Christmas time is nearly here, and we’re ready to celebrate with tons of fun projects for kids.

Kids love creating handprint keepsakes, and since Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is one of the holiday season’s most iconic characters, we knew we needed to start with him.

This adorable handprint reindeer craft is perfect for children of all ages, from toddlers to preschoolers to elementary-aged children.

And if you want more ideas, check out our reindeer crafts for kids!

It’s also super simple and uses common supplies like paper and glue. Plus, our free template makes it even easier to create this keepsake gift!

If you’re looking for a fun and easy Christmas idea for kids, read on below to see how easy it is to make this reindeer hand craft with your family.

Reindeer Handprint Craft

handprint reindeer craft image collage with the words handprint reindeer

Christmas handprint activities are some of our favorites to make at our house around the holidays.

Kids love to see their handprints magically transformed into a cool new art project, and parents love this great keepsake that preserves those little hands for the future!

This idea is easy because it doesn’t use paint, so you don’t have to worry about making a mess.

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Supplies

Colored cardstock or construction paper
Glue stick
Scissors
Pencil
Brown marker
Reindeer template (click the “click here to get your freebies” image at the end of the post)

Click here to see our favorite kids’ craft supplies.

Directions

Start by downloading the template and printing it out. Once the template is printed, gather the materials for this fun activity. Get those scissors ready, and let’s help the kids bring this Reindeer to life!

First, encourage your child to make the reindeer head by gluing the inner ears in the middle of the outer ears.

Hands gluing inner ear to handprint reindeer craft

Next, guide your child to glue the eyes to the center of the reindeer’s head.

Hands gluing eyes to handprint reindeer craft

Click here to see why I recommend these craft supplies

Now, help your child glue the big, red nose just below the eyes, near the bottom of the head.

Hands gluing nose onto handprint reindeer craft

Place the small pink cheeks on either side of the nose, by the bottom of the eyes, and glue in place.

Hands gluing cheeks onto handprint reindeer craft

Using a brown marker, draw eyebrows above both of the eyes.

Hands gluing eyebrows onto handprint reindeer craft

Trace your child’s hand onto the dark brown paper two times and cut each handprint out.

Adult hand tracing child hand on brown paper

Finally, add glue to the bottom of the child’s handprints and glue behind the reindeer’s head, with each hand slightly angled outward.

Hands gluing handprint antlers onto handprint reindeer craft

That’s it! Isn’t this such a cute Christmas craft for kids?! If you’d like, you can also draw a smile with a marker under Rudolph’s nose.

Adorable Torn Paper Reindeer Craft

Christmas Unit For Kids

Don’t let the fun stop here! Create an entire Christmas-themed unit to go with this reindeer idea. Below are some of our favorite ideas to get you started. Reading to your kids (or students) is so awesome for their development!

It can help with vocabulary, foster a love of books, improve focus, and so much more! For all these reasons, we recommend starting any new unit with books.

Christmas Books For Kids

Dasher: This wonderfully illustrated Christmas book for kids gives you the back story on one of Santa’s favorite reindeer, Dasher! Girls will especially love to read this since Dasher is a girl.

Construction Site On Christmas Night: Fans of the fun characters of the construction site books have to add this Christmas-themed story to their collection. See how the trucks get ready for Christmas!

How To Catch An Elf: Kids everywhere love the silliness of this Christmas story. The rhymes and the illustrations will draw the kids in as well. This is a Christmas book kids will want to read every year!

two examples of finished handprint reindeer

Kids’ Christmas Crafts

Try some more of our favorite Christmas DIYs:

Christmas Tree Paper Bag Puppet Craft – This pretend play Christmas tree puppet is the perfect idea for getting kids into the holiday spirit! All you need is a brown paper lunch bag, some construction paper, scissors, and glue. Your kids are going to love this fun Christmas project!

Fun Reindeer Paper Cup Craft

Photo Gingerbread Man Craft – Looking for a festive and fun gingerbread man ideas for kids? This easy and adorable photo project will turn your little ones into gingerbread boys and girls. It would also make the perfect gift for grandparents or other family members!

Popsicle Stick Grinch Craft – The Grinch is a grumpy, green creature who hates Christmas. But even the Grinch can’t help but love this mischievous popsicle stick Grinch! Grinchmas is the perfect time to make this fun and easy project with your kids.

Buddy The Elf Ornament Craft – Buddy the Elf is one of the most iconic Christmas characters of all time. And what better way to get into the Christmas spirit than by making your very own Buddy the Elf paper ornament? This activity is easy and fun for kids of all ages!

Christmas Activities For Kids

Kids will love these Christmas do a dot printables! These are perfect for preschool and kindergarten-aged children. They’re great for practicing counting and fine motor skills, too. There’s also letter recognition practice in here to help your kiddos!

These Christmas pattern block mats are perfect for a fun, quiet time activity for younger kids. They can work on their fine motor skills while learning shapes and colors!

Collage image of Christmas Activities For Kids

Christmas matching worksheets are not just fun; they’re a festive activity for the holiday season! With colorful images of jolly elves, twinkling Christmas trees, and friendly snowmen, these worksheets will have your little ones honing their observation skills, counting, and even practicing color recognition and more – all while wrapped up in the season’s joy.

These Santa math activities are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers learning to recognize patterns. With bright, colorful images of Santa himself, this activity will help your little one develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and memory skills—all while having a blast!

Related: Reindeer Name Craft

Did you make this activity with your kids or students? We’d love to feature them on our social media!

For a chance to have your child’s project featured, simply snap a picture of the completed project and post it to our Facebook page, email it to us directly by clicking here, or use #simpleeverydaymom on your social media!

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