Discover 25 engaging Christmas activities and crafts for kids! From DIY ornaments to sensory play, these festive ideas spark creativity, build skills, and bring joy to your holiday season. Perfect for family fun!
The holiday season is a magical time for families, especially when you have little ones in tow. Toddlers and preschoolers love to get hands-on, and Christmas offers endless opportunities to spark creativity, encourage learning, and make lasting memories. Whether you’re looking to keep them entertained during the festive hustle and bustle or create cherished family traditions, these Christmas activities and crafts are sure to delight your little elves.
Tips for Success
- Keep it simple: Toddlers and preschoolers have short attention spans. Break activities into manageable steps and don’t worry about perfection.
- Be prepared for messes: Lay down newspaper or a plastic tablecloth and keep wipes handy for easy cleanup.
- Join in the fun: Your enthusiasm will encourage your child to dive into the activity with joy and confidence.
1. Salt Dough Ornaments
What you’ll need:
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup salt
- ½ cup water
- Cookie cutters, paint, and ribbon
Salt dough ornaments are a classic craft that’s perfect for tiny hands. Help your toddler or preschooler mix the dough and roll it out. Use cookie cutters to create fun holiday shapes like stars, trees, or stockings. Once baked and cooled, let your child decorate the ornaments with paint and glitter. Add a ribbon, and you’ve got a personalized keepsake for the tree or a thoughtful gift for family members.
2. Paper Plate Christmas Trees
What you’ll need:
- Paper plates
- Green paint or crayons
- Stickers, pom-poms, or buttons
- Glue and scissors
Cut paper plates into triangles to mimic the shape of a Christmas tree. Your little artist can paint or color the “trees” green, then decorate them with pom-poms, buttons, or stickers to represent ornaments. This simple craft encourages fine motor skills while sparking creativity.
3. Sensory Play: Snow Dough
What you’ll need:
- 2 cups cornstarch
- ½ cup baby oil (or substitute coconut oil for a softer texture)
- Optional: glitter
Snow dough is a sensory activity that’s as fun to squish as it is to mold. Toddlers and preschoolers will love exploring the soft, crumbly texture. Add plastic Christmas figurines, cookie cutters, or small toys for imaginative play. The best part? It’s easy to clean up!
4. Christmas Storytime and Puppet Making
What you’ll need:
- Paper bags or socks
- Markers, googly eyes, and craft supplies
Pair a holiday-themed book, such as The Polar Express or How the Grinch Stole Christmas, with a puppet-making session. Help your child create puppets of characters from the story using recycled materials like paper bags or old socks. Then, let their imagination take over as they act out scenes from the book.
5. Handprint Reindeer
What you’ll need:
- Brown construction paper
- Markers, googly eyes, and a red pom-pom
Trace your child’s hand onto brown paper to make the reindeer’s head and antlers. Add googly eyes and a red pom-pom nose for Rudolph. This craft is not only adorable but also makes a great keepsake to see how your child’s handprint grows each year.
6. Edible Christmas Trees
What you’ll need:
- Ice cream cones
- Green frosting
- Sprinkles and mini candies
Turn snack time into craft time by letting your child decorate an ice cream cone “Christmas tree.” Provide green frosting for the base and an assortment of sprinkles and candies for decorating. It’s a delicious way to practice fine motor skills and counting.
7. Jingle Bell Music Parade
What you’ll need:
- Jingle bells
- Pipe cleaners or ribbon
Thread jingle bells onto pipe cleaners or tie them to ribbons to create simple instruments. Once the instruments are ready, have a mini Christmas parade around the house. Sing carols, shake your bells, and let your little one burn off some holiday energy.
8. Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt
Bundle up and head out for an evening walk or drive to admire Christmas lights. Turn it into a game by creating a simple checklist of things to find, like “a house with a snowman,” “red lights,” or “a star on a tree.” It’s a great way to make memories and build observational skills.
9. Wrapping Paper Collage
What you’ll need:
- Leftover wrapping paper scraps
- Glue sticks
- A large piece of cardstock
Save those wrapping paper scraps and let your child create a festive collage. Tearing and gluing are fantastic for developing fine motor skills, and your little one will love making their own artwork from colorful patterns and shiny paper.
10. DIY Christmas Cards
What you’ll need:
- Blank cards or cardstock
- Crayons, markers, and stickers
Help your child design simple Christmas cards for family and friends. Let them scribble, stamp, or glue their way to creating unique designs. Not only is this a creative outlet, but it also teaches the joy of giving.
11. Puffy Paint Snowflakes
What you’ll need:
- Shaving cream
- White glue
- Blue construction paper
- Glitter (optional)
Mix equal parts shaving cream and white glue to create “puffy paint.” Help your child use the paint to make snowflakes on blue paper. Add a sprinkle of glitter for extra sparkle. Once dry, the paint will remain puffy and soft to the touch!
12. Candy Cane Lacing Activity
What you’ll need:
- Red and white pipe cleaners
- Large beads (red and white)
Encourage fine motor skills by letting your child lace red and white beads onto a pipe cleaner, alternating colors to mimic a candy cane. Once filled, bend the pipe cleaner into a candy cane shape. Hang it on the tree or use it as a festive decoration.
13. Recycled Card Garland
What you’ll need:
- Old Christmas cards
- Hole punch
- Ribbon or string
Cut out shapes or designs from old Christmas cards. Help your child punch holes in the pieces and string them together to create a colorful garland. It’s an eco-friendly craft that’s perfect for decorating the mantel or their room.
14. Marshmallow Snowmen
What you’ll need:
- Large marshmallows
- Pretzel sticks
- Mini chocolate chips
- Candy or edible markers
Stack three marshmallows to create a snowman, using pretzel sticks to connect them. Decorate with mini chocolate chips for buttons and use edible markers or candies to add a face and accessories. This tasty craft is as fun to eat as it is to make!
15. Pom-Pom Sorting with a Christmas Twist
What you’ll need:
- Red and green pom-poms
- Muffin tin or small containers
- Tongs or spoons
Set up a sorting game with red and green pom-poms. Provide tongs or spoons to help your child sort them into a muffin tin or separate containers. Add a holiday twist by pretending the pom-poms are Santa’s “magic dust” for decorating!
16. Snowman Bowling
What you’ll need:
- Empty toilet paper rolls or plastic bottles
- White paint
- Markers
Paint empty rolls or bottles white, then decorate them as snowmen using markers or craft supplies. Arrange them like bowling pins and use a small ball to knock them over. Your toddler will love this festive indoor game!
17. DIY Advent Calendar
What you’ll need:
- Small paper bags or envelopes
- Stickers, markers, and small treats
Create an advent calendar together by decorating small paper bags or envelopes. Fill each one with a small treat, toy, or activity card, and hang them up in a fun display. Let your child open one each day leading up to Christmas for added excitement.
18. Bubble Wrap Stomp Painting
What you’ll need:
- Bubble wrap
- Washable paint
- Large sheet of paper
Lay a large sheet of paper on the floor and tape bubble wrap to your child’s feet. Dip the bubble wrap in paint and let them stomp across the paper. The result? A textured masterpiece that resembles falling snow or festive lights.
19. Gingerbread Playdough
What you’ll need:
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup salt
- 1 tbsp cream of tartar
- 1 cup water
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- Cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger
Mix up a batch of gingerbread-scented playdough by adding spices to the basic recipe above. Provide cookie cutters and rolling pins so your little one can “bake” pretend gingerbread cookies. The warm scent adds an extra layer of festive fun.
20. Festive Ice Painting
What you’ll need:
- Ice cubes
- Food coloring
- White paper
Freeze ice cubes with a drop of food coloring in each. Once frozen, let your child use the colorful ice cubes to paint on white paper. This activity is fun, sensory, and a little messy—but the vibrant creations are worth it!
21. Christmas Wreath Craft
What you’ll need:
- Paper plates
- Green tissue paper or paint
- Stickers, pom-poms, or bows
Cut out the center of a paper plate to create a wreath shape. Have your child cover it with green tissue paper or paint, then decorate it with stickers, pom-poms, or bows. Add a ribbon to hang their masterpiece on a door or wall.
22. Reindeer Food Bags
What you’ll need:
- Oats
- Glitter (eco-friendly preferred)
- Small bags
Mix oats with a sprinkle of glitter to create “reindeer food.” Let your child scoop the mixture into small bags and tie them with a ribbon. On Christmas Eve, they can sprinkle the food outside to “guide” Santa’s reindeer to your house.
23. Sticky Wall Christmas Tree
What you’ll need:
- Green contact paper
- Pom-poms, paper ornaments, or felt shapes
Tape a large piece of green contact paper to the wall, sticky side out, in the shape of a Christmas tree. Provide lightweight decorations like pom-poms or paper ornaments for your child to stick and rearrange. This reusable activity is perfect for toddlers!
24. Christmas Sensory Bin
What you’ll need:
- Red and green craft pom-poms
- Mini ornaments, bells, or pinecones
- Tinsel, ribbon scraps, or fabric swatches
Fill a bin with red and green pom-poms, tinsel, or ribbon scraps, and add festive items like mini ornaments, jingle bells, and pinecones. Provide scoops, small containers, or tongs for your child to explore and sort. Sensory bins are great for imaginative play and calming busy toddlers.
25. Santa Hat Cone Craft
What you’ll need:
- Paper or foam cones
- Red and white craft materials
Help your child decorate cones to look like Santa hats using red paint, glitter, and cotton balls for the trim. These adorable decorations can be displayed on a shelf or used as party hats for stuffed animals.
The holiday season is the perfect time to slow down and savor the magic of childhood. These activities and crafts are not just about creating art or checking off to-do lists—they’re about spending quality time together and building traditions that will be cherished for years to come. Happy crafting and Merry Christmas!
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