5 Christmas-Themed Play Ideas Using Toymany Figurines

Christmas is the season of cozy corners, twinkling lights, and small moments that feel a little more magical than usual. It’s also one of the easiest times of the year to set up meaningful play activities at home or in the classroom.

Toymany figurines naturally fit into winter and holiday-themed play. And the best part? These setups don’t require complicated materials or big projects—just a bit of imagination.

In this article, you’ll find five simple, Christmas-themed play ideas using Toymany figurines. Each activity is easy to prepare, fun for kids of all ages, and flexible enough to use with the animals you already have.

Let’s bring a touch of winter magic to your playtime.

Play Idea 1 — Snowy Sensory Tray

A snowy sensory tray is one of the easiest ways to bring instant Christmas atmosphere into playtime. With just a few household materials, you can transform a simple tray into a winter landscape that invites kids to explore, build, and imagine.

What you’ll need:

• Cotton, kinetic sand, baking soda “snow,” or shredded paper
• Small stones, pinecones, or twigs
• Any winter-themed Toymany figurines (polar bears, penguins, wolves, owls, deer…)

How to set it up:

Spread your “snow” across the tray, add a few natural elements like stones or pine branches, and place your figurines throughout the scene. Kids can move the animals through the snow, create tracks, build little hideouts, or invent winter stories.

Or you can check the Penguin Guide here.

If you’d like to see how other Toymany families set up their winter sensory scenes, we’ll be sharing a collection of user-made setups on our YouTube channel. You can browse the playlist here for more inspiration: Winter Sensory Play Playlist. 

 

Play Idea 2 — Christmas Ornament Safari

Christmas trees already feel magical to kids, which makes them the perfect backdrop for a simple “animal treasure hunt.” With a few Toymany figurines and a handful of ornaments, your tree can instantly turn into a tiny winter safari.

How to set it up:

Place a few small figurines—like foxes, deer, owls, wolves, or even a mischievous penguin—between the branches of your Christmas tree or around its base. Add some ornaments, pinecones, or ribbon to create little hiding spots.

How to play:

Invite kids to search for the hidden animals and bring them “home” to a small basket or a festive tray. You can even turn it into a matching game by preparing simple cards with each animal’s picture or name.

A garden or a yard is a perfect place where kids and the figures could play “hide and seek”! Playful scene here. 

 

Play Idea 3 — Christmas Forest Storytelling

A small storytelling corner can turn quiet winter afternoons into moments of imagination. With a few forest-themed Toymany figurines and natural materials, kids can create their own Christmas woodland—full of animals preparing for the holidays.

How to set it up:

Choose a small table, tray, or windowsill and decorate it with pinecones, small wood slices, dried leaves, or a sprinkle of faux snow. Add forest animals such as deer, wolves, bears, or owls to build your “Christmas forest.”

How to play:

Encourage kids to invent short stories about what the animals are doing on Christmas Eve. Are they gathering food? Visiting friends? Preparing a winter celebration? You can guide younger children by asking simple prompts like:

• “Who lives closest to the big pine tree?”
• “Which animal might bring gifts to the forest?”
• “Who is the bravest to walk through the snow at night?”

 

Play Idea 4 — Reindeer Tracks & Animal Footprints

Winter is the perfect time to explore the idea of animal tracks, especially with a Christmas twist. With a soft surface and a few Toymany figurines, kids can create their own snowy trail and discover “who walked here before Santa arrived.”

How to set it up:

Use a tray filled with flour, kinetic sand, baking soda “snow,” or even a thin layer of soft clay. Press a few Toymany figurines—such as wolves, deer, bears, or polar animals—into the surface to make clear footprints.

How to play:

Let kids explore the tracks and guess which animal made each one. You can turn it into a matching activity with simple cards showing the animals, or invite children to create a story using the tracks as clues.

 

Play Idea 5 — Christmas Night Diorama

A Christmas night diorama is one of the most magical ways to bring Toymany figurines into your holiday décor. With a few simple materials and soft lighting, you can build a peaceful winter scene that feels like a moment frozen in time.

How to set it up: Use a small wooden board, tray, or tabletop as your base. Add faux snow, cotton, or baking soda for texture, and arrange small houses, paper trees, or warm fairy lights in the background. Then place your Toymany figurines, such as polar bears, penguins, owls, wolves, or even a festive-looking frog, into the scene.

Why it’s special: Unlike fast-paced holiday activities, a diorama encourages kids to slow down and notice details, the way the light hits the snow, how animals look at night, or how a tiny scene can feel like a whole world. It’s peaceful, creative, and doubles as a beautiful holiday display for your home or classroom.

 

This Is A Season for Play, Discovery, and Warm Moments

The holiday season is full of small moments—quiet mornings, cozy evenings, and the kind of unhurried play that brings families together.

Whether your children are rescuing penguins from “snow,” following reindeer tracks, or creating their own Christmas night scenes, each activity offers a mix of creativity, learning, and gentle seasonal magic.

And if you're exploring new ideas or looking to add a few winter animals to your collection, our Christmas season at Toymany is now live. Feel free to stop by and browse—no rush, just inspiration for your holiday playtime.