How to Catch Santa Activities
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How to Catch Santa is a cute Christmas picture book. It is a holiday how-to book that is geared towards preschool and elementary-age kids.
In this story, two children consider all the ways they might be able to catch Santa as he delivers gifts to their house on Christmas Eve. They are full of silly ideas like lassoing Santa and luring him into a snow trap.
The children also realize that they will need to plan how they will spend their time with Santa in case their tricks are successful. He is a busy man and needs to travel the world all in one night, so he won’t be able to stay long. They don’t want to keep Santa, they just want to spend a little time with him. A plan will make sure they don’t waste their precious time with the jolly old man.
Last update on 2026-09-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Snuggle up with your kids and read the story this December. Then work through these How to Catch Santa activities.
How to Catch Santa Activities
Create a Custom Cookie
On Christmas Eve, children around the world leave out a plate of cookies and a glass of milk for Santa. Some kids really enjoy choosing which cookies to leave for Santa. What would be Santa’s ideal cookie?
Does he like chocolate chip? Is he a peanut butter fan? Would he prefer a chewy cookie or a treat with a crisp crunch? Does he like simple cookies or brightly colored sprinkles?
Hint: There are no wrong answers!
A custom cookie might just be the secret to catching Santa. This is a chance for kids to really think about what sort of cookie might be irresistible to Santa. Kids are incredibly creative and often have great ideas. I always love listening to kids think out loud.
If designing a unique cookie is overwhelming, break the process into a few questions.
- Should the cookie be round or shaped with cookie cutters?
- What cookie base might be best? Options include sugar, peanut butter, chocolate, gingersnap, and more.
- Should we add anything extra to the mix? Consider chocolate chips, chopped nuts, coconut, M&Ms, butterscotch chips, pretzel pieces, etc.
- Does the cookie need any decoration?
Remember, there is no wrong answer!
Following a recipe for the preferred cookie base should get you off to a good start. Then just add in whatever special ingredients your kiddos choose.
Creating a custom cookie might take a little bit of trial and error to get the recipe just right, but baking can be an excellent way to homeschool through the holidays.
Write a How to Catch Santa Paragraph
WriteShop has a free guide on writing a holiday ‘how to’ paragraph. This ties in perfectly with the How to Catch Santa book!
Walk your kids through the steps to write the paragraph, but know that it is definitely okay to modify this assignment for your kids.
Young children might prefer to draw illustrations for their how-to catch Santa guide. They can narrate the story to an older sibling or a parent, who can write it down. Kids might also prefer to write their how-to guide as a list instead of as a paragraph.
Continue the Series
How to Catch Santa by Jean Reagan is a popular book, so there are a few spin-off titles. If your kids enjoy reading this story, consider checking out the other Christmas titles.
How to Catch an Elf by Adam Wallace
- Amazon Kindle Edition
Last update on 2026-09-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
How to Catch a Snowman by Adam Wallace
Last update on 2026-09-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This post is part of the Sweet Christmas Activities series. Be sure to check out the other posts for more Christmas book and treat pairings!
Keep reading . . .
- Awesome Christmas Homeschool Activities
- 12 Sweet Christmas Books and Activities
- Christmas Doughnut Bar
- Free Printable Homeschool Christmas Planner
- Christmas Unit Studies for Homeschool
- Learn About Christmas Around the World
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