Festive Christmas Sensory Activities For Kids Of All Ages
Our favorite sensory Christmas activities for toddlers, preschoolers and older kids from our sister blog Raising Wild Things Sensory. Fun activities including sensory bins, play doughs, slimes, Jello & more!
Christmas is right around the corner, and it’s time to get into the holiday spirit! If you’re like me, you’re probably juggling shopping, baking, holiday parties, and all the excitement this time of year brings. But hey, let’s not forget about some fun sensory activities to keep the kids entertained (and learning!).
Whether you have toddlers, preschoolers, or older kids, there are endless ways to engage their senses with sensory Christmas activities. These activities immerse kids in the Christmas spirit with wonder and imagination. Embrace the mess, savor the giggles, and enjoy the festive magic!
Plus, it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. You can find most of what you need at the dollar store or your kitchen pantry—how great is that?!
Exciting Sensory Christmas Activities for Kids
Sharing a list of our favorite sensory Christmas activities. Whether your little ones are toddlers, preschoolers, or older kids, these festive, glittery, and snowy ideas will create holiday memories to cherish!
1. Jello Christmas Grinch Sensory Bin
Jello meets Grinchy green fun with this Jello Grinch Sensory Bin. Kids can squish, sueeze, and scoop the Jello while hunting for hidden treasures. It’s messy, slimy, and ridiculously fun!
2. Hot Chocolate Cloud Dough
Fluffy, chocolatey, and smells delicious—Hot Chocolate Cloud Dough is a sensory dream. Mix it up and let kids pretend they’re making their own cocoa creations.
3. Edible Snow Dough
This 2-ingredient Edible Snow Dough is taste-safe and perfect for little ones to squish and shape. Plus, it smells amazing!
4. Snowflake Slime
This Snowflake Slime is a winter wonderland in your hands! Clear, stretchy, and glittery “snowflake,” it’s as mesmerizing to look at as it is to squish.
5. Christmas Grinch Sensory Bin
This Grinch Sensory Bin is pure Christmas magic with a mischievous twist! Filled with green kinetic sand, red gem hearts, and more Christmas-themed trinkets, it’s a hands-on adventure kids will love!
6. Christmas Tree Farm Sensory Bin
This Christmas Tree Farm Sensory Bin is pure magic for little ones who love construction trucks! They’ll have a blast hauling tiny trees, plowing through snow, and building their very own winter wonderland. It’s the perfect blend of festive fun and hands-on creativity.
7. Candy Cane Fluffy Slime
Swirly red and white Candy Cane Fluffy Slime gives all the Christmas vibes! It’s soft, fluffy, and looks just like candy canes. Stretch it, swirl it, and get ready for endless holiday-themed sensory fun!
8. Snow Dough
This Snow Dough is soft, squishy, and totally moldable! It’s perfect for making pretend snowballs, mini snowmen, or to use as a base to create a winter wonderland.
9. Fluffy Snow Slime
This Fluffy Snow Slime is soft, stretchy, and as light as a cloud. Add some sparkly glitter, and you’ve got yourself a sensory wonderland that’s perfect for winter play!
10. Hot Chocolate Sensory Bin
This Hot Chocolate Sensory Bin is filled with hot chocolate cloud dough, mini marshmallows, and mini gems and trinkets. It’s the ultimate cozy, holiday-themed activity that smells good enough to eat!
11. Whimsical Christmas Penguin Sensory Bin
Little ones will love this Whimsical Christmas-themed Penguin Sensory Bin. It’s a hands-on winter wonderland that’s as adorable as it is entertaining. Cue the giggles and imaginative play!
Why Sensory Christmas Activities?
Sensory activities during Christmas offers so much more than just fun! It’s a wonderful way to support your child’s emotional, social, and cognitive development, all while embracing the festive excitement of the season. Let’s break down why sensory play is such a great fit for Christmas.
Emotional Development
Sensory play provides a safe and engaging environment for kids to explore and manage their emotions. Christmas can be filled with new experiences, so sensory activities offer a soothing space to calm down.
Social Skills
Sensory play encourages social interaction, whether kids are playing cooperatively or side by side. The hands-on nature of sensory activities helps kids communicate, share, and take turns.
Language Development
As kids explore different textures, smells, and sights, they’re also developing their language skills. Sensory play introduces them to new words like “slimy,” “squishy,” “bumpy,” and more. Describing what they’re feeling or seeing helps expand their vocabulary in a fun, playful way. Plus, sensory play naturally encourages conversations as kids talk about what they’re doing!
Engaging the 5 Senses
Sensory Christmas activities are a fantastic way to engage all five senses. Whether it’s touching strechy slime, seeing the bright festive colors of a sensory bin, or smelling the hot chocolate cloud dough, your kids are taking in a variety of sensory experiences. Engaging multiple senses at once helps build important brain connections and supports overall development.
Calming and Soothing
The holiday season can sometimes overwhelm kids, but sensory play has the power to calm and refocus them. Sensory materials like slime, play dough, or a calm-down jar filled with glitter can have a soothing effect, helping anxious or overstimulated kids feel more grounded. It’s an easy, go-to tool to help your child relax during all the Christmas excitement.
Final Thoughts
Sensory Christmas activities are a wonderful way to engage your little ones during the holidays. These activities aren’t just fun, they help kids explore, learn, and connect with the season in ways that feel meaningful and memorable.
So, as you soak in the holiday magic, don’t be afraid to welcome the mess and embrace the giggles. After all, these are the moments that make Christmas truly special!
What are your favorite Christmas sensory activities? Let me know in the comments.
