Twinkling lights, joyful carols, and excited little faces; the holiday season is the perfect time for playing Christmas games with kids. Toddlers and preschoolers thrive on play, and simple holiday-themed activities can turn any family gathering or a childcare/daycare centre into a learning experience.
Each activity supports social-based learning, an approach we cherish at The Learning Nest where children learn together through play, building skills and memories that last a lifetime. We’ve rounded up five engaging holiday games for toddlers and preschoolers, complete with easy setups and clear developmental benefits.
Why Holiday Games Are Great for Early Childhood Development
Christmas holidays. A little girl plays with toy cars, little houses and christmas decorations. Holiday Activity for Kids. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Holiday play isn’t just about keeping kids busy; it’s about nurturing their development in a joyful, social way. Here’s how these toddler Christmas activities support early learning:
- Build Physical Skills: Active games (dancing, tossing, running) help develop gross motor strength, balance, and hand-eye coordination.
- Spark Cognitive Growth: Following game rules, solving challenges (like finding hidden objects), and counting boost problem-solving and introduce concepts like taking turns and cause-and-effect.
- Boost Creativity & Imagination: Pretending to be Santa or inventing dance moves encourages imaginative play and flexible thinking.
- Enhance Social Skills: Playing together teaches cooperation, communication, and empathy. Children practice sharing, waiting their turn, and cheering others on, core skills in our social-based learning approach.
- Create Emotional Joy & Confidence: Fun traditions build self-esteem and help children learn to handle excitement (and disappointment) in a safe, supported environment.
5 Fun and Festive Christmas Games for Kids (Ages 2–5)
Here are five easy Christmas games for kids that blend festive fun and essential early learning, perfect for families or the daycare classroom:
1. Candy Cane Hunt (Scavenger Fun)
- Activity: Hide candy canes in safe, easy-to-find spots indoors or outdoors. The children look for them like a scavenger hunt. For a cooperative twist, the group works together to find all the canes.
- Materials: Candy canes (real or play versions), small baskets/bags.
- Skills:
- Cognitive: Observation, memory, and early math (counting the finds).
- Motor: Gross motor development (crawling, reaching, running).
- Social: Teamwork and sharing discoveries.
2. Jingle Bell Freeze Dance (Active Movement)
Preschool children standing on floor in kindergarten or day care centre. Emotional kids having fun indoors, playing games
- Activity: Play upbeat Christmas music. Children dance, jump, and twirl with jingle bells. Pause the music, and everyone must freeze in a silly pose!
- Materials: Music player, festive songs. Optional: jingle bells or sleigh bells for sensory fun.
- Skills:
- Motor: Coordination, balance, and body awareness.
- Cognitive/Self-Regulation: Listening carefully and controlling their bodies to freeze on cue (impulse control).
- Social: Group joy, confidence, and self-expression.
3. Pin the Nose on Rudolph (Coordination & Focus)
- Activity: A classic party game with a holiday twist. Draw a large Rudolph picture and cut out red noses. Cover each child’s eyes (or have them close their eyes) and have them try to pin the nose onto Rudolph’s face.
- Materials: Large paper reindeer poster, cut-out red noses with tape/tack, blindfold (optional).
- Skills:
- Motor: Fine motor control and hand-eye coordination.
- Social: Taking turns, following rules, and celebrating attempts (not just “winning”).
4. Jingle Bell Toss (Precision & Counting)
- Activity: Set up holiday-coloured buckets, bowls, or stockings as targets. Children take turns tossing jingle bells or soft faux “snowballs” (pom-poms) into the containers from a marked line.
- Materials: Small jingle bells (or pom-poms), containers/buckets, masking tape (optional).
- Skills:
- Motor: Hand-eye coordination, arm strength, and precision.
- Cognitive: Counting how many land, and early quantitative thinking.
- Social: Turn-taking, sportsmanship, and practicing resilience after a miss.
5. Build a Snowman Together (Teamwork & Creativity)
Two girls with a snowman
- Activity: An outdoor cooperative adventure. Work as a family or group to roll snowballs, stack the sections, and collaboratively decorate the snowman using materials like carrots, pebbles, hats, and scarves. (Can be adapted indoors using pillows/boxes).
- Materials: Real snow or indoor substitutes (pillows/boxes), winter gear for decoration (carrot, scarf, etc.).
- Skills:
- Social: Teamwork, communication, and compromise (deciding where to put the eyes, etc.).
- Motor: Gross motor skills (lifting, packing snow) and motor planning.
- Cognitive: Problem-solving (fixing a sliding head) and creative thinking.
How The Learning Nest Nurtures Play
Bringing everyone together through play is what the holiday season is all about. These Top 5 Christmas games for kids blend laughter with learning, keeping toddlers and preschoolers happily engaged while nurturing their developing minds and bodies.
At The Learning Nest, we believe that when children play and explore together, they grow in ways that solo activities can’t match, building communication, empathy, and confidence with every shared giggle. That’s why we pair Montessori’s independent, self-directed learning approach with our Core Knowledge and HighScope curriculums, both of which are grounded in rich, social-based learning experiences.
If you’re curious to learn more about our curriculum or want to see it in action, contact our team to get in touch or schedule a visit!
Here’s wishing you and your family a holiday season filled with play, love, and warm memories. Happy holidays from all of us at The Learning Nest!
