Holiday Crafts to Make with Kids: DIY Ideas for a Fun Filled Festive Season
The holiday season is upon us (side note: how has this year gone so quickly? But that's a topic for another day!!) The holidays are such a magical time, especially for kids who are bursting with excitement and creativity. Engaging them in holiday crafts is a fantastic way to channel their energy, make memories, and create festive decorations for your home. We’re planning ahead for the holiday season with these easy DIY holiday crafts can be done with supplies you likely already have or can pick up inexpensively, making them perfect for an afternoon of family fun. Let’s dive into some delightful holiday crafts you can do with your kids this season!
1. Salt Dough Ornaments
Supplies Needed:
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 cup water
Rolling pin
Cookie cutters
Paint and brushes
Ribbon or string
Instructions:
Mix the flour, salt, and water until it forms a dough. Roll it out on a flat surface until it’s about 1/4 inch thick.
Use cookie cutters to cut out festive shapes like stars, trees, or candy canes. You can also use a straw to poke a hole at the top for hanging.
Bake the ornaments at 200°F (90°C) for 2-3 hours until they are hard. Once cooled, let your kids paint and decorate them.
Thread a ribbon or string through the hole, and they’re ready to hang on the tree or gift as a handmade present.
Why Kids Love It: This craft combines baking and painting, two activities that kids love! Plus, they get to hang their creations on the tree or give them to family members as special keepsakes.
2. Pinecone Holiday Trees
Supplies Needed:
Pinecones (collected or bought)
Green paint
Paintbrushes
Glitter or tiny pom-poms
Glue
Small star stickers or buttons
Instructions:
Paint the pinecones green, covering all sides. Let them dry completely.
Once dry, decorate them with glitter, pom-poms, or small stickers to look like ornaments on a tree.
Place a small star on the top for a finishing touch.
Why Kids Love It: Pinecones are natural materials, so this craft has a wonderful, earthy feel to it. Kids enjoy the simplicity of transforming a pinecone into a mini Christmas tree.
3. Paper Plate Snow Globes
Supplies Needed:
Paper plates
Clear plastic wrap or plastic sandwich bags
Scissors
Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
Glue
Cotton balls or shredded paper
Tape
Instructions:
Cut a circle out of the center of one paper plate, leaving a 1-inch border. This will be the “window” of the snow globe.
On the other paper plate, draw a wintery scene like snow-covered trees, snowmen, or little houses.
Glue cotton balls or shredded paper onto the scene for a snowy effect.
Place the plastic wrap or bag over the window of the first plate and tape it down securely.
Tape or glue the two plates together with the winter scene behind the clear window.
Why Kids Love It: This activity allows for endless creativity, as kids can create whatever winter scene they imagine. It’s also a hands-on way to make a “snow globe” they can proudly display.
4. Handprint Reindeer Cards
Supplies Needed:
Brown construction paper
Googly eyes
Red pom-poms or small buttons
Glue
Scissors
Markers
Instructions:
Trace your child’s hand on brown construction paper and cut it out. This will be the reindeer’s face.
Glue googly eyes and a red pom-pom on the thumb area to make Rudolph’s face.
Use markers to add antlers and draw a mouth.
Write a holiday message on the back to create a cute handmade card.
Why Kids Love It: Kids love using their handprints in crafts, as it makes their creation feel personal and unique. These cards make for great gifts for grandparents or teachers.
5. DIY Holiday Slime
Supplies Needed:
1/2 cup clear or white glue
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup liquid starch
Glitter (silver, red, or green)
Food coloring (optional)
Instructions:
Mix the glue and water in a bowl. Add a few drops of food coloring and glitter to make it festive.
Slowly add the liquid starch, stirring constantly, until it starts to form slime.
Knead it with your hands until it reaches the perfect slime consistency.
Why Kids Love It: Slime is always a hit, and making holiday-themed slime adds a festive twist to this classic activity. It’s perfect for sensory play and makes a fun stocking stuffer if stored in a small, airtight container.
6. Snowy Mason Jar Lanterns
Supplies Needed:
Clean mason jars
White glue
Paintbrush
Epsom salt
Twine or ribbon
Battery-operated tea lights
Instructions:
Paint the outside of the mason jar with a thin layer of white glue.
Roll the jar in Epsom salt to create a snowy effect.
Wrap the top of the jar with twine or ribbon for decoration.
Place a battery-operated tea light inside for a cozy, snowy lantern.
Why Kids Love It: These snowy lanterns look magical when lit up, and kids feel accomplished making a decoration that can actually “glow” at night.
7. Holiday Garland with Pasta and Paint
Supplies Needed:
Various pasta shapes (like penne, rigatoni, or bow ties)
Red, green, and gold paint
String or ribbon
Glue
Instructions:
Paint the pasta in holiday colors like red, green, and gold. Let it dry.
String the painted pasta on a piece of ribbon to create a garland. Tie knots between pasta pieces to keep them in place.
Hang your garland around the house for a festive touch!
Why Kids Love It: Painting pasta is simple and fun for little hands. This craft also doubles as a fine motor activity, as kids string the pasta on the ribbon to make their garland.
These holiday crafts not only brighten your home but also provide special bonding time with your kids. Making ornaments, decorations, and festive items at home creates lasting memories and gives kids a sense of accomplishment. Plus, these crafts can be modified for any age, making them great for siblings to do together.
Enjoy your crafting sessions, and remember to take lots of pictures to capture the joy and creativity of this magical holiday season! These ideas will hopefully inspire hours of holiday crafting fun, helping you create meaningful memories and decorations with your little ones!