The holidays can turn into a to-do list fast. Gifts, school events, family visits, and kids asking what happens next. Many parents want December to feel warm, then end up tired by the second week.
Here is the thing kids remember. It is rarely how fancy the house looked. It is the paper chain that got shorter each morning, or the silly tray dinner on movie night, or the ornament they hung on the tree every year after.
These 11 christmas activities for kids are built around that idea. Each one uses simple supplies, fits at a kitchen table or in the yard, and can come back next year without a new plan. A few are quiet crafts. Some are party style setups. One is a game that burns off energy before bed.
Pick two or three that suit your family and skip the rest. A tradition only has to be easy enough to happen again. Start with the one that sounds the most relaxing to you.
1. Christmas Activities for Kids: Santa Movie Night Trays That Make Dinner a Tradition
Give every child their own tray and dinner becomes the event. The photo shows four foil trays, each lined with festive napkins and loaded the same way.
- A Santa figure bag holds a small surprise or sits as a place marker
- A striped popcorn box stands up in the corner
- A plain hot dog in a soft bun keeps the meal easy
- A chocolate chip cookie with a chocolate topper finishes the tray
No plates to wash and no one asking what is for dinner. Pick one night each December, press play, and repeat it every year. Kids start asking for it by name.
2. Cardboard Reindeer With Twig Antlers
Kids who love to build will stay busy with this one. A cardboard face makes the base, and real twigs make the antlers, so every reindeer looks a little different.
The photo shows the antlers dressed with bright paper stars and tiny hanging baubles. A row of colorful pom poms sits along the forehead, and the red nose is a simple rounded shape. Painted white spots and a pair of paper eyes give it a goofy, friendly face.
Hang it on a wall and add one new bauble each year. In ten years it tells a story.
Gather before you start
3. A Festive Coloring Wall and North Pole Signpost
Big paper means big, calm energy. The wall in the photo holds one large line drawing of a nutcracker, a snow globe, candy canes, and wrapped gifts. Little shelves along the side keep the markers within reach, so nobody has to ask for one.
The signpost steals the show. Its arrows point to Rudolf Road, Candy Cane Lane, North Pole, Ginger Bread Street, and Snow Park. A soft white bean bag and two Santa pillows turn the corner into a cozy spot to rest between colors.
At home, tape a long sheet of paper to a wall or fence and let everyone add to it. Make a mini signpost from cardboard arrows and keep it for next year.
Hang the paper at kid height
Keep markers on a ledge or in cups nearby
Add a cozy seat for breaks
Fine detail drawings for little hands
Permanent markers near a painted wall
Rules about staying inside the lines
4. Playdough Christmas Tree Decorating Bowl
Small kids get to decorate a whole tree without a single needle falling. The photo shows a big green dough tree with rows of colorful beads pressed in like garlands and a red star on top.
- Roll out green dough on a table mat.
- Press a tree cutter in, or cut a big tree by hand.
- Add beads, gems, and tiny shapes from a little tin.
A bowl of mixed beads and small wooden trees sits nearby as a sensory bin. Kids can scoop and sort while the dough gets ready.
💡 Quick Tip
Keep the beads and gems in a muffin tin or small tin. Toddlers put small things in their mouths, so stay close and choose pieces that suit their age.
5. Snowball Toss Game You Can Make From a Display Board
Cold days with too much energy need a game. This one starts with a white tri-fold board and a pencil. Cut round holes in different sizes, then draw snowflakes between them in blue, teal, and purple. The title is written right across the top.
The snowballs are fluffy white yarn pom poms, lined up on the counter ready to throw. They are soft, quiet, and safe to toss across a kitchen.
Let the kids help draw the snowflakes. They will care more about hitting the board they decorated.
6. Paper Chain Countdown Santa, Snowman, and Elf
A countdown does not need a store bought calendar. Paper loops, glue, and a few scraps are enough.
- Santa: red loops with a black belt and gold buckle, a cotton style beard, and googly eyes
- Snowman: white loops, a black top hat, an orange nose, and stick arms
- Elf: green loops with a belt, pointy ears, and a tiny red collar
Each character hangs from a ribbon, so it can go on a door, a mantel, or a branch. Kids pull off one loop a day and see the chain get shorter.
Cut strips of colored paper and glue each one into a loop, linking them as you go.
Glue on the belts, buttons, and paper face at the top.
Tie a ribbon loop to the top and hang it where kids can reach.
Remove one loop each morning until Christmas.
7. Pebble Reindeer and Snowman Wood Slice Ornaments
A walk can become craft supplies. Collect smooth pebbles on the way home, and a plain wood slice turns into a keepsake.
In the photo, a reindeer is built from two pebbles, one for the body and one for the head with a painted red nose. Thin painted lines make the legs and antlers. The snowman is three stacked pebbles with a little orange nose and stick arms. A painted white hill sits at the bottom of each slice, and tiny blue and white snowflakes fill the gaps.
Write the year on the back. That small habit turns a craft into a tradition.
A plain wood slice, a loop of twine, and a few pebbles from the garden.
A reindeer or snowman scene with a snowy hill, ready to hang on the tree.
8. A Gingerbread House Decorating Table for Every Child
A plaid cloth and a row of gingerbread houses make any table feel like an event. In the photo, each seat has a ready built house on a board and a scalloped placemat. Piping bags in white, red, and green wait beside it.
The candy sits in red muffin trays in the middle, so kids can reach in and share. That is the smart part. Sorting sweets into small cups keeps the table tidy and stops arguments over who got the last gumdrop.
At the far end, a few finished houses and candy trees show what is possible. Kids get an example without being told how to do it.
| Ready built houses | Build from scratch |
|---|---|
| Kids start decorating right away | Needs time to bake and assemble first |
| Good for younger kids and groups | Good for older kids who like projects |
| Less mess and less stress | More mess, but more pride |
9. Popsicle Stick Christmas Tree Ornaments
Three sticks make a triangle, and that triangle becomes a tree. Each ornament in the photo is painted a different color, so no two match. Every one has a foam star on top, a small cardboard square for the trunk, and a twine loop for hanging.
The decorations change from tree to tree:
- Colorful pom poms glued along the sides
- Gold, silver, and green pipe cleaner wrapped like tinsel
- Tiny jingle bells tucked in the middle
Lay out the supplies and let kids choose. Nobody has to follow a pattern. Make one per child each year and the tree fills up with little personalities.
One simple shape, endless ways to decorate it, and a keepsake for every child.
10. A Mini Easel Art Station With Tree Outlines
A blank page can freeze a child. A tree outline will not. Each mini easel in the photo holds a white canvas with a bold black tree drawn on it and a small ribbon bow tied at the top.
Everything else sits within arm’s reach. Green caddies hold crayons and markers, glue bottles stand ready, and paint palettes sit at each spot. Child sized chairs in red and green sit around the table, and balloons float overhead.
When the paint dries, the canvas goes on the wall. Take a photo of each child with their tree and you have a yearly record.
One warning: cover the table first. Paint and glue will find the edges.
- ▸Pre-draw a bold outline so kids know where to start
- ▸Offer crayons, markers, paint, and glue with small decorations
- ▸Use child sized chairs so everyone can reach comfortably
- ▸Let finished trees dry flat, then hang them with a ribbon
11. Handprint and Footprint Christmas Cards
Hands and feet grow fast, so these cards are the ones parents keep. The photo shows four ideas on simple cream cards.
A red handprint becomes Santa, with the fingers as his beard and a white hat added on top. A brown footprint turns into a reindeer once antlers and a red nose are drawn on. The green handprint is a tree with a yellow star and dots for ornaments. A yellow footprint becomes an angel with a drawn halo and wings.
Make the same card every December and write the year on the back. Put them side by side in a few years and watch the prints grow.
Use washable, non toxic paint, and keep wipes close by.
Conclusion
The best christmas activities for kids are the ones your family will actually repeat. A paper chain, a tray dinner, or a pebble ornament does not need to be fancy. It only needs to be easy enough to come back next December.
Start small. Pick one or two ideas from this list, gather the supplies this weekend, and let the kids lead the details. Keep what works and let the rest go.
If these ideas helped, save this post to your Pinterest board so it is ready when the countdown begins.
Related reading
- Rainy day activities for kids — the full indoor ideas guide, sorted by age
- 15 rainy day activities for kids — indoor ideas that keep everyone busy
- Dollar Tree crafts for kids — eight low-cost fall projects
- Christmas dessert ideas — make-ahead sweets that look impressive
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