Christmas is such a magical time when you have little ones at home. Between wrapping presents, decorating your house, and cooking up a feast, you’ll more than likely be looking for easy Christmas activities for kids that don’t involve too much mess, money, or stress.
Whether you’re hiding out from the cold weather or you want to build festive traditions at home, here are five Christmas activities for kids that are simple, budget-friendly, and perfect for keeping little hands busy in the run-up to the big day.
1. Make your own Christmas tree decorations
Creating homemade decorations is one of the best fun Christmas activities for kids and your little one will no doubt love the messy play that comes with the glue, paint, and glitter – with a bit of supervision of course.
Some simple decorations you could make:
- Salt dough baubles – mix 120g flour, 150g salt, and 120ml of water. Let your toddler press their chosen shape with cookie cutters, poke a hole for a ribbon, and then bake at 100°C for 2-3 hours. Once cool, simply paint and hang.
- Paper plate Christmas trees – cut a paper plate into a triangle, and let your little one colour or paint it green. Then, let them decorate it with sequins, pompoms, or stickers.
- Pine cone decorations – collect some pine cones on a winter walk, then decorate with paint, glue, and glitter.
These homemade decorations also make lovely keepsakes or Christmas gifts for grandparents.
2. Festive sensory play for toddlers
Sensory play is perfect for toddlers, especially in colder months when outdoor play might be limited. It supports fine motor skills and offers a soothing way to explore new textures, smells, and colours.
Here are some easy Christmas sensory ideas:
- Christmas sensory bin – fill a tray or box with uncooked rice dyed red and green, and add scoops, plastic baubles, jingle bells, and tinsel.
- Gingerbread cloud dough – mix 250g plain flour with 60ml of baby oil, and add a sprinkle of cinnamon or ginger, and let your toddler squish and mould their way into Christmas joy.
- Frozen festive rescue – freeze small Christmas toys in an ice cube tray with red and green water. Then give your toddler some warm water and a spoon so they can ‘rescue’ them.
Sensory play is great for under-3s and can be set up in just a few minutes with things you already have at home. With any type of sensory play, make sure you supervise your toddler at all times to avoid any accidents from happening.
3. Toddler-friendly Christmas baking
You don’t need to be Mary Berry to enjoy baking with your toddler! In fact, many parents find this one of the most memorable Christmas activities for kids – even if it may end in flour-covered chaos!
Some easy bake ideas you could try include:
- Decorate-your-own gingerbread people – using shop-bought gingerbread biscuits, let your toddler go wild with icing pens, chocolate buttons, and sprinkles.
- Christmas tree Rice Krispie cakes – mix melted marshmallows with green food colouring and Rice Krispies. Then, shape into trees (or baubles) and add mini stars or Smarties as decorations.
- Mini mince pie making – use ready-rolled shortcrust pastry and let your little one spoon in mincemeat. Then use festive cutters for the top – stars and hearts work perfectly here.
Remember, it’s not about perfection – it’s about the fun, mess, and memories.
4. Go on a Christmas treasure hunt
Any child loves a good treasure hunt, and turning your living room or garden into a festive trail is one of the easiest fun Christmas activities for kids you can do.
Here’s how you can set it up:
- Hide items like baubles, candy canes, mini crackers, or soft Christmas toys around the house.
- Use picture clues or simple directions such as: “Can you find the snowman hiding under the table?”
- Offer a small prize or snack at the end – even a chocolate coin feels magical when it’s ‘won’.
If you want to set one up outdoors, you could turn it into a Christmas light hunt. Wrap up warm and walk around your local area to spot Santa inflatables, twinkly windows, or light-up reindeers.
5. Christmas story time and craft combo
There’s something lovely about slowing down with a story during the busy festive season. For toddlers, pairing storytime with a themed craft helps them stay engaged, and it’s a great quiet-time activity after a busy morning.
Some child-friendly Christmas favourites include:
- Dear Santa by Rod Campbell – for this story, let your child draw their own Christmas present list, or make a lift-the-flap card using coloured paper and glue.
- That’s Not My Reindeer by Fiona Watt – after reading, get your child to create their own reindeer using a paper plate, brown paint, googly eyes, and pipe cleaner antlers.
- The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet & Allan Ahlberg – this story is great for making a postbox from a cardboard box. You can encourage your little one to post their own festive drawings or letters to family.
You can set the mood perfectly with a soft Christmas blanket, warm milk, and fairy lights for the ultimate toddler-friendly festive vibe.
Find out more about our Christmas activities for kids
These easy Christmas activities for kids are all about connection, creativity, and capturing the magic of the season in simple, meaningful ways. It can be easy to feel the pressure to create the perfect activity, but remember your toddler won’t care about how perfect they were – they’ll remember how it felt and your presence.
At Stepping Stones, we love helping your little one learn through the festive fun. From Christmas crafts to seasonal story sessions and songs, our team ensures every child enjoys a warm, joyful run-up to Christmas.
If you’d like to learn more about the Christmas activities we put on for your child, be sure to book a visit to our day nursery today.
FAQs around fun Christmas activities for kids
What are the benefits of doing Christmas crafts with toddlers?
Christmas crafts help toddlers develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and early creativity. They also support language development and concentration. Most importantly, festive crafts give toddlers a sense of achievement and create lasting family memories.
How do I manage messy play at Christmas?
You can manage messy play by using washable materials, covering your table or floor with an old tablecloth or newspaper, and keeping wipes or a damp cloth nearby. Choosing easy Christmas activities for kids that involve low-mess items like stickers, pom-poms, or colouring can help too. Remember: a little mess often means big fun!
Can I do these activities with more than one child?
Yes! Most of these fun Christmas activities for kids can be scaled up or down depending on age and number of heads. Older siblings can help younger ones with baking or crafts, and treasure hunts are great for mixed ages. Just make sure any small items used (like buttons or beads) are safe for toddlers.