15 Christmas and Winter Coloring Activities for Families
When the weather turns cold and the holidays get busy, a stack of coloring pages is one of the easiest ways to bring everyone to the same table. But coloring doesn't have to stop when the page is finished. With a little scissors work, some tape and a bit of imagination, a single page can become a card, an ornament, a window decoration or a family game.
Here are 15 simple activities for families, grouped from the easiest to the most hands-on. They work for Christmas, for other winter celebrations, or for any cold afternoon that needs something to do. Most need only paper, a printer and the colors you already own.
01Activities at a glance
| Activity | Best ages | Time | You'll also need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cocoa and coloring hour | All ages | 30-45 min | Warm drinks |
| Five-color challenge | 5+ | 20-30 min | Colored pencils or markers |
| Name the snowman story | 4+ | 20-30 min | Pencil and paper |
| Pass-the-page | 5+ | 15-20 min | A timer |
| Coloring dice game | 4+ | 20-30 min | One die |
| Window snowflakes | 5+ | 30 min | Safety scissors, tape |
| Handmade holiday cards | 5+ | 30-45 min | Cardstock, scissors |
| Dinner place cards | 6+ | 20 min | Cardstock, scissors |
| Gift tags and wrapping paper | All ages | 30 min | Plain or kraft paper |
| Colored ornaments | 6+ | 30-45 min | Cardstock, hole punch, ribbon |
| Coloring countdown | All ages | Prep 30 min, then daily | Envelopes or paper bags |
| Family mural | All ages | 45-60 min | Tape, a large wall or floor |
| Story-time coloring | 3+ | 20-30 min | A winter story |
| Thank-you pages | 6+ | 20-30 min | Envelopes |
| Quiet travel kit | All ages | Prep 15 min | Clipboard, pencil pouch |
02Easy and no-prep activities
1. Cocoa and coloring hour
Set a regular time, maybe once a week through winter, when everyone sits down with a warm drink and a page. No rules, no goals. Put on some music and let people color whatever they like.
Tip: Keep drinks to one side of the table and place pages on a clipboard or hardcover book to protect them from spills.
2. Five-color challenge
Choose only five colors for the whole page. Limits make people creative, and the finished pages look surprisingly cohesive. Try a theme, such as "icy blues" or "red, green and gold".
Tip: Younger children can pick just three colors to keep it simple.
3. Name the snowman story
Color a snowman or another winter character, then give it a name and a short story. Where does it live? What does it do when no one is watching? Write the story on the back or on a separate sheet, and read the stories out loud at the end.
Tip: Younger children can tell the story while a grown-up writes it down.
4. Pass-the-page
Everyone starts coloring a different page. After two minutes, pass it to the person on your left. Keep going until the pages come back to their owners. Each page ends up with a mix of styles, and the surprise is half the fun.
Tip: Use a phone timer, and agree beforehand that nobody can "fix" someone else's work.
5. Coloring dice game
Assign a color to each number on a die, for example 1 for red and 2 for blue. Roll the die and color one area of your page with that color. Keep rolling until the page is full. You'll end up with colors you'd never have chosen yourself.
Tip: Let older children make up the color key, and mix in a "free choice" number for variety.
03Crafts from your finished pages
For these, print on slightly heavier paper if your printer allows it. Our guide to printing coloring pages at home explains which paper and settings work best.
6. Window snowflakes and decorations
Color a snowflake, tree or mitten page, cut around the shape with child-safe scissors and tape it to a window. Light shining through the paper makes the colors glow in the daytime.
Tip: Use low-tack tape so you don't damage the window frame or paint.
7. Handmade holiday cards
Print a small design, color it, then glue it onto folded cardstock. Add a handwritten message inside. Children can make cards for grandparents, teachers, neighbors and friends.
Tip: Print the page at about half size so it fits on the front of a standard card.
8. Dinner place cards
Color small winter designs, such as a star, mitten or snowman. Fold a strip of cardstock into a tent shape, attach the design to the front and write each guest's name on it. Children enjoy deciding who sits where.
Tip: Make a few extras in case of last-minute guests.
9. Gift tags and wrapping paper
Print several small pages, color them, and cut them into gift tags. For wrapping paper, print a pattern-style page on plain or kraft paper, color it and wrap small presents. Handmade wrapping makes gifts feel more personal.
Tip: Wrap small boxes, since a single printed sheet only covers a small area.
10. Colored ornaments
Print a round or simple shape on cardstock, color both sides if you like, cut it out and punch a hole near the top. Thread ribbon or string through it and hang it on a tree, a branch or a doorknob.
Tip: Cardstock is much sturdier than printer paper. Check your printer's maximum paper weight first.
04Make it a family tradition
11. Coloring countdown
Print a handful of small pages, one for each day of a countdown, and place each in a numbered envelope or paper bag. Each day, a family member opens one and colors it. Some families add a small treat or a kind challenge to each envelope.
Tip: You can count down to Christmas or any winter celebration, or simply to the first day of a break.
12. Family mural
Print several pages, color them and tape them together edge to edge on a wall or the floor. The result is one big winter scene made by the whole family. It works especially well when each person colors a different section.
Tip: Number the backs of the pages in pencil so you can reassemble the scene in the right order.
13. Story-time coloring
Read a winter story aloud while children color. It's a calm way to wind down in the evening, and many children listen more closely when their hands are busy.
Tip: Pick pages that match the story, such as a snowman for a snowy tale.
14. Thank-you pages
After the holidays, have children color a page and write a thank-you message on the back for a relative, friend or teacher. A colored thank-you is often kept for a long time.
Tip: Children who can't write yet can draw a small picture or sign their name.
15. Quiet travel kit
Winter often means car rides, long waits and family visits. Pack a clipboard, a pencil pouch and a few printed pages in a folder. Pencils and crayons are better than markers for travel, because they don't leak or stain. Our guide to colored pencils, markers, crayons and gel pens explains which tools suit which situation.
Tip: Print a few extra pages. Someone always finishes early.
05Choosing pages for these activities
Almost any coloring page will work, but simple, bold designs are the easiest for crafts and cut-outs. Large shapes with clear outlines are easier to cut around, and thick lines show up well even after coloring. If you're coloring with younger children, our guide to choosing a coloring book by age can help you pick the right level.
06Safety and practical tips
- Scissors: use child-safe scissors for younger children and supervise cutting.
- Small parts: keep ribbons, string, tape and small cut-outs away from toddlers.
- Candles and lights: keep paper decorations away from candles, heaters and hot bulbs.
- Windows and walls: test tape on a hidden spot first so it doesn't lift paint.
- Print ahead: print more pages than you think you'll need. Favorite designs get reused.
- Keep it relaxed: there's no right way to color. The goal is time together, not a perfect page.
07Frequently asked questions
What paper should I use for cards and ornaments?
Lightweight cardstock (around 160-200 gsm) works well for ornaments and cards. Check your printer's manual to make sure it can handle that weight, or print on regular paper and glue it onto cardstock.
Do these activities only work for Christmas?
No. You can use any winter theme, such as snowmen, snowflakes, mittens and cozy scenes, for any celebration or just for fun during the cold months.
How can I do these with a wide age range?
Let each person choose a design that suits their age. Younger children can handle the coloring while older ones do the cutting and assembly.
Can I reprint pages if someone makes a mistake?
Yes. With a digital coloring book, you can reprint any page as often as you like for personal use.
08Ready to start?
Try a few activities with our free sample set first: get 5 free pages. When you want a whole book of winter designs, the Cozy Snowman Coloring Book has 39 bold, easy pages that print well on standard paper. You can also browse the full shelf for more kids and adult books.
