Festive Fun for Little Hands

Simple Recipes, Crafts, and Decorations for Toddlers to Kindergarteners

(With a Few Ideas for Infants Too!)

December is full of sparkle and excitement—but also plenty of to-do lists.  This year let’s make time for what really matters: fun, connection, and hands-on creativity with your little ones. These simple ideas are perfect for families with young children and don’t require fancy supplies or hours of prep. Whether you have a curious toddler or a crafty kindergartner (or even a baby who wants in on the fun!), we’ve got something festive for everyone.

🎅 Easy Holiday Crafts for Little Hands

1. Cinnamon Stick Reindeer – Glue googly eyes and a red pom-pom nose onto a cinnamon stick. Add pipe cleaner antlers twisted into shape. (You can tape on string to turn it into an ornament!)
2. Paper Strip Trees – Cut green paper into strips of different lengths. Let your child glue them into a triangle tree shape onto cardstock. Add stickers or fingerprints as ornaments.
3. Handprint Wreaths – Trace your child’s hand on green paper several times, then cut out the shapes and glue them in a circle on cardstock or a sturdy paper plate base. Let them decorate with pom-poms or paper “berries.
4. Tinfoil Star Ornaments – Cut stars out of cardboard, wrap in foil, and let your child decorate with stickers or permanent markers. Tape on a loop of ribbon to hang.
5. Infant Idea: Sensory Color Bag Tree – With adult supervision, put a few spoonfuls of green-tinted yogurt or colored applesauce into a zip-top bag (you can use spinach purée or add a little natural food coloring). Add soft items like cut-up foam shapes or bits of felt. Seal tightly and tape the bag into a highchair tray. Your baby can smoosh and explore the textures and colors, no mess, no worries.

🎁 Festive DIY Decorations

1. Pom-Pom Garland –Let your child thread colorful pom-poms onto yarn using a plastic needle or blunt tip. Tie a knot at one end so they don’t slip off. As they work, talk about patterns or let them create their own. When finished, tie the other end and hang it across a window, doorway, or mantle.
2. Snowflake Window Clings – Use puffy paint to draw snowflakes on wax paper. Let them dry completely, then gently peel off and press onto windows like stickers.
3. Cotton Ball Santa – Cut out a Santa face and let your child glue on cotton balls for the beard and hat trim.
4. Pinecone Ornaments – Collect pinecones, dab with white paint, and add glitter. Tie a ribbon at the top for hanging.
5. Infant Idea: Soft Ornament Basket – Fill a small basket with soft, non-breakable ornaments and other sensory-safe items for babies to explore (with supervision).

🍬 No-Fuss Recipes to Make (or Pretend to Make!)

1. Reindeer Snack Cups – Fill a paper cup with trail mix or cereal. Glue on googly eyes, a red pom-pom nose, and tape on pipe cleaner antlers.
2. Mini Graham Cracker Houses – Use graham cracker squares and frosting to build a tiny house. Let your child decorate with mini marshmallows, sprinkles, and cereal.   Tip: Use a plastic knife or butter knife to help spread the frosting—great for little hands!
3. Marshmallow Snow people – Stack 2 or 3 marshmallows onto a pretzel stick to form the body. Gently press the pointy end of mini chocolate chips into the top marshmallow to make eyes (the soft marshmallow holds them in place). Wrap a thin strip of fruit leather around the “neck” for a scarf. Optional: use a food-safe marker to add a smile or buttons!
4. No-Bake Oat Balls – Mix 1 cup oats, ½ cup peanut butter (or sunflower seed butter), ¼ cup honey, and a handful of chocolate chips. Roll into balls and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
5. Infant Idea: Applesauce Stir & Taste – Peel and dice 4–5 apples, simmer in a pot with a splash of water and cinnamon until soft. Mash and cool before letting the baby taste. Older siblings can help stir!

🎄 Parent Tip:
These activities don’t have to be perfectly fun. Set up a few choices in a basket and let your child pick what they want to do. Turn on music, sip hot cocoa, and join the fun (even if it gets messy).

At Ecole 360 Child Development Center, we love helping children learn through play, creativity, and connection. Want to see how we celebrate the season with our families? Schedule a tour today!