40 Unique and Fun Christmas Activities for Kids and Families

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It sounds counterintuitive to say, “Slow down!” during the busy Christmas season, but that’s our intent with this big list of Christmas activities for kids and families.

Christmas Activities - Printable Advent Activities Calendar This year, try one of the crafty Christmas activities listed here rather than rush around finding the perfect gift for a family member or friend. A book-page Christmas tree ornament is unique and fun activity for teens and adults. A fresh-baked batch of Santa’s Favorite Cookie is a sweet way to bless an elderly neighbor or the mail carrier.

You’ll find Christmas activities for younger children, teens, and adults on our list. So, select a few activities, relax more…laugh more…and take in the joyous meaning of this Christmas season.

We have also included a list of Christmas-themed educational printables. Each set of printables is ready to use and makes it super-easy to add a festive touch to math, phonics, and writing!

Christmas Activities for Kids and Families

Don’t let our list of Christmas activities for kids and families overwhelm you! Just start with one Christmas activity and go from there!

Thanksgiving and Christmas Activity e-Book – Over 110 pages with gift-giving ideas, holiday activities, seasonal worksheets, cut-and-color centerpieces for kids to make, and a Christmas Around the World section. Click here to get this Christmas activities resource.
Christmas Blessing Boxes – During this season, Christmas activities that center on helping others are an ideal opportunity to help our children become more caring and giving. When we live such busy lives, though, it can be hard to slow down long enough to think of ways to do this! For that reason, we created this printable Christmas Blessing Boxes Challenge. Click here to go to this Christmas activity.
Book Page Ornaments – Know a book lover? This Christmas activity transfers the love of books into a beautiful tree decoration. The recipient might decide to display it all year round, especially if it’s a favorite title! Check out your local thrift store for paperback versions to make this an affordable and unique Christmas gift. Click here to add this to your list of Christmas activities.
Tips for Simplifying Christmas – Are you a stressed-out mess trying to clean, shop, bake, and participate in a full calendar of Christmas activities? This list of tips will help you focus on the quality of the Christmas activities you choose, not the quantity. Click here to read these tips
Advent Calendar Printable – This printable Advent calendar is about spending time together as a family to make the tradition more meaningful and memorable. Click here to get your copy of this printable.
Christmas Science Experiment: Borax Crystal Ornaments – This article is one of our most popular holiday articles, and we understand why! It’s a way to add some hands-on fun to your holiday homeschool and, at the same time, to create holiday memories and do a science experiment! Click here to add this to your list of Christmas activities.
String Art Christmas Tree – This is an ideal project for middle and high school ages (Even adults will enjoy this craft!) Make a cherished keepsake to enjoy each Christmas season. Click here to add this to your list of Christmas activities.
Quilled Christmas Cards – https://hiphomeschoolmoms.com/quilled-christmas-cards/ Paper quilling is an art activity all ages enjoy. Using this tutorial, create some unique Christmas cards for loved ones and friends. Click here to add this to your list of Christmas activities.
Adorable and Easy Christmas Wreath for Younger Children – Younger children LOVE this activity made with different types of pasta. Plus, what a fun keepsake for grandparents. Crafts with pasta are classic and bring back childhood memories of school art projects that involved spray painting a dried pasta creation! Click here to check out this Christmas activity.
Top 10 DIY Gifts Teens Can Make – If you have teens looking for Christmas gift ideas for their friends, check out these teen-approved Top 10 DIY Christmas gifts teens can make! Not only are these gifts budget-friendly, but they’re also fun-to-create boredom busters for teens on Christmas break. Click here to check out these Christmas gift ideas.
Easy DIY Christmas Napkin Rings –Create these napkin rings using supplies you probably have on hand already. We love how these came out, and you can repeat this craft for any season! Click here to add this to your list of Christmas activities this season.
Eucalyptus Bath Salts – These Eucalyptus Bath Salts are easy to put together, but they make a pretty and practical gift that all kinds of recipients can enjoy. If you are doing this with children under 10, we recommend using other essential oils like lavender. Click here to add this to your list of Christmas activities.
Vintage Tree Craft – The natural colors, lace, and sparkle in this DIY decoration have a classic, Victorian-inspired look that will go with any holiday decor. Once you’ve made them, store them carefully and re-use them again in years to come! Click here to add this to your list of Christmas activities.
Make Your Own Clay Nativity Set – This clay nativity set is an excellent activity for all ages. Got little kids? Their nativities won’t look as perfect and polished as those made by older kids or adults, but they’ll be something you’ll treasure forever. Click here to see the instructions for this Christmas activity.
Paper Cone Christmas Tree – This Paper Cone Christmas Tree is one of the simplest of the Christmas activities listed here, but it looks charming and festive. You could make several to create a Christmas tree forest scene or use one for the top of a mini-Christmas tree! Click here to add this to your list of Christmas activities.
Beautiful Quilled Christmas Trees – When you’ve finished your quilled Christmas trees, use them to decorate your home or turn them into ornaments (or glue them onto cards) to give to friends! Click here to view the instructions for this Christmas activity.
Christmas Kindness Calendar (with printable calendar) – We have included several Christmas activities that put an extra-focus on serving others. This specific post has a free printable calendar of ideas. Click here to add this to your list of Christmas activities.
Easy Handprint Christmas Tree Craft – Display the little fingers and toes in this sweet Christmas activity. Frame and display as a keepsake all year round. This makes an ideal gift for grandparents. Click here for the instructions.
Christmas Countdown Printable – Do you remember counting the days until Christmas when you were a child? You probably do! And your children probably do the same thing! That’s why we created a fun and easy Christmas Countdown Printable that you can use to count down the days with your children until December 25! Click here to add this to your list of Christmas activities.
Crafty Christmas: Painted Ornaments –The clear Christmas ornaments sold in craft stores are so versatile. We love painting them! By mixing colors, each ornament will be truly unique. Check out this Christmas activity.
Kids in the Kitchen: Fast & Easy Christmas Tree Cupcakes – This treat is easy to make and fun for the kids!
10 Surprising Christmas Tales to read this year – Enjoying Christmas read-aloud as a family is a beautiful holiday tradition. This year, consider these ten books that break away from the typical Christmas story recommendations. Click here to see the reading list.
Christmas Tree I Spy (with printable) – This game is great for playing when your little ones are not so patiently waiting for the cookies to bake, for time to open Christmas gifts, or even for lunch to be ready. Sometimes we need an activity with little ones that takes just the right amount of time–not too long and short! Click here to get the printable that accompanies this activity.
Santa’s Favorite Cookies (With printable recipe) If you want to make some special Christmas cookies for your family or a Christmas party, these are beautiful! Click here to add this recipe to your list of Christmas activities.
Creative Writing Christmas Activity – Whether you keep going, slow down your pace, or take a total break from formal homeschooling during December, you’ll love this Christmas Journal with 25 days of creative writing for the Christmas season! Click here to view this Christmas activity.
Felt Christmas Tree Ornaments – Add these felt Christmas tree ornaments to your tree this season or gift them to a friend or family member. Click here for instructions.
Christmas Eve Traditions for Family – It’s always fun to read about Christmas Eve traditions families have created. If you already have planned some Christmas eve traditions for your family, you might find some new activities or traditions you’d like to add to your celebration! Click here to view these Christmas activities.
Christmas Stocking Stuffer Ideas – Christmas stocking stuffer ideas don’t have to be expensive, and they’re fun to give because the receiver always enjoys digging into the stocking to see what tiny treasures are hidden inside! Click here to read more.

Christmas Activities with Printables
Christmas Story Coloring Pack
Twelve Days of Christmas Ordinal Number Practice – This printable is a print-and-go mini-book for your early elementary students. Each page includes coloring and fill-in-the-blank writing. Your child will practice writing ordinal numbers and number words as they count their way through this classic song. Click here to view this Christmas activity.
The Christmas Story Copywork – This packet includes cursive copy work for the King James Version of the Christmas Story from Luke 2. Click here to add this to your list of Christmas activities!
Christmas Lights Pattern Practice Sometimes we want (or need!) a break from our regular school work during November and December, but our kids get bored if they don’t have some structured work to do. Try this fun Christmas Lights Pattern Pack this year during the holidays! Click here to go to this activity.
Christmas Nouns Word Wall – Do you do school in December? Sometimes we need fun educational activities for our children during the holidays. After all, there’s no reason why we can’t study grammar, math, or science and make it Christmas-themed! Click here to get this printable.
Christmas Parts of Speech Word Search – This printable word search is a great way for your child to practice their parts of speech. As they search for words in the puzzle, have them highlight nouns, verbs, and adjectives with different colors. Or, if your child isn’t working on grammar, just let them enjoy the puzzle without sorting the words by part of speech. Click here to get this Christmas activity printable.
The 12 Days of Christmas Mini-Book –This is a print-and-go mini-book for your early elementary students. Each page includes coloring and fill-in-the-blank writing. Your child will practice writing ordinal numbers and number words as they count their way through this classic song. Click here to get this Christmas activity.
Christmas Carol Cursive Copywork – If you enjoy teaching your children Christmas carols or want to get started, check out this copywork resource! Click here to get this Christmas activity.
Christmas Math – Rounding Decimals – Make decimals more festive today! You’ll find five pages of rounding decimal practice in this pack, with answer keys. Every page has a fun Christmas border to make math more festive this holiday season. Click here to get this printable to add to your list of Christmas activities.
Christmas Money Math Do you have a child learning how to count coins? This simple two-page printable pack is perfect for them.
Christmas Math – 3 Digit Addition and Subtraction –There are six pages in this pack, with answer keys provided. Each page has a fun Christmas border to make math a little more fun. Click here to add these to your plan of Christmas activities.
Make a Popcorn and Cranberry Garland – This is a classic to add to your list of family Christmas activities. Click here to see the activity instructions.

Bonus Section – Homeschooling and the Holidays

10 Insanely Easy Ways to Homeschool During the Holidays

As much as we love the holiday season, it is often an exhausting, stressful time from Thanksgiving to New Year’s. We cram the weeks with more activities and travel than usual. Add to that the shopping (ack!), baking, wrapping, and homeschooling. Here are some tips for homeschooling around the holidays. Click here to read more.

Working Homeschool Moms at Christmas – It’s easy to feel like a bad parent when you can’t be the cool mom or dad who seems to run on a clock with 36 hours instead of 24. As working homeschool moms (whether our work is keeping our homes and homeschooling, working from home, or outside the house), we must prioritize this Christmas season. Sometimes, we have to keep it simple! Heather shares some wise words about keeping it stress-free this time of year.

What to Get a Homeschool Mom for Christmas – Looking for a gift for that special homeschool mom in your life.

A Christmas Your Children Will Remember – Help your children remember their childhood Christmas holidays with great fondness when they eventually have families of their own, here are a few key areas to prioritize this year.