Learning
Christmas Literacy Activities for Preschool and Kindergarten
December is a good time to practice letters and sounds, because kids already want to read gift tags and write to Santa. These 10 activities are short, use things you probably have, and are sorted from early letter play to first words. They suit ages 3 to 6.
Pick one or two that match where your child is now. Skip anything that feels like a battle.
Early letters (ages 3–4)
1. Name on the tree
Write each letter of your child’s name on a paper ornament. Mix them up and let your child put them in order on a paper tree, with your name card to copy from. A child’s own name is often the best place to start.
2. Letter hunt around the room
Stick paper letters around one room, in easy-to-reach places. Call out a letter and let your child find it. Start with three or four letters only. Add more as they get faster.
3. Salt tray snow writing
Pour a thin layer of salt, flour or sugar on a baking tray. Your child draws letters with a finger, then shakes the tray to erase. It feels like writing in snow, and mistakes vanish in a second.
Beginning sounds (ages 4–5)
4. What does Santa’s sack hold?
Put a few small objects in a bag: a bell, a ball, a car, a cup. Say a sound, such as /b/, and let your child pull out objects that start with it. Say the sound rather than the letter name at first. Keep small objects away from children who still mouth things.
5. First sound sort
Draw two stockings and label them with two letters, such as S and T. Find pictures in a toy catalog or draw your own: star, snow, sock, tree, toy, top. Your child sorts each into the right stocking.
6. “I spy” at the tree
“I spy something on the tree that starts with /b/.” A bell, or a ball. Let your child take a turn too. There is nothing to set up, and it works in the car, in line at the store and at dinner.
First words (ages 5–6)
7. Word building with gift tags
Write letters on gift tags and build simple CVC words: consonant, vowel, consonant. Try hat, sun, red, big, top. Change one letter at a time: hat, cat, mat, sat. Say each sound, then blend them together.
8. Sight word stockings
Write five sight words your child is learning on paper stockings and hang them on a string. Each time they read one, they get to move it to the “done” pile. Add new ones only when these are easy.
9. Read the gift tags
Let your child deliver gifts on Christmas morning by reading the name on each tag. Write the names clearly in lowercase with a capital first letter. For family gifts, this is real reading with a real reason.
Real writing (ages 4–6)
10. Lists and letters
Christmas gives kids real reasons to write: a list for Santa, a card for a grandparent, a sign for the cookie plate. Let them spell by sounds. “Kuke” for cookie is a good sign, because it shows they are listening to the sounds in a word. For a simple structure, see my letter to Santa template guide.
Choosing the right level
| Your child… | Try next |
|---|---|
| Knows a few letters | Name on the tree, letter hunt |
| Knows many letters but few sounds | Santa’s sack, I spy |
| Knows most sounds | Word building with gift tags |
| Reads simple words | Sight word stockings, gift tags, lists |
Tips that help
- Keep it short. Five to ten minutes is enough for many 3 to 5 year olds.
- Use sounds and names. “This is the letter B. It says /b/.”
- Read together every day. Reading aloud is one of the best things you can do. It also gives you a quiet moment in December.
- Follow their interest. If your child wants to write only “SANTA” 20 times, that still counts.
When you want something ready to go
Printable worksheets can add practice after hands-on games. My kindergarten Christmas worksheets guide covers what skills to look for, and these reading challenge ideas can carry the habit into the new year.
A few paper stockings and five minutes at the kitchen table can turn the excitement of Christmas into real reading practice.
Printables that go with this post
These are from my shop on Etsy, where you see the price in your local currency.
Christmas Worksheets for Preschool + Kindergarten
43 pages · Preschool (3–4) + Kindergarten (5–6) levels · US Letter + A4
- Letter tracing, beginning sounds, CVC words and sight words
- Counting, ten frames, number tracing 1–20 and adding within 10
- Cutting practice, mazes and a 2-page answer key
Instant download on Etsy · print at home
Letter to Santa Kit
18 pages · ages 3–10 · fillable reply letters · US Letter + A4 PDF
- Letters for 3 levels: draw & circle (3–5), fill in the blanks (5–7), lined letter (8+)
- 2 fillable reply letters from Santa + a fillable Nice List certificate
- Envelopes, North Pole stamps and labels, wish lists and a cookies-for-Santa placemat
Instant download on Etsy · print at home
Frequently asked questions
How do I teach letters at Christmas without worksheets?
Use letter hunts around the tree, write letters in salt or flour on a tray, and sort small objects by their first sound. Short games like these give plenty of practice without any worksheets.
What should a preschooler know about letters at Christmas?
Children develop at different rates, so there is no single right answer. Many 3 and 4 year olds are starting to recognize some letters, especially those in their own name. If you are worried about your child’s language or reading progress, speak to their teacher or pediatrician.
How can a child who can’t write yet make a letter to Santa?
They can draw pictures, dictate to an adult, or trace words you write in highlighter. Writing their own name at the bottom, even as a scribble, helps them feel it is really their letter.