12 Winter-Themed Crafts for Preschoolers
Wintertime in a preschool classroom means cute cold-weather animals (hello, penguins!), glittering snowflakes, and all the snuggly vibes. It’s the perfect time of year for engaging preschool students with creative craft projects, and the possibilities are so much fun.
Here are 12 winter crafts for preschoolers to keep little ones busy and learning during the snowy season.
DIY Snow Globe
Create DIY snow globes using egg cartons, small food jars, and a few other craft items. Silver glitter, water, and blue food coloring make up the liquid part of the snow globe, creating a sparkly result sure to wow your preschoolers!
Dress-Up Felt Snowman
Felt, scissors, fabric glue, and tape are all that is needed to let preschoolers get super creative making their own dress-up felt snowmen. Cutting out the snowman pieces promotes fine-motor skills practice and deciding how their snowman will look is a fun way to discuss what clothing is needed for cold weather.
Are you looking for a winter-themed craft that will delight your preschoolers? Download this free Ice-Pop Painting craft from Preschool With a Purpose!
Penguin Cozy Cup Craft
Do your preschoolers want to get crafty and gain some early science skills at the same time? Try this adorable penguin cozy cup craft. Children can learn about how their penguin cozy, fashioned out of a tube sock and a few art supplies, can keep their hot cocoa warm this winter season.
Polar Bear Paper Plate Craft
Gather some paper plates, cotton balls, paint, and wiggle eyes to let preschoolers make their own fuzzy polar bear paper plate craft. Paint makes this engaging sensory craft and the wiggle eyes are just plain cute!
Paper Plate Hot Cocoa Mug
Continuing with the paper plate theme, this easy paper plate hot cocoa mug packs a big visual punch for preschoolers, who will love looking down at their craft and seeing inside a mug of hot cocoa. Aside from paper plates, all that is needed for this sweet creation is paint, cotton balls, glue, and brown tissue paper.
Snowman Stacking Cups
This craft is extra special because once preschoolers are finished making it, they have an exciting (and speedy!) game to play. Styrofoam cups, markers, felt, and glue are all you need to make a dozen snowman stacking cups. Children can play stacking games or even set up the snowman cups into a little snowman village. They can also be used for sipping hot cocoa.
Rhinestone Pine Cones
Gathering pine cones on a classroom nature walk can lead to making these dazzling rhinestone pine cones. All you need is pine cones, rhinestone stickers, and a little glue (some rhinestone stickers may not fully stick) to cover pine cones in sparkling gems. Simply stick rhinestones on the scales of the pine cones. Preschoolers will be so proud of their beautiful wintry decor pieces - and learning fine-motor skills to boot.
Handprint Penguin
What’s better than precious preschooler handprints? A preschooler handprint that looks like a penguin! Cardstock, felt, construction paper, and wiggle eyes will transform a child’s handprint into an adorable handprint penguin. Students can practice using scissors and tracing their own hands while having a blast seeing their penguins come to life.
Popsicle Stick Hibernating Bear
Cardstock, cotton balls, paint, glue, and of course, popsicle sticks combine to create popsicle stick hibernating bears sure to delight preschoolers. When their craft is complete, children will have a sweet little bear snug in his hibernation cave for the winter season.
No-Melt Snowman Craft
Want a snowman that will never melt? Try making this no-melt snowman craft out of white t-shirts, rolls of toilet paper, twigs, buttons, and a few other craft supplies. Students can bring items from home to personalize their snowmen and will be thrilled to bring home a winter decoration they can take out again next year.
Beaded Snowflake Craft
Fuzzy sticks, colorful beads, and scissors are all you need to help preschoolers create this beaded snowflake craft. Students can hone early math and fine-motor skills while crafting their own beautiful snowflakes. Ask children to make patterns out of the different beads and to count how many beads they are using on their snowflakes. For extra learning (and organizing!) ask preschoolers to sort the beads into piles by color before beginning their craft.
Edible Meringue Snowmen
While this craft doubles as a tasty treat, it also teaches preschoolers early math and science skills as they measure ingredients and watch their edible meringue snowmen take shape in the oven. Simply combine egg whites, cream of tartar, and sugar to create the snowmen and once they’re baked and cooled, let children decorate them with currants or mini chocolate chips.
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About the Author:
Valerie Williams is a seasoned writer and editor who has spent her career creating content in the parenting and women's wellness spaces. Her bylines include Scary Mommy, SheKnows, Forbes Health, and others. When she's not helping women and families live their best and healthiest lives, she's spending time with her husband and teen kids, walking her dogs, reading, cooking, or attending HIIT classes at the gym.