25 Christmas Activities to do with a Baby (& Free Christmas Activity Calendar Download)

Christmas, in my humble opinion, is the most magical and cozy time of the year. With a new little one to celebrate with, I wanted to come up with a game plan of how to enjoy the season with them every day in December. As new parents, we want to be intentional in teaching our son about Christmas. I want him to know about the story of Jesus being born and how this season is about love and being together with family and friends. And I want to start traditions and make the magic of Santa and his reindeer come alive. How do you do that with such a young one? I have come up with daily activities to lay the foundation out for future Christmases!  

You can download a free calendar of the 25 Christmas activities to do with a  baby by clicking here> 25 Christmas Activities to do with you Baby

Here are 25 Christmas activities to do with a Baby

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

1. Decorate the Christmas Tree

   Let your baby touch the tree branches and smell them (if it’s real!). Let them look at the lights and see the decorations sparkle. If they are old enough, they can even help hang some of the  shatter-proof ornaments! If not, let them hold the non-breakable ornaments and explore what they feel like.Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

2. Mail Christmas Cards

   Talk to your baby about each Christmas card you are mailing out. Read to them what you are writing and let them see you addressing envelopes and gluing them shut. You can even let them scribble on the back for an extra dose of cuteness for their recipients!

3. Write Santa a letter

   If your child is old enough to tell you what they want to say, transcribe for them and let them help hold the pencil and watch. If they are too young to talk, let them scribble on a piece of paper and address an envelope and drop it in the mail together. Talk to them about the North Pole and how great our Postal service is.

4. Make Christmas art

   Give your baby red and green crayons (l like these Crayons Jumbo 8ct Peggable Tuck Box [Set of 2] Includes 5 Color Flag Setby Crayola for little hands!) and let them make scribbles on a piece of paper. Another adorable Christmas craft, albeit much messier, make a handprint or footprint wreath. Do this by dipping their hands/feet in paint and stamping them into a circular shape. You can add a bow later and hang it up as a precious keepsake and decoration! Here is my tutorial for you to follow along with: https://www.katieandkristen.com/diy/handprint-crafting/

5. Read the Christmas story

   Read the Christmas story from the Bible, Luke 2:1-20. Jesus is the reason for the season! Talk about how Jesus came into the world as a baby just like your child did!

6. Choose a special ornament together

   Choose a special ornament to purchase that is gift to your baby.  Pick an ornament that means something to you. A ‘Baby’s first Christmas’ ornament is what I look forward to choosing for Jake!  I really love the customizable ones I have seen like this one here Baby’s First Christmas Ornament, Choose from 3 Sizes, Personalized Christmas Wooden Block, Laser Engraved Wooden Baby Block (2″)

   You can download a free calendar of the 25 Christmas activities to do with a  baby by clicking here> 25 Christmas Activities to do with you Baby

7. Sing Christmas Carols

   Sing Christmas songs loud and proud! Play the music throughout the whole season and let your little one become familiar with the music. Dance and sing along.

   You can download a free calendar of the activities by clicking here> 25 Christmas Activities to do with you Baby

8. Meet Santa

   This year provides an interesrc=”https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=tryingmama-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B003TULPGG” alt=”” width=”1″ height=”1″ border=”0″>ting challenge in meeting Santa with the pandemic, but find a grandparent or friend to dress up as Santa, so that your little one doesn’t miss out on this special ‘first’!

9. Wrap presents with the baby 
   

   Wrapping presents with your baby sounds like a mess but also a huge hit as a sensory moment! Let your little one experiment with touching the different types of wrapping paper, tissue paper, boxes, bows, ribbons, and tape! Let them shake a box with something in it. There are so many textures to explore.

10. Look at the colors and shapes of ornaments

    Spend some time looking at the Christmas tree together. Hold your baby in front of the tree and point at different ornaments and talk about their shapes, sizes and colors. What an easy and fun way to integrate learning into the season!

    You can download a free calendar of the 25 Christmas activities to do with a  baby by clicking here> 25 Christmas Activities to do with you Baby

11. Have a ‘Pajama Day’

    Stay in your Christmas pajamas all day (you too, Mom & Dad!). Build a fire, if you have one, and snuggle in cozy blankets. Listen to Christmas music and enjoy some hot cocoa (or warm milk). Enjoy spending quality time together and having a lazy day in.

12. Have a ‘Christmas Scent’ party

    Collect things from around your house that have interesting and holiday-related smells: a tree branch, hot chocolate, candy canes, cinnamon sticks… Let your baby explore the items through smell (with your supervision!).

13. Eat Christmas themed foods

    If your baby has started solids, puree up some new foods that are normally only eaten during the holidays. Maybe try cranberry sauce or green beans!

14. Drive around looking at Christmas lights

    Take a drive when it gets dark to enjoy the sparkling Christmas lights. Your little one will love looking out the window and it might even get you a bonus nap!

15. Read Christmas Books

    Pull out all your holiday-themed books and read the festive books together. Here are a few of my favorites: 

16. Pray for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes

    If you participate in Operation Christmas Child and mailed a box back in November, take time to pray out loud for the child that receives that gift and talk about the importance of sharing and giving.

    You can download a free calendar of the activities by clicking here> 25 Christmas Activities to do with you Baby

17. Bake Christmas cookies together

    Let your little one touch the dough and smear some frosting onto a cookie. It might not look appetizing, but I can guarantee they will love the sensory moment!  

18. Make an ornament

    This is such a fun and special tradition to start. I am thinking of using a clay hand/foot print ornament making kit.

    Or check out how we made our own ornaments here: https://www.katieandkristen.com/diy/handprint-crafting/

19. Take a walk around a local Christmas tree farm

    Enjoy the sites and smells of the beautiful trees. Grab yourself a cup of coffee and bundle your baby up. Talk about the things they see.

20. Start If you plan on doing this, start this year! Why not? Let your baby see the Elf and play with him. Read the story out loud. Use this year to familiarize your baby with the elf, before next year when you can start hiding it.

21. Talk about presents as you wrap them

    While wrapping presents, talk about what each one is. Talk about their colors, shape and size. Talk about who the gift is for and the importance of giving to others.

22. Talk about body parts as you bundle up

    Take a walk in the winter air. If you are lucky, you might even have snow! Talk to your baby about their body parts as you bundle them up: tell them how the mittens will keep their hands and fingers warm, how the hat will keep their head and ears from getting cold, how their boots will keep their feet dry and cozy, etc.

    You can download a free calendar of the 25 Christmas activities to do with a  baby by clicking here> 25 Christmas Activities to do with you Baby

23. Leave cookies and milk for Santa

    Let your baby sit next to you as you set out the  Attend Christmas eve candlelit service

    This is a special reminder that Jesus is the reason for the season. They will enjoy the sparkling lights of the room lit by candles!

24.  Talk about the nativity scene

    Using a kid-friendly nativity scene You can download a free calendar of the 25 Christmas activities to do with a  baby by clicking here> 25 Christmas Activities to do with you Baby

    

     

     

     

    Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.