45+ Christmas Crafts for Toddlers To Make in 2025 — Fun, Easy, and Magical DIY Ideas for Little Hands
There’s nothing more heartwarming than seeing your little one’s eyes light up while creating something special during the holiday season. Christmas crafts for toddlers aren’t just about glue, glitter, and giggles—they’re about making memories that sparkle for years to come.
Whether it’s adorable salt dough ornaments, a colorful paper plate Santa, or a soft and safe felt Christmas tree, these simple DIYs turn an ordinary afternoon into a magical crafting adventure.
In this post, we’ll explore a joyful mix of Christmas crafts for toddlers to make—from handprint reindeer to popsicle stick Christmas trees and pinecone decorations—perfect for developing fine motor skills and encouraging creativity. Each project is budget-friendly, toddler-approved, and bursting with holiday cheer.
So grab your craft box, put on some festive tunes, and let’s dive into these cute, easy, and mess-friendly ideas that promise endless smiles and a sprinkle of Christmas magic.
Why Christmas Crafts Are Perfect for Toddlers
There’s something truly special about the way little hands bring Christmas magic to life. Toddlers love exploring colors, textures, and sparkly materials—and crafting offers the perfect mix of fun and learning. These projects not only spark creativity but also strengthen fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and imagination.
Even better? You don’t need expensive art supplies or elaborate setups. A bit of glue, paper, paint, and some holiday music can turn any afternoon into a joyful workshop filled with laughter, creativity, and the scent of cinnamon.
Let’s dive into a mix of classic and modern Christmas crafts for toddlers to make, all safe, simple, and oh-so-memorable.
🌟 1. Salt Dough Ornaments — A Classic Keepsake
What You’ll Need:
Flour, salt, water, rolling pin, cookie cutters, paint, ribbon.
How To Make:
- Mix 1 cup of flour, ½ cup of salt, and ½ cup of water into a dough.
- Roll out the dough and use cookie cutters to shape stars, hearts, and trees.
- Use a straw to poke a hole for hanging.
- Bake at 200°F until hard, then cool and paint.
These salt dough ornaments last for years and are perfect for capturing toddler fingerprints or handprints. Write your child’s name and the year for a heartwarming keepsake that future you will treasure.
🖐️ 2. Christmas Handprint Art
Nothing captures the joy of the holidays like a tiny handprint!
Paint your toddler’s palm with washable green paint and press it onto paper to create a Christmas tree handprint. Add fingerprint “ornaments” and a yellow star on top.
Frame it or turn it into a Christmas tree card to send to grandparents—they’ll absolutely adore the personal touch.
Related Article: 37+ Magical Christmas Activities for Toddlers and Babies!
🎄 3. Felt Christmas Tree – A Toddler-Friendly Wall Decor
A felt Christmas tree is a mess-free way to let toddlers “decorate” safely again and again.
Cut a large Christmas tree shape out of green felt and stick it to a wall using removable hooks or Velcro. Create felt “ornaments,” stars, and candy canes that your child can rearrange endlessly.
It’s sensory, fun, and builds early motor coordination—plus, no broken ornaments!
🦌 4. Handprint Reindeer
Turn your child’s handprints into adorable reindeer faces!
How To Make:
- Trace and cut out two brown handprints (for antlers).
- Glue them to a circular face cut from brown paper.
- Add googly eyes and a red pom-pom for Rudolph’s nose.
You can make a whole “reindeer family” and hang them as a garland on the wall.
🍭 5. Popsicle Stick Christmas Tree
Save your popsicle sticks—because this craft is too cute to skip!
Steps:
- Glue three sticks into a triangle to form a tree shape.
- Paint them green and sprinkle with glitter.
- Decorate with sequins, buttons, or stickers.
- Add a paper star and a ribbon to hang it on the tree.
This popsicle stick Christmas tree is one of those crafts that feels like magic even with minimal supplies.
Related Article: 27 Magical Christmas Sensory Bin Ideas to Spark Holiday Joy & Creativity in Kids
🍪 6. Cinnamon Dough Ornaments
Nothing smells more like Christmas than cinnamon!
Mix 1 cup applesauce with 1 cup cinnamon powder until it forms a dough. Roll, cut, and bake gently (or air dry).
Your home will smell incredible, and the ornaments make perfect handmade gifts for friends and family. Add ribbon and tags for a professional touch.
🎅 7. Paper Plate Santa Craft
A paper plate Santa is a must-do holiday project.
Paint a paper plate peach or pink for the face, add cotton balls for Santa’s beard and hat trim, and glue red paper for his hat.
Your toddler can help with the fluffiest part—the cotton! They’ll love making Santa come to life.
🌿 8. Paper Plate Wreath
Wreaths don’t have to be made of pine!
Cut the middle out of a paper plate and have your toddler paint the ring green. Then, decorate with tissue paper “berries,” bows, and stickers.
Hang it on your door—it’s lightweight, safe, and looks festive from afar.
🍂 9. Pinecone Christmas Trees
Bring a bit of nature indoors.
Collect pinecones from the yard, let your toddler paint them green, and sprinkle glitter or sequins on top. Add a star sticker to finish the look.
Tip: Place each one in a small clay pot or cupcake liner to make it stand upright. You’ll have a whole mini forest of pinecone Christmas trees!
🎋 10. Accordion Christmas Trees
A super easy paper-folding craft that toddlers adore.
Fold green paper accordion-style, stack shorter strips on top of longer ones to make a tree shape, and glue in place.
It’s a great introduction to pattern recognition and fine motor work—and looks gorgeous when strung together as a paper chain garland.
Related Article: 30 Elf on the Shelf Ideas for Toddlers
🔘 11. Christmas Buttons Art
Empty your sewing kit! Sort buttons by color and have your toddler glue them onto a tree outline.
The textures and colors make this project a great sensory activity. It’s perfect for decorating cards, wrapping paper, or even fridge magnets.
🍃 12. Christmas Leaf Painting
Go outside, grab some leaves, and turn them into festive prints!
Dip leaves in red, green, or gold paint and press them onto paper to make beautiful Christmas leaf paintings.
Frame them for a rustic, nature-inspired wall display.
🧻 13. Christmas Toilet Paper Roll Craft
You’d be amazed what you can make with toilet paper rolls—Santa, reindeer, elves, or snowmen!
Paint the rolls, add paper details, and let your toddler’s imagination run wild. They can make a whole Christmas character collection to play with.
💌 14. Christmas Tree Card
Simple yet heartfelt! Fold green cardstock in half and cut it into a tree shape. Decorate with pom-poms, glitter, and star stickers.
Your child can sign their name or add a fingerprint Christmas tree card for an extra-personal touch. These make wonderful gifts for family members.
🎨 15. Cute Christmas Tree Craft (Pom-Pom Edition)
Cut a Christmas tree from cardboard and let your toddler glue tiny colored pom-poms as ornaments.
It’s soft, vibrant, and great for little fingers—plus, the finished craft doubles as decor or a photo backdrop!
🕊️ 16. Handprint Christmas Peace Dove
A craft with meaning and heart. Trace your toddler’s hands in white paper to make wings, then glue them to a dove cutout.
Add a small olive branch using green paper or a real twig. This gentle handprint Christmas peace dove teaches the beauty of peace and kindness.
🦌 17. Paper Bag Reindeer
Turn an ordinary brown lunch bag into a reindeer puppet!
Add paper antlers, googly eyes, and a red pom-pom nose. It’s a fun storytelling prop for Christmas Eve or a classroom play.
🎁 18. Paper Chain Garland
A nostalgic favorite! Cut strips of red and green paper, loop them together, and tape or glue the ends.
Toddlers love the repetition—and the long colorful chain instantly transforms your space into a cozy Christmas nook.
🎄 19. Paper Plate Christmas Tree
Paint a paper plate green, cut it into thirds, and stack the triangles into a tree shape. Decorate with stickers, stars, or buttons.
Add a brown paper trunk, and you’ve got a cheerful paper plate Christmas tree ready to display.
🌲 20. Pine Cone Decorations
Tie ribbons around pinecones, add glitter or tiny bells, and hang them as ornaments.
Each one looks rustic, natural, and uniquely beautiful—just like your little crafter’s imagination.
🧑🎄 21. Santa Craft with Cotton Balls
Let toddlers make their own Santa head or body cutout and cover it with soft cotton balls for the beard and hat.
Add a pom-pom nose and googly eyes—it’s adorable, fluffy, and fun for sensory play.
🌟 22. Christmas Tree Finger Painting
Finger painting is always a hit. Use green paint to create a tree shape, then add “ornaments” with red, blue, and gold fingertips.
This Christmas tree finger painting makes a perfect wall art piece or card front.
✨ 23. Glitter Star Ornaments
Cut stars from cardboard and coat them in glue. Let your toddler sprinkle glitter (lots of it!).
Once dry, punch a hole and thread ribbon for hanging. They shimmer beautifully under Christmas lights.
🎁 24. Snowflake Stamping with Toilet Rolls
Flatten the roll slightly and cut notches on one end to form a snowflake shape. Dip in white paint and stamp away!
This craft makes stunning wrapping paper or cards.
☃️ 25. Sock Snowmen
Use old socks, fill them with rice, and tie off sections to form a snowman shape. Decorate with buttons and scarves.
It’s a soft, cuddly friend your toddler can proudly say they “made.”
🪵 26. Twig Christmas Tree Ornaments
Gather small sticks, arrange them in descending lengths, and glue onto a popsicle stick “trunk.” Add tiny decorations.
These nature-inspired trees look earthy and festive.
🕯️ 27. Jar Lid Ornaments
Recycle jar lids by gluing in small Christmas scenes—buttons for snowmen, felt trees, or paper stars.
Add ribbon for hanging and watch your toddler beam with pride at their mini art displays.
🐧 28. Fingerprint Penguins
Dip fingertips in black paint for the body, white for the belly, and orange for beaks.
These penguins can decorate cards, tags, or even ornaments. Cute and easy cleanup guaranteed.
🍫 29. Hot Chocolate Mug Craft
Draw or cut out mugs from paper and decorate with cotton “marshmallows.”
Pair this craft with a cozy cocoa session for a fun afternoon bonding activity.
🌠 30. Glittery Angel Wings
Trace and cut out your toddler’s hands as wings, then cover them in silver glitter.
Attach to a paper angel body and hang on the tree. It’s heavenly and full of meaning.
🐻 31. Teddy Bear Santa Hat Craft
Use a teddy bear printout and let your toddler color it in. Then, craft a small red paper hat topped with cotton for Santa’s flair.
🕊️ 32. Peaceful Nativity Scene Craft
Help toddlers create a simple paper nativity using cutout figures and felt. Focus on storytelling rather than precision—kids love acting it out later.
🍪 33. Cookie Cutter Painting
Dip cookie cutters (stars, trees, candy canes) into paint and stamp onto paper.
It’s a simple way for toddlers to explore shapes while creating festive art.
🎀 34. Gift Tag Stamps
Let your toddler design gift tags using fingerprints or stamps. Add their name—it’s a sweet way to involve them in gift giving.
🎁 35. Wrapping Paper Printing
Roll out butcher paper and let toddlers finger-paint designs. Once dry, use it to wrap presents—your own custom toddler-made wrapping paper!
🌈 36. Rainbow Christmas Tree
Instead of green, make a rainbow-colored tree using tissue paper or markers. It’s cheerful, modern, and teaches color recognition.
🦌 37. Rudolph Handprint Ornament
Use a brown-painted handprint for the face, add googly eyes and a red fingerprint nose. Laminate for a lasting ornament.
🌟 38. Star Garland
Cut out multiple stars from gold or yellow paper and string them together. Hang across windows or the fireplace for instant charm.
🌿 39. Nature Collage Christmas Cards
Collect twigs, leaves, and berries on a walk. Glue them to folded cards to make natural art pieces. Simple, rustic, and beautiful.
🎅 40. Santa Beard Countdown
Draw Santa’s face without a beard. Each day in December, add one cotton ball until Christmas arrives! A fun visual countdown toddlers love.
🍭 41. Candy Cane Paper Craft
Cut red and white paper strips and twist them into candy cane shapes. Tape them to walls or add to gift wrapping.
🎨 42. Puffy Paint Snowman
Mix shaving cream and glue for DIY puffy paint. Use it to paint snowmen—it dries soft and squishy!
🐦 43. Birdseed Ornament
Help your toddler mix birdseed with gelatin, press into cookie cutters, and let dry. Hang outside for feathered friends to enjoy.
🎵 44. Jingle Bell Shakers
Fill small containers with bells, rice, or beads. Decorate them and shake along to Christmas songs—instant festive fun!
🌠 45. Toddler Christmas Collage
Provide scraps of paper, stickers, ribbons, and photos. Let your child glue everything onto a large poster. It’s a celebration of creativity with no rules!
💡 Bonus Ideas (for rainy afternoons)
- Tinsel sensory bin — sparkly fun without the mess
- Christmas playdough mats — reusable, creative fun
- Snowflake coffee filter craft — magical and easy to clean
Pro Tips for Parents & Teachers
- Always supervise with glue, scissors, or small objects.
- Use washable paints and tablecloths for easy cleanup.
- Keep a “Christmas Craft Box” ready with cotton balls, paper scraps, ribbons, and safe paints.
- Display your child’s work proudly—kids love seeing their art celebrated!
Final Thoughts,
Crafting during the holidays doesn’t have to be complicated—or expensive. With a few household supplies, you can create joyful keepsakes that capture your toddler’s imagination and the wonder of Christmas. From Christmas tree finger painting to a paper bag reindeer or a fragrant cinnamon dough ornament, each project offers a fun way to bond and decorate your home with love.
Whether you’re working in a cozy kitchen or a classroom corner, these Christmas crafts for toddlers are simple enough for any age and setting. Let your child’s creativity shine, embrace the joyful mess, and start new holiday traditions together.
Ready to make this Christmas extra magical? Gather your little artist and start crafting memories that will warm your heart for seasons to come. 🎅✨
