Amazingly Easy Winter Crafts for Kids
By Janine Clements, 21st Century Mama
With it getting dark earlier every evening now the clocks have changed, the chances are you’re already wondering how you’re going to keep your preschoolers and toddlers entertained over the winter. It’s good to have a raft of fun winter crafts for kids up your sleeve that you can bring out when you need to. Knowing how pressed for time moms are at the moment, it’s good to keep things simple.
Whether you’re blessed with blue sky days and your little ones can get outside, or it’s grey and raining, here are some easy winter crafts for kids, from frozen sun catchers to homemade snow.
1. Frozen Sun Catchers
When it comes to easy winter crafts for preschoolers and toddlers, these icy decorations are perfect. The frozen sun catchers look so pretty when you see them hanging outside, glistening in the sun. It’s best to make these when it’s cold as they will last longer, but you can make them with your kids anytime.
What you need:
- Food coloring
- Pipe cleaner
- Natural materials such as flowers, leaves, berries or slices of orange or lemons
- Glitter/gems (optional)
- Water
- Small bowls or disposable plates
Directions:
- Add materials to bowls or plates
- Fill with water to about ½” deep
- Fold over a pipe cleaner into a loop for hanging the sun catcher and put ends in water.
- Place outside if it’s cold enough or put them in the freezer.
- Once frozen, pop them out of their containers (dipping the bases in hot water can help release the ice).
- Hang outside and watch them sparkle
2. Frosty Pinecone Decorations
If you’re looking for fun winter crafts for kids, frosty pinecones are a childhood classic. Your little ones will love turning regular pinecones into glittery decorations, which you can hang on your Christmas tree, wishing tree, or anything else you want.
What you need:
- Pinecones
- Silver glitter
- Mod Podge
- Silver ribbon or cord
Directions:
- If you collect pinecones from outside, bake them for 200F for an hour to kill any bugs.
- Paint mod podge onto tips of pinecones.
- Sprinkle glitter over each pinecone over a bowl. This will collect the excess glitter.
- Tie a length of ribbon or cord around the uppermost tips of the pinecone and knot into a loop.
- This winter craft for kids is ideal for hanging onto a tree or doorknob to make your home sparkle.
3. Clay Tea Light Holders
If you’re in need of some fun winter crafts for preschoolers, they’ll love this one. Not only is it easy to do, but the clay tea light holders also make wonderful gifts for grandparents or teachers, or you can keep them and decorate your home.
What you need:
- Air drying clay (white)
- Gold and silver acrylic paint
- Tea lights
- Glitter (optional)
- Large cookie cutters (stars, hearts or other shapes)
Directions:
- Roll out clay until about ¾” thick
- Place cookie cutter onto clay
- Push tealight down in center of cookie cutter
- Cut out shape in clay and leave to dry
- Paint clay, sprinkle on the glitter, and wait for this winter craft for preschoolers to dry
4. DIY Snow Paint
Next time there’s a snowfall and you’re looking for some quick and easy winter crafts for kids, this simple DIY snow paint craft will be a hit. Let your youngsters unleash their inner Picasso and get outside in the fresh air. They can draw pictures, write letters, and create masterpieces in the snow.
What You Need: What you need:
- Spray bottles
- Food coloring
- Water
Directions:
- Fill spray bottles with water
- Add a few drops of food coloring
- Screw top back on and shake bottle
- Put coats on, head outside, and have some fun!
5. Snow Globe Art
It’s useful to have some winter art projects for preschoolers to hand on the days when it’s too cold or wet to get outside. This easy snow globe art activity will keep them busy, although you might need to help them cut out the paper shapes.
What you need:
- Colored construction paper
- Markers
- White paint
- Q-tips
- School glue
Directions:
- Trace a paper plate onto a piece of colored paper to make a circle and then cut around it to make the globe. We used blue, but pick whichever color you like.
- Cut out a trapezoid shape from different color paper to create the stand and stick it onto the globe.
- Trace three more different size round shapes and cut them out (mugs, glasses, and cups are good options).
- Stick the circles onto the globe to make the snowman, using the smallest shape for the head.
- Cut out and stick on small rectangles for the hat and scarf.
- Use the markers to make a face, buttons, and stick arms.
- Dip the Q-tips in the paint and dot onto the globe to make the snowflakes.
6. Snowy Handprint Tree Scene
This is the perfect winter art for toddlers and preschoolers. The snowy handprint tree scene is easy to make, plus it’s involves finger painting and getting messy (and all kids love that).
What you need:
- Brown washable paint
- White washable paint
- Light blue colored paper
- Cotton wool
Directions:
- Using a thick paintbrush and the brown paint, paint your child’s palm and part of their forearm.
- Get them to push their arm palm-side down onto the paper. Fill in any gaps with brown paint.
- Paint snow on the ground
- Add snowflakes by dabbing fingers with white paint and dotting them on the paper.
- Use cotton wool dipped in paint to cover the ends of the branches with snow.
7. Homemade Snow
When it comes to easy winter crafts for kids, this one takes less than five minutes to make but will keep preschoolers and toddlers occupied for ages. While you might not have real snow for some time, you can make fake snow instead. All this you need is two ingredients for this fun sensory activity.
What you need:
- ½ cup hair conditioner (white conditioner is recommended)
- 3 cups baking soda
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring cup
Directions:
- Add baking soda into bowl
- Add conditioner
- Mix well using a spatula. Kids can also use their hands
- Make snowballs or a snow scene complete with animals, cars, or play people.
