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Christine Hernandez
Early childhood educator, writer, and mother. Your friendly neighborhood guide to all things parenting.
Engaging young children in holiday crafts is a wonderful way to foster their creativity, make lasting memories, and knock some gifts off your list. Here are ten easy and fun holiday crafts suitable for kids aged 18 months and up. Each activity includes a list of supplies, simple steps, and the recommended age range.
1. Handprint Wreath
- Ages: 18 months and up
- Supplies: Green construction paper, glue, ribbon, scissors
- Steps: Trace your child’s hand on the green paper and cut out multiple handprints. Arrange and glue the handprints in a circular wreath shape. Add a ribbon for decoration and hanging.
2. Paper Plate Snowman
- Ages: 2 years and up
- Supplies: Paper plates, construction paper, markers, glue, cotton balls
- Steps: Glue cotton balls to the paper plate to make a snowman's face. Cut out a hat and scarf from the construction paper and glue them on. Draw a face and buttons with markers.
3. Pinecone Christmas Trees
- Ages: 3 years and up
- Supplies: Pinecones, green paint, glitter, small pom-poms, glue
- Steps: Paint the pinecones green and sprinkle them with glitter. Once dry, glue pom-poms to the pinecone as ornaments
4. Festive Paper Chains
- Ages: 2 years and up
- Supplies: Colored construction paper, scissors, glue or stapler
- Steps: Cut strips of paper. Loop a strip into a circle and secure it with glue or a staple. Link another strip through and continue to form a chain.
5. Santa’s Beard Countdown
- Ages: 2 years and up
- Supplies: White construction paper, glue, cotton balls, marker
- Steps: Cut out a beard shape from paper. Each day leading up to Christmas, let your child glue a cotton ball onto the beard. Count the days together!
6. Simple Reindeer Hats
- Ages: 18 months and up
- Supplies: Brown construction paper, googly eyes, red pom-poms, glue, tape
- Steps: Measure and cut a strip of paper to fit your child’s head. Cut out antler shapes and attach them to the band. Add googly eyes and a pom-pom nose, then secure the hat with tape.
7. Handprint Menorah
- Ages: 2 years and up
- Supplies: Blue and yellow construction paper, glue, markers
- Steps: Trace your child’s handprints on blue paper and cut them out. Arrange them as the branches of a menorah. Use yellow paper to make flames and glue them on the fingertips. You can also paint your child's hands and stamp them in the shape of a Menorah for extra messy fun.
Photo courtesy of Crayola
8. Snowflake Stamps
- Ages: 18 months and up
- Supplies: Foam stickers, corks or blocks, paint, paper
- Steps: Attach a snowflake-shaped foam sticker to a cork or block. Dip the stamp in paint and press onto paper to create snowflake patterns.
9. Festive Suncatchers
- Ages: 2 years and up
- Supplies: Contact paper, tissue paper, scissors, ribbon
- Steps: Cut holiday shapes from contact paper. Let your child stick small pieces of colored tissue paper on the sticky side. Seal with another layer of contact paper and add a ribbon for hanging.
10. Jingle Bell Bracelets
- Ages: 3 years and up
- Supplies: Pipe cleaners, jingle bells
- Steps: Thread jingle bells onto a pipe cleaner. Twist the ends to secure and fit your child’s wrist as a festive bracelet.
These crafts are not only fun but also help in developing fine motor skills and creativity in young children. They can be a delightful way to spend time together during the holiday season. For more ideas and resources, visit Winnie.com/resources.
