Montessori Christmas Activities

Montessori Christmas Activities for Babies, Toddlers, & Primary (3 - 6)

Did you catch our post of twenty-four Christmas activities for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers?

If you haven’t, you should go check it out…if only to see pictures when my boys were babies. It’s crazy to think how fast they grow!

Moving on…

Because I can’t leave well enough alone and my kids are growing kids changing needs and interests, I’ve got nearly 30 new Montessori-inspired Christmas activities!

You’ll find activities for babies, toddlers, and primary  (3 – 6) ages. I’ve given these general categories, but you know your child best. An activity marked toddler may be a good fit for your three-year-old. Or you may have a young three-year-old with the skill matched to a primary activity. Follow the child.

Most of the activities are new, while there are a few repeats with a new twist from past years.

I know it may sound weird, but I really do enjoy thinking up different activities and putting them together. I hope you find some that’ll work with your family or class this year.

Babies (3 months – 12 months)

Christmas Treasure Basket

A treasure basket is a group of various items (usually 15 to 20) that are found around the house. The purpose of the activity is to provide the infant with the opportunity to explore and discover on their own.

The items in the basket should appeal to the 5 senses (sight, touch, taste, hear, smell) and made of varying materials, preferably natural materials. For safety reasons, activities geared toward babies should always be observed.

/Montessori Christmas Activities for Babies - Christmas Treasure Basket.Stacking Presents

This is a simple activity for babies to begin stacking and knocking down objects. I wrapped empty ornament boxes for these. You could add a new aspect to stacking with objects of different shapes (with flat top and bottom though).

Montessori Christmas Activities for Babies - Stacking Presents

Montessori Christmas Activities for Babies - Stacking PresentsExploring Ornaments

How often do little one’s want to discover Christmas ornaments! With this activity, babies can safely explore ornaments. Choose 4 – 6 ornaments of varying weights, sizes, and textures for the child to explore. This is a great activity to do with your child, observing as they turn the ornament over in their hands.Montessori Christmas Activities for Babies - Exploring Ornaments

Observing a Christmas Tree with a Mirror

I’m sad to say I don’t have a picture of this one, but all my children have loved laying near the Christmas tree and looking at the lights. What child doesn’t? It’s a new and exciting part of their environment to explore.

Montessori Christmas Activities for Babies - Observing a Christmas Tree with a Mirror

Sensory Sounds with Bells

Gather your various bells and let your little one discover all the sound they can make! This is a great activity for a child that is able to sit on their own.

Montessori Christmas Activities for Babies - Sensory Sounds with Bells

Montessori Christmas Activities for Babies - Sensory Sounds with Bells

Hearing a Christmas Carol or Poem

Connect with your littlest one by singing a Christmas carol or reading a poem just to them. “Love Came Down at Christmas” by Christina Rossetti is one of my favorite Christmas poems. We’re going to be learning it together as a family in December.

Montessori Christmas Activities for Infants - Christmas Carol or Poem

Coin Box

Montessori Christmas Activities for Babies  - Coin Box

In & Out

Mix up this simple in and out activity with different types of “sticks.” Try paper straws, chenille straws, or even cinnamon sticks.

Montessori Christmas Activities for Babies - Practicing In & Out

 

Most of the rest of these activities are pretty self-explanatory.

Toddlers (24 Months – 36 Months)

Play Dough Christmas Tree Tray

Montessori Christmas Activities for Toddlers - Play Dough Christmas Tree Tray

Decorate a Felt Tree

Montessori Christmas Activities for Toddlers - Decorate a Felt Tree

Tonging Christmas Pom Poms

Montessori Christmas Activities for Toddlers - Tonging Pom Poms

Matching Ornaments to Colored Tablets

Montessori Christmas Activities for Toddlers - Matching Ornaments to Colored Tablets

Montessori Christmas Activities for Toddlers - Matching Ornaments to Colored Tablets

Matching Candy Cane Colors

Montessori Christmas Activities for Toddlers - Matching Candy Cane Colors

Montessori Christmas Activities for Toddlers - Matching Candy Cane Colors

Matching Christmas Objects to Picture

Montessori Christmas Activities for Toddlers - Matching Christmas Objects to Pictures

Montessori Christmas Activities for Toddlers - Matching Christmas Objects to Pictures

Sorting Ornaments by Type

Montessori Christmas Activities for Toddlers - Sorting Ornaments by Type

Experiencing Christmas Scents

This is like the traditional Smelling Bottles, but without the matching component. I put a cotton ball into each container and dropped a different essential oil (or element) into each. We used cinnamon, peppermint, clove, vanilla, wintergreen, and sweet orange. If you don’t have essential oils, you could use extracts (ie, peppermint extract or vanilla extract) on the cotton ball.

Also, saving empty spice jars pays off!

Montessori Christmas Activities for Toddlers - Experiencing Christmas Scents

Christmas Lacing Cards

Montessori Christmas Activities for Toddlers - Christmas Lacing Cards

Primary (3 – 6 Years)

Decorate a Christmas Tree

Montessori Christmas Activities for 3 - 6 Year Olds - Decorate a Christmas Tree

Patterning Christmas Lights

Montessori Christmas Activities for 3 - 6 Year Old's - Patterning Christmas Lights

Gingerbread Play Dough Tray

Montessori Christmas Activities for 3 - 6 Year Old's - Gingerbread Play Dough Tray

Wrapping a Present

Montessori Christmas Activities for 3 - 6 Year Old's - Wrapping a Present

Christmas Card Tray

Montessori Christmas Activities for 3 - 6 Year Old's - Christmas Card Tray

Stringing Christmas Garlands

I’d love to try this with some popcorn and maybe even cranberries sometime.

Montessori Christmas Activities for 3 - 6 Year Old's - Stringing a Christmas Garland

Handwork – Stitching a Christmas Tree

For the embroidery work, I drew the outline of the tree on both sides of the fabric so they could see where to put the needle on both sides of the fabric.

Montessori Christmas Activities for 3 - 6 Year Old's - Handwork - Stitching a Christmas Tree

Montessori Christmas Activities for 3 - 6 Year Old's - Handwork - Stitching a Christmas Tree

Christmas Smelling Bottles (& Matching to Object)

Similar to the Experiencing Christmas Scents in the toddler section, except now we’re matching the scents to the objects. As an added extension, matching the scents to the picture cards.

The scents we used are cinnamon, peppermint, clove, vanilla, wintergreen, and sweet orange.

Montessori Christmas Activities for 3 - 6 Year Olds - Christmas Smelling Bottles & Matching Object to Smell

Counting with Christmas Lights

Montessori Christmas Activities for 3 - 6 Year Old's - Counting Christmas Lights

Montessori Christmas Activities for 3 - 6 Year Old's - Counting Christmas Lights

Peppermint-Scented Sand Tray

This is a fun way to practice pre-writing skills allowing the child to feel texture. I added a little peppermint essential oil and glitter to give it a Christmas sparkle.

Montessori Christmas Activities for Toddlers - Peppermint Scented Sand Tray

 

If you’re still looking for that perfect gift for Christmas, then check out our Montessori Christmas Gift Guide! You’ll find gifts for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, 5- 7 year old’s, subscription gift ideas for families, and even a gift list for homeschool families!

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Linking up with Montessori Monday at Living Montessori Now.

1 comment… add one

  • Ang November 28, 2014, 7:20 am

    Hi, using some of your great ideas as inspiration for my “What’s in the box?” advent count down of Montessori Christmas trays for toddlers. Thanks! http://www.angathome.com

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