Portfolio Categories: BATH & BEYOND

Kids’ Christmas Party Ideas

Fun and Festive Christmas Party Ideas for Kids

Unless you’re St. Nick toting a bag full of presents, catching and holding the attention of kids at a Christmas party takes some creativity. Here are some festive and fun ways to keep children happy and entertained throughout your holiday celebration.

Decorate Gingerbread Houses

Let kids express their creativity with individual gingerbread houses. Provide a variety of colorful decorations and tasty treats, such as:

  • Candy canes
  • Gumdrops
  • Licorice ropes
  • Mints and jellybeans
  • Lollipops and cinnamon candies
  • Coconut flakes for snowy scenes
  • Marshmallows for building snowmen

Set out extra candy for snacking and don’t forget to capture photos of each child with their frosted creation!

Bake Christmas Cookies

Christmas cookie cutters and ingredients for kids

Get the kids into the holiday spirit with a hands-on cookie baking session. Give them:

  • Elf baking hats (Santa caps)
  • Festive red or green aprons
  • A variety of cookie cutters

After baking, let them decorate the cookies with sugar sprinkles and icing. Provide cellophane and ribbon so they can package cookies to take home as party favors.

Related: Tools for Decorating Cookies for the Holidays

Play Holiday Games

Keep the energy going with engaging games such as:

  • Pin the tail on Rudolph
  • Stocking races
  • Christmas bingo
  • Santa Says

Hand out puzzles and set a timer to see which child can complete one the fastest for added competition.

Create a Christmas Storybook

Spark imaginations by helping the kids create a collaborative Christmas story. You’ll need:

  • A large scrapbook
  • Christmas stickers and decorations
  • Archival pen for writing

Have the children gather and dictate a story as you write. For inspiration, they can base it on holiday classics like the “Twelve Days of Christmas” or “Frosty the Snowman.” Let them illustrate each page, either as a group or in smaller teams.

Make Ornaments

Encourage each child to craft a personalized ornament to hang on their tree. Provide:

  • Clear plastic ball ornaments
  • Paints, glue, and glitter
  • Optional: Photos of each child to add a personal touch

This thoughtful keepsake is a fun way for kids to remember the holiday celebration.

With a little planning and a lot of creativity, you can host a magical children’s Christmas party even Santa would be proud to attend.

Julie Bawden-Davis

Fun and Practical Ideas for the Kids’ Table at Thanksgiving

How to Create a Fun and Festive Thanksgiving Kids’ Table

A full house for Thanksgiving dinner makes for a festive occasion but also creates some logistical challenges—like where to seat the kids. Sitting through a long meal with adults can be tough for many children. One fun and effective solution is to create a special kids’ table just for them.

Here are some great ways to set up a welcoming and entertaining spot for your youngest guests this Thanksgiving.

Kid-Proof Table Settings

Make the table child-friendly with these options:

  • Use colorful, unbreakable dishes, cups, and utensils.
  • Opt for Thanksgiving-themed paper tableware.
  • Protect the table with a vinyl tablecloth or cover it in brown craft paper for creative doodling.
  • Cut placemats from the craft paper, label each with a child’s name, and encourage them to decorate their own mat—great as a keepsake!

Festive Holiday Decor

Set the scene with fun, seasonal decorations:

  • A pumpkin centerpiece carved with a Thanksgiving theme and lit with a flameless candle
  • Small “Mayflower” dishes filled with condiments like gravy and cranberry sauce
  • Paper napkins folded into festive turkey shapes
  • Scattered colorful fall leaves across the table for a playful touch

Provide Fun Activities

Keep kids entertained while adults enjoy their meal:

  • Thanksgiving-themed word searches and crossword puzzles
  • Holiday coloring books and crayons
  • Games like “Pin the Feathers on the Turkey”

Serve Kid-Friendly Holiday Fare

Offer a variety of kid-approved menu items to ensure they enjoy their meal:

  • Turkey nuggets and ham cubes
  • Marshmallow-topped yams
  • Carrot sticks and buttery rolls

Fun Thanksgiving-Themed Desserts

  • Turkey-shaped sugar cookies
  • “Cornucopias” made from sugar ice cream cones filled with colorful candies
  • Pumpkin cupcakes

Let the kids decorate their own cupcakes by setting out orange, brown, and white frosting, cake decorating tools, and a variety of sprinkle toppings.

Keeping the kids busy and happy this Thanksgiving with their very own table leads to plenty of time for you to enjoy delicious food and quality conversations with friends and family.

Julie Bawden-Davis

Measuring Cups: 4 Things to Know Before You Buy

How to Choose the Right Measuring Cups for Your Kitchen

Measuring cups are essential when accuracy is necessary in a recipe. Although you might get away with a pinch of this and a splash of that in some dishes, in others—baking in particular—precision is key if your recipe is going to succeed. Measuring cups are a fundamental tool for every kitchen, and today, there are many tempting options to choose from.

Evaluate the features of the wide variety of measuring cups available to find the ideal ones for your kitchen and cooking style.

1. Types of Measuring Cups

There are two main types of measuring cups:

  • Dry Measuring Cups:
    • Come in sets (1/8, 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, and 1 cup)
    • Usually made of plastic or metal
    • Flat-topped for leveling off ingredients
  • Liquid Measuring Cups:
    • Available in capacities like 1-cup, 2-cup, and 4-cup (and larger)
    • Shaped like pitchers with spouts for pouring
    • Made of clear plastic or glass to view levels accurately
    • Most are microwave-safe

Since most cooking involves both wet and dry ingredients, it’s best to own both types—or invest in a dual-function model that can handle both.

2. Materials

Measuring cups are available in various materials, each offering unique benefits:

  • Stainless Steel:

    • Best for dry ingredients
    • Durable, stain and scratch-resistant
    • Does not absorb odors
    • Usually hand-wash only
  • Plastic:

    • Used for both dry and wet ingredients
    • Wet-use versions are transparent
    • May absorb odors and stain over time
    • Not always heat-resistant unless silicone-based
    • Usually dishwasher-safe
  • Glass:

    • Primarily for wet ingredients
    • Oven and microwave-safe
    • Non-porous—resists odor and stains
    • Easy to read and dishwasher-safe

3. Storage Capabilities

  • Steel and plastic cups are often stackable for easy drawer storage.
  • For limited space, consider
    collapsible measuring cups.
  • Some glass models come with lids for storing mixed ingredients directly in the cup.

4. Time-Saving Features

  • Angled Measuring Cups: These allow you to view measurements from above, eliminating the need to bend down and check eye-level accuracy.
  • Adjustable Measuring Cups:
    Plunger-style cups let you set the measurement, fill, and push out sticky ingredients like honey cleanly and quickly.

Now that you’re familiar with the types, materials, storage options, and innovative features of measuring cups, you can make an informed decision on the best set to suit your cooking style and kitchen needs.