Looking for some easy holiday activities for your toddler this Christmas? I cannot wait to get cracking on all things Christmas! And finally, now we’ve hit December, it doesn’t seem all that far away.
Hooray says the world! Just me?!
You need some easy toddler Christmas activities to do at home, to keep your little ones out of mischief, right? And give you a moment to get on with the never-ending list of things to do, that is, just… life with little kids.
You need fun Christmas-themed toddler activities to keep them occupied for more than a nanosecond, right?! Fine motor Christmas activities, simple games and easy learning activities. Some easy no-prep winter activities to do indoors this holiday season.
Plus some minimal mess Christmas sensory play.
All with materials you have at home or are easy to get hold of.
You’ve come to the right place!
These are Christmas-themed learning activities
Kids learn best through play. In fact, whatever they’re playing with or whatever make-believe world they’re lost in, is their way of figuring out how the world works. .
Quite simply, all the things they do are things they actually need to do.
What kinds of activities do toddlers love to do?
Toddlers love love to stack, sort, pour and scoop, rip, throw, cut (if they’ve started using scissors), throw, touch ALL the things, stand on ALL the things, post, pack and unpack, open and shut things…
And all of these are teaching your toddler how something works. Or allowing them to learn and practice a skill.
Touch and put their fingers in the flour? They’re learning about the texture, weight, density of flour.
How quickly it falls, how much fits in their hands and so on.
This list of easy Christmas activities for toddlers ticks a lot of those boxes. And so, to it.
Simple Christmas activities for toddlers
For supplies and materials for these festive activities check out our recommended product list.
#1 Pushpin Christmas tree decorating
Such an easy Christmas activity for toddlers to get started with.
Cardboard, the ability to draw a Christmas tree and some pushpins are the main ingredients here. Then all you need is something underneath, so those pushpins don’t go through to the table.
I stapled a rectangle of cardboard to an egg carton tray which worked really well. Otherwise, a few extra layers of cardboard would do.
A pinboard would obviously work well too – then leave that cute decorated Christmas tree up for the festive season.
#2 Color-in 3d paper Christmas ornament templates
A bit of coloring in, then once done, cut, fold and stick to make a cute Christmas ornament.
Or skip the coloring altogether and choose the Christmas animals ornament templates for an even simpler toddler activity.
Click here for the free 3d Christmas paper ornament template.
#3 Old wrapping paper ripping or cutting
Here, you’re just giving your little one permission to do what they love to do – make a mess!
So dig out those odds and ends of wrapping paper. We always save every scrap of wrapping paper – a tradition handed down from my dear father, which means this is toddler Christmas activity that isn’t as wasteful as it sounds.
Then let them go to town, ripping or cutting.
#4 Make a festive bracelet
This is an easy no-prep Christmas activity that also helps your toddler hone those fine motor skills; threading red, green and sparkly beads and some mini bells onto a pipe cleaner.
My daughter also decided the one above needed a big black button. Each to their own.
(Pretty as that one is, I don’t recommend using the sparkly pipe cleaners as they’re very itchy… rather go for the normal soft ones.)
#5 Build Christmas trees (or other random things) with a tinker tray
Hands up if you have a preschooler that loves to build? My 4 year old builds stuff out of everything and anything so building little Christmas trees with pipe cleaners, sticks and mini bells will be right up his street.
I can’t wait to see what he comes up with. (In all likelihood he’ll build a truck, but as long as he’s enjoying that’s fine with me…)
#6 Christmas window decorations
This Christmas activity for toddlers will (hopefully) result in a cute decoration.
It does require a tiny more prep but since these will become part of your Christmas decor, they should be worth the effort.
Contact paper, some construction paper or card (for the outlines) and some fun bits and bobs to stick inside is all you need.
#7 Christmas tree name puzzle
A fun and simple Christmas activity for toddlers and preschoolers with a few different elements of learning.
I love that this one takes less than 2 minutes to prep. I also really like that you can make this is easy or complicated as you like, easily adapting it for the age of your child.
For young toddlers just starting out with scissors, draw straight lines for them to cut along; for preschoolers, you can draw some wiggly lines and zigzags. Then write their name on, one letter per puzzle piece.
Even if your child hasn’t started on letters, exposure to those in their name can be a fun place to start. Mixing the pieces up and putting the puzzle back together is the final element.
If you do this with more than one kid, make it harder by mixing all the puzzles up for them to sort and piece each puzzle back together.
#8 Christmas cookie cutter matching
A fun Christmas activity for toddlersthat practices the pre-maths skill of matching.
Simply draw around some Christmas cookies onto a giant-sized piece of paper (or several smaller ones) and have your toddler or preschooler match the cookie cutters to the correct place. Easy peasy!
#9 Christmas tree string art
This Christmas activity for toddlers definitely needs a fair amount of help and adult supervision. My 3-year-old is going to love hammering in the nails so I’m sold already.
#10 Make & decorate Santa’s postbox
I could have gone to town on this one and finished with a beautiful post box that looked like a Snowman or Santa but this was the almost zero-prep version.
All you need to get started is a large empty cardboard box. Create an opening for letters and add some text. My 2 and 3 years old had a blast painting and stamping it.
As you can see it was a hot Christmas that year for us (at home in rural Africa) so I let my two get to work with paint outside.
If you’re indoors and you want to avoid mess, sharpies, stickers and any other craft materials will keep your little ones busy just as well.
#11 Write letters to Santa (with free templates)
Of course, Santa’s post box can only mean one thing – you need to send him some letters! So this is next on this list of easy Christmas activities for your toddler or preschooler.
Sending letters to Santa is also a fun Christmas tradition; these letters make great keepsakes.
As toddlers, my two “drew” (ie scribbled) a picture of their gift of choice and I wrote underneath, just in case Santa didn’t understand. (Code for: when Mommy looks back in 5 years time I’m pretty sure I won’t remember what that’s meant to be!)
UPDATE: now my toddler and preschooler are that much older (5 and 6) and able to write simple sentences I’ve created a Santa letter template for this year which should make for some fun reading!
I can’t wait to see what they’re going to write where it says: I’ve been working really hard and I’m proud of myself because:….”
Click right here to get the free printables with three different letter writing options dependent on the age of your child.
Or grab the full Santa Letter Kit, complete with:
- A choice of 3 response letters from Santa, plus 1 blank if you’d rather write your own
- A choice of a “Nice List” or “Good List” certificates
- An envelope front with North Pole postmark
Click to grab the Santa Letter Kit here
Or get it free with the Christmas Activity Pack.
#12 Ice balloons
This Christmas activity for toddlers is definitely one for outside. If there’s snow on the ground so much the better! Just wrap those kids up warm if necessary because this one is going to chill the fingers.
#13 Winter magic milk experiment
This is another activity that fascinates kids way beyond preschooler years. It was actually my 9-year-old niece who did this experiment with my 3 and 4-year-old but I love this version from Mombrite which adds that festive element.
#14 Easy Christmas tree decorating
Toddlers or preschoolers plus stickers is always a winning combination. I think you can get the idea from the picture just how easy and engaging this Christmas activity is.
#15 Christmas lights sticker activity
Sticker line tracing is such a fun and simple toddler or preschooler activity and one of my go-tos when I need a no-prep activity. (Hence, it’s included on this list of mess-free activities for toddlers at home)
This one just has a festive spin; stick the lights on the tree is a must-do Christmas activity for toddlers or preschoolers.
#16 Bake and/or decorate some cookies
One where you use those cookie cutters for their intended purpose. But depending on how out of control your kids are when it comes to baking, you might want to skip that part and just decorate some store-bought cookies.
If you have little angels or are feeling brave, here’s a simple cookie recipe you can use with some Christmas cookie cutters. (I have the standard Christmas shapes but these pretty snowflake ones are my favorite).
#17 Festive potato stamping
This is a festive spin on age-old potato stamping. If you have some large enough paper and your toddler can show restraint around paint (sometimes my two absolutely cannot) this might turn out good enough for some gift wrap paper.
I’m crossing fingers for you!
#18 Pinecone posting
I didn’t really realize that “posting” was really a thing for toddlers until, of course, I had one. (And then two. And then two more…)
Posting is another thing they love to do which helps them to understand how the world works.
By posting pinecones (or balls, toys, stuffies or a billion other things) through the cardboard Christmas tree, your toddler will be figuring out “object permanence” – that something exists even if you can’t see it.
This is why toddlers love to drop things off their high chair. Repeatedly.
Pinecone posting will be endless fun for them (and hopefully a little less annoying than the highchair game…).
#19 Felt Christmas tree decorating
Get your toddler their very own Christmas tree to make a mess of decorate with an easy felt Christmas tree. Felt sticks to felt – so they can have endless fun sticking and re-sticking! Will have to try one of these this year I think.
#20 Pompom sorting eggbox Christmas tree
A simple Christmas activity for a toddler who loves to sort and color match. (Mine love both).
Skip the painting part and prep within that 5 minute window. Your little one will never know.
#21 Stuff a snowman (more posting)
With sparkly white pompoms or even cotton wool balls, a clear bottle and a few accessories you should have something that resembles a snowman.
Plus a toddler who’s had his fair share of posting!
Win and win.
Then a sprinkle of glitter to finish.
#22 Giant floor Christmas tree
I love this idea and cannot wait to try this Christmas activity this year.
Use some masking tape to outline the Christmas tree shape and then supply your toddler with shiny stars, buttons, bottle tops – whatever is going – to fill in and decorate the tree. Simple festive fun.
#23 Bottle top snowman posting
Ok, I admit, this one is a lot more than 5 minutes prep – the making of said snowman was a fun toddler Christmas craft – my 3-year-old loved it, particularly the ripping of the cotton wool and squeezing the glue…
This is just another version of the pinecone posting activity earlier. But this snowman has different sized holes – for mouth, eyes and button holes – for different sized bottle tops, so it ups the anti just a little bit.
I also intend to use this to practice number and letter recognition.
Label each hole on the snowman with a different number or letter marked on the post-tit and then write the same letters or numbers on bottle lids. Match and post.
#24 Christmas countdown candy cane
Which toddlers or preschoolers have a good concept of time? Neither of my two, that’s for sure. So some kind of countdown is necessary.
This one will help your preschooler on number recognition – killing two birds with one stone, can’t beat it!
#25 Make some festive paper chains
This is also a double win – keep those little hands busy and make some new Christmas decorations. Perfect for a toddler who loves to build and create (that’s my boy).
#26 Festive pompom sorting
More sorting and color matching, but this one just uses colored cups.
Up the anti for an older preschooler or dextrous toddler by getting them to use salad tongs or a range of different utensils to transfer the pompom into the cup. Excellent fine motor practice.
#27 Make reindeer food for Christmas eve
Leaving a plate of scrummy treats out for Santa on Christmas eve is an age-old Christmas tradition that my kids loved last year.
Sprinkling reindeer food on the lawn is a new activity that I’m sure my two (plus the birds) will enjoy.
So mixing up their food (oats, sprinkles and edible glitter) is an easy festive Christmas activity to add to the list.
Related post: 30 fun & memorable family Christmas traditions to start with kids
#28 Felt squares & pompom Christmas tree
This is a cute and simple stacking activity for little ones. Cut squares of felt, slit the middle and then your toddler or preschooler can enjoy threading and stacking the squares onto a rainbow hoop stacking toy (or similar, maybe a kitchen roll holder?).
A good test for toddler to pick out the correct order of loads of different sized squares (my 4-year-old would love this).
Little ones may need help, if you do want to end up with the classic Christmas tree shape. But really, as long as they’re enjoying, what does it matter?
Pompom decorations and a fairy or star for the top of the tree finish it up nicely.
#29 Ornament toss
This one is better suited to the younger and gentler toddler or preschooler, which counts my 4 year old right out!
His throw is strong but very inaccurate! It’ll be a recipe for disaster to have him throwing anything inside.
(Hopefully, it goes without saying but only use plastic baubles!)
40+ easy activities handpicked for busy moms of kids aged 2 to 6 years – because Christmas needn’t be chaotic or cost a fortune!
Christmas sensory bins for toddlers
Not only do sensory bins keep kids ranging from 1 to, mmmm 9 or 10 years old, busy and occupied, but they’re also really good for them.
It’s amazing how nature aligns the activities kids enjoy with what they actually need for healthy development. Sensory bins and other sensory activities employ most or all the different senses.
Exploration of new textures, scooping, measuring, pouring can mean hours of fun for a toddler or preschooler.
Plus, with their crazily active imaginations, your toddler one can be lost in a world of make-believe for a surprising amount of time…
So here are some easy-to-set-up Christmas sensory bins.
(If your little one still loves to put everything in their mouth, choose carefully.)
For supplies and materials for these festive activities check out our recommended product list.
#30 Christmas snow sensory bin
Baking soda and white conditioner (in the ratio of 6 parts to 1) is all you need to make this easy snow sensory bin.
Mixing the two together starts an endothermic reaction so the “snow” starts off icey cold. Sadly the chill won’t last forever but the soft fluffy texture will.
I’m pretty sure my two are going to love making snowmen out of this stuff. The addition of some colorful beads and pipe cleaners is all it needs.
#31 Christmas decorations sensory bin
This one is perfect for a day or two before you put up the decorations. Let your toddler play with all that sparkly tinsel and baubles (as long as they’re not glass, of course).
This kept my two busy for a long time last year – so much so the decorations did go up a bit later than normal but it was well worth a bit of extra peace and quiet for me!
#32 Christmas themed rice bin
Another fun texture that toddlers can’t get enough of is rice.
Rather than diving their grubby mitts into the rice you intend to eat, a sensory rice bin is the way forward. Add in some bells, sparkly ribbons and something to scoop and pour with, then let your little one get to work!
(To dye rice, simply add vinegar and food coloring to uncooked rice in a plastic container, leave for an hour or so giving a stir once or twice. More detail on dyeing rice here.)
#33 Sparkly ice sensory bin
Ice cubes are another favorite with most little kids it would seem. Since this is a Christmas activity for toddlers and it’s probably bitterly cold outside just a few ice cubes will do. No need to get those fingers colder than necessary!
You can just grab ice straight out the freezer, but if you have a bit of forethought, make glittery ice the night before: sprinkle some glitter into a jug of water before pouring into ice cube trays.
Some Christmas-themed ice cube trays would make this even more fun.
#34 Christmas gloop
Gloop, also called oobleck, is just cornflour and water mixed to the perfect sticky, gloopy consistency. A few drops of green and red food coloring and some other Christmassy things and you have a sticky sensory experience that your toddler is going to love.
It could get messy so your containment plan needs to be good!
#35 Waterbead Christmas tree sensory activity
Water beads are pure heaven for a little one – so there has to be a waterbed bin Christmas activity for toddlers in the list.
Once they’ve got over the delight of the pure slipperiness and squidginess, set up a Christmas tree-shaped framework for them to fill in with green waterbeads, with a few colored ones as decorations. Great fine motor fun!
For even more Christmas and winter-themed sensory activities, check out:
Christmas playdough activities
I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with playdough. I love that my kids love it and it’s another sensory activity that benefits them in so many ways.
The thing is, they get so involved and love their creations so much they want to put them on display. Which turn into crusty and crumbly carcasses…
Ok, rant over.
But playdough has to be on the list of easy Christmas activities for toddlers, it’s too engaging and beneficial not to be!
For a winning playdough recipe, mix the following together, heat gently and stir until you have a lump of the stuff – dead simple. Even works when my 3 and 4-year-old are doing the measuring!
- flour – 2 cups
- salt – 1 cup
- cream of tartar – 4 tsp
- vegetable oil – 1 tbl
- food coloring – a few drops
For supplies and materials for these festive activities check out our recommended product list.
#36 Christmas tree playdough shapes
Green playdough, a Christmas tree cookie cutter and some mini Christmas “ornaments” are all you need for this easy Christmas-themed playdough activity. Tons of fun and great fine motor practice.
For younger toddlers use bigger things as tree ornaments, such as pompoms or large buttons. Older toddlers will probably manage something smaller, like the Hama beads pictured.
#37 Make/buy Christmas-scented playdough
Use the playdough recipe above, minus the food coloring, then add the following to create the following color and scent combinations:
- Gingerbread: 1/2 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp cinnamon & brown food coloring
- Peppermint: 1 tsp of peppermint extract & green food coloring
- Sugar Cookie: Vanilla extract
- Cinnamon: 1-2 tsp of cinnamon & red food coloring
Or buy some store-bought Christmas varieties.
#38 Festive nature prints
Pine cones, cinnamon sticks and even a short frond of a Christmas tree branch would make a lovely addition to this simple playdough printing activity.
Fun game-type Christmas activities for toddlers & preschoolers
These ones involve a bit more prep, mainly printing. But are good fun activities you can enjoy together as a family. And that’s what Christmas is all about, right?
For supplies and materials for these festive activities check out our recommended product list.
#39 Christmas matching & memory game
Sorting and matching is a pre-math skill that little kids seem to get quite a kick out of once they get the idea.
Both mine have got to this stage of being quite orderly about things – lining things up that match, even tidying up their rooms with a surprising amount of logic. (It didn’t last, sadly!)
What I love about this is that it can also be used as a memory game.
Christmas Bingo Game from Maple Planners
#40 Christmas Bingo Game
A festive and toddler-friendly version of a classic game. My two loved a weather-themed bingo game we did recently so this is must-do Christmas activity to try this year.
#41 Wrapped puzzle piece scavenger
Christmas still an age away and your kids are dying to get unwrapping? This is a must-do Christmas activity for toddlers. Another one for that old Christmas gift wrap. Or newspaper will be fine too.
First, the puzzle pieces need to be wrapped. Dump out all the puzzle pieces and start wrapping. This can be a fun part of the activity. My 4 year old loved this part as much as the rest.
Next, go hide the pieces all around the house. Then the scavenging and unwrapping begins.
Finally, the unwrapped piece makes it home to his spot in the puzzle.
With my two, I divided the puzzles into two piles, then they got to wrap and hide the pieces for each other. It really was so much fun!
#42 Christmas scavenger hunt
A fun Christmas activity to get toddlers moving! Sometimes that’s exactly what they need. (Or maybe “most of the time” is more accurate.)
This pack from Organized 321 has 4 different scavenger hunts for indoors and another 4 for outdoors – time to get printing!
Printable quiet time Christmas activities for toddlers
All the below have free printables and are perfect Christmas activities for toddlers for when you’re out and about. E.g. when visiting family over the holidays.
For supplies and materials for these festive activities check out our recommended product list.
#43 Christmas dot marker printable
This is a Christmas activity for toddlers who have lost the ability to entertain himself and you have negative 5 minutes to come up with something!
Enter an easy dot marker activity. Add this one to your printer queue now.
#44 Christmas printable activity pack
Easy Christmas-themed coloring activity for little ones, plus a maze.
#45 Free Christmas counting printable
Santa’s beard needs to be completed cotton ball by cotton ball. You could follow the numbers in sequence or have your little one roll the dice and find the number.
So great for number recognition and practicing number order. So this Christmas activity is geared a little more towards older toddlers.
But if you have a younger one, they can just stick anywhere. Hopefully, you’ll end up with a cute Santa craft too.
#46 Color & stick Christmas activities
Coloring printables with the added fun of sticking on Christmas tree decorations (colored pompoms), Santa’s beard (cotton wool balls) and holly berries (green pompoms).
40+ easy activities handpicked for busy moms of kids aged 2 to 6 years – because Christmas needn’t be chaotic or cost a fortune!
Help your kids write Santa a letter and receive a reply
Inspired to try some Christmas activities with your toddler or preschooler?
That’s all the Christmas activities for toddlers or their slightly more mature preschooler siblings for now. Hope they bring fun, lots of wonderful memories and some peace and quiet to your Christmas this year.
Merry Christmas!
Looking for more Christmas arts and activities for your littles? Take a look at these:
- 55 cute Christmas crafts for toddlers
- 50 fun Christmas crafts for preschoolers
- Silver pasta Christmas tree ornaments – a cute and simple toddler craft and keepsake
- Salt dough Christmas tree ornaments to make with toddlers – simple and stunning!
- Homemade snowman Christmas card to make with your toddlers
- Easy paint chip Christmas tree card
- 41 Easy Christmas Tree Arts and Crafts for Toddlers
- 41 Fun, Easy & Adorable Nativity Crafts for Kids
- 41 Easy Santa Claus crafts for toddlers (inc. Santa hat crafts)
- 25 Easy Christmas ornaments made from nature or nature-inspired, perfect for kids to make
- 50 Christmas sensory activities & bins for toddlers & preschoolers
For more easy toddler activities to keep your little ones busy indoors and out check out:
- 39 simple & sanity-saving activities for toddlers & preschoolers to do at home
- 49 Simple & fun outdoor activities for preschoolers
- Marble rolling: easy art activity for toddlers & preschoolers
- 50+ Indoor gross motor activities for toddlers & preschoolers (1,2 & 3 year olds)
- 40 Fun & easy dinosaur activities for preschoolers (arts, crafts, sensory + more!)
- 50 Fun Transportation Crafts & Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers
- 100 fun & easy toilet paper roll crafts for toddlers 2 & 3 years old
- 39 Fun & easy arts & crafts for 1 – 2 year olds
- 10+ Fun & simple dry messy play ideas for 1 and 2-year-olds
- 21 Easy Finger Painting Ideas For Babies 1-2 Years Old
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