Christmas Activities for Kids: 30 Ideas for December

December can feel like one long build-up. These 30 ideas turn it into a gentle countdown that mixes making, giving, learning and resting. Write each one on a slip of paper, pop them in an envelope or advent box, and pull one out each morning. Most need nothing more than paper, crayons and things you already have.

How to plan your December

Before you start, look at the calendar and mark busy days: school plays, parties and travel. Save the quick activities (a coloring page, a song, a walk to see the lights) for busy days, and keep bigger projects like baking or crafts for weekends. Flexibility keeps it fun rather than another job.

Make and create

1. Color a Christmas card for a grandparent. Our fold-in-half cards are ready to print, with space inside for a message.
2. Make paper ornaments. Color ornament pages, cut them out, punch a hole and add ribbon. Glue two colored copies back to back so they're sturdy.
3. Paper chain countdown. Make a chain with one link for each day until Christmas and remove one each night.
4. Snowflake cutting. Fold a square of paper into a triangle twice, snip the edges and unfold. No two are the same.
5. Decorate a gingerbread friend, on paper or with real icing.
6. Design wrapping paper by drawing patterns on plain brown paper.
7. Make a stocking garland from colored stocking pages strung across the mantelpiece.
8. Build a cardboard fireplace from a big box, with paper flames and a place for the stockings.

See our Christmas crafts and salt dough ornaments guides for step-by-step instructions.

Kindness and giving

1. Draw a picture for a neighbour and post it through their door.
2. Choose a toy to donate to a local charity or toy drive.
3. Bake (or decorate) cookies for someone who works on Christmas Day, like nurses or delivery drivers.
4. Make a "thank you" card for a teacher or bus driver.
5. Call a relative and sing them a carol.
6. Make bird feeders from pine cones, peanut butter (if no allergies) and seeds.

Giving helps children feel the warmth of the season beyond presents. Read more in how to teach kindness.

Learning in disguise

1. Christmas I Spy: count trees, bells and candy canes on an I Spy page.
2. Mystery pictures: solve sums to reveal a picture with our mystery picture worksheets.
3. Christmas math: try Christmas math sheets with festive pictures to color.
4. Write a letter to Santa or a pen pal. Practise neat handwriting first with tracing sheets.
5. Gift budget: give older kids a pretend budget and a catalogue to plan presents.
6. Measure the tree: how many hands tall is it? How many paper chains long?
7. Holidays around the world: find out how families celebrate in other countries, and learn about winter festivals like Hanukkah.

Cosy and calm

1. Read a Christmas story by torchlight in a blanket fort.
2. Color a winter mandala with hot chocolate. Our mandalas are perfect for quiet evenings.
3. Family pyjama movie night with popcorn.
4. Lights walk: look at Christmas lights on an evening stroll.
5. Make a "best things this year" list and keep it with your decorations.

Get moving

1. Snowball toss with rolled-up socks into a laundry basket.
2. Reindeer races on all fours down the hallway.
3. Christmas freeze dance to festive music.
4. Christmas Eve: lay out everything for the morning together, then a quiet coloring page before bed.

Ideas by age

Toddlers (2–3): keep it sensory and simple: sticker scenes, big Big & Simple pages of a tree or snowman, and dancing.

Preschoolers (3–5): paper chains, cookie decorating, counting baubles and I Spy pages.

School age (6–9): letters, mystery pictures, crafts with cutting and measuring, and kindness projects.

Tweens (10–12): let them plan an activity for the family, bake from a recipe on their own, or design cards for everyone.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Over-scheduling. One small activity a day is plenty; skip days without guilt.
• All glitter, no calm. December is exciting and tiring. Balance busy days with quiet ones.
• Making it all about presents. Mix in giving, gratitude and time together.

Frequently asked questions

What if we don't celebrate Christmas?

Many of these ideas work for any winter celebration or simply for the season: snowflakes, kindness, lights walks and winter coloring. See our winter coloring pages.

How do I make an advent box without spending money?

Write activities on paper slips and put them in numbered envelopes, socks or paper bags. The activity is the surprise.

What can I do on very busy days?

Pull out a 10-minute activity: a coloring page, a carol, a walk to see the lights, or the three-good-things list at bedtime.

Tip: keep a folder of printed pages ready so busy days still get a quick activity.