It's almost Christmas time again and we're all really excited. This time of year is particularly special for families with children. The little ones are waiting impatiently for Santa Claus and are happy about their presents. The slightly older children helpDecorating the Christmas treeand make beautiful Christmas cards. But what about small children? Most of them don't remember last Christmas, but would like to take part in the preparations. That's why we've collected lots of great ideas for Christmas crafts with toddlers that are suitable for even the smallest craft enthusiasts. Treat yourself to long hours of family fun in the run-up to Christmas with our craft tips!
What can you make with a toddler for Christmas?
Does crafting with a toddler sound like Mission Impossible to you? Toddlers are no longer babies and between the ages of 1 and 3 they begin to be independent. This also turns out to be the best time toInspire your toddler for small craft projects.
And Christmas is the perfect occasion for this. Christmas crafts with small children are actually a lot of fun because there are many different motifs available. However, you shouldn't be disappointed if the toddler doesn't want to join in right away. Children of this age differ from each other in their development and that is completely normal. Always stay present and help the toddler if necessary. If they don't feel like doing the craft project you've prepared, try it again at another time.
Christmas crafts with toddlers: ideas with paper
Which materials are actually best for crafting with small children? Paper and finger paints are among the most popular supplies at an early age, but you can gradually introduce craft foam, pipe cleaners, cotton wool, and other materials. First, we'll show you some very simple paper ideas that you can try with your toddler this Christmas.
Also read:Christmas crafts with toilet paper rolls: Make simple decorations with children
Making Santa Claus with a handprint
Handprints are wonderful for Christmas crafts with small children. If youpaint or do crafts with hand and fingerprints, we recommend using finger paints because they do not harm your health.
To make these Santa Clauses, paint your toddler's thumb and bottom palm red and the other fingers and top palm white. The middle of the palm remains unpainted. Then press the painted hand onto a piece of beige paper and draw on the eyes and nose with a pen.
Simple Christmas tree made from handprints
Pictures that the children have painted make a nice Christmas present for the grandparents. In the picture you will find a great example of a Christmas tree, the crown of which is painted with green handprints. After the paint has dried, the child can decorate the tree with fingerprints in bright colors. Grandma and Grandpa would definitely be happy with a gift like this.
Children aged 1 to 3 can paint great pictures on paper
Children at the age of 2 cannot yet paint real pictures. With this trick you can create a beautiful picture with a motif of your choice. First, use masking tape to create any design on a piece of paper, such as a snowflake. Then provide the toddler with different finger paints and let him develop his creativity. After the paint has dried, peel off the masking tape and voilà, the beautiful image of the snowflake is ready.
Make a magnetic Christmas tree with your toddler
Do your toddlers also love playing with magnets? Then you can make a Christmas tree together with tree balls for the fridge and decorate it. All you need is craft cardboard in matching colors, paint to paint the balls and self-adhesive magnetic strips for attachment.
First, draw a Christmas tree on green craft cardboard and cut it out. To make it easier, you can use oneUse appropriate template. If you wish, you can put the paper Christmas tree in a self-laminating foil bag. Then cut out circles from paper, which you will paint with your toddler in the next step.
Now it's time to paint. You decide for yourself whether you use fingers, brushes or sponges. Note that painting with small children can be messy, and use a surface such as a large cardboard box or wax tablecloth to protect the area where the craft is being done.
Once the Christmas tree and balls are ready, all that remains is to make them magnetic. Cut self-adhesive magnetic strips to appropriate sizes and stick them to the back of your Christmas tree and tree balls. Then comes the decorating. Let the child decorate their Christmas tree however they want. Of course, you can also use other magnets from the toy box.
Make and decorate a Christmas tree out of paper with small children
Here you will find another idea on how you can decorate a Christmas tree with your toddler. To do this, you should fold a green sheet of paper lengthwise and cut out a triangle. Then unfold the leaf so that a simple Christmas tree is created in the middle of the leaf.
Now cover the bottom side of the sheet with transparent adhesive film. Provide the child with mini pompoms, sequins, rhinestones or scraps of paper with which to decorate the Christmas tree.
Christmas craft ideas with paper and cotton wool
The most beautiful handicrafts are often created from existing materials. If you would like to do Christmas crafts with your toddler, then take a look in your cosmetic bag. You can make cute snowmen and even a Santa Claus with cotton pads or cotton balls. And the little ones are sure to have a lot of fun with it.
Crafting with paper plates is fun even for small children
In winter and at Christmas you can make lots of great designs out of paper plates. Whether Santa Claus, cute snowmen, Rudolf, the little reindeer, or cute Christmas elves - there are no limits to creativity.
Glue is usually needed to decorate the paper plates. Here it is advisable that parents or older siblings help the toddler with gluing. Never leave your child unattended, especially if you are doing Christmas crafts with 2 or 3 year olds.
DIY stamps for Christmas
Toddlers love stamping, so these easy DIY stamps are perfect for a little craft project this Christmas. You can then use this to make nice Christmas cards and wrap Christmas presents in an original way.
To make a stamp like this with your toddler for Christmas, you'll need craft foam and cardboard, as well as a pen, scissors and glue. First, cut out a template from the craft foam and glue it to a suitable piece of cardboard. A handle for the stamp can then be made from a smaller strip of cardboard. Let's start stamping!
Baking and crafting at Christmas go hand in hand
Bake cookiesis one of the most popular family traditions in the run-up to Christmas. Even small children like to join in by cutting funny shapes out of the dough. This develops their fine motor skills and sense of touch. Decorating cookies, on the other hand, promotes creativity and is particularly popular with 3-year-olds.
Make cinnamon cookies as tree decorations with small children
However, the aromatic cookies are not just for snacking. You can use this to make cheerful Christmas tree decorations that can tempt anyone. If you're still looking for ideas for Christmas crafts with toddlers, then you can't go wrong with these sweet cinnamon cookies.
We offer you a simple recipe for cinnamon cookies that are only suitable for decorative purposes. You can of course use your favorite baking recipe, but the classic cookies can become brittle, which is avoided by adding glue to this recipe.
Tree Decoration Cinnamon Cookies Recipe:
- 250 grams of unsweetened apple pulp
- 200 grams of cinnamon
- 2 tbsp glue
Make mini Christmas trees as Christmas presents with 2-year-olds
You can also make great Christmas motifs with small children using modeling clay. By the age of 3, most children can easily work with modeling clay. You can use it to make these little Christmas trees, for example, as well as snowmen, Christmas elves and Christmas wreaths. Let your imagination run wild!
You can also use salt dough instead of modeling clay. You can even use it to make small Christmas presents for 2- and 3-year-old children, which will bring great joy to the other family members. Don't forget to bake the salt dough gifts at a low temperature first, otherwise they will remain soft.
Salt dough for Christmas crafts with small children
The salt dough is easy to prepare and offers lots of great ideas for Christmas crafts with small children. You can use food coloring to color the dough. Salt dough offers a good alternative to modeling clay.
Making tree decorations out of salt dough with small children for Christmas
Salt dough figures are also wonderful decorations for the Christmas tree. Here you will find an original idea on how to create a cute Santa Claus from your toddler's handprint. Don't forget to make a small hole so that you can hang the tree decorations after baking and decorating.
Christmas crafts with toddlers using different materials
The possibilities for Christmas crafts with the whole family are simply endless. Some materials, such as popsicle sticks and pipe cleaners, are just as suitable for the smallest children. The only requirement is that you limit yourself to simple craft ideas that are appropriate for your child's age.
Make reindeer out of popsicle sticks with children ages 1 to 3
Toddlers can make these cute reindeer out of popsicle sticks with the help of their parents. For a reindeer you need 3 popsicle sticks, which must first be dyed brown. Then two popsicle sticks are attached to each other in a V shape, with the third stuck across. Finally, the child can stick on two googly eyes and a red nose and Rudolf, the little reindeer, is finished.
Flexible and colorful - pipe cleaners are a great craft material for toddlers
Pipe cleaners can be bent into any shape and are therefore a part of many cool craft projects. For the smallest children, you can create a kind of threading game with pipe cleaners: Simply bend a few green pipe cleaners into a Christmas tree and provide the child with colorful beads so that they can decorate the tree themselves.
Threading games are perfect for 2-year-old children because they develop their motor skills and are a lot of fun at the same time. Just try it!
Decorating Christmas balls with small children
Christmas balls simply cannot be missing from the Christmas tree. We offer you another exciting craft idea for DIY tree decorations that works perfectly even with small children. You will need some empty, clear Christmas balls and liquid paint.
Together with your child, fill the balls with colors of your choice and turn them around so that the inside of the ball is completely covered. Then let the paint dry thoroughly and decorate the Christmas tree. The child will certainly be happy when he sees his ball on the tree.
