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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
- 25 Christmas bucket list ideas for ages 2 to 8: 10 full cards and 15 quick adds.
- 19 of the 25 take 5 minutes of prep or less, so most fit a school night.
- Every idea lists ages, prep, mess, supplies and a safety note.
- Use it as a menu or a 25-slip jar: one pull each morning.
- Pair it with a free scavenger hunt and a printable pack to cover the full month.
In this post18 sections
- Christmas Bucket List for Kids: How to Use It
- Cozy Evening Ideas
- 1. Paper chain countdown
- 2. Christmas lights walk
- 3. Indoor sock snowball fight
- 4. Christmas book basket by the tree
- Make and Give Ideas
- 5. Paper snowflake windows
- 6. Gift wrapping station
- 7. Letter to Santa
- 8. Kindness toy donation box
- Bigger Builds
- 9. Cardboard box gingerbread house
- 10. Holiday card for a grandparent
- 15 More Quick Adds
- How to Turn the List Into a 25-Day Plan
- Keep the Bucket List Safe
- FAQ
Christmas Bucket List for Kids: How to Use It
A Christmas bucket list works because it turns "what should we do today?" into a quick pick. Here are 25 ideas for ages 2 to 8, ten as full cards and fifteen in a quick-add table, and every one lists ages, prep, mess and supplies.
Some links on this page are Amazon links, and we may earn a small commission if you buy. Everything needs an adult nearby, and any idea with small parts, paint or scissors says so.
| Prep time | How many ideas | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 5 minutes or less | 19 of 25 | Weeknights and after-school slots |
| 10 to 15 minutes | 6 of 25 | Weekends and snow days |
| Mess: none or low | 19 of 25 | Evenings, grandparent visits, small spaces |
Cozy Evening Ideas
1Paper chain countdown
Cut strips of red and green paper, loop them into a chain and hang it where kids can see it. Tear one link off each morning, or add one link each night for every kind thing the family did. It makes the countdown visible and it is the kind of craft toddlers can help staple-free with tape.
Ages: 3 to 8
Prep: 5 minutes
Mess: Low
Supplies: construction paper, washable glue sticks or tape, kid-safe scissors for ages 4 and up
Safety: an adult cuts the strips for little ones, and loose paper bits stay out of mouths for children under 3.
- Use a different color for each child so no one fights over whose link to tear.
Pre-cut strips save the cutting step.
2Christmas lights walk
After dinner, bundle up and walk the block to look at lights. Let kids pick a favorite house, count the colors or hunt for a star, a reindeer and a snowman. It costs nothing, it burns off energy and it works for a toddler in a stroller.
Ages: 2 to 8
Prep: 5 minutes
Mess: None
Supplies: warm coats, hats, mittens, a flashlight
Safety: hold hands near roads, wear something reflective after dark and stay on sidewalks.
- Bring a thermos of lukewarm cocoa for the walk home.
Easy to spot after dark on a lights walk.
3Indoor sock snowball fight
Roll white socks into balls, set up a cardboard box fort and throw. Nothing breaks, nobody gets hurt and the whole thing ends with a race to put the socks back in the basket. It is the best way to burn energy on a day when it is too cold to go out.
Ages: 3 to 8
Prep: 3 minutes
Mess: None
Supplies: clean white socks, a laundry basket, a cardboard box for a fort
Safety: play away from the tree and breakables, and throw at the box, not at faces.
4Christmas book basket by the tree
Fill a basket with five or six Christmas books and keep it next to the tree. Read one by tree light each night, and let kids choose which. For toddlers, sturdy board books last; our Christmas books for toddlers list has picks.
Ages: 2 to 8
Prep: 5 minutes
Mess: None
Supplies: a basket, Christmas books from your shelf or the library
Safety: keep the basket away from the tree base and heat sources, and offer board books to toddlers who tear pages.
Sturdy pages for kids who still tear paper.
Make and Give Ideas
5Paper snowflake windows
Fold paper in half, then in half again, snip shapes from the edges and open it up. Tape the snowflakes to a window. Older kids can try six-point folds, and younger kids can decorate pre-cut ones with crayons.
Ages: 4 to 8
Prep: 5 minutes
Mess: Low
Supplies: white printer paper or coffee filters, kid-safe scissors, tape
Safety: scissors are for ages 4 and up with an adult close by, and snowflake scraps go in the trash right away.
- Coffee filters fold easily and make bigger, softer snowflakes.
Blunt tips for first-time cutters.
6Gift wrapping station
Set a table with a roll of paper, tape, tags and a few small gifts. Kids wrap presents for grandparents and cousins, even if the result looks like a paper burrito. A tape dispenser on the table saves a lot of sticky chaos.
Ages: 3 to 8
Prep: 10 minutes
Mess: Medium
Supplies: wrapping paper, tape, tags, washable markers, small gifts or books
Safety: scissors and ribbons stay with the adult, and toddlers stay away from long ribbon and plastic ties.
Plain paper that kids can decorate with markers.
7Letter to Santa
Sit with each child, let them dictate or draw a letter and talk about what they hope for and what they are grateful for. Our letter to Santa template guide has a free layout and mailing tips.
Ages: 3 to 8
Prep: 5 minutes
Mess: Low
Supplies: paper, crayons or markers, an envelope
Safety: keep markers capped and away from walls, and let toddlers scribble while you write for them.
8Kindness toy donation box
Pick a box and let each child choose two toys they have outgrown to give to a charity drop-off. Talk about who will play with them. It is the best antidote to a Christmas list that only goes one way. Our kindness advent calendar has more ideas.
Ages: 3 to 8
Prep: 10 minutes
Mess: Low
Supplies: a cardboard box, a marker, tape, gently used toys
Safety: give only toys that are clean and in good shape, and check them for loose parts and missing batteries.
Bigger Builds
9Cardboard box gingerbread house
Cut a door and window in a big box, then let kids decorate it with stickers, paper shapes, cotton ball snow and washable markers. It becomes a house for stuffed animals all month. No baking, no candy and no sticky floors.
Ages: 3 to 8
Prep: 15 minutes
Mess: Medium
Supplies: a large cardboard box, stickers, construction paper, cotton balls, washable markers, tape
Safety: an adult cuts the box and tapes sharp edges, and cotton balls stay away from children under 3.
- Tape a battery tea light inside only if it is a large, sealed, kid-safe one.
Big stickers are easy for small hands to peel.
10Holiday card for a grandparent
Fold a sheet of cardstock, let kids draw a picture and add a sticker or two. Younger children can dictate a sentence for you to write. Our Christmas cards kids can make by age page has ideas for every skill level.
Ages: 3 to 8
Prep: 5 minutes
Mess: Low
Supplies: cardstock, washable markers, stickers, an envelope and a stamp
Safety: keep stickers and caps away from children under 3.
15 More Quick Adds
These fifteen need almost no setup. Most use things you already own, and several link to pages with more detail.
| Idea | Ages | Prep | Mess | Supplies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choose a new family ornament | 3 to 8 | 5 minutes | Low | a small budget, one non-breakable ornament per child |
| Christmas scavenger hunt with the free cards | 3 to 8 | 5 minutes | None | the free printable cards, a pencil, a basket |
| Cookie cutter playdough tray | 3 to 8 | 5 minutes | Medium | playdough, Christmas cookie cutters, a tray |
| Christmas coloring afternoon | 3 to 8 | 2 minutes | Low | printed coloring pages, crayons, a clipboard |
| Christmas pajama day | 2 to 8 | 0 minutes | None | pajamas the family already owns |
| Window cling scene | 3 to 8 | 2 minutes | None | reusable static window clings |
| Tape tree on the wall | 3 to 8 | 5 minutes | Low | painter's tape, paper shapes, a marker |
| Cocoa picnic on the living room floor | 3 to 8 | 5 minutes | Medium | a blanket, lukewarm cocoa in sippy or small cups, a tray |
| Christmas bingo night | 4 to 8 | 5 minutes | None | bingo boards, paper scraps or large buttons for ages 4 and up |
| Living room dance party | 2 to 8 | 1 minute | None | a Christmas playlist and cleared floor space |
| Christmas table place cards | 4 to 8 | 10 minutes | Low | index cards, washable markers, stickers |
| Start an elf visit | 4 to 8 | 5 minutes | None | an elf, doll or stuffed animal and a small note |
| Pack a Christmas Eve box | 3 to 8 | 10 minutes | Low | a box, pajamas, a book, a small craft |
| Handprint reindeer picture | 3 to 8 | 10 minutes | Medium | washable paint, paper, wipes |
| Cotton ball snowman picture | 4 to 8 | 5 minutes | Low | paper, a glue stick, cotton balls, markers |
Our free Christmas scavenger hunt cards and free Christmas printables cover the hunt, coloring and bingo rows. For the playdough tray, see Christmas playdough activities for toddlers. The Christmas Eve box is covered in Christmas Eve box ideas by age, and the elf visit in our elf on the shelf ideas.
How to Turn the List Into a 25-Day Plan
Here is the simplest plan. Put 25 slips in a jar, one per idea, and pull one each morning. Or sort by prep: save the 10 to 15 minute ideas for weekends and put the 5-minute ones on school nights.
Your December bucket list pacing
If you want all 24 days planned for you, the Christmas Activity Pack has 24 activity cards, bingo boards and kindness cards you print once. For the days after Christmas, the winter break two week plan has a free 3-page printable, and the advent calendar fillers page has ideas that are not candy.
Keep the Bucket List Safe
Many Christmas ideas come with small parts: ornaments, stickers, cotton balls and pen caps. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has small parts rules for toys for children under 3, and the toilet paper tube is a handy home check. If it fits through, keep it away from the youngest. If you think a child has swallowed something harmful, call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 in the US. This page is not safety certification, so use your own judgment for your child.
Supplies for your Christmas bucket list
-
Kid-safe scissors
Typically $4 to $9
For paper chains and snowflakes.
Check price on Amazon for Kid-safe scissors -
Washable markers
Typically $6 to $12
For cards, tags and the donation box.
Check price on Amazon for Washable markers -
Construction paper pack
Typically $5 to $10
For chains, snowflakes and the box house.
Check price on Amazon for Construction paper pack -
Kraft wrapping paper roll
Typically $8 to $16
For the wrapping station.
Check price on Amazon for Kraft wrapping paper roll -
Static window clings
Typically $6 to $12
For the window cling scene.
Check price on Amazon for Static window clings
Frequently asked questions
What should be on a Christmas bucket list for kids?
A mix of cozy, making and giving ideas: a lights walk, a paper chain, a gift wrapping station, a donation box and a few five-minute games. Include a few no-prep days so the list stays fun, not a chore.
How many Christmas bucket list ideas do I need for December?
Twenty-five is a good number for a daily plan, but most families do two or three ideas a week. Keep five no-prep ideas ready for tired days.
What are good Christmas bucket list ideas for toddlers?
Pick low-mess ideas like a lights walk, a book basket, a sock snowball fight and a cocoa picnic. Skip small parts and sharp scissors, and stay close for every activity.
How can I make a Christmas bucket list for older kids?
Let them choose some ideas, give them a job like running the gift wrapping station and add a giving idea like the donation box. Ages 6 to 8 usually enjoy bingo, cards and building the cardboard house.
Can I print a Christmas bucket list?
You can write the 25 ideas on slips of paper or print them from this page. The Christmas Activity Pack also has a December countdown with 24 activity cards.
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