The holidays are approaching, one of the most magical times of year for preschool-aged kids! For parents who are looking for fun and educational activities to keep their preschoolers entertained, Providence Children’s Academy has compiled a list of some holiday-themed crafts for you and your child to enjoy this season. And the best part about these preschool activities? They are simple and make the minimum amount of mess to clear up!
The Developmental Benefits of Arts and Crafts
Arts and crafts play a vital role in preschool.They are key to development in preschool children.
- Fine motor skills: Handling small materials and brushes strengthens fine motor skills and improves hand-eye coordination and finger dexterity.
- Creativity: craft activities encourage imagination and self-expression.
- Independence: Tasks such as cutting, gluing, and painting build self-reliance.
Children learn an astonishing amount through play. Activities like coloring, tearing paper, finger painting, using glue sticks, molding Play-Doh, and outdoor games benefit fine and gross motor skills. Here are some simple, age-appropriate holiday craft ideas for you to enjoy with your preschoolers!
Tissue Paper Snowflake Sun-Catchers
Children adore making decorations for their bedrooms, and this project is a firm favorite. Especially since we don’t get to see actual snow in South Florida! Here’s how to make your snowflake sun-catcher.
You will need:
- Wax paper or Press ‘n Seal wrap
- Colored tissue paper
- Watered-down glue
- Paint brush
- Piece of colored paper
- Yarn or string
- Safety scissors
How to make it:
- Protect your work surface with an art mat.
- Fold your piece of paper in half and then into quarters. Using scissors, cut out random shapes. There is no right or wrong way because no snowflake is the same! Now unfold your masterpiece!
- Cut or tear your tissue paper into small pieces.
- Dilute the glue with a little water and mix until it is slightly runny,
- Cut a piece of wax paper big enough to cover the holes in your snowflake.
- Lay the wax paper flat and brush it with glue.
- Stick the tissue paper pieces onto the wax paper, then carefully paint more glue on top of the tissue paper and leave to dry.
- Attach the wax paper or Press’ n Seal to the back of the paper snowflake with tape.
- Punch two holes in the plate, thread with yarn, and hang it in a sunny window.
‘Magic’ Water Painting
This is a mess-free activity and will keep your preschoolers laughing, wet, and busy.
You will need:
- A bucket of water
- Regular paint brushes
How to make it:
Now let the kids get stuck into some serious driveway art as they ‘paint’ the driveway or the sidewalk with the water, creating interesting shapes, doodles, or practice writing their names. Point out how the water evaporates under the hot sun. The kids will be happy splashing about and getting wet, and guess what? No mess to clean up!
Handprint Christmas Tree
This Christmas tree craft is so easy to make!
You will need:
- Green finger paint
- A paper plate
- A piece of white card stock or painting paper
- Glitter
- Glue
- Markers
- Sequins, buttons, and/or colored pom poms
How to make it:
Our kids grow up so fast, so making a craft that captures their adolescence and turns it into a holiday keepsake is sweet.
Start by putting the green finger paint on a paper plate. Help your little one firmly press their hands into the paint and then onto the blank paper. To shape it into a tree, start at the bottom, with three hands, the next row two, and one for the top. Give it about 20 minutes to dry and then start adding your decorations! And don’t forget to draw presents underneath with the markers when you’ve finished!
Pipe Cleaner Candy Cane Ornaments
This is one sweet activity that requires next to no mess!
You will need:
- Red, white, and green pipe cleaners
- Scissors
- String
How to make it:
This one couldn’t be more simple! Start by twisting two pipe cleaners together, making them into a candy cane shape. Once you’ve finished, cut a small piece of string to the top into a loop so you can hang it on your Christmas tree!
DIY Gift Wrapping Paper
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, this is a lovely way for your preschool child to make personalized gift paper for the special person in their life.
You will need:
- Rolls of brown paper
- Washable paint
- Paper plates to hold the paint
- Various-shaped sponges and/or paint brushes
- A bucket of water and a cloth
How to make it:
- Spread the paper onto the driveway or in a space designated for messy crafts
- Pour different colors of paint onto the paper plates
- Let them paint their feet, hands, sponges, and paintbrushes
- When they’re finished, use the bucket to wash up
Now you have your own unique wrapping paper which is perfect for the gift-giving season!
A Top-Rated Preschool in Coconut Creek
The holidays will whizz by, hopefully these crafts will help make them that much more memorable! If you are looking for an excellent preschool in Coconut Creek, we invite you to visit Providence Children’s Academy. Our early learning, after-school, and summer break programs focus on learning through play, exploration, and creativity. Contact us online or call us (954) 570-6914.