20+ Christmas Literacy Activities for Preschoolers
Christmas literacy activities for preschool are some of the best Christmas activities of the season! Cozy books, twinkling lights, and cheerful songs bring extra magic to the classroom this time of year. Sharing stories by the tree or practicing letter sounds with holiday themes can warm even the chilliest December day.
Children seem to glow with excitement during the holidays. Their excitement is contagious which makes teaching extra special this time of year. Among all the glitter and giggles, it helps to keep learning fun and hands-on. Ready to see our favorite Christmas alphabet activities for preschoolers?

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Preschoolers light up at the mention of Christmas. Their tiny eyes widen, giggles bubble out, and everything feels just a bit more magical. That kind of enthusiasm is a gift in itself, especially in the classroom.
This season brings so many opportunities to weave Christmas themed learning into the day without needing to add too much extra to your already full plate. A simple shift to holiday-themed literacy activities can refresh your routine while keeping little ones busy in meaningful ways.
Early Literacy Activities for Christmas Preschool Theme
Embrace the magic of the holiday season with the best Christmas-themed literacy activities this side of the North Pole.
Your little elves will love learning and celebrating all things Christmas and literacy. These activities include alphabet principle, letter recognition and sounds, early reading and writing skills, making connections to stories, and more!
Your kiddos will be so busy learning and having fun that they ALMOST might forget that Christmas is just around the corner. Almost.
Christmas Literacy Activities for Preschoolers
The most wonderful time of the year can be packed with festive Christmas preschool literacy activities!
Your preschoolers will simply delight in all this Christmas alphabet-themed FUN!
Christmas Prewriting Cards
It’s the season for hands-on pre-writing fun with Christmas writing activities preschool classroom resources that support early skill development. This free set includes 30 cards with Christmas images and 10 distinct tracing patterns designed to strengthen fine motor control.
Christmas Tree Puzzles: 10 Christmas Alphabet Activities
Add seasonal fun to your classroom with Christmas activities for preschool and kindergarten that focus on alphabet and sound knowledge. These Christmas tree puzzles help children practice letter recognition and beginning sounds while matching upper- and lowercase letters. Preschoolers can enjoy hands-on learning that builds foundational literacy skills in a simple, structured way.
Christmas ABC Order Cards to Teach Letters
Start the season with Christmas literacy printables preschool activities that make learning alphabetical order both purposeful and flexible. While perfect for teaching letter sequence, these materials can be adapted in many creative ways to meet different learning goals and keep preschoolers engaged.
Christmas Tree Present “Train” - a Christmas Letter Printable
Turn holiday wish lists into learning opportunities with Christmas alphabet activities like this one! This Christmas letter train game encourages preschoolers to work with alphabet letters in creative ways while expressing what they want for Christmas. The printable includes several adaptable options, making it a versatile and engaging addition to your literacy centers.
Gingerbread Man Theme Old Maid Card Game
Add some holiday fun to your classroom with Christmas themed literacy games for preschool centers featuring a gingerbread man Old Maid card game. This activity helps children practice letter identification and recognition while enjoying playful, interactive learning. It’s an easy way to combine skill-building with a favorite seasonal theme.
6 Gingerbread Alphabet Activities for Preschoolers
Add variety to your lesson plans with preschool Christmas literacy bundle ideas that feature six engaging gingerbread alphabet activities. With gingerbread people and houses, these games help children practice early literacy skills in a fun, hands-on way that fits perfectly into your Christmas classroom theme.
Christmas Visual Discrimination Mats
Get ready for holiday fun with Christmas themed literacy games for preschool centers that build visual discrimination and pre-reading skills. These printable Roll & Cover Mats feature engaging elf characters that encourage children to notice details and make visual matches, which transfers over to letter sound discrimination, too!
Christmas Alphabet Activities for Preschool
Celebrate the season with Christmas alphabet and letter recognition preschool activities that make learning letters both engaging and effective. These Christmas-themed ideas help children identify and practice letters through play-based, hands-on experiences that build early literacy skills.
Christmas Writing Center for Preschoolers
Your preschoolers will love creating their own cards with Christmas writing prompts for preschool classroom activities. This simple center only needs blank note cards or Christmas cards, along with crayons, markers, and stickers. Children can decorate and write their own messages, practicing early writing skills while enjoying a creative seasonal activity.
Gingerbread Man Poem and Activities
The holidays are a busy time, so preschool Christmas circle time songs and activities are a perfect way to keep learning meaningful and fun. The 5 Little Gingerbread Men printable includes three engaging learning opportunities featuring a favorite poem and cut-out gingerbread characters that children can use to retell and explore the story in hands-on ways.
Make Your Own Felt Nativity Story
Bring the Christmas story to life with preschool Christmas reading comprehension activities that invite creativity and storytelling. This felt nativity activity includes a free pattern printable and simple instructions for making your own set. It’s a keepsake children can use to explore and retell the nativity story, building comprehension and language skills through hands-on play.
Teach "The Spirit of Giving" Activity
Encourage kindness and language growth with preschool Christmas phonological awareness games that highlight the joy of giving. This simple activity uses predictable text to help children connect sounds, rhythm, and meaning while reflecting on ways to bless others during the Christmas season. It’s a thoughtful way to build both literacy and empathy.
Beginning Sounds Polar Express Activity
ring storytime and phonics together with Christmas letters and sounds activities preschool ideas inspired by The Polar Express. Using a toy train and Christmas-themed objects, children can explore beginning sounds by matching items to their initial letters. It’s quick to set up, easy to adapt for different learners, and sure to keep preschoolers engaged in meaningful literacy play.
Reindeer ABC Bingo
Make learning letters exciting with holiday literacy games preschool Christmas time activities like Reindeer Alphabet Bingo. These printable boards help children practice letter recognition and sounds while enjoying a familiar game format. Add small holiday-themed manipulatives as markers, and you’ll have an easy, engaging literacy game perfect for the season.
"Pete the Cat Saves Christmas" ABC Game
Bring story-inspired fun to your classroom with Christmas literacy center ideas for preschool teachers featuring a Pete the Cat theme. In this activity, children drop wrapped “presents” down a chimney while practicing letter recognition and matching skills. It’s a creative, hands-on way to combine favorite characters with Christmas-themed literacy learning.
Easy Christmas Bookmark Ideas for Kids
Create cozy reading moments with preschool Christmas literacy workstations that include making Christmas Corner Bookmarks. These simple crafts fit neatly on book corners and come in a variety of Christmas and winter designs. They’re an easy way to encourage reading while adding a creative seasonal touch to your literacy activities.
Letter to Santa Printable
Complete your classroom setup with holiday alphabet and writing activities preschool Christmas ideas like a letter-to-Santa center. Using a free Santa letter template, children can color, write their names, or dictate their messages while adults assist as needed. Even simple marks on the page help preschoolers experience purposeful writing and connect literacy to real-world expression.
"Queen Of Christmas" Alphabet List
Bring literacy to life with Christmas letters and sounds activities preschool inspired by Queen of Christmas by Mary Engelbreit. This free printable encourages children to create a Christmas list using all the letters of the alphabet. Preschoolers can work together to recognize letters, explore beginning sounds, and draw pictures to match, making it a fun and meaningful alphabet activity.
Gingerbread Alphabet Activity
Build early literacy skills with Christmas alphabet and letter recognition preschool activities featuring a gingerbread theme. This free printable set includes gingerbread characters with uppercase and lowercase letters, along with pictures and words for sound matching. Add the included gingerbread houses to create a fun alphabet village that makes letter learning hands-on and engaging.
Initial Sound Snowman Printable
Support early phonics skills with winter holiday literacy activities preschool letter sounds using these snowman-themed printables. Each snowman features a letter on its hat and matching picture snowballs to identify beginning sounds. It’s a simple, engaging winter activity that helps preschoolers strengthen their understanding of letter-sound relationships.
Christmas Tree Blend Printable Puzzles
Enhance early reading skills with Christmas literacy printables and centers for preschool age kids using these Christmas Tree Blend Puzzles. Designed for Pre-K and kindergarten readiness, they offer a fun way to practice blending sounds and building words. With simple adaptations, preschoolers can also enjoy and benefit from this hands-on literacy activity.
Shop our Christmas Printable Centers
Grab all three spring printable sets for a season full of learning and fun!
Christmas Books for Preschoolers
We’ve spotlighted some of the best holiday and Christmas preschool books! We also have a countdown to Christmas with these 25 picture books all about Jesus. Take a look and see which books are a great fit for your preschool classroom!
- Wright, Maureen (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 34 Pages – 10/08/2013 (Publication Date) – Two Lions (Publisher)
- DK (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 18 Pages – 09/06/2022 (Publication Date) – DK Children (Publisher)
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Hardcover Book
- Wilson, Karma (Author)
- Hardcover Book
- Willems, Mo (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- ISBN13:9780439567039
- Format:Paperback Book
- Ages:4 – 8
Christmas Manipulatives
It’s so fun to slice pretend cookies, engage in holiday themed puzzles, or decorate a felt Christmas tree as Christmas gets closer! Using these hands-on preschool Christmas activities helps to get your preschoolers interested and excited about learning.
- Slice, pretend to bake, and decorate wooden holiday cookies
- This festively decorated LEGO DUPLO Gingerbread Christmas House toy for toddlers comes…
- The Skoolzy Tree Shape Sorter has 3 LEVELS OF PLAY – GROWS WITH YOUR CHILD. The Montessori…
- Package includes: Our Felt Christmas Tree for Toddlers includes 1pc Felt Christmas Tree…
- 24 Assorted Color/Design Plastic Ink Stampers #1 Christmas Party Favors!


I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.



