The holiday season is a time for joy, celebration, connection, and creativity. For parents and caregivers, it’s also an opportunity to embrace technology as a tool to foster meaningful moments with their children. Instead of viewing screens as a distraction, consider how your child’s tech-savvy skills can be channeled into holiday-themed creativity that teaches them how to use their technology in a creative rather than passive way. Remember, it’s not how much time they are spending online; it’s what they are doing with that time that is most important.
By guiding children to use technology intentionally, parents can help them develop valuable skills, from problem-solving to storytelling, while reinforcing the importance of meaningful digital engagement. Whether it’s designing digital holiday cards, curating playlists, or creating festive videos, these activities can transform screen time into shared family holiday experiences.
This shift in perspective allows parents and caregivers to reframe technology as a tool for creativity, learning, and connection rather than just entertainment. It’s an opportunity to show youth and teens that their devices can help them create, express themselves, and even bring joy to others during the holiday season. By fostering these habits now, parents and caregivers can lay the groundwork for their children to build a lifelong relationship with technology that’s thoughtful, purposeful, and creative.
Incorporating technology into holiday traditions doesn’t mean letting screens dominate the season – it means finding ways to blend creativity, family bonding, and digital tools to enhance your time together. For example, when your child uses their device to craft a heartfelt digital greeting for a grandparent or edits a family holiday video, they’re learning to communicate, think critically, and develop technical skills. These experiences go beyond passive scrolling and show how technology can enrich relationships and traditions.
Encourage collaboration by making these activities a shared endeavour. Join your child in brainstorming ideas for a holiday-themed project, whether it’s a festive photoshoot, a homemade stop-motion animation, or a playlist filled with everyone’s favourite seasonal tunes. By participating, you not only model healthy tech habits but also strengthen your connection with your child through shared creativity.
It’s also an excellent time to teach them about balance. While technology can enhance many holiday activities, it’s equally important to enjoy offline moments – decorating cookies, playing board games, or simply sharing stories by the fire. This balanced approach helps children see that screens are a tool, not a necessity, and that some of the best memories are made when technology is used thoughtfully and sparingly.
Here are 10 fun and innovative ways to use technology together this Christmas that we have come up with.
1. Create Digital Holiday Cards
Encourage your child to design personalized holiday cards using apps like Canva. They can add festive designs, photos of the family, or even include inside jokes. These digital creations can be emailed to friends and family or shared on social media for a personal touch.
2. Make a Christmas Photo Journal
Turn your child’s phone or tablet into a storytelling device. Assign them the role of the family photographer to capture candid moments during holiday activities like decorating the tree, baking cookies, or unwrapping presents. Use apps like Google Photos to compile the images into a digital scrapbook, printable photo journal, or even a family PowerPoint presentation that can be watched for years to come.
3. Design a Family Holiday Playlist
Get the whole family involved in curating the ultimate holiday playlist on platforms like Spotify or Apple Music. Let your child add their favourite songs while including classic tunes that everyone loves. This activity is both fun and a way to connect through shared music tastes.
4. Film a Family Christmas Movie
Encourage your child to use their phone’s video capabilities to direct a family Christmas movie. They can write a simple script, assign roles, and edit the footage with apps like iMovie. Whether it’s a heartfelt holiday story or a funny parody, this activity is sure to become a cherished family memory.
5. Bake with Virtual Guidance
Combine technology and tradition by baking holiday treats with the help of recipe videos on YouTube. Your child can pick a recipe they want to try, watch the video for guidance, and even film their own baking process to share with friends or on social media.
6. Use Google Maps To Plan A Tour Of Home Christmas Lights In Your City
Turn your evening into a festive adventure by using Google Maps together to plan a personalized tour of the best holiday light displays in your area. This activity combines the joy of holiday traditions with the convenience of modern technology, creating a memorable outing for the whole family
7. Send Holiday Greetings via Video
Use technology to bridge the gap between loved ones who can’t join in person. Encourage your child to create and send holiday greeting videos to grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends. They can add fun filters, music, or captions to make their messages unique and heartfelt.
8. Do It Yourself Christmas Crafts with Online Tutorials
Help your child explore their artistic side by finding Christmas craft tutorials online. Whether it’s making ornaments, wreaths, or holiday-themed art, platforms like Pinterest and YouTube are treasure troves of creative ideas that integrate technology into hands-on activities.
9. Host a Virtual Holiday Talent Show
If your child loves performing, organize a virtual talent show with friends and family. Let them showcase their singing, dancing, or other talents over video platforms like Zoom or Google Meet. They can even use video-editing tools to enhance their performance with festive effects.
10. Build a Countdown Calendar App
If your child is tech-savvy or interested in coding, suggest creating a simple countdown calendar app for Christmas. Platforms like Scratch or Code.org offer beginner-friendly tools for coding projects that foster creativity and problem-solving skills.
The holiday season presents a unique opportunity for parents and caregivers to reimagine how technology can bring families closer together while encouraging creativity and connection. By engaging your child in balanced, meaningful, holiday-themed tech activities, you can transform screen use into a platform for learning, bonding, and fun. Whether it’s through crafting digital holiday cards, filming a family Christmas movie, or exploring virtual baking tutorials, these activities highlight how technology can enhance traditional holiday experiences rather than detract from them.
Remember, it’s not about how much time your child spends online but how they use that time to express themselves, connect with loved ones, and create lasting memories. By fostering a balanced and intentional approach to technology, you not only make this holiday season more enriching but also help your child develop a balanced, healthy, and creative relationship with their devices – one that will benefit them long after the decorations are packed away.
This Christmas, let technology be a bridge to creativity and connection rather than a barrier and embrace the digital possibilities while cherishing the offline magic. By encouraging your child to use their devices in imaginative and festive ways, you can turn screen time into a source of joy and bonding.
With the right balance of guidance and collaboration, these holiday-themed activities can help your family create lasting memories and celebrate the season with creativity, both online and offline, together.
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
Facts Not Fear, Facts Not Emotions, Enlighten Not Frighten, Know Tech Not No Tech
