10 Fun Holiday Activities for Kids 3 to 7 Years Old

The holiday season is a magical time for young children. The number of holiday activities and small projects for parents and their preschooler or early elementary children are endless, requiring just a bit of holiday spirit and the active imaginations of children between 3 and 7 years old. Children in this age range thrive when they have the chance to create, build, sing, dance and spend some quality holiday time with a parent who believes in hands-on fun.

Holiday fun does not need to be limited to these suggestions. Any holiday activity that gets children in the 3- to 7-year-old age range moving, doing or celebrating can be fun for both kids and parents. Many families start family traditions this way.

1. Build a Gingerbread House

Children who like to build, design or help in the kitchen will enjoy building their own gingerbread house this holiday season. Gingerbread houses can be as simple or elaborate as the parent decides. Many grocery and craft stores sell gingerbread-making kits during the holidays, which come with instructions. Creative parents may consider finding a gingerbread recipe online and making their own gingerbread houses. An easy alternative is to use graham crackers and candies with a can of frosting for glue. The bulk candy section at most grocery stores is a good place to find unique candies and gingerbread house decorations.

2. Learn Some Christmas Songs

It's almost that time to break out the Christmas CD collection. Consider adding one or two children's holiday CDs this year and choose a few popular Christmas or holiday songs to learn with your preschooler or young child. Kids love repetition to learn new things, so focusing on a few songs to learn is ideal at this age. Instead of a bedtime story, consider singing a holiday song each night at bedtime or turning on the holiday music instead of the television in the evening.

3. Make Your Own Christmas Tree Ornaments

Popular craft stores such as Joann Fabric or A.C. Moore offer a variety of easy Christmas crafts and make-your-own ornament kits for reasonable prices. Christmas ornaments can be a great gift idea for young children to make and the process of painting or designing an ornament can be a fun way for parents and children to spend some time together during the holiday season. There are also many Christmas craft ornaments online for parents to choose to make.

4. Bake Favorite Cookies Together

Little bakers will love some time in the kitchen during the holidays. Younger children may need extra supervision, but the time baking holiday treats is well worth the effort for most parents. Choose easy recipes for cookies that allow children to do some of the hands-on work such as measuring, mixing, rolling or decorating. One of the favorite cookies for children this age is the classic sugar cookie cut-out cookie.

5. Have a Gift-Wrapping Party

Children can have fun, while helping with the gift-wrapping this holiday season, when parents set aside some time to wrap gifts together. Children between 3 and 7 years old will require some help, but providing kids with some pre-cut sheets of wrapping paper, scotch tape pieces and stick-on bows will make gift-wrapping easier. Gift-wrapping will also help young children work on their fine motor skills. Keep the number of gifts to under 10 and most children at this age will enjoy this holiday activity.

6. Create Your Own Christmas Cards

Forget about the store brand Christmas cards this year and buy some plain cardstock paper for kids to create their own Christmas cards. Markers, crayons, paints, rubber stamp sets, small decorations and old card cut-outs are just a few of the supplies that can be used to allow children to create their own Christmas cards. Elmers glue can be used to paste items on cards. Children can hand out their Christmas cards to friends, family or neighbors.

7. Take a Neighborhood Ride to See Holiday Light Displays

A family drive to see neighborhood holiday light displays can be a great way to celebrate the season with young children. Many cities have elaborate public holiday light displays, but sometimes the best holiday light displays are just around the corner. Turn the radio to a station that plays holiday music and enjoy the ride.

8. Create Crafts for Presents

Holiday crafts made by young children are often the ones that many parents come to treasure the most as the years pass. Easy-to-make craft projects work best for young children, though more complicated craft projects can also be chosen when a parents want to join in the crafting fun. There are a number of craft ideas for kids online at associatedcontent.com. Many crafts require only a few inexpensive supplies and the finished crafts often make the perfect present for kids to give to family and friends.

9. Take Holiday Photos Together for a Scrapbook

One of the best ways to remember all the different holiday activities that you did with your preschooler or young child is to take pictures. Capture the memories by starting a holiday scrapbook. Many craft stores sell holiday-designed scrapbooks for this exact purpose. Young children will have the pictures to remember all the holiday fun, and small mementos can be added and preserved in the holiday scrapbook.

10. Perform Your Own Holiday Show

Many preschools know the secret joy of putting on a holiday show or play with young children. Parents can work on putting together their own show with their children this holiday with very little effort. Young children are often natural performers. Kids at this age love to sing, dance and pretend. Putting together a simple holiday show with young children can be as simple as practicing a few holiday songs to perform for family on Christmas, or visiting neighbors on Christmas Eve with a Christmas carol.

Parents can encourage children to use their imaginations when children come up with their own ideas for a holiday show. Simple holiday costumes can often be made from household items or a couple Santa or elf hats from the dollar store. Don't forget to take photos.