10 Low-Prep Activities for Kids During the Week Between Christmas and New Year’s

The chaos of Christmas Day is over, and New Year's Day is on the horizon. If you find yourself wondering what day of the week it is — you're not alone. The days between Christmas and the end of the year can feel like a blur, especially when you have kids at home for winter break. While the novelty of their new gifts will take a bit to wear off, you may still be looking for ideas on what to do during this in-between time.

You don't have to make extravagant plans or spend a ton of money to keep your family entertained while you recover from the stress that often comes with preparing for the holidays. There are plenty of low-prep activities you can do with your kids at home or around town that will keep them busy with minimal effort on your part.

It's Your Turn for a Break

The holiday season can be a wonderful, fun-filled time. For many, it's a time to slow down, spend time with family, and reflect on the past year. However, as most moms know, the magic of the holidays happens because of the things we prepare. Whether it's finding the perfect gifts for our kids, making sure everything is wrapped and ready, or baking cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning, a lot of effort is put into making sure our kids have a great holiday.

There's no doubt all that effort is worth it — but it also means we're left feeling pretty exhausted after Christmas Day. That's why, if you feel like you could nap for the next week, what you need is some low-effort activities to get your kids to New Year's.

10 Low-Prep Activities for Winter Break

The last thing you want to do after Christmas is plan more activities for your kids. Here are 10 low-prep activities for the remaining days of winter break.

Holiday Movie Night

The best lazy days after Christmas are the ones spent snuggling on the couch, watching your favorite movies. If you're looking for a low-effort activity for your family, try a holiday movie night. Aside from tossing some popcorn in the microwave and picking a movie everyone can agree on, there are no other preparations involved. Whether you choose a holiday movie or just a family favorite, it's so cozy to watch something together by the light of the Christmas tree.

Reflect on the Past Year

What better time to reflect on the past year than the days between Christmas and New Year's? There are a lot of different ways you can do this. If you have older children, you can have a family discussion about the best parts of the past year. If you have younger kids, you might have them tell you their favorite part of the holidays or remind them of some of the highlights from the past year.

Create a Playlist for the New Year

A fun way to look forward to the year ahead is by creating a playlist that represents your hopes and dreams for the new year! You can also do this for the past year as a way to reflect. If you've got teens in the house, they can create their own Spotify playlist and share it with everyone else. Or, you can create one playlist as a family with some songs that represent your goals.

Find Some Christmas Lights

The best part about the days between Christmas and New Year's is that there are still holiday events going on, and most people still have their decorations up. Grab some hot cocoa, pack the kids in the car, and go on an adventure to see some Christmas lights. Or, if you have a lot of lights in your own neighborhood, you could go out a little earlier in the evening and take a walk to see some lights instead.

Write Thank You Cards

Your kids may have gotten tons of gifts from grandparents, siblings, and cousins for Christmas. If your kids are old enough to write, this is the perfect activity to keep them occupied for a while. Have them write thank-you cards to friends and family members. It's a good way for them to show gratitude and reflect on everything they received.

Clean Out the Clutter

If you didn't already clear out some clutter before Christmas Day, now is the perfect time to do so. Have your kids gather some toys and clothes they no longer use and donate them to your local Salvation Army or other non-profit. You can also use this as an opportunity to throw away anything not worth keeping.

Create Holiday Crafts

Holiday crafts are the kind of activity that usually requires some prep — unless you choose holiday crafts made from materials around the house. Have some empty toilet paper rolls lying around? Let your kids decorate them to make snowmen, reindeer, or Christmas trees. With just some scissors and printer paper, your kids can create snowflakes. If all else fails, grab some crayons and markers and ask your kids to draw some holiday-themed pictures.

Visit the Library

If you're up to venturing out of the house, visiting the library is a great way to spend an afternoon after Christmas. Your kids will enjoy picking out some new books to read before school starts again, and you get a few moments of peace and quiet. Check if your local library has a storytime during the week so that your kids can hear a story while you're there.

Get Active Together

You may not feel motivated to exercise during the post-holiday slump, but this is the perfect time to get active while spending time together as a family. Think of something you can do together to be active as a family. This could be a walk around the neighborhood, a dance class, or even a workout video you can follow together at home.

Family Game Night

The holidays can be a busy time — and in the midst of the chaos, it's great to take some time to reconnect in a meaningful way. A family game night is the perfect way to accomplish this. Dig out the board games if you have them, or try a simple game like charades or Go Fish. No matter what you play, the important thing is that you spend time laughing together and enjoying each other's company as you prepare for a new year.

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