December with a toddler feels like trying to herd a tiny, sugar-fueled reindeer, doesn’t it? The air is buzzing with excitement, but your little one just wants to unravel the toilet paper roll like it’s their personal mission. Forget the pressure of creating a Pinterest-perfect holiday. This list is all about simple, sensory, and sanity-saving December activities for toddlers that focus on the real magic: making memories together.
1. Pinecone Christmas Trees
Who says a Christmas tree has to be six feet tall? For your toddler, a pinecone is the perfect pint-sized canvas. This activity is a powerhouse for developing those fine motor skills without them even noticing.
Grab some large pinecones, non-toxic green paint, and a handful of tiny decorations like pom-poms, sequins, or beads. Let them go to town painting the pinecone green (or, let’s be real, whatever color they choose). Then, provide a small dish of glue and a paintbrush so they can carefully stick on their “ornaments.” The best part? It doubles as a adorable, homemade decoration for their room.
2. Santa’s Sensory Bin
Sensory bins are the secret weapon of toddler entertainment. For a festive twist, fill a plastic tub with a base of white rice or puffy white packing peanuts to mimic snow. Then, hide little treasures inside like jingle bells, small toy reindeer, red and green pom-poms, and maybe a few “lumps of coal” (black bean bags or rocks).
Give them scoops, small cups, and tongs. They will spend a shockingly long time digging, scooping, and discovering. It’s a fantastic way to engage their senses and keep those little hands busy while you sip that much-needed coffee.
3. Edible Peppermint Playdough
Let’s face it, regular playdough often ends up in a toddler’s mouth. So why not lean into it? Whip up a batch of edible peppermint playdough using a simple recipe of flour, cream of tartar, salt, oil, peppermint extract, and a dash of red food coloring.
Not only does it smell incredible, but it’s also completely safe if they decide to take a tiny taste. They can roll it, squish it, and make their own candy cane creations. It’s a sensory experience that engages smell, touch, and even taste.
4. Holiday Light Scavenger Hunt
This is the perfect activity for those early winter evenings when everyone has a touch of cabin fever. Bundle up, get in the car or the stroller, and hit the neighborhood with a mission. Create a simple picture checklist for them to mark off: find a Santa, a snowman, a reindeer, a blue light, a blinking light.
Watching their little faces light up as they spot each one is better than any light show. It turns a simple drive into an exciting adventure and burns off that last bit of energy before bedtime.
5. “Snowy” Animal Rescue
Got a bunch of plastic animals and a muffin tin? You’re in business. Freeze a few of their small toy animals in ice cube trays or muffin tins. Once frozen solid, pop the “ice blocks” out into a plastic bin or a baking dish.
Give your toddler a small bowl of warm (not hot) water and a dropper or paintbrush. Their mission? To melt the ice and rescue the animals! It’s a mini science lesson about melting and freezing that feels like a superhero mission.
6. Sticky Wall Christmas Tree
Tape a large piece of clear contact paper to the wall, sticky side out. Use painter’s tape to outline the shape of a Christmas tree on it. Now for the fun part: give your toddler a basket of lightweight decorations—feathers, tissue paper squares, pom-poms, and pieces of ribbon.
They can stick the decorations onto the contact paper tree without any glue. It’s mess-free, works on vertical surfaces to build those core muscles, and the tree design can stay up all month for them to rearrange again and again.
7. Jingle Bell Bracelets
Get ready for a concert! This activity is as simple as it gets. Thread a few jingle bells onto a pipe cleaner, twist the ends together to form a bracelet, and you’re done. Instant musical instrument.
Put on some festive music and have a dance party. Can they shake their bells fast? Can they shake them slow? This is a fantastic way to explore rhythm and get the wiggles out on a cold day. Just maybe invest in some earplugs for yourself. You’re welcome.
8. Gingerbread Cloud Dough
If you haven’t experienced cloud dough, you’re in for a treat. Mix 8 cups of flour with 1 cup of baby oil. The result is a moldable, silky-smooth dough that smells amazing if you add a little cinnamon and ginger.
It feels incredible to run your hands through. Give your toddler cookie cutters, rolling pins, and buttons to press into their “gingerbread” creations. It’s a sensory activity that’s calming and engaging, and it vacuums up surprisingly easily.
9. Christmas Card Collage
What do you do with all those beautiful holiday cards you get in the mail? Don’t just recycle them—turn them into a toddler art project! Let your little one cut (with safety scissors) or tear the cards into pieces.
Then, provide a piece of paper and glue, and let them create a brand new masterpiece from the pieces. It’s a great way to talk about colors, shapes, and recycling, all while creating something new.
10. DIY Ornaments for the Tree
Give your toddler a clear, plastic fillable ornament from the craft store. Let them fill it with whatever they want—pom-poms, sequins, crinkle paper, or even a few drops of food coloring mixed with water.
Watching the colors swirl and the objects fall is mesmerizing for them. Once it’s sealed, it becomes a cherished keepsake for your tree. Pro tip: superglue the top on. Trust me on this one.
11. The Great Cookie Decorating Smash
Bake or buy some plain sugar cookies. Whip up a simple powdered sugar glaze and divide it into bowls, adding food coloring. Then, hand your toddler a paintbrush and let them “paint” their cookies.
This is way less about creating a beautiful cookie and more about the process of painting and, of course, the subsequent eating. It’s a delicious, messy, and highly rewarding activity that feels truly festive.
12. Magnetic Christmas Countdown
Toddlers don’t really understand calendars, but they *do* understand moving things. Create a simple countdown on your fridge. Use a cookie sheet or just the fridge door itself. Draw or print a simple Christmas tree and 25 magnetic numbers.
Each day, let your toddler find the correct number and stick it on the tree. It’s a hands-on way to build excitement and introduce number recognition in a fun, low-pressure way.
13. Pillowcase “Sack” Races
Got a case of the wild, pre-holiday zoomies? Channel that energy! Grab some old pillowcases and have a living room sack race. Crank up the music and watch them hop, stumble, and giggle their way across the floor.
This is pure, unadulterated physical fun. It’s fantastic for gross motor development and is guaranteed to result in the kind of exhausted, happy toddler that goes down for a nap without a fight.
14. Festive Sticker Lines
This one is brilliantly simple. On a large piece of paper, draw different types of lines—straight, wavy, zig-zag. Give your toddler a sheet of holiday-themed stickers (stars, trees, etc.) and have them place the stickers directly on the lines.
This activity is sneaky-good for developing hand-eye coordination and the pincer grasp needed for writing later on. Plus, stickers are basically toddler currency.
15. Cozy Book Fort & Story Time
Sometimes, the best activity is the coziest one. Build a epic fort using blankets, pillows, and chairs. Drag the entire operation under the Christmas tree for extra magic. Bring in a stack of holiday books, some flashlights, and maybe a few snacks.
Snuggle up and read together in your secret holiday hideout. This quiet, connection-focused activity is the perfect calm counterpart to the month’s excitement and creates the kind of warm, fuzzy memories that last a lifetime.
See? You don’t need elaborate plans or a craft store’s entire inventory. The best December activities for toddlers are the ones that meet them where they are: curious, energetic, and eager to connect with you. So pick a few ideas, embrace the beautiful mess, and remember that you’re not just keeping them busy—you’re filling their holiday cup with joy, one simple activity at a time. Now, go make some magic (and maybe hide that toilet paper). 😉