Christmas break is the perfect time for kids to enjoy some fun and cozy activities with the whole family, especially if it’s too cold to go outside. Instead of battling the winter chill, why not keep the holiday spirit alive indoors with some unique and exciting ideas that will keep everyone entertained and warm? Whether you’re looking for creative crafts, festive games, or just a way to make the most of that extra family time, these 25 indoor activities will make Christmas break unforgettable.
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Indoor Christmas Break Activities
Are you looking forward to spending more time with your kids over Christmas break but are running low on fresh ideas?
It’s easy to fall into the same old routine (especially when it’s cold outside and Netflix is calling!).
Why not mix things up with some new and exciting indoor activities?
From crafting decorations to cool STEM activities, with some nostalgic ideas thrown in, here are 25 fun indoor Christmas break activities to create lasting memories together.
Related post: Best Frugal Christmas Gifts: 25 Creative Gifts for 2024
Also here are 15 Things to do when you’re bored at home – for adults or older kids.
And don’t miss 50 of the best family movies to watch with your kids.
25 Unique and Frugal Indoor Christmas Break Activities
1. Build a cardboard dollhouse via Dad Life Lessons
Put all those Christmas gift boxes to use.
Build a house/dollhouse with your kids for hours of fun with their new Christmas toys!
Related post: The Cutest Hello Kitty Gifts on Amazon for a Purr-fect Christmas
2. Practice physical skills
Even in small houses, you can find space to let kids be physical when it’s Christmas break and too cold to go outside.
When they’re more cooped up than usual, being physical is essential to them letting off excess energy, plus it’s just fun for them!
When we lived in a house that was just over 800SF, I would we set up mats and my daughter had a blast practicing forward and backward somersaults.
Other physical skills you might want to try: hopping on one foot, do an obstacle course where they have to weave around things, balance something on their head while walking, running backwards, etc.
When my daughter was 4 years old, she loved this foam pogo jumper to use inside (or in the backyard).
Another fun physical toy I got her is this stomp rocket set. She has TONS of energy and these physical toys are exactly what she needs.
The stomp rocket was so popular with her little friends, that it became my go-to gift for little kids.
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3. Butterfly clothespin craft for kids via Finding Zest
Get ready for spring with this butterfly clothespin craft.
Toddlers and preschoolers will love this simple and colorful craft featuring cupcake liners!
4. Toilet paper roll race car craft via Toot’s Mom is Tired
Make a fun race car out of a toilet paper roll!
5. Sensory play activities to do with kids
Keep little hands busy (and away from pulling the cat’s tail…ahem…my house…) with a fun and thrifty sensory activity with things you already have around the house.
One of my daughter’s favorite sensory play activities when she was a preschooler was this one.
I found it shocking how long this would entertain her.
To make it Christmas themed, get some cute Christmas pasta (I get this every Christmas season) and let your kids scoop, pour, grab, and have fun.
6. Shaving cream rain cloud in a jar STEM experiment via Easy Activities for Kids
This shaving cream rain clouds activity is a fun and easy way to teach children how it rains.
Kids will love the magical wow factor and YOU’LL love the easy prep!
7. Science experiments for kids via The Growing Creatives
Do you have a science-loving kid, who misses school a bit over Christmas holidays?
Here are 5 Easy and fun science experiments for kids using ingredients you already have in your pantry!
8. Make Cheerio necklaces
I remember loving this simple activity as a little kid, and my 4-year-old had fun with this activity the other day.
Give them a bowl of dry Cheerios, and a piece of twine or string.
They practice fine motor skills as they thread the Cheerios onto the twine.
Tie up their necklace when they’re finished, and then they can snack on their homemade necklace!
You can use Christmas cereals instead of plain Cheerios.
9. Flashlight games via Mom in the Six
Play these flashlight games over Christmas break with your littles.
These no set-up activities only require a flashlight. These flashlight games are great ideas for toddlers and older.
10. Active indoor Christmas Break activity: Cosmic Kids Yoga
This super popular channel on YouTube is a favorite of my daughter.
It’s all about fun online kids’ yoga classes for the 3+ set.
Episodes are between ~10-30 minutes and each one is a different adventure, like Disney’s Frozen yoga adventure, Star Wars yoga, Unicorn and bunny themed kids’ yoga, and so much more.
11. Virtual museum tours: Christmas break activities from home
When you don’t want to leave the house, but you want some culture beyond SpongeBob, check out a museum virtually.
I LOVE this idea and it’s one of my favorite activities to do with kids that will also appeal to bored grown-ups over Christmas vacation.
Twelve famous museums around the world offer in-depth virtual tours, from the Guggenheim Museum in New York to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and 10 more.
Check out the virtual museum tour here.
12. Read with your kids
Most of you probably do this already, and many of you probably read to your kids every day.
But while kids are at home for the whole day every day, you could practice their reading skills if they don’t read yet or their comprehension skills if they are older.
I love this Christmas book by one of my favorite children’s authors.
And we look forward to re-reading this classic Christmas book every Christmastime.
13. Capillary action color explosions via From Engineer to SAHM
This simple experiment uses a coffee filter to explore science!
14. Easy indoor herb garden via The Soccer Mom Blog
Gardening with kids is a great activity to do together.
Just because it’s winter and Christmas, doesn’t mean you have to wait until spring to garden.
Related post: Best gift ideas for gardeners
With this indoor herb garden you’ll end up with herbs (or veggies) that you can use in the kitchen later!
15. Make homemade bread together
Not only is this an awesome homesteading skill to learn, it’s super easy for even toddlers and preschoolers to help with.
This no-knead bread recipe is super simple, cheap, and crazy delicious.
You can also try this best ever no-knead cheese bread, and
16. Activities to do with kids using Lego
If you have a Lego-obsessed kid (one of my nephews!!), Childhood 101 offers a round-up of 25 ways to learn at home with Lego.
Check out all the Lego ideas here.
They have some fun, different ideas of things to do with Lego when you’re looking for indoor activities over Christmas holidays.
17. Teach your kids to wash their hands properly using glitter via The Soccer Mom Blog.
Take a small amount of time over the Christmas break when you’re indoors, and teach your kids to properly wash their hands.
Have your kid not grow up to need those bathroom posters on the steps to hand-washing.
This germy hands experiment is a fun way to teach kids good habits to help keep them healthier!
18. Make inkblot creatures with watercolor paints
Kids can learn about symmetry while they are having fun with this inkblot painting project for ages 3-10.
19. Easy unicorn horn craft via Practical Whimsy Designs
These fun DIY unicorn horns are a fun craft that doubles as a dress up accessory.
You could make a Christmas-colored unicorn horn to stay on theme.
20. Play with pasta
I love this idea for toddlers to practice fine motor skills while they are just having a good time with dried pasta and a colander. 🙂
21. Bake 2-ingredient cookies together
Help your little one develop an interest in cooking with these 2 Ingredient Coconut Macaroons from Dancing Through the Rain.
They can help you mix and form each cookie while you handle putting them in the oven.
Celebrate your results with a delicious treat over Christmas break.
More yummy Christmas recipes you can make with your kids:
- Christmas M&M Cookies
- Peppermint Chocolate Cake for the Christmas Season
- Chocolate Frosted Shortbread for Christmas Platters
22. Teach them to tie their shoes
This is a skill that seems to be becoming a bit obsolete as we live in a world of Velcro, but kids will still eventually have to learn the skill of tying a knot and tying a bow.
Why not take this time at home with them to practice?
Their teacher/future teacher will thank you.
23. Make a rainbow using the properties of water
Make a rainbow using paper towels via Engineer to SAHM.
My daughter and I did this easy science activity over Christmas break.
I love indoor activities for kids that are simple like this and she loves anything rainbow. 🙂
24. Teach your kids about money over the Christmas break
I love these 4 ideas on teaching kids financial literacy ideas like interest and delayed gratification.
Before I came across this article, I did something similar to idea #1 with my daughter; it’s a great way to teach paying it forward.
I’m sharing in this post about budgeting for kids exactly how to start teaching kids about money. It is SO important!!!
Also grab this savings workbook for kids and get them started on the right path to managing their money! It was specially created for kids.
They will thank you when they’re older and not in debt because they learned money skills early.
25. Doodle with Mo Willems
Another super fun activity to do with kids is to follow along with Mo Willems (author of the hilarious Elephant & Piggie books – we own tons of them) for a doodle art session.
Visit Mo’s art studio over the Christmas break and learn to draw something new.
They also happen to be fun lessons for adults who think they can’t draw. 😉
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