10 Christmas crafts for kids to get into the spirit
With the nights drawing in and the cold weather returning for another British Winter time, you might be wondering how to keep your little ones entertained on frosty weekends or cold winter nights. Not to fear, here at Premier Education we have the best ideas to keep the kids busy and having fun this Christmas. When it comes to a festive weekend indoors, what could brighten up your winter afternoon than some easy Christmas crafts for kids to keep busy.
These crafts are simple, fun, and can bring the Christmas spirit into any classroom or home. They also provide a great opportunity for children to develop fine motor skills, creativity, and teamwork.
Here are 10 fun Christmas crafts for primary school-aged kids, perfect for getting into the Christmas spirit. These activities are ideal for both parents and teachers to enjoy with children during the festive season:
Paper Plate Santa Faces
Your little ones don’t have to worry about staying up for Father Christmas this Winter, they can make their very own Santa’s with a Christmas craft that is perfect for little hands as well as developing fine motor skills.
You will need:
- Paper plates
- Red and white tissue paper
- Cotton wool
- Glue
- Googly eyes
After painting their plate with a skin-like colour, get them to paint one half red to create a ‘hat’ shape. You can even add some rosy cheeks and a big red nose! Use some glue to stick red tissue paper onto the hat for a 3D effect and glue some cotton wall to the base of his hat and his big bushy beard. Finish off your Father Christmas with some googly eyes and a pompom at the end of his hat and there you have it- a super cute paper plate Santa that is the perfect project this Winter!
Handprint Reindeer Cards
One of the easier crafting activities, handprint reindeer cards make for a great gift and a fun activity for your younger children this Christmas.
You will need:
- Brown paint
- Cards
- Googly eyes
- Red pom-poms
- Pens
Get your little ones to paint their hand brown and press it onto a card of their choice to create a perfect reindeer head. You can then add eyes, a bright red nose, and antlers using pens or pipe cleaners. You can even name your reindeer something festive for an added Christmas sparkle. These handmade cards can be sent to friends and family as the perfect festive gift.
Christmas tree Biscuit Ornaments
Who doesn’t love a sweet treat at Christmas time? And what’s better, if you have too many left you can add these magical biscuits to your tree for a homemade touch!
You will need:
- Gingerbread baking ingredients
- Ribbon
- Icing
- Biscuit cutters
Get your baking aprons on and encourage your little ones to get creative! Kids can use Christmas-themed biscuit cutters to shape your gingerbread ornaments. For example, they can make stars, gingerbread people, a Christmas cottage and more! Once baked, they can paint and decorate them before adding a ribbon to hang them on the tree. For older kids and adults, why not create your very own gingerbread characters by cutting out shapes in the dough freehand for your spectacular Christmas ornaments and decorations?
Pom Pom Christmas Wreaths
Why not make some homemade Christmas Wreaths to brighten up your doors this Winter? A fun twist on a classic tradition, this craft activity is a cute idea for kids on a cold afternoon.
You will need:
- Coloured wool
- Cardboard
- Small red pom-poms
- Ribbon
Make sure your kids are careful with scissors during this craft. To be extra safe, let adults cut out a cardboard circle for the wreath base. Your little ones can then wrap coloured wool around the circle and glue on red pom poms as berries or they can be creative and make their own multicioloured wreaths for their decorated bedroom doors. You can even add a ribbon bow for a festive touch Cut out a cardboard circle for the wreath base.
DIY snow globes
Make the memory of Christmas even more magical for your little ones this year with these DIY snow globes, perfect for kids of all ages this holiday season.
You will need:
- Small jars
- Glitter
- Water
- Glycerine (optional)
- Small plastic Christmas figures
To make these spectacular snow globes, firstly, fill a small glass jar with water, glitter, and a drop of glycerine to slow down the fall of the glitter. Although adding glycerine is optional, it is recommended for a perfect snowfall effect. Kids can add a festive figure inside like father Christmas or a snowman before sealing the lid. Just make sure to add the festive figure upside down so that Santa doesn’t look like he’s doing a handstand and shake to see the snowstorm effect!
Paper Chain Garlands
One of the easier Christmas crafts for kids to take part in, making paper chains is fun and ads an extra festive touch to any room
You will need:
- Red and green paper
- Wrapping paper
- Gift wrapping
- Glue
- Scissors
Have the children cut out strips of paper and glue them together in a chain to create a garland. You can even use some festive wrapping paper or gift wrap if you want to be extra fancy. This classic craft can be used to decorate classrooms or a variety of rooms around the house.
Christmas Stocking Sewing Project
One of the most recognisable Christmas decorations- what would Christmas eve be without stockings? Perfect for the festive period, why not let your kids create their own.
You will need:
- Felt
- Needle and thread
- Cotton wool
- Ribbon
Cut out two stocking shapes from felt or other leftover material. We recommend that adults do this part of the craft activity to save any little ones from getting hurt. You can help your children sew the two parts of felt or material together to make a fully functional Christmas stocking. Your stockings can be decorated with cotton wool, pom-poms, ribbon and more to be hung by the fireplace ready for the big day.
Pine cone Christmas Trees
Here is a fun nature-inspired craft activity for all the family. This festive project can be started on a cold Winter afternoon or after a nice dog walk in the forest.
You will need:
- Pine cones
- green paint
- sequins
- glitter
- small star stickers
Collect your perfect pinecones from the woods and take them home. After setting up a painting and decorating station with newspaper or clothes to protect furniture, worktops and other materials, encourage your children to paint their pinecones green and to then decorate them with sequins, glitter, and a star on top. These make lovely homemade decorations or even gifts for friends, family and teachers just in time for the holidays.
Christmas bauble painting
This crafting activity can be used to keep little hands busy on those afternoons where you need to wrap presents and get stuff done. The perfect project to keep your little ones occupied, painting baubles make for a great, fun decoration for younger children.
You will need:
- Plain baubles
- Acrylic paint
- brushes
- glitter
- ribbon
Provide children with plain baubles and let them paint Christmas designs like snowflakes, Christmas trees, or Santa faces. Finish with a sprinkle of glitter and attach a ribbon for hanging.
Elf Hats with Paper and Felt
Another Christmas crafts idea for the whole family is creating festive Elf hats to wear for your Christmas dinner or just to wear whilst watching your favourite Christmas movie.
You will need:
- Green and red felt or card
- pom-poms
- glue
- scissors
- headbands
Children can create elf hats by cutting cone shapes from green cardstock or felt. They can even glue on pom-poms in any colour they want, glitter or other holiday designs, before attaching the hats to headbands for some fun costume crafts this holiday period. Glue a red pom-pom on the top and attach the hats to headbands for a fun costume craft.
So, there you have it- a selection of fun Christmas crafts for kids of all ages this holiday. Don’t forget to send us videos and pictures of your little ones all dressed up or taking part in our crafty projects. We love seeing what you get up to. Merry Christmas!
