3 Easy Christmas Crafts to Keep Your Toddler Entertained This Christmas

The holiday season is magical, but it’s also one of the busiest times of the year for parents. Between wrapping gifts, preparing meals, and decorating the house, it can feel overwhelming to keep your toddler entertained—without resorting to screens. That’s where these 3 simple Christmas crafts come in!

Not only will these activities keep your little one engaged, but they’ll also promote creativity, fine motor skills, and festive fun. And the best part? They’re quick to set up and easy to do at home.

1. Handprint Reindeer Cards

What You’ll Need:

• Brown paint
• Cardstock or construction paper
• Googly eyes
• Red pom-poms (or red marker)
• Black and brown markers
• Paintbrush

Instructions:

1. Fold a piece of cardstock in half to create a card.
2. Paint your toddler’s hand (except the thumb) with brown paint. Press it onto the front of the card to create the reindeer’s head and antlers.
3. Let it dry, then glue on googly eyes and a red pom-pom for the nose. Use markers to add details like a scarf or snowflakes.
4. Write a simple holiday message inside the card with your toddler, like “Merry Christmas!”

🎁 Why It’s Great: These handmade cards make thoughtful, personal gifts for family and friends.

2. Pinecone Christmas Trees

What You’ll Need:

• Pinecones (cleaned and dry)
• Green acrylic paint
• Paintbrush
• Mini pom-poms, beads, or sequins
• Craft glue

Instructions:

1. Paint the pinecone green and let it dry completely.
2. Apply dots of glue to the “branches” of the pinecone and let your toddler stick on mini pom-poms or beads as ornaments.
3. Cut out a star from yellow paper or use a pre-made craft star to glue on top.

🎨 Why It’s Great: This craft is sensory-friendly and encourages fine motor skill development while creating adorable holiday decorations.

3. DIY Salt Dough Ornaments

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1/2 cup water
• Rolling pin
• Cookie cutters (holiday shapes)
• Acrylic paints
• Ribbon or string
• Straw

Instructions:

1. Mix the flour, salt, and water to form dough. Knead until smooth.
2. Roll the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness and use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
3. Use a straw to create a hole at the top of each ornament for hanging.
4. Bake at 150°C (300°F) for 1-2 hours until hard. Let cool.
5. Let your toddler paint and decorate the ornaments. Once dry, thread ribbon through the holes for hanging.

🎅 Why It’s Great: These ornaments are keepsakes you’ll treasure for years and can be a new family tradition.

Make Holiday Prep Easier with More Craft Ideas

These 3 crafts are just the beginning! If you’re looking for even more ways to keep your toddler entertained this season, we’ve got you covered. Download our FREE PDF with a full list of festive craft ideas to make the holidays even more magical for your family.

🎁 Click HERE to grab your free guide now!

Keeping your toddler entertained during the holidays doesn’t have to be stressful. With these crafts (and many more from our PDF), you’ll have plenty of fun and creative ways to keep your little one busy while making lasting memories.

Happy crafting! 🎄✨