25 Exciting Advent Activities for Teens

Finding advent activities for teens that actually work can feel like a challenge, especially once they’ve outgrown the usual traditions.

My son is 15 now, and while he’s not interested in Elf on the Shelf or toy-filled calendars anymore, he still wants December to feel special.

Over the years, we’ve tried a mix of creative, low-key, and just plain fun ideas that keep the countdown to Christmas exciting without feeling babyish.

Whether your teen loves cozy nights at home, holiday treats, or a little adventure, these ideas are teen-tested and family-approved, and they’ve helped us turn the season into something we both enjoy.

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Advent Activities for Teenagers

These 25 ideas are all about making the countdown to Christmas more enjoyable for older kids, without adding stress to your schedule.

Some are quick wins you can do on weeknights, others work well for weekends or winter break.

Use them on their own or turn them into a DIY advent calendar your teen can actually get excited about. Either way, they’re fun, flexible, and easy to tailor to your family.

Have a hot chocolate taste test with various toppings

The hot chocolate taste test has become a December favorite in our house. My son invites a couple of friends over, and they go all out, whipped cream, candy canes, flavored syrups, even chili powder one year.

It’s a simple way to make a weeknight feel festive. We’ve also used our snowman soup printable to turn this into little gift bags for grandparents and neighbors.

Decorate the Christmas tree

No matter how old he gets, tree decorating is still a highlight. We take our time unpacking the ornaments, each one tied to a memory. Even without Santa in the picture, this tradition still brings all the holiday nostalgia.

Bake and decorate Christmas cookies

Let the teens take over the kitchen for a cookie night. We’ve had some masterpieces and some total messes, but it’s always fun. My son likes to pick one new recipe from the Easy Christmas Cookie Cookbook each year and make it completely on his own.

Write heartfelt letters to family members and friends

Getting teens to write anything heartfelt can be a challenge, but this has stuck for us. Since he was little, my son has written a few short Christmas notes to family. Now he adds jokes or inside stories, and it’s one of the things his grandparents look forward to most.

Create a holiday themed playlist

This is my son’s domain. He curates a holiday playlist every year with his own mix of classics and unexpected picks (yes, Run-D.M.C. is on there). It’s what we play during baking, wrapping, and basically all of December.

Watch a classic holiday movie

We have a standing movie night tradition, usually with popcorn, fuzzy blankets, and plenty of commentary. My favorite is Christmas with the Kranks; my son’s is Home Alone (the first two, of course). Last year we tried the reboot… never again. Pro tip: stick with the classics.

You can always have fun with our Christmas movie advent calendar.

Volunteer at a local shelter or food bank

This one’s become part of our December rhythm. My son helps sort food or pack bags at our local food pantry. It’s not flashy, but it’s grounding, and reminds him that the holidays are about more than just gifts and fun.

Make DIY holiday greeting cards

We pull out markers, stamps, washi tape, whatever’s on hand, and get creative. The Christmas coloring cards for teens we made a few years ago were a hit, especially when paired with cookie tins or teacher gifts. Teenagers might grumble at first, but once they start, they usually get into it.

Build a gingerbread house

We don’t even pretend it’s about precision anymore, just good, messy fun. My son and I each decorate our own, and it’s become a competition to see whose house can survive the longest without collapsing or losing a wall.

Take a winter hike or nature walk

Fresh air is underrated. When the weather cooperates, we bundle up and head to the trails. It gives us a break from screens, a chance to talk, and sometimes a snowball fight if we’re lucky.

Go ice skating at a local rink

We’re not exactly pros, but that’s part of the fun. My son glides across the ice with confidence, me, not so much. It’s cold, chaotic, and always ends with cocoa, which makes the sore ankles worth it.

Host a game night with holiday themed board games

We rotate between family favorites and new Christmas board games each year. Add some snacks, invite a friend or two, and it turns into an easy, low-key night we all enjoy. You can also pair this with a Christmas photo scavenger hunt to keep the energy up.

Create a winter themed craft or DIY project

We’ve made everything from salt dough ornaments to mason jar snow globes. Teens might act too cool for crafts, but if you give them the freedom to do it their way, they’ll usually surprise you.

Attend a local holiday concert or play

Check your community calendar, we’ve found great free events through Facebook groups. One of our favorites is a concert hosted by Vanilla Ice (yes, that one) who lives in our village and goes all out every December.

Organize a Secret Santa gift exchange with friends

My son and his friends set a $10 budget and make a whole afternoon of picking out their Secret Santa gifts at the mall. It’s independent, low-pressure, and a fun way for them to connect beyond school.

Visit a holiday market or craft fair

Local holiday markets are full of handmade gifts, cozy food, and weirdly good people-watching. We make a tradition of grabbing hot cider and seeing who can find the most random ornament.

Have a holiday themed photoshoot with friends

Santa hats, ugly sweaters, and someone always pretending to be the Grinch, it’s chaotic, but hilarious. My son and his friends usually use their phones and take turns posing and directing. Bonus: they’ve used the pics as holiday cards for fun.

Make a DIY advent wreath or centerpiece

Each year we put together a Christmas table centerpiece using pinecones, ornaments, and ribbon. It’s simple, but my son gets a kick out of trying to out-design me. If your teen’s creative, this is an easy win.

Read a Christmas book

We’ve kept this tradition going since he was little, he picks one holiday book at the start of December and tries to finish by Christmas Eve. Some favorites over the years: The Christmas Pig by J.K. Rowling, The Ice Monster by David Walliams, and A Christmas Carol.

Make homemade eggnog

My son’s always tweaking the recipe, adding cinnamon, nutmeg, even a splash of orange extract one year. It turns into a mini science experiment (and sometimes a mess), but the results are always good enough to enjoy together.

Host a holiday themed trivia night

My son loves being quizmaster. He writes questions about holiday movies, songs, and weird traditions, then challenges us to compete. Prizes are usually snacks or the last cookie, simple, but bragging rights last all week.

Have a pajama day and watch holiday specials all day

One of our laziest (and best) traditions. We stay in pajamas, pile up blankets, and binge Christmas specials, old cartoons, sitcom episodes, and anything that feels nostalgic or ridiculous. It’s the break we all need mid-December.

Plan and prepare a special family dinner

This is hands-down my favorite. My son takes the lead on everything, from meal planning and shopping to cooking and cleanup. It’s a full-day activity and usually ends in a kitchen dance party and very full bellies.

Write down your New Year’s resolutions and goals

We do this during the last few days of December. Everyone writes a few realistic goals, silly hopes, or things they want to leave behind. We use these printable New Year’s resolutions to keep it fun and teen-friendly.

Create a time capsule to open next year

We each add something that reflects the year, photos, jokes, ticket stubs, letters to our future selves. Then we seal it up and stash it until next December. It’s become one of the most meaningful parts of our advent countdown. Use our New Year’s time capsule questions that’ll help.

Last Updated on 23 July 2025 by Clare Brown