5 Fun Christmas Social Skills Activities for Kids
The holiday season is a perfect time to engage children in fun and festive social skills activities that not only celebrate the spirit of Christmas but also support their emotional and social development. In this blog post, we’ll explore five Christmas-themed activities designed to improve your child’s social interactions while creating joyful, lasting memories.
Whether you’re a parent, educator, or therapist, these Christmas social skills activities are ideal for home, school, or holiday group settings—and can be adapted for children of all ages and abilities.
1. Decorate Together as a Team
Get into the Christmas spirit by decorating together! Whether you’re trimming the tree, hanging stockings, or crafting handmade ornaments, this activity builds teamwork, communication, and cooperation.
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Assign each child a specific role (e.g. tree decorator, ornament maker).
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Encourage children to express their ideas, take turns, and collaborate respectfully.
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Use this time to discuss sharing space and materials, active listening, and problem-solving.
Want more structured group-based learning? Explore our Social Skills Groups.
2. Host a Christmas Carolling Party
Organise a neighbourhood carolling party to spread holiday cheer! Singing as a group encourages confidence, coordination, and positive peer interaction.
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Have the children practice together, focusing on listening and following cues.
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Teach them to greet neighbours with eye contact, smiles, and a friendly “Merry Christmas!”
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Use role-play beforehand to rehearse social interactions.
This activity is a low-pressure way to build conversational and presentation skills—plus it strengthens community connections.
3. Holiday Cookie Decorating Workshop
This festive favourite is also one of the most fun and effective social skills activities. Kids will love decorating cookies with icing and sprinkles while learning important social behaviours.
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Encourage collaboration by having children share decorating supplies and work on joint cookie trays.
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Promote positive social language like “Great job!” or “Can I try that too?”
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Practice turn-taking and patience while waiting for icing or toppings.
Looking for more fun activities during the break? Check out our School Holiday Programs.
4. Secret Santa Gift Exchange
A Secret Santa is a wonderful way to teach empathy, generosity, and gratitude—key components of healthy social functioning.
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Help children think about others’ interests and choose thoughtful gifts.
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Support them in giving discreetly and receiving graciously.
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Use this as an opportunity to model and practice polite conversation and thank-you etiquette.
You could even turn this into a classroom or group-based game with a price cap to make it inclusive and accessible for all.
5. Christmas Storytelling Circle
Gather the kids for a warm and cosy Christmas storytelling circle. This is a powerful activity to build public speaking, active listening, and turn-taking skills.
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Children can share a holiday memory or make up a fun Christmas tale.
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Encourage others to ask questions and give compliments to the storyteller.
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Model how to give and receive feedback respectfully.
This is one of the simplest yet most impactful social skills activities for promoting connection and confidence in kids.
Make the Most of the Holiday Season
The holidays are more than just fun—they’re a fantastic time to embed meaningful social skills activities into your child’s routine. Whether at home or as part of a structured therapy program, these festive ideas are ideal for building social-emotional growth in a natural, supportive way.
