Christmas Learning Activities for SEND Students!

The Christmas season is a magical time for children and a great way to weave festive fun into ongoing learning for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) students. Engaging in Christmas activities can be both enjoyable and beneficial, helping SEND students develop essential skills such as communication, fine motor coordination, problem solving and social interaction!

This blog by special educational needs recruitment specialists Spencer Clarke Group explores fun Christmas activities to improve learning skills in SEND students.

How do Christmas activities support learning for SEND students?

Christmas activities can be an excellent way to support learning for SEND students as they provide opportunities to be creative, build relationships and develop communication skills.

SEND students are often comfortable with the routine and familiarity of situations so it’s important to introduce Christmas activities which SEND students are comfortable with.

Decorating Christmas crafts or playing Christmas games can make building social and communication skills easier for SEND students. The less pressure they feel, the better the outcome might be for them and therefore disguising the development of important skills as fun festivities can be beneficial.

Activities such as creating textured decorations or exploring Christmas scents support sensory processing. As a result, students might be able to engage more fully and regulate their emotions. Similarly, building and decorating a gingerbread house or playing a snowball maths toss game encourages problem solving and logical thinking, while still feeling playful and enjoyable.

Christmas activities which improve learning skills in SEND students

7 Christmas activities which improve learning skills in SEND students, include:

• Build and decorate a gingerbread house. 
• Host a Santa's workshop role play.
• Create a Christmas scent game.
• Organise a reindeer movement obstacle course. 
• Use an interactive advent calendar. 
• Play a snowball maths toss game.
• Learn from a Christmas cause and effect experiment.

Build and decorate a gingerbread house

To build and decorate a gingerbread house, you could split the class into small teams and ask them to follow simple step by step instructions. This activity encourages students to work together which helps build communication and social interaction skills, as they share ideas to build their house.

It also supports the development of fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination as they assemble pieces and carefully place decorations. Building and decorating a gingerbread house allows students to explore different textures, scents and colours which provides a rich sensory experience.

Host a Santa's workshop role play

A fantastic Christmas activity that improves learning skills for SEND students is a Santa's workshop role play session. You could create a gift wrapping station where students follow simple, step by step instructions to wrap small gifts or make pretend presents. This activity helps them practice sequencing, listening and taking turns.

You could also set up a ‘naughty and nice’ station where students sort picture cards or short scenarios. This helps build their decision making and understanding of behaviour and language skills.

Role play is an effective way to support learning as it’s a fun hands-on activity that develops important skills such as communication, teamwork and following instructions.

Create a Christmas scent game

A fun and festive Christmas activity that supports learning for SEND students is a Christmas scent game. To play this, fill small containers with Christmas scents such as cinnamon, peppermint, gingerbread and hot chocolate. Ask students to smell each one and match the scent to a picture or word card.

This activity supports sensory processing. When students smell each scent, they start linking it to familiar Christmas experiences, such as baking gingerbread cookies, which builds their memory and attention.

Organise a reindeer movement obstacle course

To set up a reindeer movement obstacle activity, arrange cones, hoops, cushions or small hurdles to create the course. You could add ‘delivery stations’ where students can pick up or drop off small presents or beanbags. As they navigate the course, students will act as reindeer by jumping, balancing, crawling and following verbal instructions.

You can guide them through the course step by step or allow them to try it independently once they grasp the rules.

This activity helps develop gross motor skills as students are moving and thinking at the same time as they go through the course. They have to remember what comes next, listen carefully and plan their route, all while working on their balance and coordination.

Use an interactive advent calendar

Creating an interactive advent calendar is a fun and effective way to support learning for SEND students. Behind each door will be a small task for the class to complete. Tasks could be anything from building a mini snowman, completing a festive wordsearch, matching christmas shapes or reading a Christmas book.

These activities can support learning in various ways. Crafting helps develop fine motor skills, while puzzles and matching tasks improve problem solving and planning abilities. Reading and word based activities support language and literacy development. Working together on these tasks also encourages teamwork, turn taking and building confidence.

Play a snowball maths toss game

In the snowball maths toss game, students throw soft or paper ‘snowballs’ into numbered bins. Each bin will represent a different maths task such as addition, subtraction or division. This learning game enhances numeracy skills while also improving hand-eye coordination through aiming and throwing.

This activity also strengthens focus and concentration as students strategise their throws. Combining games with subject lessons such as maths makes it a fun way for SEND students to learn and develop new skills.

Learn from a Christmas cause and effect experiment

The Christmas cause and effect experiment is an exciting way to help SEND students learn through hands on exploration. Students can try simple experiments like seeing if a candy cane floats, determining which ornament spins the fastest or dropping mini marshmallows to see how they bounce.

These activities help develop scientific thinking and fine motor skills. As students experiment and talk about what they see, they’re not just learning about cause and effect but they’re also building their observation skills. By keeping experiments short and playful, students can enjoy learning while practicing essential skills.

Celebrating Learning Through Festive Fun

Christmas activities offer wonderful opportunities for SEND students to learn, explore and connect in ways that feel fun and meaningful.

By turning festive traditions into playful learning experiences, teachers can nurture essential skills such as communication, problem solving and sensory processing. Most importantly, these activities help every child feel included, confident and excited to learn during the holiday season!

We’d like to say a huge thank you to Eva, Marketing Assistant at Spencer Clarke Group, for contributing her expert insights to this blog. Spencer Clarke Group is an award-winning education and SEND recruitment agency that supports schools with their staffing needs and helps professionals find their dream job.

Eva writes for the Spencer Clarke Group Career Hub, sharing valuable career advice and industry insights for both employers and jobseekers. In 2025, Spencer Clarke Group was proudly named Best Recruitment Marketing Team, Best Public Sector Recruitment Agency and Best Temporary Recruitment Agency at the Recruiter Awards. We’re delighted to collaborate with Eva and showcase her knowledge and passion for supporting SEND education.