Easy Holiday Learning Activities for Preschoolers
There are all kinds of holidays to learn about and celebrate as the year ends. You and your preschooler can try these holiday crafts to learn about other cultures and festivities. As a bonus, each activity will help your child practice essential fine and gross motor skills.
For additional opportunities to increase your little one’s motor skills, check out the classes at Romp n' Roll. Each class is specifically designed to build and teach motor skills, social skills, emotional skills, and more—all while your child plays and has a blast! Sign your child up for a class today!
Thanksgiving “Dinner” with Playdough
Thanksgiving is a national holiday in the United States and Canada, observed near the end of November. Friends and family join together to celebrate and appreciate the harvest and joyous moments from the past year over a delicious feast. If you are looking for a fun Thanksgiving craft to do with your preschooler, grab some Playdough and get started!
Supplies
- Brown, red, orange, and white playdough (or whatever colors you have)
- Shaping tools like rolling pins, cutting/slicing tools, or just your hands!
- Small paper plates or kid's toy dishes
Instructions
- Grab the playdough and start molding it into shapes like a turkey, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, or cranberry sauce.
- Set everything up onto plates and pretend you are having Thanksgiving dinner!
Dreidel Spin Art
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday celebrating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, spanning eight days in December. Dreidel is a popular game played during Hanukkah. It is played by spinning the dreidel and seeing how much money, known as gelt, is won or lost, depending on the letter it lands on. Take this delightful game to the next level by incorporating a fun holiday craft!
Supplies
- Two or three plastic dreidels
- Washable paint
- Paper
- Shoebox or sheet pan
Instructions
- Place paper into the shoebox or sheet pan (cut to size if necessary).
- Add a few small blobs of paint to the paper.
- Drop in your spinning dreidels a few times and watch the paint spread along the dreidel's path.
- Let it fully dry and display it for everyone to enjoy.
Find more Hanukkah crafts here.
Paper Snowflakes
For many people in the United States, the end of the year means colder weather and even snow! Preschoolers love practicing their scissors skills, so grab some paper and make some snowflakes to celebrate the changing of the seasons.
Supplies
- White (or any color you want) 8.5 inches by 11 inches paper (or square paper if you have it)
- Scissors
Instructions
- With your piece of paper vertical, take a top corner and fold it to meet the other side of the paper. Trim the excess off the bottom to make a square. If you have square paper, skip this step.
- Fold your square paper in half diagonally to make a triangle.
- Fold your triangle in half again to make a smaller triangle.
- Using a pencil, draw three lines on your triangle to divide it into three equal sections. You should have a left section, a center section, and a right section.
- With the tip of your triangle facing you, fold the left section of the triangle over so the edge lines up with the line that separates the right section from the center section.
- Fold the right section of the triangle over so the edge lines up with the new edge of your triangle.
- Flip your folded triangle over so you’re looking at the side with a horizontal edge in the front, with your two tips poking out over it.
- Cut off the tips above the horizontal edge.
- With your triangle folded, cut out random shapes.
- Unfold your paper and enjoy your beautiful snowflake!
Mini Gift Bow Wreath
Christmas, originally a holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus (believed to be the son of the Christian God), is now also secularly celebrated by all kinds of people and families. The holiday is often observed by exchanging beautifully wrapped gifts, putting up symbolic decorations, and eating tasty Christmas treats. Make an adorable mini gift bow wreath with your preschooler for a fun Christmas craft!
Supplies
- White paper or green craft paper
- Green crayons or markers
- Glue
- Mini gift bows
- Scissors
- Ribbon
Instructions
- Grab the paper and scissors and cut out a circle, then cut a smaller circle out of the middle, so you have the shape of a wreath.
- If you're using green paper, move on to the next step. If you're using white paper, color it green using crayons or markers.
- Spread glue all over the circle.
- Apply the mini gift bows across the circle until filled in, leaving space at the bottom or top for the ribbon.
- Take the ribbon, tie it into a large bow, and glue it into the open space.
- Hang it on your door or fridge for everyone to enjoy!
Paper Plate Kinara
At the end of the year, Kwanzaa is celebrated to commemorate African harvest festival traditions from various parts of West and Southeast Africa. This fantastic holiday celebrates African–American culture across six days, culminating in a feast called Karamu on the sixth day.
A Kinara is a candle holder for the seven candles (Mishumaa Saba), representing the seven main holiday symbols. Join in the festivity of this holiday by making your own paper plate kinara with your preschooler.
Supplies
- Paper plate
- seven clothespins
- Red, green, black, and brown washable paint (or markers)
Instructions
- Color the paper plate with brown paint or markers (set aside to dry if painted).
- Color or paint three clothespins red, three clothespins green, and one clothespin black (set aside to dry if painted).
- Fold the paper plate in half and place clothespins along the folded edge.
- Arrange the clothespins as shown, and you have finished your Kinara!
Learn more about Kwanzaa and find more crafts here.
If you’re looking for other ways to entertain your child during cold weather, check out our blog post on other kid–friendly indoor activities. Or, sign your child up for a class at Romp n' Roll today!