10 Christmas Play Ideas: Festive Fun with Open-ended Toys

10 Christmas Play Ideas: Festive Fun with Open-ended Toys

Oskar's Wooden Ark | November 22, 2021

Open-ended toys offer hours of play, so we're here to provide you with 10 ideas for your little ones to engage in some festive fun during this magical season!

If you're looking for even more ideas, we invite you to check out 5 Festive Ways to Create and Learn with Grapat Loose Parts OR download our free OWA Christmas Countdown for 24 fun activity ideas for the Advent period!

If you try any of these activities at home with your little ones, please take a photo and share it with us on Facebook and Instagram, tagging @oskarswoodenark and using the hashtag #OWACHRISTMAS.

1. Tell the Christmas Story

Create a Nativity scene and tell the Christmas story. Bea and her children have created their own crafty scene using recycled cardboard (cut and decorated using Lyra pencils) with Sarah's Silks as the backdrop. Grapat Nins make the perfect Mary and Joseph while Baby Nin Jesus sleeps in his hand-crafted manger. Kelly and her family have collected the beautiful Ostheimer Nativity characters and look forward to bringing them out each year for the most beautiful display and small world play (pictured here with the Grimm's natural rainbow arches).

Festive Fun with Open-ended Toys: Tell the Christmas Story

Photo Credit: @_simply_bea_

Bea and her children have created their own crafty scene using recycled cardboard (cut and decorated using Lyra pencils) with Sarah's Silks as the backdrop. Grapat Nins make the perfect Mary and Joseph while Baby Nin Jesus sleeps in his hand-crafted manger.

Kelly and her family have collected the beautiful Ostheimer Nativity characters and it is their tradition to bring them out each year for the most beautiful display and Christmas small world play (pictured here with the Grimm's natural rainbow arches).

Photo Credit: @mumz.world

2. Help Santa Deliver the Gifts

Everyone needs help with their work sometimes - even Father Christmas!

Festive Fun with Open-ended Toys: Help Santa Deliver the Gifts

Photo Credit: @woodentoyplay

Photo Credit: @mumz.world

3. Build a Christmas Character

Ruth and children have built a KAPLA penguin. Maybe you'll build a reindeer out of wooden blocks, or a snowman out of loose parts!

Festive Fun with Open-ended Toys: Build a Christmas Character

Photo Credit: @pagesofchildhood

Photo Credit: @pagesofchilhood

4. Create a Festive Mandala

Relax and unwind (parents, you too) by creating a Christmas-inspired mandala. Jennifer has used Grapat mandalas and loose parts, Grimm's Acrylic Glitter Stones and wooden blocks for her festive creation. What will you use?

Festive Fun with Open-ended Toys: Create a Festive Mandala

Photo Credit: @jen.ma.bu

5. Plan a Christmas Party

Look at these Bajo party animals having a ball! Why not throw a big Christmas shindig for your toys?

Festive Fun with Open-ended Toys: Plan a Christmas Party with BAJO Endangered Animals

Photo Credit: @woodentoyplay

6. Bring your favourite festive story to life

Gather all of your toys and re-create the scene from one of your favourite festive stories for some magical bookish play.

Festive Fun with Open-ended Toys: Create a Magical Festive Small World Scene

Photo Credit: @mumz.world

7. Plan a Festive Car Race

Zoom! Set up your Waytoplay roads, Beck street signs and your Candylab cars and take them for a spin! Who is going to win?

Festive Fun with Open-ended Toys: Create a Festive Car Race with Candylab

Photo Credit: Candylab

8. Build a Christmas Tree with Wooden Blocks or Magnetic Tiles

Christmas trees can be improvised! So why not try making one from wooden blocks or Magnetic Tiles? Allie and her children have created some rather special (and sustainable) Christmas trees using Sumblox, Just Blocks, Regenbogenland Crystal Gem Blocks and Grimm's wooden building blocks. Don't forget the star for the top of your tree!