27 Easy Winter Crafts for Kids to Make at Home

When the cold weather keeps kids inside, boredom doesn’t have to set in. Winter crafts are the perfect way to spark creativity and keep little hands busy during those long indoor days.

From adorable penguin rocks to magical snow globes, these 27 winter craft ideas will turn your home into a fun-filled workshop. Most use simple supplies you probably already have at home – paper plates, popsicle sticks, cotton balls, and paint.

These projects work great for different ages and skill levels. Your toddler can make handprint polar bears while older kids tackle intricate paper snowflakes.

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1 Knitted Winter Hat

Making your own winter hat is way more fun than buying one from the store. Kids love picking their favorite colors and adding silly details that show off their personality.

Start with basic knitting or even use a simple beanie pattern. The real magic happens when you add the fun stuff. Bright pompoms, sparkly buttons, or even glow-in-the-dark yarn can turn a plain hat into something special.

Your child will beam with pride wearing something they made themselves. Plus, these homemade hats make great gifts for grandparents who love showing off their grandkid’s creativity.

2 String Art Cards

Who says string art is only for adults? Kids can create beautiful greeting cards using this fun technique that doubles as a sewing lesson.

Start by drawing a simple winter shape like a tree or snowman on cardstock. Use a needle to poke small holes along your design lines.

Hand your child some colorful yarn and show them how to thread it through the holes. They’ll love watching their picture come to life as they weave the string back and forth.

These handmade cards make perfect gifts for grandparents and friends. Plus, your kids will pick up basic sewing skills without even realizing it.

3 Paper Plate Snowman

This simple snowman craft turns basic paper plates into adorable winter decorations. Your kids will love painting the plates white and adding cute details like button eyes and a carrot nose.

Grab some paint, felt scraps for scarves, and small buttons to bring these frosty friends to life. The best part? Everything gets hot-glued together, so there’s no mess or complicated steps.

Even little hands can handle this project with some help. Use whatever fabric scraps you have lying around – old socks work great for hats too!

4 Popsicle Stick Snowman

Got a few minutes? You can whip up this adorable popsicle stick snowman in no time!

Start by painting your popsicle sticks white with matte paint. While they dry, cut a circle from white foam for the head. Add googly eyes, an orange triangle nose, and a tiny black hat.

Kids love this simple project, and you’ll have cute winter decorations scattered around your house. Make several at once – they’re perfect for gifting too!

5 Penguin Rock Art

Remember painting rocks as a kid? This classic activity gets a chilly twist with adorable penguin designs.

Grab some smooth, flat stones and turn them into a waddle of winter friends. The black and white color scheme makes these super easy for little hands to create.

Once your penguin rocks dry, they make perfect bedroom decorations. Kids love lining them up like a little arctic family on windowsills or shelves.

6 Winter Sensory Bottle

This magical bottle creates a winter wonderland right in your child’s hands. Simply grab an empty bottle with a lid and fill it with white confetti, silver sparkles, and tiny plastic snowflakes.

Add some clear glue mixed with water to make everything float and swirl beautifully. When kids shake it up, they’ll watch the "snow" dance around like a real snowstorm.

It’s perfect for calming moments or quiet play time. Plus, making it together is half the fun!

7 Snow Paint Craft

Turn your backyard into an art studio with this cool winter activity. Grab some bowls and mix snow with different colored food dye to create your paint.

Once you have your colorful snow ready, dip brushes in and start painting on cardstock or paper. Kids love how different this feels from regular paint, and cleanup is super easy since it’s just melted snow.

This craft works best on snowy days when you have fresh powder to work with. Plus, it’s a great way to get the kids outside for some creative fun before heading in for hot chocolate.

8 Paper Plate Snowman

Got some leftover paper plates? Perfect! This cheerful snowman craft is super easy and fun for kids of all ages.

You’ll need three white paper plates, colored paper, scissors, and glue. Add buttons, a carrot nose, and stick arms to bring your snowman to life.

Kids can get creative with hats, scarves, and silly faces. The best part? No messy cleanup when you’re done crafting.

9 Wooden Peg Animals

Transform plain wooden pegs into adorable arctic creatures with just a few simple supplies. Your kids will love painting penguins, seals, and polar bears using basic paints and markers.

This craft is perfect for teaching children about animals that live in cold, faraway places. Plus, it’s super easy – just paint the pegs and draw on cute faces with a black marker.

Once finished, these little wooden animals make great toys for pretend play or decorations for your child’s room.

10 Handprint Polar Bears

Your child’s hand makes the perfect polar bear shape! The thumb becomes the head while the four fingers turn into legs.

Start with white paper for the handprint and dark blue for the background. Add some sparkly snowflakes around your bear to create a winter scene.

This craft is great for little ones who love getting messy with paint. Plus, you’ll have a sweet keepsake of their tiny hand.

11 Cotton Ball Penguins

These fluffy penguins will melt your heart! The soft cotton balls create the perfect snowy texture for their round bellies.

Kids love adding colorful pompoms as cozy earmuffs. Just twist some pipe cleaners into cute ear warmers and watch these little arctic friends come to life.

The best part? This craft uses simple supplies you probably already have at home. Your children can make a whole waddle of these sweet penguins in no time.

12 Penguin Headband

Who doesn’t love a cute penguin accessory? This headband craft brings the Antarctic charm right to your living room.

Grab the free template online and print it out. Cut all the pieces carefully, then stick the penguin face onto your headband base.

Add some googly eyes and an orange beak to bring your little penguin to life. The kids will waddle around the house wearing their new favorite winter accessory. It’s perfect for dress-up time or just adding some silly fun to a cold day.

13 Paper Hat Project

This simple winter hat craft is perfect for little ones who love to create. You probably have everything you need at home already – just grab some paper, cotton, and crayons.

Start with the basic hat template, then let your kids add their own twist. They can draw snowflakes, stripes, or silly faces with white crayons. It’s a great way for toddlers to practice their drawing skills.

Once they’re done decorating, help them cut out their masterpiece. Hang these adorable paper hats on the fridge so the whole family can admire their winter artwork.

14 Paper Plate Snowflakes

Paper plates aren’t just for picnics anymore! These simple snowflakes turn ordinary plates into beautiful window decorations that catch the light perfectly.

Your kids will love cutting out their own unique patterns. Each snowflake comes out different, just like the real ones outside.

You’ll need paper plates, tissue paper, and contact paper to get started. Hang them up when you’re done and watch how they make your windows sparkle with winter magic.

15 Paper Snowflake Cutting

Paper snowflakes are perfect for building your child’s cutting skills. All you need is paper, scissors, and a bit of patience.

This craft teaches kids how to handle scissors safely while creating something beautiful. Start with simple patterns and let them work their way up to trickier designs.

The best part? No two snowflakes look the same, just like in nature. Your kids can make dozens and turn them into window decorations or garland for the holidays.

16 Cardboard Tube Penguins

Got some empty toilet paper tubes lying around? Turn them into adorable waddling penguins! This craft needs just a few basic supplies you probably already have at home.

Grab your cardboard tubes, black and white construction paper, googly eyes, and craft glue. Wrap the tubes in paper to create that classic penguin look, then add the finishing touches.

Kids love sticking on the googly eyes and orange beaks. It’s simple enough for little hands but fun for bigger kids too. Plus, you’ll end up with a whole family of cute penguins to display!

17 Gel Snowflake Clings

These magical window decorations will have your kids glued to the glass! Made with special color-changing glue, these snowflakes shift colors right before your eyes.

The best part? You only need a few simple supplies to get started. Print out a snowflake template to make the shapes perfect every time.

Once they’re stuck to your window, sit back and watch the show. Your little ones will be amazed as the snowflakes change colors throughout the day. It’s like having a winter light show right in your living room!

18 Snowman Popcorn Containers

Turn movie night into something special with these adorable snowman popcorn holders. Your kids will love munching from their own frosty friend instead of a boring bowl.

Grab some plain popcorn boxes and let the decorating fun begin. Add googly eyes, an orange paper carrot nose, and wrap a colorful felt scarf around the bottom.

These cute containers are perfect for sleepovers, winter parties, or cozy family movie nights. The kids can even help make them as part of the fun!

19 Paper Strip Bears

These adorable paper strip bears bring winter magic right to your craft table. Kids can create fluffy polar bears using white paper strips, or mix things up with bright colors for a fun twist.

The best part? These bears look a bit like pandas too, so you can teach kids about both animals while crafting. Just layer the paper strips to make the fuzzy texture, and watch these cute creatures come to life.

It’s a simple project that keeps little hands busy and sparks conversations about Arctic animals and winter habitats.

20 Pompom Reindeer Ornaments

Got leftover pompoms sitting in your craft drawer? Perfect! These adorable reindeer ornaments are super easy to make with kids.

Grab large white pompoms for the body and tiny red ones for Rudolph’s nose. Cut some simple antlers from brown cardstock and tie everything together with twine for hanging.

The best part? You can make a whole reindeer family using different pompom sizes. Kids love creating their own fluffy holiday characters to decorate the tree.

21 Fingerprint Tree Painting

Who needs brushes when you have ten perfect painting tools right at your fingertips? This craft turns little hands into art supplies for creating beautiful winter trees.

Start with some cardstock cut into tree shapes. Younger kids might need help with the cutting, which is great practice for their hand skills. Then comes the best part – dipping fingers in paint to make colorful leaves, snow, or berries on the branches.

Fair warning: this gets messy fast! Lay down newspaper first and have wet wipes ready. Your kids will love the freedom of finger painting, and you’ll have adorable winter artwork to hang up.

22 Foam Snowflakes

Want a snowflake craft that lasts beyond this winter? Foam snowflakes are perfect for you and your little ones.

These sturdy creations won’t tear like paper versions. Your kids can go wild with glitter, sparkly gems, and colorful stickers without worry.

The best part? Pack them away when the season ends. Next December, pull out your box of homemade snowflakes and watch your child’s face light up. It’s like finding buried treasure in your own closet.

23 Popsicle Stick Snowman

This craft gives you that cozy, rustic feel that’s perfect for winter. Kids can make their own little snowman friend using just a popsicle stick, markers, and cute buttons.

It’s super simple to put together. Just draw on a face with markers and glue on some buttons for the snowman’s coat.

You can glue the whole stick onto white paper cut in a snowman shape. Or make it even easier by sticking it right into a houseplant. Either way works great and gives you an instant winter decoration that kids will love showing off.

24 Mason Jar Snowman

Mason jars aren’t just for storing things – they make perfect snowmen too! This cute craft turns a simple jar into adorable winter decor that kids absolutely love making.

Grab some white, black, and orange paint before you start. Your little ones can help paint the jar white for the snowman’s body, then add black dots for buttons and eyes. The orange paint creates a tiny carrot nose that brings the whole project together.

These jar snowmen look great on windowsills or shelves. Plus, they’re sturdy enough that curious toddlers can’t easily break them like other winter decorations.

25 Paper Snowflake Craft

These sparkly snowflakes look fancy but are super simple to make. Your kids will love adding glitter to make them shine!

Start by printing the template, then cut out all the pieces. Use white glue to stick everything together and let your little ones go wild with the glitter.

Once the glue dries, thread some colorful ribbon through the top. Now you’ve got a beautiful snowflake ready to hang on your tree or in the window!

26 Paper Plate Penguins

Turn ordinary paper plates into adorable arctic birds with this simple craft. Your kids will love painting the plates black and white, then adding googly eyes to bring their penguins to life.

Want to make it extra special? Grab some white yarn and a hole punch. Punch small holes around the penguin’s belly area and weave the yarn through to create a fluffy texture. It’s a fun way to practice fine motor skills while making something cute.

This craft works great for winter days when you’re stuck indoors. Plus, penguins are always a hit with kids who’ve seen them waddle around at the zoo.

27 Homemade Snow Globes

Making snow globes at home is way easier than you might think. Plus, it won’t break the bank!

Hit up your local dollar store for most supplies. You can grab plastic globe containers online or go fancy with glass ones for display.

Got little Christmas figures lying around? Toss Santa, reindeer, or tiny trees inside your globe. A pinch of glitter makes everything more magical and fun.

Your kids will love shaking up their custom creations. It’s the perfect rainy day project that keeps little hands busy for hours.