Christmas with preschoolers doesn’t have to involve complicated crafts, a shopping list full of special supplies, or activities that take an hour to set up.
Some of the sweetest Christmas moments can come from very simple things: shaking jingle bells, making a tiny Christmas tree from fingerprints, searching for a hidden candy cane, or pretending to help Santa get ready for his big night.
If you’re looking for ways to bring a little more Christmas fun into your preschool classroom or home, these 25 Christmas activities for preschoolers are a great place to start. They’re a mix of crafts, sensory play, movement, pretend play, and simple learning activities, so you can choose something that fits your time, space, and energy level.
1. Make a Handprint Christmas Tree
Turn those tiny handprints into a Christmas keepsake.
Paint your child’s hand green and press it onto white cardstock several times, arranging the prints from largest to smallest to create a Christmas tree. Once the paint dries, let them add fingerprint ornaments, a star on top, and a little trunk.
Make it personal: Write the child’s name and the year underneath. It becomes a simple keepsake you’ll actually want to save.
2. Set Up Santa’s Workshop
You don’t need a fancy play kitchen to create a pretend Santa’s workshop.
Put out empty boxes, wrapping paper scraps, ribbons, stickers, and crayons. Let preschoolers wrap “presents,” make labels, and pretend to check whether each package is ready for Santa’s sleigh.
Add a challenge: Give them three pretend orders to complete, such as “one blue present, two red presents, and a present for Grandma.”
3. Go on a Christmas Scavenger Hunt
Hide a few Christmas objects around the room—a jingle bell, red ornament, candy cane, bow, or small Santa figure.
Give children clues such as:
“Find something that jingles.”
“Find something red.”
“Find something Santa might use.”
This works especially well when preschoolers need to move around after sitting for a craft.
4. Make a Jingle Bell Parade
Give each child a jingle bell or homemade shaker and let them lead a Christmas parade around the room.
Try different instructions:
- Walk slowly like a sleepy reindeer.
- March like Santa’s elves.
- Tiptoe past the sleeping reindeer.
- Shake your bells when the music stops.
It turns a few minutes of movement into a surprisingly fun Christmas game.
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5. Create a Christmas Tree Collage
Cut a large triangle from green paper and let children turn it into their own Christmas tree.
Provide scraps of colored paper, stickers, cotton balls, pom-poms, and crayons for decorating.
Let them choose: Resist the urge to show them what the “finished” tree should look like. A purple Christmas tree covered in stickers is still a Christmas tree.
6. Try a Christmas Freeze Dance
Put on Christmas music and let everyone dance.
When the music stops, everyone freezes.
Make it more playful by calling out a character before restarting:
“Freeze like Santa!”
“Freeze like a reindeer!”
“Freeze like an elf!”
No complicated instructions are needed, and you can play it for five minutes or twenty.
7. Make Reindeer Footprints
Dip the bottom of a child’s shoe lightly into washable brown paint and make a footprint on paper.
Once it’s dry, add antlers, eyes, and a red nose to turn the footprint into a reindeer.
Preschool tip: Put the paper on a tray or newspaper before painting. This is one of those activities where a little preparation beforehand saves a lot of cleanup afterward.
8. Build a Christmas Sensory Bin
Fill a shallow container with shredded green paper, red and green pom-poms, large jingle bells, ribbons, and plastic Christmas decorations.
Add scoops, cups, and child-safe tongs.
Children can scoop, transfer, hide, find, and sort the objects.
Try this: Hide five jingle bells and ask, “Can you find all five?”
Choose materials that are appropriate for the children in your care and supervise sensory play.
9. Make Christmas Playdough
Set out red, green, and white playdough with Christmas cookie cutters, rolling pins, and safe loose parts.
Preschoolers can make Christmas trees, stars, snowmen, ornaments, and pretend cookies.
For a simple invitation to play, say:
“Santa needs some cookies. Can you make enough for his whole team?”
10. Play Santa Says
Give the classic “Simon Says” game a Christmas twist.
Try:
“Santa says touch your toes.”
“Santa says stomp like a reindeer.”
“Santa says pretend to carry a giant present.”
Then occasionally give an instruction without saying “Santa says.”
It’s easy, requires no materials, and works well with a group.
11. Make Homemade Christmas Cards
Give each child folded cardstock, crayons, washable paint, stickers, and a few Christmas stamps.
Instead of making every card identical, let children decide who their card is for.
Ask:
“Who would you like to give this to?”
“What would you like to draw for them?”
That little conversation turns a craft into an opportunity to practice language and kindness.
12. Have a Reindeer Training Camp
Turn the room into a pretend reindeer training course.
Children can:
- Jump over “snowy” pillows.
- Crawl through a tunnel.
- Carry a soft “present.”
- Balance along a line.
- Stop at the “North Pole.”
Call yourself the head reindeer trainer and give everyone a pretend mission.
13. Make a Paper Plate Santa
Use a paper plate, cotton balls, crayons or paint, and construction paper to create Santa’s face.
Let preschoolers glue cotton balls around the beard and hat.
Fun variation: Ask them to give Santa a silly expression—surprised, sleepy, happy, or excited.
14. Play “What’s Missing?”
Put five Christmas objects on a tray.
Let children look carefully, then ask them to close their eyes while you remove one object.
Can they figure out what’s missing?
Start with three objects for younger preschoolers and add more as they get comfortable with the game.
15. Make a Christmas Color Hunt
Choose three colors: red, green, and white.
Give children a small basket or simply let them search the classroom or house for objects in those colors.
For older preschoolers, turn it into a challenge:
“Can you find something red that is smaller than your hand?”
Now you’re sneaking observation and comparison into a Christmas game.
16. Create a Cotton Ball Snowman
Draw or cut out a simple snowman shape.
Give children cotton balls to glue onto the body, then let them add paper eyes, buttons, a carrot nose, and a scarf.
Less-mess option: Use glue dots or double-sided tape instead of liquid glue.
17. Have a Christmas Story Picnic
Spread a blanket on the floor, bring out a few favorite Christmas books, and pretend you’re having a winter picnic.
Let children bring a stuffed animal along as their “guest.”
After reading, ask simple questions:
“What did you notice?”
“What was your favorite part?”
“What do you think happens next?”
It’s a lovely way to slow things down after a busy morning.
18. Rescue the Christmas Bells
Fill a container with shredded paper or another age-appropriate sensory filler and hide several large jingle bells inside.
Give children tongs or scoops and challenge them to rescue the bells.
Count them together as each one is found.
Make it harder: “We need six bells for Santa’s sleigh. How many have we found so far?”
19. Decorate a Giant Classroom Christmas Tree
Draw a large Christmas tree on butcher paper or cardboard and attach it to a wall.
Give children paper ornaments in different colors and shapes.
Each child gets to add a few ornaments to the tree.
You can turn it into a simple learning activity by asking children to follow patterns:
red-blue-red-blue
or
star-circle-star-circle
20. Make a Christmas Sound Game
Collect a few objects that make different sounds: jingle bells, crinkly wrapping paper, a shaker, and a box.
Let children listen while you make one sound behind a screen or your back.
Can they guess what made it?
This is especially fun with the lights slightly dimmed and a “Christmas mystery” theme.
21. Go on a Letter Hunt
Hide paper Christmas ornaments around the room, each containing a familiar letter.
Call out a letter and ask children to find its matching ornament.
For children who are still learning letters, use the letters from their names.
Personal twist: Hide the letters in each child’s name and let them collect them in order.
22. Count the Christmas Presents
Cut out paper presents in different colors and sizes.
Ask children to count them, sort them, and compare the groups.
Try questions such as:
“Which group has more?”
“Can you find three small presents?”
“Can you put the presents from smallest to biggest?”
23. Make a Christmas Shape Tree
Create a paper Christmas tree using basic shapes.
For example, the tree can have:
- Triangle branches
- Circle ornaments
- Square presents
- A star topper
Ask children to identify each shape and then make their own version.
24. Write a Letter to Santa
Give preschoolers paper and crayons and invite them to draw or write a pretend letter to Santa.
Don’t worry about conventional writing.
A page filled with scribbles, pictures, and a giant red crayon “Santa” is perfectly appropriate for a preschooler.
Ask them to tell you what they wrote, and write their words underneath.
25. Make a Christmas Memory Ornament
End the activity list with a keepsake.
Give children a simple paper ornament template and ask them to draw their favorite thing they’ve done during the Christmas season.
Add their name and the year.
You can hang the ornaments on a classroom tree or take them home as a little reminder of the season.
How to Make These Activities Feel Extra Magical
You don’t need a room full of decorations or expensive Christmas supplies.
A few small touches can completely change the atmosphere:
- Put on soft Christmas music during crafts.
- Use a string of battery-operated lights during story time.
- Let children wear a Santa hat or reindeer antlers during pretend play.
- Give activities playful names such as “Santa’s Bell Rescue.”
- Let children help prepare the materials.
- Take photos of the process rather than worrying about perfect finished products.
- Save a few crafts as Christmas keepsakes.
The goal isn’t to create a picture-perfect Christmas classroom.
It’s to give children opportunities to play, imagine, create, move, and make memories together.
A Simple 1-Hour Christmas Activity Plan
Don’t have time to choose from all 25 ideas? Try this simple combination:
10 minutes — Christmas story
Settle everyone down with a favorite Christmas book.
15 minutes — Handprint Christmas Tree
Let children create a keepsake while listening to Christmas music.
10 minutes — Jingle Bell Parade
Get everyone moving.
15 minutes — Christmas Sensory Bin
Let children explore, scoop, sort, and search for hidden bells.
10 minutes — Christmas Freeze Dance
Finish with movement and laughter before cleanup.
You can also swap any activity for one from the list depending on your group and available materials.
Quick Christmas Activity Guide
| Activity | Prep Level | Mess Level | Great For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handprint Christmas Tree | Low | Medium | Keepsake |
| Santa’s Workshop | Low | Low | Pretend play |
| Christmas Scavenger Hunt | Low | None | Movement |
| Jingle Bell Parade | None | None | Gross motor |
| Christmas Sensory Bin | Medium | Medium | Sensory play |
| Christmas Playdough | Low | Low | Fine motor |
| Christmas Color Hunt | Low | None | Colors & observation |
| Christmas Letter Hunt | Low | Low | Literacy |
| Count the Christmas Presents | Low | Low | Math |
| Christmas Memory Ornament | Low | Low | Keepsake |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some easy Christmas activities for preschoolers?
Simple activities such as Christmas scavenger hunts, jingle bell games, handprint crafts, playdough, sensory bins, and Christmas freeze dance require little preparation and can be adapted for different preschool settings.
How do you make Christmas magical for preschoolers?
Focus on experiences rather than elaborate decorations. Music, pretend play, Christmas stories, simple crafts, movement games, and opportunities to create something for someone they love can make ordinary activities feel special.
What Christmas crafts can preschoolers make?
Preschoolers can make handprint Christmas trees, paper plate Santas, reindeer footprints, Christmas cards, cotton-ball snowmen, tree collages, and simple memory ornaments.
What Christmas activities work well in a preschool classroom?
Choose a mixture of quiet and active activities. Crafts, sensory invitations, pretend play, movement games, story time, counting activities, and simple letter games can be rotated throughout the day.