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
- Handprint and footprint reindeer are the fastest keepsakes. Write the name and year on the back.
- Paper plate, torn paper and dot marker reindeer are the best picks for toddlers.
- Googly eyes and pom-pom noses are choking hazards for kids under 3. Swap in marker dots or a painted red fingerprint.
- Candy cane reindeer are a gift for older kids to make, not a snack for toddlers.
In this post28 sections
- Handprint Reindeer Crafts
- 1. Handprint antler headband
- 2. Fist-print reindeer with handprint antlers
- 3. Handprint reindeer gift tags
- Footprint Reindeer Crafts (Keepsakes)
- 4. Footprint reindeer painting
- 5. Footprint reindeer salt dough ornament
- Paper Plate Reindeer Crafts
- 6. Paper plate reindeer with handprint antlers
- 7. Folded paper plate reindeer
- 8. Torn paper collage reindeer
- Popsicle Stick and Clothespin Reindeer
- 9. Craft stick triangle reindeer ornament
- 10. Clothespin reindeer
- 11. Craft stick reindeer puppet
- Candy Cane and Pine Cone Reindeer
- 12. Candy cane reindeer
- 13. Pine cone reindeer
- Easy Reindeer Crafts for Toddlers and Preschool
- 14. Dot marker reindeer
- 15. Shape reindeer
- 16. Paper bag reindeer puppet
- 17. Reindeer paper chain countdown
- 18. Contact paper reindeer
- 19. Playdough reindeer
- Reindeer Crafts for Kids by Age
- Small-Parts Swaps for Kids Under 3
- FAQ
Handprint Reindeer Crafts
A child's spread fingers look just like antlers. These three use handprints in new ways. For the classic handprint reindeer card and canvas, see our handprint Christmas crafts.
1Handprint antler headband
Trace your child's hands on brown paper and cut them out. Staple them upright to a paper strip sized to fit their head, add a red paper nose in the middle and you have wearable antlers.
Ages: 3 to 8.
Prep: 15 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: brown paper or a paper bag, a pencil, scissors, a stapler, red paper.
Safety: an adult does the stapling and covers staple backs with tape.
- Older kids can cut their own hands out. It's great scissor practice.
2Fist-print reindeer with handprint antlers
Paint the side of a closed fist brown and press it down for the head. Add two small handprints above as antlers, then a red fingerprint nose.
Ages: 2 to 8.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: brown and red washable paint, cardstock, a foam brush, wipes.
Safety: use washable paint labeled non-toxic and wash hands right after.
- Paint the hand with a brush instead of dipping it. You'll get a cleaner print.
3Handprint reindeer gift tags
Stamp tiny upside-down brown handprints on kraft tags and add a red dot nose. Little hands fit tags well, and they make homemade wrapping look special.
Ages: 1 to 6.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: kraft gift tags, brown and red washable paint, twine.
Safety: stay close while paint is on little hands.
- Toddlers tire fast. Do four tags, take a break, then do four more.
Footprint Reindeer Crafts (Keepsakes)
Footprints are easiest with babies and young toddlers, since feet stay flatter than hands. One adult holds, one presses.
4Footprint reindeer painting
Paint the bottom of the foot brown and press it down with the toes pointing toward the bottom of the page. Add two handprints above the heel as antlers and a red nose near the toes.
Ages: 6 months to 5 years.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: high.
Supplies: brown and red washable paint, cardstock, a foam brush, a towel and wipes.
Safety: keep the child seated while their foot is painted, since painted feet slip.
- Wipe the foot right away, before your toddler stands up.
5Footprint reindeer salt dough ornament
Press a foot into a round of salt dough, bake or air dry it, then paint the footprint brown with antlers and a red nose. Add the year on the back. Our salt dough ornaments guide covers the dough, drying times and sealing.
Ages: 6 months to 5 years.
Prep: 20 minutes plus drying.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: salt dough, a straw, acrylic paint, ribbon.
Safety: salt dough isn't food and is dangerous for dogs, so hang it high.
- Make the dough round a little bigger than the foot so the print doesn't touch the edge.
Paper Plate Reindeer Crafts
Paper plates are cheap and sturdy, and they give small kids a big shape to work on.
6Paper plate reindeer with handprint antlers
Paint a paper plate brown. Trace and cut two brown paper handprints and glue them to the top as antlers. Add a big red paper nose and two black paper dots.
Ages: 3 to 7.
Prep: 15 minutes plus drying.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: a paper plate, brown paint, brown and red paper, black paper or a marker, a glue stick.
Safety: use paper dots instead of googly eyes for kids under 3.
- Skip the paint and use a brown paper plate if you're short on time.
7Folded paper plate reindeer
Fold a paper plate in half and stand it up as the body. Paint it brown, then glue a small paper head with pipe cleaner antlers, two eyes and a red nose to one end. It stands on a shelf or windowsill.
Ages: 4 to 8.
Prep: 15 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: a paper plate, brown paint, brown paper, pipe cleaners, googly eyes or a marker, a red pom-pom or paper circle, glue.
Safety: an adult trims pipe cleaner ends and folds them over; googly eyes and pom-poms are for ages 3 and up.
- Make a whole team and line them up along the windowsill.
8Torn paper collage reindeer
Rub a glue stick over a paper plate and let your toddler stick on torn pieces of brown and tan paper. Add paper antlers and a big red circle nose at the end. Tearing paper builds hand strength.
Ages: 18 months to 4 years.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: a paper plate, brown paper or paper bags, a glue stick, red paper.
Safety: watch for paper going in mouths.
- Pre-tear a few strips to get them started, then let them tear the rest.
Popsicle Stick and Clothespin Reindeer
These make sturdy ornaments and gifts. They need white glue and a little patience, so they suit ages 4 and up.
9Craft stick triangle reindeer ornament
Glue three craft sticks into an upside-down triangle. Twist brown pipe cleaners around the top corners as antlers, glue a red pom-pom on the bottom point and add a ribbon loop.
Ages: 4 to 8.
Prep: 15 minutes plus drying.
Mess: low.
Supplies: 3 craft sticks, white glue, pipe cleaners, a red pom-pom, ribbon.
Safety: pom-poms are a choking hazard for kids under 3, so keep supplies away from younger siblings.
- Write the child's name and year on the back stick in marker.
10Clothespin reindeer
Paint a wooden clothespin brown and turn it upside down, so the two open jaw ends point up like antlers. Add two eyes and a red pom-pom nose, then clip them on cards, gift bags or the tree.
Ages: 5 to 8.
Prep: 15 minutes plus drying.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: wooden clothespins, brown paint, googly eyes or a fine marker, red pom-poms, white glue.
Safety: small parts, so not for under 3s.
- Let the glue dry overnight before kids clip them on anything.
11Craft stick reindeer puppet
Cut a reindeer head from brown paper, add pipe cleaner antlers, two eyes and a red paper nose, then glue it to a jumbo craft stick. Kids can put on a reindeer puppet show.
Ages: 3 to 7.
Prep: 15 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: brown and red paper, jumbo craft sticks, pipe cleaners, googly eyes or a marker, glue.
Safety: fold pipe cleaner tips so they don't poke; draw the eyes for kids under 3.
- Make nine puppets and act out the reindeer song names.
Candy Cane and Pine Cone Reindeer
These two use things you might already have in December. They're best for big kids, or for little kids with lots of help.
12Candy cane reindeer
Turn a wrapped candy cane upside down. Twist a brown pipe cleaner around the hook for antlers and glue two small googly eyes and a red pom-pom nose to the wrapper. They make sweet class gifts.
Ages: 5 to 8 to make.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: wrapped candy canes, brown pipe cleaners, small googly eyes, red pom-poms, tacky glue.
Safety: hard candy is a choking hazard for young children, so give these to big kids and grown-ups, not toddlers.
- Check for food allergies and school rules before handing them out in class.
13Pine cone reindeer
Lay a pine cone on its side as the body. Glue small twigs at the wide end as antlers and a red pom-pom at the tip as the nose. Collect the pine cones on a walk first.
Ages: 4 to 8.
Prep: 15 minutes plus a nature walk.
Mess: low.
Supplies: pine cones, small twigs, red pom-poms, tacky glue.
Safety: an adult uses any hot glue; check pine cones for bugs and sharp scales.
- Bake damp pine cones on low heat (an adult job) or let them dry inside for a few days first.
Easy Reindeer Crafts for Toddlers and Preschool
These reindeer crafts for toddlers and preschoolers skip small parts and fiddly glue. Most take 10 minutes or less to set up.
14Dot marker reindeer
Draw a big simple reindeer outline. Toddlers fill it with brown dot marker dots and add one red dot for the nose. Dot markers are easy to grip and less messy than paint.
Ages: 18 months to 4 years.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: paper, a marker, dot markers.
Safety: put the caps away, since they're small enough to choke on.
- Draw circles inside the outline for kids who like a target.
15Shape reindeer
Cut a brown triangle for the head, two brown strips for antlers and a red circle for the nose. Preschoolers glue the shapes together, add two eyes and name each shape. It's a reindeer craft for preschool that doubles as a shapes lesson.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: brown and red paper, blue paper, child-safe scissors, a glue stick, googly eyes or white paper circles.
Safety: child-safe scissors with an adult nearby; keep googly eyes away from younger siblings.
- Let 5-year-olds cut the strips themselves.
16Paper bag reindeer puppet
Glue two traced handprint antlers to the top flap of a brown lunch bag and add eyes and a red paper nose. Kids slip a hand inside and make the reindeer talk.
Ages: 3 to 6.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: a brown paper lunch bag, brown and red paper, googly eyes or a marker, a glue stick.
Safety: googly eyes are a choking hazard for under 3s, so draw the eyes for younger kids.
- Ask the puppet questions at bedtime. Shy kids often answer through it.
17Reindeer paper chain countdown
Cut a brown paper reindeer head and tape a brown and red paper chain under it, one link for each day until Christmas. Kids tear off a link each morning.
Ages: 3 to 8.
Prep: 20 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: brown and red paper, tape or a glue stick, a marker.
Safety: hang it out of reach of babies.
- Write a tiny activity on each link for a Christmas countdown.
18Contact paper reindeer
Tape a sheet of contact paper sticky side out on a window or low table. Toddlers press on pieces of brown tissue paper and paper antlers, then you add a red circle nose and seal it with a second sheet.
Ages: 18 months to 3 years.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: contact paper, brown and red tissue paper, tape.
Safety: tissue paper is easy to mouth, so stay close.
- Cut the contact paper into a reindeer head shape before you start.
19Playdough reindeer
Roll a ball of brown playdough for the head, add two short pipe cleaner antlers and a small red playdough nose. Make a herd and line them up.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: brown and red playdough, pipe cleaners.
Safety: adult folds pipe cleaner tips; playdough isn't food, so watch kids who still taste things.
- Count the reindeer as you line them up.
Reindeer Crafts for Kids by Age
| Craft | Best ages | Prep | Mess | Small parts? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torn paper plate (8) | 18 months to 4 | 10 min | Low | No |
| Dot marker reindeer (14) | 18 months to 4 | 5 min | Low | Caps only |
| Footprint painting (4) | 6 months to 5 | 10 min | High | No |
| Shape reindeer (15) | 3 to 5 | 10 min | Low | No |
| Paper plate handprint (6) | 3 to 7 | 15 min | Medium | No (use paper dots) |
| Craft stick ornament (9) | 4 to 8 | 15 min | Low | Yes |
| Clothespin reindeer (10) | 5 to 8 | 15 min | Medium | Yes |
| Candy cane reindeer (12) | 5 to 8 | 10 min | Low | Yes, plus hard candy |
Small-Parts Swaps for Kids Under 3
Most reindeer craft roundups use googly eyes and pom-poms without a word about safety. These items are small enough to choke on, and toddlers test everything with their mouths. Here's what to use instead.
Toddler-safe reindeer swaps
Looking for more? Browse our kids Christmas crafts by age and preschool Christmas crafts for ages 3 to 5, or pair these crafts with our Christmas activities for preschoolers.
For a December of screen-free fun, the Christmas Activity Pack has a 24-day countdown, picture bingo, kindness cards and coloring pages for ages 3 to 8.
Frequently asked questions
What is an easy reindeer craft for preschoolers?
A shape reindeer is one of the easiest: glue a brown triangle head, two brown strip antlers and a red circle nose onto paper. A paper plate reindeer with traced handprint antlers and a paper bag reindeer puppet are easy too.
How do you make a handprint reindeer?
Paint your child's hand brown and press it upside down on paper, so the palm is the head and the fingers are the antlers. Add a red fingerprint nose. You can also trace and cut paper handprints to use as antlers on a headband or paper plate.
How do you make a footprint reindeer?
Paint the bottom of the foot brown and press it with the toes pointing down. Add two handprints above the heel as antlers and a red nose near the toes. Keep your child seated and wipe the foot right away.
How do you make a paper plate reindeer?
Paint a paper plate brown, glue two cut-out paper handprints to the top as antlers and add a big red paper nose and two black paper dots. For toddlers, cover the plate in torn brown paper instead of paint.
What reindeer crafts work for toddlers?
Torn paper collage reindeer, dot marker reindeer, contact paper reindeer and footprint reindeer all work for toddlers. Skip googly eyes and pom-poms for kids under 3, and use marker dots or paper circles instead.
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