Let’s be real for a second. The holidays are magical, but they can also be… a lot. The kids are buzzing with a potent mix of sugarplum dreams and sheer, unadulterated excitement. You need a secret weapon. Something that channels that energy into something other than repeatedly asking if Santa’s here yet. That’s where this list of holiday crafts for kids comes in. We’ve rounded up 27 ideas that are big on fun, creativity, and memory-making, but mercifully low on the complexity that makes you want to hide the glue gun forever.
1. Salt Dough Ornaments
This is a classic for a reason. It’s cheap, easy, and the results are downright charming. You only need three ingredients you definitely have in your kitchen: flour, salt, and water.
Mix, roll, and let the kids cut out shapes with cookie cutters. Don’t forget to poke a hole for the ribbon before baking! Once they’re cool, the real fun begins. Break out the paints, glitter, and markers for a personal touch on every single one.
2. Popsicle Stick Snowflakes
No two snowflakes are alike, and with this craft, no two of your kid’s creations will be either. Glue popsicle sticks together in a star-like snowflake pattern. The classic method is three sticks forming an asterisk, but get creative with more!
Then, it’s a blizzard of creativity. Coat them in glue and sprinkle with iridescent glitter, paint them white and silver, or even glue on small buttons or beads for a 3D effect. These make fantastic window decorations.
3. Pine Cone Christmas Trees
If you’ve got pine cones in your yard or from a nature walk, you’ve got the foundation for an adorable mini-forest. Stand the pine cones up—they naturally look like tiny trees.
Now, let the kids decorate! Dab the “branches” with white paint for a snowy effect. Glue on tiny pom-poms, beads, or even sequins as ornaments. A little yellow star or a bead on top is the perfect finishing touch.
4. Handprint Reindeer
This one is a keepsake. You’ll treasure those tiny handprints for years to come. Paint your child’s palm and fingers with brown paint and press it firmly onto a piece of paper or cardstock.
The thumb becomes the reindeer’s head, and the fingers are its majestic antlers. Once dry, add a red pom-pom for a nose, two googly eyes, and maybe even a drawn-on smile. Rudolph has never been cuter.
5. Toilet Paper Roll Olaf
Don’t throw those cardboard tubes away! They are a crafting goldmine. To create everyone’s favorite snowman, simply stack and glue two or three tubes together.
Paint them white, then let the kids add the details with black and orange paper. Cut out coal buttons and a smiling mouth, and don’t forget his signature twiggy arms and carrot nose. Olaf is officially ready for summer… and your mantel.
6. Paper Plate Grinch
That green guy with the small heart is a holiday staple. Take a standard paper plate and let the kids paint it a glorious, grumpy green. While it dries, cut out a santa hat from red construction paper and two yellow eyes.
Glue everything on, and use a black marker to draw on his iconic mischievous smile. His heart might be two sizes too small, but this craft is big on fun.
7. Beaded Candy Cane Ornaments
This craft is fantastic for fine motor skills and the result is so satisfying. All you need are pipe cleaners and red and white beads. Simply have your child thread the beads onto the pipe cleaner in an alternating pattern.
When the pipe cleaner is full, bend the top into a hook shape and curve the body into the classic candy cane shape. It’s a no-mess, beautiful ornament they can be proud of.
8. Melted Bead Sun Catchers
Warning: This one requires adult supervision, but the “wow” factor is totally worth it. Get some clear plastic lids (from things like yogurt or sour cream containers) and have the kids arrange colorful pony beads inside in holiday shapes like trees, stars, or ornaments.
Carefully melt them in a low-heat oven according to online instructions. Once cooled, you’ll have a stunning, stained-glass-like decoration to hang in the window.
9. Q-Tip Snowflakes
Who knew something from the medicine cabinet could be so artistic? Cut some q-tips in half and give your child a piece of dark blue or black construction paper.
They can arrange the q-tip pieces into intricate snowflake designs and glue them down. The white on dark blue creates a beautiful, wintry contrast that looks like a frosty windowpane.
10. Clothespin Rudolph
This little guy has so much personality. Using a standard wooden clothespin, paint the top part (where you pinch) brown. This will be Rudolph’s face.
Glue a red pom-pom on the end for his shiny nose and two googly eyes just above it. You can even glue a small piece of brown pipe cleaner on top as a single antler. Clip him to a string of garland or the edge of a Christmas book for a festive touch.
11. Paper Chain Countdown
This is a craft and an activity all in one, making the wait for the big day so much more fun. Cut strips of red and green construction paper (or any festive colors you like).
Help your child form the first strip into a circle and staple or glue it. Loop the next strip through the first and connect it, continuing until you have a 25-link chain. Tear one off each day and watch the excitement build!
12. Fingerprint Light Bulb Ornaments
Get a pack of plain, inexpensive plastic or shatter-proof bulb ornaments. Take the top off and let your child carefully dip their finger in washable paint.
They can then press their fingerprints all over the outside of the ornament to create a colorful, abstract, and totally personal design. Write the year on the bottom with a paint pen for a perfect keepsake.
13. Cereal Box Gingerbread Houses
Skip the expensive, frustrating kits. An empty cereal box is the perfect, sturdy frame for a gingerbread house. Cut the box into a house shape, then “plaster” it with brown construction paper or just let the kids paint it brown.
The real fun is the decorating. Use white icing as glue to attach cereal, mini marshmallows, licorice bits, and candy sprinkles as decorations. It’s edible, creative, and cheap. Win, win, win.
14. Sock Snowmen
Got a lone, lonely sock without a match? Give it a new life! Fill a white sock with rice or dried beans, tie a rubber band around the middle to create a head and body, and then another to form the base.
Decorate with buttons, a felt scarf, and a little orange foam triangle for a carrot nose. Draw on a face with a marker. These guys are impossibly cute and have a nice little heft to them.
15. Popsicle Stick Sled Ornaments
This is a sweet and simple ornament that looks fantastic. Glue two popsicle sticks together side-by-side. Then, glue a third stick across the top of them, about a third of the way down, to form the sled’s “rails.”
Paint it red or a rustic brown, and once dry, you can glue a tiny festive figure or a mini present into the sled. Tie a piece of string to the top for hanging.
16. Paper Bag Reindeer Puppets
Unleash the holiday theater! A standard brown paper lunch bag is your canvas. Glue on large googly eyes, a red pom-pom nose, and cut antlers out of brown construction paper to glue to the top corners.
When your child slips their hand inside, they can make the reindeer talk, sing carols, or even argue with an elf puppet. The possibilities are endless.
17. Sticker Christmas Trees
This is the ultimate low-mess craft for toddlers and preschoolers. Simply cut a triangle out of green construction paper to serve as the tree.
Then, give your child a sheet of holiday-themed stickers—stars, circles, whatever you have. They will have a blast decorating their tree by placing the stickers all over it. It’s great for fine motor skills and instant gratification.
18. Puzzle Piece Wreaths
Missing puzzle pieces? No problem. Gather those lonely pieces and paint them green. Once dry, glue them in a circle onto a cardboard base to form a wreath shape.
Add a red bow made from ribbon or construction paper, and maybe a few red berry dots from a paint pen. It’s a clever way to upcycle and create something festive.
19. Coffee Filter Snowflakes
A timeless winter activity. Flatten a round coffee filter and fold it into a wedge, just like you would with paper. Let your child snip small shapes and triangles out of the folded edges.
Unfold it carefully to reveal a beautiful, lacy snowflake. You can leave it white or even color the filters with water-based markers and then spritz with water for a beautiful tie-dye effect before cutting.
20. Egg Carton Bells
Another brilliant upcycle. Cut the individual cups from a cardboard egg carton. Let the kids paint them a metallic gold or silver.
Poke a hole in the top of each one and thread a piece of yarn or a pipe cleaner through. Tie a jingle bell to the end of the yarn inside the cup, so when you shake it, it rings! You can make a whole string of them.
21. Thumbprint Holiday Lights
This one is so cute and colorful. Draw a simple “wire” with a squiggly line across a piece of paper. Then, have your child press their thumb onto a washable ink pad or into paint.
They can press their inky thumb along the wire to create the “bulbs.” Once dry, use a marker to add a little squiggle at the bottom of each thumbprint to complete the lightbulb look.
22. Paper Roll Christmas Characters
Don’t stop at Olaf! Toilet paper rolls can become the entire North Pole crew. Paint them different colors: red for Santa, green for an elf, white for a snowman.
Use bits of felt, construction paper, and googly eyes to add faces, hats, beards, and belts. Line them up on a windowsill for a festive scene.
23. Pasta Wreath Ornaments
Dried pasta isn’t just for dinner. Use wagon wheel or penne pasta for this one. Have your child glue the pasta pieces onto a cardboard circle to form a wreath.
Once the glue is dry, spray paint the whole thing green or gold (adult job!). After the paint dries, they can glue on a tiny red ribbon bow. It looks surprisingly elegant!
24. Sparkly Pine Cone Ornaments
We already made pine cone trees, but let’s not forget they make amazing ornaments just as they are. Tie a piece of string or ribbon around the top of a pine cone to form a hanger.
Then, give your child a paintbrush and some glue and have them brush the tips of the scales. While the glue is still wet, let them sprinkle glitter over the entire thing for a truly magical, frosty effect.
25. Handprint Wreath
Another beautiful handprint keepsake. Trace your child’s hand on green construction paper multiple times (8-10 times). Cut all the handprints out.
Arrange and glue them in a circle on a paper plate with the fingers pointing outward, creating a lovely wreath shape. Glue a red bow at the bottom and maybe a few red sticker berries. It’s a wreath made of love, literally.
26. Marshmallow Stamp Snowmen
This is a fun and tactile painting activity. Give your child a large marshmallow to use as a stamp. They can dip it in white paint and stamp three circles on a piece of blue paper to form the snowman’s body.
Once the paint dries, they can use markers, stickers, or small pieces of paper to add the face, arms, and accessories. So simple, yet so cute.
27. “Stained Glass” Windows with Tissue Paper
Create a beautiful window display that glows when the sun shines through. Cut a holiday shape, like a tree, bell, or star, out of the center of a piece of black construction paper, leaving a frame.
Cover the open back with clear contact paper. Then, let your child stick small, torn pieces of colored tissue paper to the sticky surface, filling the entire shape. The result is a stunning, kid-made stained-glass masterpiece.
And there you have it! 27 holiday crafts for kids designed to save your sanity and fill your home with creativity. The best part? It’s not about perfection. It’s about the glittery, gluey, wonderfully messy process of making memories together. So pick a craft, embrace the happy chaos, and remember: the mess will clean up, but the joy of creating these holiday crafts for kids will last long after the last ornament is hung. Happy crafting!