Christmas daycare crafts for kids usually end up being way too complicated or involve so much glitter you find it until spring. I put this list together because finding holiday activities that actually work for a group of little ones is a real struggle.
If you are entertaining infants and toddlers, these simple setups will help. You will find low-mess, easy ideas that look adorable and are manageable for tiny hands to do without tears.
1. Footprint Mistletoe Canvas
If you want a holiday keepsake that parents will actually want to hang on their walls, start with this one. Little feet make the perfect mistletoe leaves, and it takes barely any time to stamp them down. It is a wonderful way to capture how tiny they are during the holidays.
Supplies to grab
- Small blank canvases
- Washable green non-toxic paint
- Red ribbon and craft glue
The setup
Paint the bottom of the child’s feet green and press them onto the canvas with the heels touching. Once the paint is completely dry, glue a small red ribbon bow at the top where the heels meet. Write their name and the year at the bottom with a marker.
2. Sticky Wall Christmas Tree
When you have a room full of energetic toddlers, you need an activity that keeps them occupied without a huge mess. This contact paper setup is a brilliant toddlers easy project because they can stick and unstick items repeatedly. It works perfectly as a collaborative morning activity.
What you need
- Clear contact paper
- Green painter’s tape
- Tissue paper squares and foam stars
Crafting steps
Tape a large triangle of contact paper to a low wall or sliding glass door, with the sticky side facing out. Outline the tree shape with green painter’s tape to give them a border. Hand them a bowl of colorful tissue squares and let them decorate their tree however they like.
3. Sensory Bag Snowmen
Finding safe christmas daycare crafts babies can participate in is always a challenge since everything goes straight into their mouths. This sealed sensory bag lets them experience the squishy texture of a snowman without any choking hazards. It is a fantastic tummy time activity for the youngest ones in the room.
Materials checklist
- Heavy-duty zip-top bags
- Cheap shaving cream or white hair gel
- Black and orange permanent markers
- Clear packing tape
How to put it together
Draw a snowman face and buttons on the outside of the bag using your permanent markers. Fill the bag with a few squirts of shaving cream and seal it tightly, removing excess air. Tape all four edges of the bag securely to the floor or a highchair tray so they can squish the snowman’s “belly.”
4. Paper Plate Holiday Wreaths
For days when painting sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, try this dry craft instead. Ripping and gluing paper is excellent for developing fine motor skills in young kids. Plus, these wreaths look incredibly festive hanging on the classroom door.
Crafting supplies
- Cheap paper plates with the centers cut out
- Green construction paper
- Red pom-poms
- Glue sticks
Instructions
Have the children tear the green construction paper into small, bite-sized pieces. Let them cover the paper plate ring generously with a glue stick and press the green pieces all over it. Finish it off by helping them glue a few red pom-poms on top to look like holly berries.
5. Fingerprint Holiday Lights
Setting up an activity for a mixed age group requires something that is universally simple but still looks intentional. This fingerprint project is one of those classic Daycare Christmas Crafts that always turns out beautifully, even if the children just randomly smack their fingers on the paper.
Items needed
- White cardstock
- Black Sharpie
- Washable ink pads in assorted colors
How to do it
Draw a single, looping black line across the cardstock to represent the light string, adding little squares along the line for the bulb bases. Help the children press their thumbs into the ink pads and stamp them right above each little square. Use a baby wipe to clean their hands immediately after stamping to avoid colorful smudges on your walls.
6. Clear Bauble Shakers
Babies and an infant class love auditory feedback, making this tactile and noisy project a massive hit. They get to help fill the ornaments, and then use them as musical shakers during your holiday circle time.
What to gather
- Clear plastic fillable ornaments
- Small jingle bells and colorful mini pom-poms
- Superglue (for adult use only)
Assembly process
Let the older infants grab the pom-poms and drop them into the open halves of the plastic ornaments. Drop a jingle bell into each one before securely snapping the two halves together. Always superglue the seam shut so there is absolutely no risk of it popping open during play.
7. Toilet Paper Roll Reindeer
If your budget for classroom supplies is running a bit low, recycling cardboard tubes is a lifesaver. This project transforms trash into a sturdy, freestanding reindeer that looks adorable lined up on a windowsill. It is surprisingly robust, so it survives the trip home in a backpack.
Supplies needed
- Empty toilet paper rolls
- Brown pipe cleaners
- Googly eyes and red pom-poms
- Liquid school glue
Making the reindeer
Punch two small holes near the top of the cardboard tube for the antlers. Have the children thread a brown pipe cleaner through the holes and bend the ends to look like antlers. Help them squeeze two dots of glue for the eyes and a bigger dot for the red nose.
8. Sponge Painted Wrapping Paper
Making your own wrapping paper is a practical way to let kids go wild with paint without worrying about a perfect final product. This is one of the best ideas for keeping them occupied for an extended period. They love the repetitive motion of stamping.
Materials required
- A large roll of brown kraft paper
- Red and white washable tempera paint
- Kitchen sponges cut into stars or trees
- Paper plates for paint palettes
The setup
Roll out a long sheet of kraft paper across the floor and tape down the corners. Pour small puddles of paint onto the paper plates and show the children how to dip the sponges. Let them stamp freely all over the paper, then let it dry overnight before using it to wrap their parent gifts.
9. Popsicle Stick Snowflakes
When you just need ten minutes of quiet time at the tables, hand out these pre-glued wooden sticks. Decorating them requires focus, and there is no right or wrong way to place the sequins. They look lovely hanging from the ceiling once they are finished.
What to prepare
- Popsicle sticks
- Wood glue (to pre-assemble the flakes)
- Sequins, buttons, and glitter glue
Crafting steps
Before the activity, glue three popsicle sticks together in a star shape and let them dry completely. Hand one snowflake to each child along with a bottle of glitter glue and a small cup of sequins. Let them squeeze the glue and drop the decorations onto the sticks however they see fit.
10. Tissue Paper Crumple Trees
Getting little hands to practice fine motor skills is much easier when the task feels like a game. Crumpling paper is naturally fun for them, and it gives these flat trees a fantastic 3D texture. It is a very tactile, satisfying project.
Supply list
- Cardstock cut into triangle tree shapes
- Green tissue paper squares
- Liquid glue
Step-by-step
Pour a generous amount of liquid glue into a shallow bowl and hand out the green tissue squares. Show the children how to scrunch the paper tightly in their fists to make a little ball. Have them dip the scrunched balls into the glue and press them onto their cardboard trees until they are fully covered.
11. Paper Bag Gingerbread Men
Puppet crafts are always a win because the children actually play with them long after the glue dries. Transforming a standard lunch bag into a gingerbread man is incredibly simple and cost-effective. They will spend the rest of the afternoon putting on holiday shows.
Materials to gather
- Brown paper lunch bags
- White chalk markers or white crayons
- Colorful buttons
- Glue sticks
Assembly instructions
Keep the bag folded flat, ensuring the bottom flap is facing up to act as the puppet’s face. Let the children use the white markers to draw icing squiggles on the arms and legs. Have them glue three colorful buttons down the front of the bag to complete the gingerbread look.
12. Mitten Window Suncatchers
Winter afternoons can feel a bit gloomy, so adding color to your windows really brightens the space. These suncatchers use contact paper instead of messy glue, making them perfect for toddlers. The light shining through the tissue paper looks incredibly pretty.
What you need
- Black construction paper
- Clear contact paper
- Warm-colored tissue paper scraps (red, orange, yellow)
Creating the suncatchers
Cut out a large mitten silhouette from the black paper and cut the center out, leaving a thick border. Stick the black border onto a sheet of sticky contact paper. Let the children fill the sticky center with colorful tissue paper scraps, then seal it with another piece of contact paper and cut it out.
13. Jingle Bell Pipe Cleaner Bracelets
If you have a group of older toddlers who love jewelry, this quick stringing activity is brilliant. Threading items onto a stiff wire is much easier for them than using floppy yarn. They will proudly wear these and jingle around the room all day.
Supplies
- Fuzzy red and green pipe cleaners
- Large craft jingle bells
- Pony beads
How to make them
Make a small loop at one end of the pipe cleaner so the beads do not immediately slide off. Let the children thread a mix of pony beads and one large jingle bell onto the wire. Once they finish, wrap the pipe cleaner around their wrist and twist the ends securely to form a bracelet.
14. Q-Tip Painted Snow Ornaments
Handing a toddler a regular paintbrush usually results in the entire table changing color in seconds. Swapping brushes for cotton swabs slows them down and encourages them to make small, deliberate dots. It is a fantastic way to contain the paint mess.
Crafting items
- Blue construction paper circles
- White washable paint
- Cotton swabs (Q-Tips)
- Hole punch and string
Instructions
Punch a hole at the top of the blue paper circles and tie a loop of string for hanging. Give each child a small dab of white paint and a few cotton swabs. Encourage them to dot the paint onto the blue paper to look like a heavy winter snowstorm.
15. Salt Dough Handprints
Baking salt dough is a classic tradition because the results actually last for years. This project requires a bit more adult involvement, but it is an easy way to create a high-quality gift. Parents absolutely cherish pulling these out of storage every December.
The recipe and supplies
- 1 cup salt, 2 cups flour, 1 cup water
- A drinking straw (for the ribbon hole)
- Acrylic paint (for decorating later)
The process
Mix the flour, salt, and water until it forms a smooth dough, then roll it out into small flat circles. Have the child press their hand firmly into the dough to leave an imprint, and use a straw to punch a hole at the top. Bake at 200°F (90°C) for a few hours until hard, then let the kids paint them the next day.
16. Pinecone Mini Trees
Bringing nature indoors gives children a different texture to explore than standard paper or plastic. These little pinecones look just like miniature evergreens when they stand upright. They make fantastic table centerpieces for your classroom holiday party.
Materials needed
- Large, dry pinecones
- Green washable paint
- Miniature colorful pom-poms
- Small playdough balls (for the base)
Crafting steps
Give each child a chunk of playdough to stick their pinecone into, ensuring it stands up straight. Let them use a brush to dab green paint onto the rough edges of the pinecone scales. Once the paint is sticky, they can press mini pom-poms onto the branches to look like ornaments.
17. Cupcake Liner Angels
Transforming baking supplies into art is always a fun surprise for little ones. The ruffled edges of cupcake wrappers naturally mimic the look of an angel’s dress and wings. This is a very quick project for days when you only have a few minutes before naptime.
What to prepare
- White cupcake liners
- Doilies or gold foil wrappers
- Small wooden beads or circles cut from paper
- Glue sticks
How to assemble
Fold a white cupcake liner in half to create the angel’s body and glue it flat onto a piece of dark paper. Cut a gold wrapper or doily in half and glue it behind the body to create the wings. Add a wooden bead or a paper circle at the top for the head, and draw a simple smiley face.
18. Reindeer Food Pouches
Creating a take-home item that children can actually use on Christmas Eve builds so much excitement. This “food” is entirely wildlife-friendly, skipping the traditional plastic glitter that harms birds. It is a sweet, magical activity to end the week before the holiday break.
Supply list
- Rolled oats
- Colorful edible sprinkles (instead of glitter)
- Small ziplock bags
- Stapler and printable tags
The mixing station
Set up a large bowl and let the kids take turns scooping rolled oats and brightly colored sprinkles into it. Have them use a large wooden spoon to stir their magic reindeer food together. Help them scoop the mixture into small bags, seal them, and staple a little poem tag to the top.
19. Felt Stocking Decorating
Using fabric instead of paper gives children a fresh sensory experience. Felt naturally grips to itself slightly, making gluing a breeze, and it does not tear when they inevitably use too much glue. These look wonderful strung up together on a classroom clothesline.
Materials required
- Pre-cut stocking shapes made of stiff red felt
- Scraps of white, green, and yellow felt
- Fabric glue or strong tacky glue
Crafting steps
Cut out various small shapes from the scrap felt, like stars, zig-zags, and little squares. Hand each child a red felt stocking and a small cup of the colorful felt pieces. Let them arrange and glue the pieces all over their stocking, allowing it to dry flat so the heavy glue does not drip.
20. Cardboard Tube Nutcrackers
For your older toddlers who have a bit more patience, building a character with distinct sections is a great challenge. This craft requires following a few sequence steps, which is great for cognitive development. The final result is a charming, chunky nutcracker soldier.
What to gather
- Paper towel tubes cut in half
- Red, blue, and black construction paper
- Cotton balls (for hair/beard)
- Markers and glue
The assembly process
Help the children wrap and glue a strip of red paper around the top half for the jacket, and blue for the pants. Have them draw a face on the exposed cardboard section in the middle with their markers. Finish by stretching out a cotton ball and gluing it around the face to make the nutcracker’s wild hair and beard.
FAQs
| Age Group | Recommended Craft Time | Best Materials to Use |
| Infants (6-12m) | 5-10 minutes | Sealed sensory bags, edible paints |
| Young Toddlers (1-2y) | 10-15 minutes | Contact paper, large sponges, jumbo crayons |
| Older Toddlers (3-4y) | 15-20 minutes | Glue sticks, tissue paper, blunt scissors |
How do I manage crafts with multiple toddlers at once?
The trick is to use setups that do not require your constant hands-on help for every single step. Choose “dry” projects like contact paper or stickers, and only set out exactly what they need so they aren’t overwhelmed. If you are painting, only do it with two children at a table while the rest play freely.
What are the best non-toxic paints for baby crafts?
Always look for water-based tempera paints specifically labeled as non-toxic and washable. For babies who still aggressively put things in their mouths, you can easily make edible paint by mixing plain yogurt with a few drops of food coloring.
Are these projects messy?
Most of the ideas listed here prioritize minimal cleanup. By utilizing tools like sensory bags, contact paper, and cotton swabs instead of large brushes, you keep the mess contained to the table rather than the floor and their clothes.
Doing holiday crafts with a bunch of little ones doesn’t have to end in tears or a massive cleanup mission. By picking projects that fit their age and attention span, you can actually enjoy the festive season together.
If you found these setups helpful for your classroom or home, pin these easy craft ideas to your favorite Pinterest board so you have them ready for next week. Save this post to keep your holiday planning stress-free and actually fun!