Christmas Crafts for Kids: Easy Ideas to Make at Home

The easiest Christmas crafts for kids use paper, card, glue, paint and things from the recycling bin: handprint trees and paper chains for toddlers, paper plate wreaths and salt dough ornaments for preschoolers, and snowflakes, cards and small handmade gifts for school-age children. Below are ideas by age, a materials table, safety tips and a gentle Christmas Eve story to finish the day.

Christmas crafts for toddlers (ages 1–3)

Keep sessions short, do all cutting yourself, and focus on the fun of paint and sticking.

1. Handprint Christmas tree

Paint your toddler's hand green and print three or four handprints in a stacked triangle, fingers pointing down, to make a tree. Add a brown paper trunk and fingerprint "ornaments" in red and yellow.

2. Sticker tree

Cut a large paper tree. Your toddler decorates it with big round stickers as baubles. No glue, no mess.

3. Cotton ball snowman

Draw three circles; your toddler glues cotton balls inside them (supervised; put the bag away afterward). You add a paper hat and scarf.

Christmas crafts for preschoolers (ages 3–5)

4. Paper plate wreath

Cut the center out of a paper plate. Your child glues on torn green tissue paper and small red paper circles as berries. Add a ribbon bow.

5. Salt dough ornaments

Mix 1 cup flour, ½ cup salt and about ½ cup water into a dough. Roll it out, cut shapes with cookie cutters, poke a hole for string and bake at a low temperature until hard (an adult handles the oven). Paint when cool. Handprints in salt dough make lovely keepsakes. Salt dough is not for eating; keep it away from pets, too.

6. Paper chain countdown

Make a chain of red and green paper loops, one for each day until Christmas. Remove one link each morning.

7. Toilet roll reindeer

Paint a cardboard tube brown, add paper antlers (or trace your child's hands for antlers), eyes and a red pom-pom nose.

Christmas crafts for school-age kids (ages 6–10)

8. Paper snowflakes

Fold a square of paper into a triangle, fold again twice, cut small shapes along the edges and unfold. Every snowflake is different. Tape them to windows.

9. Homemade Christmas cards

Fold card in half, then decorate with stamps (a halved potato makes a great stamp), drawings, glitter glue or collage. Children write their own message inside.

10. Pine cone trees

Paint pine cones green or white, add tiny pom-poms or dots of paint as decorations, and glue a paper star on top.

11. Paper lanterns and stars

Folded paper lanterns and woven paper stars brighten windows. Use battery lights only.

12. Mini story book for a sibling

Fold and staple a few sheets into a small book. Your child writes and illustrates a Christmas story for a younger brother, sister or grandparent.

Christmas crafts kids can make as gifts

• Salt dough handprint ornaments for grandparents
• Decorated photo frames made from card and buttons (older children)
• Homemade cards and gift tags
• A painted plant pot with a small plant
• A handmade bookmark for a reader in the family
• A "coupon book" of kind deeds ("one free hug", "I will tidy the shoes")

Materials table

Safety tips

• Small parts such as pom-poms, beads, buttons and googly eyes are choking hazards for children under 3.
• Glitter and sequins: use glitter glue instead of loose glitter with toddlers.
• Hot glue guns and ovens are adult jobs.
• No real candles near paper decorations; use battery lights.
• Non-toxic, washable supplies for younger children.
• Tidy up small items and string after crafting, especially with toddlers and pets around.

Crafting at school

For classroom or group crafts, choose projects with few steps and shared materials, like paper chains, snowflakes or cards. Prepare pieces in advance, give each child a tray, and allow for drying time before children take crafts home.

From crafting to a calm Christmas Eve

December days are exciting and busy. A familiar bedtime routine helps children settle. After crafting, try this original story, perfect for reading under the lights of a paper-chain tree:

The Snowflake That Wanted to See Christmas High above the town, a tiny snowflake looked down at the glowing windows. "What is Christmas?" she asked the wind. "Come and see," said the wind, and carried her softly down. She drifted past a window with a paper chain. Inside, a girl named Noor was hanging a salt dough star on a tree. The snowflake drifted past another window. A boy was writing a card for his grandpa, very slowly, with his tongue poking out. "Christmas," said the wind, "is when people make things for each other." The snowflake settled on the windowsill and watched the lights go out one by one. "I like Christmas," she whispered. And she sparkled there all night, keeping watch until morning.

For another gentle night-time tale, try our short bedtime story about the moon.

A gift that is all about them

If you are looking for a present that grows with your child, Nori Tales creates a personalized children's book with your child's name and chosen heroes. Each week brings a new 7-chapter book, one chapter per night, in text, illustrated or audio formats. See the programme for ages 4–6.

How to plan a calm craft session

1. Pick one craft per session, not five. Children enjoy finishing something.
2. Cover the table with newspaper, an old sheet or a wipeable cloth.
3. Prepare pieces in advance for younger children: pre-cut shapes, glue in small pots.
4. Give each child a tray so materials stay in one place.
5. Set a drying spot before you start, away from little hands and pets.
6. Craft earlier in the day. Glitter and excitement right before bed rarely end well.
7. Clean up together as part of the activity; even toddlers can put crayons in a box.

Recycled Christmas craft ideas

• Egg carton cups become small bells or ornaments when painted and threaded on ribbon.
• Old Christmas cards can be cut into gift tags or a collage.
• Cardboard boxes make a stable, a gingerbread house front or a sleigh for toys.
• Jar lids become small frames for a family photo (no glass for young children).
• Scraps of wrapping paper make a patchwork tree on card.

Frequently asked questions

What are easy Christmas crafts for kids?

Handprint trees, paper chains, paper plate wreaths, cotton ball snowmen and paper snowflakes are among the easiest. They use basic supplies and take 10–30 minutes.

What Christmas crafts can kids make as gifts?

Salt dough ornaments, homemade cards, decorated plant pots, bookmarks and "kindness coupon" books make thoughtful gifts for family members.

What Christmas crafts can kids make at school?

Choose simple, low-mess projects with few steps, such as paper chains, snowflakes, cards and paper plate wreaths. Prepare pieces ahead and plan for drying time.

What Christmas crafts are good for toddlers?

Handprint and fingerprint art, sticker trees and cotton ball snowmen work well. Use washable paint, avoid small parts for children under 3, and supervise closely.

How do you make salt dough ornaments?

Mix 1 cup flour, ½ cup salt and about ½ cup water, roll and cut shapes, poke a hole, bake at a low temperature until hard, then paint. An adult should handle the oven.

End the day with a story

After the glue dries, curl up together. Read chapter 1 free, no account needed, then create a free account to get a weekly personalized book starring your child.