During the December holidays, there’s nothing quite like sitting down with your little ones for some festive crafting.
Preschoolers, with their boundless energy and vivid imaginations, can benefit immensely from these creative endeavors.
Crafting can aid in the development of fine motor skills, provide sensory experiences, and even bolster cognitive abilities by teaching cause and effect, spatial reasoning, and following directions.
Plus, it’s a superb opportunity for family bonding!
In this compilation, we will guide you through five delightful December crafts tailored for preschoolers.
These activities not only cater to the seasonal excitement but also ensure that kids learn and have fun.
Among twinkling lights and joyous carols, these crafts can become a treasured part of your holiday traditions, fostering lifelong memories.
Whether you’re a parent, educator, or caregiver, let’s create magic this December with the wonder of crafts!
5 December Crafts for Preschoolers
Craft 1: Red & Green Christmas Playdough
Making the Playdough
Nothing screams fun like getting your hands dirty with some homemade playdough.
Start by mixing flour, salt, water, cream of tartar, vegetable oil, and food coloring to achieve the perfect festive dough.
Remember to use red and green food coloring to keep the Christmas theme at play!
Creating Christmas-themed Shapes
Once you have your dough ready, it’s time to roll, cut, and shape.
Provide cookie cutters in the shape of Christmas trees, Santa Claus, reindeer, and more to inspire your little artisans.
Watching their small hands mold ordinary playdough into festive symbols is heartwarming and showcases their creativity.
Sensory Benefits of Playdough
Playdough isn’t just for fun; it’s a powerful tool for sensory play that encourages the development of motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and even language as they describe what they are doing or making.
The squishing, rolling, and sculpting of playdough can be very soothing and can assist children in expressing emotions.
Clean-up and Storage
The beauty of play dough is that it’s relatively easy to clean.
Bits and pieces can be rolled back into the larger dough, and storage is a breeze in airtight containers.
Just remember to keep it away from fabric and porous surfaces to avoid stains.
Playdough Activity Variations
Don’t limit yourselves to just shapes! Encourage your preschoolers to mix colors, create patterns, or even implement playdough in storytelling.
Use accessories, like buttons and beads, to decorate and add flair to their doughy creations.
Craft 2: Egg Carton Snowman Craft
Materials Needed
For a snowman that won’t melt indoors, grab an egg carton, white paint, construction paper, and typical craft supplies like scissors, glue, and markers.
This is an excellent opportunity to teach the value of recycling through crafting.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Cut the egg carton into sections to represent the snowman’s body, and instruct the kids to paint them white.
Once dry, stack and glue the sections to make a three-tiered snowman figure.
A bit of guidance might be required, but the goal is to let their imagination take the lead.
Decorating the Snowman
Now, it’s time to bring the snowman to life with googly eyes, buttons, scraps of fabric for scarves, and construction paper shaped like hats.
This is where individual personalities shine through their little creations.
The quirkier, the better!
Learning About Recycling
This craft not only delivers a dose of holiday cheer but also serves as a teachable moment about the importance of repurposing and recycling.
Discuss how something as simple as an egg carton can transform into a charming craft.
Displaying the Snowman Craft
Once the snowmen are ready, create a winter wonderland display on a mantel, windowsill, or classroom to showcase the children’s hard work.
Snap a photo and frame it; you’ll have a snapshot of the season and their youthful creativity.
Craft 3: Simple Pom Pom Christmas Garland
Gathering Materials
You’ll need yarn, a fork (for wrapping the yarn to make pom poms), and scissors.
Opt for yarn in red, green, and white to keep the festive vibe going strong.
Making the Garland
Teach your preschoolers to wind the yarn around the fork to create fluffy pom poms.
They’ll need help tying and cutting, but the winding can be a test of patience and persistence.
Adding Embellishments
To elevate the garland, add other elements like beads or cut-out paper shapes.
This is the kids’ chance to add a personal touch to the decoration, making it uniquely theirs.
Hanging the garland
Find the perfect spot in your home or classroom to hang the garland.
This would be a good moment to discuss the importance of teamwork and collaboration, as hanging it up will likely require several little hands!
Variations of the Garland Craft
If you’re feeling adventurous, try different types of yarn or add in other materials like ribbon or even LED fairy lights (with safety first, of course, and with close supervision).
The key to preschool crafts is adaptability and fun.
Craft 4: Spin Art Christmas Tree
Setting Up the Spin Art Activity
You’ll need a salad spinner, paper plates or cardboard cut into circles, green paint, and glitter or confetti.
Prepare your workspace by laying down newspapers or a washable mat because this one can get messy.
Creating the Christmas Tree Design
Place a paper plate in the salad spinner, drizzle different shades of green paint and some glitter, and then let your preschoolers spin away.
They’ll marvel at the patterns they create and the unexpected beauty of spin art.
Exploring Different Colors
Go beyond green; try adding reds, silvers, and gold to the spinner for some extra sparkle.
It’s a wonderful way to introduce color mixing and show how secondary colors are formed.
Spin Art Tips for Preschoolers
Always ensure the lid is tight on the spinner and guide their hands if necessary.
The aim is for them to discover the joy of creating something from their actions and choices.
Displaying the Spin Art Christmas Tree
Once dry, these can be cut into tree shapes and displayed or even sent as homemade Christmas cards to family and friends.
It’s sentimental art that carries meaning and the love of the little artist.
Craft 5: Cardboard Tube Penguin Craft
Collecting Materials
For this chilly craft, collect toilet paper rolls, black paint, colored paper, and glue.
Add any other fun elements like cotton balls for a snowy effect or foil for an icy shimmer.
Crafting the Penguin
Paint the toilet paper tube black and once it’s dry, help the children cut and attach the paper to give the penguin its familiar coloration and features.
Adding details like eyes, a beak, and flippers can give each penguin character and charm.
Learning About Penguins
While crafting, it’s the perfect time to share fun facts about penguins.
Introduce some educational aspects to the crafting session by talking about their habitats, and behaviors, and even watch a short video to make the experience multidimensional.
Incorporating the Craft into Play
Once the penguins are complete, they can become toys in imaginative play.
Children can create stories, build igloos out of blocks or sugar cubes, and simulate the Antarctic world.
Penguin Craft Variations
Encourage the children to personalize their penguins with accessories like hats or bows.
They can also create a whole family of penguins with each having their backstory!
Conclusion
We’ve just explored a smorgasbord of whimsical December crafts that are ideal for preschoolers.
Each craft aims to provide a mixture of fun, learning, and seasonal spirit.
Encourage your children or students to partake in these activities and watch them take pride in their creations.
Always remember, it’s the process that matters, and each little handprint, smudge, or imperfectly cut line demonstrates their growth and journey through creativity.
As we wrap up this crafting guide, let’s not forget the enormous value these simple activities can bring.
It’s more than just creating adorable holiday decorations, it’s about fostering creativity, fine motor skills, and making memories.
So let the scissors snip, the glitter sparkle, and the laughter fill your homes and classrooms.
After all, the holidays are a time for joy, and what better way to spread it than through the magic of crafting?
Feel free to share the masterpieces your little elves create; after all, every craft is a badge of their untamed imagination and your affectionate guidance.