25 Christmas Activities for Toddlers (Easy, Safe and Low-Prep)

Quick answer: the best Christmas activities for toddlers are short (5-15 minutes), sensory and safe: sticker trees, playdough cookies, ornament color sorting, a jingle bell hunt, picture bingo and Christmas dance parties. Here are 25 ideas grouped by type, all using things you already have at home.

Toddlers love the lights, music and excitement of December, but long crafts and fragile decorations do not mix with little hands. These ideas are built for ages 1-4 and need almost no prep.

Sensory play

1. Playdough Christmas cookies: cookie cutters, red and green dough, a rolling pin.
2. Jingle bell shaker: bells sealed in a plastic bottle with tape.
3. Snow bin: cotton balls, scoops and cups in a tray.
4. Pine cone painting: washable paint and a big brush.
5. Ice “presents”: small toys frozen in ice to melt with warm water.

Fine motor fun

6. Sticker Christmas tree: draw a big tree and let them “decorate” it with dot stickers.
7. Pom-pom ornaments: move pom-poms onto a paper tree with fingers or tongs.
8. Tear-and-stick wreath: tear green paper and glue it on a paper plate ring.
9. Posting cards: post old Christmas cards into a box “mailbox”.
10. Lacing stars: thread a shoelace through holes punched in card stars.

Looking for more hand-strength ideas? See our fine motor activities by age.

Games and learning

11. Christmas picture bingo: toddlers match pictures with a grown-up calling.
12. Ornament color sort: shatterproof ornaments into colored bowls.
13. Jingle bell hunt: hide bells around one room and listen for them.
14. Count the presents: count wrapped boxes under the tree.
15. Big and small: line up Santa toys or boxes by size.

Make it easier: big, clear pictures make bingo easy for little ones. Print the Christmas Picture Bingo Printable (30 unique cards).

Movement and music

16. Christmas freeze dance.
17. Reindeer hop: hop from one paper “hoofprint” to the next.
18. Snowball toss: scrunched white paper into a laundry basket.
19. Santa says: a festive “Simon says”.
20. Parade with instruments: pots, spoons and bells.

Family traditions

21. Christmas light walk in pajamas after dinner.
22. Read one holiday picture book each night in December.
23. Help bake by pouring and stirring.
24. Call or video-chat grandparents to sing a song.
25. Open one countdown card each morning.

Make it easier: a simple countdown gives every day a small tradition. Try the Christmas Countdown Cards (24 family activities + 8 blank cards).

Safety tips for toddler Christmas activities

• No small parts, beads or glitter for children under 3.
• Keep glass ornaments, tinsel and button batteries out of reach.
• Use washable, non-toxic paint and dough.
• Stay close during any activity with water, scissors or food.

Every toddler develops differently. If you are curious about what is typical, the CDC’s developmental milestones cover ages 2 through 5.

Frequently asked questions

What Christmas activities can a 2 year old do?

Sticker scenes, playdough cookies, sorting colored ornaments (shatterproof), a jingle bell hunt, simple picture bingo with an adult, and dancing to Christmas songs.

How do I keep toddler Christmas crafts safe?

Use large, non-toxic materials, skip small beads and glitter for under-3s, supervise all scissor and glue use, and keep breakable ornaments and button batteries out of reach.

How long should a toddler activity last?

Plan for 5-15 minutes. Toddlers focus best in short bursts, so have two or three activities ready and stop while it is still fun.

Keep reading

• Christmas countdown activity ideas for families
• 10 Christmas party games for families
• 25 screen-free activities for kids at home