15 Easy & Screen-Free Christmas Activities for Toddlers

The holidays feel extra magical when you see them through a toddler’s eyes.
From twinkling lights to the sound of jingle bells, every little detail becomes a big adventure. But as every parent knows, those curious little hands need something fun — and safe — to keep them busy during the season. That’s where the right Christmas activities for toddlers come in.

This guide is packed with fun, easy, and mess-minimal Christmas activities for toddlers ideas, perfect for ages 1–3. Each activity is designed to spark creativity, encourage learning, and create special memories without adding stress to your already busy holiday season. Whether you’re looking for quick sensory play, simple crafts, or festive games, you’ll find something here that your little one will love — and that you’ll enjoy too.

For more holiday inspiration across every age group, check out our complete guide to Christmas activities for kids, featuring festive ideas for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and the whole family.

Why Simple Holiday Activities Matter for Toddlers

The holiday season is full of excitement, but for toddlers, all that stimulation can be overwhelming. That’s why choosing simple Christmas activities for toddlers is key — they provide just enough festive fun without creating stress for little ones (or you).

At ages 1–3, children are still developing core skills like hand-eye coordination, fine motor control, and language. The right activities can:

• Encourage creativity through colors, textures, and imaginative play.
• Build Fine motor skills like grasping, stacking, and problem-solving.
• Strengthen bonds between parent and child through shared experiences.
• Promote calm and focus by offering age-appropriate, manageable tasks.

When holiday activities are kept simple, you’re setting your toddler up for success — and creating sweet traditions you’ll both look forward to year after year.

If you’re looking for even more variety, our full roundup of fun Christmas activities for kids includes toddler-friendly ideas alongside activities for older children.

15 Fun & Easy Christmas Activities for Toddlers

Toddlers learn best through play, and the holiday season is the perfect time to mix learning with festive fun. The Christmas activities for toddlers are designed with ages 1–3 in mind, so they’re simple to set up, safe to explore, and short enough to hold your little one’s attention. From sensory play to easy crafts, these ideas will help keep tiny hands busy — and hearts full — all season long.

1. Christmas Sensory Bin

Fill a shallow bin with toddler-safe holiday items like red and green pompoms, large jingle bells, felt ornaments, and soft ribbon. Add scoops, spoons, and small cups so little hands can explore textures and practice pouring.

Why toddlers love it: The mix of colors, shapes, and sounds sparks curiosity, while scooping and transferring objects helps develop fine motor skills.

2. Handprint Reindeer Art

Spread a sheet of craft paper on the table and use washable brown paint to make your toddler’s handprints. Once dry, add googly eyes, a red pom-pom nose, and antlers drawn with a marker to transform them into adorable reindeer keepsakes.

Why toddlers love it: They get to dip their hands in paint (big sensory win!) and see their own handprints turn into a festive character they recognize.

3. Felt Christmas Tree with Soft Ornaments

Cut a large Christmas tree shape from green felt and attach it to a wall at toddler height. Create felt “ornaments” in different shapes and colors that your child can stick on and move around.

Why toddlers love it: They get the fun of decorating a tree without any fragile ornaments, plus it’s a reusable activity they can enjoy over and over.

4. Giant Sticker Ornament Page

Print or draw a large ornament outline on paper and give your toddler oversized holiday-themed stickers to fill it in. Choose stickers with easy-peel backs to avoid frustration.

Why toddlers love it: They feel successful placing big stickers on their own, and it’s a great way to strengthen finger muscles for future writing skills.

5. Christmas Music & Freeze Dance

Put on a playlist of upbeat holiday songs and play freeze dance — when the music stops, everyone freezes in place. Keep the sessions short and silly.

Why toddlers love it: Moving to music helps burn off energy and improves balance, while the “freeze” moments turn it into a fun game of anticipation.

Looking for even more fun Christmas Activities for Toddlers? Download our Christmas Activity Pages Printable Bundle — packed with screen-free, age-appropriate activities your toddler will love!

6. Paper Plate Santa Craft

Give your toddler a plain paper plate, some cotton balls, and a glue stick to create Santa’s fluffy beard. Use red construction paper for the hat and a pom-pom for the tip.

Why toddlers love it: It’s hands-on, tactile, and fun to see Santa take shape with their own work.

7. Cinnamon-Scented Gingerbread Playdough

Make a batch of homemade playdough using cinnamon for a holiday scent. Give your toddler safe cookie cutters to create “gingerbread” shapes.

Why toddlers love it: They get to squish, roll, and cut, plus the warm cinnamon smell makes it feel extra festive.

8. Pom-Pom Candy Cane Sort

Draw a large candy cane outline on cardboard and divide it into alternating sections. Give your toddler red and white pom-poms to fill in the pattern.

Why toddlers love it: It’s a fun color-sorting game that also builds hand-eye coordination.

9. Christmas Storytime Corner

Set up a cozy corner with holiday-themed board books, a small blanket, and maybe a stuffed reindeer. Read together every evening before bed.

Why toddlers love it: They enjoy the comfort and routine of storytime while bonding with you.

10. DIY Bells & Shakers Jam Session

Fill sealed plastic bottles with jingle bells, beads, or rice. Play some Christmas music and let your toddler shake along to the beat.

Why toddlers love it: It combines movement, sound, and rhythm for a joyful sensory experience.

Want even more Printable Christmas Activities for toddlers? Our Christmas Activity Pages Printable Bundle is filled with screen-free games, crafts, and coloring pages you can print in minutes!

11. Holiday Color Hunt

Pick a holiday color (red, green, gold) and have your toddler find objects around the house that match. Keep it short and praise their finds.

Why toddlers love it: It feels like a treasure hunt and helps them practice color recognition.

12. Snowflake Stamping with Sponges

Cut snowflake shapes out of sponges, dip them in washable white paint, and stamp them on blue paper.

Why toddlers love it: They enjoy the surprise of each print and the satisfying “squish” of the sponge.

13. Nativity Figurine Play

Set up a small, toddler-safe nativity scene with chunky figures they can handle. Tell the story while they move the pieces around.

Why toddlers love it: It’s a hands-on way to connect with the season’s story through pretend play.

14. DIY Snow Slime (Taste-Safe Version)

Make a simple edible slime using cornstarch and water, tinted white with food coloring. Add glitter for sparkle (optional and non-toxic).

Why toddlers love it: It’s squishy, stretchy, and endlessly fascinating to play with.

15. Toddler-Friendly Wooden Christmas Puzzle

Choose large-piece holiday-themed puzzles that are easy for little hands to manipulate.

Why toddlers love it: They get the satisfaction of completing the picture while practicing problem-solving skills.

Tips for Stress-Free Christmas Activities for Toddlers

The holidays should be joyful, not overwhelming — for you and your little one. When planning Christmas activities for toddlers, keeping things simple and realistic will help you both enjoy the season.

• Keep it short: Most toddlers have an attention span of 5–15 minutes, so plan activities that fit their rhythm.
• Choose safe materials: Stick to non-toxic supplies and avoid small pieces that could be a choking hazard.
• Prep ahead: Gather everything you need before starting so your toddler isn’t waiting (or wandering off) while you set up.
• Follow their lead: If they lose interest halfway through, it’s okay to move on — the goal is connection, not perfection.
• Balance excitement with calm: Mix active play (like freeze dance) with quiet moments (like storytime) to avoid overstimulation.

By focusing on simple, age-appropriate ideas, you’ll turn your Christmas activities for toddlers into moments you both look forward to, year after year.

More Christmas Fun for Little Ones

If you’ve enjoyed these Christmas activities for toddlers, there’s even more festive fun waiting for you. Whether your child loves coloring, hands-on worksheets, or ready-to-print holiday games, these resources will keep them happily entertained while you enjoy a little peace of mind.

1- Christmas Activity Sheets

Looking for more variety? Check out our 15 New & Easy Christmas Activity Sheets Ideas for Kids — a mix of puzzles, mazes, matching games, and more. They’re quick to print, easy to set up, and perfect for keeping little ones busy while adding some holiday learning fun.

2- Christmas Activity Pages Printable Bundle

Get all your holiday fun in one place with our 8-in-1 Christmas Activity Pages Printable Bundle. Packed with coloring pages, cutting practice sheets, matching games, and more, it’s designed to keep kids of all ages entertained — from toddlers to early elementary. Just print, play, and enjoy a stress-free holiday season.

What’s Inside the Bundle:

• 120+ Christmas Coloring Pages – Includes 3 unique themes for more fun.
• 47 Cute Christmas Activity Pages Printable for Kids – Festive Fun
• 31 Christmas Cutting Practice Worksheets – From straight lines to puzzles
• 30 Christmas Cut & Paste Worksheets.
• 35 Dot Marker Pages – Holiday-themed designs for dauber-style painting
• I Spy Christmas Games – Great for visual skills and counting

All activities are instantly downloadable PDFs sized for standard 8.5 x 11 inches, designed for children ages 2–8, and work perfectly fine with the Christmas Activities for toddlers listed above — and are perfect for classrooms, homeschool settings, or keeping kids entertained during the holiday break at home. With lifetime access, you can print them as many times as you want, year after year.

Grab the Christmas Activity Pages Printable Bundle.

3- Free Christmas Coloring Pages for Kids

Keep the holiday creativity flowing with our 45+ free Christmas coloring pages — perfect for toddlers and older siblings to enjoy together. You can explore all four festive themes we’ve created:

• 15 Free Magical Christmas Tree Coloring Pages for Kids,
• Free Christmas Color by Number Coloring Pages,
• Free Magical Christmas Reindeer Coloring Pages,
• Free Festive Christmas Ornament Coloring Pages for Kids.

Final Thoughts

The holiday season is all about creating memories, and the simplest moments often become the most cherished. By choosing Christmas activities for toddlers that are fun, safe, and easy to set up, you’re giving your child the gift of joyful learning and festive family time. Whether it’s a sensory bin filled with jingle bells, a handprint reindeer, or storytime under the twinkling lights, these small traditions can bring big smiles — and they’re just as special for you as they are for your little one.

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