Christmas Projects for Preschoolers

The following crafts are Christmas projects for preschoolers and toddlers who make up the largest majority of daycares. They are age appropriate and easy for little hands to do.

Young children don't understand the concept of time. You can help them understand how many more days until Christmas by constructing this coloring linking chain.

Supplies Needed:

• Christmas Chain Poem & Template
• Red, Green & Yellow Construction Paper
• Scissors (Straight & Decorative)
• Hole Punch
• Glue Stick
• Red, Green and/or Yellow Ribbon

Print the Christmas Chain Poem & Template. Cut out the poem with decorative scissors. Cut out the bell pattern with regular straight scissors. Use the bell pattern to cut a bell from red, green or yellow construction paper. Glue the poem to the center of the bell. Punch a hole in the top of the bell and cut a slit in the bottom of the bell to attach the first link.

Cut 9" x 1-1/4" strips of red, green and yellow construction paper. These will be used as links for your chain. The number of links in the chain will be determined by what day of the month you make the chain. Attach one link per day from the date you make the chain until Christmas Eve when Santa Claus comes.

Cut a small length of ribbon to attach to the top of the bell as a hanger.

Supplies Needed:

• Old jigsaw puzzle
• Spray paint in various colors
• Glue gun
• Tongue depressors
• Ribbon or strip magnets
• Photo of each child

Adult:

Spray paint the puzzle pieces with various colors in a well ventilated area.

Children (with adult assistance):

Using the hot glue gun, connect four tongue depressors together to create a frame.

Randomly glue the painted puzzle pieces onto the frame.

Mount the child's picture to the back of the frame.

Attach a ribbon to hang the picture frame or attach strip magnet to hang on the refrigerator.

Supplies Needed:

• 4 oz cinnamon
• 3/4 cup applesauce
• waxed paper
• rolling pin
• christmas cookie cutters
• plastic straw
• candy decorations
• flour
• ribbon or yarn

Mix the cinnamon with the applesauce. Roll the dough between two pieces of waxed paper to 1/8" thickness.

Use the plastic straw to make a hole in the top of the ornament for hanging. Use candy decorations to decorate your ornament. Sprinkle with flour if you'd like the snow affect.

To dry and harden the ornament, you can air dry it for 2-3 days or place in an oven at 200 degrees for 2-1/2 to 3 hours.

When dry, tie ribbon or yarn to ornament for hanging.

Supplies Needed:

• Baby food jar
• Any color tissue paper (2-3 colors)
• Elmers glue
• Large paint brush
• Tealight candle
• Exacto knife

Paint an outside section of the baby food jar with glue. Place tissue paper squares in the glue at different angles and overlapping each other. Paint another section with glue and cover with squares. Continue this process until entire jar in covered. Take care not to go over the top of the jar because you don't want the tissue paper to catch on fire. Use the exacto knife to trim the edges at the top.

Paint over the tissue paper squares with another layer of glue.Let dry completely.

Place the tealight candle inside the jar and light.

I have a really hard time finding craft projects that two year olds can participate in and actually complete. This is one they can do. It is extremely easy with a really nice looking finished project.

Supplies Needed:

• Silver pipe cleaners
• Blue, silver and white pony beads
• Invisible string

For each ornament, cut three pipe cleaners in half. Criss-cross the pipe cleaners in a star formation. Fold over each other to twist in the middle but maintain the star formation.

The kids can lace 3 beads onto each branch of the snowflake.

Fold over the end of each pipe cleaner to prevent the beads from falling off. When you fold over the last branch, insert a loop of invisible string to attach to a hook or a tree branch.

That's it. You're done. You have a beautiful handmade ornament to hang on your Christmas tree.

If you'd like to contribute a Project for Preschoolers and Toddlers to appear on this web page, please submit it here!

Other Pages of Interest:

• How To Get a Letter From Santa Claus!

• Unique Gift Ideas for Kids

• Easy Kids Christmas Cookies Recipes

• New Year Projects for Preschoolers