On cold winter days, children of all ages will enjoy a cosy crafty afternoon. Celebrate the seasonal change and darker months by finding colourful inspiration with these easy winter crafts for kids. We've gathered 20 fun ideas that children of all ages are guaranteed to love.
Turn handprints into ornaments, decorate your window with paper snowflakes, learn how to make an atmospheric lantern – and much more!
Many of the ideas in this guide can be made with basic craft supplies or things you’ll find around the home or for free in nature. Read on to discover the best winter craft ideas for kids.
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Best winter craft ideas for kids
Fun winter crafts for kids under 5
1. Salt dough handprint ornament
Making salt dough handprint art is a fun and easy activity to do with toddlers. Learning and exploring through play have this step-by-step guide. After creating your salt dough print, why not decorate it using winter seeds, leaves or twigs collected from a walk?.
BBC Good Food have this handy recipe for salt dough which is easily customised for Christmas. We've also got a video guide which demonstrates how to make salt dough.
2. Paper snowflakes
Making snowflakes out of paper to create a winter-themed window display is an easy and low-cost craft that young children will love. Under careful supervision, learning to use scissors improves hand-eye coordination and hand strength in young children.
To make a snowflake all you need is some white paper, scissors, tape and a stapler. Once your snowflake is complete, use white tack to stick to your window for a wintry display. Learn how to make paper snowflakes in this step-by-step tutorial.
3. Winter tree finger painting
Finger painting is an easy and fun activity that toddlers and under 5s will enjoy. Paint or collect twigs to create a tree trunk before adding fingerprint leaves. Prints could be turned into Christmas cards to send to friends and family.
Easy Peasy and Fun has this finger painting tutorial.
4. Handprint penguin
Create a fun piece of art to add to the memory box by using handprints to make these penguin designs. Young children will love tracing around their hands before carefully cutting it out with adult supervision.
Learn how to make on The best ideas for kids and find inspiration for other animal designs.
5. Ice suncatcher
Enjoy a winter foraging walk to collect berries, twigs and other natural materials to add to these pretty ice suncatchers. Hands-on Learning with Life C’s explains how to make an ice suncatcher to hang in your garden or kitchen window.
6. Paper plate snowflake
Turn your paper snowflakes into a piece of art by tracing them onto a paper plate and adding colour and glitter to create a wintry design. You’ll just need paper, scissors, paper plates and some string to hang your snowflake.Learn how to make it with this guide by Messy Little Monster.
7. Winter windsock
Young children will love making these fun winter windsock animals. Either use card to create the windsock or save old toilet rolls and paint them. Follow this easy guide by I Heart Crafty Things.
8. Popsicle arctic animals
Reuse your ice lolly sticks (or buy new from a craft store) to create these fun arctic animals. Young children will love creating characters from their favourite stories and adding wiggle eyes to bring them to life.Learn how to make popsicle arctic animals with this Messy Little Monster guide.
9. Pinecone owls
Create these sweet pinecone owls (and hedgehogs too!) for hours of imaginative play. You’ll just need pinecones, wool or cottonwool, glue and wiggly eyes. See how to make it by following this tutorial on Easypeasey and Fun.
Winter crafts for kids aged 12 and under
10. Snowflake mobile
Bring the outdoors in with this pretty snowflake mobile. This craft requires a bit more planning and you’ll need twine, a wooden ring, patterned paper, snowflake die and punch. Younger children will need help, but you can simplify your design according to the child’s age. Learn how to make a snowflake mobile with our handy guide.
11. Quilling snowflake
Quilling is a form of decorative art that involves rolling paper or card into small tubes to create designs. It doesn’t require a lot of materials – you’ll need a selection of coloured paper, glue and card to stick the design onto. Create snowflakes or a winter scene using this guide from Arty Crafty Kids.
12. Tea light lantern
Create a cosy glow in your home this winter with a tea light lantern! These lovely tea light holders are fun and easy for young children to make with adult supervision. Follow our tea light lantern guide and drop in a twinkly tea light to create an atmospheric glow.
13. Winter snow globe
Create a magical winter snow globe scene to enjoy this season. Collect natural materials from a walk and use small woodland animal figures to bring your globe to life. Follow our hassle-free tutorial to make a Christmas snow globe.
14. Twig star ornaments
Get into the festive spirit by making natural ornaments to adorn your tree. Head out for a walk to collect twigs, berries and other natural materials to make these rustic tree ornaments. Make these simple but effective star ornaments by following Simple as that blog step-by-step plan.
15. Pinecone angels
Collect pinecones to make these lovely tree angels to gift to friends or hang on your Christmas tree. You’ll also need glitter, paint and glue. Follow this guide from The Best Ideas for Kids.
This could be adapted to make pinecone people to create characters for imaginative play for younger children.
16. Clay animal tree decorations
Older children will enjoy making these colourful animal decorations to hang on the Christmas tree or turn into ornaments. BBC Countryfile Magazine has this handy step-by-step guide.
17. Walnut floating candles
Give your home a warm glow this winter with these rustic walnut floating candles. Even older children will need supervision melting and pouring hot wax, but these are easy to do and make lovely gifts. Follow Woodlark blog’s guide.
18. Pinecone bird feeder
Encourage children to do their bit for wildlife this winter by making this DIY bird feeders. You’ll need pinecones, bird seed, peanut butter and string. Hang your feeder near a window and see what visits your feeder. Grandir UK explains how to make a pinecone feeder.
19. Pebble magnets
Head to the British coast for a winter walk and beach comb to collect smooth, flat pebbles of varying sizes to make pebble magnets. Follow Caroline South’s how to guide to make your own with a wintry twist.
20. Pottery painting
A fun activity for children of all ages (including teenagers!), pottery painting is a relaxing way to spend an afternoon. You could simply buy a set of plain mugs or plates and some porcelain paint. Check out our pottery painting article for 33 unique ideas.
Celebrate the darker months with these creative winter crafts for kids
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