Looking for simple Christmas activities for toddlers and preschoolers? These easy Christmas sensory play ideas use quick setups, inexpensive supplies, and hands-on play to keep little learners engaged all December long. Explore Christmas sensory bins, scented playdough, festive slimes, calm-down jars, oobleck, and more—perfect for home or classroom use.
Christmas 5 senses activities
Kick off December with a sensory-rich exploration of sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.
Christmas 5 senses lab
Set up festive prompts that invite kids to see sparkling lights, smell cinnamon or peppermint, touch soft or crunchy textures, listen to jingle bells, and explore taste-safe items.
Christmas glitter jars
A soothing sensory bottle filled with sparkly holiday colors.
Christmas sensory bins
These holiday sensory bins offer quick prep and endless hands-on play.
Christmas playdough activities
These scented dough recipes bring holiday smells and creativity to December play.
Gingerbread playdough
A classic holiday dough paired with cookie cutters and pretend baking tools.
Taste-safe gingerbread slime
Perfect for toddlers who are still exploring with their mouths.
Peppermint playdough
Festive and fragrant—great for candy cane themes.
Cinnamon playdough
Warm and cozy scented dough for winter invitations to play.
Salt Dough Ornaments
Make traditional salt dough ornaments or cinnamon salt dough ornaments to hang on the tree!
Chocolate playdough
Smells like cocoa and adds a cozy twist to indoor sensory activities.
Christmas playdough mats
Add printable mats for guided creativity and themed play.
Christmas cloud dough
Soft, moldable, and lightly scented—ideal for scooping and pretend baking.
Christmas slime ideas
Holiday slime activities mix sensory play with early science exploration.
Grinch slime
A green slime with red heart confetti for a fun book or movie pairing.
Christmas tree slime
Glitter, sequins, and mini ornaments turn slime into a festive tree.
Gingerbread slime
Scented slime with cookie cutters, buttons, and gingerbread loose parts.
Fluffy candy cane slime
Twist red and white fluffy slime to make candy cane stripes.
Peppermint Oobleck
Give the classic 2-ingredient Oobleck a Christmas twist by adding Christmas peppermints.
🎄 Find even more Christmas Slime Recipes here.
Holiday science and sensory play
Combine science learning with hands-on sensory fun.
Erupting Christmas ornaments
Baking soda + vinegar + ornaments = fizzy holiday science.
Santa’s frozen hands
Freeze a glove of water and enjoy a melt-and-discover activity.
Melting snowman
Build a baking soda snowman and watch it dissolve in a bubbly reaction.
More Christmas activities for preschoolers
Keep the learning going with more festive ideas:
🎄 Explore all of 35+ Preschool Christmas Activities here.
This is really cool ideas! I got many options of craft and activities for my kids on this Christmas . Thanks for sharing this!
Awesome! I am glad you found it helpful!