There are many projects and activites listed here. Don't think that you have to do them all. You can pick just a few things to do if you want, then move on to another theme. On the other hand, you can choose to spend several days on this theme and do all the projects. In addition, you can incorporate some of your own ideas into this theme to truly make it your own. This is just a guide to get you started.
My Christmas Alphabet Book - This is a cute way to get a little alphabet practice in while still enjoying the Holiday season.
You'll find a lot of ornaments and gift giving ideas here.
Hand Picture Ornament
These make a great keepsake, especially if you do a new one each year. It gives you the opportunity to see how much your child has grown over the last year, and it gives your Christmas tree a personal touch.
Supplies: Cardboard (I use old file folders), fun foam (or felt, etc.) marking pen, scissors, your child's picture, ribbon, glue.
Directions: Trace your child's hand on the cardboard and cut it out to make a template. Use your template to trace the hand out two times on fun foam or felt and cut both out. Cut a hole in the center of one of the hands so that it will frame your child's picture (I used one of my circle cutters from my scrapbook supplies for this.) Sandwich the picture between the two hands and glue all around so that the picture won't come out (you can also put a small piece of thin plastic over the picture to protect it). Once the hands are securely glued together, you can poke a small hole in the tallest finger of your ornament and thread your ribbon through it to hang. Don't forget to write the year on the back in permanent ink.
Holiday Candle
Supplies: A jar (baby food jars work well), glue that dries clear, colored tissue paper, glitter, ribbon, votive or tealight candle, paintbrush.
Directions: Tear your tissue paper into smaller pieces. Paint the jar with glue and attach the pieces of tissue paper (you may have to dilute the glue slightly with water). Randomly add some glitter (optional). Let dry and then tie a ribbon around the top, making sure that it won't interfere with the candle's flame. Put your candle inside. This makes a great gift or holiday decoration, but be sure to keep the lighted candle out of reach of children.
Christmas Chains
What Christmas would be complete without chain garlands? Kids love these and they add a colorful touch to holiday decorations.
Supplies: Construction paper in different colors, glue, scissors.
Directions: Cut strips of paper about one and a half inches wide and six inches long in different colors of construction paper (I use a paper cutter for this part). Glue the first strip into a loop. Thread the second strip through the loop and glue into a loop. Continue until your chain is as long as you want.
Family Tree Skirt
Here is another great keepsake idea. I got the original idea from the book FamilyFun Crafts, but then I took it a step further by using pictures.
Supplies: Inkjet Fabric, a plain tree skirt made out of muslin or felt fabric paint, fusible web, permanent marker.
Directions: When I read this in the book, they just painted the kids hands and had them stamp them on the tree skirt. Then they wrote their names and and the date next to them. It was kind of neat, but I thought it would be even better if the skirt had the kids pictures. This is what I plan to do: Use the inkjet fabric to print out a picture of each of the kids and then cut them out in the shape of an ornament. Then use the fusible webbing to iron the "ornaments" onto the tree skirt. You can then use ribbon, rick rack, etc. to embellish the ornaments. In order to put the kid's names and ages on each of the pictures, you could either write them after each ornament is done, or make it part of each picture before you print it out. I'm working on a tree skirt that has the kid's pictures from the time each was born and also includes pictures of my husband and I. I guess you could kind of call it a family tree skirt. This may not sound like much of a kid's project, but you could get them involved in some parts of it like posing for the picture and decorating the ornaments.
Crackers
These are really easy for kids to make. They make great decorations, gifts for their friends, etc. It's tough to make sure they don't eat all the candy though!
Put candy or small toys inside empty cardboard tissue tubes. Wrap colored tissue paper (or wrapping paper, reprinted sheet music, etc.) around the tube. Glue or tape in place along the seem if necessary. Gather each end and tie with ribbon. Kids love to pop them open later for a treat. My kids loved making them for their friends in the neighborhood.
Cardboard Tissue Tube Santa
It just wouldn't be crafting if we didn't make something out of a recycled toilet paper cardboard tube. This craft can be adapted to make just about anything including: Sanat, Mrs. Claus, Reindeer, Snowmen, Elves, Angels, etc. In addition, you don't just have to use toilet paper tubes. You can also use paper towel rolls and wrapping paper rolls.
Supplies: cardboard tube, construction paper (red, white, pink, and black), gluestick, cotton balls, wiggle eyes (optional).
Directions: Wrap a cardboard tube with a 4 x 2 inch sheet of red paper and glue in place. To made the face, use a 3 inch wide circle of pink paper and glue in place. For the hat, cut a 4 inch wide half circle and roll it into a cone. Glue in place on top of Santa's head. Put a rectangular strip of white paper around his forhead. Put a black strip of paper around Santa's middle for a belt. Either glue on pieces of paper for his facial features, draw them on, or use google eyes. When that is done, tear some cotton balls apart and glue on for his beard, hatband, and make a pom pom on the top of his hat.
Paper Plate Wreath
Supplies: paper plate, green tissue paper, red tissue paper, piece of ribbon or string to hang, scissors, hole punch, and white glue.
Directions: Cut a hole in the center of the paper plate so that you have a ring that is about three inches wide. Cut your tissue paper (or tear it for a different effect) into 2 inch squares. Crumple each square up slightly and glue the center onto the plate. Fill the plate in with the green pieces, then go back and add red pieces randomly to make berries. Punch a hole in the top and thread the ribbon through to hang the wreath. You can embellish this project with a bow, glitter, etc. My kids love this project.
Ornament Christmas Cards
My daughter and I made these cards one year to send to all our friends and family. She was very proud of herself.
We bought blank cards and ran them through the printer to print out our own holiday poem inside so that we wouldn't have to write it out on each card. Then we made a template of a round ornament (like the glass ones you see all the time.) out of cardboard. Then we traced the ornament out on different types of patterned paper (we used scrapbook paper that I had lying around) and cut them out. Using a hole punch, we punched a hole in the top of each ornament where it would hang from the hook. My daughter decorated each ornament by coloring on them, using glitter glue, etc. Then I used spray adhesive and sprayed the back side of each ornament and glued it to the front of the card. I them threaded a piece of contrasting ribbon through the hole in each ornament and tied a bow. It made a very simple and elegant card, and the plain white background of the card really offset the ornament. Our friends and family were tickled to get our homemade card and my daughter was very proud of herself for doing such a grownup project.
Popsicle Stick Rudolph Ornament
Supplies: 3 popciscle sticks, glue, wiggle eyes, red pom pom, six inch ribbon.
Directions: Glue the 3 popsicle sticks together to form a triangle - or a really fat, upside down capital A. This will form the reindeer's head, so you want the sticks to meet exactly at the nose, but not quite meet at the top two corners so that they form two small antler points. Glue the eyes and the red pom pom nose on. On the backside, glue each end of the ribbon about 2 inches apart to make a hanger.
Pasta Christmas Tree
Supplies: A small styrofoam cone, green paint, green and red marker, glitter glue, several different shapes of dry pasta
Directions:: Paint the styrofoam cone green and let dry. Use the green marker to color enough pieces of pasta to cover the cone. You can also color some red for berries, or other colors for ornaments. Glue the pasta onto the cone until it is completely filled in (We usually use low temp hot glue gun because it is faster and causes less frustration with the kids. We also work together to make just one tree). You can embellish it with the glitter glue, tinsel, pom poms, etc. to make it look like a Christmas tree.
You can also do this same craft differently by gluing all the pasta onto the styrofoam cone without coloring it first. After it dries, you can spray paint it any color you want (metallic paints work well). Leave it plain for a chic look or have the kids embellish it even more after it dries.
Pretzel Wreath
Using pretzels, the ones that are shaped like a heart with a cross in the middle, glue them in a circle to form a wreath. You can weave ribbon between the holes if you would like, or just add a bow. Hang with a ribbon threaded through and tied to one of the pretzels.
If you're looking for more Kid Christmas Crafts, try out these resources:
More Challenging Crafts
Painted Plastic Ornaments - This ornament may look complicated, but it's really easy and a lot of fun! The project sheet comes complete with a pattern and before and after shots of the plastic. This would make a great group project or gift.
Beaded Angel Ornament - My Grandma used to make my brother and I ornaments each year. It's a tradition that I came to treasure as I got older and I've managed to hang on to all her gift ornaments and still use them on my tree today. This is one of Grandma's ornaments... it still looks good for being 25+ years old.
Cross Stitch Stocking Ornament - This little stocking ornament takes a little time to make, but it makes a great ornament that will last a very long time. I originally made this ornament when I was about twelve at a friend's house.
Easy Bead Wreath - This tri-bead wreath is another really easy ornament for children of all ages to create. It makes a great project for small groups like scouting or classrooms too. One of these little wreaths would also look great tied onto a gift!
Polymer Clay Snowflake Votives - This is a wonderful way to turn thrift shop drinking glasses into beautiful Christmas or winter decorations. Use this easy to make candle to spice up a centerpiece or create a soft mood around the Christmas tree.
Baby Food Jar Christmas Tree - This is a project that definitely requires adult supervision. I think this would be fun to put together for a classroom project or as a scout group. It's pretty when it's done.
Candy Trees - Favorite confections make this tree a dazzling and delicious centerpiece. These are really clever!
Christmas Printables
These are pretty much just color sheets with a Christmas theme.
Christmas Skill Building
These are printable worksheets that are designed to help your child work on age-appropriate skills.
If you are looking for some better quality skill building worksheets, you can't do better than the workbooks recommended below. I use workbooks a lot with my children. I copy the pages for them instead of letting them work directly out of the book, then we can use the pages over and over. This is especially handy if you have more than one child, but also works well even if you just have one. A child can do the same page a few weeks later and not even realize it is a repeat, especially if they had trouble with it the first time.
Christmas Songs
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
You know Dasher and Dancer,
and Prancer and Vixen,
Comet and Cupid,
and Donner and Blitzen,
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose,
And if you ever saw it,
You could even say it glows.
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names;
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games.
Then one foggy Christmas Eve,
Santa came to say:
"Rudolph with your nose so bright,
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
Then how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee,
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,
You'll go down in history."
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Oh! You better watch out,
You better not cry,
You better not pout,
I'm telling you why:
Santa Claus is coming to town!
He's making a list,
Checking it twice,
Gonna find out who's naughty or nice.
Santa Claus is coming to town!
He sees you when you're sleeping,
He knows when you're awake.
He knows if you've been bad or good,
So be good for goodness sake!
Oh! You better watch out,
You better not cry,
You better not pout,
I'm telling you why:
Santa Claus is coming to town!
The Little Drummer Boy
Come they told me
pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see,
pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring
pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King
pa rum pum pum pum
rum pum pum pum
rum pum pum pum
So to honor Him
pa rum pum pum pum,
when we come.
Little Baby
pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too,
pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring
pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give our King
pa rum pum pum pum
rum pum pum pum
rum pum pum pum
Shall I play for you
pa rum pum pum
on my drum.
Mary nodded
pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time
pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him
pa rum pum pum
I played my best for Him
pa rum pum pum pum
rum pum pum pum
rum pum pum pum
Then He smiled at me
pa rum pum pum pum
me and my drum.
Deck the Halls
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
'Tis the season to be jolly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Don we now our gay apparel.
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
See the blazing Yule before us.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Follow me in merry measure.
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
While I tell of Yuletide treasure.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Fast away the old year passes.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Hail the new ye lads and lasses
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Sing we joyous all together.
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
Heedless of the wind and weather.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Frosty the Snowman
Frosty the Snow Man was a jolly, happy soul,
With a corncob pipe and a button nose and two eyes made out of coal.
Frosty the Snow Man is a fairy tale they say;
He was made of snow, but the children know how he came to life one day.
There must have been some magic in that old silk hat they found,
For when they placed it on his head, he began to dance around.
Oh, Frosty the Snow Man was alive as he could be,
And the children say he could laugh and play just the same as you and me.
Frosty the Snow Man knew the sun was hot that day,
So he said, "Let's run and we'll have some fun now before I melt away."
Down to the village with a broomstick in his hand,
Running here and there all around the square, sayin', "Catch me if you can."
He led them down the streets of town right to the traffic cop,
And he only paused a moment when he heard him holler "Stop!"
For Frosty the Snow Man had to hurry on his way,
But he waved good-bye, sayin', "Don't you cry; I'll be back again someday."
Thumpety thump thump, thumpety thump thump, Look at Frosty go;
Thumpety thump thump, thumpety thump thump, Over the hills of snow.
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!
We want some figgy pudding
We want some figgy pudding
We want some figgy pudding
Please bring it right here!
Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!
We won't go until we get some
We won't go until we get some
We won't go until we get some
So bring it out here!
Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!
We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!
Christmas Recipes
Cornflake Wreaths
I still remember making this special Christmas treat when I was little.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, 3 cups miniature marshmallows, 1/2 tsp almond extract, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tsp green food color, 4 cups corn flakes, red m&m's (or red hots), silver balls (small silver candies from the baking aisle).
Directions:
Melt butter, add marshmallows, stirring until all marshmallows are melted. Add extracts and food coloring; stir until it is a uniform green color. When mixture is smooth, add corn flakes; mix well but gently so as not to crush the cornflakes. Form into wreath shapes on sheets of waxed paper, decorate with red M&M's and silver candies. Let cool.
Candy Cane Cookies
This was another family favorite when I was growing up and it is very simple to make.
Ingredients: Sugar cookie dough, red food coloring.
Directions: You can make the sugar cookie dough yourself, or you can just purchase the premade kind that comes in the tube in the refridgerated section of the grocery store. If you use the premade kind, purchase two tubes. Basically, you want to color half your dough red and leave the other half natural. Take a small ball (about golf ball size) of each color and roll each into a snake. Then twist the two snakes together and shape like a candy cane. Bake according to the sugar cookie dough directions. These really make a big impression on little ones!
Rice Krispies Treats for the Holidays
I don't know anyone who doesn't like rice krispies treats. The basic recipe is below. You can do so many great holiday things with them. Use cookie cutters to make holiday shapes and then decorate them with frosting, create snowmen, gingerbread men, wreaths, Christmas trees, gift packages, candy canes, even a holiday house. Just let your imagination go and have a good time!
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons margarine or butter, 1 package (10 oz., about 40) regular marshmallows or 4 cups miniature marshmallows, 6 cups rice krispies cereal
Directions: In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt margarine and marshmallows on HIGH for 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute. Stir mixture until smooth. Add rice krispies cereal, stirring until well coated. When slightly cooled, shape cereal mixture into desired shape using buttered hands, or lay out flat on waxed paper. Allow to cool.
Reindeer Crackers
Place a graham cracker on a plate and spread peanut butter on it. Use raisins for eyes, a red MnM for a nose and pretzels for antlers.
Snowman Soup
My kids thought this was some kind of special Christmas magic when I made it for them. They couldn't believe I made soup out of a snowman. Be careful with the hot water though, young children will need to let it cool before they sip it.
In a Christmas (or any kind) mug, put 1 package of cocoa mix, a few marshmallows, and 2 or 3 hershey kisses. Fill with hot water according to the cocoa mix directions and use a peppermint stick to stir it.
Rudolph Sandwiches
Make a peanut butter and jelly Sandwich and cut it crossways into two triangles. Now decorate it to look like a reindeer with two raisins for the eyes, pretzel horns, and a bright half a cherry for the nose.
Christmas Sandwiches
Ingredients: Two slices of white bread, red and green food coloring, a clean paint brush and some sandwich fillings.
Directions: Pour a small amount or the food colorings into a small bowl, you may wish to dilute with a small amount of water. Take your paintbrush and "paint" a christmas decorations onto both slices of the bread. Toast your bread slightly and then make your sandwich. The kids will love "playing" with their food!
Sugar Cone Christmas Trees
Ingredients: Sugar cones, chocolate chips, white chocolate chips or candy melts, assorted candies for decorating, and waxed paper.
Directions: Use your waxed paper to work on and make cleanup easier. Microwave chocolate or candy melts in shallow bowl until it starts to melt, and stir until smooth. Roll cone in chocolate with two fingers inside cone (if possible) to hold. Lift cone out with two fingers inside cone. Place a gumdrop on top and press gently . Gumdrop should make it easier to stand cone up on waxed paper. Decorate with assorted candies. Let decorated "trees" stand until chocolate hardens.
Christmas Books
Jan Brett's Christmas Treasury - My kids love this book. It is our Christmas tradition to read a story from this book each day during the advent. The illustrations from this book are beautiful, and the stories are great!
Santa and the Christ Child
Olive, the Other Reindeer
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
The 12 Days of Christmas: A Pop-Up Celebration
The Story of Christmas
Rudolph: The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Christmas Play
Rudolph Hokey Pokey: Play the Hokey Pokey just like you normally would, but instead of using your arms, legs, etc., use reindeer body parts (red nose, antlers, left hoof, right hoof, tail and anything else you can think of). For example:
You put your red nose in,
you put your red nose out,
You put your red nose in, and you shake it all about,
You do the Rudolph Pokey and you turn yourself around,
That's what it's all about. Hey!
Santa Hunt: Hide mini chocolate santas (wrapped) around the house, then turn the kids loose to search for them. You can do the same idea with "kisses," candy canes, etc.
Charity: Take the opportunity to teach your child about charity (if they are old enough to understand). Take your child out to purchase a gift for a child his or her age, then take it to a Toys for Tots drop off near you. Don't forget to explain what you are doing and why. If you are looking for another way to share with the less fortunate, try taking your child to visit a retirement home. Old folks love children and don't get as many visitors as they should, especially around the holidays.
Other Craft Resources
175 Easy-To-Do Christmas Crafts,
Christmas Decorations Kids Can Make,
Best Christmas Crafts Ever,
Christmas Crafts: Merry Things to Make, Personalized Letter From Santa,
Christmas Presents Kids Can Make,
Christian Crafts for Christmastime
Or Search Amazon for More Resources...
Below you will find Kid Christmas craft ideas to help them explore the holiday. Keep in mind that this theme page is really aimed at younger children, up to about age 5. Don't be fooled into thinking that these projects and activities are too simple for this age group. Young children thrive on simplicity - it gives them the opportunity to work independently, to understand the task at hand, and to "own" their work. Immersing them in projects and activities that center around a particular theme (in this case Christmas) allows them to gain a greater understanding of the theme and internalize it.
