Crafting in your daycare is more than just a way to pass a cold afternoon; it’s a chance to help your children develop fine motor skills, express their creativity and make lasting memories.
This post will guide you through five simple and festive winter craft ideas perfect for your preschoolers. These activities don’t require special skills or materials, just common supplies and a little imagination. We’ll break down each craft with a description, a materials list and clear instructions to help transform your daycare room into a winter wonderland!
Paper Plate Snowflakes
Every snowflake is unique, and so are the ones your preschoolers will create. This craft is a fantastic way for them to practice scissor skills, explore patterns and learn the importance of individuality. And you will get a beautiful arrangement of snowflakes to hang in your classroom!
Materials Needed
- White paper plate
- Scissors
- Glitter, sequins or small pom-poms (optional)
- Glue stick
- String (for hanging)
Instructions
- Fold the Plate: Start by having your preschoolers fold the paper plate in half, and then in half again, creating a wedge shape.
- Start Snipping: Show them how to carefully cut small shapes along the folded edges of the plate. Make sure they don’t cut all the way across.
- Snowflake Reveal: Unfold the plate to reveal a unique snowflake design. This part is always a fun surprise!
- Add Some Sparkle: Let them decorate their snowflakes using the glue stick to add glitter, sequins or pom poms for a magical touch.
- Prepare for Display: Once the glue is dry, poke a small hole at the top of the snowflake and thread a piece of string through it to hang up.
Cotton Ball Penguin Pal (or Tucker!)
This activity is a great mix of crafting and sensory fun. With a few simple modifications, it can be adaptable for all age groups!
Materials Needed
- Black, white and orange construction paper
- Cotton balls
- Googly eyes
- Glue stick
- Scissors
Instructions
- Create the Body: Help your preschoolers cut a large oval from the black construction paper and a smaller oval from the white paper. Glue the white oval onto the black oval to make the penguin’s belly. Tip: For younger children, pre-cut the shapes beforehand.
- Add the Wings: Created two long, thin oval shapes from the excess black paper and glue them to the sides of the body.
- Make it Fluffy: Cover the white oval with glue and stick cotton balls on top until it’s completely covered.
- Add the Face: Glue on two googly eyes. Cut a small triangle from the orange paper for the beak and glue it in place.
- Give it Feet: Cut two small, webbed-foot shapes from the orange paper and glue them to the bottom of the penguin.
- Let it Dry: Set your penguin pal aside to dry completely.
- Name Your Penguin: Encourage your kiddos to come up with a creative name for their new friend.
Handprint Snow Globes
Bring their families a special keepsake of their child’s handprint. This personal piece of art captures just how small they were.
Materials Needed
- washable, non-toxic white
- washable, non-toxic markers
- blue and black construction paper
- large paintbrush
- small paintbrush
Instructions
- Assemble the Snow Globe: Cut the blue construction paper into a circle. Then, cut the base of the snow globe using the black paper and glue it to the bottom of the blue circle.
- Paint the Hand: Use a paintbrush to apply a thick, even coat of paint to your kiddos’ palms and fingers.
- Make the Print: Gently press their hand onto the blue construction paper.
- Add the Snowmen: Once the paint is dry, use your markers to turn each finger into a snowman. Add scarves, hats, buttons and faces!
- Let it Snow: Use a smaller paintbrush to create tiny white dots around their handprints to simulate falling snow.
- Personalize: Have each child write their names and the current year on the base of the snow globes. This adds a personal touch and helps parents remember what year their child’s hands were so small.
Paper Roll Winter Friends
Turn an empty toilet paper roll into a winter friend. This is a simple and fun way to build non breakable winter decor using recycled materials!
Materials Needed:
- Empty toilet paper roll
- White or brown paint (or construction paper)
- Googly eyes
- Black, red and orange markers
- Brown pipe cleaners
- Glue
Instructions:
- Color Your Roll: Paint the toilet paper roll white or brown and let it dry. Alternatively, cover the roll by gluing on a piece of construction paper.
- Create the Face: Glue two googly eyes onto the top third of the roll. Use the markers to draw a mouth and a nose (red for a reindeer or orange for a snowman).
- Add the Details:
- For the snowman, use the markers to draw buttons and a scarf. Glue on the brown pipe cleaners as arms.
- For the reindeer, use pipe cleaners to construct the antlers and glue them securely inside the top of the roll
Handprint Reindeer
Another special keepsake for the family! This craft will be a memory parents will hold onto for years to come.
Materials needed:
- White construction paper
- Washable, nontoxic brown paint
- Red cotton ball
- Googly eyes
- Ribbon or string
- Glue
- Paintbrush
Instructions
- Paint the Hand: Use a paintbrush to apply a thick, even coat of brown paint to their hand.
- Make the Print: Gently press their hand onto the white construction paper to create the handprint.
- Cut the Edges: Once the paint is completely dry, cut the paper around the handprint.
- Add the Face: Glue on the googly eyes onto the top of the palm and the red cotton ball to the bottom of the palm.
- Hang it up: Holepunch or glue a loop of ribbon or string to the top of the reindeer so it can be displayed!
Share the Experience with Families!
According to the 2025 Child Care Business Trends Report from Procare Solutions, 72% of respondents reported using a mobile app for teacher-family communication, a 7% increase from the previous year. What was once a nice-to-have is now an essential communication tool for child care centers.
Procare’s robust child care management solution offers enhanced family engagement. Our mobile app allows you to immerse parents in their child’s day by sharing daily activities, videos, photos and milestones in real time. Parents can react to photos, helping build deeper relationships with their children’s teachers.
Families LOVE seeing what their children are doing in your child care center! Share photos and videos of their winter crafts to increase family engagement and show them how much fun their little one is having in your care.
