The holiday season is the perfect time to engage your kids in creative, festive fun, and what better way to do that than with gingerbread activities? Gingerbread men, houses, and crafts are beloved holiday traditions that bring out the creativity in children while filling the house with the sweet scent of the season. Whether you’re looking for a hands-on baking project or gingerbread-themed crafts that don’t require an oven, these gingerbread activities are sure to delight kids of all ages.
Here are some fun and simple gingerbread activities, including some of our favourites, that will keep the kids entertained and full of holiday cheer!
1. Baking Gingerbread Cookies
One of the most iconic holiday activities is baking gingerbread cookies. Not only does this fill the house with a warm, festive smell, but it also gives kids the chance to be creative as they decorate their cookies.
How to Get Started:
- Prepare a simple gingerbread dough (or grab a store-bought version if you’re short on time). We have a not too gingery gingerbread option which kids adore.
- Let the kids use cookie cutters to create gingerbread men, trees, and other holiday shapes. No cutters, no worries take a look at our cutter-free Gingerbread Christmas trees!
- Set up a decorating station with icing, sprinkles, and small candies so they can personalize their creations. They don’t have to be perfect – we once dropped a tray of gingerbread men and look what we did with them!
For added fun, you can create a gingerbread cookie decorating contest, where each family member decorates their own cookie and votes on the most creative design! Gingerbread isn’t just for little kids either, take a look at our family gingerbread wreath!
Check out the not too gingery gingerbread from Mum in the Mad House for a delicious and easy-to-follow recipe the whole family will love.
2. Decorating a Gingerbread House
Building a gingerbread house is a classic holiday activity that kids absolutely love. You can either bake your own gingerbread pieces or buy a pre-made gingerbread house kit for convenience.
Steps to Make a Gingerbread House:
- Use royal icing as “glue” to hold the house together.
- Let the kids decorate the house with colorful candies, pretzels for windows, and icing to create a winter wonderland scene.
- For a twist, you can make gingerbread villages or smaller gingerbread cottages so each child can decorate their own house.
For inspiration, try making Gingerbread Houses using our helpful guide for family-friendly tips! Again this isn’t just for kids. A group of me and my friends get together each Christmas and hold a gingerbread house decorating competition!
3. Gingerbread-Themed Crafts
If you want to skip the baking but still love the gingerbread theme, there are plenty of gingerbread-inspired crafts to try. These activities are ideal for younger kids or for families who want a mess-free alternative to baking. We also have you covered with a selection of Gingerbread prrintables.
Some Craft Ideas Include:
- 3D Paper Gingerbread House: Simply download our gingerbread house template, print our, colour and decorate, cut out and glue together. Perfect fun and a way to use all the craft materials you have.
- Disguise a Gingerbread Man: This activity is perfect for sparking imagination and creativity! With 20 free printables (10 pre-colored and 10 to color), your little ones can transform a classic gingerbread man into a variety of fun characters—from a cowboy to a dinosaur! This is just like the old fashioned paper dolls we all used to love, but gingerbread themed.
- Gingerbread Man Activity Sheets: Looking for a low prep idea to fill 10 minutes of your kid’s time. These Gingerbread Activity worksheets are perfect.
- Felt Gingerbread Ornaments: Use brown felt to create gingerbread man ornaments that the kids can decorate with fabric paint, buttons, and ribbons. These make great keepsakes for the tree!
- Articulated Gingerbread Man Puppets: Download our free printable – we have pre-coloured or ones to colour in and then make the puppets. The kids can put on a fun gingerbread-themed puppet show.
- Gingerbread Tree Decorations: Add some homemade wonder to your tree with our DIY Cardboard Gingerbread Ornaments or you could use them as homemade Gift Tags for your presents this Christmas.
4. Gingerbread Playdough
For younger kids who love sensory play, making gingerbread-scented playdough is a fun and easy activity. It smells amazing and adds a holiday twist to regular playdough time.
How to Make Gingerbread Playdough:
- Combine flour, salt, water, and a touch of gingerbread spices like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.
- Let the kids use cookie cutters to make pretend gingerbread men, or just have fun rolling and shaping the dough.
- You can even package this playdough in small jars as a DIY holiday gift for friends!
For a twist, check out this DIY Gingerbread Scented Playdough recipe, perfect for festive fun with your little ones.
5. Gingerbread Storytime and Movie Night
Round out your gingerbread-themed day with storytime or a movie night! Read classic stories like The Gingerbread Man or watch holiday movies that feature gingerbread houses and characters.
Suggested Gingerbread Stories and Movies:
- • The Gingerbread Man (book)
- • The Gingerbread Pirates (book)
- • Shrek 2 (movie – featuring the beloved Gingerbread Man character)
- • The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (movie – with beautiful gingerbread visuals)
6. Gingerbread Scented Ornaments
For a creative and long-lasting craft, try making gingerbread-scented ornaments. These ornaments aren’t edible, but they smell amazing and will last for years!
How to Make Gingerbread Ornaments:
- Mix applesauce, cinnamon, and glue to create a dough.
- Roll out the dough and cut out gingerbread man shapes (or any holiday shapes you like).
- Poke a hole at the top of each ornament before baking so you can hang them with ribbon.
Let the kids decorate them with paint and glitter once they’ve cooled. They’ll add a warm, spicy scent to your tree!
7. Gingerbread-Themed Games
For a fun, active gingerbread activity, why not create some gingerbread-themed games? These can be done indoors and are great for holiday parties or family fun nights.
Game Ideas:
- Gingerbread Man Relay Race: Have kids race while holding a gingerbread cookie (or foam cutout) on a spoon. The goal is to get to the finish line without dropping their gingerbread man!
- Pin the Button on the Gingerbread Man: A festive twist on the classic party game, where kids are blindfolded and have to “pin” a paper button on a giant gingerbread man.
- Gingerbread Man Scavenger Hunt: Hide gingerbread men (either real cookies or cutouts) around the house, and have kids search for them. Whoever finds the most wins a prize!
8. Create a Gingerbread Village with Printables
If your kids love crafting and decorating, they’ll adore our Gingerbread Village Printable Craft! This easy-to-use printable set lets children build and decorate their own paper gingerbread village, sparking creativity and adding a touch of festive charm to your holiday decor.
Simply download, print, and cut out the templates to assemble delightful gingerbread houses and other village pieces. Kids can color them, add stickers, or use glitter to bring their village to life. This is a perfect indoor activity for snowy days or cozy afternoons, and it’s a wonderful way to involve the whole family in a screen-free, hands-on holiday project.
Get the free printable Gingerbread Village Craft here!
Gingerbread activities for kids offer a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday season, combining creativity, fun, and festive joy. Whether you’re baking cookies, building houses, or creating gingerbread crafts, these activities are sure to keep your kids entertained and full of holiday spirit.
So, grab your cookie cutters, craft supplies, and gingerbread-scented playdough, and get ready for some festive family fun!
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