Top 5 Fun Free Holiday Websites for Children

So, it's the most wonderful time of the year. At least, it's one of the happiest times for children. They love looking at the over-lit, tackily decorated Christmas decorations, singing jingle bells at the top of their lungs, and waiting for Santa.

This means it's time for some online fun as well. Here are a few great holiday websites you should check out to help you celebrate with your children. Better yet, they are all free, so it will not cost you to have fun.

1. Celebrate Hanukkah and Play Spin the Dreidel. At http://www.billybear4kids.com/holidays/hanukkah/hanukkah.htm, you can go play an online version of the popular Hanukkah game, make an online Hannukkah greeting card, complete an online Hanukkah puzzle, and download a Hanukkah screensaver. There are other fun activities as well, and additional links to Hanukkah fun for kids. Don't miss this free holiday website for children. Even if you are not Jewish, it's a great way to learn about another holiday and another culture.

2. Send a Customized Letter to Santa. Does your child want to send Santa a customized letter? Well, the time of pen and paper has apparently passed, because at http://www.northpole.com/, your child can now send an e-letter to Santa, personalize it, and list what he or she wants for Christmas. This site also has educational Christmas games for children, fun kid-friendly recipes, and an Elf Clubhouse with games your child can play. Kids could easily spend hours just on this holiday website!

3. Teach your kids about Kwanzaa, the African American celebration, at http://holidays.kaboose.com/kwanzaa-index.html. Not only can you read about the history of this holiday together, you can click on links to watch a video about the Kwanzaa celebration, print out coloring pages, and send Kwanzaa e-cards. This is a free holiday website for children that your family should not miss!

4. Build a virtual snowman. Starfall, the popular children's online learning website, offers preschoolers and early elementary age students the chance to combine learning and fun by building their own holiday snowman. Even if you live where there is no snow, your children can now experience the fun virtually, and without the freezing hands and toes! The link is: http://www.starfall.com/n/holiday/snowman/load.htm?f

5. Explore a virtual Nativity Story. To learn about the religious/Christian meaning of Christmas, check out http://www.topmarks.co.uk/christianity/nativity/. This website is perfect for younger elementary children, and takes them through the entire story of Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus. If your child is not a proficient reader, you will want to sit and read the story with him or her. There are additional links on this website to Christmas games and other holiday activities.