Top 10 Free Christmas Activities (+ Free Christmas Nativity Activity Pack!)

This holiday season, don’t stress about what to do with the kids. We found some of the best quick and easy free Christmas activities and ideas to keep your kids in the holiday spirit.

Christmas can be expensive, so we’ve curated Christmas activities that are free or low cost. It is a time for families to spend time together while creating memories together! There are plenty of activities that the family can do together, like cooking, crafting, games, puzzles, and coloring pages.

And, since the holidays are just around the corner, that means our free Christmas Nativity Activity Pack is here! Christmas is the time of year when nativity scenes are set up around Christmas trees, people go caroling, and family members spend quality time together.

10 Nearly-Free Christmas Activities To Do This Holiday Season

Below are 10 ideas for activities that you can do with your kids this Christmas season. While most of them are free, or nearly free, because you can complete them with items you already have in your home.

However, we’ve included some helpful links that will give you some “cheaper” holiday craft joy too. Just in case you need a few filler items. 🙂

1. Make a gingerbread house.   

You can purchase pre-made kits or make your own.  The Christmas tree is a perfect place to display it! Decorate the house with holiday lights and baubles while listening to holiday carols playing in the background.

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2. Decorate the tree with family members.

Make ornaments, garlands, and bows together. If you don’t have a real one, make your own out of materials like paper pulp, dough, and recycled paper. You can even make paper snowflakes for all of your windows and mirrors.

3. Watch “A Charlie Brown Christmas”.

A Christmas classic! Charlie Brown and his friends prepare a Christmas show with a Christmas tree, holiday music, songs and carols, decorations, presents, and food. You can find it on DVD or streaming online. Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the gang will get you in the holiday mood!

4. Decorate ornaments with glitter glue or stickers.

Get glitter glue around the holidays to decorate ornaments! You can purchase themed stickers or googly eyes to make your tree even more festive!

You can also use glitter glue on holiday cards that you are sending out this season. Just remember not to put it on before December 20th because if there’s glitter in the glue, then it’s considered hazardous material and cannot be sent via mail until Christmas is over!

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5. Play in the snow (if applicable) or make indoor “snow time” fun.  

Build snowmen, make snow angels and have a snowball fight.  If you don’t live where it snows, try making an indoor snowman amongst other games, such as making some snowflakes with cotton balls.

Have your children help decorate them with glitter glue, markers, etc. Once they are dry you can hang them from your tree or windows!

If you don’t have snow, you can read our 50 Exciting Outdoor Winter Activities For Kids – Without Snow!

Additionally, as you set up a “snow scene” indoors, you and the kids can also do the free Christmas nativity activity pack we have for you to download!

6. Go A’Caroling.

Christmas Caroling is not just for grownups! Invite friends or family members to carol with your kids. Singing and caroling is not only fun but it’s free! We love holiday songs and seasonal classics, so you can sing along to “Jingle Bells,” “Silent Night,” and other favorites while walking door-to-door.

Get in the holiday spirit by decorating yourself like a Christmas tree with wreaths on your head or wearing tinsel in your hair. Caroling is a great way to spread festive cheer and meet new neighbors!

7. Make some Christmas cookies.

Christmas trees make great Christmas cookies. You can also bake ornaments and gingerbread men as festive treats! Cookies are holiday classics that little ones will love to eat while they help bake them.

Make themed cookie ornaments by hanging a piece of the dough on string from your xmas tree!To add some fun, have each family member decorate their own batch with sprinkles and other edible decorations.

8. Take a family photo in front of the Christmas tree.

The holiday season is the perfect time to take family pictures! Holiday family cards are some of the most popular festive traditions, so make sure you get a nice photo this year.  You can also include your pets in some photos (if they will sit still for it!).

One idea is to get festive with Santa hats while getting ready for holiday portraits! Wrap up your photoshoot with some holiday cookies and hot cocoa! If you don’t have a xmas tree in front of which to take pictures of, try decorating one indoors instead!

9. Make your own wrapping paper.

This is one of the free Christmas activities I especially love! There are a few fun ways to make your own wrapping paper for presents! Make it with paint, crayons and old magazines (poster prints work well too!).

You can also cut out holiday-related shapes from old magazines and paint them with Christmas colors. Or cut out traditional holiday shapes (like stars, stockings or socks, etc.) from old holiday cards, gift bags, or tissue paper and use them as wrapping for the gifts that you are giving this holiday season!

Use fun craft materials like glitter glue, googly eyes or stickers on your homemade xmas wrappings for added flair!

10. Invite friends over for a holiday movie marathon!  

Invite your friends or family members over to watch the holiday classics. If you don’t have a lot of time together, pick one holiday movie and turn it into an all-day event!

Some good movies to try this season are “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “How The Grinch Stole Christmas,” and “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.” Holiday movie marathons are a great way to enjoy this season with your family and friends!

And snacks are always welcome to make it more festive and fun!

Bonus Activity! Set up and create a nativity scene together!

Kids can use a nativity scene set to create their own holiday story. They can tell the story of Jesus’ birth and creation of the season themselves, by using their imagination and creativity. Children can get involved with the nativity scene by dressing up as their favorite character.

There are few nativity sets to choose from. A few of my own, and a quick Amazon search, will show you:

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If you don’t like those, don’t forget to check out our post for 20 of The Best Kids Nativity Sets!

This year, have your kids learn more about the story of Jesus’ birth while doing nativity festivities and coloring beautiful pictures. This festive nativity activity pack includes fun printable games like nativity coloring pages, word searches, bingo cards and more!

You can use this easy activity printable that will keep them occupied while you’re off making sure laundry is done, dishes are clean, and food is made! Or, you can use the activity pack if you want a break from shopping and cooking this holiday season!

It’s also great if you’re looking to keep your little ones entertained during the holiday season.

Top 10 Free Christmas Activities (+ Free Christmas Nativity Activity Pack!)

The holidays are here and before you can say “I’m bored,” it will be over. But there are plenty of ways to keep the festive spirit alive with these 10 Christmas ideas for kids.

And don’t forget to download your free Nativity Activity Pack that includes nativity coloring pages, word searches, crossword, word scrambles, bingo cards and much more!