Christmas often feels like an indoor affair – cosy evenings, festive films, and gatherings with family and friends. But with the change of routine and the extra time together, the season can also bring stress and a feeling of cabin fever.
Heading outdoors is a simple, affordable way to ease the pressure and boost everyone’s wellbeing. Fresh air and movement can lift moods, burn off energy, and create space for connection away from screens and crowded rooms.
So wrap up warm and get ready to try one of our easy ways to make the outdoors part of your Christmas celebrations.
Get out for a family walk
This may seem almost too simple, but sometimes the best ideas are. Amid our hectic, busy lives, can you remember the last time you simply went for a walk together as a family?
Such walks are especially valuable during Christmas reunions when families living apart come together. It gives you the perfect chance to catch up and share the smaller details in your lives, which sometimes get missed in the hustle and bustle of more organised events. As one sibling shared:
It’s nice to force yourself to put away your to-do list for a while and enjoy their company. When we were kids, my brothers and I spent hours whiling the days away doing not much at all. It’s what you do as kids and sometimes I wish I could still do that now I’m an adult!
There’s no need to go anywhere special – a brisk walk in the local park or a wander through the neighbourhood is enough. Daytime walks in nature feel particularly uplifting at this time of year, especially on sunny, frosty days.
We also know how powerful this can be for parents and children alike. Regular physical activity is a great way to boost your mood, releasing feel-good chemicals that reduce anxiety and stress, enhance self-esteem, and ease tension and mental fatigue.
For some straightforward steps to help you be more active – and to keep the habit going well into the new year – see our article: How to get active as a family – and keep the habit going.
On the hunt
Getting out and about is a great way to spark your child’s interest in nature and the outdoors. So why not spice up your walk up with a themed scavenger hunt? It’s a great way to get them interested, and has the added benefit of being particularly engaging for younger children, or those who are more easily bored.
How in-depth you want to go is up to you. At your local park or woods, you could leave clues and signs for children and adults to find. Or write up some cards with clues on them that feature local landmarks.
Here are some ideas for potential festive sights to try and find:
- A robin
- Some red berries
- A holly bush or ivy leaf
- A frosty pattern (you could take a picture of it to sketch from when you get home as an additional fun activity)
Remember that, as an adult, you’ll often dictate the route you take, so it’s easy to ensure children see the landmarks you’ve picked out.
And if you’re short on time and forget to prepare, you could always make it up on the spot. Grab some small toys – Lego bricks, for example – and take them with you. Tell the children the Christmas elves have hidden the toys in the woods or park, and if they find them all they can exchange them for a treat when you get home.
Then, as you’re walking around, you can quietly throw the toys behind trees when the children aren’t looking. Even if you need to give them subtle hints to point them in the right direction, they shouldn’t suspect you’re making it up on the spot if you’re careful, and you should all still have a great time!
Scavenger hunts get a lot easier if you’re visiting a town or city, as the amount of recognisable landmarks increases. If you’ve put some money aside for a day out, you could even make the final destination on the trip a café, with the “reward” being a hot chocolate to help you all warm up again! But this isn’t necessary by any means – you can have just as much fun without doing this.
Finally, there’s no reason why you can’t combine a scavenger hunt or walk with a trip to see some Christmas lights.
Visit some Christmas lights
An easy – and free! – way to spark festive cheer is to explore the Christmas lights in your local area. Kids will love spotting decorations, and it’s a great excuse to get outside.
Walking works well for city centre displays and gives everyone a chance to stretch their legs, while a car trip is ideal for lights on high streets or in nearby towns and villages. And don’t forget individual houses – some are as impressive as council displays and often become local talking points. A quick chat with neighbours can help you plan the best route.
Wrap up warm, and if you’re going to be out for a while, you might want to take snacks and hot drinks – your toes and your wallet will thank you later! To make it even more fun, turn your outing into a game: count snowmen, Christmas trees, or red and green lights.
Let it snow
No Christmas list focusing on outdoor activities would be complete without a list of fun things to do in the snow – although admittedly, the weather in the UK can’t always be relied on to bring snow!
Here’s a list of great snow-themed family activities you can try out should you wake up in a winter wonderland:
- Make footprints in the fresh snow. Bonus points if you can make a big pattern – this is a great suggestion for older children or anyone who’s feeling creative.
- Make snow angels by lying in the snow and moving your arms and legs.
- Have a snowball fight (make sure everyone knows to only use soft snow and no icy bits, and not to aim at faces).
- Build a snow family.
- If you have pets that like the snow, take them out to play with you – the results can often be hilarious!
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