The best Christmas activities for kids at work keep them busy for a whole afternoon: a teacher-led program, a hands-on craft table, some festive STEAM and a few games that burn off energy.
For HR, the real job isn’t finding ideas. It’s making sure the kids in the building have a proper plan, so their parents can enjoy the celebration too. Here are four ways to do it, starting with the one that needs the least work from you.
The party’s sorted. What are the kids doing?
This post is about the kids’ side of the day. If you’re still working out the food, the venue and the guest list, start with our guide to work Christmas party ideas that include the kids, then come back here.
Already planned the party? Good. Now fill the gap. A seven-year-old with a juice box and nothing to do will find something to do, and it won’t be the quiet kind.
Option one: let a team of teachers run it
This is the easiest way to get a day that works, and it’s what we do. KidsCo educators arrive with a themed program, the materials and a plan for kids aged 5 to 12. You get a room full of kids who are properly busy, and your people get to enjoy the celebration without one eye on the door.
What makes it work:
- A real program, not a babysitter. Games, craft and hands-on activities, planned and run by teachers, so there’s a start, a middle and an end. No lulls, no wandering.
- Everything is brought with us. The activities, the materials and the pack-down. The last bit of glitter on the floor is our problem.
- Safe by design. Every educator holds a Working With Children Check or their state’s teacher registration. We run at one educator to every 10 children and we’re fully insured, including public liability.
- Themed to suit your people. A festive theme, a summer celebration or something that fits what your business does. It works for every family, whatever they celebrate.
It’s the same approach behind our events service and our Bring Your Kid to Work Day programs.
Option two: run it in-house with a craft table
The next three sections are ideas you can run yourself, 15 in all. They’re general suggestions, not our program.
Doing it in-house? A well-stocked craft table in a spare meeting room still does a lot. Keep it simple and keep it stocked.
- Cards and decorations. Paper, pencils, stickers and glue. Kids make a card for their parent’s team, which then goes up on the wall.
- Paper chains and snowflakes. Cheap, quick and good for a wide age range. Hang them in the office afterwards.
- Salt dough or clay ornaments. Needs a little prep, but kids love taking something home.
- Wrapping and gift making. Handmade bookmarks, paper stars or painted rocks, ready to give.
- A giant collaborative mural. Roll out a long sheet of paper and let everyone add to it. It’s a good one for mixed ages.
Give one person the job of running it, and put a clear finish time on the door.
Option three: festive STEAM
STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and maths) is where older primary kids stay engaged. It feels like play, but it’s learning in disguise.
- Gingerbread engineering. Build the tallest, strongest structure from biscuits and icing. Check allergies on the RSVP first.
- Design a sleigh. Teams build a vehicle from recycled materials and test how far it rolls down a ramp.
- Fake snow science. Mix cornflour and conditioner for a squishy, safe snow that makes a great mess.
- Light-up cards. Simple paper circuits with a small battery and an LED. Needs adult help, but it’s a show-stopper.
- Code a message. Older kids write a secret message in a cipher and swap it with a friend.
Option four: games that burn off energy
Summer in Australia means a lot of energy and not a lot of sleeping in. Mix quiet activities with active ones, and take the active ones outside if there’s shade.
- Scavenger hunt. Hide festive clues around the floor or garden. Teams of mixed ages work well.
- Musical statues or freeze dance. The classics work for a reason.
- Pass-the-parcel. Has a built-in pause for the little ones.
- Beach-style games. Water-balloon toss or a sponge relay if the day is hot. Pack spare clothes.
- Charades and Pictionary. Fine for a rainy day and a gentle wind-down.
Make it work for everyone
An end-of-year event is for your whole team, whatever they celebrate. A few things keep it welcoming:
- Theme the day around summer and the year you’ve had. Festive crafts can still be on the table for families who want them.
- Make Santa optional. A visit is fun for families who want it. It shouldn’t be the centrepiece.
- Check food needs on the RSVP. Allergies, diets and religious requirements go on the form, not left to chance.
- Give every activity a no-pressure version. Kids can join in, watch or do their own thing. Nobody has to make a Christmas card.
The practical bit
Kids on site means duty of care. Sort these before the day:
- Space. A room away from desks and screens, with shade and water nearby.
- Supervision. A named adult for the kids’ area, holding a Working With Children Check or their state’s teacher registration.
- Ratios. We run at one educator for every 10 children. Aim for the same, or better.
- Timing. Two to three hours suits most primary-aged kids. Plan a snack in the middle.
- A plan B. Wet weather, heat or a no-show on the day.
Our HR checklist for safe holiday programs covers the rest.
After the party, the real pressure starts
One good afternoon is a lovely thing. But the juggle your working parents feel is a weeks-long one. When the school year ends and the summer holidays begin, the childcare scramble starts all over again.
That’s where an onsite school holiday program comes in. Ford brought school holiday care into the workplace and saw productivity rise 55% and engagement rise 76%. Read how Ford did it.
Give the kids a day to remember
KidsCo works with over 100 ASX-listed companies to run kids’ days and school holiday programs inside their workplaces, in every state and territory. We bring the educators, the activities and the pack-down. You bring the room.
See what an end-of-year kids’ event looks like, or talk to us about your date.
Frequently asked questions
What are good Christmas activities for kids at a work event?
A teacher-led program is the easiest. Running it yourself, try crafts like cards and paper chains, festive STEAM such as gingerbread engineering, and active games like a scavenger hunt. A mix of quiet and active works best, with a clear start and finish.
How long should the kids’ activities run?
Two to three hours suits most primary-aged kids, with a snack in the middle. Longer than that and energy drops fast, especially in an Australian summer.
Do we need a Christmas theme?
No. A summer or end-of-year celebration theme works for staff of every faith, or none, and kids enjoy it just as much. Festive crafts can sit alongside it.
What ages do these activities suit?
Primary school kids, around 5 to 12, which is the age our programs are built for. Most ideas here stretch across that range. Toddlers need a parent close by, and teenagers are best given a job, like helping run a station.
