50+ Fun December Crafts for Kids

December is here, bringing chilly days and cozy holiday vibes—perfect for winter-inspired activities with kids! With so many unique holidays and celebrations this month, it’s a great time to make special memories together.

From December crafts for kids honoring World Wildlife Conservation Day and National Llama Day to projects celebrating the magic of Hanukkah and the warmth of Kwanzaa, there’s something here for everyone.

These creative ideas will help keep little hands busy while allowing them to learn about different traditions and animals that make December extra special.

You’ll love this roundup if you’re looking for simple ways to create fun and memorable moments. For more inspiration, check out Simple Everyday Mom, where you’ll find many ideas perfect for little ones.

Let’s dive in and prepare to make this December even more magical with unique, meaningful activities that will bring joy to your holiday season.

December Kids Crafts

collage image of kids' crafts with the words "50+ easy December crafts for kids"

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World Wildlife Conservation Day

Tiger Headband

Create a playful tiger headband to let kids channel their inner wild animal as they play. This simple, wearable headband only needs the tiger template, colored paper, and some glue, making it ideal for little ones.

Perfect for sparking imaginative play, kids can roam around pretending to be a fierce tiger while learning about these magnificent animals.

iheartcraftythings.com

Newspaper Lion

Turn old newspaper into an impressive lion's mane with this eco-friendly project, which teaches kids about recycling and conservation. Children will enjoy painting and shaping the mane, creating a standout piece using upcycled materials.

This lion project is a great way to celebrate Earth-friendly practices while creating a fierce jungle friend.

Related: Lion Paper Cup Craft

Elephant Toilet Paper Roll

Transform a toilet paper roll into a mini elephant with big ears and a long trunk. Kids will love the chance to personalize their elephant's colors, adding their unique touch to this adorable activity.

This project connects creativity with meaningful learning and is ideal for discussions on wildlife and conservation.

www.craftymorning.com

Paper Plate Rhino

Transform a paper plate into a rhino with this creative and tactile project that lets kids experiment with different textures. The large horn and rhino features make it fun and educational, sparking curiosity about these unique animals.

This project is perfect for young animal enthusiasts eager to learn about rhinos and wildlife.

Walt Disney Day

Minnie & Mickey Mouse Paper Plate

Bring Disney magic home with Minnie and Mickey Mouse art from simple paper plates. Kids can dress up their characters with bows and colors, creating their version of these beloved icons. This activity fits Disney's timeless charm, perfect for family fun or themed parties.

seevanessacraft.com

Disney Pixar Up Printable

Celebrate the heartwarming adventure of Pixar's "Up" with charming house-and-balloon art. The free printable design brings to life Carl's house, complete with colorful balloons ready to take flight.

This activity is a sweet reminder of the power of dreams and friendships, sure to inspire little adventurers.

Paper Plate Forky

Create Forky, the lovable character from Toy Story 4, with just a paper plate, googly eyes, and a few markers. Kids will enjoy making their version of Forky and adding silly expressions to match his quirky personality.

This activity lets kids express their creativity and enjoy a beloved character! It’s a fun project for any Toy Story fan.

funmoneymom.com

Princess Tiana Paper Doll

Bring the charm of The Princess and the Frog to life with this entertaining Princess Tiana paper doll. Kids can design Tiana's dress, choose colors, and add accessories, making it a magical project for fans of the Disney princess.

This paper doll is perfect for little hands and helps develop fine motor skills creatively.

Related: Princess Handprint Craft

Toilet Paper Roll Olaf

Create Olaf, everyone's favorite snowman, with a recycled toilet paper roll and basic craft materials. Kids can add Olaf's twig arms and goofy smile, perfectly capturing his lovable personality. It's a fun, winter-themed project that brings Disney joy into everyday art time.

Hanukkah

handsonaswegrow.com

Shape Menorah Hanukkah

Create a menorah using simple shapes, offering a fun way for kids to explore colors and geometry. The project brings a festive touch to Hanukkah and helps kids learn about shapes engagingly. It's an ideal art for little hands to enjoy hands-on creativity and celebrate a meaningful tradition.

nurturestore.co.uk

Star Suncatcher Hanukkah

Capture the beauty of Hanukkah light with a star suncatcher that looks stunning in any window. This simple yet enchanting art allows kids to combine colors in a radiant display, bringing warmth to winter days.

Displaying these creations adds a bright, celebratory touch to your home for the holiday.

kidscraftroom.com

3D Hanukkah Menorah

Bring the holiday spirit to life with a unique 3D menorah that pops off the page. This DIY invites kids to explore depth and dimension, making it a standout decoration for Hanukkah. Creating a piece with layers creates a memorable experience that families can proudly display.

happytoddlerplaytime.com

Yarn-Wrapped Menorah

Using yarn to design a menorah offers a colorful twist. It allows kids to practice fine motor skills as they wrap and decorate. The textures and bright hues make this activity visually appealing, tactile, and satisfying. It's a fun, hands-on way for children to connect with Hanukkah traditions.

barleyandbirch.com

DIY Colorful Twig Menorah

Kids can use twigs and colors to make a menorah that delightfully blends nature and creativity. This rustic take on a menorah offers a unique, eco-friendly activity that adds charm to Hanukkah décor. Kids will love gathering twigs and assembling something personal and festive for the holiday.

National Llama Day

Llama Headband

Kids will adore creating a llama headband to wear proudly on National Llama Day. This project celebrates llamas with a fun accessory they want to show off. It's easy to make and allows kids to pretend-play in their homemade llama gear.

kidscraftroom.com

Paper Plate Llama

Transforming a simple paper plate into a charming llama face brings joy to art time. This project offers kids a chance to add unique touches, like fluffy wool details, making each llama one-of-a-kind. Combining creativity with love for these adorable animals is a fantastic way.

This is also a fantastic project to try—our llama paper plate craft is perfect for stirring up some creative fun this Christmas!

Llama Paper Bag Puppet

Transform a paper bag into a fun llama puppet ready for storytelling and pretend play. Kids can have a blast adding unique expressions and details to make their puppet one-of-a-kind. This hands-on activity inspires imagination that keeps going well beyond art time.

National Horse Day

Horse Handprint

Capture the spirit of National Horse Day with a personalized handprint project kids will love. This activity turns a child's handprint into a cute horse, adding a sweet keepsake quality. It's a beautiful way for young ones to memorably celebrate their love for horses.

www.artycraftykids.com

Paper Roll Horse

Transform a paper roll into a spirited horse with a customizable mane and tail. This activity encourages creativity, as children can decorate their horses with unique colors and patterns. Repurposing a paper roll adds a fun, eco-friendly element to this engaging exercise.

Related: Horse Headband Craft

Paper Bag Horse Puppet

A paper bag becomes an entertaining horse puppet, perfect for imaginative play. Kids will have fun creating a horse character with different colors and expressions. This activity is ideal for celebrating National Horse Day and inspires storytelling adventures.

Monkey Day

Handprint Monkey

Kids will love making a playful monkey character with their handprints as the base. With easy-to-find materials, this activity encourages creativity and gives kids a cute, personalized keepsake.

Perfect for Monkey Day, it also helps little ones practice fine motor skills as they assemble their jungle friends.

www.theinspirationedit.com

Paper Bag Monkey

This DIY turns a paper bag into a lovable monkey puppet, bringing out the excitement of imaginative play. Kids will enjoy decorating their monkey and using it for endless pretend jungle adventures. Simple supplies make assembling easy, letting children focus on creating expressive details.

This cute monkey paper cup craft is another fun idea to try!

two side by side examples of finished toilet paper monkey craft

Monkey Toilet Paper Roll

With this cute idea, transform a simple toilet paper roll into a charming monkey! Kids can enjoy the fun of painting and gluing as they watch their adorable primates take shape. This activity is ideal for imaginative play and uses recycled materials, sparking creativity while celebrating.

Monkey Day.

Kwanzaa

happytoddlerplaytime.com

Cotton Ball Kinara Kwanzaa

Kids can celebrate Kwanzaa by creating their own Kinara using soft cotton balls for a unique look. This activity introduces children to the holiday's symbols, offering a hands-on way to learn and connect. This DIY is a fun and meaningful sensory experience with colorful paint and gentle textures.

happytoddlerplaytime.com

Yarn Wrapped Kinara

Making a Kinara out of yarn allows kids to work on their fine motor skills while celebrating Kwanzaa. Wrapping the yarn around each candle creates a vibrant, textured piece that's fun and beautiful. It's a creative way to introduce cultural traditions and let kids explore colors and textures.

New Years Eve

www.craftsonsea.co.uk

New Year’s Eve Paper Plate Twirler

Welcome the New Year with a twirling paper plate decoration full of sparkle and movement! Kids will love watching their creations spin and catch the light as they celebrate. This easy art excites children for the countdown and adds a festive touch to any celebration space.

kidscraftroom.com

Rocking New Year Paper Plate

Designed to rock back and forth, this festive paper plate creation is perfect for New Year's Eve fun. Kids can decorate their plates with fireworks, stars, or numbers to mark the year, adding a personal touch to their celebration.

The rocking motion adds an extra bit of excitement as they anticipate the new year.

iheartcraftythings.com

3D New Year’s Eve

Kids can bring in the New Year by creating a 3D creation filled with confetti, stars, and sparkle! This activity encourages them to think dimensionally as they layer and arrange materials for a festive decoration.

It's a fun, hands-on way to mark the end of the year and practice building skills.

buggyandbuddy.com

New Year’s Eve Countdown Clock

Kids can make their countdown clock to prepare for New Year's Eve! Decorating and setting the hands on this clock adds excitement as they count to midnight. This DIY is fun and helps introduce children to time-telling basics.

thesoccermomblog.com

New Year’s Eve Ball Drop Card

Create a fun, interactive New Year's card that lets kids recreate the famous ball drop! With a sliding mechanism for the ball, it brings an extra bit of excitement to celebrating the New Year.

Children will enjoy adding festive colors and seeing their creations in action as they ring in the new year.

Christmas

Gingerbread House Paper Bag

Transform a simple paper bag into a gingerbread house perfect for pretend play and holiday storytelling. Kids will love decorating it with bright candy shapes, allowing them to be creative with color and patterns. It's an adorable keepsake and doubles as a puppet for hours of festive fun.

play-trains.com

DIY Pipe Cleaner Trees Christmas

Create mini Christmas trees with pipe cleaners for simple, textured decorations kids can twist and bend. These little trees can stand independently and decorate shelves or play areas. It's an easy art with endless color combinations, letting children personalize each.

Related: Christmas Tree Name Craft

two side by side examples of finished buddy the elf crafts

Free Printable Elf

Kids will love creating their elf with a printable template that simplifies each step. Personalizing the elf's face and outfit adds a creative touch and makes each project unique. This is a fun way to kick off Christmas while encouraging kids to use their fine motor skills.

www.thebestideasforkids.com

Santa Activity

Making Santa come to life with paper and a bit of creativity is a holiday highlight for kids. Adding details like a fluffy beard and a rosy-cheeked smile brings charm to this classic Christmas figure. It's the perfect display to hang up or give as a handmade holiday card.

Give our santa card craft a try for creative activity that kids will love!

Reindeer Headband

Turn kids into little reindeer with an easy-to-make headband that lets their holiday spirit shine. Wearing antlers and a festive nose, kids will enjoy playing pretend as they imagine guiding Santa's sleigh. This headband is a beautiful accessory for classroom celebrations or family gatherings.

nontoygifts.com

Shape Santa Made of Paper

This project brings Santa to life using simple shapes, making it a great way to teach kids about basic geometry. Using circles, triangles, and rectangles helps little ones understand shapes while having holiday fun. It's an educational and creative project that adds a bit of Christmas cheer to any wall.

Related: Santa Cup Craft

Santa’s Cookie Plate Name

Design a personalized cookie plate for Santa that doubles as a festive decoration. Kids can add their names to show Santa precisely who the plate is from, adding a personal touch. This activity is both a keepsake and a way to build excitement for Christmas Eve.

www.artycraftykids.com

Paper Plate Santa Claus

A paper plate Santa brings holiday charm to life, complete with a big fluffy beard and a jolly smile that kids can decorate to make uniquely their own. Using a plate as the base makes this a simple, mess-free art with a striking result. It's perfect for decorating walls or doors with a handmade touch.

Try out our photo santa paper craft for more creative fun this Christmas!

Grinch Headband

This Grinch headband lets kids become their favorite green holiday character, complete with his mischievous smile. It's a fun way for them to enter the story of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and enjoy imaginative play—a unique choice for Grinch fans during the holiday season.

www.craftymorning.com

Egg Carton Reindeer

Give egg cartons a second life by turning them into cute reindeer faces with antlers and red noses. Kids will enjoy the creative recycling aspect and love seeing ordinary materials become something festive. Each reindeer can be unique, letting kids add personal touches to their creations.

Related: Torn Paper Reindeer Craft

www.projectswithkids.com

Gingerbread House Ornaments

Tiny gingerbread house ornaments add a sweet, homemade touch to the Christmas tree. With plenty of chances to decorate each house, kids can let their imagination run wild with "candy" details. These ornaments make charming keepsakes or handmade gifts for family and friends.

This cute gingerbread house paper plate craft is another fun idea to try!

abcsofliteracy.com

Paint Chip Gingerbread Man

Turn paint chips into adorable gingerbread men with frosting details and a big smile. Kids will love choosing their favorite colors, making each gingerbread unique. This activity gives new life to paint samples, making it both budget-friendly and fun.

Related: Torn Paper Gingerbread Craft

raisinglittlesuperheroes.com

Tissue Paper Christmas Tree

A Christmas tree of colorful tissue paper lets kids enjoy a fun, textured art time experience. The layering technique helps develop fine motor skills as they arrange the "leaves" on their tree. This easy project is perfect for decorating windows or walls with holiday cheer.

Grinch Gingerbread Man

Combine the Grinch's character with a gingerbread twist for a unique Christmas decoration. Kids will enjoy adding green and red details that reveal the Grinch's mischievous personality. This playful art combines two holiday favorites in one fun project.

www.redtedart.com

Reindeer Paper Plate Purse for Preschoolers

A paper plate reindeer that doubles as a purse offers a unique holiday accessory for little ones. They'll enjoy decorating the reindeer face and having a pouch for treats or tiny treasures. It's an adorable, functional art for holiday parties or as a gift.

This cute reindeer paper cup craft is another fun idea to try!

buggyandbuddy.com

Yarn Reindeer Ornament

Wrap yarn around a reindeer-shaped frame to create a soft and textured ornament for the tree. Kids will love weaving the yarn, which adds a cozy, handmade look. It's a sweet, rustic decoration that makes a thoughtful gift or personal holiday keepsake.

Related: Reindeer Name Craft

www.darcyandbrian.com

Coffee Filter Reindeer Christmas

Turn coffee filters into cute reindeer faces, where kids can play with paint for a watercolor effect. The soft, blendable colors create a unique background, giving each reindeer its look. It's an engaging art that's simple but adds beautiful holiday character.

Related: Reindeer Tissue Paper Craft

barleyandbirch.com

DIY Cardboard Christmas Tree

Stack cardboard cutouts into a 3D Christmas tree that kids can decorate to their heart's content. Using recycled cardboard makes it eco-friendly, and decorating each layer encourages creativity. This is a unique way to bring some holiday spirit into the home.

www.artsyfartsymama.com

Elf Kids

Create a cheerful elf with movable parts for an interactive art experience. Kids will love adding details to bring their elf to life, making it feel like a little helper for Santa. This project is perfect for fostering holiday excitement and creativity in young ones.

Need another Christmas idea? Try this cute torn paper elf craft!

nontoygifts.com

Grinch’s Heart

Celebrate the Grinch's heart growing with a simple, meaningful holiday art. Kids can create a green heart symbolizing kindness and giving, perfect for hanging on the tree. It's a lovely way to talk about the message of Christmas while crafting together.

Related: Grinch Cup Craft

www.learningandexploringthroughplay.com

Popsicle Gingerbread House

You can make a gingerbread house that lasts with popsicle sticks as a sturdy base. Decorating the house with vibrant colors and "candy" details lets kids get creative without the mess. It's a charming decoration that brings the magic of gingerbread houses to life in a long-lasting way.

www.messylittlemonster.com

Elf Writing Activity & Printable

Combine writing and crafting with an elf activity that encourages creativity in words and design. Kids can create their elf while writing a short holiday story, making this both a craft and a literacy exercise. It's fun to get into the holiday spirit while building writing skills.

Related: Elf Name Craft

More Fun Kid’s Ideas

30 Festive & Fun Christmas Books For Preschoolers
58 Easy Christmas Crafts For Kids
30 Fun Preschool Reindeer Activities

Sam

Sam is the crafter and founder of Simple Everyday Mom. She has been featured in Oprah Mag, Good Housekeeping, The Spruce Crafts, Country Living, The Bump and more. Read more.