Easy Ornaments to Make With Kids and Toddlers
Discover simple, creative, and memorable Christmas ornament projects you can craft with kids of all ages for meaningful holiday memories.
Creating handmade ornaments with children is more than just a festive activity—it’s a beloved family tradition that builds memories and nostalgia year after year. Whether you’re crafting with a toddler learning to hold a brush or an older child exploring new creative techniques, homemade Christmas ornaments are an engaging way to celebrate the holidays together.
This article will guide you through a collection of easy ornaments to make with kids, covering clay, ceramics, salt dough, painting, and more for a variety of ages and skill levels. Get inspired to gather your crafting supplies and begin a new holiday tradition!
Why Make Ornaments With Kids?
Decorating homemade ornaments is about much more than pretty decorations—it’s about creating memories. Children’s crafts bring warmth and personality to your Christmas tree, making it truly unique. Each ornament symbolizes time spent together and becomes a keepsake you’ll treasure for years to come. Plus, these crafts offer:
- Creativity and Learning: Kids develop artistic skills and learn about shapes, colors, and textures.
- Handmade Gifts: Personal ornaments make heartfelt presents for family and friends.
- Tradition and Nostalgia: Build a collection that recounts family milestones as each holiday season arrives.
- Inclusive Fun: Many projects are accessible for various ages and even toddlers can participate!
Air Dry Clay Ornaments: Mess-Free & Simple
Air dry clay is a favorite for easy, low-mess ornament making, especially with young kids. Brands like Model Magic are soft to use, require no baking, and are ready for painting or embellishing once dry. This makes them a convenient choice for spontaneous crafting sessions.
Project: Santa Face Ornament
Inspired by creative ideas on social media, making clay Santa faces results in adorable and personal decorations. This project uses air dry clay and is ideal for preschoolers to grade school kids:
- Roll out the clay into an oval shape, about the size of a child’s hand.
- Press the child’s hand into the clay firmly to create an imprint. For the most defined print, press each finger and the palm individually while the hand stays in place.
- Poke a hole at the top for threading ribbon or string later.
- Let the clay dry, flipping once per day so it dries evenly on both sides. Drying can take 1-3 days depending on thickness and humidity.
- Once dry, decorate with paint. For a drama effect, repaint the handprint design and add Santa details—like rosy cheeks, a fluffy beard, or a red hat.
Other Model Magic Ornament Ideas
- Use cookie cutters to shape clay into classic Christmas motifs (stars, trees, snowflakes).
- Let kids embellish with acrylic paints, glitter, or sequins after drying.
- Personalize with initials, the year, or a short holiday message using a toothpick before the clay sets.
Handprint and Keepsake Ornaments
Handprint ornaments mark a moment in time and are especially touching for first holidays, year milestones, or gifts for grandparents. Here’s how to make a cherished handprint keepsake using air dry clay or salt dough:
- Roll out a ball of air dry clay or salt dough (recipe below) to at least 1/4-inch thickness.
- Press your child’s hand flat into the dough or clay. It’s best to do this before the material begins to dry or harden.
- Cut around the imprint with a large cookie cutter or knife to create the ornament shape (circle, heart, star).
- Poke a hole at the top for the ribbon.
- Allow it to dry completely—this could take about 1-3 days for air dry clay, and 2-7 days for salt dough, unless baked.
- Decorate: Use contrasting paint to highlight the handprint or add embellishments like glitter, stickers, or names.
Ceramic Ornaments: Ready-Made for Decorating
Unfinished ceramic ornaments provide a mess-free, no-prep solution—perfect when time is short or you want to focus on decorating. Purchase blank ceramic shapes from craft stores; these come in trees, stars, snowmen, and many more festive forms. Here’s how to make the most of them:
- Let children paint with washable paints or markers, ideal for little hands developing fine-motor skills.
- Older kids can try acrylic paint for brighter, more permanent results.
- Add glitter glue, stickers, or stick-on jewels for extra sparkle.
- Use clear spray or brush-on sealer for lampshade protection and longevity (recommended for acrylic paints).
Salt Dough Ornaments: A Classic Family Favorite
Salt dough has been a go-to material for DIY ornaments for generations—it’s inexpensive, simple, and versatile. This classic recipe is easy enough for toddlers, yet offers many customization options for older children.
Basic Salt Dough Recipe
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 2 cups |
| Salt | 1 cup |
| Water | 3/4 cup |
- Combine flour and salt in a large bowl.
- Gradually add water and knead until the dough is smooth but not sticky. Add more flour or water as needed to adjust texture.
- Roll out until approximately 1/4-inch thick.
- Cut into shapes with cookie cutters, or use hands to shape freely.
- Press handprints, footprints, or use festive stamps for added detail.
- Use a straw to make a hanging hole at the top of each ornament.
- Either bake at 250°F for 1.5–2 hours until completely dry, or air dry for 2–7 days (flipping daily). Baking shortens the drying process significantly.
- Once cool and dry, decorate with acrylic paints, markers, or glitter.
- Optional: Seal with acrylic or polyurethane spray for extra durability.
Creative Salt Dough Ideas
- Make holiday shapes like stars, hearts, stockings, bells, or snowflakes.
- Craft handprint ornaments (especially meaningful as gifts).
- Add textures with stamps, pine branches, or buttons before the dough dries.
Painted Ornaments: A Colorful Tradition
Painting ornaments allows even the youngest children to join in. It’s a simple way to express creativity and produce vibrant, personalized decorations. Suitable ornament bases include:
- Unfinished wooden shapes from craft stores
- Plain ceramic ornaments
- Air dry clay or salt dough ornaments once dry
- Ready-made paper mache or plastic ornaments for mess-averse sessions
Let children use tempera or washable paints for easy clean-up, or acrylics for a more vivid, lasting result. Add patterns, polka dots, stripes, or use stencils. For very young children, finger painting is a great way to get involved!
Personalizing Ornaments: Make Each One Unique
Adding a personal touch makes each ornament uniquely memorable. Here are ways to customize your creations:
- Write names and dates with a permanent marker or paint pen once dry.
- Glue on family photos inside flat clay cutouts or behind open shapes.
- Use glitter glue, sequins, rhinestones, buttons, or felt cutouts for flair.
- Attach mini pom-poms, bows, or festive ribbon to the top or sides.
Tips for Crafting Ornaments With Kids
- Cover work surfaces with newspaper or a disposable tablecloth for easier cleanup.
- Always supervise young children, especially with small embellishments, sharp tools, or sealers.
- Have all materials ready before starting: paint, brushes, clay, dough, cookie cutters, and string for hanging.
- Be patient—allow kids to experiment and enjoy the creative process, even if the ornaments don’t look perfect.
- Let ornaments dry fully before hanging to avoid breakage or smudging.
- Display finished ornaments on the tree, garlands, gift packages, or use as gift tags.
More Easy Ornament Ideas
- Popsicle Stick Ornaments: Craft reindeer, snowflakes, or Christmas trees with popsicle sticks, glue, and paint. Great for preschoolers.
- Felt Ornaments: Cut wool or acrylic felt into simple shapes (wreaths, stars) and let kids decorate with thread, sequins, or buttons.
- Photo Ornaments: Glue a favorite family photo to a painted wooden frame and write the year for a keepsake.
- Nature-Inspired Ornaments: Attach small pinecones, acorns, or pressed leaves to paper or clay bases and embellish with paint or gold leaf.
- Pom-Pom Ornaments: Use colorful yarn or craft pom-poms to make baubles or decorate other ornament bases.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the best material for making ornaments with toddlers?
A: Air dry clay and unfinished ceramic ornaments are ideal for toddlers as they’re easy to handle, low-mess, and safe with supervision.
Q: How do I safely decorate ornaments with very young children?
A: Choose non-toxic, washable paints and avoid small embellishments that could pose a choking hazard. Supervise closely and let them use large, easy-to-hold brushes or finger painting.
Q: Can we make ornaments without baking?
A: Yes, many projects use air dry clay, or you can let salt dough ornaments air dry for several days instead of baking.
Q: How can I personalize each ornament?
A: Add names, initials, the year, or short messages with permanent markers or paint pens. Incorporate handprints, photos, or meaningful embellishments for extra sentiment.
Q: What’s the best way to store homemade ornaments?
A: Let ornaments dry and cure fully, then wrap individually in tissue paper or bubble wrap. Store in a sturdy container, separated by material (clay, salt dough, ceramic), to avoid chips or cracks before the next season.
Start a Memorable Family Tradition
Homemade ornaments reflect the magic, love, and creativity of the holidays. With these easy projects, children develop their artistic confidence while families grow closer through shared traditions. Remember, the joy is in the process—embrace the tiny fingerprints, lopsided stars, and sparkling bursts of color. Each piece is a chapter in your family’s festive story, meant to be displayed, remembered, and cherished for years to come.
References
- https://www.firstdayofhome.com/salt-dough-ornaments/
- https://www.yummytoddlerfood.com/the-best-salt-dough-ornaments/
- https://abeautifulmess.com/easy-ornaments-to-make-with-kids/
- https://www.care.com/c/diy-christmas-ornaments/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27ZNsfAA9UA
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spyA92e8SzM
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4Xy9KHK–IFzIstcfNKylGlbRKPuKcUL
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLJHY6Sxrk4
