Last Updated on October 28, 2025 by Sheryl Cooper
Inside: Looking for hands-on preschool December themes? This resource is filled with ideas and free printables to help you plan the entire month. Can be adapted for toddlers, too!
You are planning your preschool December themes.
You’ve searched Pinterest and there are so many ideas it’s making your head spin.
You want activities that can be used at different centers.
Activities that build skills and are hands-on.
I’ve got you covered with this amazing collection of ideas that will work not only for preschoolers, but also toddlers.
Get out your planner because you will want to fill it with some of these ideas!
Hands-On Ideas for Your Preschool December Themes {Toddlers, too!}
Watch the Video
Looking for December circle time ideas? Check this out: December Circle Time Ideas
December Themes Ideas
I asked teachers in our Facebook Group what they are doing. In addition to the above, here is what they are doing:
- Christmas Around the World
- Trains
- Bears and Hibernation
- Holidays Around the World
- Nativity
- Giving to Others
- Holiday Stories
- Traditions
- Shapes
- Kindness
- Bakery
- Christmas Trees
- Polar Express
- Space
- Animals Around the World
- Families
- Arctic Animals
- Nursery Rhymes
- Pets
- Recycling
- Giving Tree
- Taking Care of Yourself and Others
- Tools and Machines
- Birds
- Construction
- Night & Day
- Baking
- Emotions
- Transportation
Circle Time
- Christmas Circle Time Activities
- Winter Circle Time Activities
- Five Little Candy Canes (Free Printable)
- Christmas Bells (Free Printable)
- Gingerbread Man Props (Free Printable)
- Gingerbread Man Circle Time Activities
- Christmas Circle Time Activities
- Winter Circle Time Activities
Centers
Art
- Colorful Star Suncatchers
- Toddler Christmas Collage
- Sparkly Gingerbread Man Ornament
- Toddler Christmas Tree Art
- Cardboard Christmas Trees
- Cheerful Christmas Tree Cards
- Handmade Christmas Gift Wrap
- Keepsake Wooden Ornaments
- Glitter and Paint Ornaments
- Angel Peg Ornaments
- Photo Keepsake Ornaments
- Handprint Fillable Ornament
- Spin-Art Paper Ornaments
- No-Mess Gingerbread Suncatcher Ornament
- Gingerbread Ornament
- Spin Painted Christmas Trees
- Snowflake Ornaments
- Gingerbread Ice Painting
- Christmas Tree Ice Painting
- Jingle Bell Painting (Free Printable)
- Watercolor Wreaths
- Winter Crafts
Blocks
Playdough
Skills
Colors
- Gingerbread Color Sorting Activity (Free Printable)
Classroom Ideas
Free Printables
Free Printable Christmas Templates
These templates make putting together art activities so much easier! Can also be used as color sheets at the writing table.
Still looking for more? Check out my Christmas pin board! (And make sure to follow it!) Over 1,800 ideas for December!
Amazon Christmas Favorites
FREE CIRCLE TIME PLANNER!
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Hi Sheryl,
I love your ideas and the fact that you enjoy our ideas is very humbling. Thank you for the encouragement, As for ideas, one simple way to use the Styrofoam trees is to allow the students to simply put peal and stick Christmas To and From label or Christmas stickers onto the tree. Adding some of the stick bows may work too. Of course all the stickers will be in one general location, but that is to be expected. 🙂
Also, peppermint bark is a common Christmas treat, but here are some ideas with peppermint would probably be more kid friendly: rice crispy treats with the peppermint pieces/pink ice (https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/pink-ice/) macaroons with the pieces/ and, this one is unusual but simple and fun (https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/frosty-peppermint-popcorn/)
Enjoy!
Thank you so much for the ideas, Kathleen!