Free Access
Santa’s Workshop Role Play Pack
Build a pretend workshop with signs, windows, masks and present props. Gift tags, request forms and a name scroll add reasons to write during play.
Christmas Activities & Resources for EYFS & KS1
Theme collection · EYFS & KS1
Christmas stories,
play & shared moments
Explore free printables, Nativity storytelling, role play, making, maths and thoughtful early years planning.
Choose a few useful additions that connect with your children, their families and the routines already working in your setting. Make room for imaginative ideas, purposeful messages and different ways to take part.
Christmas Eve: Thursday 24 December 2026
Christmas Day: Friday 25 December 2026
Start with 16 free printables ↓
Explore two free EYFS planning packs ↓
Christmas, family traditions & choosing activities ↓
Find your starting point
Search this Christmas collection
Try a resource, activity or age. Choose a result to see its cover here, then open the resource when you are ready. Search includes resources inside the expandable groups and the related pages below.
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01 / Explore the theme
Start with something free
16 resources are available with Free Access. Explore a few below, or open the rest of the free collection. Where a free sample differs from a larger pack, its card explains the edition.
Free Access
Santa Express Role Play Pack
Create a festive train journey with tickets, windows, signs, masks and props, plus luggage tags, wish lists and food-order forms for mark making.
Free Access
Design a Christmas Jumper Multimat
A Christmas jumper outline for playdough, loose-parts designs, drawing or collage; laminate it for repeated use with whiteboard pens.
Free Access
Christmas Building Block Challenge Cards — Free Sample
Three Christmas building challenge cards invite children to copy shapes, colours and patterns. The full pack contains 14 challenges.
Free Access
Christmas Cards — Horizontal
Ten horizontal Christmas card templates for adult-supported making or an independent card-making invitation.
Free Access
Christmas Jumper Snap Cards Game
Match Christmas jumper pictures in a snap game while noticing and describing their colours and designs.
More start with something free (10)
Free Access
Happy Holiday Cards — Vertical
Ten vertical Happy Holiday card templates for shared card making or independent creative invitations, with a seasonal greeting choice.
Free Access
Gingerbread Man Numbers 1–10
Match numerals 1–10 with gingerbread button quantities. Use the full-colour figures for counting, number order and missing-number games.
Free Access
Christmas Activity Booklet — Free Sample
Try five Christmas and holiday activity pages, plus a front cover. The full booklet contains 20 activities and its cover.
Free Access
Festive Card Templates — Basic
Nine card designs with simple festive outlines to colour, paint or collage, including a tree, gingerbread figure, robin and snowman.
Free Access
Present Shape Match & Label Writing — A4
Match ten wrapped presents to toy pictures and write labels for what might be inside. Includes 20 A4 cards, with options for independent guessing and writing.
Free Access
Nativity Border Sheets — Portrait
Portrait paper featuring the Christian Nativity, with two lined options and a blank version for writing or drawing. Colour and colouring versions are included.
Free Access
Christmas Jumper Two-Piece Puzzles
Ten Christmas jumper puzzles, each in two pieces, for matching colours and patterns and noticing similarities and differences.
Free Access
Christmas Colour & Count (1–20)
Colour and count Christmas objects from 1–20, pointing to each object once and connecting quantities with written numerals.
Free Access
Decorate the Star of Bethlehem Multimat
Decorate a Star of Bethlehem outline using playdough, loose parts, drawing or collage, as part of exploring the Christian Nativity story.
Free Access
2026 Calendar Templates
A 2026 year overview and 12 monthly calendar sheets with space for children’s artwork. This existing edition is dated 2026.
02 / Explore the theme
Christmas planning for the EYFS
These two adult-facing packs are currently available with Free Access. Each offers separate guidance for babies, toddlers, preschool and Reception. Use them to choose meaningful additions, useful language and responsive adult support alongside familiar provision.
Free Access · Open preview
Christmas Question & Vocabulary Banks
Age-specific interaction and vocabulary guidance for babies, toddlers, preschool and Reception, with adult prompts, environment ideas and observation notes.
Free Access · Open preview
Christmas Continuous Provision Enhancements
Four age-specific banks of optional Christmas provision ideas, from babies to Reception, to adapt around children’s interests and your setting.
03 / Explore the theme
Role play & shared adventures
Create a post office, workshop, train or performance space using children’s ideas. Offer tickets, messages and useful props, and let children shape the play. Santa and elf resources are optional imaginative contexts.
Also explore the free Santa Express train pack and Santa's Workshop pack.
All Access
Christmas Pantomime Role Play Pack
Create a pretend pantomime theatre with tickets, signs, badges, character masks and posters, plus opportunities to write names and advertise a show.
All Access
Christmas Post Office Role Play Pack
Set up a pretend post office with stamps, signs, badges and a post box, plus delivery notes, word cards and stamp-design sheets.
All Access
Christmas Character Masks
Five child-sized Christmas character masks for imaginative role play, acting and party activities.
All Access
Toy Shop Role Play Pack
Editable shop signs, toy labels, picture cards, wish lists and writing sheets support pretend buying, selling and conversation.
04 / Explore the theme
Making, designing & building
Offer materials for cards, collage, dough, masks and construction. Children can choose how to combine them, try a design and change their minds. Finished pieces can reflect their own ideas.
All Access
Christmas Building Block Challenge Cards
Copy festive pictures using building blocks, looking closely at shape, colour and position. Designs include a tree, stocking, snowflake and gingerbread man.
All Access
Festive Card Templates — Detailed
Nine card designs with detailed festive outlines to colour, paint or collage, including Santa, a reindeer, bauble and Christmas jumper.
All Access
Christmas Activity Booklet
Twenty festive activity pages with number ordering, initial-sound matching, drawing and colouring, plus a front cover for making a booklet.
All Access
Blank Christmas Masks
Five blank child-sized Christmas masks to colour or decorate, then use for party activities and imaginative role play.
All Access
Festive A4 Templates — Basic
Nine A4 designs with simple festive outlines for colouring, painting or collage. Use as posters or cut out elements to make a larger greetings card.
All Access
Festive A4 Templates — Detailed
Nine A4 designs with detailed festive outlines for colouring, painting or collage. Use as posters or cut out elements to make a larger greetings card.
More making, designing & building (9)
All Access
Christmas Multimats
Festive mats for playdough, loose parts and whiteboard pens, or use the sheets with drawing tools and art materials.
All Access
Present Shape Colouring Sheets
Colour wrapped-present outlines and the toys they resemble, including a car, ball and bicycle.
All Access
Christmas Tree Multimats — Playdough, Loose Parts, Art & Crafts
Christmas tree outlines for playdough, loose parts, drawing or collage; laminate for reusable mark making and modelling.
All Access
Finger Paint Fairy Lights
Add fingerprint fairy lights to create designs for cards, Christmas or winter displays, and decorative borders.
All Access
Christmas Cut, Stick & Decorate Tree Activity
Cut out decorations and arrange them on a Christmas tree outline, choosing from different sizes to suit developing cutting skills.
All Access
Christmas Design Sheets
Large A4 bauble, tree and stocking outlines for painting, collage, playdough designs or loose-parts artwork.
All Access
Christmas Cards — Vertical
Ten vertical Christmas card templates for adult-supported making or an independent card-making invitation.
All Access
Christmas Colouring Pages
A collection of Christmas pictures for colouring and creative time.
All Access
Happy Holiday Cards — Horizontal
Ten horizontal Happy Holiday card templates for shared card making or independent creative invitations, with a seasonal greeting choice.
05 / Explore the theme
Maths, counting & patterns
Select a suitable number range, notice quantities and compare different ways to make a total. Count real objects alongside pictures, or choose matching and shape activities that fit the children’s experience.
All Access
Gingerbread Man Numbers 1–10 — Colouring
Colour gingerbread figures showing numerals 1–10 and matching button quantities, then use them for counting and number-order games.
All Access
Christmas Number Subitising Posters & Mats (1–6)
Explore quantities 1–6 shown as stockings, gingerbread buttons, tree decorations and dice patterns, alongside numerals and number words.
All Access
Gingerbread Man Button Addition Mats
Add buttons made from playdough or loose parts to two gingerbread figures, then count and record each quantity and the total. Two mat designs are included.
All Access
Christmas Tree Decoration Addition Mats
Decorate two trees with playdough or loose parts, then count and record the separate quantities and their total. Choose from two addition mat designs.
All Access
Christmas Tree Numbers 1–10
Full-colour trees pair numerals 1–10 with matching bauble quantities. Use them for counting, number lines, ordering and missing-number games.
All Access
Christmas Tree Numbers 1–10 — Colouring
Colour trees showing numerals 1–10 and matching bauble quantities, then use them for counting, number lines and number-order games.
More maths, counting & patterns (8)
All Access
Present Shape Match — Small Cards
Match pictures of wrapped presents with their unwrapped contents by comparing shapes. Small-format cards can be used for group or individual matching games.
All Access
Present Shape Match — Large Cards
Match pictures of wrapped presents with their unwrapped contents by comparing shapes. Large-format cards can be used for group or individual matching games.
All Access
Christmas Counting Posters (0–20)
Count Christmas objects from 0–20 using posters that can also be printed at smaller sizes as number flashcards.
All Access
Christmas Number Slice Puzzles
Rebuild five Christmas pictures by ordering number strips, with 1–5 and 1–10 versions of each design.
All Access
Finger Paint Tree Decoration Counting
Numbered tree outlines from 1–20 invite children to add that many fingerprint lights, playdough decorations or loose parts; a blank tree is included.
All Access
Christmas Tree Playdough & Loose Parts Mats
Decorate numbered Christmas trees with 1–20 playdough baubles or loose parts, matching the number shown at the base of each tree.
All Access
Christmas Counting Puzzles (1–20)
Match numerals to Christmas quantities from 1–20, selecting a suitable range; uncut cards can also support counting and number ordering.
All Access
Christmas Number Slice Puzzles — Colouring
Colour Christmas pictures, cut them into numbered strips, then rebuild them in 1–5 or 1–10 order using the picture as a check.
06 / Explore the theme
Words, stories & purposeful writing
Give marks and words a purpose through letters, labels, tickets, descriptions and shared stories. Children can respond through talk, drawing, dictated words or writing.
Choose phonics material using the sounds and words already taught in your setting’s programme. A published phase label is a guide to the resource’s contents, rather than an expectation for every child of an age.
All Access
Christmas Present Alphabet Puzzle Game
Match upper-case and lower-case letter partners using 26 present-themed puzzles, one for each letter of the alphabet.
All Access
Personalised Story — Magical Christmas Adventure
Add children’s and adults’ names to an editable Christmas story frame, then share it aloud or make a personalised story gift. Supplied as a Word document.
All Access
Personalised Story — Magical Winter Adventure
Add children’s and adults’ names to an editable winter story frame for shared reading or a personalised story gift. Supplied as a Word document.
All Access
Christmas Party Ticket — Name Writing
A Christmas party ticket template that gives children a purpose for practising writing their name.
All Access
Christmas Acrostic Poem
Use the letters in “Christmas” to begin words or lines of a poem. Children can write their ideas or share them for an adult to scribe.
All Access
Letter to Father Christmas
Four writing and mark-making frames for composing a letter to Father Christmas through drawings, early marks or writing.
More words, stories & purposeful writing (11)
All Access
Letter to Santa
Four writing and mark-making frames for composing a letter to Santa through drawings, early marks or writing.
All Access
Present Shape Match & Label Writing — A5
Match ten wrapped presents to toy pictures and write labels for what might be inside. Includes 20 A5 cards, with options for independent guessing and writing.
All Access
Christmas Border Sheets — Landscape
Landscape Christmas writing and drawing paper with two lined options and a blank version, each in full colour and black and white for colouring.
All Access
Christmas Border Sheets — Portrait
Portrait Christmas writing and drawing paper with two lined options and a blank version, each in full colour and black and white for colouring.
All Access
Christmas Word Cards
Christmas vocabulary cards with initial-capital and lower-case editions, plus blanks for adding words to displays or role play.
All Access
Christmas Cut, Stick & Write — Story Building
Combine Christmas picture prompts with a choice of writing frames to build stories through talk, mark making and writing.
All Access
Christmas Character Descriptions
Five Christmas character sheets with thought bubbles for descriptive words or answers to adult prompts, recorded by children or scribed.
All Access
Christmas Elf Letters & Sounds Game — Phases 2 & 3
Move an elf towards the presents on one of two phonics boards, practising Phase 2 or Phase 3 sounds already taught.
All Access
Christmas Story Cards
Christmas picture prompts for inventing stories, with activity ideas and opportunities for children to tell stories for an adult to scribe.
All Access
Christmas Writing, Drawing & Mark-Making Sheets
Eight lined and blank sheets with holly, fairy-light, bauble or bow motifs for Christmas drawing, writing and role-play messages.
All Access
Nonsense Elf Words
Elf-themed nonsense-word cards using Phase 2 letter–sound correspondences, for practising blending with sounds children already know.
07 / Explore the theme
The Nativity: story, characters & ideas
Explore the Christian story of Jesus’ birth through shared pictures, vocabulary, puppets and sequencing. Explain the story’s religious context and welcome questions without assuming that every family celebrates Christmas.
Children can learn about the Nativity without being expected to share a belief or take part in a performance. Choose a book or oral retelling alongside the printable resources.
All Access
Draw the Nativity Scene
A stable-outline drawing frame for children to add characters and represent a scene from the Christian Nativity story.
All Access
Nativity Playdough Mat
Talk about the Christian Nativity scene and create its different elements using playdough on a reusable mat.
All Access
Nativity Border Sheets — Landscape
Landscape paper featuring the Christian Nativity, with two lined options and a blank version for writing or drawing. Colour and colouring versions are included.
All Access
Christmas Nativity Memory Game
Find pairs of Nativity pictures in a memory game. The cards can also support conversation about the Christian story or be used in a display.
All Access
Nativity Lollipop Puppets
Nativity characters to attach to lollipop sticks and use when retelling the Christian Christmas story.
All Access
Nativity Picture Snap Cards
Nativity picture cards for snap, memory pairs and talking about characters and events from the Christian Christmas story.
More the nativity: story, characters & ideas (6)
All Access
Nativity Story Cut & Sequence Activity
Cut and order Nativity pictures after sharing the Christian Christmas story, with matching large sequence cards available separately.
All Access
Nativity Story Sequence Cards
Large 18.5 cm square cards for sharing and sequencing the Christian Nativity story before children try the smaller cut-and-sequence activity.
All Access
Nativity Word Mat
A Nativity vocabulary mat to support talking and writing about the Christian Christmas story.
All Access
Nativity Word Cards
Nativity vocabulary cards for exploring the Christian Christmas story, with blank cards for adults or children to add their own words.
All Access
Nativity Colouring Pages
Nativity-themed pictures for colouring alongside exploration of the Christian Christmas story.
All Access
Nativity Story Sequence Cards — Colouring
Colouring versions of Nativity story pictures for exploring and ordering the Christian Christmas story.
08 / Explore the theme
Matching, puzzles & games
Choose a few pieces, take turns and talk about what children notice. Adapt the space, rules and pace so that everyone who wants to join has a way to take part.
All Access
Christmas Two-Piece Puzzles
Ten simple two-piece puzzles invite children to notice colours, patterns, similarities and differences as they fit Christmas pictures together.
All Access
Christmas Memory Game
Turn over Christmas picture cards to find matching pairs. The cards can also prompt conversation in a feely-bag game or be used in displays.
All Access
Christmas Picture Snap Cards Game
Christmas picture cards for snap, naming and describing seasonal objects, with fold-over backing tabs for preparing the cards.
All Access
Christmas Noughts & Crosses / Tic-Tac-Toe
Two noughts-and-crosses boards use coloured presents or bows for turn taking, colour recognition and simple strategy.
All Access
Christmas Present Pair Match
Match nine pairs of presents by colour, or use the cards for a simple memory game and colour-naming conversation.
All Access
Christmas Target Game
Throw a soft ball or beanbag towards numbered Christmas targets, identify the number reached, and optionally add scores across turns.
More matching, puzzles & games (1)
All Access
Pin the Nose on Rudolph
A festive party game with a reindeer picture assembled from four A4 sheets and a separate red nose to position.
09 / Explore the theme
Displays, parties & organisation
Find banners, paper chains, invitations and optional organisational materials. Use what helps your setting, while keeping familiar spaces and quieter choices available.
Certificates and charts are optional tools for adults to adapt. Keep kindness, belonging and participation separate from promises about presents or Santa checking behaviour.
All Access
Christmas Party Pack
A party collection with bunting, colouring placemats, beanbag targets, cards, masks, tickets and invitation templates.
All Access
Gift Stickers — Happy Christmas!
Two printable label sheets: “Happy Christmas!” and a version with space for the sender’s name. Designed for Avery J8160 or L7160 sticker sheets.
All Access
Gift Stickers — Enjoy the Holidays!
Two printable label sheets: “Enjoy the holidays!” and a version with space for the sender’s name. Designed for Avery J8160 or L7160 sticker sheets.
All Access
Christmas Display Banners
Christmas display banners in two styles: North Pole and Nativity.
All Access
Christmas Kindness Banner & Note Sheets
Create a Christmas Kindness display with a banner and notes for recording and celebrating children’s kind actions.
All Access
Christmas Paper Chains
Cut out festive strips and join them into loops to make paper chains, practising cutting, sticking and coordinating movements.
More displays, parties & organisation (5)
All Access
Christmas Party Bunting
Bunting for decorating a Christmas party or creating a general Christmas display.
All Access
Christmas Party Invitations
A choice of invitation writing templates for children to invite friends to a Christmas party.
All Access
Christmas Party Placemats
Four Christmas placemat designs, including a blank version, for children to decorate and add their names.
All Access
Christmas Reward Charts
Two editable A4 chart layouts provide spaces for five or ten stickers, stamps or ticks, with text that adults can personalise.
All Access
Christmas Well Done Certificates
Seven editable A4 certificate designs with space to personalise the name, date and message, plus blank printable versions.
10 / Choose a starting point
Choose by age & setting
These are possible uses, guided by the children’s interests and current experience. Links take you to the resource covers on this page.
Babies & toddlers
Prioritise familiar relationships, shared noticing and suitable materials. Use the age-specific adult planning pages to choose simple interactions; printed tasks and story sequencing are not expectations for babies.
Preschool / nursery
Combine pretend play, messages, making and small number ranges. Children can talk, gesture, make marks and explore together with adult support.
Reception
Offer purposeful writing, storytelling and practical maths. Return to familiar resources so children can revisit an idea and develop their own plans.
KS1 & mixed-age groups
Select appropriate story, vocabulary, design and maths challenges. A shared context can allow talk, drawing, scribing or independent writing. The two planning packs remain EYFS guidance.
11 / Keep exploring
Related collections & seasonal ideas
Follow an interest in stories, winter or another event. These are optional routes to other parts of the site, with their own resources and access information.
Complete Christmas resource gallery (1)
Browse collection
All Christmas Resources
Browse the complete core Christmas gallery for the full range of festive play, creative, mathematical and language resources.
Traditional tales & story worlds (8)
Browse collection
Fairies
Browse fairy-themed resources for imaginative play and stories.
Browse collection
Goldilocks & the Three Bears
Browse resources connected with the Goldilocks and the Three Bears story.
Browse collection
Jack & the Beanstalk
Explore resources connected with Jack and the Beanstalk.
Browse collection
Little Red Riding Hood
Browse resources connected with Little Red Riding Hood.
Browse collection
The Gingerbread Man
Find story resources connected with The Gingerbread Man.
Browse collection
The Three Little Pigs
Explore resources connected with The Three Little Pigs.
Browse collection
Traditional & Fairy Tales
Browse the wider collection of traditional tales and fairy stories.
Read online
Tell a Fairy Tale Day
Read EYFS and KS1 activity ideas for sharing and enjoying fairy tales.
Winter, festive ideas & special dates (8)
Browse collection
Clip Art Packs
Browse illustrated clip-art packs for creating and personalising resources.
Read online
Christmas Jumper Day
Read EYFS and KS1 activity ideas connected with Christmas Jumper Day.
Browse collection
Festive Gifts, Presents & Cards
Explore creative ideas and resources for festive gifts and greetings.
Browse collection
Hanukkah
Browse the Hanukkah theme collection and resources.
Read online
Light & Dark
Explore the Light and Dark theme overview for EYFS and KS1 planning, provision and resource links.
Read online
National Robin Day
Read EYFS and KS1 activity ideas connected with robins and nature.
Browse collection
New Year
Browse the New Year collection for calendars, reflection and seasonal activities.
Browse collection
Winter
Explore the Winter theme collection for seasonal resources and ideas.
More collections & setting support (16)
Browse collection
Mermaids & Mermen
Explore mermaid and merman resources for imaginative play.
Browse collection
The Enormous Turnip
Browse resources connected with The Enormous Turnip.
Browse collection
The Little Red Hen
Browse resources connected with The Little Red Hen.
Browse collection
Fireworks Resources
Explore the Fireworks theme collection for colour, sound, movement and creative activities.
Read online
Hibernating Animals
Explore the hibernation theme overview for EYFS and KS1 planning, provision and resource links.
Read online
Nocturnal Animals
Explore the nocturnal animals theme overview for EYFS and KS1 planning, provision and resource links.
Browse collection
Stay Healthy
Explore the Stay Healthy resource collection.
Browse collection
Toys
Browse toy-themed resources for play and learning.
Read online
EYFS Framework
Visit the EYFS Framework page for framework information and support.
Browse collection
Special Dates Calendar
Browse the calendar of EYFS and KS1 events, festivals and celebrations.
Browse collection
Festivals & Celebrations
Find collections for festivals and celebrations across the year.
Browse collection
Themes
Browse the wider collection of themes and topics.
Browse collection
Role Play
Find resources to support imaginative role play in your setting.
Browse collection
Get Organised
Browse organisational resources and practical tools for your setting.
Browse collection
Areas of Learning
Browse resources through the EYFS areas of learning.
Browse collection
Dual Language
Explore dual-language resources to support communication and inclusion.
12 / Context & ideas
Choosing Christmas activities for your setting
Start with what is meaningful for your children and families. A few considered additions can support conversation, imagination and shared experiences alongside everyday play.
How can we introduce Christmas and the Nativity?
Christmas is a Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus. Families mark it in different ways, and some do not celebrate it. The Nativity resources explore the Christian story; other materials support seasonal making, play and communication.
Invite children to share experiences if they wish, without assuming a particular belief, home celebration or family tradition. Westminster Abbey’s family learning page offers background on Advent and Christmas.
Do we need to change all our provision?
No. A post-office message, a construction idea or a carefully chosen story can sit alongside familiar provision. Keep ordinary play, routines and quieter places available, especially when other parts of the day become busier.
How can Santa and elf resources be used?
Offer these as optional imaginative role play, guided by children’s play and family preferences. Children might make tickets, organise a pretend workshop or write a message. A pretend letter does not promise a real present, and children do not need to believe in Santa to join the play.
Keep play separate from claims that Santa or an elf is watching behaviour. Gifts and belonging should not depend on completing an activity or being on a particular list.
Which resources suit babies, toddlers and KS1?
The two Christmas planning previews cover babies, toddlers, preschool and Reception, with adult guidance for each phase. For babies, prioritise responsive interaction and familiar care rather than printable tasks.
Selected story, writing, design and maths resources can also support KS1. Use the age and setting suggestions as starting points, then choose the level, materials and support for your children.
Are the resources editable, and which are free?
The 16 printables in Start with something free and the two EYFS planning packs are currently available with Free Access. Other Christmas resource downloads are included with All Access. Cards show the relevant access label and explain any sample or edition differences.
The Christmas topic resources offer editable Word and PDF versions; check the destination for available formats. The planning pages let you read an overview before following their download links.
Can we use the calendar resource for next year?
Check the year printed on the cover and inside the file. Any calendar labelled 2026 is a 2026 edition; it should not be used as a 2027 calendar. Use a current-year edition for a calendar gift, or adapt a dated template only after checking every date.
When are Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in 2026?
Christmas Eve is Thursday 24 December 2026, and Christmas Day is Friday 25 December 2026. Check your setting’s own term dates and plans when deciding when to offer activities.
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