4 Festive Games for Xmas Holidays: Fun, Creative, and Sensory Play Ideas

The Christmas holidays are the perfect time to slow down, connect with the kids, and enjoy a little festive magic together. Whether you’re looking for creative crafts, calming sensory activities, or a way to burn off some energy, we’ve got you covered with these 4 fun and engaging Christmas-themed games.

From imaginative small-world scenes to sensory delights, each activity encourages creative play, fine motor development, and festive joy. Plus, they’re simple to set up with everyday materials, making them ideal for holiday family fun at home.

Here’s a sneak peek at the holiday magic ahead:

• Christmas Tree Playdough Creations – Creative and fine-motor fun.
• Sandy Christmas Beach Scene – Perfect for sensory exploration and imaginative play.
• Gingerbread Spice Potpourri – Tactile, aromatic sensory engagement that doubles as a handmade keepsake.
• Gingerbread Simon Says Yoga – A playful, active game for balancing out those quieter moments.

1. Christmas Tree Playdough Creations

Perfect For: Creative, hands-on fun that develops fine motor skills and imagination.

Materials:

• Green playdough (store-bought or homemade)
• Mini craft decorations: sequins, pom-poms, beads, buttons
• Pipe cleaners for tinsel
• Star-shaped stickers or cutouts for tree toppers
• Small trays or play mats

How to Set Up:

1. Set up a play area with a small tray or play mat for each child to keep everything contained.
2. Provide each child with a ball of green playdough to shape into trees.
3. Lay out craft decorations in small bowls or trays so they’re easy to access.

Steps:

1. Encourage children to roll, flatten, or sculpt the playdough into Christmas tree shapes (cone-shaped trees are perfect!).
2. Let them decorate their “trees” using sequins, pom-poms, and other mini items. Pipe cleaners can be twisted around like tinsel.
3. Add a star to the top of each tree to complete the masterpiece!
4. For extended play, encourage kids to create a "Christmas forest" or even add small figurines for storytelling fun.

Developmental Benefit: Enhances fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creativity while providing a calming, sensory experience.

2. Sandy Christmas Scene (Sensory Sand Play)

Perfect For: Combining sensory exploration with imaginative small-world play.

Materials:

• Kinetic sand or sand from your ROXBOX crystal mining bucket
• Mini Christmas figurines or existing toys(trees, Santa, reindeer, etc.)
• Small shells, pebbles, or toy shovels
• Trays or shallow containers for sand play
• Optional: A sprinkle of cinnamon or gingerbread spice for festive scent

How to Set Up:

1. Fill shallow trays or containers with kinetic sand or play sand.
2. Add mini Christmas figurines, shells, and pebbles for decorating and play.
3. Optional: Mix a little cinnamon or gingerbread spice into the sand to create a festive aroma.

Steps:

1. Encourage children to use their imaginations to create a Christmas scene. They can shape the sand into hills, bury Santa’s treasures, or build small festive landscapes.
2. Provide spoons or mini shovels for scooping and digging.
3. For extended fun, challenge kids to “hide and find” treasures like small figurines or shells in the sand.

Developmental Benefit: Stimulates sensory exploration, imaginative storytelling, and fine motor skills while offering a calming, tactile experience.

3. Gingerbread Spice Potpourri

Perfect For: Engaging kids’ senses with touch and smell while creating handmade keepsakes.

Materials:

• Dried orange peels (see instructions below)
• Cinnamon sticks
• Whole cloves
• A pinch of ginger powder
• Small fabric pouches or sachets
• Spoons and mixing bowls
• Ribbon or twine for tying sachets

How to Prepare Dried Orange Peels:

1. Use a vegetable peeler to carefully remove thin strips of orange peel (avoiding too much white pith).
2. Lay the peels on a parchment-lined baking tray.
3. Dry them in an oven at 90°C (200°F) for 2-3 hours, checking regularly to ensure they don’t burn.
4. Once curled and completely dry, store them in an airtight container.

How to Set Up:

1. Set up a “mixing station” with bowls of dried orange peels, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and ginger powder.
2. Provide each child with a bowl, spoon, and small fabric pouch.

Steps:

1. Invite kids to measure and mix the ingredients together using spoons. Let them smell each spice and explore its texture.
2. Scoop the finished mix into small sachets.
3. Tie the sachets closed with festive ribbon or twine. Kids can take these home or give them as holiday gifts.

Developmental Benefit: Encourages sensory exploration, fine motor skill development, and patience while promoting creative, hands-on learning.

4. "Santa Says" Poses Game

Perfect For: Group play that combines physical activity, listening skills, and festive fun.

Materials:

• Christmas-themed pose cards or prompts:
  • Gingerbread Person (stand wide like a cookie)
  • Christmas Tree (stand tall with arms pointed up)
  • Star (stretch arms and legs wide)
  • Candy Cane (bend over like a hook)
  • Snowflake (lie flat with arms and legs stretched out)
• Soft mats, grass or a carpeted play area

How to Set Up:

1. Print or draw cards with simple holiday-themed poses. For added fun you can have the kids draw the shapes themselves!
2. Set up a soft, open space where kids can move safely.

Steps:

1. Explain the rules of Santa Says: Kids must only follow the command if it starts with “Santa says.” If there is no "Santa says" in the phrase, kids should freeze or stay in their previous pose.
2. Call out poses like:
   • “Santa says, be a Christmas tree!”
   • “Santa says, wave like a gingerbread person!”
   • “Be a candy cane!” (Kids freeze here if you didn’t say “Santa says”).
3. Add festive descriptions to make it playful:
   • “Twinkle like a Christmas star!”
   • “Stretch tall like Santa’s Christmas tree!”
4. Rotate who plays “Santa” so kids get a chance to lead the game.

Developmental Benefit: Improves gross motor coordination, listening skills, and group participation while keeping kids active and engaged.