December craft ideas! A collection of childcare activities to enjoy with Christmas and winter themes
December is the perfect time to enjoy cozy, seasonally inspired crafts.
Here, we introduce wonderful ideas that nurture children’s imagination—from creations that evoke winter warmth, like oden, cream stew, and a snug duvet, to seasonal projects such as Christmas wreaths, snow globes, and snowmen.
Using familiar materials, why not enjoy winter-only crafting with children while exploring light, color, and shape? We also provide detailed explanations of key points and creative tips for each project, so please use them as a reference.
Because the items children make are treated as artworks, we use the term “制作 (seisaku)” in the text to mean “production/creation” in the artistic sense.
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December Craft Ideas! A Collection of Childcare Activities to Enjoy with Christmas and Winter Themes (101–110)
Letter to Santa
We’re making cute stockings for messages to Santa.
Please prepare colored construction paper cut into a stocking shape with holes punched around the edge in advance.
The children will thread yarn through those holes.
Cut the first piece of string a bit long and temporarily secure it with tape.
If you wrap a bit of clear tape around the end of the yarn, it’s easier to thread.
When they finish threading, tie the ends together.
On the background sheet of construction paper, have them paste an origami Santa and freely draw stars and other decorations.
Finally, have them write a message on the stocking, paste it on, and it’s complete.
It’ll be fun to see what messages the children come up with.
Santa and Reindeer Wreath
Let’s make a “Santa and Reindeer Wreath” together with children who are eagerly waiting for Christmas! This wreath is easy to create—just make the Santa and reindeer parts and connect them into a circle.
There’s no need for scissors or glue, so you can enjoy it together safely and with peace of mind.
You can also draw the eyes and noses of Santa and the reindeer to add a personal touch, or use round stickers for a quick and simple look.
It’s sure to capture the children’s excitement for Christmas and become a fun craft that brightens up the winter season!
Star ornament
Here’s an idea for a star ornament you can use for Christmas and more.
Start with a square sheet of construction paper, fold it in half to make a crease, then fold it twice more to create creases, followed by four additional folds.
Trim it with scissors to form a pentagon.
Open the paper, make some slits, then fold it back up and cut along those slit guides—like magic, it turns into a star.
Alternate mountain and valley folds along the crease lines to give it a 3D shape, and your star ornament is complete! Add a loop to hang it, and it’s perfect not only for the tree but also as a wall decoration.
A chimney Santa toy made from a milk carton
Let’s make a cute toy where Santa Claus and a reindeer pop out of a chimney! You can use it for pretend play, too.
First, cut a milk carton to a length of 15 cm from the bottom.
Cut out the bottom piece.
Then wrap the carton with colored construction paper to look like a chimney and glue it in place.
Next, cut out parts for Santa Claus and the reindeer from construction paper.
Don’t forget the house parts that you’ll stick onto the milk carton.
Glue the house parts onto the carton, and attach Santa and the reindeer to the tips of straws to make little puppets.
Draw the facial expressions, the house’s window frames, and the chimney pattern, and you’re done! Move the straws and the puppets will pop out of the chimney.
A reindeer that breaks easily
Why not try making Santa’s partner, a reindeer, out of origami? The folding method is relatively simple, so give it a try with your kids! At the end, you’ll create the reindeer’s antlers, but depending on your child’s age, this step might be a bit tricky—so adults can lend a hand if needed.
Finish by drawing the reindeer’s eyes, nose, and mouth! You can also use round stickers for the facial features.
It’s great for Christmas origami crafts and wall decorations.
How about using this activity to boost the festive Christmas mood?