Festive Fun Preschool Christmas Crafts​ Ideas

Oh, I remember last December—I was knee-deep in glitter, glue, and tiny handprints, trying to make something festive with my niece, and let me tell you, it was chaos… but the cutest kind of chaos. If you’ve ever tried preschool Christmas crafts, you know exactly what I mean: paint on the floor, paper scraps everywhere, and those adorable little creations that somehow end up looking… uniquely festive. Honestly, it can feel a bit overwhelming at first. How do you keep it fun without losing your mind, right? But here’s the thing—I’ve found some super simple, creative ideas that actually work with little ones, and they’ll make your holidays brighter and way more memorable. By the end of this, you’ll have a bunch of easy preschool Christmas crafts you can do without stress, plus a few tricks to keep the kids engaged (and maybe even sneak in a cup of cocoa for yourself). Trust me, it’s totally doable!

Preschool Christmas Crafts​ Ideas

Preschool Christmas Crafts ideas are fun, easy, and perfect for little hands. These festive activities help kids get creative while enjoying the holiday spirit.

Paper Plate Santa

Honestly, I’ve found that Paper Plate Santa is one of those crafts that never fails to get the kids excited. I remember last year, my little nephew insisted on making ten Santas in a row—it was messy, but so much fun. The best part is how simple it is; all you really need is a paper plate, some cotton balls, red and black construction paper, and glue. I usually pre-cut the hat and belt parts because, to be fair, little hands aren’t the best with scissors yet.

When we get started, I let the kids stick the cotton balls wherever they want for the beard, and they always come up with the funniest Santa faces. Some have giant googly eyes, some tiny smiles—it cracks me up every time. I feel like it really sparks creativity while still keeping things easy and festive. Honestly, it’s a winner for a preschool craft session.

Handprint Reindeer

Handprint Reindeer is one of my favorite crafts because it’s personal—you’re literally using the kids’ hands, which I love. I still remember the first time I did this with my niece; she was giggling as she pressed her hand into the brown paint, making the antlers. It’s messy, sure, but in my opinion, that’s half the fun. All you need is some paint, a piece of cardstock, and a red pom-pom for the nose.

I like to let the kids paint freely and then help them turn their handprints into reindeer by adding googly eyes and the nose. It’s amazing how excited they get when they see the handprint transform into a little reindeer. Honestly, I think this craft is a perfect mix of fun, creativity, and holiday magic. Plus, parents love keeping them as little keepsakes—it’s such a cute memory!

Popsicle Stick Snowflakes

Popsicle Stick Snowflakes are honestly one of those crafts I never get tired of. I’ve found that even the simplest versions can look so cute, and it’s fun to watch preschoolers try to glue the sticks together in different patterns. To be fair, I usually pre-paint the sticks or use glitter glue because it’s way less stressful than letting tiny hands deal with messy paint.

I remember last winter, we had a whole table full of kids making snowflakes, and each one was totally unique—some big, some tiny, some covered in glitter like little snow storms. I like to help them twist and glue the sticks into star shapes, then let them decorate with stickers or sequins. Honestly, it’s simple, keeps the kids busy, and adds a super festive touch to any room. In my opinion, it’s perfect for a chilly afternoon craft.

Cotton Ball Snowman

Kids love snowmen, and this indoor version is soft, fluffy, and fun to make. Cotton balls make the snowman feel real, and preschoolers enjoy gluing on the pieces. It’s a great winter-themed craft that can be done any day in December.

• Cut out 3 circles from paper and glue them together

• Let kids glue cotton balls all over the circles

• Add a paper hat, buttons, and face

• Use felt or paper for the scarf

• Display them on a bulletin board or fridge

Fingerprint Christmas Lights

This colorful craft uses kids’ fingerprints to create a string of Christmas lights. It’s a sweet and simple activity that also makes a great homemade card. Each print is unique and shows off the child’s personal touch.

• Draw a black string line across the paper

• Let kids dip fingers in different colored paints

• Press fingerprints along the line like light bulbs

• Label each bulb with their name or initial if desired

• Use washable, child-safe paint

Toilet Paper Roll Elves

Recycle empty toilet rolls into adorable little elves. Preschoolers can paint, decorate, and turn these simple rolls into cute Christmas characters. It’s a great eco-friendly and hands-on activity.

• Paint the roll in bright green or red

• Add paper hats, belts, and faces

• Use googly eyes and pom-poms for fun details

• Pre-cut small pieces to make assembly easier

• Let kids give each elf a name

Torn Paper Christmas Tree

This craft helps build fine motor skills while allowing creativity. Kids tear pieces of green paper to build a tree, then decorate it with stickers or small craft items. The tearing action is fun and good for their hands.

• Give kids green paper to tear into small pieces

• Show them how to glue pieces into a tree shape

• Add a brown paper trunk and yellow star

• Let them decorate with glitter glue or stickers

• Use colorful paper scraps for ornaments

Salt Dough Ornaments

Salt dough crafts are perfect keepsakes and fun for preschoolers. Kids can press, cut, and shape the dough into festive designs like stars and trees. After baking, they can decorate their ornaments with paint.

• Use a simple salt dough recipe (flour, salt, water)

• Roll out and cut shapes with cookie cutters

• Poke holes for string before baking

• Let ornaments cool before painting

• Use acrylic paint and seal with Mod Podge if desired

Jingle Bell Shakers

Turn a basic paper cup into a musical shaker with jingle bells. Kids will enjoy making their own noise-makers for singing and dancing to holiday songs. This is a great sensory and musical craft.

• Fill a small paper cup with a few jingle bells

• Cover the top with paper and secure with tape or ribbon

• Let kids decorate the cup with stickers or drawings

• Add a handle or ribbon for holding

• Use only a few bells for light sound

Pine Cone Christmas Trees

This nature-inspired craft lets kids turn pine cones into mini Christmas trees. It’s perfect for exploring texture and shape while decorating with fun sparkly bits.

• Collect clean, dry pine cones

• Paint the cones green with a brush or sponge

• Add sequins, mini pompoms, or glitter as ornaments

• Glue a small paper star on top

• Display them as tabletop décor

Felt Christmas Tree Puzzle

A felt tree puzzle is a great quiet-time craft that doubles as a reusable toy. Kids can stick felt shapes onto a larger tree background and change it as they like.

• Cut a large triangle from green felt for the tree

• Provide felt shapes like stars, circles, and presents

• Let kids decorate and rearrange the tree pieces

• Attach to a board or wall with Velcro

• Store in a zip bag for reuse

Photo Frame Ornaments

Let kids make ornament frames with their own photos inside. These are great gifts for parents or keepsakes to treasure each year. Kids love seeing themselves in the decorations!

• Use cardboard or foam sheets to cut frame shapes

• Let kids decorate with stickers, glitter, and markers

• Glue a small photo in the center

• Add ribbon for hanging

• Write the child’s name and year on the back

Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses

This edible craft is fun and tasty too! Preschoolers can build small houses using graham crackers, icing, and candy. It’s messy but worth it for the smiles and sweet treats.

• Use thick icing to hold crackers together

• Provide small candies and cereal for decorating

• Use paper plates for individual workstations

• Help kids with tricky parts like roofs

• Take photos before they start eating

Christmas Playdough Mats

These mats make crafting even easier by giving preschoolers a base to work on. With simple Christmas-themed outlines, kids can use playdough to fill in shapes like trees and gifts.

• Print or draw holiday outlines on paper

• Laminate the paper or use sheet protectors

• Provide red, green, and white playdough

• Let kids build shapes directly on the mats

• Encourage creativity and fine motor play

Beaded Candy Canes

A great activity for practicing patterns and hand coordination, kids string red and white beads onto pipe cleaners to make candy canes. These make cute decorations or gifts.

• Use red and white pony beads

• Twist one end of a pipe cleaner to stop the beads

• Help kids create an AB pattern with colors

• Bend the top into a candy cane hook

• Hang on trees or give to family

Display and Gift Ideas