31 Christmas Activities For Kids To Keep Them Entertained

You probably have some time-honored traditions that you must follow in order to fully appreciate the holiday season if you celebrate Christmas with your family. There are a ton of holiday activities the whole family can enjoy, from taking to the slopes on skis or sleds to making sugar cookies with red and green sprinkles. As the days count down to Christmas, there are even more enjoyable games and kid-friendly craft projects to try out as fun Christmas activities for kids. Combine them with some educational activities via our free Christmas worksheets to keep your kids in the best holiday atmosphere!

Christmas activities for kids
Christmas activities for kids

On Christmas morning, it’s magnificent to live in a state where a snow wonderland is a distinct possibility, but the weather might make it difficult to travel for some festivities. However, the following suggestions are completely stress-free because you can complete most of them while lounging in front of a roaring fire at home. Even if you won’t have to travel as far as Santa Claus, these Christmas activities for kids will still be enjoyable.

What Are Some Fun Christmas Activities For Children? 

There are lots of entertaining and interesting Christmas activities that are great for children. Making homemade ornaments, baking cookies, and engaging in seasonal crafts are a few common choices. Taking kids to visit holiday light displays or planning a family movie night with classic Christmas movies can also help you create lasting holiday memories. 

Pay attention, parents of young kids, especially toddlers! Christmas activities for kids don’t have to be planned every day. Instead, look at this list. Think about the activities you enjoy doing with your kids at home. If you’re looking for play dough, homemade ornaments, or independent play with Christmas indoor and outdoor activities, you’ve come to the right corner of the internet.

Check List Of Christmas Activities For Kids

Indoor Christmas Activities For Kids

1. Decorating The Christmas Tree

Decorating Christmas tree
Decorating Christmas tree

Decorating a Christmas tree is definitely an entertaining activity because children like beautiful ornaments so much. If you prepare lights, garlands, and other decorations for your kids and let them freely decorate the Christmas tree, I suppose that the result will surprise you. If you have more than one child, this activity can be an opportunity for them to work together to turn your Christmas tree into a sprawling centerpiece in your house. This custom is a great time to enhance your family bond and result in lifelong memories. 

The following are required: a Christmas tree, decorations (such as balls, tinsel, and ribbons), lighting (LED is preferred for safety), garlands (such as popcorn or paper chains), and a step stool or ladder for reaching higher branches. Consider adding kid-friendly ornaments to the tree that they can hang themselves, such as felt or wooden ornaments. 

2. Making Homemade Ornaments

Another joyful activity is making ornaments. Instead of buying ornaments for decoration, you can allow children to make ornaments through available materials in your house. It is not only economical but also develops your children’s creativity. Perhaps you can discover their children’s talent through what they make, I reckon that. Children will feel a sense of accomplishment and contribution when they make ornaments for their houses and make their holidays more meaningful and worthy. 

What you need: You’ll need markers, glitter, glue, construction paper, scissors, and clay or popsicle sticks.

Need more ideas? Check out our list of easy Christmas crafts for kids that require minimal supplies and maximum fun!

3. Making Christmas Window Crafts

Make this cute Christmas craft from a few simple supplies. Craft is a joyful activity that pleases children every time. If they are given some craft items, they can freely create different crafts that they are interested in. Christmas window may be a suggestion for them. Easy to make and find the materials, I’m sure of that.

What you need: You’ll need green construction paper, six craft sticks, a star sticker, pattern scrapbook paper, crayons, and glue.

4. Baking Gingerbread Cookies

Baking Gingerbread Cookies
Baking Gingerbread Cookies

Because of its distinctive flavor, gingerbread is typically only made around the holidays. Perhaps it’s the spiciness or the fact that you don’t eat it all year round. I enjoy preparing a sizable quantity of everything with gingerbread flavor as soon as the weather becomes chilly. Molasses is used in this cake to give it the richness and subtle caramel undertones that we all love. It is perfectly moist on its own and goes well with a cup of coffee on a chilly morning.

What you need: flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt are required. In addition to ginger, there may also be cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, and anise. Brown sugar, molasses, light or dark corn syrup, or honey may be used to sweeten the dish.

5. Creating Handmade Gifts

Creating handmade gifts
Creating handmade gifts

Creating handmade gifts will be a meaningful activity for kids. Your kids will be happy if they have chances to make gifts by their own for their parents, friends and siblings.

What you need: crayons, scissors, wrapped paper gifts, glue, and so on

6. Creating Snowman-shaped Hot Chocolate Spoons

Stir up some extra magic in your hot cocoa this year! Kids will love crafting adorable snowman-shaped hot chocolate spoons. Simply dip spoons in melted while chocolate, decorate with mini chocolate chips and candies for eyes, buttons, and a carrot nose, then let them set in the fridge. It’s a fun and festive activity that adds a delightful touch to a warm winter treat.

Creating snowman-shaped hot chocolate spoons
Creating snowman-shaped hot chocolate spoons

7. Creating a Popcorn Wreath

Beautiful holiday memories can be created by making Christmas decorations that could be edible. Fresh popcorn, cranberries, and string are all you need to construct a spectacular popcorn garland.

8. Making Your Display of Holiday Cards

Unleash your child’s inner artist with a homemade holiday card crafting session! Gather colorful paper, glitter, and festive stickers, then let their creativity shine. Encourage them to experiment with different designs, from classic Christmas trees to snowmen to reindeers and stars. They can even personalize their cards with drawings of family members, pets, or favorite holiday memories.

Not only is card-making a fun way to express holiday wishes, but displaying the finished masterpieces around the house adds a personal touch to your decorations and fills your home with warmth and love. String them together with festive ribbon to create a garland, arrange them on a bulletin board, or prop them up on shelves and mantels for everyone to admire.

Making holiday cards
Making holiday cards

9. Plan the Christmas Photo with The Family

Your youngster may be an expert at making everyone appear good on camera as a result of all the virtual learning they did last year and their constant possession of technology. Give the kids the reins when it comes to holiday photo time, and then select a fun Instagram message with a winter theme together.

10. Creating a Window Display with Decorations

Decorating Christmas window display
Decorating Christmas window display

With a dash of color, holiday stickers, and lovely stars placed by some creative kids full of Christmas passion, you may transform your windows from mundane to enchanting. Gather the kids and let them imaginations run wild as you decorate your windows with snowflakes, stars, and shimmering garlands.

Don’t forget to add some twinkling lights to illuminate your creations and bring your display to life. You can even create a miniature winter wonderland scene with cotton ball snow, miniature houses, and tiny evergreen trees.

11. Creating an Angel of “Light”

When you can create a light angel inside, why make a snow angel outside in the bitter cold? As one child outlines the angel with string lights, the other child should alternately take turns lying on the ground. Make it competitive by determining who can make one the quickest.

12. Giving Your Kids’ Old Toys to Charity

Spread the spirit of giving this Christmas by encouraging kids to donate some of their gently used toys to children in need. It’s a wonderful way to declutter and make room for new gifts while instilling a sense of generosity and empathy.

Have your children select toys they no longer plat with but are still in good condition. The, find a local charity or organization that accepts toy donations and make a special trip together to drop them off. This simple act of kindness can make a big difference in the lives of others and create a heartwarming holiday memory for your family.

13. Christmas Wacky Words

Simply write out Christmas-themed words or phrases on slips of paper and place them in a bowl. Each person takes turns drawing a word and trying to act it out without speaking, while others guess what it is. Think “reindeer,” “snowball fight,” or “decorating the Christmas tree.” Get ready for some hilarious interpretations and plenty of holiday cheer!

14. Winter Slam Game

The traditional carnival game is both easy to manufacture and entertaining to play. Your kids will have fun aiming at this collection of cups that features indoor snowmen.

Have any youngsters that are idling? This snowman slam game is simple to assemble and a lot of fun!

Preparation: 

  • Start by cutting craft foam into the shape of snowman faces.
  • I then used the craft foam shapes to decorate six white cups to create our snowmen.
  • The foam pieces were fastened together with a glue stick.
  • Rolled my socks into balls and made snowballs.
  • These fantastic snowballs can be used as well.   
  • I’m done now! Then it’s time to have fun!

Such a straightforward idea, yet so entertaining—just like a carnival game!

During the winter, we spend a lot more time inside, and this easy exercise has been keeping Rosie and Jewel happy and interested.  It has also somewhat gotten them moving!

15. Advent Scent Game

Nothing more evokes the spirit of Christmas than the aromas of pine and peppermint, so we anticipate that kids will like this game that combines the two well-known odors.

Putting together this game is very easy. It’s entertaining to watch everyone try to guess what the object in the jar makes them think of. 

You may even add a bonus one that makes everyone throw up! Who knew the aroma of nutmeg was so potent? Oopsies! Nutmeg was never guessed by anyone. Since nutmeg is both liquid and unavailable in stores, I chose it as an alternative to eggnog. Use nutmeg as well if you want to laugh a lot!

16. Building A Gingerbread House

Building A Gingerbread House
Building A Gingerbread House

A Gingerbread house has a kit that your kids can spend time building. Let’s come to the store and buy one kit and work with your kids from scratch. Building a gingerbread house will be a fun activity because it requires a lot of careful planning and careful observation. It allows you an opportunity to collaborate with your kids because they will get in trouble if they have to do it by themselves. Help from adults will enhance relationships between two parties. 

What you need: a gingerbread home kit that includes gingerbread dough, frosting, various sweets and chocolates, edible glitter or sprinkles, small piping bags or ziplock bags for icing, and a strong base or plate to assemble the house on. Gumpretzels, andetzels, and shreds of coconut for the snow effect are optional.  

17. Put On A Performance

Retell one of your favorite holiday stories while channeling your inner Charlie Brown. It’s a good exercise to do after supper, on a snow day, or whenever you have some free time.

What you need: To re-enact a favorite holiday tale, you will need a group of enthusiastic participants who are willing to take on different roles. Additionally, gather some simple props and costumes to help bring the story to life. 

18. Play Christmas “I Spy”

Sharpen those observation skills and ignite some festive fun with a Christmas-themed “I Spy” game! This classic activity is a fantastic way to keep kids entertained during holiday gatherings or quite afternoons at home.

What you need: To play Christmas “I Spy,” you will need keen observation skills and a list of items to search for. You can create your own list or find printable versions online that include various festive objects like Santa Claus, candy canes, or snowmen. 

Or, for a ready-made solutions, check out the ready-to-use collection of Christmas “I Spy” on Worksheetzone. These printable worksheets feature colorful illustrations packed with hidden holiday objects, providing hours of entertainment for kids of all ages.

Play Christmas "I Spy"
Play Christmas “I Spy”

19. Christmas-themed Mad Libs 

Inject a dose of laughter into your holiday festivities with a game of Christmas-themed Mad Libs! This word game is a surefire way to get the whole family giggling as you fill in the blanks to create silly and surprising stories.

Think “The reindeer flew through the air with a [adjective][noun] in his mouth” or “Santa Claus tripped over a [adjective][noun] while delivering presents.” The possibilities for wacky and wonderful Christmas tales are endless! You can find printable Christmas Mad Libs online or create your own for a personalized touch. This activity is perfect for encouraging creativity, practicing parts of speech, and sharing some holiday cheer.

Outdoor Christmas Activities For Kids 

1. Building a Snowman

When the snow starts falling, bundle up the kids and head outside for a classic winter activity: building a snowman! Rolling snowballs, assembling frosty friends, and adding personality with sticks, stones, and carrots sparks creativity and creates lasting memories.

Don’t forget to snap some photos of your snow creations! Building a snowman is a wonderful way to embrace the winter season and enjoy some quality time outdoors with the family.

Building a snowman
Building a snowman

2. Viewing Christmas Lights

Taking in Christmas decorations and lights is one of the finest fun things to do with kids. Drive around your town with your family in the automobile to admire all the decorations! Instead, take your kids on a walk around the neighborhood to see the lights to get some exercise.

3. Making an Igloo

Building an igloo outside will foster your kids’ creativity and problem-solving abilities. Plus, your kids will have a ton of fun participating in this winter pastime.

4. Singing Christmas Carols to Neighbors

Christmas carol singing is always in style and has a way of cheering people up. Sing your favorite carols while taking a stroll but yet respecting social distance at surrounding homes.

5. Having a Snowball Fight

When the snow falls and blankets the ground, gather the family for a good old-fashioned snowball fight! Bundle up, head outside, and let the laughter and friendly competition fill the air.

Building snow forts, dodging snowballs, and launching friendly attacks creates lasting memories and embraces the joy of the winter season. Just remember to set some ground rules for safety and ensure everyone stays warm and dry. Let the snowy battle commence!

Having a snowball fight
Having a snowball fight

6. Making Snow Angels

Laying in the snow, gazing up at the sky, and creating a snow angel has an angelic quality. Everyone is capable. You can simply wave your arms and legs while lying in the snow with your children to move the snow about.

Making snow angles
Making snow angles

7. Attending a Live Nativity Scene

“Live nativity” scenes are performed in a lot of churches across the nation.  Real actors that portray Mary, Joseph, and Jesus in addition to narration are used to recount the narrative of Jesus’ birth. You can even come across living creatures like donkeys!

8. Winter Obstacle Course

Build a snow maze with your children as a creative challenge. By shifting their feet or shoveling the snow, participants will need to construct this activity on unspoiled snow. Your children can construct a maze and include challenges like dead ends and snow tunnels.

9. Snow Shoveling

Snow shoveling is a strenuous activity that uses a lot of heavy muscles and requires a lot of energy. Additionally, your kids can make a snow igloo or a tiny hill for sledding using the shoveled snow piled up.

10. Decorating the House

Give your kids maximum creative freedom when it comes to choosing the Christmas decorations for your home. Children will express their creativity and get into the holiday mood.

Decorating Christmas house
Decorating Christmas house

11. Having a Christmas Picnic

A Christmas picnic is similar to an ordinary picnic, with the exception that it is held in the middle of winter and has special seasonal fare. Make Christmas cookies, turkey sandwiches, stuffing, and other dishes with your kids. A picnic is a wonderful opportunity to take a vacation from work and school for you and your kids.

12. Visiting A Local Christmas Market Or Festival

Local Christmas market
Local Christmas market

Children will be more excited if they know they will be coming out of the house on Christmas Eve. Local Christmas markets or festivals are wonderful destinations for your whole family, especially for kids. They can enjoy the vibrant environment of the crowded and experience many novel things there such as seeing different types of holiday decorations, indulging in delicious seasonal foods like hot cocoa and gingerbread cookies, and participating in various activities, such as ice skating or taking a ride on a carousel, making it a memorable experience for the whole family.

What you need: search for an ideal destination first, notice what is new for your kids, and let them independently prepare what they need for an outdoor adventure. Hide a car or drive your car to make sure your family is enough warm. Don’t forget to check the event schedule of the festival beforehand to ensure you don’t miss out on any special performances or shows. 

13. Going Sledding Or Tubing

Going sledding
Going sledding

You’re already halfway to a favorite seasonal activity if your area has a slope. Bundling up and hitting the slopes for some sledding can help you beat cabin fever even if you have to get in the car, especially if you have visitors staying for a few days.

What you need: warm clothing and a sturdy sled or toboggan are enough for you to make an adventure trip. Choose a downhill that your kids like and make sure it is safe enough for everyone. 

Bottom Line

With this collection of fun Christmas activities for kids, your holiday season is sure to be filled with laughter, joy, and unforgettable memories. From crafting festive decorations and baking delicious treats to exploring outdoor adventures and spreading holiday cheer, these activities offer something for everyone. So gather your family, embrace the spirit of the season, and create a Christmas that your kids will cherish for years to come. Happy holidays!

Recommendation: Want to make custom activities for your child? Use our free worksheet maker tool to create personalized printables in minutes.