Keep the Kids Busy on Winter Break with These Fun Crafts

The winter holiday break provides a wonderful opportunity for kids to unleash their creativity and keep busy with engaging activities beyond the screens. As the chilly weather settles in and the holiday spirit takes hold, sitting down with simple and festive crafts brings joy and fosters a range of essential skills in children. From enhancing fine motor skills to encouraging imaginative thinking, crafting is a versatile and enjoyable outlet for expression. 

Here are some fun and creative holiday crafts to do at home this holiday season:

Paper Plate Crafts

Paper plates are a versatile and easily accessible material for various creative projects. This affordable, blank base can be combined with acrylic or watercolor, glitter, cotton balls, and other items around the house to make fun winter-themed creations. These 25 Easy Paper Plate Winter Crafts range from snowflakes to snowmen and winter animals to hot chocolate cups. 

Handprint Crafts

Handprint crafts hold a special place in our hearts because they capture a moment in time and serve as treasured keepsakes. The uniqueness of a child's handprint, with its tiny fingers and palm, adds a personal touch to any creation. Plus, kids often love the texture and feel of paint on their skin and find joy in seeing their hands transform into something they recognize. 

Create winter-themed handprint crafts like snowmen, gloves, polar bears, cardinals and more.

Origami

Origami, the art of paper folding, is an ideal craft for kids over the holidays, offering a unique blend of entertainment and skill development. It encourages children to enhance their fine motor skills, concentration, and patience as they transform simple sheets of paper into intricate, three-dimensional creations. Engaging in origami during the holidays allows kids to create personalized decorations, festive ornaments, or even delightful gifts, adding an extra touch of joy to the season. 

Stained Glass Crafts

The intricate and colorful stained glass designs provide a satisfying challenge for older kids. They can experiment with different colors, shapes, and patterns, fostering a sense of creative expression and personal style. The finished products, whether ornaments, window hangings, or decorative panels, serve as impressive decor for their rooms or to give as gifts.

Make a stained glass frame with tissue paper or trace a design onto lamination or tracing paper. Vibrant markers ensure bright and lasting colors and contribute to the intricate details of stained glass art. These stained glass creations can be hung on windows to catch the light, creating a beautiful and festive display. 

DIY Snow Globes

Snow globes are a delightful and whimsical winter craft that captivates kids with their enchanting charm. Crafting snow globes allows children to create their own winter wonderland, fostering imagination and creativity as they design scenes with miniature figures, glittering snow, and festive landscapes. The hands-on nature of assembling a snow globe provides a sense of accomplishment and pride as kids witness their vision come to life within the confines of a glass dome.

This craft also combines the joy of artistic expression with a touch of magic as kids shake their finished snow globes to watch the snow cascade over their crafted scenes. The personalized and customizable nature of snow globes makes them a fun and individualized winter activity, perfect for adding a touch of seasonal magic to the holiday break.

Paint and Sip

Paint and sip nights aren't just for adults. Paint-and-sip nights with kids offer a delightful blend of creativity and bonding, creating a memorable and enjoyable experience for parents and children. Kids revel in the joy of creating their own masterpieces while sipping on non-alcoholic beverages, mirroring the social aspect of this traditional adult version.

Gather the supplies, including canvas boards and paints. Then, whip up some hot chocolate and invite over some friends. Follow along to step-by-step videos demonstrating how to paint a winter scene and see what different variations everyone creates. 

• Trees and Birds
• Snowman
• Winter Night

Have kids draw and color a winter scene on a piece of white paper, then place it inside a clear plastic cup. Add glitter for a snow globe effect.

Gold Leaf Decorations and Crafts

Crafting with gold leaf offers a touch of elegance and enchantment to creative endeavors for kids. Transform ordinary crafts into shimmering works of art that evoke the season's magic. The process of applying gold leaf involves precision and patience, promoting fine motor skills and attention to detail. 

Whether it's decorating ornaments, winter-themed cards, or other festive creations, the addition of gold leaf elevates the craft, making it a captivating and visually stunning winter activity. Create holly ornaments, wrapping paper, or paper flowers. Or, uplevel an item around the house, such as bowls, planters, jewelry, or vases. 

Stamped Cards and Gift Tags

Crafting stamped cards or gift tags is a delightful winter craft for kids that combines creativity with the joy of sharing personalized greetings. Kids can express their artistic flair by designing unique and festive patterns using stamps, ink pads, and cards. The ideas are endless — snowflakes, winter scenes, or holiday motifs make each card a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. 

Beyond the joy of crafting, making stamped cards teaches kids the value of handmade gestures, fostering a sense of generosity and connection during the winter season. It's a craft that entertains and instills the spirit of giving and creativity in young hearts.

DIY Gift Wrap

Creating your own wrapping paper is another personalized craft idea that engages kids in the joy of gift-giving. This activity allows children to express their creativity by designing unique and festive patterns on plain paper using stamps, paint, or even hand-drawn illustrations. Making wrapping paper promotes artistic exploration, encouraging kids to experiment with colors, shapes, and textures.

Beyond being a fun and engaging activity, making your own wrapping paper adds a personal touch to gifts, making each package a work of art that reflects the warmth and creativity of the giver. There are so many possibilities for DIY gift wrap, including stamping, painting, or embellishing with drawings or designs that all start with some basic brown paper. 

In this season of togetherness, guiding kids through various craft projects keeps them entertained and creates lasting memories and tangible mementos of the holiday season.