17 Holiday Crafts Kids Can Make

The holiday season is a magical time filled with laughter, warmth, and creative expression. For children, it offers the perfect opportunity to explore their imaginations, nurture their creativity, and create heartfelt gifts and decorations. Engaging in arts and crafts is not only fun but also educational, enhancing their motor skills and teaching them about planning and execution. Here’s a list of 17 delightful holiday crafts that are perfect for kids to make, all with simple materials and easy instructions that will bring joy to your household.

1. Handprint Wreaths

Start with a classic: handprint wreaths. Handprint crafts are always a hit with kids and hold sentimental value as you watch those little hands grow over the years. Simply trace your child’s hand on green construction paper or cardstock, cut out several handprints, and arrange them in a circular shape to form a wreath. Decorate with red bows and berries, and hang them on doors or walls.

2. Pinecone Ornaments

Head outside for a little pinecone gathering. Once you’ve collected a few, let your kids paint them in festive colors like gold, silver, red, or green. Add a loop of twine or ribbon to hang them as ornaments on the Christmas tree. You can also add tiny beads or glitter glue to mimic snow or Christmas lights.

3. Salt Dough Ornaments

Salt dough ornaments are a versatile craft that allows for personalization. Mix together flour, salt, and water to create a clay-like dough. Roll it out and use cookie cutters to make festive shapes. Don’t forget to poke a hole for hanging! Once baked and cooled, kids can paint and decorate them with markers or glitter.

4. Paper Plate Santas

Paper plates are a versatile crafting tool. To create a Santa face, glue cotton balls around the edge for a fluffy beard, and add a red construction paper hat. Draw or paint on Santa’s features, including his jolly red cheeks, and you’ve got a festive decoration for any room!

5. Beaded Candy Cane Ornaments

Use red and white pony beads and pipe cleaners to create candy cane ornaments. Simply twist the pipe cleaner into a cane shape and string the beads in alternating colors. This craft is excellent for developing fine motor skills and makes for a fun and easy holiday decoration.

6. Festive Paper Chains

Paper chains are a simple and classic way to decorate for the holidays. Let the kids choose holiday-themed colors or patterns for their paper strips, and then glue or tape them into interlocking loops. This is a great activity for younger kids, and the paper chains can be used to decorate mantles, staircases, or Christmas trees.

7. Cardboard Gingerbread Houses

Create gingerbread houses that will last the entire season using cardboard. Cut out shapes for the walls and roof and let the kids paint and decorate them with markers, buttons, or sequins. Use tissue paper for windows and cotton balls for snow on the roof. This craft conquers some challenges without the stickiness of royal icing.

8. Egg Carton Snowmen

Recycle empty egg cartons into adorable mini snowmen. Paint each section white and stack three of them for the snowman’s body. Use markers or paint to add faces and buttons, and accessorize with tiny scarves made from fabric scraps. It’s an eco-friendly craft that also teaches the value of recycling.

9. Holiday Cardboard Tube Advent Calendar

Create a special holiday countdown with a cardboard tube advent calendar. Use empty toilet paper rolls, paint or wrap them in festive colors, and fill each one with a treat or a small toy. Glue or tape them in the shape of a tree, a star, or a wreath. This interactive craft makes waiting for the holidays even more fun.

10. DIY Hanukkah Dreidels

Celebrate Hanukkah by crafting some dreidels using wooden blocks and dowels, or simplify with modeling clay. Let the kids paint and decorate them with traditional symbols. This craft is not only fun but also a way to learn about the customary games and stories associated with Hanukkah.

11. Christmas Light Suncatchers

Bring some light into wintry days with Christmas light suncatchers. Use clear plastic sheets (or recycled plastic lids), have children paint or color festive designs, and hang them in the windows. The light streaming through them adds warmth and color to the home.

12. Felt Mistletoe

Craft a small bunch of felt mistletoe to hang in doorways. Cut leaf shapes from green felt and add berries with red pom-poms or felt circles. Tie the whole bundle with a red ribbon. Kids can personalize their mistletoe with glitter or sequins for added sparkle.

13. Winter Wonderland Sensory Bottles

Create a winter-themed sensory bottle using clear plastic bottles filled with water, glitter, small beads, buttons, or snowflake confetti. Seal them tightly to prevent spills, and let your child enjoy the calming effect of shaking and swirling the contents.

14. Paper Snowflakes

The classic snowflake craft never gets old. Fold paper and make creative cuts around the edges to reveal unique snowflake designs. Hang them in windows or string them together for a garland. This activity encourages creativity and results in unique, intricate designs that showcase personal expression.

15. Holiday Button Trees

Using cardstock or canvas, draw or paint a tree outline. Kids can then glue various sizes and colors of buttons along the tree’s branches. Not only does this create a colorful display of holiday cheer, but it also helps kids practice spatial awareness and planning.

16. Foam Cup Penguins

Transform plain white foam cups into cute penguins. Flip the cup upside down and use black and white paint for the penguin’s body. Add googly eyes and an orange triangular beak. Cut out flipper shapes from black construction paper and glue them on the sides. A little hat made from fabric will complete the look.

17. Popcorn and Cranberry Garland

Make a traditional holiday garland using popcorn and cranberries. Thread a needle and string the popcorn and cranberries in a pattern. This can be a great activity for enhancing focus and patience, and the garland makes an authentic, rustic holiday decoration.

Conclusion

Holiday crafts are not just an opportunity for children to hone their creative skills. They’re a chance to bond as a family, talk about holiday traditions, and create lasting memories together. Each project offers unique learning experiences, whether it’s understanding the value of recycling, the precision of cutting and gluing, or the patience required to complete a task. So gather your materials, make some cocoa, and spend an afternoon creating treasures that will become cherished mementos for years to come. Celebrate the magic, creativity, and joy of the holiday season with these fun and festive crafts.