We blinked and it was December! I can’t believe the year is nearly over. But before we ring in the new year, we have the jolliest month of all. With the holiday season comes a lot of cooler weather and the kiddos are nearing winter break. As a mom, I admit we all can get a little stir-crazy.
These fun kids’ holiday crafts are perfect for all the cozy weekends and holiday days ahead! You just need a few supplies for each — and most can be found in your cupboard, school supplies, or a quick trip to a dollar store.
5 Holiday Crafts for Kids
1. Hot Cocoa Spoons
What You’ll Need:
- Disposable wooden spoons
- Toppings of choice
- 1 cup of chocolate chips
- 1 cup of white chocolate chips
- Pan lined with parchment paper
Using a microwave-safe baking bowl, melt the chocolate in the microwave in intervals of 30 seconds, stirring in between to make sure that the chocolate is not burned and has a smooth consistency. Once the chocolate is melted, begin dipping your wooden spoons in it. Allow chocolate to “set” for a few seconds, and dip three to four times for a thicker cocoa spoon. After the last dip, set the cocoa spoon onto the lined parchment paper and add your toppings. Pop in the freezer to harden for a few minutes. Store in an airtight container. These are best served within a few days.
Some of our favorite flavors to try are peppermint pieces and mini marshmallows. I even enjoy sprinkling cinnamon powder for a cinnamon hot cocoa on mine! Enjoy with a warm glass of milk while watching holiday movies. Bring on all the Christmas movie classics!
2. Gingerbread Ornaments
What You’ll Need:
- Twine or ribbon of choice
- 1 cup of ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup of white glue
- 1/3 cup of applesauce
- Pan-lined with parchment paper
- Cookie cutters
- Straw for ornament hole
- White puff paint for decorating
In a disposable bowl, mix the cinnamon, glue, and applesauce until you have a dough consistency. Roll the dough onto a parchment paper-lined pan. **This craft is not taste safe, so be sure to supervise the process.**
Using the cookie cutters, cut out shapes, and allow the kids to get creative! They do not need to be Christmassy; they can be any shape your kiddo decides to pick. Using the straw, poke a hole for the ornament thread, and bake in the oven for two hours at 200ºF.
Once baked, your house will smell heavenly, and your gingerbread ornaments will be ready for decorating. Use puff paint to decorate them. Air dry completely for 24 hours. Take your ribbon or twine and hang their ornaments onto the tree! You can keep these ornaments for years to come by storing them in a tight closed container with wax paper. Pull them out each year and smell the sparkle of the holidays!
3. Fork Painting Christmas Tree
What You’ll Need:
- Plastic fork
- Paint
- Sticker jewels
- Mini pom-poms for crafts
- Foam stickers
- Construction paper
This craft is so easy to create! Take the fork and dip it into the paint and make a Christmas tree on the paper. Once the paint is fully dried, after an hour or two, your little one can add stickers to their tree. We keep our little craft on the fridge or gift it to a loved one!
4. Salt Dough Keepsake Ornaments
What You’ll Need:
- 1/2 cup of salt
- 1/2 cup of flour
- 1/4 cup of water
- Parchment paper-lined baking pan
- Paint
- Straw for ornament hole
- Twine or ribbon
- Mod podge
I am a sucker for keepsake crafts! I’m an emotional mama and feel all the feels. Keepsake crafts help give me a reminder to cherish the little handprints that grow into bigger handprints each day. Salt dough ornaments are so easy to create!
Mix the salt, flour, and water into a mixing bowl to form a dough. Roll the dough out onto your parchment-lined baking pan. Make a hand impression onto the dough. Cut out the hand shape or keep it round with their handprint impression in it. Take a straw and punch an ornament hole into the dough. Bake at 200ºF for three hours.
Once the ornament is baked, cool from the oven completely. Paint your ornament and air dry completely again. Apply Mod Podge to your painted ornament and give one final air dry. Once fully dried, add twine or ribbon and hang onto your tree. This ornament can be cherished for many years to come.
To add an extra little touch, have them write their name on the back and you write their age and year you made the ornament together. This is something you both can cherish each holiday passing!
5. Homemade Sensory Snowy Play
What You’ll Need:
- 2 and 1/2 cups of pure baking soda
- 1/2 cup of white hair conditioner
- Snowy plastic animals (optional)
Mix both ingredients in a big bowl and enjoy the snowy fun! **This craft is not taste safe so be sure to supervise the play.** You can find cute snow animals on Etsy, through resin art makers, or even a quick trip to the store. As a girl who grew up with a snowy Christmas each year, this is one of our favorite winter crafts to make! My daughter loves the endless “snowy” play.
I know this season can be filled with hurry or the need to “do it all.” You are doing a great job! That is what matters this year. These little holiday crafts are meant to slow the hustle and add a bit of fun in the midst of the stir-crazy days. Whether you’re traveling in the holiday season, hosting holiday parties, or feeling like the season crept up on us all, take time to enjoy all the little moments in between.
Wishing your family a beautiful holiday season from our home to yours!
