Low Prep Kids Activities for the Extended Family Christmas Party

Is your extended family Christmas party anything like mine? Young nieces and nephews running around the house – high on sugary treats and excitement, mixed with older ones who are absorbed in their portable video game worlds?

Why not try planning some activities that the cousins can do TOGETHER this year? I’ve compiled a list of some terrific low prep activities this week that I think will be perfect!

All these activities are fun and engaging and take 10 minutes or under to prep, because the last thing you probably need right now is another task to eat up your precious time!

To make things even easier, I’ve categorized these low prep activities with appropriate age groups so you can find what you need quickly! B is for Baby, T for Toddler, P for Preschooler, K for Kindergartener, SA for School Aged kiddos.

Extended Family Christmas Party Activities

Try making this DIY Holiday Spy Bottle from Spark and Pook to keep babies and antsy toddlers busy while everyone eats. B, T & P

You can easily prep this fun Felt Tree Stacking fine-motor activity from Powerful Mothering while you’re watching TV! B, T & P

This 10 Lords a Leaping active indoor game from 3 Dinosaurs needs zero prep! P, K, & SA

Whip up some Christmas Playdough up to a week before the holidays for fine-motor fun with kids of all ages from One Time Through.

My personal favourites are the Christmas Shortbread Playdough Baking Station and if you have some old CDs – the Wreath Playdough and Craft would be fun. T, P, K, SA

All you need to do is print and provide crayons/markers with Totschooling’s Christmas Picture and Word Tracing Printables. P, K and maybe SA

Another fun (and free!) Christmas Printable Pack with playdough mats, matching games, and learning activities from A Little Pinch of Perfect will keep the kids busy for as long as you want! P, K

If the kids are interested in Christmas mail and pretend play, then pick up some fun foam, and set out markers and Christmas stickers for this Jolly Postman Pretend Play activity which could keep them busy all afternoon! T, P, K, & SA

The kids will love building structures with this Gumdrop Christmas Tree invitation to play from Left Brain Craft Brain.  No prep needed, just a few supplies from the grocery store. P, K, & SA

A Cowboy Life has free Christmas Bingo sheets you can use for some group fun! Just print and find something like pennies to use for counters. K & SA

If you’re looking for other Christmas kids’ fun and educational activities, be sure to follow our Pinterest board:

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Merriest of Christmases!

Please visit my fabulous co-host to see other features this week:

A Little Pinch of Perfect – 70+ Recycled Crafts from Gift Wrappings

Left Brain Craft Brain – Party Horn Sky Scrapers