5 Ways to Entertain the Kids at Your Vacation Rental This Christmas

Christmas is a magical time, especially for children. Whether it’s the twinkling lights, festive music, or the excitement of unwrapping gifts, there’s something truly special about the holiday season. For families traveling to Branson this Christmas, staying at a vacation rental offers the perfect opportunity to create cherished holiday memories.

At VacationStar, we pride ourselves on providing cozy and luxurious accommodations to suit every family’s needs. There’s plenty of room for fun and family bonding. In this guide, we’ll share five creative and exciting ways to entertain your kids during your stay at a VacationStar rental this Christmas.

1. Create a Festive Arts and Crafts Station

Holiday arts and crafts are yet another great way to ensure that children stay occupied while developing their imagination. Organization of a crafting corner in the vacation rental is relatively easy and guarantees children’s engagement for hours.

To begin with some basic items you would need are; construction papers, markers, glue, glitter, and scissors. If you still need more crafting supplies, there is usually a local store in Branson selling holiday crafting kits. Gently persuade your children to unleash their creativity, and they will make art pieces of their favorite holidays.

Other creative ideas include creating cute ornaments that the kids can use to decorate a tree in the house you rent or take home. One more – creating homemade holiday cards for people with whom one wishes to spend time or creating paper snowflakes as well as Christmas garlands for the living space. The preparation of them not only keeps the kids occupied but also gives an atmosphere of the added festive touch to your rental that makes it seem even more like home.

2. Host a Family Game Night

A family game night is very inevitable especially when it comes to all the members of the family to enjoy and share some of the jokes in the full house. It will also probably come as no surprise that most vacation rentals have open-concept great rooms where it’s easy to spread out games like Monopoly or cards, or large format puzzles.

Christmas trivia is also an addition to your game night or Christmas charades can also be fun with an emphasis on the holiday season. For example there are holiday movies, holiday songs or even Santa’s reindeer can be enacted by the players and other members have to make guesses.

Generally you want to focus on games that will have appeal to kids, but if you are traveling with teenagers or kids 8 and above then games like Settlers of Catan or Ticket to Ride are great as they will require many hours. Perhaps an interesting addition to sightseeing, game nights can become the best way to have fun and spend time together with your close ones.

3. Bake Holiday Treats Together

When you decide to stay in a vacation rental, one of the perks is being able to cook your own food including some tasty holiday specialties. Cooking is an enjoyable and engaging pastime that kids are sure to enjoy and it will also be a great way to get into the Christmas spirit having the nice warm aromas of cookies and sweets flowing through the rental.

In our case let the kids help you prepare the traditional sugar cookies. They’ll enjoy using a biscuit cutter to make badges, stars, trees and snow men, before icing them in bright colours. One more activity that children really love is the construction of gingerbread houses and decorating them. It is possible to transport one from home or purchase it from the local supermarket in case of a convenient no-mess one.

A less complicated activity you can organize is a hot chocolate bar. Some ideas of toppings for kids to put in their drinks are whipped cream, marshmallows, candy and chocolate shavings. Co-baking is in fact fun and such activities are good opportunities to let the kids practice in the kitchen during the fun of the holiday baking.

4. Organize a Christmas Movie Marathon

After a busy day of exploring Branson’s holiday attractions, unwind with a cozy Christmas movie marathon. Vacation rentals often have comfortable living rooms perfect for curling up with blankets and snacks.

Movie Recommendations:

• The Polar Express – A magical tale that kids will love.

• Home Alone – A laugh-out-loud family classic.

• Elf – Full of holiday cheer and humor for all ages.

• Frosty the Snowman – A timeless animated favorite.

Make the experience extra special by dimming the lights, popping some popcorn, and sipping on hot cocoa as you enjoy your favorite festive films together.

5. Plan an Indoor Treasure Hunt

If outdoor play is out of the question due to cold or rain, an indoor treasure hunt is a fun activity that can be done. Take advantage of the failed plan and design a game for your vacation rental, which will bring out their curiosity and creativity.

Begin by writing clues that will take the kids from one corner of the rental to another. For instance, you can ensconce them in the kitchen with an indication directing them to the living room before the bedrooms and so on. Favors: For the children everyone, leave candies such as candy canes, chocolate coins or small toys as prizes at each stop.

To make the above treasure hunt even more interesting, incorporate holiday challenges or activities. For instance, make the kids sing a Christmas carol, guess the name of a holiday movie or name all the reindeer before they get to the next clue. 

Finish the hunt with a grand prize such as a gift box or a holiday care package basket. It will prove important to understand that this is an effective way through which children can be made to exercise while they are indoors.

Enjoy Your Holidays With VacationStar Deals Today!

We're dedicated to helping you create unforgettable holiday memories. From our cozy cabins to our luxurious townhouses and spacious lodges, our vacation rentals are designed with families in mind. Each property offers the perfect mix of comfort and convenience, ensuring a stress-free holiday experience.

When you book with VacationStar, you’re not just getting a place to stay—you’re choosing a home away from home. With amenities like fully-equipped kitchens, electric fireplaces, and king-sized bedrooms, our rentals are ideal for creating cherished family traditions this Christmas.

Don’t wait to plan your holiday getaway. Visit our Contact Page today to learn more about our latest deals and availability. Let VacationStar help you make this Christmas the most magical one yet!