Preschool Christmas Activities and Crafts

Christmas Sensory Bin

Dye bowtie pasta red for bows and other shapes green and you have a fun Christmas-themed sensory bin! I added some small pretend presets, Christmas-colored containers, and fine motor tools for extra fine motor fun!

How to dye pasta:

What You’ll Need:

Uncooked pasta (any shape, but small shapes like rotini or penne work best)
Food coloring (liquid or gel)
Rubbing alcohol or vinegar (to help the color set)
Ziplock bags or bowls
Plastic gloves (optional, but helpful if you want to keep your hands clean)

Method 1: Using Food Coloring (Liquid or Gel)

Prepare the Pasta:
- Measure out the amount of pasta you want to dye. Pour it into a large bowl or onto a flat surface for easy access.
Mix the Dye:
- In a Ziplock bag or separate bowl, add about 1-2 teaspoons of food coloring (more for vibrant colors).
- Add about 1-2 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol or vinegar to help the color adhere to the pasta. (Rubbing alcohol will dry faster, vinegar is more natural.)
- If you’re using liquid food coloring, start with a few drops; for gel food coloring, use a small amount and mix it into the liquid.
Dye the Pasta:
- Add the pasta to the bag or bowl with the dye.
- Seal the Ziplock bag (or cover the bowl) and shake the pasta around to coat it evenly with the color. If using a bowl, stir the pasta gently to ensure even coverage.
- If needed, add more food coloring to achieve the desired intensity.
Let the Pasta Dry:
- Lay the dyed pasta out on a paper towel or a tray to dry for about 15-30 minutes. The alcohol or vinegar helps it dry faster.
- If you’re not in a hurry, you can let the pasta air-dry for a few hours.
Store or Use:
- Once the pasta is dry, it’s ready to use for crafts or as a colorful addition to your meals.

Christmas Butcher Paper Activity

This is a fun fine motor activity for Christmas! Lay a large paper of butcher or bulletin board paper on a table and draw different lines and other pictures like Christmas trees. Children can use mini erasers, dot stickers, and other small objects to put on the lines and decorate the picture.

Christmas Gifts Sorting and Counting

It is so much fun to use small present decorations in math activities. Use a chip tray to sort the presents by color. You can also use them to count with, like the ones I have on the ten frames above.

Christmas Sprinkles Writing Activity

Instead of using sand, use some fun Christmas sprinkles to “write” letters in. Children can use their finger or even a candy cane to practice letter formation!

Christmas Light Table Activity

Draw lines and a Christmas tree with a permanent marker on transparent sheets to use with these fun dots on the light table! Children can use the dots to make Christmas lights and ornaments.

Christmas Tree Fine Motor Mats

Use these tree fine motor mats or make your own for children to put playdough or small objects, like mini erasers and craft poms.

Christmas Ornaments

*Beaded candy cane patterns– Use green, red, and white beads and make patterns on a pipe cleaner. Pinch the ends over the beads to keep them in place and curve the top to look like a candy cane.

*Mini flower pot bell ornament– Paint a small flower pot and let it dry. Attach a small bell on the inside and make a loop on the top with a ribbon or pipe cleaner. This makes such a cute little Christmas bell ornament!

*Paint swirl ornament– Pour green and red paint into a clear ornament. Fold a paper towel to close off the hole in the ornament and then turn and shake the ornament until the paint is covering the inside. Pour the excess paint out into a trashcan and let the inside dry for a couple of days. Write the child’s name and date on the outside of the ornament and add some ribbon to hang it on the tree.