7 Festive Crafts for Nannies to Enjoy with Kids This Holiday Season

Engaging children in festive crafts is a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday season — and a great activity when the weather outside is frightful. These crafts are perfect for nannies looking to create memorable experiences with children of various ages.

7 Holiday Themed Crafts for Kids That Are Both Fun and Easy to Do!

  1. Homemade Ornaments

    • Age Group: 5-8 years

    • Materials: Clear plastic ornaments, paint, glitter, and ribbon.

    • How to Do It: Remove the metal top from the ornament. Using small brushes, let the kids paint designs inside or outside the ornament. Sprinkle glitter or fill the inside with beads, colorful pompoms, or anything else they have at home, for a festive touch, let dry, and reattach the top. Finish by tying a ribbon for hanging.

  2. Snowflake Garland

    • Age Group: 4-6 years

    • Materials: White paper, scissors, string.

    • How to Do It: Fold the paper into triangles and cut small shapes along the folds and edges. Unfold to reveal a unique snowflake. Make several and string them together to create a charming snowflake garland.

  3. Hanukkah Paper Tops

    • Age Group: 5-7 years

    • Materials: Blue and silver construction paper, toothpick, scissors, glue.

    • How to Do It: Help the kiddo cut 1/4 inch wide strips of colorful construction paper. Glue the edge of the paper to the toothpicks a little bit above the tapered edge and let dry. Roll the paper tightly around the toothpick, and secure the end with glue. Continue with another strip, and another, until the disc is about 1 inch thick. Push the paper downwards carefully, toward the toothpick point, with your thumb to create a bowl shape. 

  4. Gingerbread House Card

    • Age Group: 5-7 years

    • Materials: Brown cardstock, white paint, colored paper, markers, glue.

    • How to Do It: Cut the brown cardstock into a house shape: a rectangle plus a triangle roof. Use white paint to create icing details. Cut out candy shapes from colored paper, and glue them onto the card. Use markers to add final touches.

  5. Cotton Ball Snowman

    • Age Group: 3-5 years

    • Materials: Cotton balls, glue, colored paper, markers.

    • How to Do It: Glue cotton balls onto blue paper to form a snowman shape. For smaller kids, you can trace the shape on the paper beforehand. Cut out a hat and scarf from colored paper and attach them. Draw eyes, a mouth, and buttons with markers.

  6. New Year’s Countdown Clock

    • Age Group: 6-9 years

    • Materials: Cardboard and/or paper plate, paint, paper fastener/brads.

    • Activity: Create and decorate a clock on a paper plate or round cardboard. You can choose to make it a clock with hours/minutes and count down all day, or a 10-1 countdown for the last seconds. Cut out hands and fasten in the middle with brass fasteners so that they can be moved around the clock and you’ll be ready to count down to the New Year.

  7. Popsicle Stick Snowflakes

    • Age Group: 6-8 years

    • Materials: Popsicle sticks, white paint, glitter, glue, ribbon.

    • How to Do It: Paint the popsicle sticks white and let them dry. Arrange and glue them into snowflake shapes. Decorate with glitter. Once dry, attach a ribbon for hanging.

Make a show of gifting them to the parents, and your kiddos will be beaming with pride all season long! 

These crafts provide a delightful way for nannies and kids to bond and celebrate the season's joy. They're simple enough for kids to enjoy, yet engaging enough to keep them entertained and proud of their creations. Make a show of gifting them to the parents, and your kiddos will be beaming with pride all season long! 

Are you a crafty or just really dedicated nanny?

We are always looking for more engaging, experienced child-caregivers to join our community. As a nanny agency who’ve always believed that looking after our nannies makes for happier families, we are selective about who we work with, but dedicated to finding you the right match once we do. If you think you have what it takes to be a SmartSitter, apply today — we’d love to hear from you.

Cajsa Landin