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Safety first: Always supervise little ones, and skip small parts for kids who still put things in their mouths. Please read our play safety notes before you start.
Key takeaways
- 12 Christmas activities for 1 year olds, each with ages, prep, mess level, supplies and a safety note.
- Anything that fits through a toilet paper tube is a hazard under age 3, so we use big bows, jumbo pom poms and sealed bottles.
- Sticky walls, ripping bins and tree play keep hands busy for 10 minutes or more.
- A 7-day rotation table plans December without a new idea every day.
- This list is Christmas only; the general guide is linked for everyday play.
In this post20 sections
- Before You Start: Christmas Safety for 1 Year Olds
- Christmas Activities for 1 Year Olds at a Glance
- Sticky, Ripping and Sensory Christmas Activities for 1 Year Olds
- 1. Bow sticky wall
- 2. Christmas ripping paper bin
- 3. Christmas sensory bottles
- 4. Window gel cling tree
- Tree Play Without the Breakables
- 5. Jumbo pom pom tree
- 6. Ornament-free tree play
- 7. Stocking pull-out basket
- Move, Make and Keep: Active Play and Keepsakes
- 8. Sock snowball toss
- 9. Cardboard box sleigh ride
- 10. Painted gift wrap scribble
- 11. Footprint keepsake card
- Quiet Christmas Time for 1 Year Olds
- 12. Board-book Christmas time
- What to Skip at Christmas With a 1 Year Old
- FAQ
Before You Start: Christmas Safety for 1 Year Olds
Most Christmas toy and craft advice is written for older kids. For a 1 year old, the main risks are small parts, ribbon, button batteries in lights and anything that goes in the mouth. The American Academy of Pediatrics says to skip toys with small or detachable parts and keep marbles, coins, caps and button batteries out of reach.
This list is Christmas only. For everyday ideas, see our activities for 1 year olds at home, and for gifts, see our advent calendar fillers that are not candy.
Christmas Activities for 1 Year Olds at a Glance
| Day | Activity | Setup | Mess |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Ripping paper bin | 3 min | Low |
| Tue | Bow sticky wall | 5 min | None |
| Wed | Ornament-free tree play | 5 min | None |
| Thu | Board-book time | 1 min | None |
| Fri | Sensory bottles | Made once, reused | None |
| Sat | Footprint keepsake card | 10 min | High |
| Sun | Sock snowballs | 2 min | None |
Sticky, Ripping and Sensory Christmas Activities for 1 Year Olds
1Bow sticky wall
Tape a sheet of clear contact paper to a wall or door with the sticky side facing out. Hand your child large flat bows and let them press, pat and peel. It is a Christmas version of a classic toddler sticky wall, and it keeps hands busy for a long ten minutes.
Ages: 12 months and up
Prep: 5 minutes
Mess: None
Supplies: clear contact paper, painter's tape, 3 to 4 inch self-stick gift bows
Safety: use large bows only, watch for any that get peeled into the mouth, and take the wall down when you leave the room.
- Stick the bows on lightly first so peeling is a win, not a fight.
Pick 3 inch bows or bigger so none are a choking size.
2Christmas ripping paper bin
Fill a shallow cardboard box with scrap wrapping paper, tissue and newspaper. Your child tears, crumples and tosses it, and ripping builds hand strength. Add a few paper tubes for scooping.
Ages: 12 months and up
Prep: 3 minutes
Mess: Medium, but it is all paper
Supplies: shallow box, wrapping paper scraps, tissue paper, paper tubes
Safety: take out ribbon, tape, foil and glittery paper first, and sweep up small torn bits so they do not get chewed.
- Keep the bin on a rug in one room. A big bin also makes a good hide-and-find game.
3Christmas sensory bottles
Fill a clear plastic bottle with water, a little clear hair gel and large foam stars. Seal the lid with strong glue and tape, then shake it. Our sensory bottle guide has the full steps. Sealed bottles let a baby watch the sparkle with nothing to swallow.
Ages: 12 months and up
Prep: 10 minutes, then it lasts all season
Mess: None
Supplies: clear plastic bottle, water, clear hair gel, large foam stars, strong glue, tape
Safety: an adult glues and tapes the lid shut, and you check the bottle for cracks before every use. Retire it if it leaks.
- Make two bottles, one fast and one slow, so your child can compare.
Sturdy bottles that can be glued shut. Never give a child an unsealed one.
4Window gel cling tree
Peel big gel clings off their sheet and press them on a window or glass door in a tree shape. Your child pats, peels and presses them back on. They are reusable and low mess.
Ages: 15 months and up
Prep: 3 minutes
Mess: None
Supplies: large gel window clings, a clean window
Safety: use large clings only and take away any that get torn, since small pieces can be swallowed.
- Place them low on the window, where a small hand can reach.
Reusable, flat and low mess. Choose big shapes.
Tree Play Without the Breakables
A real tree is exciting and off limits, which is a hard mix at 12 to 24 months. These ideas give your child a tree they are allowed to touch.
5Jumbo pom pom tree
Draw a green triangle tree on a sheet of contact paper taped to the wall, or tape a paper tree to the floor. Your child sticks jumbo 2 inch pom poms on it as decorations.
Ages: 15 months and up
Prep: 5 minutes
Mess: None
Supplies: contact paper or paper, green marker, jumbo 2 inch pom poms, tape
Safety: use only 2 inch pom poms or bigger, count them in and out, and skip this one for a child who still mouths everything.
- Start with just 5 pom poms so counting them back is easy.
6Ornament-free tree play
Set up a small tabletop or low tree with only soft, toddler-proof decorations: felt balls 3 inches wide and fabric stars. Show them it is a tree they can touch. You get to keep the glass ornaments up high.
Ages: 12 months and up
Prep: 5 minutes
Mess: None
Supplies: small artificial tree, large felt balls, fabric stars, a low stool or tray
Safety: skip hooks, wire hangers, tinsel and light cords, and keep the tree anchored so it cannot tip.
- Rotate two new soft decorations each day to keep the tree fresh.
Big soft balls that cannot be swallowed.
7Stocking pull-out basket
Fill a Christmas stocking or a bag with big safe things: a wooden spoon, a wool mitten, a soft board book and a stuffed reindeer. Your child pulls each one out and names or waves it. It practices the same fine motor skill as a treasure basket, with a holiday twist.
Ages: 12 months and up
Prep: 2 minutes
Mess: None
Supplies: large stocking, board book, wooden spoon, mitten, small plush
Safety: every item must be bigger than a toilet paper tube is wide, and remove any bells, buttons or ribbon.
- Hide a new item each day so they never know what is next.
Move, Make and Keep: Active Play and Keepsakes
Walkers and almost-walkers need to move, and grandparents want a keepsake. These ideas cover both.
8Sock snowball toss
Roll white socks into balls and toss them into a laundry basket from a few steps away. Start close, then step back. It is a snowball fight with zero cold fingers.
Ages: 15 months and up
Prep: 2 minutes
Mess: None
Supplies: clean white socks, a laundry basket
Safety: use big sock rolls, no small bells or beads sewn in, and keep the play area clear.
- Pair it with a laundry basket push toy for a walker.
9Cardboard box sleigh ride
Cut down the sides of a large cardboard box, tie a soft cloth strap to the front and add a blanket and a plush. Your child sits in the sleigh while you pull it slowly across a carpeted floor.
Ages: 14 months and up, once sitting well
Prep: 5 minutes
Mess: None
Supplies: large cardboard box, soft cloth strap or scarf, blanket, plush toy
Safety: an adult pulls very slowly on a flat surface, stays beside the box, and keeps the strap short and soft with no knots near the neck.
- Tie a red scarf on as the sleigh rope for the photo.
10Painted gift wrap scribble
Tape a sheet of brown kraft paper to the floor and let your child smear washable paint with a big sponge. Let it dry, and you have homemade wrapping paper for family gifts.
Ages: 15 months and up
Prep: 5 minutes
Mess: High
Supplies: kraft paper, washable non-toxic paint, large sponge, tape, wet wipes
Safety: use paint labeled non-toxic with an age range that fits, and keep paint away from mouth and eyes.
- Dab on a few big circles with a sponge for polka dots.
Look for the AP seal and a toddler-suitable label.
11Footprint keepsake card
Press a clean toddler foot on green paint, stamp it on folded cardstock as a tree, and add fingertip dots as ornaments. Add the name and year. Our handprint Christmas crafts post has more cards and keepsakes, and a footprint is just as sweet.
Ages: 12 months and up
Prep: 10 minutes
Mess: High
Supplies: cardstock, washable green paint, sponge brush, wet wipes, marker for the date
Safety: use washable non-toxic paint, test a small patch of skin first, and wash the foot right after.
- Do it right after a bath, when the foot is clean, and have a second adult hold a wipe.
Quiet Christmas Time for 1 Year Olds
When you need to slow down, books are the best low-prep Christmas activity. The AAP encourages shared reading from infancy, and the short pages of board books fit a one-year-old's attention span.
12Board-book Christmas time
Make a cozy spot with a blanket, and read one or two sturdy Christmas board books. Let your child turn the pages, point to the pictures and finish a repeated word. Our Christmas books for toddlers list has eight picks with matching activities.
Ages: All 1 year olds
Prep: 1 minute
Mess: None
Supplies: 2 to 3 board books, blanket, a lamp kept out of reach
Safety: use board books, not paper ones, and keep light cords away from the reading spot.
- Read the same book every night. Repeats are how babies learn words.
What to Skip at Christmas With a 1 Year Old
| Common idea | Risk for ages 1 to 3 | Safer swap |
|---|---|---|
| Small jingle bells and pom poms | Choking hazard | Jumbo pom poms and big felt balls |
| Glitter and loose sequins | Mouthing, eyes and lungs | Sealed bottles with large foam stars |
| Ribbon and tinsel | Strangling and swallowing | Wide fabric strips used only with an adult holding them |
| Hard candy canes | Choking hazard (AAP list) | A candy cane drawing with crayons |
At this age, the same simple game on repeat is not boring. It is how learning happens.
Before any Christmas activity with a 1 year old
Supplies for Christmas activities with a 1 year old
-
Clear contact paper
Typically $6 to $12
For the bow wall, pom pom tree and window play.
Check price on Amazon for Clear contact paper -
Jumbo pom poms
Typically $6 to $10
2 inch and bigger only.
Check price on Amazon for Jumbo pom poms -
Chunky Christmas board books
Typically $6 to $10
For the quiet reading time.
Check price on Amazon for Chunky Christmas board books -
Large felt balls
Typically $8 to $14
For the ornament-free tree.
Check price on Amazon for Large felt balls -
Washable kids paint
Typically $8 to $15
For the footprint card and wrap.
Check price on Amazon for Washable kids paint
Want the rest of December planned? The Christmas Activity Pack is a 24-day countdown for ages 3 to 8, so it is for when your 1 year old gets bigger. The Year of Play Bundle covers four printable packs. More ideas for toddlers are in our Christmas activities for toddlers at home and sensory bin ideas.
Frequently asked questions
What are good Christmas activities for 1 year olds?
Try a bow sticky wall, a ripping paper bin, sealed sensory bottles, a jumbo pom pom tree and board-book time. Each is large, soft or sealed, and takes 10 minutes or less to set up.
What Christmas crafts can a 1 year old do?
A footprint tree card, painted wrapping paper and a bow wall all work. Use washable non-toxic paint and stay within arm's reach.
Are pom poms safe for a 1 year old?
Only jumbo ones, 2 inches or bigger, with an adult nearby. If a piece fits through a toilet paper tube, it is a choking hazard under age 3, so skip small pom poms and bells.
How do I keep a 1 year old away from the Christmas tree?
Give them their own low tree with only soft, large decorations, and keep your glass ornaments high. Anchor your real tree and keep light cords out of reach.
How long will a 1 year old play with one activity?
Often 5 to 10 minutes, and that is normal. Many toddlers love repeating the same one, so keep a setup out for several days.
What can a 1 year old do at Christmas with no supplies?
Read a board book, dance to music, or play a sock snowball toss with clean socks and a basket.
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