Christmas Activities for Preschool Classrooms: Simple, Hands-On Ideas for the Holidays

The holiday season brings excitement, joy, and endless opportunities for playful learning in the preschool classroom. Christmas activities don’t have to be elaborate or time-consuming — the best ones are simple, hands-on, and easy to weave into your existing centers and routines. With a few themed materials and a fun classroom atmosphere, you can create memorable learning experiences that feel magical for young learners.

Here are engaging, developmentally appropriate Christmas activities your preschoolers will love.

1. Christmas Tree Counting Mats

Create trees labeled with numbers 1–10 and provide small manipulatives like pom-poms, beads, or buttons. Children place the correct number of “ornaments” on each tree.

Skills supported:

• counting
• number awareness
• one-to-one correspondence

Great extension: Math Worksheets Hub
Skill support: Guide 1 – Counting Objects

2. Gift Wrap Pattern Cards

Cut out small squares of wrapping paper in different designs and create easy AB, ABB, or ABC pattern strips. Children complete the pattern by choosing the next correct piece.

This activity strengthens early math and logic skills while using materials you already have on hand.

Connect with: Patterns Guide or Puzzle & Logic Worksheets Hub

3. Stocking Letter Match

Create stockings with uppercase letters and matching “stuffers” with lowercase letters. Children pair the correct sets or sort by beginning sound.

Add a magnetic board for an easy literacy center upgrade.

Reinforce with: Literacy Worksheets Hub (Letter Recognition)
Related skill: Beginning Sounds Guide

4. Ornament Fine Motor Tray

Add ornaments with removable tops, mini jingle bells, pom-poms, tongs, and scoops. Children fill and empty ornaments while practicing hand control and strengthening their pincer grasp.

Perfect for morning tubs, centers, or quiet fine motor time.

Pairs with: Fine Motor Guides — Hand Strength, Tool Use

5. Christmas Story Retelling Basket

Choose a favorite holiday book and prepare a retelling basket with items like small trees, toy animals, felt stars, or bells. Children act out the story using props, building comprehension and sequencing skills.

Books that work well:

• Bear Stays Up for Christmas
• The Gingerbread Man
• Llama Llama Holiday Drama

Sequencing Events Guide or Puzzle & Logic Worksheets Hub

 6. Gingerbread Playdough Invitation

Offer warm gingerbread-scented playdough with cookie cutters, rolling pins, buttons, googly eyes, and beads. Children roll, press, decorate, and build pretend cookies.

This encourages creativity while strengthening fine motor muscles.

 Fine Motor Worksheets Hub — Tracing, Line Paths

 7. Christmas Art Collage Station

Set out scrapbook paper, ribbon, bows, sequins, stickers, and metallic scraps. Children create their own festive masterpieces.

No instructions needed — open-ended art supports imagination and sensory exploration.

 8. Christmas Shape Matching

Create shape ornaments (circle, triangle, square, rectangle) and matching shadow mats. Children match, sort, and name each shape.

You can also extend this by having children build shapes using craft sticks.

Early Math — Shapes Guide

 9. Nativity or Holiday Dramatic Play Center

Not all classrooms celebrate Christmas religiously — but if yours does, a small nativity or holiday-themed dramatic play area can be incredibly meaningful.

If not, try a “North Pole Workshop” with:

• gift boxes
• tissue paper
• tape
• bows
• pretend reindeer feed
• elf hats

Dramatic play builds language skills, cooperation, and imagination.

10. Christmas Songs & Movement Breaks

Simple, familiar songs help children develop rhythm, memory, and phonological awareness. Try:

• “Jingle Bells”
• “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”
• “Deck the Halls”
• “Up on the Housetop”

Add actions, bells, scarves, or rhythm sticks for extra engagement.

Early Literacy Guides — Rhyming, Phonemic Awareness

Christmas activities in preschool don’t need to be complicated. A few themed materials, cozy music, and simple hands-on ideas can make your classroom feel magical while still supporting important early learning skills. Whether you’re focusing on literacy, math, fine motor development, or sensory play, these activities help you create joyful, meaningful experiences your students will remember.

Christmas Worksheets
Seasonal Theme Pages —Arctic Animals