Last Minute Christmas Activities for Kids: 15 Easy Ideas When You’re Running Out of Time

It’s last December . My kitchen counter looks like a craft store exploded—cookie crumbs everywhere, random bits of wrapping paper, and glitter. So. Much. Glitter. Where did it even come from?

My six-year-old has asked “When is Christmas?” approximately 47 times today. Meanwhile, my toddler is treating our Christmas tree like it’s a jungle gym.

Does this sound like your house right now?

I’ve been doing this parenting thing through five Christmases now, and I’ve figured something out: my kids couldn’t care less about making our home look like a magazine cover. What they actually want? To have fun with me. To feel like they’re part of the holiday magic. To make memories that’ll stick.

And you know what’s funny? Our favorite Christmas moments didn’t come from elaborate plans. They happened when I threw something together on the fly because I was desperate for 20 minutes of peace.

So if you’re reading this while hiding in the bathroom (no judgment—we’ve all been there), or you’re frantically Googling between wrapping presents and making dinner, I’m here to help. You need last-minute Christmas activities for kids that don’t require a Pinterest account, a craft closet, or superhuman energy levels.

Here’s what’s actually worked in our house.

Why Kids Turn Into Tiny Tornadoes This Time of Year

Can we just talk about this for a second? Why do kids basically vibrate during the holidays?

Think about it from their perspective. They know something BIG is coming. Something magical. But when you’re four years old, “three more days” feels like three months. That anticipation has nowhere to go, so it comes out as:

• Running laps around the furniture
• Asking the same question every 10 minutes
• Random meltdowns over things like the “wrong” color cup

Simple activities help. Not because they’re distracting your kids, but because they give all that excitement a place to land. Plus, these little moments? These are what your kids will remember years from now—not the expensive presents or the perfect decorations.

Stuff You Can Do Right Now With What You Already Have

1. That Time a Candy Cane Hunt Saved My Life

Last Christmas Eve, I was trying to get dinner ready while my kids were basically tearing the living room apart. I was about two seconds from losing it.

Then I remembered we had candy canes in the pantry. I grabbed a handful, ran around the house hiding them in the most obvious spots, and told the kids Santa’s reindeer had dropped them during a practice run.

They were THRILLED. They spent half an hour finding them, then hiding them again for each other, then finding them again. I got dinner done, and they thought it was the best game ever.

Want to make it even better?

• Scribble clues on scrap paper (“Check where we keep the milk”)
• Hide small ornaments if you’re trying to limit sugar
• Call it “Finding Santa’s Lost Things” and use random household items
• For really little kids, just stick Post-it notes on furniture—they’ll love peeling them off

Here’s the truth: kids don’t need fancy treasure maps or professionally printed clues. The fun is in the searching. My daughter once got more excited finding a hidden wooden spoon than she did opening her biggest birthday present.

2. Amazon Boxes = Free Entertainment

Before you break down those Amazon boxes for recycling, hand them to your kids with some markers and tape.

My son took a shoebox last year and turned it into what he called “Santa’s garage.” He used a toilet paper tube as a chimney. It had a door made from cardboard. He played with it for three days straight, adding new “features” every time.

Why this works so well:

• There’s no wrong way to build something
• Kids can stop and start whenever they want
• It evolves—my daughter kept adding rooms to her “elf apartment” all week
• The mess stays in one area (mostly)

I’ve watched kids make everything from reindeer barns to gingerbread houses (cardboard style) to something my nephew called an “elf training gym.” Let them decide. Their imagination does the heavy lifting.

3. Acting Out Christmas Stories (No Script Necessary)

This surprised me. I assumed my kids would want to just watch Christmas movies on repeat. But they actually like acting them out way more.

Pick any story—Rudolph, Frosty, The Grinch, or make up your own weird version. Let kids pick roles. Stuffed animals can play characters too. Then just… see what happens.

My favorite moment? My four-year-old was playing the Grinch, and halfway through decided the Grinch wasn’t actually mean—he was just hungry. So we had to pause the story while the Grinch ate a sandwich. Then he became nice. My older kid was very confused, but we all laughed until we cried.

Do yourself a favor: Record it on your phone. These videos become family gold. We still watch the one where my oldest completely forgot the story and just yelled “CHRISTMAS!” over and over for two minutes.

Five-Minute Things That Feel Special

4. The World’s Simplest Hot Chocolate Bar

Forget everything you’ve seen on Instagram with the matching jars and cute labels and coordinated mugs.

Here’s mine: Heat up some milk in the microwave. Dump out whatever you’ve got—marshmallows, chocolate chips, sprinkles, crushed candy canes, that can of whipped cream in the back of the fridge. Put it in whatever bowls or cups you grab first.

Tell your kids to make their own “holiday potions.”

My son once made something with six marshmallows, a ridiculous amount of sprinkles, and a whole candy cane. He called it “elf fuel.” It looked disgusting. He drank every drop and asked for more.

That’s the whole point. Not making it look good—letting them choose and create and feel proud of their weird concoction.

5. Give Them Window Markers and Walk Away

Seriously, that’s the activity. Hand your kids washable markers or window crayons. Point at a window. Done.

They can draw snowflakes, Christmas trees, Santa’s sleigh, their Christmas lists, or completely random stuff that makes sense only to them.

Why kids love this: It feels like they’re decorating the house, which makes them feel important and grown-up. Plus their art is on display where neighbors (or just your backyard squirrels) can see it.

Lesson I learned the hard way: Tell them it’s “temporary window art” so they understand it’s ONLY for windows. Otherwise you might find Sharpie drawings on your actual walls. (Ask me how I know.)

And look, if the drawing session ends in tears because their snowman doesn’t look “right,” I’ve got help for you: How to Handle Toddler Tantrums: Stop Them Before They Start.

6. Cookie Decorating Without Losing Your Mind

Real talk: I’m not baking cookies from scratch when Christmas is in two days. But my kids still want to “make cookies.”

My solution? The grocery store. Buy the cheapest pre-made sugar cookies they have. Grab icing tubes and sprinkles. Go home. Done.

Want to go even easier? Graham crackers, frosting from a tub, and whatever’s in your pantry. My kids have decorated crackers with peanut butter and raisins, chocolate chips, and once—I still can’t explain this—ranch dressing. (He said it looked like snow. I didn’t argue.)

They don’t care that you didn’t make the dough from scratch. They care about squeezing the icing tube and making what they call “the most beautiful cookie in the world.”

When Everyone Just Needs to Stop

7. Building the “Movie Nest”

Some days, everyone’s just tired. That’s when we make what my kids call the movie nest.

Go grab every blanket and pillow in your house. Throw them all in the living room in one big pile. Turn off most of the lights. Pick a Christmas movie—any Christmas movie. Add snacks (we usually do popcorn, but honestly whatever’s easiest).

Here’s what I’ve noticed: the actual movie doesn’t matter that much. What my kids remember is the giant pile of blankets, everyone being cozy together, feeling like we created something just for us. Sometimes we fall asleep during the movie. Sometimes we talk through the whole thing. Once we just told each other made-up stories instead of watching anything.

Movies by age that actually work:

• Little toddlers: Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas (short enough they’ll actually watch)
• Preschoolers: Frosty the Snowman (only 25 minutes!)
• Bigger kids: Elf or Home Alone
• Everyone: A Charlie Brown Christmas (classic, quick, everyone’s happy)

8. The “Reading Corner” That’s Just a Corner With Stuff

Take any corner in any room. Add:

• A lamp or some string lights (a flashlight works too)
• Whatever pillows you can spare
• Christmas books (or regular books with holiday stickers slapped on them—kids don’t care)

Give it an official name. “Santa’s Reading Spot.” “The North Pole Book Corner.” Whatever sounds magical to your kids.

You’re not trying to force them to read. You’re giving them a cozy spot to escape to when the holiday chaos gets overwhelming. My daughter hides there when her brother’s being annoying. My son looks at the same books there over and over, even though he’s already memorized them.

During the holidays, kids need quiet spaces just as much as we do.

9. Santa Says (Because You’re Too Tired for Complicated Games)

When your kids have tons of energy but you’re completely exhausted, try “Santa Says.” It’s just Simon Says with a Christmas theme.

Santa says:

• Waddle like a penguin
• Fly like Rudolph
• Wrap yourself up like a present
• Melt like Frosty on a warm day
• Blink like Christmas lights

Or do Christmas charades—act out building a snowman, wrapping gifts, hanging ornaments, going sledding, decorating a tree.

These work because they burn off energy, you don’t need any supplies, and you can play while sitting on the couch with your coffee. (Yes, you can. I’ve done it.)

Things That Feel Like Real Traditions

10. Letting Kids Write to Santa (Their Way)

Skip the formal letter templates you find online. Just give your kids paper and crayons and let them write or draw whatever they want.

My son once drew Santa a “map to our house” that included our dog, a tree, and what I think was our neighbor’s car but honestly could’ve been anything. My daughter wrote: “Dear Santa, I want a unicorn but I know you can’t bring real animals so a stuffed one is fine. Also my brother is annoying but I still love him.”

These letters become the things you save forever. They capture exactly who your kids are right now—how they write, how they spell, how their brain works, what their heart holds.

Bonus: If they write them on Christmas Eve, it gives them something to do during those endless hours before bedtime when they’re too excited to function.

11. Making a Countdown Chain (Even This Late)

I know it’s not December 1st anymore. But you can still make a countdown chain for however many days are left.

Cut strips of paper—any color, any size, doesn’t matter. Write one activity on each strip:

• “Watch a Christmas movie”
• “Have hot chocolate”
• “Drive around to see lights”
• “Sing Christmas songs really loud”
• “Eat cookies for breakfast” (yes, really, live a little)

Each day they tear off a link and you do that thing. It makes the waiting feel more concrete for them, and it gives you a built-in activity plan.

Real talk: Some days you won’t do the chain activity. Life happens. Switch it with another day, or skip it entirely. The point is reducing stress, not adding more.

The holidays already feel overwhelming for parents and kids. If you’re feeling crushed by modern parenting expectations, you’re not alone. This explains why: Parenting Today: Harder Than Ever, Yet More Important Than Ever Before.

12. Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt (In Your Car or On Foot)

Drive or walk around your neighborhood with a simple list:

• Find an inflatable Santa
• Spot a house with all blue lights
• Count how many reindeer you see
• Find the brightest house on the block
• See a Christmas tree through someone’s window

My kids smash their faces against the car windows, yelling “THERE’S ONE!” every thirty seconds. It’s chaotic and loud and one of my favorite things we do.

No car or don’t want to drive? Do this with your own decorations inside your house, or count different colored lights on your tree.

Special Section: What Actually Works for Toddlers

Having a toddler during Christmas is like living with a tiny, overly excited tornado who’s also constantly underfoot. The energy is next-level. And sometimes all those big feelings turn into even bigger meltdowns.

(Dealing with holiday overstimulation and meltdowns? Here’s what actually helps: How to Handle Toddler Tantrums: Stop Them Before They Start.)

Here’s what works for the really little ones:

13. The Ornament Sort (Aka Controlled Chaos)

Get a bowl of plastic ornaments—only plastic, nothing breakable. Let your toddler:

• Sort them by color
• Stack them up and knock them down
• Put them in containers and dump them out
• Line them up in rows

Is this educational? Sure, fine, yes. But really it’s just giving them something safe to touch and move around. And that’s completely fine.

14. Christmas Music + Made-Up Movements

Toddlers need to move. Put on Christmas music and make up actions as you go:

• “Jingle Bells” – shake your whole body
• “Rudolph” – point to your nose and hop
• “Frosty” – stretch up tall then melt down to the floor
• “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” – march in a circle

I do this while cooking dinner, folding laundry, or when I just need ten minutes. My toddler doesn’t care that I can’t sing or that half my “dance moves” are just swaying while I hold a dish towel.

15. The Sensory Box That Buys You Time

Get a shallow plastic bin. Fill it with:

• Cotton balls (call it snow)
• Red and green pom poms
• Jingle bells
• Ribbon scraps
• Plastic ornaments

Put it on the floor. Let your toddler explore. That’s the whole activity.

My youngest once spent 20 minutes moving cotton balls from one side of the box to the other. No agenda. No goal. Just moving cotton balls. She was completely happy.

What I Wish Someone Had Told Me Earlier

After five years of Christmas with kids, here’s what I know matters:

Your kids won’t remember perfect decorations. They’ll remember laughing until they snorted during your terrible Santa impression.

Mess means fun was happening. Every paper snowflake on the floor is proof your kid was happy. You can clean it up on December 26th.

Keep activities short. Toddlers tap out after 10 minutes. Preschoolers last maybe 20. Even bigger kids lose interest after 30. Don’t plan hour-long projects and then feel frustrated when they wander off.

You don’t have to do everything. Pick two or three activities that sound fun to YOU, not just to your kids. If you’re miserable doing them, your kids will pick up on it.

Screens are completely fine. Need to put on a Christmas movie and zone out for an hour? Do it. The Activity Police don’t exist, and you’re doing great.

When It All Feels Too Heavy

Some years are just harder. Maybe you’re working right up until Christmas Eve. Maybe you’re dealing with family drama, money stress, or you’re just running on empty. Maybe your kid’s been melting down all week and you’re questioning every parenting choice you’ve ever made.

The pressure on parents today is real—we’re expected to do more with way less support than generations before us had. If you’re feeling crushed by this weight, you’re not imagining it. This piece explains why it’s so hard: Parenting Today: Harder Than Ever, Yet More Important Than Ever Before.

On those really hard days, the simplest thing is enough. Read one book together. Watch one movie. Make one cup of hot chocolate. Just sit on the couch and be together.

Your presence is the activity. Your attention is the gift. The fact that you’re still trying, even when you’re exhausted, means everything.

Actually Making This Happen (A Real Plan)

Don’t try to do all fifteen activities. That’s not the point.

Pick three that feel doable for your specific family:

Got 15 minutes? Hot chocolate bar, “Santa Says” game, or Christmas songs with actions

Got 30 minutes? Cookie decorating, letter writing, or the treasure hunt

Got a full hour? Movie nest, cardboard box village, or lights scavenger hunt

Write them on sticky notes. Stick them on your fridge. When someone says “I’m bored,” point at the notes and let them choose.

Or don’t plan anything at all. Just wing it. Some of my best Christmas memories happened because we randomly decided to do something at 7 PM on a Tuesday night.

The Thing Nobody Tells You About Christmas Magic

Last Christmas Eve, after I’d wrapped all the presents and set out cookies for Santa, my daughter asked if we could “do one more thing together.”

I was wiped out. The kitchen was a disaster. I still had at least two hours of stuff to finish.

But I said yes. We went to her room, turned off the big light, and turned on her little string lights. I read her two Christmas books while my son (who was supposed to be asleep) snuck in and curled up next to us.

That moment? That’s what she talked about all Christmas morning. Not the presents under the tree. Not the decorations. That quiet moment in her room with just the three of us and those books.

These last-minute Christmas activities for kids aren’t really about filling time or keeping them busy. They’re about creating little pockets of joy in all the chaos. They’re about showing your kids that Christmas isn’t just something that happens to them—it’s something you build together.

You don’t need perfect. You just need to show up.

Your Christmas Gets to Look However You Want

Whatever ends up happening these last few days before Christmas, I hope you give yourself permission to let it be messy, imperfect, and simple.

The magic isn’t in doing everything right. It’s in the trying. The laughing. The being together even when everything feels chaotic and you have glitter in places glitter should never be.

Your kids are lucky to have someone who cares enough to Google “last-minute Christmas activities for kids” at 11 PM on December 22nd while eating cookies over the sink. That’s not nothing. That’s love.

Now go make some memories—even if those memories include finding glitter in March.

Merry Christmas. You’ve got this. 🎄