Polar Express Activities for Kids: A Family Polar Express Night at Home

By Jess Harper Updated 11 min read

Polar Express activities for kids are easy to run at home, and a family night needs only paper, cocoa and a few jumbo bells. This list has 10 ideas for ages 2 to 8: paper train tickets, a hot cocoa bar, a bell hunt, a pajama train, a paper plate cocoa craft and story sequencing cards. Each lists ages, prep time, mess level, supplies and a safety note. It is unofficial and uses no characters, stills or logos, only generic train, bell and cocoa ideas.

Polar Express activities for kids on a dining table: paper train tickets, a cup of cocoa, a jumbo silver bell and a paper plate cocoa mug craft Save

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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

  • 10 Polar Express activities for a family night at home, for ages 2 to 8.
  • A suggested 5:30 to 7:30 schedule shows how the night can run.
  • Serve cocoa warm, skip whole marshmallows for under 4s and use jumbo bells only.
  • No movie stills, characters or logos; only generic train, bell and cocoa ideas.
  • Story sequencing cards turn any train story into a thinking game.
In this post15 sections
  1. Polar Express Activities for Kids: How a Family Night Works
  2. Tickets, Cocoa and Pajamas: Boarding the Train
  3. 1. Paper train tickets
  4. 2. Hot cocoa bar
  5. 3. Pajama train
  6. On Board: Bell Hunt, Box Train and Cocoa Crafts
  7. 4. Bell hunt
  8. 5. Cardboard box train
  9. 6. Paper plate cocoa mug
  10. 7. Snow and stars window
  11. Story Time and Sleepy Wrap-Up
  12. 8. Story sequencing cards
  13. 9. Train snack tray
  14. 10. Flashlight story time
  15. FAQ

Polar Express Activities for Kids: How a Family Night Works

Most Polar Express activities online are classroom stations. This post is for a family night at home, built around pajamas, cocoa and a bedtime story, with one activity per 10 to 15 minutes. It is unofficial: we use no characters, no movie stills and no logos, only generic train, bell and cocoa ideas you can make from paper and things you own.

Example schedule for a family Polar Express night at home (a suggested plan, adjust to your bedtime)
TimeWhat happensActivity
5:30Tickets and boardingPaper train tickets, pajama train
5:45Cocoa barWarm cocoa and safe toppings
6:15Games and craftsBell hunt, box train, cocoa plate craft
7:00Story timeRead the book or watch with a flashlight pause, then sequencing cards
7:30Snack tray and bedSoft snack tray, window stars

Tickets, Cocoa and Pajamas: Boarding the Train

1Paper train tickets

Cream cardstock train tickets with a red stripe and punched holes beside a hole punch on a wooden table Save

Cut cream cardstock into long tickets, draw a stripe at one end and write a name, a seat number and "Christmas Eve train" in marker. Hand them out at the door, and let the "conductor" (a parent with a paper hat) stamp or punch each one with a hole punch before boarding.

Ages: 3 and up (an adult punches for under 5)

Prep: 10 minutes

Mess: None

Supplies: cardstock, marker, hole punch or stamp, scissors

Safety: a hole punch is for an adult or older child, and keep the paper bits off the floor for small ones.

  • Add a seat number so siblings do not argue about who sits where.
Get the lookHole punch and cardstockTypically $8 to $14

Handy for tickets, cards and crafts.

Check price on Amazon

2Hot cocoa bar

A tray of four small mugs of cocoa with whipped cream and bowls of sprinkles and cinnamon on a kitchen counter Save

Set out warm (not hot) cocoa in small mugs, with a toppings tray of whipped cream, cocoa-colored sprinkles and a cinnamon shaker. Let each child top their own. Hot drinks scald, so serve cocoa warm and cool it before it reaches a small hand. Seattle Children's has simple steps to prevent scald burns.

Ages: 2 and up with a sippy lid, 4 and up with a mug

Prep: 10 minutes

Mess: Medium

Supplies: small mugs, a tray, whipped cream, sprinkles, a cocoa you already like

Safety: check the temperature yourself, keep mugs back from table edges and skip whole marshmallows for children under 4, since the AAP lists them as a choking risk.

  • Let the cocoa sit five minutes after you pour it. It stays warm much longer than kids will wait.
Get the lookSmall kids' mugs with lidsTypically $8 to $16

Lidded cups cut spills for ages 2 and 3.

Check price on Amazon

3Pajama train

A line of cushions and chairs arranged as a pajama train on a living room rug with a paper conductor hat Save

Line up chairs or cushions in two rows as the train cars, then add a "locomotive" at the front. Everyone climbs on in pajamas with a ticket. Play a train chug, a whistle and a slow stop at each station (the couch, the kitchen, the window).

Ages: 2 and up

Prep: 5 minutes

Mess: None

Supplies: chairs or cushions, pajamas, a scarf for a conductor

Safety: check that your child's pajamas are snug-fitting or flame resistant, and keep the chairs away from stairs and hot drinks.

  • Let the youngest ring the bell at each stop.

On Board: Bell Hunt, Box Train and Cocoa Crafts

These are the active middle of the night. Do the bell hunt first while kids still have energy, then settle into the crafts. The Christmas Activity Pack has a countdown, bingo and a scavenger hunt if you want to run a longer December of nights like this.

4Bell hunt

A basket of large silver jingle bells with red ribbon beside a cushion hiding one more bell Save

Hide 5 to 8 jumbo jingle bells (2 inches wide or bigger) around a room at child height. Kids look for them and ring each one as they find it. Give a ribbon-tied basket as the "mail bag" for finds.

Ages: 3 and up

Prep: 5 minutes

Mess: Low

Supplies: jumbo bells, a basket, a ribbon handle

Safety: use jumbo bells only, count them back in and keep any under-3 sibling out of the game, because small bells are a choking hazard and CPSC small parts rules apply to toys for under 3.

  • Hide one bell very low for the littlest searcher.
Get the lookJumbo jingle bells, 2 inchTypically $7 to $12

Choose 2 inch and larger so none are a choking size.

Check price on Amazon

5Cardboard box train

A line of small cardboard boxes made into a train with paper wheels and stuffed animal passengers Save

Tape four to six boxes in a line, cut open the tops and tie a soft cord between them. Add paper wheels and a number on each car, and let kids pile in stuffed animals as passengers. A long train makes a great backdrop for a family photo.

Ages: 2 and up

Prep: 20 minutes

Mess: Low

Supplies: cardboard boxes, strong tape, soft cord, paper circles, markers

Safety: an adult cuts and tapes the boxes, covers sharp tape edges, and keeps the cord short and loose, with no loops around necks.

  • Draw a different number on each car for early counting.

6Paper plate cocoa mug

A brown paper plate cocoa mug craft with torn tissue whipped cream beside a paint plate and glue Save

Paint a paper plate brown, fold up a half-circle to make a mug, add a paper handle and glue torn white tissue or a few cotton balls on top as whipped cream. Preschoolers love the squishy cream. Add a red paper straw stripe.

Ages: 3 and up

Prep: 10 minutes

Mess: Medium

Supplies: paper plates, brown paint, white tissue, cotton balls, glue, scissors

Safety: use washable non-toxic paint, keep cotton balls away from mouths for under 3, and have an adult cut the plate.

  • Skip the cotton balls for toddlers and use big torn tissue pieces instead.
Get the lookPaper plates and washable paintTypically $8 to $14

Everything for the cocoa craft.

Check price on Amazon

7Snow and stars window

Black paper window on a wall with gold star stickers, white paint snow and a paper moon Save

Tape black paper on a window or a wall and let kids stick on star stickers and dab white paint snow with a cotton swab. Tape it low so they can add more stars all night, then leave it up as a night-train window view.

Ages: 2 and up (stickers for older toddlers only with an adult)

Prep: 5 minutes

Mess: Low

Supplies: black paper, star stickers, white washable paint, cotton swabs, tape

Safety: use large stickers for under 3, since small ones are a choking hazard, and throw out used cotton swabs.

  • Add a paper moon at the top for a sleepy end to the night.

Story Time and Sleepy Wrap-Up

8Story sequencing cards

Five large drawn picture cards in a row showing pajamas, a train, snowy hills, a bell and a bed Save

Draw five simple pictures on index cards that tell a generic Christmas Eve train story: getting into pajamas, climbing on the train, a snowy ride, ringing a bell, and heading home to bed. Mix them up and have kids put them in order and tell the story back. You can use the pictures for any train or bedtime story.

Ages: 3 and up

Prep: 10 minutes

Mess: None

Supplies: index cards, markers

Safety: use cards that are large and not tiny, keep scissors for adults, and read together instead of leaving cards unattended.

  • Make it harder for older kids by adding two more cards.

9Train snack tray

A tray of soft finger foods lined up like train cars with banana slices, cheese cubes and crackers Save

Fill a muffin tin or tray with soft finger foods like banana slices, cheese cubes the size of a thumbnail and soft crackers, and call each one a train car. Skip whole grapes, nuts and popcorn. The AAP lists hot dogs, whole grapes, popcorn and nuts as high-risk foods for young children.

Ages: 2 and up

Prep: 5 minutes

Mess: Medium

Supplies: a tray or muffin tin, soft foods cut small, small plates

Safety: cut round foods into pieces no larger than half an inch, and have children sit to eat.

  • Line cheese cubes up like a train to make snack time a game.

10Flashlight story time

A blanket tent with a flashlight glow, picture books and pillows in a living room corner Save

Turn the lights down, build a blanket tunnel, and read a Christmas train story by flashlight. Pause at three spots to ask what the child thinks will happen next. Use the library copy or a book you own. Our Christmas books for toddlers list has board books with matching activities for younger kids.

Ages: All ages

Prep: 5 minutes

Mess: None

Supplies: blanket, a flashlight, a book

Safety: use a battery flashlight with a closed cover, and keep batteries out of reach of small hands.

  • Let your child hold the flashlight and point it at the page.

Polar Express night checklist

The night is the memory. The crafts are just the track.

Supplies for a family Polar Express night

More Christmas Eve ideas are in our Christmas Eve traditions timeline, Christmas Eve box ideas and paper plate Christmas crafts. For gifts to fill a box, see advent calendar fillers that are not candy. The Christmas Activity Pack adds 24 days of printable fun.

Frequently asked questions

What are fun Polar Express activities for kids at home?

Try paper train tickets, a warm cocoa bar, a jumbo bell hunt, a pajama train, a paper plate cocoa craft and story sequencing cards. Each uses things you already own and takes 5 to 20 minutes.

How do you throw a Polar Express night at home?

Hand out tickets, serve cocoa, play a bell hunt, make a box train, then read the story by flashlight. A simple 5:30 to 7:30 schedule keeps it calm before bed.

What Polar Express activities work for preschoolers?

Preschoolers like the paper plate cocoa mug, the story sequencing cards, the bell hunt and the hole-punch ticket game. Adults handle the punch and scissors.

Is hot cocoa safe for toddlers?

Serve it warm, not hot, in a lidded cup, and test the temperature yourself. Keep mugs away from table edges, since hot drinks are a common scald risk for young children.

Are bells safe for toddlers?

Only jumbo bells, 2 inches or larger, with an adult watching. Small jingle bells fit through a toilet paper tube and are a choking risk for children under 3.

Do I need the movie or book for these activities?

No. Every idea uses generic train, bell and cocoa themes, so you can pair it with any Christmas train story you like, or none at all.

Photo collage of Polar Express activities for kids: cocoa mugs on a tray, paper train tickets with a hole punch, a paper plate cocoa craft and a hero table, text reads 10 Easy Polar Express Activities for Kids, a family night at home.

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About the author

Jess Harper, Founder & Editor

Jess Harper is the pen name of the independent publisher who founded Puddles & Play, used for its holiday crafts and for editing every post. Jess isn't a teacher or childcare professional, so posts are checked for age range, supplies and choking hazards against published child-safety guidance, with AI tools helping on research, drafts and images. Each post is checked against those sources before it goes live and updated when they change. Every activity is meant for adult-supervised play.

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A human editor checks every Puddles & Play activity for ages, supplies and safety before it's published.

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