10 Toddler Christmas Crafts That Won’t Make You Lose Your Mind (But Will Make Super Cute Memories)
At christmas time, Christmas with toddlers is a whole new adventure, right?
Between the sugar highs and endless excitement of the holiday season , we’re always on the lookout for fun ways to make the holidays special.
Craft time is the perfect way to slow down, create get creative, and maybe—just maybe—keep those little hands busy for kids of all ages more than five minutes.
We’ve rounded up some easy toddler Christmas crafts that help us make sweet memories without stressing out over mess or complicated supplies.
Whether we’re seasoned pros or just winging it (aren’t we all?), these simple festive projects are here to add a little extra sparkle to our holiday chaos.
1) Fingerprint Christmas Tree with Air-Drying Clay Lights
We love crafts for kids that get our toddlers messy and creative.
For this one, we grab some air-drying clay, roll it out, and use a tree-shaped cookie cutter—super easy!
Our favorite part? Pressing our little ones’ fingertips into the clay to make “lights.”
It’s a family keepsake we can look at year after year.
Check out how simple it is to make your own fingerprint Christmas tree ornament with the kids!
2) Paper Plate Santa Face with Cotton Ball Beard
Okay, let’s get real—nothing says holiday season chaos quite like glue, cotton balls, and a paper plate.
But we’re here for it! We love this classic Santa craft for children because it’s so simple and fun, especially with special offers available .
All we need are paper plates, some cotton balls, glue, and kid-safe scissors for kids .
There’s no right or wrong way for preschoolers —every Santa ends up with a fabulously unique beard, often painted with their little fingers .
This adorable activity is perfect for even our youngest artists.
For step-by-step help, check out these awesome paper plate Santa ideas if you need a little inspo!
3) Tissue Paper Holiday Wreath
Let’s get our hands a little gluey and make a tissue paper holiday wreath!
We just grab a paper plate, cut out the middle, and bam—we’ve got our wreath base.
Cutting green tissue paper into little squares is super easy for all ages (toddlers love the tearing part even more).
We scrunch those green pieces up and glue them all around the plate.
Want to decorate and make it extra cute? Add some red tissue dots for berries or pop on a bow!
This project is so simple and looks adorable hanging up—total win for busy parents.
See how to make these wreaths here.
4) Handprint Reindeer Ornament
Okay, this one is just too cute.
We get to trace our little one’s hand (yep, even if they’re wiggly) on some brown paper or felt, and that’s the start of our reindeer magic!
All we need is a red pom-pom for the nose, googly eyes, and maybe even a little holly for flair.
Tie on some ribbon and we’ve got the sweetest keepsake for the tree.
Check out this handprint reindeer ornament idea for simple steps.
5) Salt Dough Christmas Star Decorations
Okay, who doesn’t love a good salt dough craft?
These Christmas star decorations are literally perfect for little hands.
We just mix flour, salt, gingerbread and water, then let our toddlers dive in and squish the dough like it’s playdough.
Once we’ve made our stars, we pop them on a pan and bake at 250°F for a couple hours (grownup job!).
We can paint, add glitter, or keep them simple—honestly, whatever our messy hearts want!
Check out more ideas for salt dough star decorations.
6) Sparkly Sequined Snow Globes
Okay, let’s get extra with our snow globe game!
We grab some cheap plastic globes—yes, the ones you can open up from craft stores or even Etsy—and add our wildest mix of sequins and glitter.
The kids absolutely love picking their own colors and shaking it all up.
It’s mess central, but honestly, isn’t that part of the fun?
7) Glittery Pinecone Christmas Trees
These glittery pinecone Christmas trees are a total blast for little hands—and honestly, for our family too!
We just grab some pinecones, slather them with green paint, and get to the fun part: the glitter.
Pile it on, friends. The more sparkle, the better!
We love adding pom poms, beads, or even fake snow to make them pop.
If you want a cute tabletop forest, stick with uneven numbers for a fun look.
Check out these simple steps for inspiration at this easy pinecone Christmas tree craft.
8) Pom-Pom Snowmen Crafts
Okay, is it even Christmas if we don’t make adorable little snowmen?
These squishy handprint pom-pom snowmen are basically the best winter buddies ever.
We just need a couple of fluffy pom-poms—one big, one small.
Add googly eyes, a tiny scarf, and buttons, and ta-da! Our snowmen are ready to chill with us.
Kids can make their faces unique, and honestly, who can resist those cute accessories that make the perfect ornament ?
If you want a super simple tutorial for pom-pom snowmen, check out these easy steps at Pom Pom Snowman Craft.
9) Button and Felt Christmas Stockings
We love turning felt into cute Christmas stockings—no sewing skills needed!
Let’s grab some felt, cut out two stocking shapes, and use simple stitches or even glue if sewing scares us.
Now comes the fun: buttons and other creations ! All shapes, colors, and sizes are fair game.
We can let our little ones go wild gluing and sticking buttons to make each stocking unique.
It’s a super chill craft to do together, with the bonus of easy cleanup.
Check out more ideas for felt stockings at this helpful tutorial.
10) Paper Snowflake Garland
Okay, who doesn’t love a little paper snowflake magic?
We can grab some white paper, fold it up, and start snipping out shapes.
No two snowflakes are ever the same, and honestly, neither are ours!
Once we have a bunch, we just string them together.
That’s it—now our space looks like a winter wonderland.
Check out this fun tutorial for more creative ideas if we need some inspo!
Planning A Crafty Holiday With Your Toddler
Crafting with toddlers during the holidays is basically a memory-making marathon. But let’s be real—toddler plus craft supplies can get wild fast.
Keeping our supplies smart and our space mess-ready means less stressing and more giggles for everyone.
Supplies To Keep On Hand (And Out Of Little Mouths!)
Okay, hear us out—toddler crafts are all sunshine and memories until someone is tempted to eat a pom pom. We like to keep our go-to stash super simple (and safe).
Here’s our core list:
Non-toxic glue sticks
Washable paints & markers
Chubby crayons
Construction paper
Felt sheets (way less shreddy than paper)
Stickers, pipe cleaners, and cotton balls (all big enough to notice if someone gets snacky)
We stash smaller bits (like sequins and beads) up high for supervised moments only. If we’re reaching for anything that could be swallowed, we pause and move on.
Nothing ruins a vibe like a panicked Google search about what happens if a toddler eats glitter. We also keep wipes, an old shirt for smocks, and a miracle-level vacuum nearby, because stuff will get everywhere—just keeping it extra real.
Setting Up A Mess-Friendly Zone
We’ve let our kids craft on the sofa before. Don’t recommend.
Instead, we set up a zone where the mess is their magic, not our meltdown moment. Here’s how we do it:
Cover the table with a plastic tablecloth—or, just grab an old shower curtain.
Keep extra paper towels, wipes, and a trash bin close by for quick cleanups.
Sit our toddler in a booster or toddler seat so paint stays on the art, not their pants.
We keep breakables and important papers far, far away. Like, different room away.
If we can swing it, we use the kitchen or even throw down a blanket on tile floors. And when the weather is good, backyards become the ultimate craft zone—hose offs totally count as clean-up!
For more tips on easy setup and holiday craft ideas, check out these fun recommendations for toddler Christmas crafts.
Tips For Stress-Free Crafting Fun
Crafting with toddlers can get messy fast, but that doesn’t mean it has to be stressful; there’s no need to worry . The biggest wins come from keeping things relaxed and just rolling with whatever happens—paint on the floor included.
Making It About The Memories, Not The Masterpiece
Let’s be real: our kids aren’t the next Picasso (at least, not yet). That paper plate reindeer? It’s probably not getting displayed in any museum, and honestly, that’s more than fine.
We don’t need perfect results. What really counts is the joy, the togetherness, and those silly moments that make us laugh way more than we expected.
Here’s how we can make it memorable:
Let them take the lead – If they want to glue pom poms on Santa’s beard or dump glitter everywhere, let them go for it.
Snap pictures – Grab your phone and catch the chaos (and the grins) while it’s happening.
Praise the effort – Hype up their wild creativity, not just the end result.
Don’t compare – Forget Pinterest-perfect; we’re not about that here.
Want more ideas that won’t leave your kitchen looking like a tornado hit? These low-mess toddler crafts might spark something fun. Honestly, it’s the laughter that sticks, not the finished product.
