Jingle Bells Christmas Playdough Tray

If you’re looking for a Christmas playdough tray that feels festive, inviting, and easy to set out, this simple setup is perfect. It’s one of those Christmas activities for preschoolers that sparks instant curiosity as kids start stacking bells, pressing playdough, and building little holiday structures.

With just a few loose parts, children can explore balance, creativity, and fine motor skills while making towers, arches, or anything their imagination stirs up. Everything is low prep, open-ended, and easy to tailor to your child’s mood, making it a cozy way to weave a little seasonal play into your day.

Why Kids Love This Activity

Kids are instantly drawn to this setup because it’s so hands-on. The mix of jingle bells and playdough gives them plenty of room to build, experiment, and pretend as they stack, press, and sculpt.

They naturally explore cause and effect when their creations wobble or tip, which keeps them curious and engaged. It’s simple enough for toddlers, fun enough for older preschoolers, and easy to stretch or shorten depending on their attention span.

What You’ll Need

This tray comes together with just a handful of festive materials, most of which you may already have on hand. The holiday colors and shiny bells make it instantly inviting for kids, and the simple setup keeps everything manageable for you.

• Red and green playdough
• A divided tray or wooden sorting tray
• Jingle bells in different sizes and colors
• Faux peppermint discs or other Christmas-themed loose parts
• Optional holiday embellishments from your craft bin

How to Set Up the Tray

This setup comes together in just a few minutes, and the divided tray helps everything stay tidy and inviting. Gather your materials, set them out in small sections, and you’re ready to offer a festive invitation to play.

1. Place small portions of red and green playdough in one section of the tray.
2. Fill the other sections with jingle bells, grouping them by size or color if you prefer.
3. Add the peppermint pieces to the center or a small compartment.
4. Set the tray out and invite your preschooler to explore.

How to Play

Once everything is set out, kids usually dive right in. These simple prompts can help spark their creativity and keep the play feeling open ended and fun.

1. Show your child how to press bells into the playdough to make them stand or stack.
2. Encourage them to build towers, arches, patterns, or little Christmas themed creations.
3. Challenge them to see how tall they can build before a tower wobbles or tips.
4. Offer the peppermint pieces as decorations once their structures start taking shape.
5. Chat casually about balance, weight, and stability as they explore and experiment.

What can kids learn from this activity?

This playdough tray packs in a lot of learning without feeling like a lesson. Kids follow their curiosity while building important early skills in a playful, low pressure way.

• Strengthens finger muscles with squeezing and pressing
• Builds early STEM thinking as kids explore stability, balance, and structure
• Encourages problem solving when towers fall or wobble
• Supports creativity, imagination, and playful design skills

Tips for a Smooth Play Experience

A few small tweaks can make this activity even easier to manage and more enjoyable for your child. These tips help keep the play relaxed, low stress, and developmentally friendly.

• Work on a tray or placemat for easy cleanup
• Choose larger bells for toddlers
• Offer just a few materials at a time if your child feels overwhelmed
• Step into the play briefly if they need help getting started, then let them lead

Download the printable tutorial here.

FAQs About Our Christmas Playdough Tray

More Christmas Activities to Try

If your child enjoyed this playdough tray, you can keep the holiday fun going with a few more simple ideas. These activities pair well with winter themes, offer the same low prep feel, and give kids plenty of room to explore and create.

• Reindeer Counting Worksheets
• Christmas Count and Clip Cards
• Santa Count and Graph Worksheets
• Christmas Elephant Scissor Practice Printable
• Nativity Sequencing Pictures

This simple Christmas playdough tray is one of those activities that kids come back to again and again. With just a few holiday loose parts, they can stack, build, experiment, and create in their own playful way.

It’s low prep for you, engaging for them, and a sweet way to bring a little seasonal magic into everyday moments at home. If you try it, I hope it brings lots of jingles, giggles, and creative fun to your holiday season.