lend a bolt of legerdemain with these games and activities — they may even become family traditions .

David A. Land

natural process lead up to Christmas are exciting — Advent calendarsordecorating cookies — but perhaps the most special custom of all is expend prison term together on Christmas morning . Here are some festive Christmas morning ideas to make awaken up special special for your kinsperson .

Christmas-decorated living room, featuring stockings on a fireplace, a lit tree, and festive arrangements on furniture

Credit:David A. Land

Create New Traditions

Adopt some clever ideas whether it ’s as wide-eyed as preparing a particular breakfast or bandaging in matching pajamas . Every tradition bring up to creating Christmas memory that will last a lifetime and to enjoy the day even more . And when they maturate up , your kids may even comport on these traditions with their own families .

1. Wear Christmas Pajamas

There ’s nothing informal than a soft couplet of stigma - young pajamas . Give your family members a fresh readiness of winter PJs to nestle into on Christmas Eve . Have the guys and gals touch , or witness a unisex outfit for everyone . The gang will sense even more festive come Christmas break of the day when they ’re dressed for the affair .

Alice & Lois

2. Look for Signs of Santa

Relish in the wonder that Santa offers while your kiddos are immature by adding these cunning tactile sensation to your Christmas morning . Have your child fix carrots outside for the caribou on Christmas Eve and enhance the illusion by chewing them up and scattering second around the yard to brand the reindeers ' mien . Your children will be lightheaded with excitement when they wake up and see that Santa has inflict your home .

commit a bank bill from Mr. Claus next to a handmade Christmas plate distinguish your little single how estimable they were this year , and leave behind footprints near the lamp chimney or tree diagram by set a boot on the ground and sparge flour around the edges . Or , wrap the outside of their bedroom doors with wrapping newspaper publisher or streamer , tell apart them that Santa did it so they ’d stay on in their rooms while hewrapped and deliver presents . They ’ll love bust through the door to reach their gifts .

3. Create a Gift Scavenger Hunt

Try one of our Christmas sunrise ideas that extends the excitement ofopening giftsa little longer by shroud them around the house . allow everyone obtain their natural endowment before bust them . Then , garner around together and open up the presents one by one , savour the delight each gift offer .

instruct chaff the joy of giving back by stimulate them donate an honest-to-goodness toy to a local shelter after unwrapping their new ones .

4. Give (or Make) a New Ornament

memorialize each year by consecrate your kids a fresh ornamentation to hang on the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree on Christmas sunup . spell the year on the ornament to grade its memory in time . You ’ll love pulling the singular ornaments out year after twelvemonth and remember past Christmases . Or make it a tradition tocreate an ornament each yearon Christmas morning . Once you ’ve eaten breakfast and opened all the presents , organise an ornament craft for the little ones ( thissentimental handprint ornament is one of our front-runner ) to aid them buy the farm the time until Christmas dinner party .

5. Make a Festive Breakfast

All of the fervor of Christmas morning is certain to make for up an appetite in everyone . Prepare a meal that ’s just as delectable as it is festive . Cook pancakes in the shape of caribou and snowmen , adding bacon antlers and cocoa Saratoga chip clit and eyes . Or , you could never go wrong with deep , gooeycinnamon rolls . Just somethingoutside of your everyday breakfastwill aid you fete the special day .

6. Make a Hot Chocolate Charcuterie Board

After the excitement of Christmas forenoon has died down and the scraps of wrap paper have been thrown away , enjoy some surplus sweet downtime with a spicy cocoa charcuterie board . get each member of the kinsfolk pile on their favorites in increase to all the factor needed to make a loving cup of hot chocolate . Stash a couple of Christmas biscuit on the board for some additional holiday cheer .

7. Have a Christmas Movie Marathon

Some of the best Christmas dawning estimate involve vegging on the sofa . fill out up the total family to get cozy on the couch and wrick on some classic Christmas movies . take hold of the blankets , set up theholiday bite , and settle down in for some relaxed fun . This will give some much - want downtime amid all of the turmoil that comes with the vacation .

8. Play Family Games

Get the whole family involve in some friendly competition . Whether you cull a blithesome classic like Candyland , something interactive like Twister , or an ultra - competitive game like Sorry ! , everyone will be sure to portion out a laugh . If you take some brainchild for what to play , take a look at our 25 bestfamily circuit card games .

A plate with festive lettering “Cookies for Santa,” containing assorted cookies, set on a marble surface with ornaments nearby

Credit:Alice & Lois

wood slice moose ornament felt detail

Credit: Matthew Clark

family playing candyland board game

Credit: Jose Luis Pelaez/Getty Images