Our Favorite Kid-Friendly Holiday Decorations, Games, Crafts, and More

If you’ve got a team of expert crayon-wielders on your hands, just grab the art supplies and roll out one of these giant coloring banners. Each illustrated 10-foot sheet has its own theme: there’s a Christmas one with Santa and his elves, a winter one with ice skates and hot cocoa, a gingerbread or snowman version — and even plenty of completely different themes if you’re already holiday-ed out. ($29.95, FriendsArtLab via Etsy)

This Duplo set is sure to keep all the kids busy — even younger ones who are too little to play with tiny pieces. It’s a toy that doubles as decor once complete, and best of all, it can be reassembled again and again all season long.({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

Whether it’s wiring and decorating their own menorah, building a motorized mini ice-skating rink, or making a version of Santa’s sleigh they can crank up anytime, your bigger kids will find something to get excited about with KiwiCo’s holiday-themed STEAM kits. The fact that they’ll be keeping their brains engaged during the long winter vacation is just a plus. ($14.95+, KiwiCo)

Maybe you’re starting a collection from scratch, or maybe you just need to hang one or two new stockings on the mantelpiece this year. We love that while Lands’ End may continue to add new patterns, the vibe stays the same — so any new additions will fit right in with the ones you got 15 years ago. ($39.95, Lands’ End)

Yes, you can find more affordable matching PJs for the fam, but the quality of Hanna Andersson’s really can’t be beat. If you’re hoping to pass these down from year to year, or you just like to wear holiday-themed PJs all year round (hey, we do it too), it’s worth investing in these well-made tops, bottoms, nightgowns, and more. Psst…keep an eye out for frequent sales. ($44+, Hanna Andersson)

Those beautiful, breakable ornaments you’ve treasured for years? To avoid a meltdown (on your part or the kids’), it may be better to keep them packed away for a while — or place them high up on the tree yourself. The good news: For $15, you can get 50 extremely nonbreakable ornaments in a variety of different color combinations (from red, green, and gold to blush and champagne or silver and blue). Toddler parents, rejoice. ($15/50-pack, Target)

Kids always want to be in on the action, but when flames are involved, that’s…tricky. No problem — add this toy menorah to your holiday lineup, and your youngest family members can feel like they’re fully involved. It comes with its own storage bags, and the removable bright wooden “candles” can help with color practice, too. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

There are plenty of holiday-themed books out there, but many don’t explain the true stories of the holidays in question. We love that this book offers details about the history and celebration of Hanukkah in an accessible, fun format. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

Like the book above, this is a great simple, easy-to-understand explanation of the holiday for little kids, and a good way into discussions about your family’s Kwanzaa traditions. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

Perfect to gift another family, or save for storytime at your own house. You’ll get seven classics from the author and illustrator Jan Brett, including The Night Before Christmas, The Twelve Days of Christmas, and The Mitten, all in one beautiful hardcover volume. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

Whether you’re getting them for your own tree, the grandparents’ trees, other friends and family members, or all of the above, photo ornaments are a gifting classic for a reason. Shutterfly has options ranging from wood and slate ornaments to fancier glass cloches, snow globes, and bejeweled snowflakes. ($14.99+, Shutterfly)

Add some soft, seasonal touches to your living space or the kids’ bedrooms with these cozy throw pillows. Target has options like peppermint candy and a gingerbread man for only $10 each, and Pottery Barn Kids has a pretty wool dreidel. ($10, Target)($10, Target)($39.50, Pottery Barn)

This set, with three different flavors of cocoa (classic, peppermint, and double dark), makes a wonderful gift — but is also the perfect addition to your holiday pantry. Just warm milk in a saucepan, add some of the hot chocolate mix, and voila: instant deliciousness. ($39.95, Williams Sonoma)

Whether you’re looking for something you can refill every year, something appropriate for the youngest members of your family, something for your local Lego fanatic, or a good old chocolate Advent calendar, you have tons of options — and if it’s too late to start one this year, it can’t hurt to grab one on sale for next holiday season. ($61.62, Wayfair)($21.19, Amazon)($39.99, Amazon)

We don’t need to tell you that little kids love being in control. And if you give them their own mini Christmas tree to decorate, well, they will be. Pair this with some unbreakable ornaments and you’ll buy yourself at least 10 minutes of tantrum-free time…probably. ($10, Target)