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December is busy, loud and wonderful, and many families look for a simple activity that slows everyone down for a little while. A Christmas coloring page is one of the easiest answers. All you need is a page, a few crayons and a cozy corner.
But a colored page doesn’t have to end up in a drawer. With a pair of scissors, some glue and a little imagination, it can become a card for Grandma, a tag on a present or an ornament on the tree. Below are ten Christmas coloring activities for kids that turn coloring time into real holiday traditions.
What You’ll Need
You probably have most of this at home already:
- Christmas coloring pages (single-sided pages are easiest to cut)
- Chunky crayons, washable markers or colored pencils
- Child-safe scissors and a glue stick
- Card stock or old cereal boxes for stiffening
- A hole punch, ribbon or string
- Optional: glitter glue, stickers, cotton balls for “snow”
Tip: if a coloring book has pages printed on one side only, you can cut out a picture without losing the one on the back.
10 Christmas Coloring Activities for Kids
1. Handmade Christmas cards
Fold a piece of card stock in half. Your child colors a Christmas picture, cuts it out and glues it onto the front. Inside, they can write (or dictate) a short message. A card your child made is a gift in itself.
2. Gift tags for every present
Small details like a star, a stocking or a candy cane make perfect gift tags. Cut them out, glue onto card for strength, punch a hole and tie with ribbon. Kids love spotting “their” tags under the tree.
3. Paper ornaments for the tree
Glue a colored picture onto thin cardboard, cut around the shape and add a loop of string. Color a second copy for the back if you’d like a two-sided ornament. Write the year on the back so it becomes a keepsake.
4. A coloring advent countdown
Pick 24 pages (or 12 for a shorter countdown) and number them. Each day in December, your child colors one page. Hang the finished pages along a string with clothespins, and watch the line grow toward Christmas Day.
5. A Christmas window gallery
Tape finished pages to a window facing the street. It’s a cheerful display for neighbors and a proud moment for little artists. Swap the pictures every few days to keep the “gallery” fresh.
6. Placemats for Christmas dinner
Color a page, then cover it with clear contact paper or laminate it. Each child makes a placemat for a family member. It’s a lovely job for kids while the grown-ups are busy in the kitchen.
7. A “color with me” family night
Put on Christmas music, make hot chocolate and color together. Children enjoy seeing grown-ups color too, and it’s an easy, screen-free evening that doesn’t need any planning.
8. Christmas Eve box surprise
Tuck a new coloring book and a fresh box of crayons into a Christmas Eve box with cozy pajamas. It gives kids something calm to do on one of the most exciting nights of the year.
9. Story-time coloring
Ask your child to tell you a story about the picture they’re coloring: Who is this snowman? Where is the reindeer going? Write the story on the back of the page. It turns coloring into a little storytelling activity, too.
10. Mini coloring on the go
Holiday travel, waiting rooms and restaurant tables are all easier with a small coloring book and a few crayons in your bag. A pocket-size book fits easily in a purse or backpack.
Choosing the Right Christmas Coloring Book by Age
Not every coloring book suits every child. Here’s a simple way to choose.
Toddlers and preschoolers (about 2–5)
Look for big, simple pictures with thick outlines. Small hands are still learning control, and large spaces help them feel successful.
The Big & Bold Christmas Coloring Book was made exactly for this stage: 50 festive designs with thick, rounded outlines and large open spaces for children ages 3+, on single-sided 8.5 × 8.5-inch pages. Happy kids, adorable animals, snowmen, Santa and gifts are all waiting to be colored, and the single-sided pages make it ideal for the cutting activities above.
For the very youngest, the Magical Christmas Mini Coloring Book has 50 Christmas pages with clean, clear outlines for ages 2–5.
Early school age (about 3–8)
Children at this age enjoy a bit more detail and like to choose their own colors. The Cozy Christmas Kids Coloring Book has 50 charming Christmas designs for ages 3–8 on large 8.5 × 8.5-inch pages.
Kids on the go
For car rides and family visits, the Cozy Christmas: Mini Coloring Book has 50 festive designs for ages 4–8 in a handy 6 × 6-inch travel size.
Tips for Calm, Happy Coloring Time
- Let them choose the colors. A purple Santa is perfectly fine. It’s their picture.
- Keep sessions short. Ten or fifteen minutes is plenty for little ones. Stop while it’s still fun.
- Praise the effort, not the neatness. Try “I love how you colored the tree” rather than “You stayed in the lines.”
- Set up a coloring basket. Keep crayons, a book and scissors together so it’s easy to start.
- Display their work. Seeing their pictures on the fridge, the tree or a window makes kids proud.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age can kids start Christmas coloring?
As soon as your child enjoys making marks with chunky crayons, they’re ready to try. For toddlers and preschoolers, choose pages with big, simple shapes and thick outlines, and expect plenty of happy coloring outside the lines.
What can I do with finished Christmas coloring pages?
Turn them into cards, gift tags, ornaments, placemats or a window gallery. Single-sided pages are easiest, because nothing is lost on the back when you cut.
Are coloring books a good Christmas gift for kids?
A coloring book with a new set of crayons is a simple, screen-free gift that works well in stockings and Christmas Eve boxes. Pick one that matches your child’s age and interests.
How do I make a coloring advent calendar?
Choose 24 coloring pages, number them, and color one each day from December 1. Hang the finished pages on a string so the countdown grows toward Christmas.
Find More Cozy Christmas Books
Lily Grace creates cozy coloring books and stories for kids, teens and adults. You can see all the Christmas books, from big and bold toddler pages to travel-size minis, on the Lily Grace books page.
Merry coloring, and happy holidays!
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