Festive Fun: Christmas Activities for Early Learning Centres
The holiday season is a magical time of year, especially for young children. Early learning centres have a unique opportunity to create festive experiences that inspire creativity, promote learning, and bring joy to little ones. With Christmas just around the corner, the focus can shift to incorporating some festive fun learning experiences into your daily activities.
We’ve put together a list of engaging, festive Christmas activities that will educate, and entertain the children in your early learning centre.
1. Snowflake art
Snowflake art is a simple, yet effective Christmas craft. While not part of a quintessential Australian Christmas, snowflakes are associated with Christmas celebrations around the world. Snowflake art is a teaching opportunity to discuss the different climates around the world at this time of year, as well as a chance to exercise creativity and hone fine motor skills. Provide the children with various art supplies such as paper, glue, glitter, and sequins, and guide them in creating their unique snowflakes.
2. Christmas tree ornament making
On the topic of arts and crafts, why not get the children involved in making their very own unique ornaments? Provide materials for creating homemade ornaments such as popsicle sticks, glitter, paint, and ribbons. Guide the children in making their own ornaments, which they can proudly display at home. This activity can be done from the nursery right up to kindergarten, depending on the types of craft materials you choose to work with. Our Christmas Craft Kit is great starting point for getting creative.
3. Holiday storytelling
Mix up your regular reading routine with a cosy storytelling session featuring classic Christmas tales and holiday-themed books. Encourage the children to participate by asking questions and making predictions about the story. This activity stimulates language development, listening skills, and sparks imagination. This Christmas Book and Puzzle Pack has some great Christmas stories suitable for all ages.
4. Christmas sing-along
Organise a Christmas sing-along session where children can join in singing classic holiday songs. Provide instruments to really enhance the festive atmosphere. This Class Music Set has instruments for all ages and ability levels. Singing promotes language development, memory retention, and emotional expression, making it a wonderful activity for early learners.
5. Letter to Santa
Encourage the children to write or dictate letters to Santa Claus, expressing their holiday wishes and sharing their good deeds. This activity facilitates language and literacy development, as well as providing an opportunity for self-expression and imagination.
6. Christmas-themed science experiments
Engage the children in simple science experiments with a Christmas twist. For example, create a winter wonderland by making “magic snow” using baking soda and conditioner or conduct a candy cane science experiment to explore the concept of dissolving. These hands-on activities nurture curiosity, critical thinking, and understanding of basic scientific principles.
7. Cultural celebrations
Take the opportunity to explore and celebrate diverse holiday traditions from around the world. Encourage the educators and children in your centre with diverse backgrounds to introduce their customs and festivities, fostering an appreciation for diversity and expanding their understanding of the holiday season.
By nurturing the spirit of creativity, curiosity, and compassion during the holiday season, you can create a joyful experience for the children in your early learning centre. With these engaging Christmas activities, children can embark on a festive journey of discovery and learning, making the holiday season truly magical for them and everyone involved.
To check out our full range of Christmas resources, click here.
Tags: Christmas craft, learning activities, play-based learning
