Fun Ways to Encourage Writing During The Festive Season

The holiday season is a time for families to unite, celebrate, and create cherished memories. Amid the excitement of gift-giving, festive meals, and seasonal activities, it's easy for children to step away from their regular learning routines. However, the holidays also present a special opportunity to inspire writing in a fun, creative way that connects to the season's meaningful moments. By weaving writing activities into holiday traditions, parents can help children stay engaged with language and communication skills while nurturing their creativity. Here are some imaginative ways to encourage writing during the festive season.

Write Christmas Cards for Teachers and Friends

One of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to encourage writing during the holiday season is by having children write Christmas cards for their teachers and school friends. This not only provides an opportunity for children to express their gratitude, but also helps them develop their writing skills in a meaningful and practical way.

Writing cards can range from short, heartfelt notes to slightly longer messages, depending on the child’s age. Younger children might simply write “Merry Christmas” and add a drawing, while older children can practice crafting messages that reflect specific memories from the school year or share their wishes for the year ahead. It’s also a great way to introduce children to the structure of letter writing, with a greeting, body, and closing. Additionally, children can get creative by decorating their cards with festive drawings, stickers, or glitter, making it a fun and artistic activity.

Writing Christmas Cards for Family Members

The holiday season is a time for sharing love, joy, and gratitude with those we hold dear, and one of the most heartfelt ways to do so is through a personal Merry Christmas card. For children, writing their own Christmas card to a family member can be a fun and meaningful way to practice writing, express their feelings, and reflect on the significance of family connections.

Encourage your child to think about what makes that family member special to them. Whether it’s their kindness, sense of humour, or the special memories they’ve shared, these thoughts can form the basis of a heartfelt Christmas card. Younger children may start with a simple “Merry Christmas” followed by a drawing or a festive sticker, which can be just as meaningful. Older children, however, might write a more thoughtful message, reflecting on a cherished moment from the past year or expressing appreciation for that person’s presence in their life.

For example, a child might write something like, “I love spending Christmas with you because we always have so much fun together. Thank you for all the hugs and stories you share with me. Merry Christmas, Grandma!” Such a personal message not only makes the recipient feel loved but also encourages the child to reflect on what they value most about their family.

Keep a Daily Holiday Journal

The festive holiday season is filled with unique experiences, from decorating the tree to the excitement of counting down to Christmas Day. Encourage children to capture these daily moments in a holiday journal. Writing about their everyday activities helps children improve their writing skills while deepening their connection to the season.

Children can use their journal to describe what they did each day - whether it’s playing with friends, visiting Santa, or enjoying a special meal with family. They can also write about the weather, the sights and sounds of the holidays, or the various foods they tried. For younger children, a journal prompt like “What was the best part of today?” can help spark their creativity, while older children can write more detailed entries, describing the colours, smells, and sounds of the season. If they’re feeling particularly imaginative, they could add some storytelling by inventing holiday adventures or imagining a day in the life of a Christmas elf or reindeer.

Journaling not only provides a fun way for children to express their thoughts, but it also offers a wonderful way to preserve their memories. At the end of the holidays, they’ll have a personal account of their festive experiences to look back on, and it can even be shared with classmates when school resumes.

Label Each Present with Personalised Notes

Gift-giving is one of the most exciting parts of the holidays, and writing personalised notes for each gift is a great way to involve children in the process. Rather than simply writing names on gift tags, encourage your child to write a special message or description of the gift on each tag.

This could be as simple as writing “To Mum, with love” or “For Dad, something to make you smile.” Older children might enjoy writing a sentence or two about why they chose that particular gift for someone or even a short poem about what they hope the recipient will enjoy. This small but meaningful act reinforces the spirit of giving and ensures that each present is given with intention and thought. Children will feel involved in the gift-giving process, and their writing will add a personal touch to the celebration.

Create a Holiday Recipe Book

The holidays are filled with special foods, from Christmas dinner to sweet treats like cookies and mince pies. Creating a holiday recipe book is a fun way to incorporate writing into festive traditions. Children can write down their favourite holiday recipes, whether they’re family favourites passed down through generations or new ones they've discovered during the season.

To start, children can write out the ingredients and steps for recipes they want to remember or share. This provides a great opportunity to help them develop their writing skills by practising clear instructions and organising ingredients. For older children, you could encourage them to add their own twist to a recipe or even write a short story about the memories tied to a particular dish—like baking cookies with a grandparent or preparing a special meal for a holiday gathering.

If the children enjoy art, they can illustrate the recipes or take photos of the completed dishes. This mix of writing and creativity makes the recipe book a treasured family keepsake, preserving the stories and memories connected to holiday meals for years to come.

Write a Holiday Poem or Story

What better time to spark creativity than the holiday season? Writing a holiday-themed poem or short story is a wonderful way to engage children’s imaginations while encouraging them to write. Whether it’s a poem about the magic of Christmas or a fun tale about a snowman who comes to life, crafting holiday stories allows children to explore their creativity and try out different writing styles.

Encourage children to write about a holiday adventure they’d love to go on, a magical encounter with Santa or the Grinch, or even invent a brand-new holiday tradition. Older children may enjoy writing longer stories with more developed characters and plotlines, while younger children can have fun with simple rhyming poems about winter or Christmas decorations.

For families with multiple children, you can even create a collaborative holiday story, with each child contributing a sentence or paragraph to build a larger tale. This not only encourages teamwork but also fosters creativity and a love of writing.

Conclusion

The festive season is the perfect time to get children writing in ways that are creative, engaging, and meaningful. Whether they’re writing Christmas cards, keeping a holiday journal, or crafting original stories, there are countless opportunities to incorporate writing into holiday traditions. With a bit of creativity, writing can become a fun and treasured part of the holiday season, leaving children with lasting memories and a love for expressing themselves through words.

If you feel that your child could benefit from extra English support after the holidays, our team of expert tutors is here to help. Simply book a FREE, no-obligation learning assessment online to get started.