Christmas Party Activities and Crafts for Preschoolers

Planning a Christmas party for preschoolers can be a lot of fun. Along with the food and decorations you will also want to plan some activities to keep your preschoolers occupied during the party. As a former preschool teacher I can tell you that every good party needs a mix of activities that get the kids up and moving and also activities that calm them back down.

Five of my favorite activities for preschool Christmas party's do just that.

Gingerbread Houses

This is a fun make and eat project or one that can taken home to be shared with mom and dad. Instead of using real Gingerbread this activity substitutes graham crackers for house building.

Materials Needed

• Small paper plates
• Graham Crackers
• White frosting
• Plastic knives
• Plastic spoons
• Bowls
• Variety of small candies like Gum Drops, M&Ms, chocolate chips, mini colored marshmallows thin licorice and mini candy canes
• Saran wrap

Directions

1. Prior to the activity fill small bowls with frosting and candy decorations
2. Put a spoon in each so children can help themselves to decorations
3. Have children wash their hands
4. Call children over
5. Give one plate and one plastic knife to each child
6. Pass out 6 graham cracker squares to each child
7. Pass out frosting
8. Explain to children that they are going to be making their own "gingerbread" house and that the frosting will act as the glue to hold their house and decorations on.
9. Let them build and decorate their houses allow them to eat them or wrap in Saran wrap to take home.

Ornament Making

When I plan a party for preschoolers I like to include a make and take activity so they have something to bring home to remember the party by. Ornaments are a perfect take Christmas party take home activity that makes a nice keepsake for the kids. There are many different ornament ideas on the Internet you can use but the one I prefer is Craft Stick Christmas Trees

Materials Needed

• Craft sticks that have been glued together to form a triangle.
• A small photo of each child
• Green poster board Triangles
• Glue
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Hole Punch
• Yarn
• Green Glitter
• Star Stickers
• Small assorted color pom poms
• Brown construction paper
• Scissors for each child

Directions

1. Prior to activity hot glue craft sticks together to form a triangle
2. Cut triangles out of poster board and punch a hole in the top of the triangle
3. Hot glue to the back of the triangle craft stick shapes
4. Pass out glue , photos of children and remaining craft supplies
5. Have children place the picture of themselves on the tree
6. Children will then use the craft supplies to decorate their trees
7. Poke a a piece of yarn through the hole and tie in a knot to make a loop for hanging.

Christmas Gum Drop Bingo

This is a fun game to play near the end of the party to help the children wind down and keep them occupied until their parents pick them up.

Materials Needed

• Christmas Bingo Cards
• Gum Drop Candy
• Small prizes
• Clear Contact paper or access to a laminating machine

Directions

1. Prior to activity print and color Christmas themed Bingo cards from www.crayola.com
2. Make duplicates that can be cut apart and used to call with.
3. Laminate or cover with clear contact paper to make them more durable
4. Fill a container with small prizes. Oriental Trading www.orientaltrading.cpm is an excellent source of inexpensive Christmas themed prizes.

To Play

1. Pass out the Bingo Cards
2. Give each child a supply of gum drops to use as Bingo markers
3. Put Bingo calling cards in a Santa hat and draw out one at a time.
4. Call out each symbol you draw and have children place a gum drop if they have that symbol
5. Continue until someone has Bing
6. Allow the child who called Bingo to choose a prize

Christmas Freeze Dance

This is a fun activity to get everyone moving to some Christmas music and doesn't require a lot of preparation.

Materials Needed

• Christmas Music CD
• CD player
• A large open space

Directions

1. Gather all the children together
2. Explain to them that when the music is on they can dance and move around but when the music goes off them have to freeze in place until the music comes back on.
3. Anyone who moves while the music is out.
4. The last person dancing is the winner.

Musical Book Exchange

Kids love getting gifts. At any Christmas Party I like to have a book exchange as one of my closing activities. This lets all the children practice giving and receiving and encourages reading.

Materials Needed

• 1 wrapped gift from each child
• Christmas Music CD
• Cd Player
• Large Open Space

Directions

1. Gather all the wrapped books and place in a pile
2. Have children sit in a large circle
3. Explain to them once the music comes on they are to pass the wrapped book around the circle
4. Once the music stops whomever has the book gets to keep it to open once everyone has their book.
5. Continue playing until everyone has a book
6. Let the children open their gifts and encourage them to thank one another.

Tip If a child gets their own book during the exchange they may give it to the child sitting next to them.

Tip Buy several books at the Dollar store and wrap in case someone doesn't bring one.

These activities are sure to make your next school Christmas Party a great one that everyone will enjoy.

Merry Christmas!