Does your toddler love stickers, paint, and glitter? Then this holiday season is about to get a whole lot more fun. Christmas crafts for toddlers are not just about keeping little hands busy.
They help your child learn, grow, and express themselves in simple, joyful ways. From fingerprint art to paper plate Santas, these activities build coordination, spark imagination, and create memories you will treasure forever.
But here is the best part. You do not need fancy supplies or hours of free time. Most of these crafts use things you already have at home. And cleanup? We have got that covered too.
Ready to make this Christmas extra special? Let’s explore an A-to-Z list of Christmas crafts for toddlers that will fill your home with laughter, color, and holiday cheer.
Why Christmas Crafts Are Perfect for Toddlers
Christmas crafts do more than just keep your toddler busy. They help little hands grow stronger and more skilled.
When your child glues cotton balls on paper or paints with their fingers, they practice hand-eye coordination. Plus, crafting sparks imagination.
Your child gets to think, create, and express feelings through art. But remember, always stay close and watch your toddler during craft time.
Choose non-toxic, washable materials that are safe for young children. With a little care and attention, crafting becomes a fun and safe way to bond with your toddler this holiday season.
Basic Craft Materials You’ll Need
Getting ready for toddler craft time does not have to be hard. Start by gathering a few simple supplies you probably already have at home. Here is everything you need to make craft time smooth, fun, and worry-free.
| Item | Why You Need It |
|---|---|
| Paper plates | Great base for ornaments, masks, and holiday shapes |
| Glue sticks | Safer and less messy than liquid glue for toddlers |
| Washable paint | Easy to clean from hands, clothes, and tables |
| Construction paper | Perfect for cutting, folding, and building crafts |
| Pom-poms | Soft, colorful, and fun for sticking and sorting |
| Cotton balls | Ideal for making snow, beards, or fluffy decorations |
| Googly eyes | Adds personality to any craft with just a dab of glue |
| Pipe cleaners | Bendable and safe for little fingers to twist and shape |
| Crayons and markers | Simple tools for coloring and decorating |
| Scissors (safety) | Child-friendly scissors help toddlers practice cutting |
| Stickers | Quick, easy, and mess-free way to add festive flair |
A to Z Christmas Crafts for Toddlers
Here’s a fun A-to-Z list of Christmas crafts for toddlers, perfect for keeping little hands busy this season! Let your toddler choose their favorites and watch their creativity shine.
A: Angel Ornament

Turn a paper plate into a sweet angel your toddler will love making. Cut the plate in half, let your child decorate it with markers or glitter, then add a cotton ball for the head. This craft builds fine motor skills and teaches your toddler about shapes and colors.
Steps:
- Cut a paper plate in half for angel wings
- Let your toddler color and decorate with crayons or glitter
- Glue a cotton ball on top for the angel’s head
B: Button Christmas Tree
Use green buttons and glue to create a simple Christmas tree on paper. Your toddler can stack buttons from big to small to form a tree shape. This activity strengthens hand coordination and introduces the concept of size sorting.
Steps:
- Draw a triangle tree outline on cardstock
- Have your toddler glue green buttons inside the shape
- Add a star sticker or a yellow button on top
C: Candy Cane Painting
Let your toddler dip a candy cane in red paint and stamp it on paper. The curved shape creates fun patterns and swirls. This craft improves grip strength and lets toddlers experiment with textures.
Steps:
- Pour red washable paint into a shallow dish
- Give your toddler a candy cane to dip and stamp
- Let them create patterns on white paper
D: Dough Ornaments
Make salt dough together and let your toddler press cookie cutters into it. Bake the shapes, then decorate with paint or markers once cool. This hands-on craft builds sensory awareness and encourages creativity.
Steps:
- Mix flour, salt, and water to make dough
- Roll it out and let your toddler use cookie cutters
- Bake, cool, then paint and hang as ornaments
E: Elf Hat Craft

Fold green construction paper into a cone shape to make an elf hat. Your toddler can decorate it with cotton, pom-poms, or stickers. This craft teaches basic folding skills and color recognition.
Steps:
- Roll green paper into a cone and tape it closed
- Let your toddler add pom-poms, cotton, or glitter
- Add a white cotton trim around the bottom edge
F: Fingerprint Christmas Lights

Draw a string line on paper and let your toddler press their fingertips in different paint colors. Each fingerprint becomes a colorful Christmas light. This craft improves color recognition and fine motor control.
Steps:
- Draw a wavy line across the paper for the light string
- Dip your toddler’s finger in paint colors
- Press fingerprints along the line to make bulbs
G: Glitter Pinecones
Collect pinecones from outside, brush them with glue, and sprinkle glitter on top. Your toddler will love the sparkle and texture. This craft connects nature with art and strengthens sensory skills.
Steps:
- Brush pinecones with white glue
- Sprinkle glitter over the sticky surface
- Let dry and display as festive decorations
H: Handprint Reindeer

Trace your toddler’s hand on brown paper and cut it out. The fingers become antlers, and the palm is the face. Add googly eyes and a red pom-pom nose. This craft creates a keepsake while building tracing and cutting skills.
Steps:
- Trace your toddler’s hand on brown construction paper
- Cut it out and flip it so fingers point up
- Glue on googly eyes and a red pom-pom nose
I: Ice Painting Snowflakes

Freeze colored water in ice cube trays and let your toddler paint with the melting ice. The cool texture and bright colors make this a sensory treat. This activity introduces cause and effect as ice melts into art.
Steps:
- Freeze water mixed with food coloring in ice trays
- Give your toddler the ice cubes to rub on paper
- Watch colors blend and melt into snowflake designs
J: Jingle Bell Bracelet

String jingle bells onto a pipe cleaner and twist the ends together. Your toddler gets a festive bracelet that jingles when they move. This craft improves hand coordination and introduces rhythm and sound.
Steps:
- Thread jingle bells onto a pipe cleaner
- Twist the ends together to form a bracelet
- Let your toddler wear it and shake for jingle sounds
K: Kindness Countdown Chain
Cut strips of paper and write one kind act on each strip. Help your toddler glue the ends to form a chain. This craft teaches kindness, counting, and following steps in order.
Steps:
- Cut colorful paper into strips
- Write a kind act on each strip (hug, share, smile)
- Loop and glue strips together to form a chain
L: Lacing Wreath
Cut a paper plate into a wreath shape and punch holes around the edge. Give your toddler green yarn to lace through the holes. This activity strengthens hand control and concentration.
Steps:
- Cut out the center of a paper plate to make a wreath
- Punch holes around the outer edge
- Let your toddler lace green yarn through the holes
M: Mitten Matching Craft

Cut out mitten shapes from paper and let your toddler decorate pairs to match. They can use stickers, markers, or stamps. This craft builds matching and pattern-recognition skills.
Steps:
- Cut mitten shapes from colorful paper
- Let your toddler decorate two mittens the same way
- Practice matching pairs by color or design
N: Nature Collage Tree
Go outside and collect twigs, leaves, and small branches. Glue them onto paper to form a tree shape. This craft connects your toddler to nature and encourages outdoor exploration.
Steps:
- Collect small twigs, leaves, and pinecones outside
- Glue them onto cardstock in a tree shape
- Add cotton or paint for snow effects
O: Ornament Decorating
Buy plain wooden or foam ornaments and let your toddler paint and decorate them. They can use paint, glitter, stickers, or markers. This open-ended craft builds creativity and decision-making skills.
Steps:
- Provide plain ornaments made of wood or foam
- Let your toddler paint and decorate freely
- Add a ribbon loop and hang it on the tree
P: Paper Plate Santa

Paint a paper plate with skin tone or peach color for Santa’s face. Add cotton for his beard and a red paper hat on top. This classic craft is simple and teaches facial features.
Steps:
- Paint a paper plate in a light skin tone
- Glue cotton balls around the bottom for a beard
- Add a red paper triangle on top for Santa’s hat
Q: Q-tip Snowflake Art
Dip Q-tips in white paint and stamp them in snowflake patterns on dark paper. Your toddler can experiment with shapes and symmetry. This craft improves fine motor skills and introduces basic geometry.
Steps:
- Pour white paint into a shallow dish
- Let your toddler dip Q-tips and stamp on blue paper
- Arrange dots in snowflake shapes or patterns
R: Reindeer Headband

Cut antler shapes from brown paper and attach them to a headband. Add a red pom-pom nose in the center. Your toddler can wear their creation and pretend to be Rudolph. This craft encourages imaginative play.
Steps:
- Cut antler shapes from brown construction paper
- Tape or glue them to a paper headband
- Add a red pom-pom nose in the front center
S: Snowman Sock Craft
Fill a white sock with rice or cotton and tie it in sections to form a snowman. Let your toddler add buttons, a scarf, and a face. This craft teaches cause and effect and builds hand strength.
Steps:
- Fill a white sock with rice or cotton stuffing
- Tie sections with a string to create snowman parts
- Decorate with buttons, fabric scraps, and markers
T: Toilet Paper Roll Christmas Tree

Paint an empty toilet paper roll green and let your toddler decorate it with stickers or pom-poms. Add a star on top to finish the tree. This upcycling craft teaches recycling and resourcefulness.
Steps:
- Paint a toilet paper roll green and let it dry
- Let your toddler stick on pom-poms or sequins
- Add a yellow star sticker or paper star on top
U: Upcycled Gift Tags
Cut old greeting cards or wrapping paper into small tag shapes. Let your toddler decorate them with stamps or stickers. Punch a hole and add a string. This craft teaches reusing materials and personalization.
Steps:
- Cut old cards or paper into small rectangular shapes
- Let your toddler decorate with stamps and stickers
- Punch a hole and tie a ribbon through it
V: Village Houses
Use small cardboard boxes or milk cartons to create tiny village houses. Your toddler can paint them and add paper roofs. This 3D craft introduces building and spatial skills.
Steps:
- Collect small boxes or clean milk cartons
- Let your toddler paint them in different colors
- Add paper roofs and draw windows with markers
W: Window Clings
Mix glue with food coloring and let your toddler paint designs on plastic sheets. Once dry, peel them off and stick them to windows. This craft teaches patience and introduces color mixing.
Steps:
- Mix white glue with drops of food coloring
- Let your toddler paint on a plastic sheet or page protector
- Peel off when dry and stick to windows
X: Xylophone Ornament

Glue colorful craft sticks side by side to look like a mini xylophone. Add ribbon to hang it on the tree. This craft introduces musical concepts and color sequencing.
Steps:
- Line up colorful popsicle sticks side by side
- Glue them together on a backing paper
- Add a ribbon loop on top to hang as an ornament
Y: Yarn Wrapped Stars

Cut a star shape from cardboard and let your toddler wrap colorful yarn around it. This repetitive motion is calming and builds patience. The finished star becomes a beautiful decoration.
Steps:
- Cut a large star shape from cardboard
- Help your toddler wrap yarn around the edges
- Tie off the end and hang with a string
Z: Zigzag Christmas Garland

Cut zigzag shapes from green paper and let your toddler decorate them. String them together to make a festive garland. This craft teaches patterns and sequences while creating room decor.
Steps:
- Cut zigzag tree shapes from green construction paper
- Let your toddler decorate each shape with stickers or crayons
- Tape or string them together to form a garland
Tips for Making Craft Time Stress-Free
Crafting with toddlers should be fun, not frustrating. A little preparation goes a long way in keeping things calm and enjoyable. Follow these simple tips to make craft time smoother for both you and your little one.
- Set up a “craft corner” for easy cleanup. Choose one spot in your home where crafts always happen, so messes stay in one place and cleanup becomes routine.
- Use washable and non-toxic materials. Stick to paints, markers, and glues labeled as washable and safe for children to use to protect their skin and your furniture.
- Keep a small bin for toddler-safe supplies. Store craft items like crayons, paper, and stickers in a low bin your toddler can reach and explore independently.
- Encourage creativity over perfection. Let your toddler create freely without worrying about mistakes, because the process matters more than the final product.
Conclusion
Christmas crafts for toddlers bring more than just decorations to your home. They bring joy, learning, and precious moments you will remember long after the holidays end.
Each glue stick, fingerprint, and glitter spill is a step in your child’s growth. So do not worry about perfection.
Let your toddler explore, create, and have fun. The messy hands and bright smiles are what the season is really about.
Now it is your turn. Pick a craft from our A-to-Z list and start creating today. Which one will you try first? Share your toddler’s masterpiece with us in the comments or tag us on social media.
We would love to see what your little artist makes this Christmas. Happy crafting and happy holidays!












