These Christmas crafts for kids are simple, low-mess and use supplies you probably already have. Below are 40 easy ideas organized by age, from toddler handprint crafts to projects for kids 9 to 12, plus ornaments and faith-based crafts.
📌 Save this for later: tap the Save button on the image to pin it to your Pinterest board.
Jump to
Christmas Crafts for Kids: Safety and Setup Tips
- Supervise young kids at all times, and handle hot glue guns, ovens and sharp scissors yourself.
- Choking hazard: beads, buttons, pom-poms and googly eyes are not safe for children under three.
- Use washable, non-toxic supplies labeled for kids, especially paints and markers.
- Set up first: cover the table, put supplies in trays, and keep wipes nearby. It makes crafting more fun and cleanup faster.
- Keep it about the process: young kids enjoy painting and gluing more than a perfect result.
Easy Christmas Crafts for Toddlers
These easy Christmas crafts for kids ages 1 to 3 focus on painting, sticking and squishing, with an adult close by.
1. Handprint Reindeer
Paint your toddler’s hand brown and press it upside down on paper; the fingers become antlers. Add a red thumbprint nose and googly eyes (adult only). Write the date for a keepsake.
2. Contact Paper Ornament Suncatcher
Cut an ornament shape from contact paper, tape it sticky side up, and let toddlers press on tissue paper squares. Seal with a second sheet and hang it in a window. No glue means no mess.
3. Pom-Pom Christmas Tree
Draw a big tree on paper and let toddlers glue large pom-poms on as ornaments. Use big pom-poms and supervise closely. It’s great for fine motor skills.
4. Paper Plate Santa
Paint the top of a paper plate red for a hat and glue cotton balls on the bottom for Santa’s beard. Add a pink paper face. Toddlers love the squishy cotton.
5. Fingerprint Christmas Lights Card
Draw a wavy line across a card and let toddlers add colorful fingerprints along it as bulbs. Write a message inside for grandparents. It’s quick and adorable.
6. Sponge-Painted Tree
Cut a kitchen sponge into a triangle and let toddlers stamp green trees on paper. Add a yellow star sticker on top. It’s an easy first painting project.
7. Tissue Paper Tree Collage
Brush glue onto a paper tree shape and let toddlers press on green tissue paper squares. Finish with sequin or sticker ornaments for older toddlers. Display it on the fridge.
8. Christmas Playdough Mats
Print simple tree or gingerbread outlines, slip them into sheet protectors, and let kids decorate them with playdough. Add a little peppermint extract to homemade playdough for a festive scent. It’s reusable all season.
Simple Christmas Crafts for Preschoolers
These simple Christmas crafts for preschoolers (ages 3 to 5) build cutting, gluing and counting skills.
9. Paper Plate Wreath
Cut out the center of a paper plate, paint it green and glue on torn green tissue paper and red pom-pom berries. Add a ribbon bow. It’s a classic for a reason.
10. Popsicle Stick Tree
Glue three green-painted craft sticks into a triangle and add a brown stick trunk. Decorate with buttons or sequins and a star on top. Add a string to hang it.
11. Cupcake Liner Trees
Fold green cupcake liners in half and layer them on paper into a tree shape, then add stickers for ornaments. They give the tree a fun 3D look. Liners come in many colors.
12. Beaded Pipe Cleaner Candy Canes
Thread red and white pony beads onto a pipe cleaner, then bend the top into a hook. It’s great for patterning practice. Hang them on the tree.
13. Paper Chain Countdown
Cut red and green paper strips, loop them into a chain with one link for each day until Christmas, and tear one off each morning. Kids practice counting and patterns. Write a fun activity on each link.
14. Cotton Ball Snowman
Draw three circles on blue paper and let kids glue cotton balls inside to make a fluffy snowman. Add a paper hat, scarf and button eyes. It’s soft and simple.
15. Cardboard Tube Reindeer
Paint a cardboard tube brown, add paper antlers, googly eyes and a red pom-pom nose. Make a whole team with the family’s empty rolls. Older preschoolers can cut the antlers themselves.
16. Salt Painting Snowflakes
Draw snowflakes with white glue on dark paper, sprinkle with salt, shake off the extra, then touch watercolor to the salt lines and watch it spread. Kids are amazed by it. Let it dry flat.
17. Glitter Glue Snowflakes
Kids trace snowflake designs on wax paper with glitter glue; once dry, they peel off as window clings. Thick lines dry stronger. They look lovely in a sunny window.
18. Paper Strip Christmas Tree
Cut green paper strips in decreasing lengths and glue them in a stack on a craft stick to form a tree. Add a star on top. It’s a gentle intro to measuring.
📌 Save this for later: tap the Save button on the image to pin it to your Pinterest board.
Fun Christmas Crafts for School-Age Kids
These fun Christmas crafts for school-age kids (ages 6 to 8) work at home or in the classroom.
19. Popsicle Stick Sleds
Glue craft sticks across two others to make a mini sled, paint it and add a twine pull rope. Write a name on top. They make sweet ornaments.
20. Button Christmas Tree
Glue buttons in a triangle on cardstock or canvas to form a tree, largest at the bottom. Add a star button on top. Great for using up a button jar.
21. Glitter Pinecone Ornaments
Brush glue on the tips of pinecones, roll them in glitter and add a ribbon loop. Bake foraged pinecones first to dry them. They sparkle on the tree.
22. Felt Gingerbread Ornament
Cut a gingerbread shape from brown felt and decorate it with rickrack, sequins and buttons using fabric glue. Add a ribbon loop. Older kids can try simple stitching.
23. Folded Paper Snowflakes
Fold a square of paper into a triangle several times, snip shapes along the edges and unfold. Every snowflake is different. Tape them to a window or string them as garland.
24. Mason Jar Snow Globe
Glue a small figurine to a jar lid, add water, a little glycerin and glitter, then seal the lid tightly with glue (adult step). Use a plastic jar for younger kids. Shake and watch it snow.
25. Homemade Christmas Cards
Fold cardstock and let kids decorate with stamps, stickers, washi tape and drawings. Write a note inside for family or classmates. It’s a gift in itself.
26. Beaded Star Ornaments
Bend two pipe cleaners into a star, thread beads onto each point and twist the ends closed. Use sparkly beads for a glowing look. They’re quick and pretty.
DIY Christmas Ornaments for Kids
These DIY Christmas ornaments for kids become family keepsakes you’ll unpack every year.
27. Salt Dough Handprint Ornament
Mix 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt and about 1/2 cup water, press in a handprint, bake low until hard, then paint and seal. Add the year on the back. Grandparents love these.
28. Paint Swirl Ornaments
Squeeze a few acrylic paint colors into a clear plastic ornament and swirl until coated. Turn it upside down on a cup to drain. Every one comes out unique.
29. Popsicle Stick Photo Frame Ornament
Glue four craft sticks into a square, decorate them, and tape a school photo behind the opening. Add a ribbon hanger and the year. It’s a perfect gift for grandparents.
30. Pipe Cleaner Stars and Snowflakes
Twist sparkly pipe cleaners together at the center and bend the ends into stars or snowflakes. Add beads for older kids. They’re fast and fun.
31. Decorated Foam Ornaments
Let kids decorate foam ball or shape ornaments with stickers, markers and sequins. Foam is light and won’t break. It’s an easy classroom activity.
32. Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments
Mix cinnamon and applesauce into a dough, roll it out, cut shapes with cookie cutters and let them air dry for a few days. They smell amazing. Remind kids they’re not for eating.
Christmas Crafts for Kids 9 to 12
Older kids and tweens enjoy Christmas crafts with more detail and real skills to learn.
33. Yarn-Wrapped Cone Trees
Wrap paper or foam cones in green or cream yarn, gluing as you go, then add mini pom-pom ornaments. Make a little forest in different sizes. It’s relaxing and looks great on a shelf.
34. String Art Star
Tap small nails into a wood board along a star outline (with an adult), then wrap embroidery floss between them. It teaches patience and patterns. Use a hammer carefully.
35. Perler Bead Ornaments
Arrange fuse beads on a pegboard in a Christmas design, then an adult irons them according to the package. Add a ribbon loop. Kids can design their own patterns.
36. Polymer Clay Charms
Shape tiny candy canes, gingerbread people or mushrooms from polymer clay, add an eye pin, and bake per the package. They work as ornaments or zipper charms. Use a separate baking tray.
37. Sew a Felt Stocking
Cut two stocking shapes from felt and teach a simple running or blanket stitch to sew them together. Add a felt cuff and name. It’s a great first sewing project.
Christian Christmas Crafts for Kids
These Christian Christmas crafts for kids work for Sunday school, church groups or at home.
38. Paper Plate Nativity
Paint a paper plate as a night sky and glue on simple paper figures of Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and the star. Older kids can draw the figures themselves. Use it to retell the Christmas story.
39. Star of Bethlehem Craft
Glue craft sticks into a star, paint it gold and add glitter. Hang it in a window or on the tree. Talk about the Wise Men following the star.
40. Cupcake Liner Angel
Fold a white or gold cupcake liner into a cone for the body, add a paper face and doily wings. Add a pipe cleaner halo. They’re sweet tree toppers or ornaments.
Christmas Crafts for Kids FAQ
What are easy Christmas crafts for toddlers?
Handprint reindeer, contact paper suncatchers, sponge-painted trees and paper plate Santas are easy and safe for toddlers with supervision.
What Christmas crafts can I do with a class?
Paper plate wreaths, cupcake liner trees, paper chain countdowns and decorated foam ornaments work well for groups because they use simple, cheap supplies.
How do I make Christmas crafts less messy?
Cover the table, use trays for supplies, choose glue sticks over liquid glue for little ones, and skip loose glitter in favor of glitter glue or stickers.
What are good Christmas crafts for older kids?
Kids 9 to 12 enjoy string art, perler bead ornaments, polymer clay charms and sewing simple felt stockings.
More ideas: browse all kids crafts, our DIY Christmas gifts for teachers that kids can make, and kid-friendly Dollar Tree Christmas crafts.
More Ideas You’ll Love
Want more? Browse all Kids Crafts ideas →
Photos are illustrative stock images from Pixabay. Prices are approximate and were checked at the time of writing.
