Christmas activities for kids (ages 4–12)

Low-prep, printable, and mostly mess-free. Pick three, set a timer, and keep the kids busy while the grown-ups talk.

Each idea below has one line on how to play, what you need, and the ages it suits best. Most use paper, crayons, and things already in the house.

Get the printable kids' table scavenger hunt →

Before the kids arrive

• Print everything the night before. Printers love to jam on party day.
• Set up one table as "activity HQ" with crayons, tape, and scissors.
• Have a few small prizes or stickers ready. Everyone who finishes gets one.
• Pair younger kids with older ones for anything that needs reading.

Printable and paper activities

• Indoor scavenger hunt. Kids get a picture-and-word checklist and hunt for items around the house (something red, something soft). Need: checklist, crayon. Ages: 4–10; pictures help non-readers.
• Christmas bingo. Call out holiday pictures or words; first to fill a line shouts "Bingo!" Need: bingo cards, markers or buttons. Ages: 4+ with picture cards, 7+ with word cards.
• Coloring pages. Hand out Christmas coloring sheets for a calm-down break. Need: printed pages, crayons. Ages: 4–8.
• Word search. Find holiday words hidden in a letter grid. Need: printed puzzle, pencil. Ages: 7–12.
• Draw-a-snowman dice game. Roll a die and draw the matching body part (1 = body, 2 = head, and so on); first complete snowman wins. Need: one die, paper, pencils. Ages: 5–10.

Games that need almost nothing

• Pass the present. Wrap a small prize in several layers; pass it while music plays and unwrap one layer when it stops. Need: one prize, wrapping paper, music. Ages: 4–10.
• Reindeer freeze dance. Everyone dances to Christmas music and freezes when it stops; wobblers sit out a round. Need: music. Ages: 4–8.
• Christmas charades. Act out a holiday word or movie with no talking while others guess. Need: slips of paper, a bowl. Ages: 6–12.
• Snowball toss. Toss crumpled paper "snowballs" into a bucket from a tape line. Need: scrap paper, a bucket or box, tape. Ages: 4–12; move the line back for older kids.
• Candy cane hunt. Hide wrapped candy canes around one room; kids find as many as they can. Need: wrapped candy canes. Ages: 4–10.

Easy crafts

• Paper chain countdown. Kids make loops from paper strips and tape them into a garland. Need: paper strips, tape or glue sticks. Ages: 4–10.
• Paper snowflakes. Fold paper and cut small shapes, then unfold. Need: paper, kid-safe scissors. Ages: 6–12; help little ones with the cutting.
• Thank-you cards for Santa or family. Fold paper in half and decorate a card. Need: paper, crayons, stickers. Ages: 4–12.

A quick activity timeline

1. 0:00 Arrive: Coloring pages at activity HQ while everyone settles in.
2. 0:15 Hunt: Scavenger hunt or candy cane hunt.
3. 0:35 Move: Freeze dance or snowball toss to burn off energy.
4. 0:50 Calm down: Bingo or a craft at the table.
5. 1:10 Wrap up: Stickers for everyone, crafts go home.

Host tips

• Keep every round short. Ten to fifteen minutes is plenty for younger kids.
• Skip winners and losers for the little ones. Everyone who plays gets a sticker.
• Have a quiet activity ready for any child who needs a break.

That's it. Print a few pages, set out the crayons, and let the kids take over.

Get the printable kids' table scavenger hunt →