5 Days of December Holiday Preschool Crafts and Activities

1. Tissue Paper Christmas Tree Suncatcher (or Ornament)

This is an easy activity to set up for your preschoolers to practice fine motor skills and gluing skills! This also can be tweaked for toddlers to make a take home craft.

What You'll Need:

Tissue paper

Tape

Glue

Small Containers

Paint Brush

Directions:

For preschoolers, set up a space for each of them so they aren't fighting for materials or knocking glue over. Usually I love to have all the materials out and let the kids use as they wish, but it is okay to have things set up for them to make an actual take-home creation from time to time. You do want to stay away from adult led activities, but here there is value in calm, focus, and pride they will feel after making their creation. I would not suggest setting up something like this every week, but I'm giving you permission to do so for the holidays!

Cut out tissue paper in different shapes for them to pick up and glue. You can have these next to them on the table or in a container. Get your small container and fill it with enough glue for the project. Place the paint brush next to it. Tape a white piece of tissue paper to the table. You can have this cut into a tree shape or just have the tape in a tree outline.

Instruct your preschoolers to use the brush to paint the tree in small areas for each piece of tissue paper. Let them know they can paint over the tissue paper once it's down to help them all stay on each other, and to secure the edges down. Let them know to be aware of not getting their hands in the glue spots, as that can make it hard to get the tissue paper without it sticking to their fingers and ripping. Glue sticks and tissue paper do not mix well together, and squeezing glue out leaves marks once dried. Painting works best and adds a skill plus builds muscles for writing.

For toddlers, I would set up the same way, but leave out the glue. Instead, right before the kids come to the table, paint glue on the whole tree. They can place the tissue paper down, or even use construction paper (will not let this be a suncatcher, but can still be decoration). When they are done, you can let it dry completely, and either paint the glue over yourself or let them.

Once they are all dry, cut around the tape shape. This provides a sturdy outline while letting sunlight go through the tissue paper. Hole punch at the top and place string through. You can write the name and date on the tape on the back with a sharpie in a different color than the tape.

And ta-da! A pretty easy take home craft where the children are actually benefiting. Most likely you have all the needed materials on hand. If not- make sure to stock up on items like construction paper, tissue paper, glue, paint, paint brushes, safety scissors, stickers, etc. Typically these items are inexpensive, don't take up a lot of room, and you can buy in bulk!

2. Color Theory and Scissor and Glueing Skills, Abstract Art Masterpiece

Dang that sounds like a lot! It's not though! This fun project is open ended and process art at the same time. This can be collaborative or individual and can give you an opportunity to teach color theory and art history. Whoa!

You'll need:

-Paints (more info in directions) + containers/palette

-Paint Brushes

-Paper or thin cardboard (ex old cereal box)

-Scissors

-Glue (see directions)

Directions:

Put out paints with one color group at a time. For example, green- you would put out green, yellow, blue, white (maybe black). Let the children explore mixing and painting on the paper or cardboard. You can do this with as many colors as you would like, even as simple as just mixing yellow and blue for some Christmas greens. If you'd like to do red, you could set out red, white, maybe purple or a tiny bit of blue to make scarlets. This can be done on a large sheet on paper taped all over a table or with a large piece of cardboard for the group to mix and paint as they'd like, or you can set out individual sheets and paints on individual palettes for the children to set themselves up as they'd like. Let all of these dry. Once they are dry (maybe the next day), let the children cut up pieces as is age appropriate. Safety scissors can be used by most 2 year olds, and with supervision, some 4 and 5 year olds are very capable of more kindergarten/elementary school scissors. This is where you will have to gauge the risk per individual child and your group. For some children, maybe you will feel better about doing the cutting yourself instead. Put out the pieces either so each child has their painting, or mixed for the group. Set them up with paper or cardboard (like old cereal boxes), glue sticks, or glue in a container with a paint brush. They can glue the colorful pieces to the paper. Bonus- you can put out pictures of abstract art for inspiration and even read about abstract art of artists before starting this project!

3. Snow Dough

This 2 ingredient dough is not only a favorite, but inexpensive and so easy to make!

Directions:

Give your children the ingredients measured out (or let them help measure) and let them mix and create! You can put out regular playdough toys or winter small play items. You will need the measuring cups, a bowl and spoon for mixing, place to play, and the ingredients below:

2 cups Corn Starch

1/3-1/2 cup vegetable oil

4. Open Ended, Child-led, Seasonal Nature Craft

Go forage outside and get out the paint!

Directions:

This project is very open ended and designed to fit where you live. Give children buckets, safety scissors, and any help from a grown up. Go on a walk and forage for what your area has to offer.

Bring it inside, and see what's next. Put out the paint, scissors, glue, pom poms, stickers, string.. whatever you think they will enjoy.

We have made stick wind chimes, pine cone-glitter ornaments, leave pressing, salt-dough nature ornaments... This is one where you just have to see where they take you!

5. Pom Pom Snow Cards

Spread some Holiday Cheer with these foolproof cards!

Directions:

Set up a large sheet of paper or individual pieces. Put out paint in containers and pom poms (or cotton balls). Let the children explore dipping the pom pom in the paint and stamping it onto the page. When dried, either cut the large sheet into pieces, or fold individual sheets into a card shape. Set back out for children to draw on the inside, dictate to you what to write, or let them write if they can (their name, or copying words like, 'Happy Holidays').

This can be a start to learning about the postal system as well!