Today I’m sharing how to host a fun Christmas playdate for toddlers and little kids. Cookies, crafts, and coffee (for the moms!)
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Every year since my girls were little I’ve hosted a small Christmas Playdate party.
It’s a festive way to get their friends (and the moms) together, eat holiday treats, make a craft, and spend time together!
If this idea is something you want to try this year, you’re in the right place!
Inside this post you’ll find:
- cookie decorating ideas & tips
- simple holiday craft & play ideas
- hosting & playdate tips
How do I host a small christmas party for kids?
When my girls were toddlers I used to have everyone over on a weekday morning.
As stay at home moms with toddlers at home, we were all looking for something easy to do on a cold day – and piling the kids into someone’s house with hot coffee & cookies was just the ticket.
Now that my older kids are in school, and only my youngest is home with me, I host the party on a Saturday morning, so it doesn’t interfere with naptime.
Here are some quick tips for putting the Christmas playdate together:
- Start a group text with your mom friends (or their friends from daycare or preschool)
- Pick a day & time that works for everyone (before the holidays or over Winter break)
- Keep it small (I’d say no more than 5 kids to keep it manageable)
- As the host, tell each person what they can bring (more on this later)
Mom-to-Mom Tip: Over the years I’ve learned that places like Dollar Tree and Michael’s run out of the good holiday stuff pretty quickly. If you know you’re going to host a Christmas playdate, try to grab stuff as soon as you can.
I always like to load up on plastic tablecloths (great for crafts and cookie decorating), paper muffin cups, and holiday craft items. If you think this is something you’ll do every year, grab a reusable tablecloth that you can wipe down. I got the gingerbread man one from Target a few years ago!
How to Host a Fun Christmas Playdate
As we mentioned above, as the host, you’ll want to either give guests specific items to bring, or offer to get everything yourself (this of course depends on the situation).
There have been years I’ve provided the “main” stuff and just asked my friends to each bring a component for the craft, and times when we all contributed equally. It really just depends on how well you know everyone attending.
Related: Grinch Pancake Breakfast Tradition
The Cookies
Tips for decorating gingerbread cookies with kids:
- Have the cookies pre-cut, baked, and cooled before the playdate – this makes things go much smoother
- Cut the cookies into the shape of a house or use a giant gingerbread man mold to make it fun!
- Add frosting to zip-top bags to make it easy for kids to “pipe” onto the cookies (as shown below)
- You can also provide frosting in small cups with plastic knives – whatever you think is easiest!
- Make sure each child has their own “station” – this can be a placemat or a piece of parchment paper with their own frosting bag and toppings
This is the gingerbread recipe I use every year. You can also use store-bought sugar cookie dough!
Gingerbread Cookie Decorating Inspiration
The Crafts
This portion of the Christmas playdate definitely depends on the ages of the kids invited, but I have done each of these ideas with varying success from 18 months and up!
While there are tons of fun holiday craft ideas, I like these ideas for several reasons:
- Moms don’t have to hover and help glue and cut (and end up doing the craft themselves) – this is all self-directed, creative play
- Kids can take home their playdough and miniatures to continue to play at home
- You can make the fake snow ahead of time or have the kids help (depending on age)
- Toddlers love sensory play!
Play Dough Play
First off, these Christmas village miniatures are fantastic and I highly recommend grabbing a set on Amazon! Plus mini bottle brush trees!
They’re perfect for play dough and fake snow, and really help kids get into that creative play zone.
I would recommend having a separate set for the play dough and snow unless you want to be cleaning tiny pieces 🙂
Holiday craft playdate tips:
- Make the play dough in advance (if that’s something you like to do!)
- Or ask each mom to bring a few containers of play dough
- Just like with the cookies, make sure each child has their own station
- Keep “sharing” supplies in the middle of the table like play dough rollers and cookie cutters
- Use treat bags to tie up play dough and miniatures as a little party goodie bag to take home
You can also have each child make their own play dough kit to take home, as shown below!
Let them spend time loading up their box with what they want and decorating the outside with stickers!
Get my foolproof play dough recipe, here (plus play dough kit instructions)
Fake Snow
This sensory play idea will require a wide shallow bin, a sensory play table, or craft trays (great for a group of kids). I found the clear Sterilite bin (pictured below) at Walmart!
If you do make the snow in advance, be sure to cover it so that it doesn’t dry out!
DIY Fake Snow Recipe:
- 2 ½ cups baking soda
- ½ cup unscented lotion (I used Aveeno and it worked great!)
- Mix the ingredients together until it holds its shape. It shouldn’t be sticky or wet, but almost damp and crumbly, and should hold together like play dough!
- Make sure to store in a sealed container or zip-top bag when you’re done!
- Pro tip: buy the ingredients at the dollar store!
Christmas Tinker Tray
This is a fun and simple idea to use up all the random Christmas finds from the Dollar Spot (those little erasers are my favorite!)
Supplies:
- Foam shapes (I got them at Michaels)
- Red and green Legos or blocks
- Christmas erasers
- Small ornaments
- Red and green pouch caps
- Red and green counting bears
- Plastic chips & dip tray (I got mine at Dollar Tree)
Related: Fun Christmas Morning Snack Board
The Coffee
Perhaps the most important part 😀
I like to brew a big pot of coffee for the moms (perfect for dunking gingerbread men!), plus I set out a few easy snacks.
This not only makes the playdate more fun and inviting, it’s also a great way to celebrate with your mom friends while the kids do their play dough.
Here are some simple snack ideas to serve:
- Cheese
- Crackers
- Salami or Pepperoni
- Grapes
- Spreads (jam, honey, herbed cheese dip, etc.)
- Pickles or gherkins
- Cookies, mini muffins, or other store-bought treats
If you host a Christmas Playdate, be sure to tag me on IG! I’d love to see your ideas!
What to Read Next:
- Best Open-Ended Gifts for Toddlers
- Favorite Gift Ideas for Siblings to Share
- Festive Christmas Eve Snack Board Idea
- Easy Hanukkah Activities for Toddlers
- Grinch Pancake Breakfast Tradition
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