughout November, family members write what they’re thankful for on the leaf-shaped paper ornaments and hang them up.

I’ve created printable leaf-shaped cut-outs for your thankful tree. This is also a great activity for practicing cutting skills, so let the kiddos get involved! 

2. Thanksgiving Time Capsule

Each year, have everyone write down something they’re grateful for and a goal for the next year. Seal it up and open it the following Thanksgiving. This is a great tradition to start with young kids, but don’t be afraid to start it when they’re older!

3. Gratitude Photo Montage

Challenge family members to take photos or videos of things and moments they’re grateful for leading up to Thanksgiving. Combine to create a slideshow or video to share on Thanksgiving. You can easily create and edit videos using CapCut’s free online video editor. Or if you have some artsy types in your family, create a photo collage that can be framed. It’s a piece of art you’ll forever cherish. 

4. Thankful Jar

If you’re looking for a simple activity to give thanks that requires minimal prep, create a thankful jar. This can be done throughout the year or just in the month of November. Have your family members jot down or draw pictures of things they’re thankful for and put them in a jar. Go through them together on Thanksgiving.

Beyond the Basic Bird: Delicious Food Traditions 

5. Family Cookbook Creation

Collect and compile everyone’s favorite family recipes into a shared cookbook. This is perfect if you have extended family or friends who regularly get together for the holidays! 

Give yourself some time, because this one takes a little prep. Ask everyone to type up and send you 2-3 (or more!) of their favorite Thanksgiving recipes. 

You can easily copy and paste and format them all in Canva for free. While you’re there, create or use one of their templates for a cookbook cover and table of contents. If you don’t have Canva, you need it! It’s a game changer and allows you to create incredible projects so much easier than Word, PowerPoint, or other programs. With their free templates, you’ll create designs in a fraction of the time it would normally take you.

I’ve created a free Cookbook Cover and Table of Contents Template that you can edit and customize on Canva to make it your own. You can check out my free template here!

Grab some cheap 1″ 3 ring binders and dividers with pockets (for saving Grandma’s handwritten recipes, aka treasures), print it all out,  and compile those recipe books. You could even save this step for Thanksgiving Day and turn it into a post-dinner project. 

5. Signature Dish Competition

Each family brings their signature dish. Vote on favorites in different categories like “Most Creative” or “Best Presentation.” This is a little friendly competition that might be safer than fighting over the wishbone.

6. Kids’ Cooking Class

A few days before Thanksgiving, invite older family members to teach the kids how to make a simple Thanksgiving dish or dessert. It’s a special way to pass on Granny’s famous gravy recipe and share family traditions while creating treasured memories.

7. Thanksgiving Cocktails

Each year, try or create a new Thanksgiving cocktail to enjoy before or after the meal. Think fall flavors, like cranberry, apple, cinnamon, pomegranate, or vanilla. And for the kids and non-drinkers, whip up some mocktails! This is a tasty tradition that will make you the star of the Thanksgiving table.

Create the Best Thanksgiving Vibe: Thanksgiving Table Decor Traditions

8. Nature-Inspired Decor

Take a family walk to collect pinecones, acorns, dried flowers, nuts, and leaves to create natural, eco-friendly decorations. You can fill jars with acorns and nuts, Mod Podge dried leaves and flowers to glass candle holders or vases, create garlands with pine cones and twine, etc. Use your creativity and enjoy free, festive and natural decor. 

9. Memory Tablecloth

Creating a memory table is such a simple tradition that you’ll absolutely love. Use a plain tablecloth and fabric markers. Each year, everyone adds a note or drawing. Over time, it becomes a treasured family record that you can pull out on every holiday.

10. Photo Centerpieces

Create centerpieces featuring photos of family members from past Thanksgivings. This photo tree or these little wired holders for place cards are perfect for dressing up the table while displaying photos. And don’t forget to take a group photo before everyone leaves that can be added to next year’s Thanksgiving table.

11. Handprint Turkey Placemats

A classic for a reason! Kids make handprint turkeys on placemats, date them, and laminate them to be used year after year. 

Get Moving: Fun and Active Thanksgiving Traditions 

12. Run a Turkey Trot

Sign up for (or organize your own) family fun-run or walk on Thanksgiving morning for a heart-pumping way to start your Thanksgiving day. No pressure, just movement and some outdoor time together. Plus you’ll feel a lot better about yourself after that 3rd piece of pumpkin pie that afternoon. 

13. Post-Dinner Walk

If the morning is too much, make it a tradition to take a post-Thanksgiving meal stroll after the big meal. If you’re like us, all you can think of is taking a nap after engorging all those carbs. Taking a walk will wake you up and help you get some of that turkey tryptophan out of your system. 

14. Turkey Bowl

It’s the classic Thanksgiving touch football game. Make it annual, with a silly trophy for the winning team. Invite friends and neighbors to round out the teams.  And don’t forget to tell the losing team that they get dishes duty. Instead of a coin toss at the beginning of the game, opt for splitting the wishbone. Whoever ends up with the longer piece gets the ball first. 

15. Thanksgiving-Themed Scavenger Hunt

Create a Thanksgiving-themed scavenger hunt. For younger kids, you can opt for our at-home Turkey Day Scavenger Hunt. You download it by clicking the button below. If you have older kids and teens, they’ll love this scavenger hunt by Fun Squared, that takes them around town and the neighborhood. The first team back wins a prize! This was one one of my favorite things to do as a teenager (and it’s fun for adults, too!)

Helping Others: Giving Back as a Family Tradition

16. Volunteer Together

Find a local charity or soup kitchen and volunteer to serve as a family on Thanksgiving morning or the weekend before. It’s a great time to give back to your community and is one of the most fulfilling Thanksgiving traditions I can think of.

17. Write Thank You Cards

This is a perfect pre-Thanksgiving activity to get everyone in the spirit of gratitude. Have everyone write thank-you notes to someone special and mail or deliver it to them. This could be anyone from your mail carrier, a teacher, a grandparent, or the clerk at the dry cleaner. A thoughtful card is something everyone appreciates.

18. Canned Food Drive

Plan a family or neighborhood food drive. Collect canned food or non-perishable items the entire month of February and deliver them to a food pantry before Thanksgiving. 

19. Charity Choice

Each year, research and choose a charity as a family to support during the holiday season. I love the Salvation Army Angel Tree or “adopting” a student from a local school. Black Friday is the perfect time to shop for gifts for these deserving kids. 

Relax and Enjoy: Favorite Festive Entertainment Thanksgiving Traditions 

20. Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade:

If you don’t already watch this, I’d like to know which rock you’ve been living under. Kidding, kidding. But seriously, this is a Thanksgiving classic tradition for a reason and the first thing we do on Thanksgiving morning. From the Broadway Dance performances to the marching bands and larger-than-life floats, it’s a magical experience even from the sofa. It’s also one of my favorite ways to kick off the holiday season with the grand entrance of Santa on his sleigh!

21. National Dog Show

Right after the parade ends, the real star of Thanksgiving Day entertainment comes on: the National Dog Show. I might be a die-hard cat lady, but these prim and proper puppy dogs with their show-stopping tricks and haircuts are the real stars on Thanksgiving Day. This is definitely in the top 3 of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions!

22. Football

Being a Texas girl, it would be sacrilegious to not tune into the Dallas Cowboys game on Thanksgiving afternoon. The post-dinner football game is the perfect time to unwind later in the day and enjoy that second piece of pecan pie for dessert. 

23. Play Thanksgiving Games

 Set up a series of board games, dominoes, or card games. Some of our favorites are Telestrations, Yahtzee, Uno, hand and foot, tens and twos, and chicken foot. You could also opt for pool, ping pong, tennis, or pickleball if you have access to them!

The Fun Doesn’t Stop Here: Day After Thanksgiving Traditions: 

24. Leftover Remix Contest

The day after Thanksgiving, have a friendly competition to see who can create the best dish using leftovers. It’s a creative way to use up all that turkey, stuffing, and green bean casserole left in the fridge. 

25. Shop ’til You Drop

Plan out your Black Friday Shopping on Thursday and then hit the stores together on Friday. Nab some of those incredible deals and take turns waiting in those mile-long lines. Reward yourself with a latte and slice of leftover pumpkin pie. And if you hate shopping, feel free to skip this one.

Wrapping Up: 25 Thanksgiving Traditions 

These 25 ideas are just the starting point. The best Thanksgiving traditions are the ones that grow naturally with your family over time. Maybe you’ll try one or two this year, and who knows? In a few years, you might have a whole new set of traditions that are uniquely yours.

Remember, the heart of Thanksgiving isn’t about the perfect pie crust or Pinterest-worthy decor.  It’s about coming together around the table, sharing laughs, and gratitude, and creating moments that you’ll treasure and look forward to recreating in the coming year.

So, why not try some new Thanksgiving traditions? You might just start a tradition that has your family looking forward to Turkey Day more than ever before. And if all else fails, there’s always pie. Pie makes everything better.

Happy Thanksgiving and cheers to beautiful memories!

The post Gobble This Up: 25 Thanksgiving Traditions to Start This Year (Plus, Free Downloads!) appeared first on MEREDITH ADKISSON.

It’s that time of year again when our little pumpkins start bouncing off the walls with excitement for all things spooky and sweet. But let’s be real — finding Halloween activities for toddlers that are both simple and don’t cost a fortune can be a challenge. We want to create magical memories without depleting our energy or our wallets.

That’s why I’ve put together this list of 35 Halloween activities for toddlers and preschoolers that are both easy and affordable. Whether you’re a Pinterest-perfect mama or more of a “Is this a Halloween decoration or did I just forget to clean again?” type (just me?!), I’ve got something for everyone. These ideas are such a breeze, that you might even have time to sneak a few of those fun-size candy bars for yourself. Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me!

So grab your broomsticks and get ready to fly through this list of 35 hauntingly fun and easy Halloween activities for toddlers and preschoolers. 

Children and Safety: Any activity or craft idea posted on Meredith Adkisson has been suggested with adult supervision in mind. Children’s abilities vary by age and by the child and although we take care to forewarn things that include tools, choking hazards, etc, we do not take responsibility for your own child during these activities. We offer suggestions, it is however up to parents and childminders to ensure the safety of their own children.

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35 Easy and Fun Toddler and Preschool Halloween Activities

These easy and fun ideas for toddler Halloween activities are sure to satisfy your preschoolers and are the perfect way to celebrate the spooky season. From easy Halloween arts and crafts, sensory activities, pretend play, and more, you’ll keep your little goblin entertained for days. Plus, we have free printable Halloween activities that are perfect for your pocketbook and your preschooler.

 Pumpkin Patch Pretend Play

Transform your living room into a mini pumpkin patch. You can opt for mini pumpkins, plastic pumpkins, orange balloons, or fill pumpkin-shaped treat bags with paper to create your own budget-friendly pumpkins. Let your toddler “pick” pumpkins and load them into a wagon, kids grocery cart, stroller, or basket.

Ghost Bowling

Stack up toilet paper rolls decorated as ghosts and let your little one knock them over with a ball.

Halloween Sensory Bin

Fill a plastic container with dried black beans, plastic spiders, mini pumpkins, Halloween-shaped erasers, large googly eyes, or other safe Halloween trinkets for a spooky sensory experience. (Please supervise closely to prevent choking hazards!)

Mummy Wrap Race

Use rolls of toilet paper to wrap each other up like mummies. This is a fun one to get the big kids involved with!

Pumpkin Face Stickers

If you’re looking for a fun and easy activity for your toddler and preschooler while you’re on the go, this is easy to toss in your bag and hit the road. Draw a large pumpkin on paper and let your toddler decorate it with these pumpkin stickers for the eyes, nose, and mouth.

Spooky Shadow Puppets

Use a flashlight to create spooky Halloween themed shadow puppets on the wall. If you have a Cricut, you can easily cut out Halloween shapes on black cardstock and tape them to popsicle sticks. if you don’t have a fancy cutting machine, do it the old fashioned way and trace shapes or free-draw simple Halloween figures and cut them out. 

Halloween Dance Party

Put on some classic Halloween tunes and have a dance-off in costumes. This is even more fun after dark if you have some black lights or glow sticks. 

Candy Corn Counting

Practice counting with candy corn or candy pumpkins.  (Please supervise closely to prevent choking hazards!) 

Monster Feet

Cut out large monster foot shapes from colorful foam or felt and cut a hole large enough for your kiddo’s foot to fit through. Let her stomp around the house with her new monster feet!

Halloween I Spy

Create a simple Halloween-themed I-Spy game with Halloween decor at home. Or use our printable Halloween I-Spy, which is a great activity to to practice observation and teach counting. 

Witch’s Brew Bubble Play

Add food coloring and dish soap to water, plus some Halloween-themed or creepy crawly plastic toys in a plastic cauldron or large bowl for a spooky sensory experience. This is a perfect outdoor activity on nice weather days.

Ghost Handprints

Make handprint ghosts using white finger or tempera paint on black paper. Add some cute little ghost faces for spooktacular art you’ll want to display all season.

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

Children of all ages will absolutely love a scavenger hunt! You can easily create an easy and exciting scavenger hunt for your littles with this free download and some Halloween treats or trinkets. It’s easy to set up and is great Halloween fun! This is another activity that is perfect for the big brothers and sisters to get involved with.  

Spiderweb Walking

Create a “spiderweb” on the floor using painter’s tape, masking tape, or this super fun glow in the dark tape and have your toddler practice walking on the lines. This is perfect for younger kids who are working on balance and gross motor skills. 

Pumpkin Smoosh Painting

If you’re looking for a mess-free painting activity Put blobs of washable orange finger paint inside a gallon-size ziplock bag with a large cut-out paper pumpkin shape. Let your toddler smoosh the paint around to color the pumpkin. To ensure your child and table don’t end up covered in paint, seal and tape the bag opening to prevent leaks. 

Costume Dress-Up Station

Set up a box of old clothes and Halloween accessories for imaginative play. Kid to Kid, Facebook Marketplace, and garage sales are all great places to find gently used Halloween costumes for cheap!

Pumpkin Stacking

Use mini pumpkins or these cute pumpkin erasers for a stacking challenge.

Monster Playdough

Here’s come classic toddler fun that’s a great fine motor activity. Make green or purple homemade playdough and add googly eyes and pipe cleaners for monster creation.

Pumpkin Seed Sorting

After carving a pumpkin, let your toddler sort seeds from the pumpkin goo. It’s a fun sensory activity for kids who don’t mind getting a little messy.

Halloween Freeze Dance

Play Halloween music and have your toddler freeze in spooky poses when the music stops. This is an easy Halloween game that can even be played in the car. 

Bat Wing Flapping

Cut out simple bat wing shapes from black paper, foam, or felt and let your toddler pretend to zoom around like a bat. 

Halloween Monster Sock Puppets

Turn old socks into Halloween monster puppets with googly eyes, yarn, pipe cleaners, ribbons, pompoms, etc. to decorate your monster. (If you choose to use hot glue,  please do not leave children unattended or allow them to use the hot glue gun, as serious injuries could occur.)

Pumpkin Rolling Race

Use small pumpkins for a rolling race across the floor. Use painter’s tape or masking tape to make a finish line. To up the challenge on this Halloween game, use tape to create circles or squares on the floor that toddlers and kids try to roll their pumpkins into. 

Halloween Obstacle Course

Create a simple obstacle course using Halloween-themed props like plastic pumpkins and spiders to step over or a “spider web” to crawl under. 

Spooky Story Time

Read Halloween books for kids in a blanket fort with a flashlight.  Prep some special snacks, so you can really enjoy this Halloween storytime.  

Witch’s Hat Ring Toss

This is a two-in-one activity. First, make paper plate witch hats. Those does take some extra time and adult help, but the finished product makes the rest of the activity possible. If you don’t want to make your own, grab a cheap witch hat from the dollar store.

Now, take your witch hats and throw rings (made from paper plates with the centers cut out) over them for a carnival-style game that is great for practicing hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills.

Pumpkin Patch Sensory Walk

Fill shallow bins with different textures (dried leaves, cooked spaghetti “worms,” acorns, pinecones, oats, hay, etc.) for a sensory walk.

Halloween Matching Game

Play a simple matching game with pairs of Halloween-themed pictures. For younger toddlers, you can start with fewer pictures and work up to more.

Spiderweb Painting

Use painters tape to creat a spider web design on a canvas or sturdy card stock or poster board. Let your child paint all over the surface, completely covering any white spots. It’s ok if it gets on the tape! After the painting is complete, very carefully pull off the painter’s tape, to reveal a white spider web. Decorate with spider stickers, paper cut-outs, or plastic spiders when it’s completely dry!

Trick-or-Treat Practice

Set up a few doors in your house and practice trick-or-treating. We used to do this when my girls were itty bitty and they loved it!  It’s a great way to practice saying “Trick or treat” and “thank you ” to get them ready for the big day. The grandparents’ house is also a great place to practice!

Ghost Balloon Tennis

Blow up white balloons and draw faces with permanent markers to look like ghosts and play “tennis.” If you don’t have a racquet, it’s ok! Use a fly swatter or create your own racket with a paper plate and paint stir stick

Ghost Tissue Paper Art

Here’s a simple craft activity to work on fine motor skills. Help your toddler tear white tissue paper into small pieces and glue it onto a ghost outline on black or orange construction paper. You could also adapt this activity with a pumpkin or bat shape for even more Halloween craft fun. 

Pumpkin Hammering

Draw faces on pumpkins and help your toddler hammer in golf tees for “hair.”. This activity requires constant adult supervision but offers an incredible sensory experience for kids and will be one of their favorite activities!

I suggest using a child-sized hammer so the child has more control. If you’re worried about little fingers being smashed, you can opt for protective gloves. This can make it more difficult to use the hammer, so you can just have the child wear it on the opposite hand that is holding the tees. And always have children wear protective safety goggles when using tools.  It’s a great habit to start young. 

Halloween Simon Says

Play Simon Says with Halloween-themed actions like “creep like a spider” or “fly like a bat.”

Halloween Dot Art

Print our Halloween dot art sheets and let your little monster dab away with their favorite color BINGO or dot markers. This is a great activity to practice hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and grip.

Wrapping Up: Easy and Fun Halloween Activities for Toddlers 

There you have it, mamas! Thirty-five of the best Halloween activities and crafts for toddlers that won’t require a second income or a degree in rocket science. Remember, the key to a successful spooky season with your little one is to keep things simple, embrace the mess (it’s just extra decoration, right?), and don’t forget to snag some of that candy for yourself. You’ve earned it!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with a pumpkin spice latte and whatever Halloween candy I can find that my kids haven’t devoured yet. Happy haunting, and may you have the best Halloween with your littles this year!

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