How to plan a Christmas lights walk with children
Updated 30 October 2026 · By Rob and Chris, two Sheffield dads, and our families
Choose a short route you know past decorated houses, and give everyone five things to spot: a star, a tree, coloured lights, a wreath and a favourite display. Back home, each person picks their favourite and adds it to a little map of the walk.
- Time: about 20 minutes
- Ages: 3 and up, with a part for each age
- In the Famoo calendar as: Twinkly-light detectives
What do you need?
- Warm coats, hats and gloves
- A list of the five things to spot (a grown-up holds it, on paper or a phone)
- A pencil
- Paper for a map afterwards
How do you do it?
- Choose the route. A grown-up picks a short route you know, past decorated houses, and a time to be home. You can also do this from your windows.
- Pick five things to spot. A star, a tree, coloured lights, a wreath and a favourite display.
- Walk and look. Stay together and look from the pavement. Tick off each one without going into anyone’s garden.
- Make a map. Younger children draw their favourite light. Older children draw the route, using places they know.
- Choose a favourite. Back home, everyone shares the display they liked best and adds it to the map.
How can each age join in?
- Ages 3 to 5. Spot a star, a tree and coloured lights.
- Ages 6 to 9. Plan or draw the route and mark the best displays, using places you know.
- Ages 10 and up. Draw a map key and compare a short route with a longer one. Keep the map at home.
Tip
Go soon after it gets dark rather than at bedtime, so little ones still have energy for the walk home.
Keeping it safe
Stay together, look from the pavement and do not go into gardens. Near roads, RoSPA says young children should hold hands with a grown-up they know, on the side of the pavement away from traffic, and wear clothes that help drivers see them: reflective materials show up in the dark. If older children draw a map, keep it at home. Do not post it online, because it shows where people live.
Plan 24 of these into your family’s Advent calendar with Famoo
Famoo has 46 activities like this one, each with picture steps, an elf helper who reads every step aloud, and a part for each age so brothers and sisters can do it together. Join the beta, choose your 24, and a new door opens each day in December.
Famoo is a family app for UK homes, in beta, so things may change. Find out more about Famoo.
