Holiday Events
Holiday craft ideas for dads and kids turn a cold afternoon into a mini workshop at the kitchen table. Kids make decorations, cards and gifts with their own hands, and you get a few hours of focused, screen-free time together. Below are projects for every age and tips for hosting a group craft day.
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Send a MessageHandprint and footprint cards, paper-plate wreaths, sticker ornaments on pre-cut shapes, painted pinecones.
Salt-dough ornaments, paper snowflakes, popsicle-stick picture frames, decorated cookies.
Wooden ornaments painted and sealed, homemade cards with pop-up inserts, simple woodburning or bead projects with supervision.
Hand-built gifts like cutting boards, candles (with adult help around heat), photo calendars, or a simple sewn item.
Kids value giving something they made — and grandparents tend to keep these for years.
Invite two or three families, set up stations on tables covered with paper or a drop cloth, and plan for about 90 minutes. One station per project keeps kids from crowding. Ask each family to bring one supply — glue sticks, paper, paint — to share the cost.
Set a drying zone for wet projects and label each with the child’s name. Have a snack break halfway through, and end with a quick “show and tell” where each kid holds up their favorite piece.
Let kids know ahead of time which crafts are gifts and which they get to keep. A child who spent an hour on an ornament may struggle to give it away unless they understood the plan from the start.
Libraries, home-improvement stores, art centers and museums often host holiday craft sessions for families in November and December. Many are free or low-cost but fill up fast, so register early. For craft ideas through the rest of the year, see creative workshops and DIY projects and activities.
If your child is especially young, our page on creative arts and crafts for toddlers covers age-appropriate materials.
Pick one craft — say, a dated ornament — and make it every year. Over time, you get a collection that tracks your kids growing up. That is the kind of ritual described in our family traditions guide. Share your favorite projects with other dads in the Phenomenal Fatherhood community forum and borrow one new idea each season.
FAQ
Handprint cards, paper-plate wreaths, sticker ornaments on pre-cut shapes and painted pinecones are simple and safe for toddlers. Use large pieces and washable supplies, and stay right beside them.
Framed drawings, layered cookie-mix jars, photo ornaments, coupon books and handmade bookmarks are all doable for kids and meaningful for the people who receive them.
Set up one station per project, cover tables, ask families to bring shared supplies, plan about 90 minutes with a snack break, and set a labeled drying area for finished work.
Cover the table, put out only the supplies needed for one project at a time, use washable materials and keep wipes nearby. Set a clean-up song at the end so kids help put things away.
Construction paper, washable markers and paint, glue sticks, safety scissors, pipe cleaners, pom-poms, string, recycled cardboard and some flour and salt for salt dough cover most projects for kids of all ages.
Keep going
Creative Arts and Crafts for ToddlersEasy art and crafts for toddlers that dads can set up in minutes: finger paint, playdough, sticker art and messy play. Low-cost ideas and smart cleanup tips.
DIY Projects and Activities for Dads and KidsDIY projects for dads and kids: toddler learning games, family traditions, outdoor fun and kitchen science, with ideas by age. Pick one and start building.Ask a question, meet other dads in the 24/7 room, or join the community for resources and support at every stage.
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