The Ultimate Guide to Holiday Crafts for Kids: Easy Festive Activities for Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Families
- Nov 3, 2025
- 9 min read
Updated: Jul 3
Holiday crafts can turn a busy season into a warm family memory. The lights are up, music is playing, and children are full of excitement. Craft time gives them something simple, creative, and hands-on to do while the holidays unfold around them.
But holiday crafts do not need to be perfect. They do not need to look like a picture from Pinterest. For children, the real value is often in the sticking, painting, tearing, choosing colours, singing along, and proudly saying, “I made this.”
As a mother of three and founder of Kids Songs Learning Hub, I love activities that mix music, movement, creativity, and family connection. Holiday crafts are a lovely way to help children practise colours, shapes, counting, simple instructions, and fine motor skills in a playful way.
This guide shares easy holiday craft ideas for toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged children, with safety reminders, simple supply lists, music ideas, and a printable activity pack you can use at home.
Important craft safety note
Always supervise children during crafts. Choose age-appropriate supplies and avoid small parts with babies, toddlers, and children who still put objects in their mouths. Pom-poms, beads, sequins, googly eyes, buttons, dried pasta, small decorations, magnets, batteries, broken ornaments, and tiny craft pieces can be choking or swallowing hazards.
Adults should handle scissors, hot glue, ovens, sharp tools, craft knives, small parts, ribbons, strings, and anything involving heat. Use washable, child-friendly materials where possible, and check product labels before use.
Why Holiday Crafts Are Helpful for Kids
Holiday crafts can support learning in a gentle, playful way. Children may practise hand control when they paint, tear paper, glue shapes, thread large pieces, or press stickers onto paper. They may also practise listening, waiting, choosing colours, following simple steps, and talking about what they are making.
Crafts can help children practise:
Fine motor movements
Colour recognition
Shape recognition
Counting
Following short instructions
Creative expression
Patience and turn-taking
Holiday vocabulary
Confidence in making something of their own
The key word is “practise.” A craft does not need to prove a skill or produce a perfect result. It is enough for children to explore, create, and enjoy the process safely.
How to Set Up a Simple Holiday Craft Station
Before starting, set up the space so craft time feels easier for you and safer for your child.
Use a wipeable tablecloth or old newspaper
Put supplies in small trays or bowls
Keep scissors, glue, beads, and small parts out of reach until needed
Use washable paint and glue where possible
Keep wipes or a damp cloth nearby
Use an old T-shirt as a smock
Choose one craft at a time
Play gentle holiday music in the background
Keep craft time short for toddlers
For toddlers and preschoolers, ten to fifteen minutes may be enough. You can always come back later.
Holiday Craft Ideas for Toddlers
Toddlers learn through touch, colour, movement, and repetition. Keep their crafts simple and closely supervised. Avoid small loose pieces unless you are right beside them and the pieces are large enough for safe use.
1. Contact Paper Christmas Tree
This is a sticky, low-mess activity that lets toddlers decorate without needing complicated steps.
You will need:
Clear contact paper
Green paper or card
Large foam shapes or large paper circles
Tape
How to make it:
Cut a large Christmas tree outline from green paper or card. Tape clear contact paper to a window or table with the sticky side facing out. Place the tree outline over it. Let your child stick large shapes onto the tree.
Learning focus:
Colours, sticking, hand control, simple choices
Safety note:
Avoid tiny sequins, small pom-poms, beads, buttons, or glitter with toddlers who may put things in their mouths.
Music idea:
Sing a simple line while decorating:
“Stick, stick, little tree, colourful as it can be.”
2. Pine Cone Painting
Pine cones can make lovely decorations, but they need adult checking first.
You will need:
Clean, dry pine cones
Washable paint
Thick brushes
String for adults to attach later
How to make it:
Let your child paint the pine cone with washable paint. Once dry, an adult can tie string around it if you want to hang it.
Learning focus:
Texture, colour, cause and effect, sensory play
Safety note:
Check pine cones for sharp pieces, insects, dirt, loose parts, or anything that could break off. Do not let children put pine cones in their mouths.
3. Handprint Reindeer
This makes a sweet keepsake and gives children a simple way to use paint.
You will need:
Brown washable paint
Paper or card
A red paper circle for the nose
Crayons
How to make it:
Paint your child’s hand brown and press it onto paper with fingers pointing down. The palm becomes the face, and the fingers become antlers. When dry, add a red nose and draw eyes.
Learning focus:
Body awareness, colour, creative expression
Safety note:
Use washable paint and supervise closely. Avoid small googly eyes or tiny pom-poms for toddlers. Draw the eyes instead.
Holiday Craft Ideas for Preschoolers
Preschoolers can often follow simple steps with adult help. They may enjoy cutting, gluing, painting, and choosing their own colours.
4. Popsicle Stick Ornaments
A simple craft that can become a tree, star, snowflake, or frame.
You will need:
Popsicle sticks
Washable paint
Glue
Yarn or ribbon
Stickers or large decorations
How to make it:
Help your child arrange the sticks into a shape. Glue the sticks together, let them dry, then paint and decorate. Add a loop for hanging.
Learning focus:
Planning, shapes, colour choices, patience
Safety note:
Adults should check sticks for splinters and supervise glue, ribbon, and decorations.
5. Paper Plate Santa
This craft uses simple shapes and soft textures.
You will need:
Paper plate
Red paper
Cotton wool or white paper pieces
Crayons
Glue
How to make it:
Cut a red paper hat and help your child glue it to the top of the plate. Add cotton wool or torn white paper for the beard. Draw eyes and a smile.
Learning focus:
Shapes, following steps, facial features, creativity
Safety note:
Adults should handle cutting for younger preschoolers. Avoid small loose pieces for children who may put things in their mouths.
6. Salt Dough Ornaments
Salt dough ornaments can make lovely gifts, but they are not food. Adults should manage the oven and baking.
You will need:
2 cups plain flour
1 cup salt
1 cup water
Cookie cutters
Straw for making a hole
Paint
Ribbon
How to make it:
Mix flour, salt, and water to make a dough. Roll it out and cut shapes with cookie cutters. Use a straw to make a hole for the ribbon. An adult should bake the shapes at a low temperature until hard, then let them cool before painting.
Learning focus:
Measuring, sensory play, shapes, patience
Safety note:
Salt dough is not edible. Keep it away from pets and young children who may try to eat it. Adults should handle the oven, hot trays, and ribbons. Check for allergies or sensitivities before using craft ingredients.
Holiday Craft Ideas for School-Aged Kids
Older children may enjoy crafts with more steps and more independence, but they still need safe materials and adult supervision when tools, small parts, or heat are involved.
7. DIY Sock Snowmen
A sock snowman is a fun upcycling craft for children who can follow several steps.
You will need:
A clean white sock
Rice or stuffing
Rubber bands
Felt scraps
Buttons or drawn paper circles
Ribbon or fabric strip
How to make it:
Fill the sock with rice or stuffing. Use rubber bands to make a head and body. Add a scarf, face, and decorations.
Learning focus:
Planning, design, fine motor skills, character creation
Safety note:
Rice, buttons, rubber bands, and small decorations can be choking hazards. Keep this craft for older children and supervise carefully. For younger children, draw the face on paper and glue it with adult help.
8. Beaded Candy Cane Ornaments
This craft is best for older children because it uses beads.
You will need:
Red and white pony beads
Pipe cleaners
How to make it:
Twist one end of the pipe cleaner so beads do not fall off. Thread red and white beads in a pattern. Twist the end closed and bend into a candy cane shape.
Learning focus:
Patterning, counting, patience, hand control
Safety note:
Beads are not suitable for babies or toddlers. Keep beads away from younger siblings and children who put objects in their mouths.
9. Paper Chain Countdown
A paper chain is simple, festive, and useful for counting down.
You will need:
Red and green paper
Glue stick or tape
Child-safe scissors with adult supervision
How to make it:
Cut paper into strips. Make the first strip into a loop and secure it. Loop the next strip through and keep going until you have a chain. Remove one link each day as you count down.
Learning focus:
Counting, time, patterns, scissor practice
Safety note:
Adults should supervise scissors and help younger children with cutting.
Holiday Craft Safety Checklist
Before starting, ask:
Is this craft right for my child’s age?
Are there any small parts?
Could a younger sibling reach the supplies?
Do I need to handle scissors, glue, heat, ribbon, or sharp pieces?
Is the paint or glue washable and child-friendly?
Does my child still put objects in their mouth?
Could any decoration break, splinter, or come loose?
Do we need to wash hands after the activity?
Have I cleared away small pieces after craft time?
Simple safety reminders
Avoid small parts for toddlers
Use safety scissors with supervision
Keep glue, paint, and craft supplies out of mouths
Keep magnets and button batteries away from children
Do not leave children alone with beads, sequins, ribbons, strings, or sharp tools
Adults handle ovens, hot trays, hot glue, craft knives, and candles
Store finished crafts safely if they include small pieces
The Child Accident Prevention Trust warns that button batteries and strong magnets can cause serious harm if swallowed. Avoid using battery-powered pieces, loose magnets, or small magnetic decorations in children’s crafts.
Holiday Craft Ideas by Age
Age group | Good craft choices | Avoid or supervise closely |
Toddlers | Stickers, large paper shapes, handprints, painting | Beads, sequins, small pom-poms, googly eyes |
Preschoolers | Paper plates, stick crafts, simple cutting with help | Sharp scissors, hot glue, tiny decorations |
School-aged kids | Paper chains, ornaments, beading with supervision | Hot glue, ovens, craft knives, small parts near younger siblings |
How to Make Craft Time Less Stressful
1. Focus on the process
Your child’s craft does not need to look perfect. Praise effort, choices, colour use, and creativity.
You can say:
“I love how carefully you painted that.”
“You chose such bright colours.”
“You worked hard on this.”
“Tell me about your picture.”
2. Prepare before calling your child
Set out only what you need. Too many supplies can overwhelm children and create extra mess.
3. Keep the activity short
A short happy craft session is better than a long one that ends in frustration.
4. Use music
Play a holiday song while you craft. Music can help children settle into the activity and make the moment feel special.
5. Display their work
Tape pictures to the wall, hang ornaments safely, or make a little holiday gallery on the fridge. Children love seeing that their work matters.
6. Clean up together
Turn clean-up into a song. Try:
“Pick up paper, one, two, three, tidy up with me.”
This keeps the routine playful and helps craft time end well.
Free Printable: Holiday Craft Planner for Kids
To make this article more useful, add the Holiday Craft Planner for Kids. This printable can help families plan easy crafts, choose age-appropriate supplies, track finished projects, and keep craft safety in mind.
Inside the printable, include:
✓ Holiday craft supply checklist
✓ Toddler craft ideas page
✓ Preschool craft ideas page
✓ School-age craft ideas page
✓ Craft safety checklist
✓ My holiday ornament design page
✓ Paper chain countdown page
✓ Holiday craft gallery labels
✓ My favourite craft reflection page
Helpful Related Resources
For Christmas songs and learning, read “Holiday Learning Songs: Christmas Rhymes That Teach ABCs and Counting.”
For Christmas meaning activities, read “The True Meaning of Christmas for Kids.”
For festive kitchen activities, read “10 Easy Healthy Christmas Recipes Kids Can Cook and Love.”
For more free activity pages, visit the Free Preschool Printables Library.
Final Thoughts
Holiday crafts for kids are not about perfect decorations. They are about connection, creativity, music, colour, and small family moments.
Choose one simple craft. Set up safely. Play a song. Let your child paint, stick, tear, choose, and create. Then display their work with pride.
The glitter may end up on the floor, and the ornament may look nothing like the example. That is okay. The memory is the real keepsake.
About the Author
Janerine Watson is the founder of Kids Songs Learning Hub, a mother of three, and a BSc Health and Social Care graduate. She creates music-based learning resources, children’s songs, printable activities, and parent-friendly guides that help toddlers and preschoolers learn through rhythm, repetition, movement, routines, and play. Through parenting and her background in health and social care, Janerine shares practical ways families can make everyday learning, seasonal activities, and creative routines more playful, realistic, and easier to repeat.
Craft Safety and Child Activity Disclaimer
This article is for general educational, parenting, music activity, and family craft inspiration purposes only. It is not professional childcare advice, medical advice, occupational therapy, developmental advice, educational assessment, product safety advice, or art therapy. It should not replace guidance from a qualified professional or official product safety instructions.
Every child is different. Craft activities should be adapted for age, ability, allergies, sensory needs, hearing sensitivity, communication needs, movement, attention, development, and supervision level. Always read and follow product labels and age recommendations.
Adults should supervise all crafts and manage scissors, glue, paint, glitter, small parts, beads, sequins, pom-poms, googly eyes, buttons, ribbons, strings, magnets, batteries, ovens, hot trays, hot glue, craft knives, sharp tools, candles, lights, and decorations. Keep small objects and hazardous items away from babies, toddlers, younger siblings, and children who put objects in their mouths.
If a child may have swallowed a button battery, magnet, bead, small object, craft supply, or decoration, seek urgent medical advice. If your child is choking, has trouble breathing, is unusually sleepy, is vomiting, drooling, coughing, in pain, or you are seriously worried, seek urgent medical help.
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