December is magical, yes. But it’s also a month filled with school breaks, family gatherings, and the daily juggle of trying to wrap gifts or make dinner while keeping the holiday spirit alive. That’s when Christmas crafts and activities for kids become a total lifesaver.
If your kids are anything like mine, they love anything that involves glue, glitter, paint, or the promise of making something “all by myself.” And honestly, I love watching their creativity unfold just as much as I love a guaranteed 20–40 minutes of engaged, screen-free play. Whether you’re looking for simple toddler-friendly Christmas crafts, fun indoor activities for snowy afternoons, or DIY keepsakes you’ll pull out every December for years to come, having a go-to list makes the season feel a little merrier—and a lot more manageable.
Luckily, we’ve rounded up our favorite holiday crafts, from paper plate Santas to holiday-themed science experiments. Most of these are simple to complete with the maximal reward for the kids—perfect for a busy mom. Read on for 40+ Christmas crafts and activities that will keep your kids occupied this holiday season.
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1. Waterless Snow Globes
A relatively mess-free craft, these waterless snow globes are both fun to create as an activity and a pretty piece of holiday decor you can enjoy for years to come.
2. Paper Angel Ornament
Paper fans are fun to make for any school-aged kid, and they add the perfect texture to any craft. Piece your own paper fans together to make a cute angel ornament for your tree this year.
3. Santa Handprint Christmas Ornament
Give Santa a personalized touch—literally—with these air dry clay handprint ornaments. Invite your little one to give Santa some personality with whatever fun colors and decorations they’re inspired to add to their ornament creation.
4. Paper Plate Snowman Christmas Countdown
It’s not too late to start counting down to Santa’s visit on December 25th with this cute (and simple!) paper plate craft to help littles get ready for the excitement of Christmas day.
5. Gingerbread Playdough
Make your own playdough for Christmas. Plus, your house will smell amazing! So, get out your cookie cutters and join in on the fun with this Christmas craft.
6. 3D Paper Angel
Print out a template to make a 3D paper angel from Red Ted Art. It’s perfect for your toddler, and you don’t even need glue. Decorate your angel with glitter or stickers for an angelic Christmas craft.
7. DIY Wrapping Paper
Save yourself a trip to the store to buy more wrapping paper by creating DIY wrapping paper with your family. Simply grab some paint and a roll of brown paper and let your inner artists out!
8. Crystal Candy Canes You Can Make
A project that’s equal parts chemistry and art, these crystal candy cane ornaments are the result of an exciting science experiment that kids will surely enjoy exploring.
9. Holiday Paper Chain Countdown
It’s one of the easiest holiday decorations, and it adds excitement to your day. Watch your kids slowly take their own artwork down to countdown to Christmas.
10. Holiday Button Wreath
Another simple activity that can be turned into holiday decor, this festive wreath is crafted using red ribbon and a variety of green buttons in different sizes. You can do this on a piece of paper, cardboard, or a canvas!
11. Grinch Slime
Kids looove slime, and creating your own at home is sure to be a super fun DIY activity. Put The Grinch on TV for some inspo and make this bright green slime featuring cute red heart confetti. (Need help getting slime out of clothes? Click here for our hack!)
12. Christmas Toilet Paper Roll Crafts
Bring together the whole gang of Christmas characters with these playful toilet paper roll creations. From cotton balls and pom-poms to buttons and googly eyes, little ones will have a delightful time putting all the pieces together.
13. Paper Weaving Christmas Tree Card
An easy craft that can be done at home with items you probably already own, have your kiddos create these holiday cards and attach them to gifts for friends and family this season.
14. Salt Dough Ornaments
Salt dough ornaments are relatively easy to make at home and can make great gifts for teachers or grandparents this time of year. Simply use cookie cutters and pretty ribbon (plus bells if you have them!) to create these special crafts.
15. Kinetic Snow
If your littles love kinetic sand, create a batch of kinetic snow instead this winter. You’ll need sand, cornstarch, dish soap, and water—that’s it!
16. Christmas Sensory Bottle
Glittering with winter wonderland vibes, these sparkly little snow globe sensory bottles are easy to make and fun for little hands to play with.
17. 3D Paper Christmas Tree
Instead of buying a little Christmas tree to go in your child’s room, have them make their own 3D one to display. They’ll be proud of themselves, and this craft might just become a new tradition to do every year.
18. Reindeer Slime
Another fun slime recipe, this one makes an adorable gift after it’s put into a small mason jar and decorated to look like a reindeer!
19. The Everymom’s Printable Holiday Coloring Pages
There’s no craft simpler than coloring pages, and this free set includes six festive holiday scenes: a Christmas tree, a smiling Santa, a reindeer, a menorah, a snowman, and wrapped gifts!
20. Felt Christmas Tree & Gifts
Have your littles create and decorate their very own felt Christmas tree with this craft that’s both a fun activity and a piece of holiday decor—a win-win!
21. Pine Tree Garland
Decorating my house this year with homemade crafts is nostalgic to my childhood. I’m excited to get to do it with my kids. A DIY pine tree garland is just what I need, and it will remind me of the fun I had making it with my family.
22. Grinch Ornaments
What could soften the Grinch’s grouchiness more than an ornament filled with fluffy green feathers? Even if How the Grinch Stole Christmas isn’t on your list of holiday movies to watch as a family this year or your little one isn’t familiar with the Grinch yet, the bright green and glittery red of this art project is perfect for holiday spirit.
23. Christmas Word Search
This free printable Christmas word search is a great activity for older kids. They can scan the page for holiday-themed words including “candy cane,” “cards,” “stocking,” and more!
24. Milk Cap Snowman Christmas Ornament
Don’t throw away those plastic water bottle caps. We’ve got the perfect craft to use them for, and your kids get to learn how to recycle this season. These snowmen will be happy they won’t be melting away.
25. Salt Dough Handprint Ornaments
These salt dough ornaments feature your kids’ tiny handprints and makes for a special holiday keepsake (or gift!).
26. Paper Plate Santa
Help your little ones create Santa out of a paper plate, construction paper, paint, and lots of cotton balls with this cute and easy-to-make craft.
27. Holiday Scavenger Hunt
Print out this free scavenger hunt and take it with you to family activities throughout the season as you view holiday lights, visit Santa, bake Christmas cookies, and more.
28. Handprint Christmas Tree
Watch your kids grow every year with a handprinted tree for a Christmas craft activity. It’s fun, creative, and so easy to make.
29. Popsicle Stick Santa
Another fun Santa craft, this one uses popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, paint, and cotton balls to create jolly old St. Nick.
30. Paper Accordion Christmas Trees
Download and print the free template linked within this craft to help your kiddos create and decorate stand-up Christmas trees using folded paper.
31. Cardboard Christmas Trees
Let your child’s creativity shine with this activity that uses cardboard (a perfect use of Amazon delivery boxes!), string, paint, and other craft accessories to create a one-of-a-kind Christmas tree.
32. Birdhouse Gingerbread House
If you’re seeking to create a captivating-looking gingerbread house with your kiddos, but want to avoid the edible part where melting candy and frosting sit on display for days or weeks, this is a great alternative. By using a wooden birdhouse and festive decor you can find online or at most craft stores, kids can channel their imagination into these colorful and spirited ‘gingerbread’ houses instead.
33. Santa’s Magic Milk Experiment
This STEM activity creates “magic” science reactions by combining whole milk with dish soap—trust us, your kids will be enthralled by this!
34. Fine Motor Skills DIY Christmas Tree
This DIY tree activity from Valerie @outsidethetoybox uses two things you likely already have on hand: a box and food pouch caps.
35. Snow Globe Christmas Card
Handmade Christmas cards are by far the best cards out there. They’re heartfelt, personal, a fun Christmas craft and activity for kids, and a snapshot of a time in your child’s life.
36. Snowmen Felt Board
Perfect for the littlest crafters, this snowmen felt board leaves tons of room for imagination, as you can swap the accessories in and out. All you need is some cardboard, felt, and sharpies.
37. Pine Cone Christmas Tree
Need a reason to get your kiddos outside, even in the cold? Send them out into the yard to retrieve a pine cone of their choosing. Their pine cone will serve as the centerpiece of this craft, topped with a star, and dusted with white puff balls or paint.
38. Christmas Suncatchers
You’ll only need a handful of supplies to make this craft, most of which are probably already in your cupboard. You can even use the printable templates at the link above, or get creative and make your own holiday-themed shapes.
39. Santa Suit Gift Tags (or Ornaments)
Made out of cardboard and soda can tabs, these are the perfect addition to your gift wrapping repertoire this holiday season. They can also act as homemade ornaments for any little ones who want to add their own personal touch to their trees.
40. Paper Sack Place Holders
For any holiday dinners you’re hosting this season, these Santa-themed placeholders will complete your dining room table’s look. You can fill them with utensils, a small treat, or anything else you (or your guests) desire.
41. Wine Cork Candy Cane Ornaments
Got some leftover wine corks lying around from a date-night-in forgotten? This craft makes use of these tossed aside tops and turns them into a widely loved addition to your tree. Only requiring basic supplies and a little bit of time, this is a great activity for kids and adults.
42. 3D Christmas Gnomes
Paper is the most accessible craft supply, especially for little crafters still nailing their fine motor skills. These gnomes can be themed for any holiday, but with a little gingerbread man buddy or star for the top of their hat, they can be perfect for Christmas.
Patty Schepel, Editorial Assistant
As the Editorial Assistant, Patty works with The Everymom’s team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. With Patty’s passion for writing, experience as a mother of two, and expertise as a pediatric nurse, she brings a thoughtful and informative perspective to The Everymom. When she’s not working, you can find her spending time with her family, training for half marathons—she ran one 16 weeks pregnant—traveling, cooking, reading a rom-com, and keeping her sourdough starter, Rose, alive.
Rebecca Smith, Editorial Intern
As editorial intern, Rebecca works with The Everymom team on updating existing content, photo sourcing, pitching original articles, and more. She’s passionate about creating authentic and diverse online content, and is thrilled to help women of all ages feel represented by contributing to The Everymom.
