Looking for Christmas art projects to try with your kids? This post is full of simple to do art activities for all ages of kids, from toddlers to big kids. Instead of spending time sorting through Pinterest to find Christmas painting ideas or holiday art projects, use this list of expertly curated activities.
What are the best Christmas art projects for kids?
There’s a lot of complicated art projects out there for kids.
Art projects that need a lot of specialty supplies.
Art projects that need more time than the season is long.
And (maybe my biggest pet peeve) a lot of Christmas art projects for kids that seem a little more “adult done” than child led.
For this list, I focused on art projects that are very clearly doable for kids, which means minimal supplies and Christmas process art abounds.
RELATED: This post is about Christmas art ideas. If you are look for Christmas crafts for kids, I have a whole post of those!
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Do you have to do Christmas art with kids?
No.
Goodness no.
Christmas art projects are a bonus, a fun extra, something to add in and tackle if your like. If art with kids brings you joy, then Christmas art will make your heart sing.
If art isn’t your jam with kids, no worries. There are lots of other ways to make the holiday season come to life for kids with far less concern of paint getting on your white couch.
Remember: we never have to feel guilty for things that are extras. Doing holiday art is an extra. If you can do it, awesome. If you can’t, still awesome.
Just don’t feel pressured to take on something outside your wheel house. This isn’t the season to do that.
RELATED: Maybe you’re more of an activities person? Try this list of super easy Christmas activities for kids.
25+ best Christmas art projects for kids
Tape Resist Tress
I will love these forever, and we make them yearly. Use cardboard, tape, and paint to make a negative space project that kids will love. Vary the size depending on the child’s age.
Squish Christmas Art
Really cool, really messy process for Christmas art that can be done by toddlers and big kids equally. This is such an inclusive activity for a variety of ages.
Christmas Tree Thumbprint Art
One of my favorites (my kids love doing this one). It’s a great way to teach kids about negative space and silhouettes, and makes an adorable final product.
Chalk Christmas Light Ar
Yep, it’s chalk. Bust out your summer sidewalk chalk (I know you still have some left) and let your kids create this outline art. It absolutely pops!
Salt Painting Christmas Art
Salt painting is so much fun and this holiday twist is perfect. You just need glue, table salt and water color paint to make this very cool art effect.
Paint a Tree Farm
One of my favorite ideas I’ve ever had was to let my daughter paint a tree farm of overlapping triangles. It was gorgeous. She loved it. It was a joy.
Fork Painted Trees
These are the cutest!! Can you imagine how adorable holiday cards for grandparents would be using this idea? I mean, it’s beyond sweet.
Tear Art Christmas Wreath
I’m obsessed with tear art for toddlers and preschoolers. Try this no-scissors way of creating a wreath with little artists. It’s a great fine motor workout.
Christmas Art with Pointillism
I have done my own twist on pointillism with kids, but I really love how this idea came together. It’s such a fun way to promote art and fine motor development.
Christmas Art with Pointillism
Do you have a toddler Christmas artist? This is the perfect painting project for them. Grab the bows. Grab some paint. When the final prints dry, send them out as cards to relatives – they’ll love them.
Easy Christmas Wreath
Using cotton swabs or cotton balls, kids (even toddlers) can make these adorable wreaths. It’s perfect activity and looks so cute as holiday decoration.
Faux Stained Glass
I can’t get over how cool this project looks – it’s sharpie on lasagna sheets. I’m so excited to introduce it to my big kids.
Sun Catcher Christmas Trees
This awesome art idea uses paper towels – yes, that’s a paper towel not art paper. This is a fun multi-step idea that’s great for toddlers and preschoolers.
Giant Christmas Art
My kids love when I draw them personalized coloring pages, so couldn’t help but make them a Christmas version. They worked on these all day while I did other holiday projects for myself.
Giant Christmas Art
Super cool combination of art and motor skills. Using food coloring, water, and cotton balls, this is a fun way to play art with toddlers and preschools.
Tissue Paper Bleed
What an amazing art technique. This is created by placing tissue paper on a wet canvas and letting the color bleed through. It’s so cool!
Nature Christmas Tree Sun Catcher
We love a paint scrape moment at our house! Go get the squeegee from your shower and make these. Trust me. They’re spectacular.
Sponge Painted Trees
I love the use of a sponge at Christmas – I’m not joking. Sponges make a great Christmas tree and this art activity shows that perfectly.
Christmas Q-Tip Painting
Need a quiet Christmas activity? This is it. My daughter love quiet, detailed work and this suits her so well.
Symmetry Christmas Trees
This is a really cool math-based art project that preschoolers to big kids will love. It’s also one that kids will do on repeat so be ready for a lot of symmetry art.
Tinfoil Process Art
Have you ever painted on tin foil? Because if not, may I suggest you try this activity with your kids? Tin foil is really fun to paint on and it’s something everyone should experience.
Shaving Cream Marbled Trees
Have you tried making marble prints yet? It’s addicting. It’s shaving cream and paint, and the combination is truly epic.
Torn Paper Christmas Art
Another variation of torn paper art and this is a great way to do it. Start with an outline and let kids take it from there. Toddlers can be successful. Big kids can add in complex designs. Everyone wins.
Nature Christmas Tree Sun Catcher
I’m so into this idea of using cardboard, packing tape, and greenery to create Christmas art. Maybe you’ll fall in love with this idea as fast as I did.
Watercolor Art (free template)
You can use a free template for this water color project, draw it yourself, or set the kids up with a ruler. Either way, it’s an awesome idea.
Watercolor Pine Needles
This watercolor project for big kids stopped me in my tracks when I saw it. I cannot wait to have my elementary aged kids try this technique and make their pine needle prints.
Frequently Asked Questions
NO! These are random, extra bonus ideas that have no bearing on whether or not your kids will have a magical Christmas. They’ll have a magical Christmas because they have you – no lack of Christmas art will change that.
I have a great list of Hanukkah arts, crafts, activities that you can find here.
Well, it depends. If the project was a memory piece: I will remember them working on this project and (at least for a few years) it will fill me with joy… I save it in an art portfolio (like this one). But the bulk of art… I recycle it (as I can). We can’t save it all.
Susie Allison, M. Ed
Owner, Creator
Susie Allison is the creator of Busy Toddler and has more than 2.3 million followers on Instagram. A former teacher and early childhood education advocate, Susie’s parenting book “Busy Toddler’s Guide to Actual Parenting” is available on Amazon.
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