As the holiday season approaches, I’ve been thinking about fun ways to bring Christmas cheer into our home. With three little ones—my 6-year-old, 2.5-year-old, and 10-month-old—I’ve been on the hunt for the best ideas that are age-appropriate, simple to prepare, and enjoyable for everyone.
Crafting has never been my forte (my toxic trait is thinking I can watch/see a tutorial once and know exactly what to do), but I’ve found that some easy Christmas crafts are not only manageable but also the perfect way to create memories and spread holiday cheer.
Here are some great Christmas crafts that I’m excited to try with my kids this year.
1. Paper Plate Santa
This classic craft is so simple and uses materials you probably already have around the house. All you need is a paper plate, cotton balls, red construction paper, googly eyes, and a glue stick.
- How to make it: Cut out a triangle for Santa’s hat and glue it to the top of the plate. Add googly eyes, a red pom-pom for the nose, and cotton balls to create Santa’s fluffy beard and hat trim.
- Why I love it: This craft is great for my 6-year-old, who can handle cutting and gluing independently, while my little guy (2.5 years) can enjoy sticking cotton balls on with supervision. It’s a great way to practice fine motor skills and unleash their creativity.
2. DIY Christmas Ornaments with Salt Dough
Salt dough ornaments are a perfect Christmas craft that can double as keepsakes or gifts for grandparents.
- Materials: Salt, flour, water, acrylic paint, and cookie cutters in different shapes (think candy canes, Christmas trees, and stars).
- How to make it: Mix 1 cup of salt, 2 cups of flour, and 1 cup of water to create the dough. Roll it out and use cookie cutters to create shapes. Once baked, let the kids paint them with acrylic paint.
- Why it’s fun: My 6-year-old can paint intricate designs, while my toddler can enjoy the sensory experience of squishing the dough. These make a perfect gift for loved ones.
3. Pom-Pom Christmas Tree Craft
Pom-poms are a holiday season favorite and a fun way to make a Christmas tree craft.
- Materials: Green construction paper, glue stick, colorful pom poms, and a popsicle stick.
- How to make it: Cut a Christmas tree shape from green paper. Let your kids glue pom-poms as “ornaments,” and add a popsicle stick to the bottom as the trunk.
- Why it’s great: It’s a simple yet festive craft that’s perfect for younger children. My toddler can focus on gluing the pom-poms, while my older one can arrange them creatively.
4. Tissue Paper Christmas Lights
Christmas lights are one of my favorite parts of the holiday season, and this craft captures their festive beauty.
- Materials: Black construction paper, tissue paper in various colors, and glue.
- How to make it: Cut out a strand shape from black paper and different bulb shapes from tissue paper. Let the kids glue the bulbs onto the strand.
- Why it’s ideal: This craft is all about tearing and gluing, which my toddler adores. It’s also a great craft to display on the windows for that “stained glass” effect.
5. Pine Cone Ornaments
Nature-inspired crafts like this are a great way to combine outdoor fun with holiday crafts.
- Materials: Pine cones, glitter glue, ribbon, and small pom-poms.
- How to make it: Gather pine cones during a family walk. Let the kids decorate them with glitter glue and pom-poms, then tie a ribbon to hang them.
- Why it’s fun: It’s a perfect addition to the tree and a fun activity for all ages. My little hands (the toddler and baby) can help sprinkle glitter, while my older child can focus on more detailed designs.
6. Candy Cane Pipe Cleaner Craft
This is such an easy craft and perfect for little hands!
- Materials: Red and white pipe cleaners.
- How to make it: Simply twist red and white pipe cleaners together to create a candy cane shape.
- Why it works: It’s quick, easy, and helps my 6-year-old practice twisting and shaping. Plus, it’s a fun idea for hanging on the tree or adding to Christmas cards.
7. Handprint Christmas Tree
This keepsake craft is so sweet and easy to personalize for different ages.
- Materials: Green acrylic paint, plain paper, and star stickers.
- How to make it: Paint your child’s hands and press them onto paper to create a Christmas tree shape, layering the prints as you move up. Add a star sticker to the top of the tree.
- Why I love it: It’s a perfect preschool Christmas craft that captures how tiny their hands are. My toddler and baby can both participate in this one.
8. Toilet Paper Roll Snowmen
Recycling toilet paper rolls is a great way to create adorable snowmen.
- Materials: Toilet paper rolls, white paint, googly eyes, buttons, and construction paper.
- How to make it: Paint the rolls white and let the kids decorate with googly eyes, a paper scarf, and button “clothes.”
- Why it’s eco-friendly: It’s a fun craft and a better way to repurpose something you’d normally toss. Plus, it’s perfect for snowy days indoors.
9. Gingerbread Man Craft
This is one of the great craft ideas for creating your own Christmas decorations.
- Materials: Brown construction paper, glitter glue, googly eyes, and colorful buttons.
- How to make it: Use a free printable template for the gingerbread man shape, then let the kids decorate with glitter, glue, and buttons.
- Why it’s festive: It’s so much fun to see the kids personalize their gingerbread men. It’s also a great Christmas craft to use as holiday decorations.
10. Christmas Card with Cotton Ball Snow
Homemade Christmas cards are a perfect gift idea for family and friends.
- Materials: Plain paper, glue, and cotton balls.
- How to make it: Fold the paper into a card shape. Draw a simple snowy scene and let the kids glue cotton balls as snow.
- Why it’s meaningful: This is a wonderful way to involve the kids in creating something personal during Christmas time. Even my toddler can participate!
11. Negative Space Christmas Tree Art
This creative craft combines art and design in a kid-friendly way.
- Materials: Painter’s tape, plain paper, and acrylic paint.
- How to make it: Use tape to create a tree shape on paper. Let the kids paint over it, then peel off the tape to reveal the tree outline.
- Why it’s cool: It’s a fun, mess-free craft for older kids that looks impressive but is easy to do.
12. Christmas Eve Pinecone Garland
For a family craft night, creating a garland from pine cones is a festive touch.
- Materials: Pine cones, twine, and acrylic paint.
- How to make it: Paint the pine cones and tie them onto twine to create a garland.
- Why it’s versatile: This is a perfect addition to our Christmas décor and a relaxing activity for the entire family.
13. Popsicle Stick Reindeer
Simple and adorable, this craft turns everyday items into holiday magic.
- Materials: Popsicle sticks, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and a red pom-pom.
- How to make it: Glue three popsicle sticks into a triangle, add googly eyes, a red pom-pom nose, and pipe cleaner antlers.
- Why it’s versatile: This is another perfect Christmas craft that works for all ages, especially younger children who enjoy assembling things.
14. Tissue Paper Wreath
A tissue paper wreath is festive and great for little hands.
- Materials: Green tissue paper, red ribbon, and a paper plate.
- How to make it: Cut the center out of a paper plate, scrunch tissue paper, and glue it around the edge. Add a red ribbon bow.
- Why it’s sweet: My toddler will love scrunching the tissue paper, and my older child can help with the design.
15. Glitter Glue Snowflakes
Add sparkle to your holiday crafts with glitter glue snowflakes.
- Materials: Wax paper and glitter glue.
- How to make it: Draw snowflake designs on wax paper with glitter glue. Let them dry overnight, then peel them off.
- Why it’s fun: This is a great craft for developing fine motor skills, and the finished snowflakes make a perfect addition to windows or gifts.
16. Fingerprint Christmas Lights
- Materials: Black construction paper, non-toxic paint in various colors.
- How to make it: Draw a string of Christmas lights on black paper using a marker or crayon. Let the kids dip their fingers in paint and press them along the string to create the “bulbs.”
- Why it’s great: This craft is mess-friendly and perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. My 2.5-year-old loves finger painting, and this lets them get creative while learning about colors.
17. Paper Plate Christmas Wreath
- Materials: Paper plates, green paint, tissue paper, red pom-poms, and ribbon.
- How to make it: Cut out the center of a paper plate to form the wreath. Paint the plate green, then decorate with scrunched-up tissue paper and red pom-poms. Add a ribbon bow at the top.
- Why it’s fun: This craft works well for younger and older kids. The scrunching and gluing are great for my toddler, while my 6-year-old can help with the bow and arrangement.
18. Snowflake Stamping with Toilet Paper Rolls
- Materials: Toilet paper rolls, white paint, and blue paper.
- How to make it: Flatten the toilet paper roll slightly, then cut slits around one end to create a snowflake shape. Dip the roll into white paint and stamp onto blue paper.
- Why it’s easy: This is a great way to create unique designs with minimal materials. It’s simple enough for younger children, and my older child can experiment with different shapes and patterns.
19. Pom-Pom Snowman Craft
- Materials: White pom-poms, googly eyes, orange and black construction paper, and glue.
- How to make it: Stack three white pom-poms for the body, then add googly eyes, a paper carrot nose, and a small paper hat or scarf.
- Why it’s adorable: This simple craft is perfect for little hands and uses easy-to-find materials. My toddler loves anything involving pom-poms, so this will be a hit.
20. Santa Hat Headbands
- Materials: Red construction paper, cotton balls, glue, and elastic string.
- How to make it: Cut a triangle out of red paper for the hat, then glue cotton balls along the bottom and tip. Attach the hat to a strip of paper and fit it with elastic to make a headband.
- Why it’s festive: My kids will have so much fun making and wearing their own Santa hats. It’s a perfect craft for Christmas Eve photo ops!
21. Foam Christmas Tree Decorations
- Materials: Green foam sheets, colorful stickers, small pom-poms, and ribbon.
- How to make it: Cut out Christmas tree shapes from the foam sheets. Let the kids decorate with stickers and pom-poms, then attach a ribbon loop for hanging.
- Why it’s simple: Foam sheets are easy to handle, even for little hands. My older child can cut out shapes, while the younger kids focus on decorating.
22. Reindeer Footprint Art
- Materials: Brown paint, white paper, googly eyes, red pom-poms, and markers.
- How to make it: Paint the bottom of your child’s foot with brown paint and press it onto white paper to create a reindeer body. Add googly eyes, a pom-pom nose, and marker-drawn antlers.
- Why it’s special: Footprint crafts are such sweet keepsakes, and this one is easy to personalize. Even my baby can participate with a little help.
23. Cotton Ball Snow Globe
- Materials: Clear plastic plates, cotton balls, construction paper, and glitter glue.
- How to make it: Cut out a snowman or Christmas tree shape from paper and glue it onto one plate. Add cotton balls and a sprinkle of glitter, then cover with another plate to create a “globe.”
- Why it’s interactive: Shaking the “snow” around the globe will entertain my toddler for hours, while my 6-year-old can help assemble the scene.
24. Simple Nativity Scene
- Materials: Popsicle sticks, construction paper, glue, and markers.
- How to make it: Use popsicle sticks to form a stable shape, then create Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus with paper cutouts or small fabric scraps.
- Why it’s meaningful: This craft introduces the story of Christmas in a hands-on way. It’s a great addition to our family discussions about the holiday season.
25. Pine Cone Christmas Trees
- Materials: Pine cones, green paint, glitter, and star stickers.
- How to make it: Paint the pine cones green and sprinkle glitter on them while the paint is wet. Add a star sticker to the top.
- Why it’s cute: It’s a simple yet creative craft that brings a touch of nature indoors. My older kids love painting, and my toddler enjoys sprinkling glitter (with a little guidance).
Why These Crafts Work for All Ages
These Christmas craft ideas focus on simplicity and flexibility, making them perfect for preschoolers and siblings of all ages. From using toilet paper rolls for snowflakes to creating keepsake ornaments, these activities are designed to engage little hands and big imaginations without requiring expert crafting skills.
With materials like pom-poms, glitter glue, and popsicle sticks, the options are endless, and they’re easy to fit into a busy workday. Whether you’re making a Christmas card, DIY ornaments, or festive decorations, these crafts are a fun way to sneak in some fine motor skill practice while creating lasting holiday memories.
With 25 ideas to choose from, which craft will you try first? Let me know!
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