Best Christmas Arts and Crafts for Preschoolers

The holiday season is a magical time for preschoolers. Their eyes light up at the sight of sparkling decorations, festive colors, and fun crafts projects. As an early childhood educator, Christmas arts and crafts present a unique opportunity to impart important skills while celebrating the season. In this post, we will explore 50 Christmas-themed arts and craft ideas perfect for preschool-aged children. The activities highlighted promote fine motor development, creativity, color recognition, counting, and more – all under the guise of Yuletide fun! For more holiday activies, check out our Christmas themed songs.

6/24/20246 min read

1. Handprint Christmas Trees

Description

This activity allows children to create a personalized Christmas tree using their very own handprint! It’s a great way to work on fine motor skills and creativity.

Need

  • Green paper

  • Brown paper

  • Glue

Directions

Trace the child’s handprint onto green paper and cut out the shape. Glue it to a piece of brown paper to form a handprint Christmas tree. Let them decorate it with glitter, sequins, rhinestones, or other crafty materials.

2. Toilet Paper Roll Christmas Characters

Description

Turn an everyday toilet paper roll into a fun Christmas character like an elf, reindeer, Santa, snowman, gingerbread person, and more! This open-ended craft promotes creativity and imagination.

Need

  • Toilet paper rolls

  • Glue

  • Markers

  • Yarn

  • Pompoms

  • Googly eyes

  • Other craft supplies

Directions

Allow children to choose from a variety of crafting materials to transform their toilet paper roll into a Christmas character. Encourage them to let their creativity shine!

3. Cotton Ball Snowpeople

Description

Use cotton balls, construction paper, and glue to build funny little snowpeople to decorate the classroom! As they assemble their snowpeople, children will develop fine motor strength while enjoying some seasonal fun.

Need

  • White paper

  • Cotton balls

  • Glue

  • Decoration supplies – sequins, buttons, pipe cleaners, etc.

Directions

Glue cotton balls onto white paper in the shape of snowpeople. Allow children to decorate their snowpeople using sequins, buttons, pipe cleaners, and other craft materials. Get silly with it!

4. Handprint Wreaths

Description

Turn children’s handprints into gorgeous wreaths they can hang up with pride! As they assemble their handprint wreaths, children will build fine motor skills while sparking holiday creativity.

Need

  • Red, green, white paint

  • Paper plates

  • Brown paper

  • Glue

  • Hole punch

Directions

Have children dip their hands in paint and stamp prints along the outer edge of a paper plate. Once dry, cut out the wreath shape and glue to a piece of brown paper. Punch a hole for hanging!

5. Decorative Winter Tree Centerpieces

Description

Constructing these stand-up winter trees helps develop fine motor skills as children cut, fold and glue paper together. The activity also builds attention skills as they creatively decorate their wintry masterpiece with beautiful embellishments.

Need

  • Light blue paper

  • White paper

  • Scissors

  • Glue stick

  • Assorted decorations – cotton balls, sequins, beads, glitter

Directions

On light blue paper, have children draw then cut out the shape of a pine tree. Glue it onto a sheet of white paper folded in half to create a stand-up tree centerpiece. Let them decorate their trees using cotton balls for snow, sequins for ornaments and more!

6. Handprint Stockings

Description

This festive fine motor activity lets children create their own personalized handprint stockings just in time for Christmas! As they assemble their stockings, children will build fine pincer grasp and cutting skills.

Need

  • Red paper

  • White paper

  • Scissors

  • Glue stick

  • Markers or crayons

Directions

Trace children’s hands onto red paper and cut out the shape. Have them glue their handprint cut-outs to a strip of white paper folded in half lengthwise to form a stocking. Let them decorate their stockings with markers, glue and glitter!

7. Snow Globe Craft

Description

Creating mini snow globe scenes engages fine motor skills and imagination. As children build their tiny winter worlds, you can connect concepts like weather, seasons and winter holidays.

Need

  • Clean baby food jars

  • Distilled water

  • Glycerin

  • Glitter

  • Super glue

  • Mini winter figurines

Directions

Have children pick out a mini snowman, reindeer, elf or other winter figurine. Help them attach their figure inside the jar using super glue. Fill the jar with distilled water mixed with glycerin and copious amounts of glitter. Seal tightly – magical snow globe ready for play!

8. Q-tip Snowflakes

Description

Using Q-tips and white paint, children can create gorgeous, unique snowflakes that develop their fine motor skills and winter creativity. Display them on windows for the world to enjoy!

Need

  • White paint

  • Black paper

  • Q-tips

Directions

Set out shallow dishes filled with white paint. Show children how to dip the Q-tip in paint and press onto black paper to make snowflake shapes. Once dry, hang them up around the classroom windows.

9. Reindeer Handprint Ornament

Description

Children will get a kick out of transforming their handprints into Rudolf and friends! As they create, they’ll build fine motor strength while getting into the holiday spirit.

Need

  • Brown paint

  • Red pom pom

  • Googly eyes

  • Hole punch

  • Yarn

Directions

Help children coat their palm with brown paint and stamp onto paper. Once dry, they can glue on a red pom pom nose and google eyes to finish their reindeer handprint. Punch a hole at the top and string yarn through for hanging!

10. Mini Gingerbread House Ornaments

Description

Piecing together these adorable mini gingerbread houses develops fine motor skills through cutting, folding and gluing paper. Children also build problem solving abilities as they engineer the houses to stand.

Need

  • Brown paper

  • White paper

  • Scissors

  • Glue stick

  • Assorted decorations

Directions

Pre-cut brown paper templates for the gingerbread house pieces. Have children carefully cut out the templates then assemble into a small box with a roof. Let them decorate their gingerbread houses with pom poms, beads, glitter and more!

11. Toilet Paper Tube Rudolph

Description

Turn a simple toilet paper tube into an adorable Rudolph reindeer ornament! Children will build creativity and fine motor strength through this open-ended Christmas craft.

Need

  • Toilet paper tubes

  • Red pom pom

  • Brown craft foam

  • Googly eyes

  • Glue

  • Hole punch

  • Ribbon

Directions

Coach children through transforming toilet paper tubes into Rudolph by gluing on brown craft foam antlers, a red pom nose and googly eyes. Then help reinforce motor skills by puncturing holes for ribbon to string them up!

12. Cardboard Tube Wreaths

Description

Piecing together this fun wreath craft helps promote coordination and dexterity as little ones wrap yarn around cardboard tubes. Display them on classroom doors to spread some holiday cheer!

Need

  • Cardboard tubes

  • Scissors

  • Green paint

  • Brushes

  • Yarn

  • Hot glue gun

Directions

Paint cardboard tubes green and allow to dry fully. Then demonstrate how children can wrap yarn around the tubes in spiral shapes to create one-of-a-kind wreaths! Hot glue ribbon for hanging.

13. Reindeer Paper Puppet

Description

Crafting simple paper puppets builds fine motor control and storytelling creativity. Make a whole magical reindeer puppet cast and let their imaginations soar!

Need

  • Brown, beige and white paper

  • Glue stick

  • Markers

  • Scissors

  • Straw, stick or dowel

Directions

Fold paper in half, cut out antlers, ears, etc., then assemble all pieces into reindeer puppets. Provide a straw, stick or dowel for children to hold and bring their reindeer friends to life through imaginative play!

14. Paper Bag Advent Calendar

Description

Assemble charming paper bag advent calendars with twenty-five pockets for presents and tales of Christmas cheer as you countdown to the holiday!

Need

  • 1 paper grocery bag

  • Stapler

  • Decorating supplies

  • paint, glitter, stickers, etc.

  • 25 little gifts or notes

Directions

Lay the paper bag horizontally. Have children count out and staple 25 equidistant vertical folds to create pockets. Decorate and label pockets numbered 1 through 25. Help children place little surprises in each pocket for friends to discover day by day in December!

15. Cardboard Christmas Trees

Description

Constructing these freestanding cardboard trees promotes cutting, folding and assembling skills. Decorate to turn them into glittery winter woodland centerpieces!

Need

  • Green cardboard

  • Scissors

  • Tape

  • Hole punch

  • Ribbon

  • Glitter, pom poms, beads

Directions

Cut tapered triangular tree shapes out of cardboard, score fold lines and help children assemble by slotting the ends together. Reinforce with tape if needed. Next, puncture holes at the top for ribbon to string through. Have kids go wild decorating their mini evergreens!

16. Thumbprint Ornaments

Description

This activity develops fine pincer grasp skills and holiday creativity as children make fingerprint ornaments using paint and beads or buttons. Proudly display them on mini classroom trees!

Need

  • Paper plates

  • Green, red, white, blue, etc. paint

  • Pom poms, beads, buttons

  • Glue

Directions

Have children press a thumbprint into a puddle of paint on their paper plate to create an ornament shape. Once dry, they can glue on embellishments like beads, pom poms or buttons. String yarn through a hole at the top for hanging on trees!

17. Popsicle Stick Picture Frames

Description

Piecing together mini frames provides great fine motor practice plus a sweet way for children to display their favorite holiday photos and artworks. Select a special picture and let them decorate to their heart’s desire!

Need

  • Popsicle sticks

  • White glue

  • Photos

  • Glitter, sequins, etc.

Directions

Demonstrate how to glue popsicle sticks into a square or rectangular frame shape. Help children insert a special photo or artwork inside. Provide an assortment of sparkly, tactile materials for them to decorate their frames.

18. Handprint Wreath Paper Chains

Description

Create unique paper chains for classroom decor using children’s painted handprints! The project promotes creativity, fine motor skills and holiday spirit.

Need

  • Red, green, white paint

  • Paper

  • Scissors

  • Glue stick

Directions

Paint and print children’s hands on paper in holiday hues. Cut strips then guide little ones to assemble strips into loops, gluing ends together to form chains. Drape around the room for festive flair!

19. Mini Tree Coloring

Description

Print these simple blackline fir trees and set out holiday dot markers or watercolor pencils. As they deck their tiny trees in rainbow colors, children will strengthen fine motor coordination.

Need

  • Mini tree templates

  • Dot markers or watercolor pencils

Directions

Print trees in various sizes and distribute alongside dot art supplies. Show children how to grasp markers and pencils using a proper tripod grip as they use seasonal colors to create a cute Christmas tree patch!

20. Elf Paper Dolls

Description

Print and assemble these sweet paper elves for engaging dramatic play, building scissor skills plus learning about holiday traditions from diverse cultures. Have your classroom elf troupe act out stories!

Need

  • Paper

  • Markers

  • Scissors

  • Hole punch

  • Yarn, string or ribbon

Directions

Print or trace elf clothing layers using paper and markers. Have children practice cutting skills assemble dolls with clothes in layers. Add dimension by attaching arms and legs with brads or fasteners. Tie yarn at the top so they can take their new elf friends on adventures!