Kids with no school and lots of time on their hands need some fun things to do during holiday break, especially if they live in a part of the country that is prone to frigid outdoor weather.  This post is all about fun things that you can do with kids or that they can do on their own–Christmas activities for kids.  Some of the ideas teach the true meaning of Christmas, while others are just entertaining ways for children to spend time.  And for Christmas you can substitute any winter holiday you celebrate. I celebrate Christmas so that’s what I used here.

Christmas Coloring Pages

Years ago, I discovered I could download really cute coloring pages from many online sources. This is such a fun thing to do with little kids and so simple–and cheap. Printer paper. Crayons. Your time. I love to color!  Just search for Christmas coloring pages. You’ll find plenty!

Ornament making kits

I’ve seen them everywhere, including online, at craft stores and discount stores.  A simple, ornament making kit can keep children busy for an entire afternoon, and if they’re old enough, all you have to do is supervise. With younger children, it’s fun to help them with glitter and glue. The kits run between $9 and $20 and are a fun way to let kids make their own Christmas ornaments for the tree. Ir can even be a new tradition, something you do together every year.

Make a holiday pomander

This is way fun and makes a house smell so good. Here’s how:

What you need

1 medium orange
Whole cloves (1-2 ounces per orange, chaper if you buy bulk from health food store or buy online)
Piercing tool  –  paper piercer or ice pick
Ribbon
Paper towel

To make it pretty, you’ll need to cross-tie the ribbon around the orange.
Center ribbon on the top of orange
Hold ribbon in place and turn orange over
Cross the ribbon and pull tight against orange
Turn orange over and bring ribbon together at top to tie a bow.

With piercing tool, poke holes in the exposed skin of the orange, spared fairly far apart. This can be messy, so do it over a paper towel.

Insert whole cloves into the holes. The orange will shrink as it dries, so the holes can be fairly far apart.

Make cards to bring to a nursing home

Kids love making cards, so why not let them brighten the holiday of older people, many of whom are alone at a tough time of year? It’s a great lesson for children, too.

Paint your own holiday plates

If you don’t want to go to a ceramic painting place, you can do it at home. Kits run around $10 and can be found online or at craft stores.   Children do love to paint plates (or figurines).  And if they’re young, why not let them do handprints on the plates and give to grandparents or parents as holiday gifts?

Have a Random Act of Kindness Day

Ask children to be on the lookout for ways they can do a random act of kindness. Open the door for a stranger. Say “happy holidays” to people on the street.  Model the behavior for them by letting someone check out ahead of you at the grocery or turn in front of you on a street–then talk with the children about what you just did and why being kind is important. Ask them to find ways to be kind, themselves.  (This has to be my favorite idea.)

Christmas Bells

Here’s an easy one. Buy some bells and red and green ribbon and have kids string bells and hang them around the house. Maybe not every door, or you’ll be driven nuts with ringing, but in other places, too.

Buy Toys and Donate to a program collecting toys for disadvantaged kids

Bring children with you to a toy store to buy toys for kids who wouldn’t have anything at Christmas. What a great opportunity for kids to learn about disadvantaged families and to do something for others.

Make a snow globe with older children

This is a little more complicated so it’s for older kids–you can find directions online. Here’s one site with directions.  Save a few glass jars for this craft. I think it sounds like fun!

Make gingerbread people

This can be way fun–and kids can eat their work later!  Here’s a post I did a while back with instructions for making gingerbread people.

Making bird food

Here’s a great set of instructions for making bird food with kids.  They stand alone and are in fun shapes–no bird feeder needed!

Make a simple Advent calendar

Here are some fun ways to make an Advent calendar.

If you’ve got activity ideas you’d like to share in the Comments, we’re listening!