Cold winter days are perfect for snuggling up inside and spending some one-on-one time with your kids. Making crafts with my kids is one of my favorite winter activities. If we’re cooped up inside, we may as well make the most of it! Below are some of the best winter crafts for kids that I’ve come across. Try some out and let me know what you think!
- Pinecone Snowy Owls: This is a super simple craft that involves some pinecones—the short stubby kind—cotton balls, felt, and googly eyes. Your younger kids will have fun ripping and stretching the cotton balls as well as playing with the googly eyes. The snowy owl that you get as a result is cute enough to be part of a winter decorating display in your house. Easy Peasy and Fun has the complete directions on how to make this adorable winter craft for kids along with bonus instructions for matching pinecone hedgehogs.
- Winter Watercolor Snowflakes: This cute painting craft is a good science experiment for older kids and something closer to a magic trick for younger kids. Using a white crayon, draw your snowflake design on the page. If you have older kids, they can do this step themselves. Then, let them paint the paper—which still looks white—with watercolor paint. The paint won’t stick to the areas where the crayon outline is because the wax repels the water. It will amaze younger kids as the snowflake magically appears! To make this craft even more fun, get your kids sprinkle salt lightly on the paper while the paint is still wet. It’ll leave a snow-like effect. You can check out the full instructions over at Teach Kids Art.
- Clay snowmen: Kids of all ages can enjoy this simple craft. Simply take some clay, roll it into three balls and grab some tiny sticks to make arms. Voila! You have a cute snowman that you can decorate by adding eyes, a nose, scarves, or even clay hats. For a lasting keepsake, try making your own air-dry clay by following Alexa’s directions over at Kid Activities by Alexa.
Don’t limit your clay fun to making snowmen! The only limit as to what you can create is your imagination. Making things with clay is one of the best winter crafts for kids because it allows your kid’s creativity to shine. Who knows what cute little snow creature they’ll come up with?
- Snow Slime: Sarah, over at Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls came up with a great way to combine winter fun with slime. Snow slime is super simple to make, and it only requires three ingredients: Liquid starch, white school glue, and fake snow (or fine glitter). In less than five minutes, you have stretchy, gooey, winter fun.
- Snowman Suncatcher: If you’re looking for an easy craft that you can use to decorate your winter windows, then this is the perfect winter craft for you! You can advance prep this craft by cutting a few circles in some contact paper and some squares—or any shape you want—from tissue paper. Once you’ve got this ready, simply peel the backing off the contact paper and let your kids go wild, sticking the tissue paper pieces to the snowballs. After they’re done sticking the tissue paper, they can decorate their snowman with a nose, hat, eyes, scarp, arms, mitts, and any other frosty detail. 123Homeschool 4 Me has the full directions on their site..
If you loved making these tissue paper snowmen, check out Kinder Craze where Maria explains how to make snowflake suncatchers.
- Snow painting: On sunny days, why not take your crafting fun outdoors? Snow painting is one of the best winter crafts for kids and it only takes two ingredients: food coloring and water. Mix the two together in a squeeze bottle—or spray bottle—and let your kids go wild decorating the snow! Toddlers will have fun just turning the snow into different colors while older kids can try to make shapes, designs, and artwork.
- Snow Paint: The last craft had you painting the snow; while this one will have you making paint that looks like snow! Using shaving cream and glue you can make fluffy, soft paint for winter scenes, snowmen and snowflakes. You can find the full recipe on the PBS for Parents website. If you want to add some sparkle to your snow paint, try mixing in some glitter.
- Paper plate penguins: This is such a cute winter craft for you and your kids to make! It’s also super simple. Just fold a paper plate over at the top, paint the folded areas black, then add some construction paper feet, a beak and some googly eyes. Head on over to Our Potluck Family for full instructions with photos.
- Winter Handprint and Footprint Animals: What kid doesn’t enjoy getting their hands and feet covered in paint? Why not embrace the mess and create cute little animals that will act as a memento of how small your kids’ hands and feet once were? Try making footprint penguins to capture their tiny toes or cardinal handprints and polar bear handprints to memorialize those little fingers.
- Winter bath bombs: Older children may get a kick out of making winter themed bath bombs. Becky, over at Family Budgeting shows you how to make snowman shaped bath bombs but you can use the same recipe to make any winter themed bath bombs you want..
- Snowman Painted Rocks: Painted rocks make a cute addition to winter displays. This craft is listed for older children because it might be hard for young kids to paint the image of a penguin on the rocks. The Soccer Mom Blog shows you how to paint a penguin, which rocks to choose, as well as common troubleshooting for this craft.
Try out some of my winter craft for kids’ ideas and let me know which one you and your kids liked best!
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