You need these holiday craft ideas, mama!
It's that time of year again. The tree is up, the lights are hung, and the hot chocolate is flowing. If you're anything like me, you feel the overwhelming need to stuff your house with as much Christmas spirit as possible... Which is why I love utilizing my toddlers crafts' as extra decor!
But here's the thing: my budget is a wee bit tight this time of year. So to give my kids the most fun crafts, and get the most bang for my buck, I shop at my new favorite place: the Dollar Tree!
Here are some MUST-DO, easy Christmas crafts for toddlers from your local Dollar Tree! (P.S., I'm not affiliated with Dollar Tree or getting any money for telling you about these goodies. I'm just excited to share them with you!)
Easy Christmas Crafts for Toddlers:
Idea #1 - Premade Crafts
I was absolutely delighted when I first entered the holiday craft aisle at Dollar Tree. It was as if I had stepped into a Hobby Lobby! The shelves were filled with adorable premade crafts that require just some paint, glue, or markers. Here are some of my faves!
▪️Wooden Christmas-themed paint sets
Candy canes, trucks with Christmas trees, snow globes, gnomes... You name it, they had it! These cute wooden toys and ornaments come with paint and brushes, so your kids can create a treasured holiday masterpiece.
▪️Felt packs
Decorate your stocking with a ready to make felt patch design! You can help your kiddo punch the different designs (like Santa, reindeers, and more) out of pieces of felt. Then,
they're free to let their imagination run wild as they glue different designs and pieces together. (P.S., if your kids have huge imaginations, they might enjoy my workbook to learn how to write their own stories!)
▪️Sticker books
Fact: it's impossible to not love stickers. So don't miss out on Christmas themed sticker books! These can either be packs of just stickers or full activity books that include stickers.
Either way, they're perfect for those cold Sunday mornings when hanging around in your coziest PJs.
▪️Color-in Tote Bags
There's no such thing as "too many bags," right? Even if your closet is overflowing, your kids can still color tote bags of their very own. These festive bags are like coloring pages on canvas and include several markers. The designs range from cheerful elves, to gingerbread, to penguins!
▪️Coloring Books
There's no way I couldn't include the most classic craft of all. My local Dollar Tree had the cutest holiday-themed coloring books, like Elf on the Shelf, Frosty the Snowman, and Disney Princesses. Don't forget the crayons! (If you want a break from holiday cheer, don't forget to check out my FREE downloadable activity pages, too!)
Idea #2 - Make your own ornament
Whether you go for the classics or for novelty, Christmas ornaments are one of the best parts of the holiday season. There's nothing like putting on the Christmas tunes, doling out the hot cocoa, and decorating the tree with your family!
At Dollar Tree, I was excited to see tons of kid-friendly DIY ornaments. Kids will love the clear plastic ones that can be filled with glitter, colorful sand, pompoms, or whatever you can find! There are also wooden ornaments in fun holiday shapes if your kids would rather draw or paint on them. Either way, this is the perfect craft to bring some holiday cheer, and to work on those fine motor skills!
Idea #3 - Christmas sensory bins
If you haven't heard of sensory bins, now's your chance to fill your first one with holiday cheer! Sensory bins are packed with different items and textures to encourage your kid to play creatively. They help develop fine motor skills and encourage "open-ended" play. There's no right or wrong way to make, or play with a sensory bin!
For this Christmas craft, grab a plastic box, bin, or tub to hold all your fun items. Next, decide if you want the base of the box to include modeling clay, slime, or both. (Our one-year-old loves the clay, while my five-year-old goes crazy for slime!) modeling clay, slime or both! Finally, head back to the Christmas aisle and shop 'til you drop. I scooped up pom poms, foam pieces (snowflake, tree, boot and star were all in one pack), jingle bells, fake snow, vase filler, mini trees, and angel figurines. All of these items cost me less than 6 dollars per box, and will provide hours of entertainment!
My kids loooove each of these crafts, and so do I!
They're super fun for kiddos and easy on the wallet for parents. There's no need to spend tons of money on holiday crafts. Run, don't walk, to your nearest Dollar Tree, and scoop these activities up before New Year's!
