As the holiday season approaches, the Christmas season accelerates with holiday events, travel, and family gatherings. 

If you are looking for ways to slow down and be intentional with your family this year, these are fun and creative crafts and activities to enjoy with your children during the holiday season. They are ways to get crafty, explore nature, or try something new, together, with your family. This is a collection of easy, engaging ideas—perfect for all ages—that will keep little hands busy and big hearts connected. From DIY crafts inspired by nature to beloved holiday recipes, you’ll find plenty of ways to preserve this special time of year, make memories together, and find joy at home with your family.

In this blog post:

• 15 holiday crafts and activities for kids and families
• Christmas studies from Treehouse Schoolhouse

15 holiday crafts and activities for kids and families

Enjoy making these crafts and recipes with your family this holiday season.

Holiday woven placemats

Inspired by the children’s book Christmas Tapestry by Patricia Polacco, children can make their own tapestry by using wool felt to make woven placemats. Use this craft as a simple holiday decoration for the table during the holiday season or Christmas Day. 

View the full instructions in A Connected Christmas.

Christmas soap carving

In The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski, Mr. Toomey is a woodworker who shares his trade with a young boy. This project introduces children to woodcarving in a simple and accessible way using a bar of soap. Use soap to model holiday shapes like Christmas trees, gingerbread men, stars, and more.

View the full instructions in A Connected Christmas.

Gingerbread cookies

Make gingerbread men cookies using your favorite recipe or the one included in A Connected Christmas. Enjoy these together with your family or give them to friends for a holiday treat.

View the full instructions in A Connected Christmas.

Related: 10 Ideas for Learning Opportunities through Holiday Activities

String-wrapped twig Christmas trees

Gather sticks and twigs from nature, yarn or embroidery string, and small gems or sequins to make these delicate string-wrapped trees. These can be used as Christmas tree ornaments, gift wrapping embellishments, or strung together on a garland to decorate your home. 

View the full instructions in A Connected Christmas.

Dried orange Christmas garland

Dry oranges in the oven and string together with other natural items to create a garland to hang in your home or on your Christmas tree. 

View the full instructions in A Connected Christmas.

Wooden beaded garland

Decorate your home with inspiration from Norway by making a garland with wooden beads. Use it to decorate your home, mantle, or Christmas tree.

View the full instructions in A Connected Christmas: Around the World.

Molasses candy 

This is a favorite holiday recipe that is simple and fun to make with kids. Make this Christmas candy from Christmas in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder and package in bags to give to neighbors and friends.

View the full instructions in A Connected Christmas.

Cinnamon applesauce star ornaments

Use applesauce and ground cinnamon to make these star ornaments (or any shape you prefer) for your Christmas tree.

View the full instructions in A Connected Christmas.

Clove apples

Apples have traditionally been used in all kinds of ways, and decoration is no exception. Read Apple Tree Christmas by Trinka Hakes Noble and use apples and other natural ingredients to make a clove apple. This is a simple activity for kids and is an excellent way to add to a decorated Christmas table.

View the full instructions in A Connected Christmas.

Birdseed pinecone ornaments

In Night Tree by Eve Bunting, the family feeds the birds outside by combining ingredients and hanging them from trees. Make these birdseed pinecone ornaments and hang them outside on trees for the birds to enjoy. Enjoy watching the winter birds together. 

View the full instructions in A Connected Christmas.

Air-dry clay wreaths

Go on a nature walk and collect small nature treasures like pine needles, acorns, leaves, flower petals, and pinecones. Transform these findings into an air-dry clay wreath, then add string to make an ornament for your Christmas tree. 

View the full instructions in A Connected Christmas.

Candy Cane Cookies

Create candy cane cookies with this hands-on recipe for kids to make. This is a great way to involve kids in baking where they can really take the lead and form the shapes themselves.

View the recipe below:

Related: Recipe: Candy Cane Cookies

Paper sack piñatas

Make paper sack piñatas in holiday colors with inspiration from Christmas traditions in Mexico and hang them in your home to spread Christmas cheer.

View the full instructions in A Connected Christmas: Around the World.

Galette de Rois (King Cake)

With inspiration from holiday traditions in France, bake a galette de rois or King Cake, adding a bean or charm inside of the cake. Meanwhile, craft a simple crown out of yellow construction paper or purchase a store-bought paper crown. Whoever finds the charm gets to wear the golden crown! 

View recipe in A Connected Christmas: Around the World.

Ginger Molasses Cookies

Use this recipe to create these tasty ginger molasses cookies dipped in white chocolate!

Related: Cozy Winter Homeschooling Ideas and DIY Christmas Gifts: 50 Gifts for Children to Make

Christmas studies from Treehouse Schoolhouse

If you enjoy making intentional memories during the holiday season, you will love these Christmas unit studies from Treehouse Schoolhouse.

A Connected Christmas

A Connected Christmas is a curriculum designed to connect hearts to the heart of Christmas – to the truth of Jesus coming to earth to seek and save the lost. Explore the nativity story through Scripture readings to delight in festive carols, stories, poetry, art, baking, and handcrafts.

Related: How to Use A Connected Christmas with All Ages

A Connected Christmas: Around the World

Celebrate Christ’s birth and connect hearts to the truth of Jesus while experiencing how Christmas is celebrated across the globe with A Connected Christmas: Around the World. Give your children a way to travel the world as you explore the Christmas season in different languages, climates, and cultures. Experience the unique traditions of different countries through festive carols, stories, poetry, fine art, baking, and handcrafts.

Related: Introducing A Connected Christmas: Around the World

How will you make the season meaningful in your home this year? Let us know in the comments below.