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Safety first: Always supervise little ones, and skip small parts for kids who still put things in their mouths. Please read our play safety notes before you start.
Key takeaways
- Read the story first, then pick one activity per skill: story, fine motor, math, sensory, art.
- Buttons, beads, pom-poms and dried beans are choking hazards for kids under 3. Swap in jumbo pom-poms, big foam shapes or paper circles for toddlers.
- Cinnamon sticks and cinnamon oil can irritate skin. Keep them out of bins for kids who still mouth things, and wash hands after play.
- Every activity here is no-bake. Gingerbread playdough is a craft dough, not food.
- The free printable counting mat at the end covers the math and fine motor tray in one page.
In this post33 sections
- Gingerbread Man Story Activities for Preschool
- 1. Gingerbread man story basket
- 2. Sequencing cards: who chased him next?
- 3. Character headbands and stick puppets
- 4. Escape map: run, run, through the room
- Gingerbread Man Fine Motor Activities
- 5. Playdough gingerbread man with button press
- 6. Gingerbread lacing cards
- 7. Gumdrop tongs transfer
- 8. Icing lines with a squeeze bottle
- Gingerbread Man Math Activities
- 9. Button counting mat (free printable)
- 10. Size sort: small, medium, giant
- 11. Candy pattern strips
- Gingerbread Sensory Bin and Scented Playdough
- 12. Oat and cinnamon stick sensory bin
- 13. Gingerbread scented craft dough
- Gingerbread Man Art and Craft Activities
- 14. Paper plate gingerbread man face
- 15. Decorate-your-own cardstock gingerbread man
- 16. Giant floor gingerbread man
- Gingerbread Man Letter and Name Activities
- 17. Name buttons down the front
- Gingerbread STEM: Build a Bridge So He Can Cross the River
- 18. Build a bridge across the river
- No-Bake Gingerbread Activities (for When the Oven Is Off)
- 19. Gingerbread cookie shop pretend play
- Gingerbread Activities for Toddlers (2 and 3 Year Olds)
- Large Group and Circle Time Gingerbread Games
- Free Printable Gingerbread Man Activities
- Safety Notes: Buttons, Beads and Cinnamon
- Supplies for a Gingerbread Week
- FAQ
Gingerbread Man Story Activities for Preschool
Start with the book. Any version of The Gingerbread Man works, and reading two different ones lets kids compare endings. These four activities turn the story into play.
1Gingerbread man story basket
Fill a basket with the book and one small prop for each character: a felt or paper gingerbread man, a toy cow, a toy horse and a fox puppet or paper fox on a craft stick. Read the story, then let kids act it out with the props while you narrate. Retelling with objects builds sequencing and vocabulary.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: the book, a basket, felt or paper characters, a craft stick for the fox.
Safety: keep props larger than a toilet paper tube for kids under 3, and skip small plastic animals around toddlers.
- Keep the basket on a low shelf for the whole week so kids retell the story on their own.
Reading two tellings gives kids an ending to compare.
2Sequencing cards: who chased him next?
Draw or print five simple pictures: the oven, the old woman, the cow, the horse and the fox. Mix them up and ask kids to put them in story order. Three-year-olds can manage three cards; five-year-olds can handle all five plus a river card.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: index cards, markers, the book for checking.
Safety: none, just paper.
- Glue the cards to a strip of cardboard once kids have them right, and hang it near the book corner.
3Character headbands and stick puppets
Cut sentence strips into headbands and let each child glue on a paper ear set or a gingerbread face shape. Then the whole group plays the chase: one gingerbread man runs, the cow and horse follow, the fox waits at the "river" (a blue towel). For a quieter version, tape the same shapes to craft sticks for puppets.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 15 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: sentence strips or paper strips, construction paper, glue sticks, a stapler for the grown-up.
Safety: staple with the flat side against the head, or use tape.
- Say the chant together: "Run, run, as fast as you can." Kids who know the words retell the story faster.
4Escape map: run, run, through the room
Tape a path across the floor with painter's tape. Mark stops with a paper cow, a paper horse and a blue paper river at the end. Kids carry the gingerbread man along the path, stopping to say each line. The river is the only way across, so they have to decide whether to trust the fox.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: painter's tape, paper animals, blue paper or a towel.
Safety: clear the path of toys first. Painter's tape peels off wood and carpet.
- Add a hop, a tiptoe and a gallop section so it doubles as gross motor.
Gingerbread Man Fine Motor Activities
Buttons, icing lines and gumdrops are all small-muscle work. These four build the pinch and squeeze that pencils and scissors need.
5Playdough gingerbread man with button press
Roll out brown playdough and cut a man with a cookie cutter. Kids press in buttons for the front, a short yarn piece for the smile and small white playdough balls for icing. Pressing and pulling out buttons is a strong pincer workout.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: brown playdough, a gingerbread man cutter, large buttons, yarn, white playdough.
Safety: buttons are a choking hazard, so this is for 3 and up with an adult at the table. For toddlers, press in jumbo pom-poms or make dents with a finger instead. Playdough is a craft dough, not food.
- Set out a number card and ask for that many buttons. Now it is math too.
A set with 2 or 3 sizes covers the playdough, the size sort and the cardstock tracing.
6Gingerbread lacing cards
Trace a gingerbread man onto a cereal box, cut it out and punch holes around the edge. Tape the end of a yarn piece so it acts like a needle, and kids lace in and out. It takes two hands working together, which is harder than it looks at 3.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: cardboard, a hole punch, brown paint or marker, yarn, tape.
Safety: keep yarn under 12 inches and put it away after play.
- Draw a dotted "icing" line between holes so kids can see where the yarn goes.
7Gumdrop tongs transfer
Draw a gingerbread man on paper with six circles down the front. Put pom-poms in a bowl and give kids tongs or a clothespin. They pick up one "gumdrop" at a time and drop it on a circle. Squeezing tongs works the same muscles as holding a pencil.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: paper, a marker, pom-poms, kid tongs.
Safety: pom-poms are a choking hazard under 3. Toddlers can use jumbo pom-poms and a spoon with an adult right there.
- Color the circles so kids match pom-pom color to circle color.
8Icing lines with a squeeze bottle
Fill a small squeeze bottle with white washable paint and give kids a brown paper gingerbread man. They squeeze zigzag icing lines across the arms and legs. Squeezing a bottle builds hand strength, and the wiggly lines are pre-writing practice.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: brown construction paper, a small squeeze bottle, white washable paint, a tray.
Safety: washable paint only, and keep the tray on a wipeable surface. Drying takes about an hour.
- A glue bottle with a bit of white paint mixed in gives thicker lines and dries puffy.
White for icing, brown for prints, and it rinses out of sleeves.
Gingerbread Man Math Activities
Counting buttons, sorting sizes and copying patterns all fit a gingerbread theme. These use the same pom-poms and cutters from above.
9Button counting mat (free printable)
Print the gingerbread counting mat at the end of this post, or draw a row of five gingerbread men with a number under each. Kids read the number and place that many buttons or pom-poms on the man. One-to-one counting is the big skill here, so count out loud together.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 2 minutes once printed.
Mess: none.
Supplies: the printed mat, buttons or pom-poms.
Safety: buttons for 3 and up only. For 2 year olds, use jumbo pom-poms or stick-on paper dots.
- Slide the mat into a page protector and use a dry-erase marker to write the numbers, so one print lasts all month.
10Size sort: small, medium, giant
Cut gingerbread men from brown paper in three sizes, three or four of each. Mix them up and have kids sort them into bowls labeled small, medium and big, then line each group up from shortest to tallest.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: brown construction paper, scissors for the grown-up, three bowls.
Safety: just paper. Toddlers can do this one too.
- Ask "which one is bigger?" with two at a time before you add the third size.
One pack covers every paper gingerbread man in this list with plenty left over.
11Candy pattern strips
Cut paper strips and draw a pattern start on each: red circle, green circle, red circle. Kids continue the pattern with dot stickers or paper shapes. Start with AB patterns, then try ABB and ABC for older kids.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: paper strips, dot stickers or paper circles, markers.
Safety: none. Stickers are fine for toddlers with an adult peeling.
- Tape finished strips across the gingerbread man as icing belts.
Gingerbread Sensory Bin and Scented Playdough
A gingerbread sensory bin smells like December and keeps hands busy for a long stretch. Read the cinnamon note before you set it up.
12Oat and cinnamon stick sensory bin
Pour dry oats into a shallow bin and add a few whole cinnamon sticks, cookie cutters, scoops and a muffin tin. Kids scoop, pour and press cutters into the oats. For a quiet version, bury paper gingerbread men and let kids dig them out.
Ages: 3 to 5, or 2 and up with an adult.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: oats, cinnamon sticks, cutters, scoops, a muffin tin.
Safety: cinnamon can irritate skin, so keep the sticks whole, keep the bin cinnamon-free for kids who still mouth things, and wash hands after play. Oats are taste-safe; skip dried beans and small bells for under 3s.
- A fitted sheet under the bin catches spills. Shake it out over the sink.
13Gingerbread scented craft dough
Buy brown playdough or add a little cocoa powder and ground cinnamon to a plain homemade craft dough until it smells like a cookie. Set it out with cutters, a rolling pin and a tray of pom-poms for decorating. This is a craft dough, not a food, so do not give kids a recipe to eat.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 5 minutes with store dough.
Mess: low.
Supplies: brown playdough, cutters, rolling pin, pom-poms.
Safety: cinnamon in dough can irritate skin on long play, so keep sessions short and wash hands. For 2 year olds, use plain unscented dough and no small decorations.
- Store the dough in a zip bag. It keeps about a week.
Store dough skips the stove and comes in the two colors every gingerbread activity needs.
Gingerbread Man Art and Craft Activities
Process art first, product second. Each of these gives kids a gingerbread shape and lets them decide what goes on it.
14Paper plate gingerbread man face
Paint a paper plate brown, then let kids glue on a white paper icing wave across the top, two paper circle eyes and a red paper smile. A ribbon bow at the chin finishes it. Painting and gluing are both fine motor, and the plate is big enough for toddler hands.
Ages: 2 to 5.
Prep: 5 minutes plus drying.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: paper plate, brown washable paint, paper scraps, glue stick, ribbon.
Safety: glue sticks for all ages. Skip googly eyes and buttons for under 3s and use paper circles instead.
- Punch a hole at the top and hang them in a row down the hallway.
15Decorate-your-own cardstock gingerbread man
Cut a big gingerbread man from brown cardstock (trace the big outline on page 3 of the free counting mat) and set out a collage tray: rickrack, paper candy shapes, cupcake liner pieces, tissue squares and dot stickers. Kids glue on whatever they like. No two look the same, which is the point.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: brown cardstock, glue, a tray of collage bits.
Safety: small sequins and buttons stay off the tray for under 3s. Hot glue, if you use it for rickrack, is adults-only.
- Write each child's name on the back before gluing. Brown cardstock hides marker on the front.
16Giant floor gingerbread man
Roll out brown kraft paper, trace a child-sized gingerbread man and cut it out. The whole group paints icing lines, presses sponge-stamped "gumdrops" and glues on big paper buttons. It takes up a corner for a morning and ends up taped to the door.
Ages: 2 to 5.
Prep: 15 minutes.
Mess: high.
Supplies: a roll of brown kraft paper, washable paint, sponges, big paper circles, glue.
Safety: spread a drop cloth and keep paint washable. Toddlers can stamp with sponges while older kids do lines.
- Cut the paper to the height of your tallest child. The "as big as me" moment is the fun part.
One roll makes a giant gingerbread man now and a wrapping paper station later.
Gingerbread Man Letter and Name Activities
17Name buttons down the front
Write each child's name on a brown paper gingerbread man, one letter per circle down the front. Give them paper circles with the matching letters to glue on in order. Kids who already know their name can do a friend's name or the word "run."
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: brown paper, white paper circles, marker, glue stick.
Safety: paper only, so toddlers can match two or three letters with help.
- Hide the letter circles around the room for a letter hunt before the gluing.
Gingerbread STEM: Build a Bridge So He Can Cross the River
18Build a bridge across the river
Lay a strip of blue paper on the table as the river. The problem: the gingerbread man needs to cross without the fox. Set out blocks, craft sticks, cups and tape and let kids build a bridge that holds a paper gingerbread man. Test, fix, test again.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: blue paper, blocks, craft sticks, paper cups, tape, a paper gingerbread man.
Safety: craft sticks can splinter, so check for rough edges. Toddlers can stack blocks across with you holding the ends.
- Ask "what if the river gets wider?" and move the paper apart an inch at a time.
No-Bake Gingerbread Activities (for When the Oven Is Off)
Every activity on this list is no-bake, so a classroom with no kitchen or a home with a toddler underfoot can do all of them. If you want the bakery feeling without the oven, this last idea delivers it.
19Gingerbread cookie shop pretend play
Cut a dozen gingerbread men from brown felt or cardboard and add a tray, a toy register, paper bags and a sign. Kids "bake," decorate with felt scraps, sell and count coins made from paper circles. Pretend play builds language, turn-taking and early money ideas.
Ages: 2 to 5.
Prep: 15 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: felt or cardboard, a tray, paper bags, paper coins, a sign.
Safety: paper coins only for under 3s, no real coins or small beads.
- Add a menu with three prices (1, 2, 3 coins) and the math takes care of itself.
Gingerbread Activities for Toddlers (2 and 3 Year Olds)
A younger sibling or a 2s room can join most of this list with a swap. The rule is simple: nothing that fits through a toilet paper tube, and paint that is washable or taste-safe.
| Activity | Swap for 2 and 3 year olds | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Playdough buttons (5) | Press jumbo pom-poms or finger dents | Buttons are a choking hazard under 3 |
| Gumdrop tongs (7) | Jumbo pom-poms with a spoon | Small pom-poms and tongs are too fiddly |
| Counting mat (9) | Paper dot stickers, numbers 1 to 3 | Stickers stay on and can't be swallowed |
| Oat bin (12) | Oats only, no cinnamon sticks | Cinnamon irritates skin and mouths |
| Paper plate face (14) | Paper circles instead of googly eyes | No small parts |
| Giant floor man (16) | Sponge stamping only | Big movements, washable paint |
For more toddler-safe December play, see our Christmas sensory bin ideas for toddlers and Christmas activities for toddlers at home.
Large Group and Circle Time Gingerbread Games
A class of 15 or a holiday playdate needs games where everyone plays at once. These three use the paper gingerbread men you already cut.
Three circle time gingerbread games
If you teach, our Christmas activities for preschoolers sorted by fine and gross motor has a sample 5-day plan you can slot these into, and the classroom elf ideas give you a daily hook.
Free Printable Gingerbread Man Activities
The free gingerbread counting mat is three printable pages (US Letter): a color mat with five gingerbread men numbered 1 to 5, each with button circles on its belly, the same mat in low ink, and one big gingerbread man outline to trace, cut out and decorate. Print it on regular paper, or slip the mat in a page protector so it lasts all week. It covers activity 9, and the big outline is the template for activity 15.
Download the free gingerbread counting mat (PDF, 3 pages). No sign-up needed, and teachers may print copies for their own class. For 50 more screen-free ideas for winter afternoons, the free activity pack below comes by email.
Safety Notes: Buttons, Beads and Cinnamon
Small parts. Buttons, beads, pom-poms, dried beans and small plastic animals are choking hazards for kids under 3, and for any child who still mouths things. The home test is a toilet paper tube: if it fits through, it stays out of reach.
Cinnamon. Cinnamon sticks, ground cinnamon and cinnamon oil can irritate skin and are worse on lips and eyes. Keep sticks whole, keep cinnamon out of bins for toddlers, and wash hands after play. If a child has sensitive skin or eczema, skip the scent entirely.
Supplies for a Gingerbread Week
Most of this list runs on brown paper, playdough and pom-poms. If you want to buy once for the whole week, this is the short list.
Gingerbread man activity supplies
- Most used
Gingerbread man cookie cutter set
Typically $6 to $12
Playdough, oat bin, tracing. Pick a set with at least two sizes.
Check price on Amazon for Gingerbread man cookie cutter set -
Brown construction paper, 50 sheets
Typically $5 to $10
Every paper gingerbread man in this list.
Check price on Amazon for Brown construction paper, 50 sheets -
Brown and white playdough multipack
Typically $8 to $20
No stove, no recipe, two cookie colors.
Check price on Amazon for Brown and white playdough multipack -
Washable tempera paint set
Typically $10 to $18
White icing lines and brown plate paint.
Check price on Amazon for Washable tempera paint set -
Brown kraft paper roll
Typically $10 to $18
The giant floor gingerbread man.
Check price on Amazon for Brown kraft paper roll -
Jumbo pom-poms
Typically $6 to $12
The toddler-safe swap for buttons and small pom-poms.
Check price on Amazon for Jumbo pom-poms -
The Gingerbread Man picture book (two versions)
Typically $5 to $10 each
Reading two tellings gives kids an ending to compare.
Check price on Amazon for The Gingerbread Man picture book (two versions)
Want more December crafts? See our easy preschool Christmas crafts for ages 3 to 5 and the kids Christmas crafts by age list, which has a cereal box gingerbread house that pairs with this week.
For a ready-to-print December, the Christmas Activity Pack has a 24-day countdown, picture bingo for up to 6 players, an I spy counting page, word searches and a gingerbread house coloring page for ages 3 to 8.
Frequently asked questions
What activities go with The Gingerbread Man story for preschool?
Start with a story basket of props for retelling, then sequencing cards (oven, old woman, cow, horse, fox), character headbands for acting out the chase, and a taped escape map across the floor. Each one asks kids to put the story in order, which is the skill the book teaches best.
What are gingerbread man fine motor activities for preschoolers?
Pressing buttons into a playdough gingerbread man, lacing a cardboard gingerbread card, moving pom-pom gumdrops with tongs and squeezing icing lines from a paint bottle. All four build the pinch and squeeze that pencils and scissors need.
Are there free printable gingerbread man activities for preschool?
Yes. Our free gingerbread counting mat has five gingerbread men with number boxes and a blank man for decorating. It comes with the free 50 Screen-Free Activities pack, and teachers may print copies for their own class.
What gingerbread math activities work for preschool?
A button counting mat for one-to-one counting, a small-medium-giant size sort with paper gingerbread men, and candy pattern strips with dot stickers. Add a number card to the playdough button activity and it becomes math too.
How do you set up a gingerbread sensory bin or playdough?
Pour dry oats in a shallow bin with whole cinnamon sticks, cutters and scoops. For dough, use brown store playdough or add cocoa and a little cinnamon to a plain craft dough. Keep cinnamon out of bins for kids who mouth things, and remember the dough is for play, not eating.
What gingerbread activities work for toddlers?
Paper plate gingerbread faces, the size sort, the giant kraft paper man with sponge stamping, the oat bin without cinnamon, and the cookie shop pretend play. Swap buttons and small pom-poms for jumbo pom-poms or paper dots, since small parts are a choking hazard under 3.
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