40 Christmas Activities for Kids to Keep Those Little Hands Occupied Until Santa Arrives

Sometimes you just need your little humans to sit and chill. And what better way to keep 'em occupied than by engaging them in a craft that's a distraction, decoration and snack all at the same time?This tutorialis a good place to start, but in order to create the perfect popcorn garland, all you need is a fresh batch of popcorn, somecrafting string, a pair of scissors anda crafting needle然后你就好。(注:制作needle makes this activity best suited for bigger kids.) Mix in some cranberries for that additional Christmas-y touch.

From the makers of ‘Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza’ comes this laugh-out-loud family-friendly game that asks players to lay down a card while saying the next word in ‘Santa Cookie Elf Candy Snowman’. Slap if it’s a match and the last person to do so gets stuck with all the cards. This one’s best suited for kids ages 8 and up and only takes about 10 minutes per round.

All you need is a cup full of various holiday candies to play this fun and surprisingly difficultminute to win it game, which consists of sorting the candies by type in under sixty secondswithoutdumping them out. Needless to say, the kids won’t care too much about winning or losing when they realize they get to eat the candy in the end. (Get the details atKid Friendly Things To Do.)

There’shot cocoa, treats,toys, bright shiny ornaments and lots more festive cheer to be found at your local holiday market. Check it out with your offspring and the whole fam will have a blast.

头Happiness is Homemadefor a printable, holiday-themed twist on the classic car game that’s perfect for playing around the fireplace and, as always, sure to have everyone in stitches.

A piece of white printer paper, plus a little folding and snipping is all that’s required to make some nifty seasonal decor. Best of all, any kid old enough to wield a pair of scissors can handle this simple craft.

This toddler-friendly activity allows tots to create their own Christmas figurines (Santa, elf, reindeer, etc.) using stickers. It’s simple and festive and even better? It’s portable, meaning you can bring the holiday fun with you when you need to wait in line at the post office to mail your gift to Aunt Sally.

Santa Claus is coming to...a shopping center near you. Pay him a visit and your child will get to rattle off his Christmas list to someone else, while you stand back and enjoy the photo op.

Here’s another minute-to-win-it game, courtesy ofKid Friendly Things To Do, that will go over well with the kids at your holiday party—just pick up some festive cardstock and a sleeve of red solo cups, and watch the fast-paced fun unfold.

Kids compete for prizes in this festive game, in which players race to identify a list of Christmas carols using only emoji clues. You can learn the rules and find the free printable atHappiness is Homemade.

This classic holiday activity is a joy for folks of all ages, but the performance is particularly cute when the caroling is done by a group of kids. Plus, what child wouldn’t welcome an opportunity to warm up with a mug of hot chocolate when all’s said and done?

The joys of slime are well-documented, so it goes without saying that kids will be thrilled to get their hands on this goo over the holidays—just be sure to make it extra festive with this recipe fromThe Best Ideas for Kids.

From licking the bowl to decorating the cookies,holiday bakingserves up kid-friendly fun at every step of the process and the reward is oh-so sweet.

Your kid wants to help you decorate the tree and glass ornaments and toddlers don’t mix. Here’s a clever idea: Let your offspring go to town with this soft felt tree and the included detachable ornaments. All of the holiday fun, none of the tears. Now that’s a win-win.

A walking tour ofthe holiday lights in the neighborhoodis a fine activity unto itself, but this printable scavenger hunt fromHappiness is Homemadepromises an extra entertaining stroll for kids of all ages.

STEAM never looked (or tasted) so good as it does with this holiday construction project. You can bake your own gingerbread or保持简单和买一个工具包—either way this engineering challenge will keep your kid busy, while satisfying their sweet tooth, to boot.

Bingo: The lowkey game that can be adapted for pretty much any occasion. Here, a Christmas-themed iteration fromThe Best Ideas For Kids.

This family-friendly guessing game is just like Hedbanz, but more festive. (Don’t worry if you have no idea what we’re talking about—the tutorial over atKid Friendly Things To Dowill fill you in.)

Get tickets to see the local ballet performThe Nutcrackerthis holiday season for a magical and memorable night out that older kids are sure to appreciate.

If you’re going to visit relatives over the holiday, be sure to pack this Christmas word scramble fromHappiness is Homemadefor the journey. It’s a festive activity for kids, and a boredom buster everyone will be grateful for.

OK, this one is kind of a no-brainer...and chances are your child has written at least ten already. That said, we’d be willing to bet that said child leaps at the opportunity to draft another.

Best suited for kids ages 4 and up, this deck of cards gives a fun holiday twist on all the classic games (think: Go Fish, Slap Jack, War, etc.). And don’t worry if your little elf doesn’t recognize numbers just yet—they can use the images instead (“do you have a Santa Claus?”).

File this under ‘holiday activity two-fers’ because your kid will have a blast with both the adorable snowman art project and the lively bowling game that follows. (More details atCraftaholics Anonymous.)

Christmas lists are great and all, but how about having your kid send Santa something a little more heartfelt? Hint: The best part will be the look on your child’s face when Santa actually writes back. (Thank you,United States Postal Service.)

Don’t worry, this minute to win it fromHappiness is Homemadedoes not involve tossing objects into hot liquid. Yep, the hot chocolate here is a ruse—but, by all means, serve the kids the real deal when the game is done.

Depending on the age and skill-level of your child, you can opt to craft a true showstopper or just stick with a simple paper wreath—either way, you’re guaranteed an engaging art project and a finished product that will inspire pride.

你已经知道rules of the go-to party game, but the folks over atKid Friendly Things To Dothink limbo is even better when played in full Santa attire, and we tend to agree.

Putting together a model train set is an excellent activity for kids of all ages, and the end result is a nice touch to have around the Christmas tree. Bonus points if you pair this activity with a reading of ‘The Polar Express’.

就像圣诞灯寻宝游戏,and every bit as fun, but with pictures instead of words—you know, so that even the youngest in your brood can participate. (Find the free printable atStudio DIY.)

Get into the holiday spirit bycranking up the tunesand getting started on an ornament-making project with your child. The creative hands-on activity will appeal to kids of all ages and the finished product will be everyone’s favorite thing on the tree.

Not a fan of slime? (We get it.) Good news: This gingerbread playdough activity fromThe Best Ideas For Kidsmeans you can skip the sticky stuff without robbing your child of the opportunity for some festive sensory play.

There doesn’t need to be a winter wonderland outside your window in order to enjoy a good ol’ fashioned snowball fight. In fact, you don’t need to go outdoors at all if you scoop up someFloof—a mysterious, snow-like modeling substance that’s both fun to play with and easy to clean up.

This goofy,wearable ring toss gamehas ‘Christmas party with kids’ written all over it. Best of all, you needn’t worry about any injuries getting in the way of a jolly good time, since the inflatable rings ensure safe play.

This is a one-time activity, but a very special one for kids—just make sure you’re discreet when you redistribute ornaments to the upper branches.

Food coloring, baking soda, vinegar and Christmas tree cookie cutters are all you need to pull off this festive ‘tree decorating’ science experiment fromFun-a-Day. It’s easy as can be and pretty darn cool, too.

Once you’ve seen all the Christmas lights your neighborhood has to offer, take your child to see some even more spectacular decorations.Cities and towns across the countrygo all out with stunning Christmas lights displays, some of which boast millions of lights to feast your eyes upon.

So you tried the gingerbread house activity, but the materials kept disappearing. The solution? Opt for an inedible craft, like this salt dough Christmas village. (Check outCrafts by Amandafor the full tutorial.)

In case you missed it, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has been using their GPS to help kids hone in on Santa’s whereabouts for more than 50 years. Excited kids are sure to get a kick out of this online service, which starts tracking Santa’s route on December 1 and can be accessedhere.

It works just like a regularWhite Elephant gift exchange, except that the attendees are kids and the gifts to be bartered and traded among friends are hand-picked toys.Get some toy inspiration here. (Psst: Try this one out with a slightly older group of kids—you know, ‘cause little ones are less likely to be on board with having their gift snatched up by a fellow partygoer.)

Prepare for the deluge of new toys to come by having your kid make room for the loot with a playroom cleaning project that involves sending old, unwanted toys to the donation bin. The promise of gifts on the horizon, will help children of all ages come around to appreciating the holiday spirit behind the good deed, and all parties will benefit from the purge.