Making holiday ornaments with preschoolers is a heartwarming way to celebrate the Christmas season. These straightforward, vibrant projects are excellent for small hands and will make your Christmas tree uniquely yours and brimming with happiness.
1. Felt Candy Cane Decorations
Cut red and white felt into strips and let children twist them into candy cane shapes. Secure with glue and attach a ribbon for hanging. These felt candy canes are soft, safe, and great for little ones to create. A super sweet project!
2. Puzzle Piece Reindeer
Repurpose old puzzle pieces into reindeer ornaments with googly eyes and red noses. Glue pieces together to form a reindeer shape, and let the kids add details with paint and felt. It’s a quirky and resourceful craft! Put the pieces together, and ho ho ho!
3. Sequin Ornament Discs
Use cardboard circles and let kids cover them with sequins for a shiny ornament. This project is ideal for little ones who love sparkle and provides them a chance to practice patience and precision. Shine bright, like a diamond!
4. Yarn Star Decorations
Design simple yet lovely yarn star ornaments with craft sticks and colorful yarn. Cross two sticks to form a star, then wrap the yarn around until they’re fully covered. This project is excellent for young children refining their fine motor skills. It’s great for small hands!
5. Gingerbread Play Dough Decorations
Mix up a batch of gingerbread-scented play dough for kids to shape into ornaments. Use cookie cutters to make festive shapes, and add buttons or beads for decoration. The scent and texture make this a sensory delight! A sensory experience for little ones!
6. Paint Chip Christmas Trees
Recycle old paint chips by cutting them into triangular tree shapes. Let kids decorate with stickers and glitter to make colorful trees. It’s a simple and eco-friendly craft that looks fantastic on the tree. Great for the environment, great for crafting!
7. Foam Sheet Stockings
Cut foam sheets into stocking shapes and let the kids decorate with stickers and markers. These stockings are simple to make and can be personalized with names or fun patterns. Hang them on the tree for a playful touch! Personalized and playful!
8. Paper Roll Santa Claus
Recycle toilet paper rolls into jolly Santa Claus ornaments. Wrap them in red paper, add a cotton beard, and draw on a cheerful face. These Santas are a fun way to teach kids about recycling while they craft. Reduce, reuse, and be jolly!
9. Paper Plate Snowman Faces
Turn simple paper plates into delightful snowman faces. Have your preschoolers paint or draw on the snowman’s features, then hang them with a string. It’s a fantastic way for kids to express their creativity with facial expressions!
10. Salt Dough Handprint Keepsake
Salt dough decorations are a classic, and crafting a handprint version is a personal favorite. Simply combine flour, salt, and water, then gently press your child’s hand into the dough for a treasured keepsake. Once baked and decorated, these ornaments beautifully freeze a moment in time. It’s a simple yet lasting way to capture a memory!
11. Craft Stick Snowflakes
Make snowflakes using craft sticks and white paint. Arrange the sticks in a snowflake pattern, glue them together, and let the kids paint them white or silver. Add a sprinkle of glitter for a frosty finish! Let it snow!
12. Cinnamon Stick Reindeer
Turn cinnamon sticks into adorable reindeer with googly eyes and red pom-pom noses. Glue them together in a ‘V’ shape, add antlers made from felt, and you have a rustic ornament that smells delightful too! A feast for the senses!
13. Egg Carton Bells
Turn egg carton cups into festive bells with a little paint and a small jingle bell. Let kids paint the outside, then attach the jingle bell inside with string. These bells are a great way to reuse materials and add sound to your decor! Upcycle and jingle all the way!
14. Twinkle Star Decorations
Make twinkle stars using wire and beads. Shape the wire into a star and let kids fill it with colorful beads. These delicate ornaments catch the light beautifully and add a touch of elegance to the tree. Catch the light, and shine!
15. Nature Collage Decorations
Gather leaves, twigs, and small pinecones and glue them to a cardboard circle for a nature-inspired ornament. This is a wonderful way to bring a bit of the outdoors inside and involve kids in a sensory crafting experience. Outdoors in, creativity unleashed!
16. Painted Pinecone Decorations
Nature offers the finest crafting supplies! Collect pinecones during a walk outdoors, then allow kids to paint them with lively colors. Add a touch of glitter for sparkle, and you’ve created an impressive natural ornament. Simple, yet stunning!
17. Fingerprint Christmas Lights
Design a string of Christmas lights using your child’s fingerprints. Use colorful paints to make ‘bulbs’ and connect them with a black marker line. It’s a simple and adorable way to capture their little prints. Tiny hands, big memories!
18. Pom-Pom Christmas Trees
Use green pom-poms to make mini Christmas tree ornaments. Glue them in a triangular shape on a piece of cardboard, and add a small stick for the trunk. These tiny trees are as fun to create as they are to hang! Simple, but fun!
19. Button Wreath Decorations
Search through your button collection and let little ones design a colorful wreath ornament. Arrange buttons in a circular pattern on a piece of felt, secure them with glue, and attach a ribbon for hanging. It’s a delightful way to introduce colors and shapes while crafting!