Okay, let’s be honest with each other for a minute. December rolls around, and we all have these grand visions of sugarplums dancing in our heads—peaceful cookie decorating, children quietly crafting by the fire, that sort of thing. Then reality hits. School’s winding down, the excitement level is at a solid 11, and you need about five minutes to just wrap a present without little hands “helping.”
I’ve been there. More times than I can count. And I’ve learned that the secret weapon for surviving (and thriving during) the holiday chaos is the humble printable. A few clicks, a whir of the printer, and boom—you’ve got twenty minutes of peace.
So I’ve rounded up 25 printable Christmas activities that’ll keep the kids entertained, engaged, and actually having fun. No fancy supplies needed. Just paper, crayons, and maybe some cookies on the side. 😉
Classic Coloring & Creativity
Let’s start with the basics. You really can’t go wrong with coloring pages. They’re the workhorses of the printable world.
1. Detailed Holiday Coloring Pages
I’m not talking about those tiny, frustrating coloring sheets with zero detail. I’m talking about intricate pages with big sections perfect for little hands. Look for pages with Santas, reindeer, and big Christmas trees. My kids will sit and color these for ages, especially if I put on some Christmas music in the background.
2. Color-Your-Own Gift Tags
This is a two-for-one deal. The kids get to color, and you get your gift tags sorted for the year. Print these on thick cardstock, let the kids go wild with markers or crayons, cut them out, and tape them onto presents. Grandparents absolutely lose their minds when they see a gift tag their grandkid decorated. Instant win.
3. Design Your Own Ugly Christmas Sweater
This is always a hit. You can find printables with a blank sweater outline. Then the kids add the patterns—stripes, polka dots, Christmas trees, whatever their hearts desire. We’ve had some truly… creative results over the years. One year my son just drew a bunch of potatoes on his. I didn’t question it.
4. Finish the Picture: Christmas Edition
These are half-drawn images—maybe half a snowman, half a Christmas tree, half an elf. The kids have to complete the drawing using their own imagination. It’s fascinating to see what they come up with, and it really gets those creative juices flowing.
5. Giant Collaborative Coloring Page
Print a huge coloring page that’s broken into multiple sheets. Tape them all together and spread it out on the dining room table. Now you’ve got a family-sized project. Everyone can work on a different section. It’s perfect for a lazy Saturday afternoon.
Learning Fun (The Sneaky Kind)
These look like games, but they’re actually keeping those little brains sharp during the holiday brain-drain. Shh, don’t tell them.
6. Christmas Word Search
A classic for a reason. Find words like “santa,” “elf,” “reindeer,” and “cookies.” It’s great for spelling and pattern recognition. I always keep a stack of these for when we’re waiting for food at a restaurant or sitting in the car line.
7. Holiday Crossword Puzzles for Kids
These use simple clues and picture hints, so even pre-readers can get in on the action. “Red-nosed reindeer” (Rudolph). “Thing you decorate” (tree). You get the idea. FYI, they make great quiet time activities.
8. Christmas I-Spy Game
A page filled with tiny Christmas items—Santas, candy canes, stockings, presents. At the bottom, it says “How many Santas can you find?” The kids have to count and write the number. It’s like a hidden object game and a math worksheet rolled into one, but somehow it feels like a game.
9. Mazes to the North Pole
Help Santa find his way through the maze to the sleigh. Or guide the elf to the workshop. Mazes are fantastic for fine motor control and problem-solving. Plus, they’re oddly satisfying to complete.
10. Holiday Pattern Recognition
Sheets where kids need to figure out what comes next in a pattern. Present, candy cane, present, candy cane, __? It’s pre-math skills disguised as holiday fun.
Games & Activities for Groups
Got a houseful of kids? Or maybe just need something to entertain cousins at the family gathering? These printables shine in a group setting.
11. Christmas Bingo
Print off a few different bingo cards and a sheet of calling cards. Use candy corn, M&Ms, or mini marshmallows as markers. This game can occupy a pack of kids for a surprisingly long time. Pro tip: The winner gets an extra cookie. Motivates them like nothing else.
12. Pin the Nose on Rudolph
Forget Pin the Tail on the Donkey. This is the Christmas version. Print a large picture of Rudolph (minus his red nose). Then print and cut out multiple red noses. Add double-sided tape, blindfold the kids, spin them around, and watch the hilarity ensue. Noses end up on ears, on antlers, everywhere.
13. Christmas Charades Cards
Print a page full of Christmas-themed charades ideas, cut them into slips, and put them in a bowl. Ideas like “decorating the tree,” “baking cookies,” “a reindeer flying.” It’s simple, requires no prep, and gets even the shy kids giggling.
14. Holiday Scavenger Hunt Clues
Create a scavenger hunt around the house using printable clue cards. Each clue leads to the next hiding spot, with a small prize (like a candy cane or a small toy) at the end. You can tailor the difficulty to your kids’ ages.
15. Christmas Tic-Tac-Toe
Print a sheet with a tic-tac-toe grid and use Christmas-themed markers—maybe Santas and elves, or candy canes and presents. You can laminate these and use them over and over again.
Writing & Keepsake Printables
These are the ones that turn into treasures. The ones you find in a box ten years later and sob over.
16. Letter to Santa Template
This is non-negotiable in our house. A proper template guides them through it—”My name is…”, “I have been good because…”, “This year I would like…” It’s so much cuter than a random scrap of paper. Plus, it forces them to reflect on their behavior, which is always a bonus this time of year. :/
17. Christmas Wish List
Separate from the letter to Santa, a wish list is great for managing expectations. “If I could have anything, I would want…” It gives you, the parent, crucial intel for last-minute shopping.
18. All About Me: Christmas Edition
A fun little questionnaire. “My favorite Christmas song is…”, “My favorite thing to bake is…”, “When I look at the Christmas lights, I feel…” Fill one out every year and watch how their answers change. It’s a beautiful time capsule.
19. Holiday Story Starters
“The strangest thing happened on the way to the North Pole…” or “The snowman came to life and said…” Print these prompts and let the kids write (or dictate) the rest of the story. Some of the narratives my kids have come up with are absolutely unhinged, and I love them.
20. Year in Review Printable
A simple sheet asking about their favorite memory from the past year, what they learned, who their best friend is. It’s a lovely way to reflect on the year as it winds down.
Paper Crafts & Cutting Practice
Fine motor skills, here we come. These printables turn into something tangible they can play with or display.
21. Build a Snowman Printable
This usually comes as a page with a snowman outline and a separate page with hats, scarves, carrot noses, and button eyes to cut out and glue on. It’s like a paper doll, but snowman edition.
22. Printable Paper Chains
Print strips of festive paper with patterns on them. The kids cut the strips and glue or tape them into loops, linking them together to form a decoration for the tree or the mantle. Warning: This creates a shocking amount of tiny paper scraps. Have a vacuum handy.
23. 3D Paper Ornaments
These are a bit more advanced, but so worth it. You print the template on cardstock, cut it out, fold along the lines, and glue the tabs. Suddenly you have a 3D paper house or a little gift box you can hang on the tree. The sense of accomplishment on their faces? Priceless.
24. Christmas Crowns or Headbands
Print strips of paper and toppers—like Santa hats, reindeer antlers, or elf ears. The kids color them, and you staple or tape them to the headband strip. Instant festive headwear for the whole family. We wear these while opening presents on Christmas morning. It’s ridiculous and wonderful.
25. Envelope & Letter Stationery
Print some cute Christmas-themed writing paper and matching envelopes. Encourage the kids to write a note to a cousin or a grandparent who lives far away. It teaches gratitude and keeps them connected to loved ones. Plus, who doesn’t love getting real mail?
So there you have it, friend. Twenty-five ways to print your way to a calmer, more creative, and honestly more fun December. The best part? Most of these are free or cheap, and you probably already have everything you need at home.
Now, go pour yourself a cup of something warm, fire up that printer, and let the kids create while you tackle that wrapping pile. You’ve got this. And if a snowman ends up with three eyes and a mustache? Even better. That’s the kind of Christmas magic you can’t buy in a store. 🙂
Happy Holidays!
