Top 15 best Christmas activities for children [2024]

As the year reaches its twilight, the world wraps itself in the comforting glow of the holiday season. For children, Christmas is pure magic, with each moment shimmering like the lights on a tree. But beyond the presents and festive songs, Christmas brings a chance for children to embrace a world of creative and heartwarming activities. Now, we’ll explore the top 15 Christmas activities designed to captivate children’s hearts and minds.

5 best Children’s Christmas craft activities

These crafts invite children to create, imagine, and cherish—each becoming a tiny masterpiece in the joyful art of Christmas.

1. Pine cone elves

Theme: Whimsical forest friends

Transform ordinary pine cones into enchanting little elf characters! This craft taps into the magic of nature and encourges children turn simple finds from winter walks into festive forest companions. Kids can create delightful elves that bring a bit of the woodland spirit right to their home.

Guide:

• Gather pine cones, colorful felt, and googly eyes.
• Cut small felt triangles for hats and wrap them around the top of each pine cone.
• Attach googly eyes and add a felt scarf around each pine cone “neck.”
• Set up your pine cone elves in a decorative corner, spreading holiday cheer.

2. Handprint wreaths

Theme: Personalized holiday decor

For a keepsake full of warmth, this handprint wreath captures the little hands that make Christmas special. With simple supplies and creative flair, kids can design their own decorative wreath.

Guide:

• Trace each child’s hand on green construction paper and cut them out.
• Arrange the handprints in a circular wreath shape, layering them to create a full effect.
• Add red pom-poms for “berries” and tie a red ribbon at the top.
• Hang your wreath and enjoy the charm of personalized decor.

3. Paper plate snow globes

Theme: Winter wonderland on display

This activity lets kids create a little winter magic they can hold in their hands. By crafting a mini snow globe scene, children capture the essence of snowy days and frosty mornings—all while expressing their creativity.

Guide:

• Paint one side of a paper plate blue, like a winter sky.
• Glue on a cut-out snowman, trees, and snowflakes. Make a small winter scene.
• Cover the scene with clear plastic wrap and sprinkle a dash of glitter inside.
• Seal with a second paper plate backing to complete your dazzling snow globe.

4. Pom-pom reindeer

Theme: Cozy creatures of the north

Simple yet adorable, these pom-pom reindeer make the perfect holiday friends. With a few crafty items, children can fashion their own little reindeer,. You can decorate trees, gifts, or shelves around the house.

Guide:

• Create a large brown pom-pom by wrapping yarn around fingers or a pom-pom maker.
• Glue on googly eyes and a small red pom-pom for the nose.
• Twist pipe cleaners into antlers and attach them to the top of the pom-pom.
• Add your reindeer to Christmas décor for a cute, handcrafted touch.

5. Salt dough ornaments

Theme: Handmade heirlooms

This timeless craft turns everyday kitchen ingredients into beautiful ornaments. Salt dough ornaments give children a way to make lasting mementos that can be enjoyed year after year.

Guide:

• Mix 1 cup of flour, 1/2 cup of salt, and 1/2 cup of water to create the dough.
• Roll out the dough and use cookie cutters to make holiday shapes.
• Bake at 200°F (90°C) for 2-3 hours until dry, then let cool.
• Paint and decorate each ornament, adding ribbons to hang on the tree.

5 childrens Christmas activities for school

These activities transform ordinary school days into moments of joy, connection, and discovery.

1. Reindeer relay races

Theme: Joyous jumps and festive energy

Imagine the classroom transformed into a winter playground, where young “reindeer” dash through a relay of holiday cheer! Children will don makeshift antlers or cozy Santa hats and navigate through an obstacle course to deliver “presents” to a designated sleigh.

How to:

• Set up a fun pathway of simple obstacles: cones to weave around, tunnels to crawl through, and hoops to leap across.
• Divide the class into teams and hand each “reindeer” a small wrapped box or beanbag.

2. Christmas around the world adventure

Theme: A festive passport to global traditions

Through this experience, children embark on a delightful cultural journey that reveals the many ways Christmas is celebrated across the world. With crafts, stories, and language snippets, they’ll discover unique and colorful customs from other lands.

Guide:

• Set up small stations in the classroom, each representing a different country, like Germany, Brazil, or the Philippines.
• At each station, children participate in a small activity or hear a story unique to that country’s Christmas traditions, stamping their “passports” with each new discovery.
• By the end, they’ve collected not only stamps but an appreciation for how universally cherished the season truly is.

3. Letters of cheer to Santa—and to seniors

Theme: Sharing Joy beyond the holidays

This activity lets kids experience the warmth of giving by crafting two holiday letters—one addressed to Santa and one to a senior at a nearby care home. It’s a beautiful way to pair the magic of wishes with heartfelt compassion for others.

Guide:

4. The science of snow: Holiday experiment

Theme: Enchanted science in the classroom

Add a sprinkle of seasonal magic to the classroom with this hands-on winter science experiment! Students can create “snow” that stays cool and fluffy—no mittens required. This activity blends wonder with discovery and encourages kids learn about the science behind their homemade winter creation.

Guide:

• Using a simple mix of baking soda and shaving cream or a polymer snow kit.
• Kids concoct their own version of snow
• Examine how these materials expand and absorb moisture.

5. A class advent calendar

Theme: Daily delights of togetherness

Turn each December school day into a tiny celebration with a class-wide advent calendar. This twist on the traditional countdown invites the entire class to unwrap a surprise. It also creates daily excitement as the holiday approaches.

Guide:

• Create an advent calendar using small envelopes or decorative bags hung across a wall or on a ribbon.
• Inside each, tuck a fun activity like a trivia question, a small treat, or a collaborative craft for the whole class to enjoy.
• Each day, one child reveals the surprise, building joy and connection as the season of giving unfolds.

5 activities about christian Christmas for children for family

1. Nativity night: A family reenactment

Theme: Stepping into the Story of Christmas

Turn your home into a tiny Bethlehem for an evening as your family retells the birth of Jesus. Everyone joins in as a character—Mary, Joseph, shepherds, even the animals. Through this, kids experience the Christmas story, living it rather than just reading it.

Guide:

• Read through the nativity story first, letting everyone get a feel for their part.
• Gather some simple props—scarves for robes, a blanket for baby Jesus, or a stuffed animal for the stable scene.
• Encourage everyone to “act” their part, narrating or improvising along.
• Finish with a family reflection, discussing how each character might have felt and what the birth of Jesus means to you.

2. Advent chain of reflection

Theme: A journey through Christmas spirit

Create a chain of prayer and kindness, building anticipation with each day of Advent. Every link symbolizes a unique thought, prayer, or act that brings you closer to Christmas, growing your family’s gratitude and joy along the way.

Guide:

• Cut strips of colored paper—one for each day of Advent—writing a small prayer, verse, or act of kindness on each.
• Link the strips together to form a chain, hanging it in a place you’ll see daily.
• Each evening, gather to tear off one link, sharing the thought, prayer, or kindness within it.
• As Christmas nears, your chain grows shorter, but your spirit of anticipation and connection grows stronger.

3. DIY nativity storybook

Theme: A family tale of wonder

Create a unique family storybook retelling the nativity. Let children illustrate and narrate each scene. They can make their own. This homemade book becomes a special Christmas heirloom to read and treasure each year.

Guide:

• Divide the nativity story into sections, such as “The Angel’s Visit” or “The Stable.”
• Have each child create their own illustrations, capturing each scene in their style.
• Bind the pages together, forming a simple yet heartfelt book.
• On Christmas Eve, read your family’s story together, cherishing each page crafted with love and faith.

4. The starry sky walk: Guided by the bethlehem star

Theme: A night of reflection under the stars

Venture out as a family on a clear night, tracing the steps of the wise men who followed a star to Jesus. Under a blanket of stars, take a moment to feel the same wonder and mystery that they might have felt centuries ago.

Guide:

• Bundle up for an evening walk, choosing a quiet spot where you can gaze up at the stars.
• Share the story of the Star of Bethlehem, letting each person reflect on what it might have been like to follow a light through the night.
• Pause to share a moment of thanks, perhaps saying a simple prayer or discussing the sense of wonder.
• Head home with hearts full of peace, carrying the starlight and meaning of Christmas with you.

5. A family kindness adventure

Theme: Acts of love in the spirit of Jesus

Celebrate Christmas by embracing a family kindness challenge. Each member picks a simple act of kindness, sharing Jesus’ love through sincere deeds that make a difference in your community and bring joy to others.

Guide:

• Brainstorm small but impactful kindness acts—perhaps making treats for a neighbor or donating gently used items.
• Let each family member choose an act that speaks to them, adding a personal touch.
• Complete the acts of kindness together. Discuss how it feels to give and connect with others.
• Reflect as a family, and share how these actions mirror the spirit of Jesus’ compassion and love.

To round things off

The holiday season unfolds a world of enchantment, especially through Christmas activities for kids. These activities bring meaning to the holiday, transforming each day into an adventure filled with laughter.

Engaging in these activities isn’t just about having fun; it’s about giving kids a sense of belonging and appreciation for the season. With each game, craft, or adventure, children embark on a journey that fills their hearts and inspires wonder.