You can’t beat home sweet home during the holidays! This year, make the most out of the holiday season with fun activities at home for the whole family.  We’ve got crafting, games, movies and more inspired by our very own Activa team members and their families for you and your bubble to enjoy!

Go on a Tree Hunt

Spruce up your home with a real Christmas tree. There’s nothing quite like the scent of fresh pine coming from a newly cut tree in your living room to kick off your home for the holiday’s festivities. Our Activa team member, Sarah, makes this a tradition every year! She and her family visit a local tree farm on a hunt to find the tallest and fattest spruce to fit in their front hallway. This year, she visited Grobe Nursery & Garden Centre for a pre-cut tree, however, if you want to cut it down yourself she recommends Rinas Christmas Trees or Benjamin Tree Farm.

 

Make Holiday Crafts

Who remembers making salt dough ornaments in elementary school? This is a fun activity to do with kids of all ages! Use holiday cookie cutters to make different shapes to hang on your Christmas tree, then add paint, rhinestones, glitter or whatever you see fit to personalize your ornaments. Welcomed a new family member this year? Activa team member, Liz, plans to make these ornaments and press her fur baby’s paw into the dough – how cute! You can also create a “baby’s first Christmas” ornament by pressing your baby’s hands into the dough for a lifelong Christmas keepsake. Whether it’s baby’s first Christmas, or you are making these with your family, you are sure to have personalized and unique ornaments for your tree that will last for years to come – something fun to look back on!

Rustic twig ornaments are also an easy craft you can make with kids! All you need is twigs, glue and embroidery thread to make holiday-inspired patterns and shapes that will add a nature-inspired theme to your holiday decor! Check out Simple as That for a step-by-step tutorial.

Make a Gingerbread House

Continue your crafting but this time make it edible! Making a gingerbread house is a fun way to spend an afternoon with the kids. You can even purchase a locally sourced Gingerbread House Kit. Cambridge and Waterloo Habitat for Humanity ReStore locations will be selling kits, with the proceeds going directly to families in our community. Learn more about this program here. As well, you can usually find gingerbread house kits at your local grocery store, and don’t forget to stock up on candy – that’s how you add some bedazzle!

Organize a Holiday Inspired Scavenger Hunt

Turn up the Christmas music and make your kids do a bit of work for their presents this year! Write holiday themed riddles and hide them throughout the house, then let your family follow the clues to a surprise at the end – maybe a present under the tree? Check out Play Party Plan for free printable scavenger hunt clues, or use it as inspiration to writing your own! This is the perfect way to share some holiday cheer with those closest to you.

Have a Holiday Movie Marathon

Don’t forget to fit in some relaxation. Activa team member, Jenna, highly recommends a holiday movie marathon to wind down after a busy day! But what to watch? Here are her top picks:

 

NOTE: Holiday movie marathons are best spent with hot chocolate and fluffy marshmallows – in a Christmas mug of course!

Don’t Forget a Holiday Photo-op!

“Christmas Eve PJs are a must”, says our Activa Design Studio team members. It is a common tradition to open one gift on Christmas Eve, so why not make it matching Christmas jammies for all? Gather your bubble by the tree and strike a pose in the best Christmas onesies you can find! Support local while you’re shopping – check out The Art of Home’s present rompers or find holiday wear on Etsy.

Get social with us

While you’re at home celebrating the holidays, don’t forget to share it with us! Follow and tag @builtbyactiva on Instagram or Facebook to show us how you’re celebrating the season. Happy Holidays!