Winter days are the perfect time to get creative with your preschooler. When it’s too chilly to head outdoors, you can spark your little one’s imagination with fun and simple crafts. These activities not only keep your child entertained but also help develop their motor skills and creativity. Let’s explore 31 delightful winter crafts that are sure to bring joy to your cozy indoor days!
1. Coffee Filter Snowflakes
Creating coffee filter snowflakes is a classic winter activity that preschoolers adore. Start by folding coffee filters into small triangles and let your child snip away using safety scissors. Once they unfold their masterpiece, they’ll be thrilled to see their unique design.
You can add an extra touch by letting them paint the filters with watercolors before cutting. This gives the snowflakes a vibrant look, making them perfect for window decorations. Don’t forget to sprinkle a little glitter for some winter sparkle.
2. Puffy Paint Snowflakes
Puffy paint snowflakes are a fun and tactile way for kids to create frosty designs. Mix shaving cream and glue to create the paint, which dries with a raised texture. Help your child draw simple snowflake shapes on dark-colored paper for a magical contrast.
Add glitter to the wet paint to give the snowflakes a sparkling effect. For younger children, you can pre-draw the snowflake shapes and let them fill them in with the puffy paint mixture.
3. Cotton Ball Snow Scenes
Cotton ball snow scenes bring the magic of winter landscapes indoors. Your child can glue fluffy cotton balls onto blue construction paper to represent snow. They can then draw or add cut-out trees, snowmen, and houses to complete the scene.
This craft is simple yet engaging, allowing preschoolers to create their own version of a snowy day. It’s also a great way to encourage storytelling as they describe their artwork.
4. Popsicle Stick Snowflakes
Popsicle stick snowflakes are a wonderful way to explore symmetry and creativity. Arrange the sticks in a snowflake shape and glue them together. Once the glue dries, let your child paint the snowflake and decorate it with sequins or glitter.
These snowflakes can be used as ornaments or hung in windows. This craft is perfect for practicing fine motor skills while making something beautiful.
5. Paper Plate Penguins
Paper plate penguins are as cute as they are easy to make. Start by painting a paper plate black, leaving a white oval in the center for the penguin’s belly. Add construction paper wings, feet, and a beak, and finish with googly eyes.
Preschoolers love seeing their creations come to life. These penguins make adorable decorations and are a fun way to introduce children to winter animals.
6. Cotton Ball Polar Bears
Cotton ball polar bears are soft, cuddly crafts that preschoolers enjoy. Begin by drawing the outline of a polar bear on construction paper. Your child can then glue cotton balls inside the outline to create a fluffy texture.
Add details like eyes, a nose, and a mouth using markers or small pieces of paper. This activity is simple, engaging, and perfect for practicing hand-eye coordination.
7. Sock Snowmen
Sock snowmen are a fantastic way to reuse old socks while crafting adorable winter characters. Fill a white sock with rice and tie it off to create the snowman’s body and head. Let your preschooler decorate it with buttons, fabric scraps, and markers.
You can make tiny hats from another piece of sock and scarves from fabric strips. These squishy snowmen are fun to create and even more fun to play with afterward.
8. Paper Roll Snowmen
Paper roll snowmen are an eco-friendly craft that turns everyday items into something special. Start by painting empty toilet paper rolls white. Once dry, let your child draw a snowman face and add hats and scarves made from construction paper.
This craft is simple, quick, and perfect for little hands. It’s also a great way to introduce the concept of recycling to your preschooler.
9. Pinecone Penguins
Pinecone penguins combine crafting with a bit of nature. Paint pinecones black and white to resemble penguins, and use construction paper to add tiny feet and beaks. A small pom-pom can be glued on top as the penguin’s head.
These charming little penguins make delightful decorations. They also offer a wonderful opportunity to talk about winter animals and their habitats.
10. Leaf Snowflakes
Leaf snowflakes are a creative way to bring the outdoors into your crafting. Collect leaves from outside and paint them white to mimic snowflakes. Arrange them in unique patterns on construction paper.
This craft is a mix of art and nature, offering a sensory experience with different textures. It’s also a fun way to celebrate the beauty of winter foliage.
11. DIY Garland
Creating a DIY garland allows your preschooler to make festive decorations for your home. Cut out shapes like snowflakes, mittens, or stars from colorful paper. Let your child decorate them before stringing them together on a piece of yarn.
This activity is a wonderful way to practice cutting and threading skills. The garland can be used to brighten up any room during the winter season.
12. Snowy Mason Jars
Snowy mason jars are a cozy craft that doubles as a winter decoration. Paint the outside of mason jars with white paint and add glitter for a frosty effect. Place a tea light inside to create a warm glow.
These jars are simple to make and look stunning when lit in the evening. They’re also a great way to introduce the concept of light and shadows to your preschooler.
13. Snow Dough
Snow dough is a sensory craft that mimics the feel of real snow. Mix flour and oil to create a soft, moldable dough. Your preschooler can use it to shape snowballs, snowmen, or other winter creations.
Add glitter or a drop of peppermint extract for an extra sensory element. This activity is perfect for keeping little hands busy while exploring textures.
14. Ice Painting
Ice painting combines art with science in a fun and colorful way. Freeze water mixed with food coloring in ice cube trays, and let your child use the cubes to paint on paper. As the ice melts, it creates unique patterns.
This craft is both creative and educational, as your preschooler learns about melting and color blending. It’s a perfect indoor activity for a winter afternoon.
15. Handprint Mittens
Handprint mittens are a sweet and personal craft that makes a great keepsake. Trace your child’s hands onto construction paper and cut them out. Let them decorate the handprints to look like mittens.
This craft is simple but meaningful, preserving your child’s tiny hand size. It’s also a great way to practice tracing and cutting skills.
16. Salt Dough Ornaments
Salt dough ornaments are a classic craft that kids and parents both love. Mix salt, flour, and water to create a dough. Shape it into winter-themed ornaments and bake until hardened. Let your preschooler paint and decorate their creations.
These ornaments are perfect for hanging on the tree or gifting to loved ones. They’re a lasting reminder of your child’s creativity.
17. Egg Carton Penguins
Egg carton penguins are a clever way to reuse materials. Cut an egg carton into individual cups and paint them black and white. Add beaks and feet using construction paper.
This craft is simple, eco-friendly, and lots of fun. It’s a great way to teach kids about recycling while engaging their creativity.
18. Bottle Cap Snowmen
Bottle cap snowmen turn everyday items into tiny masterpieces. Glue three bottle caps together in a row and paint them white. Add faces, scarves, and buttons using markers and small pieces of fabric.
These little snowmen are easy to make and perfect for decorating or playing with. They’re a fun way to explore upcycling.
19. Mitten Matching Game
The mitten matching game combines crafting with a bit of learning. Cut out mitten shapes from paper and decorate pairs with unique patterns. Mix them up and challenge your preschooler to match the pairs.
This activity is great for practicing memory and pattern recognition. It’s a craft that doubles as a fun game.
20. Icicle Art
Icicle art captures the beauty of winter’s natural wonders. Drip blue and white paint down a sheet of paper to mimic icicles. Sprinkle glitter on the wet paint for a frosty effect.
This craft is simple but mesmerizing, and it helps develop hand control and creativity. The finished artwork makes a lovely winter decoration.
21. Puffy Paint Snowmen
Puffy paint snowmen take crafting to a new level with their fun texture. Use shaving cream and glue to create the paint, then draw snowman shapes on sturdy paper. Decorate with buttons, scarves, and hats.
The raised texture adds a sensory element to this activity. It’s a delightful twist on a classic snowman craft.
22. Winter Hat Collage
Winter hat collages let your child design their own cozy accessories. Cut out hat shapes from paper and provide yarn, pom-poms, and glitter for decorating.
This craft encourages creativity and fine motor skills. Each hat will be a unique expression of your preschooler’s imagination.
23. Felt Snowflakes
Felt snowflakes are soft and easy for little hands to work with. Pre-cut snowflake shapes from felt and let your child layer and glue them together.
This craft adds a tactile element to traditional snowflake designs. It’s perfect for creating ornaments or table decorations.
24. Snowy Forest Diorama
A snowy forest diorama brings a miniature winter wonderland to life. Use a shoebox as the base and add paper trees, cotton snow, and toy animals.
This craft is engaging and allows for imaginative play. It’s a fun way to create and explore a winter scene.
25. Yarn-Wrapped Snowflakes
Yarn-wrapped snowflakes are a simple way to explore texture. Cut snowflake shapes from cardboard and let your child wrap them with colorful yarn.
This activity helps improve hand-eye coordination while creating beautiful decorations. It’s both relaxing and rewarding.
26. Glitter Pinecones
Glitter pinecones combine natural materials with a touch of sparkle. Paint the tips of pinecones with glue and sprinkle glitter on top.
These glittery creations are perfect for decorating your home. They’re easy to make and look stunning when displayed.
27. Marshmallow Snowmen
Marshmallow snowmen are as tasty as they are fun to make. Stack marshmallows using toothpicks to create a snowman shape. Decorate with candy pieces for the face and buttons.
This craft doubles as a snack, making it a hit with kids. Just make sure to supervise small children with the toothpicks.
28. Tissue Paper Icicles
Tissue paper icicles add a translucent beauty to your winter décor. Tear tissue paper into strips and glue them onto wax paper. Once dry, cut into icicle shapes and hang.
This craft is simple yet stunning, and it’s a great way to brighten up windows during the darker months.
29. Snow Globe in a Jar
Snow globes in jars are magical and easy to make. Glue a small figurine to the lid of a jar, fill the jar with water and glitter, and screw the lid on tightly.
This craft combines creativity and a bit of science. Watching the glitter swirl is mesmerizing for kids and adults alike.
30. Button Snowflake Art
Button snowflake art is a colorful twist on traditional snowflakes. Draw a snowflake shape on paper and have your child glue buttons along the lines.
This craft is simple and helps develop fine motor skills. The finished artwork makes a lovely keepsake.
31. Snowy Handprint Keepsake
A snowy handprint keepsake preserves your child’s tiny hands in a creative way. Paint their hand white and press it onto blue paper. Add details to turn the handprint into a snowman.
This craft is sentimental and easy to make. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the season while creating a cherished memory.
Wrapping Up
These 31 winter crafts for preschoolers are perfect for keeping little hands busy and imaginations soaring. From snowy landscapes to cuddly polar bears, there’s something for everyone. Choose a few favorites and enjoy the magic of crafting together this winter!