25 Screen-Free Christmas Activities for Preschoolers Ages 3-5

25 ideas to try together

Each idea includes a simpler option and an extra challenge. Follow your child's interest rather than treating ages as a test.

1. 1

   Christmas seek-and-find hunt

   About 5-10 minutes

   You'll need: Paper and crayons.

   1. Draw a tree, a gift and a star on three separate sheets. Place them at child height around one room.
   2. Name one picture to find. After each find, give a position clue for the next: 'Look beside the sofa.'

   Practice: Noticing details and position words.

   Make it easier: Keep every picture in plain sight.

   Add a challenge: Draw two of each picture and count the pairs.

   Keep it safe: Keep pictures away from sockets, stairs and places that require climbing.

   Want pictures ready to go? Get Hiccup's free Christmas Mini Hunt. Hand-drawn pictures work too.

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2. 2

   Ornament color hunt

   About 5 minutes

   You'll need: A decorated tree or a Christmas picture to look at.

   1. Look together without touching the decorations. Choose a color and point to an ornament that matches.
   2. Take turns choosing colors. If you have no tree, use a book picture or draw colored circles on paper.

   Practice: Naming colors and matching.

   Make it easier: Point to two possible matches.

   Add a challenge: Find two ornaments of the same color but different shapes.

   Keep it safe: Look only. Do not remove ornaments, handle hooks or pull light cords.

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3. 3

   Christmas freeze dance

   About 5 minutes

   You'll need: Just yourselves.

   1. Sing a familiar Christmas tune or clap while everyone wiggles like an elf or steps like a reindeer.
   2. Stop and say 'Freeze!' Take turns leading. Moving after the cue just means trying again; nobody is out.

   Practice: Listening for a cue and choosing movements.

   Make it easier: Give a 'Ready to freeze' warning.

   Add a challenge: Choose a different holiday pose each round.

   Keep it safe: Clear the floor and leave space between dancers.

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4. 4

   Flashlight Christmas hunt

   About 5-10 minutes

   You'll need: Flashlight and large hand-drawn Christmas pictures.

   1. Place pictures around one familiar room. Keep enough light to see the floor and exits.
   2. Walk together and shine the beam on a picture. Name it, then search for another.

   Practice: Looking carefully and naming objects.

   Make it easier: Keep all room lights on.

   Add a challenge: Give a shape clue before each search.

   Keep it safe: Use a flashlight with a secured battery compartment. Never shine it into eyes or use candles.

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5. 5

   Sock snowball toss

   About 5-10 minutes

   You'll need: Rolled socks and a laundry basket.

   1. Put the basket on a clear floor. Stand close and toss a rolled sock underarm into it.
   2. Gather the socks together and take another turn. Move closer whenever the throw stops feeling fun.

   Practice: Aiming and taking turns.

   Make it easier: Drop socks in from beside the basket.

   Add a challenge: Move one step back and count the socks inside.

   Keep it safe: Use soft socks and aim at the basket, never people.

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6. 6

   Christmas I Spy

   About 5 minutes

   You'll need: A Christmas picture, physical book or room to look at.

   1. Sit together and choose something both of you can see. Say 'I spy something shaped like a star.'
   2. Let your child guess, then give the next clue. Colors and shapes work even without Christmas decorations.

   Practice: Describing visible details.

   Make it easier: Offer two choices and accept pointing.

   Add a challenge: Give two clues without naming the object.

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7. 7

   Build a paper snowman

   About 10-15 minutes

   You'll need: Paper, crayons, glue stick and large paper circles prepared by an adult.

   1. Offer two or three circles and let your child arrange a snowman on paper.
   2. Glue them down. Draw a scarf, face and buttons, then invent a name for your snowman.

   Practice: Arranging shapes and making choices.

   Make it easier: Draw the circles and let your child decorate them.

   Add a challenge: Add a snowy scene and tell a story about it.

   Keep it safe: Adults cut the paper. Draw buttons instead of using loose small objects.

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8. 8

   Christmas number hunt

   About 5-10 minutes

   You'll need: Paper and a crayon.

   1. Make three large gift pictures with 1, 2 and 3 dots. Add the matching numeral and place them around a room.
   2. Find a gift, touch each dot while counting, then clap that many times together.

   Practice: Connecting a numeral with a small quantity.

   Make it easier: Use only one and two dots; count together.

   Add a challenge: Use up to five and arrange the gifts in number order.

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9. 9

   Santa's workshop deliveries

   About 10-15 minutes

   You'll need: Two empty boxes and a few large soft toys.

   1. Call one box the workshop and the other a delivery stop. Let your child choose a toy and say who it is for.
   2. Carry it to the stop, say a pretend greeting, then swap jobs. Your child can be the giver, recipient or workshop helper.

   Practice: Pretend roles and conversation.

   Make it easier: Deliver one toy together.

   Add a challenge: Remember two delivery requests in order.

   Keep it safe: Use light boxes without staples and a clear route. Do not climb into or shut anyone inside boxes.

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10. 10

    Reindeer action game

    About 5 minutes

    You'll need: Just yourselves.

    1. Stand on a clear floor. Call out 'Reindeer walk,' 'Reindeer stretch' or 'Reindeer rest,' and act each one out together.
    2. Let your child choose the next action. End with reindeer resting whenever everyone wants a break.

    Practice: Following spoken prompts and inventing actions.

    Make it easier: Demonstrate one action at a time.

    Add a challenge: Remember two actions before doing them.

    Keep it safe: Keep feet on the floor, avoid jumping from furniture and leave room for each person.

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11. 11

    Draw a Christmas story

    About 10 minutes

    You'll need: Paper and crayons.

    1. Draw a snowy door, a gift and a friendly visitor together. Stick figures and scribbles are welcome.
    2. Tell a story one sentence at a time: 'Someone knocked on the snowy door...' Let your child choose who it is and what happens.

    Practice: Drawing and telling a sequence.

    Make it easier: Offer two choices for the next event.

    Add a challenge: Add a small problem and a kind solution.

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12. 12

    Wrap-a-box challenge

    About 10-15 minutes

    You'll need: An empty box, reused paper, tape and crayons.

    1. Offer a light empty box and a sheet of paper. Explore how to fold the paper around the box together.
    2. Tape where needed and draw a pretend gift tag. Unwrap and reuse the paper for another turn.

    Practice: Planning folds and asking for help.

    Make it easier: Decorate a flat paper gift shape.

    Add a challenge: Try a differently shaped box and compare the folds.

    Keep it safe: Wrap boxes only, never a person's body, head or neck. Skip ribbons and plastic bags; adults handle cutting.

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13. 13

    Christmas matching game

    About 5-10 minutes

    You'll need: Six large paper cards and crayons.

    1. Draw two stars, two trees and two gifts. Spread the cards face up and find each matching pair.
    2. Mix the cards and take turns finding a pair. Keep them face up as long as that is enjoyable.

    Practice: Matching pictures.

    Make it easier: Use only two pairs.

    Add a challenge: Turn the cards face down for a memory version.

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14. 14

    Sleigh delivery walk

    About 5-10 minutes

    You'll need: A folded towel and a large soft toy.

    1. Hold the towel like a tray with the toy resting on it. Walk slowly across a clear room to a pretend delivery stop.
    2. Set the toy down, then let your child choose the next stop. A grown-up can hold one side of the towel.

    Practice: Moving carefully while carrying something.

    Make it easier: Carry the toy in both hands.

    Add a challenge: Pause at two stops and say who each delivery is for.

    Keep it safe: Use a soft toy on a flat clear floor. Do not pull a child on the towel or balance on raised objects.

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15. 15

    Guess the Christmas sound

    About 5 minutes

    You'll need: Just yourselves.

    1. Use your voice to make a gentle 'ho ho ho,' a reindeer clip-clop or a pretend bell's 'ding dong.'
    2. Guess what the sound could be, then swap roles. Invent a sound for falling snow and enjoy different answers.

    Practice: Listening and pretending.

    Make it easier: Show the pretend action too.

    Add a challenge: Repeat two sounds in the same order.

    Keep it safe: Use gentle voices; skip startling noises and loose bells.

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16. 16

    Reindeer pretend cafe

    About 10 minutes

    You'll need: Paper, crayons, plastic plates and a spoon.

    1. Draw large pretend carrot and apple pictures. Put them on plates for your imaginary reindeer guests.
    2. Take an order, serve the picture food and ask what the guest would like next. Swap server and guest roles.

    Practice: Pretend conversation and remembering requests.

    Make it easier: Offer one pretend food at a time.

    Add a challenge: Take a two-item order and count the servings.

    Keep it safe: Use pretend paper food, with no loose oats, glitter or real animal feeding.

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17. 17

    Christmas counting tray

    About 5 minutes

    You'll need: A tray and five rolled socks as pretend snowballs.

    1. Put one, two or three sock snowballs on the tray. Touch each once while counting together.
    2. Move them around and count again. Ask how many should visit the tray next.

    Practice: Counting objects one at a time.

    Make it easier: Start with two socks and count together.

    Add a challenge: Use five socks and see what changes when one leaves.

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18. 18

    North Pole obstacle course

    About 10-15 minutes

    You'll need: Three paper signs and a clear stretch of floor.

    1. Draw a tree, a gift and a star for three stations. Walk past the tree, stretch at the gift and wave at the star.
    2. Travel the route together. Let your child choose new actions for the next trip.

    Practice: Following an action sequence.

    Make it easier: Use two stations and walk side by side.

    Add a challenge: Remember the sequence without reminders.

    Keep it safe: Keep everything on one level with clear exits. Skip climbing, ropes, blindfolds and timed races.

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19. 19

    Christmas faces and feelings

    About 5-10 minutes

    You'll need: Paper and crayons.

    1. Draw an excited face waiting for Christmas and a tired face after a busy day. Ask what each character might say.
    2. Tell a small story about finding a comfortable activity for each character. Accept your child's own ideas.

    Practice: Naming feelings and discussing choices.

    Make it easier: Choose between two drawn faces.

    Add a challenge: Draw a face that might have more than one feeling.

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20. 20

    Christmas sock pattern train

    About 5-10 minutes

    You'll need: Two colors of socks, with at least two of each.

    1. Line up socks on a table in a repeating pattern, such as red, white, red, white. Call it a Christmas train.
    2. Say the colors together and invite your child to add the next sock. Any two colors work.

    Practice: Noticing and continuing a repeated pattern.

    Make it easier: Copy a two-sock arrangement beside yours.

    Add a challenge: Invent a different repeating pattern for you to copy.

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21. 21

    Christmas shadow puppets

    About 10 minutes

    You'll need: Flashlight and a clear wall.

    1. Sit together and shine the flashlight at a wall. Move your hands in the beam to make a waving elf or a tall tree.
    2. Give the shadows voices and tell a tiny Christmas story. Explore how moving your hand changes the shadow's size.

    Practice: Noticing shapes and telling stories.

    Make it easier: Wave an open hand and watch its shadow.

    Add a challenge: Make two shadow characters meet.

    Keep it safe: Keep the floor visible, secure the battery compartment and never shine into eyes. Use no candles.

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22. 22

    What's missing? Christmas edition

    About 5 minutes

    You'll need: Three large Christmas picture cards and a cloth.

    1. Name the pictures together. Cover them and take away one while your child looks away.
    2. Lift the cloth and ask which picture is missing. Swap roles so your child can surprise you.

    Practice: Noticing and remembering.

    Make it easier: Use two pictures.

    Add a challenge: Use four pictures or move one instead of removing it.

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23. 23

    Christmas clue trail

    About 10-15 minutes

    You'll need: Three paper clues and a favorite book.

    1. Hide a book in a reachable place and make a short trail in one room. Read each clue aloud: 'Look beside the toy basket.'
    2. Follow the clues together. Finish by sharing a page of the book as your Christmas treasure.

    Practice: Listening to clues and connecting places.

    Make it easier: Point toward the next clue.

    Add a challenge: Let your child make a trail for you.

    Keep it safe: Avoid stairs, doors, sockets, kitchens and hiding spots that require climbing.

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24. 24

    Read-and-find Christmas challenge

    About 5-10 minutes

    You'll need: A physical Christmas picture book or printed scene.

    1. Read a little, then pause to find a visible detail together, such as a gift or star. Count the ones you can see.
    2. Let your child choose the next target. One page is enough; there is no need to finish the book.

    Practice: Shared reading, noticing and counting.

    Make it easier: Cover part of a busy picture and search a smaller area.

    Add a challenge: Give a location clue without pointing at the answer.

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25. 25

    Make your own Christmas seek-and-find

    About 15-20 minutes

    You'll need: Paper and crayons.

    1. Draw a Christmas room together. Add three gifts, two stars and one tree wherever your child chooses.
    2. Draw a find-it list along the bottom. Swap with a grown-up or sibling and take turns finding and counting the pictures.

    Practice: Making a picture, counting and giving clues.

    Make it easier: You draw the room; your child adds three things to find.

    Add a challenge: Hide a shape inside another drawing or invent a new find-it list.

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