Celebrate Christmas with These Craft Ideas for Preschool and Toddlers

These Christmas crafts celebrate the bright colors and beautiful sights of Christmas, yet they are simple enough for any toddlers and preschoolers to make. Even the youngest crafters can produce spectacular results with these inexpensive and simple crafts.

Handprint Christmas Tree

Create a "stamp pad" by spreading a thin layer of non-toxic green paint on a large sponge. Provide each child with a piece of cardstock and help them make a green handprint at the top, center of their cardstock. Underneath that handprint, and slightly overlapping, place a row of two handprints. The next row will have three handprints. Continue until reaching the bottom of the page, creating a pine tree shape. When the painting is dry, let each child decorate their tree with plain colored circle sticker.

Puzzle Piece Snowflake Ornament

Using tacky glue or wood glue, glue several old puzzle pieces together into a snowflake shape. When dry, let each child paint their snowflake white or silver. (White may take a couple of coats to dry). Sprinkle the paint with silver or clear glitter while it is still wet. Attach a ribbon loop to the back of the ornament for easy hanging.

Silver Bells

Cut an egg carton into individual cups and poke a small hole in the top of each cup. Bend one end of a pipe cleaner, and let each child thread the pipe cleaner through the hole until it won't go any further. Let the children paint the bells silver and sprinkle them with silver glitter. Bend the top of the pipe cleaner over to create a hook and hang to dry. When dry, tie a pretty Christmas ribbon to the top.

Christmas Stocking Craft

Cut two stocking shapes out of cardstock for each child and tape a couple of edges together so the two halves stay together easily. Punch holes around the edge in ½ to 1 inch intervals. Tie a long piece of red, green, or white yarn to the back of the stocking and tape the loose end of yarn to make a "needle." Show students how to lace around the edges of their stocking. When finished, tie the other end of the yarn to the other side of the stocking. Let students decorate their stockings with washable markers, glitter and glue, or Christmas themed stickers.

Pinecone Christmas Trees

Give each child a pinecone. Provide tubs of non-toxic green and white paint and thick bristled brushes. Let your students dab the paint all over the pinecones, turning them into snow covered pine trees. Sprinkle the trees with coarse salt or clear glitter to create a frosty effect. When the trees are dry, let students push colorful pom-poms into the pine cones for ornaments.