10 Easy Holiday Traditions to Start With Young Kids

Family traditions don’t have to be elaborate to be meaningful. In fact, the traditions kids remember most are often the simple ones that happen year after year. If you have young children, starting a few easy traditions now can create memories that last a lifetime. Here are 10 easy holiday traditions to start with young kids.

1. Surprise Countdown Calendars

A daily surprise during the holiday season builds excitement and anticipation. Advent calendars or countdown kits are a fun way to celebrate the days leading up to a holiday.

2. Holiday Movie Night

Choose a favorite seasonal movie, make popcorn, and snuggle together.

3. Decorating Day

Turn decorating the house into an event with music, hot cocoa, and lots of excitement.

4. Special Holiday Breakfast

Pancakes shaped like hearts, trees, or pumpkins make a holiday morning feel extra special.

5. Handwritten Notes

Leave small notes or surprises for your kids to find throughout the day.

6. Seasonal Craft Time

Simple crafts give kids a way to participate in the celebration and create something meaningful.

7. Family Walk or Adventure

Take a walk to see holiday lights, fall decorations, or spring blooms together.

8. Surprise Treat Night

Bake cookies or share a favorite treat together.

9. Memory Photos

Take a photo each year in the same spot or with the same decoration.

10. Holiday Kits

Curated kits make it easy to start traditions without the planning. Everything is ready to go, so families can focus on the fun.

At Little Lantern, our goal is to make traditions easier to create and easier to keep. Because the magic of childhood isn’t found in perfect celebrations. It’s found in the moments families share together.