12 Days of Christmas Reading Countdown for Kids: Daily Stories, Jokes & Holiday Fun
12 Days of Magical Christmas Reading for Kids: Stories, Jokes & Holiday Fun
By Giggly Kids Books • Updated Dec 2025 • Worldwide families & teachers
Hook — Make every night a tiny holiday celebration
Imagine a simple stack of 12 short stories, a handful of goofy jokes and a tiny STEM challenge — each day a small spark of laughter and wonder. That’s the charm of a 12-day Christmas Reading Countdown: short, shareable, and perfect for busy families and classroom routines.
Quick Summary
This post gives you a ready-to-use 12-day reading countdown: daily mini-stories, jokes, micro-activities (including STEM), printable checklist, bedtime picks and book buy-buttons so you can read, giggle and learn together. Perfect for ages 3–9.
Imagine twinkling Christmas lights, a warm cup of cocoa, and children diving into magical stories under cozy blankets. December is the perfect time to make reading unforgettable! These 15 creative activities will bring joy, laughter, and a lifelong love of books to kids everywhere.
Quick Summary:
15 kid-approved Christmas reading activities
Fun for home, classroom, and holiday gatherings
Cozy, playful, globally friendly ideas
Includes images, printables, internal links & Buy Buttons
📚 Table of Contents
1. Christmas Reading Fort
2. Hot Cocoa Reading Night
3. Christmas Story Bingo
4. Book Scavenger Hunt
5. Read & Craft Corner
6. Christmas Joke Hour
7. Storytelling Circle
8. Ornament Bookmark Making
9. Wrap-a-Book Surprise
10. Holiday Reading Countdown
11. Character Voices Reading Challenge
12. Read & Dance Breaks
13. Story Puzzle Race
14. Christmas Book Picnic
15. Create-Your-Own Christmas Booklet
1. Build a Cozy Christmas Reading Fort
Create a magical hideaway with blankets, pillows, and twinkling lights. Fill it with Christmas books and let children escape into stories. Sparks imagination and encourages long reading sessions.
Home Tip: Add a small string of battery fairy lights for extra magic.
Classroom Tip: Arrange multiple reading tents for small groups.
Warm up cold December nights with a hot cocoa reading session. Sip cocoa together while reading aloud. Children take turns reading and acting out scenes.
Create bingo cards with Christmas characters, actions, or story moments. Children mark off items as they read or listen. It turns reading into a game and strengthens comprehension skills.
Printable Idea: Include Santa, reindeer, snowman, elf, and candy cane icons.
Classroom Tip: Award small prizes for completing a row.
4. Book Scavenger Hunt
Hide small Christmas-themed clues in books or around the room, leading children to discover the next story. Each clue can relate to a story character or theme.
Home: Hide clues inside pages of picture books.
Classroom: Use thematic posters to direct students to different reading stations.
5. Read & Craft Corner
After reading a Christmas story, children can create crafts related to the plot or characters — paper snowflakes, reindeer puppets, or holiday bookmarks. Encourages creativity and story connection.
6. Christmas Joke Hour
Use funny knock-knock or Christmas-themed jokes to make reading sessions interactive. Children take turns reading aloud and sharing laughs, boosting confidence.
7. Storytelling Circle
Create a circle time where each child tells a mini Christmas story or retells a favorite part of a book. Fosters listening, narrative skills, and social interaction.
8. Ornament Bookmark Making
Children decorate simple paper ornaments to use as bookmarks. Write favorite quotes or draw characters, combining art with literacy.
9. Wrap-a-Book Surprise
Wrap small storybooks as gifts. Children pick a wrapped book and read aloud, making reading feel like opening presents.
10. Holiday Reading Countdown
Create a 15–25 day countdown to Christmas with a story per day. Children open a story envelope or book each day, like an Advent calendar, building anticipation.
11. Character Voices Reading Challenge
Encourage kids to use funny voices or accents for different characters. Makes reading playful and helps engagement.
12. Read & Dance Breaks
After reading a chapter, children take a 20–30 second “dance break” to festive music. Refreshes focus and associates reading with fun movement.
13. Story Puzzle Race
Cut story scenes or sentences into cards. Children race to assemble them in correct order after reading. Reinforces comprehension and sequencing skills.
14. Christmas Book Picnic
Set up a floor picnic near a Christmas tree. Include cushions, blankets, and holiday treats. Children read or listen to stories in this cozy, festive setup.
15. Create-Your-Own Christmas Booklet
Children write and illustrate their own mini-Christmas stories. Bind pages and have a mini reading circle. Encourages imagination, writing skills, and pride.
Best Christmas Books for Kids 2025 | Funny, STEM & Adventure
🎄 Quick Summary
Explore the best Christmas books for kids in 2025! From funny stories and STEM adventures to exciting adventures and calming bedtime tales, this guide helps parents, teachers, and gift-givers find the perfect holiday books. Includes Giggly Kids Books in each category!
