10 Free Christmas Activities for Toddlers

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November is nearly gone, which means it’s almost Christmas! It feels illegal not to go straight into holiday mode the second Thanksgiving is over. 

Your littles can start dressing up in Christmas pajamas. You can play Christmas music, and start putting out the festive decorations. 

But, planning all the fun, festive things you want to do with your little one can become financially overwhelming! Participating in a lot of the classic Christmas activities might add up pretty fast, and cost more than you expected.

That’s why we have pulled together 10 simple, free Christmas activities your whole family can enjoy. Do these at home or around your neighborhood without spending a penny! 

1. Make Your Own Advent Calendar

Little ones love predictability and routines. Start the countdown to Christmas with an advent calendar. They might like the build-up to Christmas even more than the day itself!

There are so many easy, inexpensive ways to DIY an advent calendar. Make a list of all the activities you want to do before Christmas arrives. (You’re probably already doing it as you’re reading!) Write each one on a sticky note, and put it on a cupboard or even just the fridge! Pull out one each day leading up to Christmas!

You can also fill a jar with 24 slips of simple, toddler-friendly activities. You can print out a visual countdown to cross off every morning or hang a paper loop garland for littles to tear everyday.

The rest of this blog has activities you can pop on your DIY Advent Calendar!

And if you prefer a ready-made option, we break down our top 13 advent calendars for kids to help you pick the best one! 

2. Go to Library Holiday Storytime

I can’t stress enough to always ask your local public library for upcoming events. Almost all libraries usually host a holiday themed session you can attend for free. Sometimes you can even meet Santa, elves or other festive holiday characters! A festive storytime with songs, puppets and Christmas arts and crafts is perfect for your little one!

Books are one of our favorite ways to help little ones understand new experiences. Borrow a few holiday books from the library, and bring storytime at home too! Here are our favorite Christmas and holiday books for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers that you can read over and over! 

3. Go on a Christmas Lights Walk

When it’s dark at 4 pm, and you’re waiting to make it to bedtime, bundle up your little one and go for a short stroller walk. See Christmas lights and decor in your neighborhood. 

Play the Christmas version of “I spy…” and watch your toddler get excited by pointing out displays. If they show interest, talk about different colors and shapes you see.  

If it’s too cold to walk outside, go for a drive around the town. Turn it into a “Christmas Scavenger Hunt,” and see how many decorations your toddler can find on the way. 

Screenshot this image below of scavenger hunt activities you can do while on your Christmas Lights Walk! 

4. Explore Store Winter Wonderlands

One of my favorite holiday activities is to take littles to big department stores to see their Christmas decor. Find your nearest Home Depot, Lowe’s, or Hobby Lobby and experience their Winter Wonderlands.

You can even meet Santa for free at Bass Pro Shops and get a picture with him! We go every year!

This is a solid 45 minutes of completely free holiday entertainment. Little ones can often interact with these festive displays. They might love pressing buttons, feeling textures, or spotting familiar characters. It also makes a perfect night outing for them! 

5. Give a Christmas Gift to a Child in Need

Donating some toys before receiving Christmas presents is a beautiful way to help your toddler learn to include others in the spirit of happiness. Both my littles love dropping off their boxes of Christmas presents for a little girl and boy their age. We have done this through the organization Samaritan’s Purse, but there are many different organizations and businesses that participate in gift donations.

Put together a box of a few toys, books or little items you don’t use anymore (or buy something new if you prefer). Hand it over at your church or a donation center with your toddler. 

It’s a great learning activity for your toddler while also helping you clear out space for new toys. 

6. Make a Christmas Sensory Bin

Sensory bins are one of our favorite tools for learning through play. We have a whole blog post on easy sensory bin ideas for toddlers you can mix and match for Christmas. 

Fill a bin with dry rice (dyed in red and green colors), and add scoops, cups, spoons, and a few Christmas items like bells and ribbons. 

Set up a quick sensory bin with gift bows, leftover ribbons, and some wrapping paper when you’re done packing gifts. Tearing the crinkle paper is great fine motor work! 

For more Free Winter Activities, download our Winter Crafts Freebie! 

7. Bake Christmas Cookies Together

The holiday season feels almost incomplete without baking! Get your little one on their toddler tower, and give them premeasured ingredients they can dump, pour, and mix.  

Singing holiday songs while baking can make these moments extra special. Choose easy songs like “Jingle Bells,” “Deck the Halls,” or “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” as they stir the batter, press cookie cutters or decorate the cookies. 

On days you don’t want to actually bake (because you might already have it enough), switch to “pretend baking” with your little one. Use the sweets & treats play theme with play cookies and cake toys to enjoy the pretend play!  

8. Enjoy Hot Cocoa Together

Drinking hot cocoa after dinner while dressed up in Christmas pajamas feels so cozy! Pair it with a favorite Christmas book or a holiday movie while snuggled on the couch. 

I love this toddler friendly hot cocoa recipe with just four ingredients and no sugarcane! 

Add 2 cups of milk, 2 tbsp cocoa powder, 2 tbsp coconut sugar and 2 tbsp butter in a saucepan on the stove. Stir everything together on low heat until thoroughly mixed. Once it’s warm enough, it’s ready to serve! 

9. Make Christmas Arts and Crafts

Speaking of hot chocolate, our Hot Chocolate Cup Craft is so easy and simple you can do it with only 5 supplies (you probably already have in your home) in less than 10 minutes! 

Use everyday items, like toilet paper rolls, cotton pads, stickers and washable paint to create fun crafts. Toddlers love scribbling, stamping and sticking. Make a cotton-ball snowman, handprint tree, and edible snow sensory bin from our Winter crafts freebie!  

Make Christmas cards together for grandparents or other family members. Your little ones can also help you decorate the envelopes. 

Art and crafts supplies also make one of top 10 stocking stuffers that last so long! 

10. DIY Christmas Gifts

Turning your toddler’s art and crafts into presents makes thoughtful and budget-friendly Christmas gifts. Use the things you already have at home to create sweet keepsakes.

Homemade gifts for adults go a long way. Make a picture frame with popsicle sticks, decorate a jar filled with toddler drawings, or create a family scrapbook with littles. 

Looking for More Christmas Gifts? 

Check out our baby and toddler holiday gift guide with lots of fun, developmental ideas!