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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
- Every craft lists ages, prep time, mess level, supplies and a safety note.
- Pom poms and beads are choking hazards: use them only with kids who no longer mouth things, with an adult at the table.
- Crafts 13 to 17 are made to give as gifts for parents and grandparents.
- Crafts 18 to 21 work for a preschool classroom with little prep.
In this post29 sections
- Preschool Christmas Crafts Supply List
- Easy Christmas Crafts for Preschoolers With Paper and Paint
- 1. Pom pom painted Christmas tree
- 2. Paper plate Christmas tree
- 3. Cardboard tube stamped ornaments
- 4. Fork-painted Christmas tree
- 5. Tissue paper stained glass star
- 6. Fingerprint Christmas lights card
- Preschool Christmas Ornaments Kids Can Make
- 7. Salt dough fingerprint ornaments
- 8. Craft stick star ornaments
- 9. Beaded pipe cleaner wreath
- 10. Cupcake liner Christmas tree
- 11. Filled shatterproof ornament
- 12. Paper plate handprint wreath
- Preschool Christmas Crafts That Double as Gifts for Parents
- 13. Handprint Christmas canvas
- 14. Stamped wrapping paper
- 15. Craft stick photo frame
- 16. Handprint tea towel
- 17. Thumbprint gift tags
- Christmas Crafts for a Preschool Classroom
- 18. Class handprint wreath
- 19. Shape collage Christmas tree
- 20. Craft stick nativity star
- 21. Snowy pine cone trees
- How to Run a Christmas Craft With Preschoolers
- More Christmas Ideas for Preschoolers
- FAQ
Preschool Christmas Crafts Supply List
Most of these crafts pull from the same short list. Stock it once in early December and you can say yes to a craft any afternoon.
Christmas craft basics for ages 3 to 5
Easy Christmas Crafts for Preschoolers With Paper and Paint
These six crafts use paint, paper and things from the kitchen drawer. They're quick to set up and easy to clean.
1Pom pom painted Christmas tree
Draw a big triangle on cardstock. Clip a pom pom in a clothespin, dip it in green paint and dab the tree full, then add red and yellow dots as ornaments.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: cardstock, washable paint, pom poms, clothespins.
- Choking note: pom poms stay clipped in the clothespins, and loose ones get counted back into the jar.
For pom pom painting and pine cone trees. Store them up high.
2Paper plate Christmas tree
Paint a paper plate green, cut it into a triangle (grown-up job) and glue on a craft stick trunk. Kids decorate with dot stickers and a paper star.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: paper plate, green paint, craft stick, dot stickers, yellow paper.
- Safety: peeling stickers is great finger practice, but keep sticker backing scraps off the floor for babies.
Uncoated plates take paint and glue best.
3Cardboard tube stamped ornaments
Dip the end of a toilet paper tube in paint and stamp circles across a page. Once dry, kids draw hooks on top and decorate them like ornaments.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 2 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: cardboard tubes, washable paint, paper plate, paper, markers.
- Safety: a separate tube for each color keeps paint from turning brown and kids from fighting over one.
4Fork-painted Christmas tree
Kids drag a plastic fork dipped in green paint down the page in a triangle shape. The tines make texture like pine needles. Add fingerprint ornaments.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 2 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: plastic fork, green paint, paper, paper plate.
- Safety: plastic forks only, and they go in the trash right after so they don't end up at snack time.
5Tissue paper stained glass star
Cut a star frame from black paper and stick it to clear contact paper. Kids press on torn tissue paper squares, then you seal it and tape it to a window.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: contact paper, black paper, tissue paper, tape.
- Safety: a grown-up cuts the frame, and torn tissue squares are big enough not to tempt mouths.
6Fingerprint Christmas lights card
Draw a wavy line across a folded card. Kids press bright fingerprints along it as bulbs. Write a short message inside and it's a card for a parent or grandparent.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 2 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: cardstock, black marker, washable paint.
- Safety: wipe fingers between colors and wash hands before snack.
Preschool Christmas Ornaments Kids Can Make
Ornaments are the classic preschool Christmas craft. Write the child's name and the year on the back so they come out of the box every December. Small finished crafts like these also fit in an advent calendar, and our list of advent calendar fillers for kids, not candy has more ideas sorted by age.
7Salt dough fingerprint ornaments
Roll salt dough (about two parts flour, one part salt, one part water), cut circles and poke a hole with a straw. Bake low until hard, then kids paint fingerprints into reindeer, lights or a heart.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 20 minutes plus baking.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: flour, salt, water, straw, paint, ribbon.
- Safety: salt dough isn't food and is dangerous for dogs. A grown-up handles the oven, and finished ornaments hang high.
8Craft stick star ornaments
Glue craft sticks into a star or a simple triangle tree, let it dry, then paint it and add paper dots. Tie on a loop of twine to hang.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 5 minutes plus drying.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: craft sticks, white glue, paint, paper dots, twine.
- Safety: pre-glue the star for younger 3 year olds, and skip sequins for anyone who still mouths things.
Stars, frames and the nativity stable.
9Beaded pipe cleaner wreath
Kids thread green and red pony beads onto a green pipe cleaner, then you twist it into a circle and add a ribbon bow. Great for counting and patterns.
Ages: 4 to 5.
Prep: 2 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: pipe cleaners, large pony beads, ribbon.
- Choking note: pony beads are a choking hazard. Only for kids who no longer mouth things, with an adult at the table. Fold sharp pipe cleaner ends over.
10Cupcake liner Christmas tree
Fold green paper cupcake liners in half and glue them in rows on cardstock: four, then three, two and one. Add a paper trunk and star.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 3 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: green cupcake liners, cardstock, glue stick, brown and yellow paper.
- Safety: glue sticks are easiest for this age and dry fast, so the craft can go home the same day.
11Filled shatterproof ornament
Kids stuff a clear plastic fillable ornament with torn tissue paper, paper shreds or a cut-up drawing, then you put the cap back on.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 2 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: clear plastic ornaments, tissue paper, paper shreds.
- Choking note: ornament caps and hooks are small. A grown-up handles them, and plastic only, never glass.
12Paper plate handprint wreath
Cut the center out of a paper plate. Trace and cut green paper handprints, then kids glue them around the ring with fingers pointing out. Add a red bow.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: paper plate, green paper, glue stick, red paper.
- Safety: older 4 and 5 year olds can try cutting the handprints with child-safety scissors and an adult close by.
Preschool Christmas Crafts That Double as Gifts for Parents
Parents and grandparents keep these for years. The fingerprint lights card (6) and salt dough ornaments (7) work as gifts too.
13Handprint Christmas canvas
Paint a child's palm green and press it onto a small art canvas, fingers down, to make a tree. Add fingerprint ornaments and a painted star. Write the name and year on the back.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: high.
Supplies: small canvas, washable paint, brush.
- Safety: washable paint only on skin, and wipe hands right away.
14Stamped wrapping paper
Roll out brown craft paper and let kids stamp it with star sponges, cardboard tubes and fingerprints. Use it to wrap the gifts for parents.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: high.
Supplies: brown craft paper, washable paint, sponges, cardboard tubes.
- Safety: tape the paper to the floor so it doesn't slide, and keep a wet cloth handy.
15Craft stick photo frame
Glue four craft sticks into a square, paint them red or green and decorate with paper snowflakes. Tape a photo behind the opening and add a ribbon to hang.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 5 minutes plus drying.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: craft sticks, white glue, paint, paper, a photo, ribbon.
- Safety: if you use hot glue to make it sturdier, that's a grown-up job after the kids are done.
16Handprint tea towel
Kids press painted handprints onto a plain cotton tea towel to make a tree, a wreath or reindeer. Follow the fabric paint directions to set it so it survives the wash.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: high.
Supplies: plain cotton tea towel, fabric paint, brush, cardboard to put underneath.
- Safety: fabric paint isn't always washable on clothes, so use a smock. Any ironing to set it is a grown-up job.
17Thumbprint gift tags
Cut cardstock into tags. Kids add a thumbprint and you turn it into a tiny reindeer, snowman or ornament with a marker. Punch a hole and add string.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: cardstock, washable ink pad or paint, markers, hole punch, string.
- Safety: the hole punch and string stay with the grown-up.
Christmas Crafts for a Preschool Classroom
Group crafts need little prep, no waiting for a turn and nothing a 3 year old can't do mostly alone. These four work for a class of 10 to 20.
18Class handprint wreath
Each child traces or paints a green handprint on paper. You cut them out and glue them in a big ring on the classroom door with a red paper bow.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 15 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: green paper or paint, scissors, glue, a large cardboard ring.
- Tip: write each child's name on their handprint so families can find it at pickup.
19Shape collage Christmas tree
Pre-cut green triangles, small circles and a yellow star. Kids glue the triangles into a tree and add circle ornaments while naming the shapes.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 15 minutes for a class.
Mess: low.
Supplies: construction paper, glue sticks, paper.
- Safety: glue sticks, not liquid glue, for big groups, and pre-cut everything for 3 year olds.
20Craft stick nativity star
For Christian schools and families: glue craft sticks into a simple stable on brown paper, add paper Mary and Joseph shapes and a paper manger with yellow paper straw, then a gold star on top.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: craft sticks, brown, blue and yellow paper, glue, gold paper or paint.
- Safety: pre-glue the stable shape for younger kids so they can focus on the star and manger.
21Snowy pine cone trees
Kids dab white paint on the tips of a pine cone so it looks snowy, then glue on a few pom pom ornaments. Pine cones from a walk make this nearly free.
Ages: 4 to 5.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: pine cones, white paint, brush, small pom poms, glue.
- Choking note: small pom poms are choking-sized. Count them out, and skip them with kids who still mouth things.
How to Run a Christmas Craft With Preschoolers
| If you need | Try | Prep |
|---|---|---|
| A 5-minute setup | Fork tree (4), tube ornaments (3) | 2 min |
| A gift for parents | Handprint canvas (13), photo frame (15) | 5 min |
| A whole class | Shape collage tree (19), class wreath (18) | 15 min |
| No small parts | Paper plate tree (2), cupcake liner tree (10) | 3 to 5 min |
Show kids a finished sample, but let theirs look different. At 3 to 5, the point is the cutting, gluing and dabbing, not a matching tree.
Preschool Christmas craft supplies
-
Washable kids paint set
About $10 to $20
Handprints, fork trees and stamping that wash off skin.
Check price on Amazon for Washable kids paint set -
Craft pom poms
About $6 to $12
For pom pom painting and pine cone trees. Store them up high.
Check price on Amazon for Craft pom poms -
Paper plates
About $5 to $10
Uncoated plates take paint and glue best.
Check price on Amazon for Paper plates -
Wooden craft sticks
About $5 to $10
Stars, frames and the nativity stable.
Check price on Amazon for Wooden craft sticks -
Small art canvases
About $10 to $20
Turn a handprint into a keepsake gift for parents.
Check price on Amazon for Small art canvases
More Christmas Ideas for Preschoolers
Have toddlers or big kids too? Our kids Christmas crafts by age covers ages 1 to 8.
Turn a craft a day into a countdown with 24 Christmas countdown ideas for kids and a DIY advent calendar. After Christmas, keep going with winter crafts for kids. If a younger sibling is on your list, see toddler Christmas gifts that encourage play.
Frequently asked questions
What are easy Christmas crafts for preschoolers?
A fork-painted tree, a paper plate Christmas tree, cardboard tube stamped ornaments and a cupcake liner tree all take 5 minutes or less to set up and use basic supplies.
What Christmas crafts can preschoolers make for parents?
A handprint canvas, a craft stick photo frame, a handprint tea towel, salt dough fingerprint ornaments and a fingerprint lights card all make keepsake gifts.
Are pom poms safe for preschoolers?
Pom poms are a choking hazard, so use them only with kids who no longer put things in their mouths. Count them out, count them back and keep an adult at the table.
What Christmas crafts work for a preschool classroom?
A class handprint wreath, a shape collage tree and a craft stick nativity star work for a group with little prep. Pre-cut pieces and use glue sticks.
How long should a preschool craft take?
Most 3 to 5 year olds stay with a craft for 10 to 20 minutes. Pick crafts with 2 or 3 steps and do any drying or baking on a separate day.
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