Christmas Themes, Crafts, and Activities

You can use Christmas themes to engage your preschoolers in lessons at home or in the classroom. Thematic units are exciting and fun! Plus, they’re a great way to frame important early learning concepts for your preschoolers this Christmas.

Christmas Themes

Let’s explore good themes for Christmas and fun holiday party ideas for kids. I’ll share some of our favorite Christmas stories to build a theme around, Christmas ideas for activities to keep your preschoolers learning all month long, and fun Christmas cookie ideas you can make together.

I can’t wait to share these festive preschool Christmas themes, Christmas activities, and tasty holiday treats. Keep reading to discover all my favorites and so many fun learning activities to go with them.

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What is a good theme for Christmas?

There are so many fun Christmas themes! Just about any holiday favorite you can think of will work for a preschool Christmas theme or a Christmas theme for friends and family this December.

Check out a few popular ideas below:

Away in a Manger

This Christmas, tell the story of the first Christmas to your preschoolers. There are lots of awesome books for sharing this story with your preschoolers this Christmas. A Child Was Born by Grace MacCarone is one of our favorites. Teach rhyme and rhythm with songs like Away in a Manger and Silent Night.

Candy Canes

Do you know the history of the candy cane? It’s fascinating and you can teach it to your preschoolers with Lori Walburg’s The Legend of the Candy Cane. Then, have some sensory fun with my Candy Cane Play Dough, Candy Cane Slime, and Candy Cane Floam.

Finally, enjoy some candy cane treats together for a sweet celebration with your preschoolers this Christmas.

Find all of your Christmas Lesson Plans and Preschool Christmas Themes and Activities, Fun and Festive themes, Christmas Crafts for the Winter holidays

Christmas Carols

We love Christmas carols! At our house, we start singing them around Thanksgiving and don’t stop until after the new year. This Christmas, teach your preschoolers all your favorite Christmas songs and learn about the history of caroling. Then, plan to go Christmas caroling as a group to show off all your new songs to family and friends this year.

Need song ideas? Wee Sing for Christmas has tons of fun holiday songs for kids to sing.

Christmas Around the World

A Christmas around the world theme is a fun way to explore how other countries and cultures celebrate the holiday. Learn about geography, history, and more with crafts, books, and even food from all over the world. Yum!

Christmas Trees

Learn about the history of Christmas trees with an adorable Christmas tree preschool theme. You can read the heartwarming story of the ship that carried Christmas trees to Chicago in The Christmas Tree Ship by Carol Cane.

Then, learn to sing the beautiful carol O Christmas Tree together. Finish up with some of my favorite crafty Christmas ideas: a Montessori-inspired Christmas Button Tree, a Christmas Tree I-Spy Printable, and a Color Matching Christmas Activity.

Elf on the Shelf

I know he’s controversial, but we simply love him! If you’re an Elf on the Shelf fan (or if you’ve never tried this Christmas idea), I encourage you to give it a shot with your kids this Christmas. Or enjoy a twist on it with your very own kindness elves.

Check out some of our favorite Elf on the shelf ideas for preschoolers: Elf on the Shelf Printables, 125+ Elf on the Shelf Ideas, and Teaching Good Traits with Elf on the Shelf.

Gingerbread

I love gingerbread! It’s the perfect mix of sugar and spice. Plus, there are so many fun Christmas themes you can do with gingerbread! Have a gingerbread house building contest. Then, have some sensory fun with my Gingerbread Playdough Recipe.

Finally, learn about emotions and express feelings with your preschoolers using this adorable Gingerbread Emotions Printable Christmas activity.

Grinch

Have you read Dr. Seuss’s classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas? It’s an excellent story to share with your preschoolers this Christmas as you teach them about giving and the spirit of the season.

Try some of my favorite grinch crafts and activities in a Christmas theme all about the Grinch: Grinch Printables, Grinch Slime Recipe, and 17+ Grinch Crafts and Christmas Activities.

What are some good themes for parties?

Planning a Christmas party for your little ones this year? There are so many fun ways to celebrate the season with your preschoolers!

Check out these awesome Christmas ideas and festive themes for parties:

Hot Chocolate Bar

Sometimes all you need for a fun Christmas party is some Christmas music and a good hot chocolate bar. You can include candy canes, sprinkles, whipped cream, and marshmallows. Don’t forget the cinnamon!

Help kids make their own dreamy hot cocoa and practice skills like counting and measuring along the way. Then, make my Hot Chocolate Slime for a fun activity your little party guests will love.

White Elephant Party

I love a good white elephant party! The trick is to set a reasonable limit for prices and then have fun. Need gift ideas? Check out my list for the best Christmas gifts for kids to get you started. If all else fails, candy and cookies always go over well.

Christmas Card Making

Making holiday cards together is a festive Christmas idea for practicing important fine motor skills like cutting and pasting. You can have all kinds of fun making Christmas cards with your preschoolers.

Then, teach kindness by giving cards out in your community, mailing them to distant relatives, or handing them out at a local nursing home. You can use my free printable Advent Cards and Envelopes to get you started.

Ornament Crafting

One of our favorite holiday traditions is an ornament crafting party. It’s something kids will love during the preschool years and still enjoy as they get older too. You can grab a fun ornament crafting book like The Lego Christmas Ornament Book or try some of my favorite DIY Christmas ornament ideas: Cranberry Play Dough Ornaments, Crystal Snowflake Ornaments, or Rudolph Ornaments.

Christmas Lesson Plans

I hope I’ve inspired you to try some of our favorite Christmas themes for preschoolers. There are so many more awesome Christmas ideas to enjoy in the classroom or at home this holiday season.

Share your favorite Christmas activities to add to our lesson plans in the comments. I can’t wait to read them!

FIND MORE HOLIDAY THEMES HERE

Christmas Crafts for Preschoolers

Christmas Party Theme Ideas

Studies have shown that you will also love the following ideas if you like them. I have pulled them together for you right here!