Creative Preschool Winter Crafts to Spark Young Imaginations

by | Sep 24, 2023

Winter is a magical season filled with snowflakes, frosty adventures, and holiday celebrations. It’s also the perfect time to engage preschoolers in fun and educational craft activities that celebrate the beauty of this chilly season.

Crafting not only enhances fine motor skills but also encourages creativity, imagination, and exploration. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore a wide range of preschool winter crafts that are not only delightful but also promote learning and bonding.

From snowflake-inspired masterpieces to winter animal creations, your little ones will have a blast making these crafts while building essential skills.

Why Winter Crafts are Essential for Preschoolers

Crafting is more than just fun; it’s a valuable tool for early childhood development. It offers numerous benefits, including:

1. Fine Motor Skill Development: Preschoolers refine their hand-eye coordination as they manipulate various craft materials, helping them with tasks like writing and buttoning clothes.

2. Creativity and Imagination: Craft projects encourage children to use their imagination and creativity, as they make choices about colors, shapes, and designs.

3. Language and Communication Skills: Crafts often involve discussions and instructions, improving a child’s vocabulary and ability to follow directions.

4. Problem-Solving: Crafting can present challenges that require creative problem-solving, fostering critical thinking skills.

5. Self-Expression: Children can express their thoughts, feelings, and ideas through their craft creations, boosting self-esteem and self-expression.

Fostering Creativity and Imagination

Winter crafts provide the perfect canvas for preschoolers to explore their creativity and imagination. Whether they’re envisioning a snowy wonderland or crafting their favorite winter animals, kids have the freedom to bring their ideas to life through art.

Strengthening Fine Motor Skills

Many winter craft projects involve cutting, pasting, painting, and more, all of which help improve fine motor skills. These skills are essential for tasks like writing, tying shoelaces, and using utensils.

Enhancing Cognitive Development

Crafting involves decision-making, problem-solving, and planning, which contribute to cognitive development. Additionally, kids learn about cause and effect as they see their actions create tangible results.

Materials for Preschool Winter Crafts

Before diving into winter crafting, it’s important to gather the necessary materials. Here’s a comprehensive list of essential craft supplies:

  • Construction paper: Various colors for creating crafts and backgrounds.
  • Safety scissors: Child-friendly scissors that are easy to use and won’t cut little fingers.
  • Glue sticks and liquid glue: For attaching paper and other materials.
  • Crayons, markers, and colored pencils: Tools for adding color and detail to crafts.
  • Paint and paintbrushes: Watercolor paints are a great choice for easy cleanup.
  • Buttons, pom-poms, googly eyes, and sequins: Fun embellishments for added texture and dimension.
  • Pipe cleaners: Bendable and versatile for creating shapes and characters.
  • Cotton balls: Perfect for creating fluffy snowscapes.
  • Empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls: Great for crafting 3D objects.
  • Old magazines or newspapers: Materials for collages.
  • Empty jars: For snow globe crafts.
  • Craft stick: Ideal for building structures and adding stability.
  • Fabric scraps: To create clothing for winter-themed crafts.
  • Tissue paper: Adds texture to crafts like stained glass windows.
  • Popsicle sticks: Handy for creating various craft structures.
  • Glitter: For a touch of winter sparkle.

Remember that you can adapt these materials based on the age and skill level of your preschoolers.

For eco-friendly crafting, consider using recycled materials whenever possible. Organize and store these supplies in bins or containers for easy access during crafting sessions.

Crafting Safety for Preschoolers

Crafting is an excellent way to engage preschoolers, but safety should always be a top priority. Here are some tips for ensuring a safe crafting environment:

1. Age-Appropriate Supervision and Guidelines

Always supervise preschoolers during crafting activities, especially when using scissors, glue, or small objects that could pose choking hazards. Provide clear and simple instructions, emphasizing safety rules such as not putting glue or small items in their mouths.

2. Safe Materials

Ensure that all materials used are non-toxic and child-safe. Check labels for age recommendations and warnings.

3. Child-Sized Tools

Use child-sized scissors, paintbrushes, and other tools designed for small hands. These are easier for young children to control and reduce the risk of accidents.

4. Clean-Up

Regularly clean up the crafting area to remove any small or sharp objects that could be a safety hazard. Make sure to properly dispose of used materials.

5. Allergies and Sensitivities

Be aware of any allergies or sensitivities among the children in your group. Avoid materials that may trigger allergic reactions.

By following these safety guidelines, you can create a secure and enjoyable crafting experience for preschoolers.

Teaching Littles’s Favorite Winter Crafts for Preschoolers

Winter Sensory Bin With Fake Snow

Supplies You Need

You could include all sorts of other items in this that are winter-themed like tiny bottle brush trees, woodland deer, or winter foxes. A winter animal theme would be so fun for little kids!

Preschool Cotton Ball Snowman

Supplies Needed:

Putting together a cotton ball snowman is easier than you think, making it the perfect winter craft for preschoolers and toddlers. Grab some cotton balls, glue, and construction paper; you’ll have adorable snowmen before you know it!

DIY Fake Snow

For starters, you will need two ingredients: Baking soda and white hair conditioner.

Check out this post for directions!

Fork Painted Polar Bear

Grab a plastic fork, white paint and a sheet of paper and let your little get to work!

Sugar Cube Castle

Building a sugar cube ice castle would be so much fun for little ones! You can hot glue down a layer of sugar cubes on cardboard as a base and let them build on top of it!

Painted Melted Snowman

I love this craft because it does not have to be neat at all, actually the messier the better!

Foot Print Penguin

Everyone loves a good footprint craft and this is no exception!

Felt Christmas Tree Activity for Toddlers

Help teach your little one about spacial awareness, different colors and shapes.. the possibilities are endless with this little felt tree!

Winter Wonderland Crafts (with Directions)

Winter Theme Crafts

DIY Snow Globes

Snow globes are a timeless winter favorite. Creating DIY snow globes is not only fun but also provides a sensory experience for young children. To make a simple snow globe, you will need:

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Select your figurine: Choose small figurines like snowmen, penguins, or winter trees.
  2. Glue the figurine: Use a strong adhesive or a hot glue gun to secure the figurine to the inside of the jar lid. Make sure it’s centered.
  3. Add glitter: Sprinkle glitter into the jar to create the snow effect. You can use white or iridescent glitter for a magical touch.
  4. Fill the jar: Fill the jar with distilled water, leaving a little space at the top. If you want slower snowfall, add a few drops of glycerin to the water.
  5. Seal the jar: Apply a line of clear plastic or waterproof glue along the inside rim of the jar lid and screw it onto the jar tightly. Allow the glue to dry completely.
  6. Shake and enjoy: Turn your snow globe upside down and give it a gentle shake to watch the snowfall around your winter scene.

This DIY snow globe craft not only creates a beautiful keepsake but also provides a tactile and visual experience that preschoolers will adore.

Puffy Paint Snowflakes

Creating puffy paint snowflakes is a sensory-rich winter craft that engages children’s fine motor skills and creativity. Here’s how to make puffy paint snowflakes:

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Mix the puffy paint: In a bowl, combine equal parts white school glue and shaving cream. Stir until the mixture reaches a smooth, puffy consistency.
  2. Create snowflakes: Using the puffy paint mixture, have the children draw snowflake designs on the construction paper. Encourage them to experiment with different shapes and patterns.
  3. Add sparkle: While the paint is still wet, sprinkle blue or white glitter over the snowflakes to add a frosty shimmer.
  4. Let it dry: Allow the puffy paint snowflakes to dry completely. This might take a few hours, depending on the thickness of the paint.
  5. Display: Once dry, your preschoolers’ puffy paint snowflakes are ready to be displayed as winter decorations.

This craft not only enhances fine motor skills but also introduces children to the concept of texture and sensory exploration.

Snowy Handprint Tree

Capture your child’s growth and creativity with a snowy handprint tree. This craft is not only a beautiful keepsake but also an opportunity to explore the changing seasons.

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Prepare the background: Begin by painting a brown tree trunk onto the white construction paper or canvas. Let it dry completely.
  2. Handprint leaves: Pour some green finger paint onto a plate. Have your child dip their hand into the paint, making sure to coat the palm and fingers thoroughly. Then, help them press their hand onto the paper above the tree trunk to create leaves. Repeat this step several times to make the tree lush.
  3. Add snowy accents: Using a paintbrush, apply white finger paint to the tips of the “leaves” to represent snow on the tree. You can also add dots of white paint all over the background for a snowy effect.
  4. Personalize: Let your child add their name and the date to the artwork, creating a personalized keepsake.
  5. Display: Once the paint is dry, display the snowy handprint tree proudly in your home.

This craft not only allows children to explore different textures but also helps them understand the changing seasons and the cycle of nature.

Icicle Ornaments

Making icicle ornaments is a simple yet elegant craft perfect for the holiday season. These ornaments can be hung on the tree or used as window decorations.

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Create the icicles: Cut the white pipe cleaners into various lengths to create icicles. You can make them as long or as short as you like.
  2. Thread the beads: String clear plastic or glass beads onto each pipe cleaner icicle. Start with a larger bead at the top and add smaller beads as you go down the icicle to create a tapered look.
  3. Create a loop: Bend the top of the pipe cleaner into a small loop, which will be used for hanging the ornament.
  4. Hang and enjoy: Thread a ribbon or string through the loop, and your icicle ornament is ready to hang on the tree or in a window.

These icicle ornaments not only add a touch of elegance to your holiday decor but also provide an opportunity for fine motor skill development as children thread the beads onto the pipe cleaners.

Frozen Ice Art

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Fill the ice cube trays or silicone molds halfway with water.
  2. Place small natural materials like leaves, berries, and twigs into each compartment.
  3. Freeze the trays or molds until the water is solid.
  4. Fill the compartments the rest of the way with water (you can add a drop of food coloring to create colored ice cubes).
  5. Insert a piece of string or ribbon into each compartment, leaving one end exposed.
  6. Freeze the trays or molds completely.
  7. Once frozen, remove the ice cubes from the molds and hang them in your outdoor space as colorful, icy decorations.

Winter Nature Collage

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Go on a winter nature scavenger hunt to collect a variety of natural materials.
  2. Provide each child with a piece of paper or cardboard as their canvas.
  3. Encourage them to use the natural materials to create a winter-themed collage. They can arrange and glue the items onto their canvas in any design they like.
  4. Optionally, they can use craft paint to add colors to their collage or background.
  5. Let the collages dry, and then display them as beautiful winter art.

Mitten Matching Game

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Cut out mitten shapes from felt or colored paper. Make pairs with matching shapes and sizes.
  2. Decorate each mitten with markers or stickers in different colors and patterns.
  3. Attach one mitten from each pair to a clothespin.
  4. Scatter the loose mittens on a table or the floor.
  5. Have the preschoolers match the loose mittens to the corresponding mittens on the clothespins, practicing their matching skills while having fun.

Winter-Themed Playdough Creations

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Provide each child with a small ball of playdough.
  2. Offer a variety of winter-themed cookie cutters and encourage them to create winter shapes from the playdough.
  3. After using the cookie cutters, preschoolers can further decorate their creations with plastic gems, buttons, and other items.
  4. Allow them to use rolling pins and plastic knives to sculpt their own winter scenes or characters from the playdough.
  5. Let the playdough creations air dry to preserve their winter masterpieces.

These five additional winter crafts for preschoolers offer a range of creative and sensory experiences to keep young minds engaged during the chilly season.

Arctic Animals Crafts

Polar Bear Handprint

Preschoolers will love creating their very own polar bear handprint art. This craft is not only adorable but also helps children learn about Arctic animals.

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Prepare the background: Start by placing a sheet of white construction paper in front of your child.
  2. Paint the hand: Using white paint and a paintbrush, paint the palm of your child’s hand and the fingers, excluding the thumb. This will become the polar bear’s body.
  3. Make the print: Carefully guide your child to press their hand onto the blue paper, leaving a white handprint. This will be the polar bear’s body.
  4. Add details: Using a fine brush or a cotton swab, add black details to turn the handprint into a polar bear. Paint on ears, eyes, a nose, and a mouth.
  5. Dry and display: Allow the paint to dry, and once it’s ready, display your child’s polar bear handprint art for all to see.

This craft not only encourages creativity but also introduces young children to Arctic animals and their characteristics.

Penguin Puppet

Penguins are a favorite winter animal, and creating penguin popsicles is a fun and interactive craft that preschoolers will enjoy.

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Cut the shapes: Begin by cutting out the following shapes from the craft foam or construction paper:
    • A large oval for the penguin’s body (white or black)
    • A smaller oval for the penguin’s belly (white or black)
    • Two small ovals for the penguin’s feet (orange)
    • A small triangle for the penguin’s beak (orange)
  2. Assemble the penguin: Help your child assemble the penguin by gluing the small oval (belly) onto the larger oval (body). Then, attach the googly eyes, beak, and feet.
  3. Attach the craft stick: Glue the craft stick to the back of the penguin to create a handle.
  4. Decorate: Encourage your child to add additional details like a bowtie, hat, or scarf using colored markers or additional craft foam.
  5. Let it dry: Allow the penguin popsicle to dry completely before playtime.

These adorable penguin popsicles double as both crafts and puppets, inspiring imaginative play and storytelling.

Seal Pup Paper Plate Craft

Learn about Arctic animals with this seal pup paper plate craft. It’s a creative way to engage preschoolers in a lesson about wildlife.

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Paint the paper plate: Have your child paint the paper plate with gray or white paint to represent the seal pup’s body. Let it dry completely.
  2. Add cotton ball fur: Once the paint is dry, use glue sticks to attach cotton balls all over the paper plate. This creates the fluffy fur of the seal pup.
  3. Create a face: Glue googly eyes onto the seal pup’s face, and use a black marker to draw a mouth and nose.
  4. Display or play: Your preschooler’s seal pup craft is now complete. You can display it or use it for imaginative play.

This craft combines creativity with a lesson on Arctic animals, making learning fun for young children.

Walrus Puppet

Craft your own adorable walrus puppet, perfect for imaginative play and storytelling.

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Create the body: Slide the white sock onto your child’s hand, leaving the cuff of the sock as the puppet’s mouth.
  2. Cut and glue the felt/paper pieces: Cut out felt shapes for the walrus’s features, including the tusks, flippers, and facial details. Glue these pieces onto the sock puppet’s body. You can use this template here for an easy puppet!
  3. Attach googly eyes: Glue googly eyes onto the puppet to bring its face to life.
  4. Decorate: Use additional felt pieces to add details like whiskers, eyebrows, and other facial features.
  5. Play and tell stories: Once the puppet is dry, your child can use it for imaginative play and storytelling. Encourage them to create adventures for their walrus friend.

This craft not only enhances fine motor skills but also sparks creativity through imaginative play.

Snowy Pine Cone Owls

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Collect pine cones during a winter nature walk or purchase them from a craft store.
  2. Cut out small triangles from orange craft foam or construction paper for beaks.
  3. Cut out small circles from white craft foam or construction paper for the eyes.
  4. Attach the googly eyes and beak to the front of the pine cone using glue.
  5. Cut out feather-shaped pieces from brown craft foam or construction paper and attach them to the sides of the pine cone to create the owl’s wings.
  6. Stuff pine cone with cotton balls
  7. Display these adorable snowy pine cone owls as winter decorations.

Holiday-Themed Winter Crafts

Snowman Finger Puppets

Bring Frosty to life with these adorable snowman finger puppets. This craft is not only fun to make but also provides endless opportunities for creative play.

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Cut the felt: Cut out two white felt circles, one larger than the other, to create the snowman’s body. Cut colored felt shapes for a scarf and hat.
  2. Assemble the snowman: Glue the smaller white felt circle onto the larger one to create the snowman’s head and body. Then, attach googly eyes, a carrot-shaped piece of orange felt for the nose, and small buttons down the front.
  3. Add the scarf and hat: Glue the felt scarf around the snowman’s neck and the hat on top of its head.
  4. Attach a string: To turn your snowman into a finger puppet, glue a piece of ribbon or string to the back of the snowman.
  5. Play and perform: Encourage your child to put the puppet on their finger and create stories or little snowman performances.

These snowman finger puppets are not only adorable but also a fantastic way to encourage imaginative play and storytelling during the winter months.

Reindeer Antlers Headband

Get into the holiday spirit with a festive reindeer antlers headband. Preschoolers will enjoy creating and wearing this craft for holiday celebrations.

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Cut the antlers: Cut out two antler shapes from the brown craft foam or construction paper. Make sure they are large enough to be seen but not too heavy for the headband.
  2. Attach the antlers: Use glue sticks to attach the antlers to the headband. Position them on either side of the headband to resemble reindeer antlers.
  3. Add the eyes and nose: Glue googly eyes and a red pom-pom or craft foam nose to the headband to complete the reindeer’s face.
  4. Wear with pride: Once the glue is dry, your child can proudly wear their reindeer antlers headband during holiday festivities.

This craft not only promotes creativity but also adds a festive touch to your child’s holiday attire.

Christmas Tree Ornaments

Personalized Christmas tree ornaments make wonderful keepsakes and gifts for loved ones. Let your preschooler’s creativity shine with this craft.

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Create the ornament base: Lay out four craft sticks to form a square or diamond shape. Glue the craft sticks together at their ends to create the ornament base.
  2. Paint the ornament: Let your child paint the craft stick ornament base in various colors. Encourage them to get creative with designs and patterns.
  3. Decorate: While the paint is still wet, your child can add glitter, sequins, or other embellishments to make their ornament sparkle.
  4. Attach a ribbon or string: Glue a piece of ribbon or string to the top of the ornament for hanging.
  5. Personalize: Have your child write their name and the year on the back of the ornament to create a cherished keepsake.

These handmade Christmas tree ornaments not only add a personal touch to your holiday decor but also provide a sense of pride for preschoolers who create them.

Easy DIY Christmas Ornaments for Kids

Hanukkah Menorah Craft

Celebrate the Festival of Lights with a Hanukkah menorah craft. This craft is a great opportunity to teach preschoolers about Hanukkah traditions and symbols.

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Cut the menorah: Cut out a menorah shape from blue construction paper. It should have seven branches, each slightly shorter than the one below it.
  2. Create the candles: Cut out small rectangles from the yellow craft foam or construction paper to represent the candles.
  3. Decorate the candles: Have your child use paint or markers to decorate each candle. They can add flames, patterns, or any other designs they like.
  4. Assemble the menorah: Glue the candles onto the menorah, with one candle for each night of Hanukkah. The center candle, the “shamash,” should be slightly taller than the rest.
  5. Display and learn: Use the craft as a visual aid to teach your child about the Hanukkah story and traditions.

This Hanukkah menorah craft not only promotes creativity but also provides an opportunity to share cultural and religious traditions with your preschooler.

Science Meets Art

Combine science and art with this captivating crystal snowflake craft. It’s an opportunity to explore the concept of crystallization while creating beautiful snowflakes.

Crystal Snowflakes

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Create the snowflake shape: Twist the pipe cleaners into snowflake shapes. You can make simple six-pointed snowflakes or more intricate designs.
  2. Attach a string: Use a piece of string or a popsicle stick to create a hanger for the snowflake. Attach it to one of the arms of the snowflake.
  3. Prepare the borax solution: In a wide-mouthed jar or container, mix 3 tablespoons of borax powder with 1 cup of boiling water. Stir until the borax dissolves completely.
  4. Immerse the snowflake: Submerge the snowflake into the borax solution, making sure it’s fully immersed. Hang it in the solution using a clothespin or paper clip so that it doesn’t touch the sides or bottom of the container.
  5. Let it sit: Leave the snowflake undisturbed in the borax solution for several hours or overnight. Crystals will slowly form on the pipe cleaner.
  6. Remove and admire: Carefully remove the snowflake from the solution and allow

Ice Art Painting

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Provide each child with a piece of paper or cardboard as their canvas.
  2. Give them ice cubes or blocks with added liquid watercolors or diluted food coloring in various colors.
  3. Encourage preschoolers to use the ice cubes or blocks as “paintbrushes”.
  4. As the ice melts, it will create unique and colorful designs on the paper.
  5. Once the artwork is complete and has dried, discuss the science of how ice melts and the artistry that resulted from this process.

Salt Crystal Paintings

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Pour water into four cups, to just fill them partially.
  2. Place a few drops of food coloring into each of the cups of water and stir to combine the color well.
  3. Draw a design onto the front of a piece of white cardstock with a bottle of white school glue. The design can be anything you like.
  4. Sprinkle some table salt over the top of the design that you created with the glue. Do this before the glue has dried so that the salt sticks to it well. You will want to do this over a garbage can or other container to catch the extra salt and avoid making a mess.
  5. You can either wait for the glue to dry, or move directly on to coloring your creation. Using a pipette or eye dropper, drop colored water down over the different parts of your salt crystal drawing. Try to drop the water only onto the salt crystals themselves, and not onto the actual cardstock. You can mix colors to see what new shades they make.
  6. Set the salt crystal drawing to the side for several hours to dry completely before displaying.  
  7. Once the paintings are completely dry, discuss how the salt crystals formed and the unique textures they added to the artwork.

Frozen Baking Soda and Vinegar Art

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Mix baking soda with a few drops of liquid watercolors or food coloring in small containers to create colorful paste-like paint.
  2. Provide each child with a piece of white paper or cardboard.
  3. Encourage them to use craft sticks or droppers to apply the baking soda paste onto their paper, creating winter scenes, snowflakes, or any designs they like.
  4. Once the paste is applied, give the children small containers of white vinegar.
  5. Watch as they use droppers or paintbrushes to drop vinegar onto their artwork. The chemical reaction between the vinegar and baking soda will create fizzing and bubbling effects, turning their artwork into an interactive experience.
  6. Discuss the science behind the reaction and the art that resulted from it.

Icy Watercolor Resist Art

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Provide each child with a piece of watercolor paper or heavy paper.
  2. Instruct them to use white crayons to draw winter-themed pictures or designs on the paper. The wax from the crayons will resist the watercolor paint.
  3. Once the crayon drawings are complete, give the children watercolor paints and paintbrushes.
  4. Encourage them to paint over their crayon drawings with watercolor paints, using various colors to create a vibrant winter scene.
  5. As they paint, discuss how the wax resists the watercolor, creating a unique and textured effect on their artwork.

These science-meets-art winter crafts for preschoolers offer a hands-on experience of scientific concepts while allowing young artists to express their creativity and curiosity.

Last Minute Winter Crafts for Preschoolers

Winter Stickers

Have you ever let your toddler loose with stickers? Let me tell you, it is pure joy. Instruct them to put the stickers on a piece of paper and let them go to town!

Coloring a Winter Scene

Have your little one color a winter scene alongside you. Maybe it’s a snowman with snow falling or some Christmas trees in the snow!

Fingerprint Christmas Light Craft For Kids

I absolutely adore Christmas light paintings like this! It is so easy and simple to put together, yet fun for littles!

Winter is a season of wonder and discovery, and preschool crafts provide the perfect opportunity for young children to explore its magic.

So, let’s dive into the world of preschool winter crafts, where creativity knows no bounds and memories are made with every brushstroke and glittery sprinkle.

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