An easy Christmas art activity that doubles as a decoration? YES, please! I crave an easy Christmas art activity that interests my toddler, preschooler, and big kid. Finding something they all get excited about can be tricky with different ages and stages.
Well, look no further. This tissue paper ornament poster is a hit! The three painted together, then worked alone, and dabbled in and out throughout the afternoon. After drying overnight, we had some new holiday art for our kitchen window!
RELATED: We love holiday ideas. Here are 40+ Christmas Activities for kids.
Kid art makes great holiday decorations.
Christmas decorations don’t have to come from the store.
When I was a child, my mom always pulled out our holiday kid-made decorations to make the house more festive. As time went on, they only got more and more fun to look at. I am pretty sure at 43, she still has a few of my crafts lingering within the Christmas decor.
I notice the same excitement happening at my house.
As we pull out this easy Christmas art from the years past, the boys take turns claiming what they made with giant smiles.
So this year, we added our tissue paper art ornament poster to our collection! It hangs proudly on the window allowing the sunlight to shine through.
Wait. How do we hang our kid’s artwork? Here are five solutions to displaying and storing kids’ artwork.
My three and five-year-olds painted first.
They took pieces of tissue paper and added the glue & water solution to secure it.
My three-year-old needed time and guidance on how much water & glue solution was needed. Too much, and the paper ripped. Not enough, and the paper doesn’t stay put. Over time, he began to understand his rhythm better.
My five-year-old painted with ease.
Shortly after getting started, my seven-year-old joined in the fun! Painting is just one of the many ways to improve fine motor development and is typically a crowd-pleaser for kids.
RELATED: Looking for holiday books? You will love our Christmas book list along with this Christmas book list from Happily Ever Elephants!
Here’s how to prep this easy Christmas art
STEP ONE: Begin to mix glue and water in a small bowl.
Although the combination is flexible, you want 75% glue and 25% water.
We want enough water to spread the glue easily with a paintbrush. Truth be told, I am not one for making an exact formula, and we’ve all been able to create something great regardless. You certainly do not have to overthink this mixture.
If you want to decorate the paper ornaments with paint, use this guide on how to paint with kids before getting started.
STEP TWO: Lay something down under the paper to lean on.
Here, I used a portable collapsable table. In the past, I have used a workout mat or cardboard.
STEP THREE: Draw simple ornaments onto the paper using a black marker.
Am I amazing at drawing? Nope. And I don’t need to be. But to make drawing a little easier, Google easy ornament drawings or look at a book with ornaments in the illustrations.
STEP FOUR: Rip up the tissue paper into smaller pieces.
PRO TIP: I pick colors that blend well, so the project doesn’t instantly turn brown.
After quick prep, invite your children to decorate the Christmas poster.
RELATED: Need another quick and simple idea? Holiday sticker cups are fun to make and drink from!
Supplies
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This list of art supplies kicks off all our creative projects, and we keep everything on hand and items in our art cart.
RELATED: This winter will need some kids’ activities at home.
My younger two eventually left, and my seven-year-old happily continued to glue.
He stuck around until the top portion of our ornament poster was complete!
The last step was waiting overnight for it to dry!
Add to a space that could use a little more holiday cheer. We just love seeing the light shine through the tissue paper on the window!
More easy art activities for kids
I put together this list of favorite art activities for your toddler and preschooler to come back to. (and yes, we even have a guide for painting with toddlers)
- Easy Painting Activities for Kids – Here, you will find simple painting activities that won’t leave a giant mess.
- 50 Art Activities for Kids – Art isn’t just painting! Here are 50 ways to introduce art to young children.
- 10 Snowman Crafts – If you can’t make a snowman outside, here are a few fun ideas to keep the winter art going.
FAQ
At each age or stage, think about what is a reasonable amount of tissue painting for your child. For a toddler, make a giant ornament. For preschoolers, make 1-3 ornaments. Big kids may enjoy a collection of ornaments.
Painting requires a toddler and preschooler to hold a steady hand, practice hand-eye coordination, and develop a comfortable grip around the brush. This practice will help strengthen cognitive development and help prepare for pencil grip.
Children need a variety of experiences, and parents should not feel pressured to do it all. Do you enjoy making holiday crafts with your child? Then do a few! Do holiday crafts make you cringe? Then stick to one or maybe have a helper or grandparent do art activities with your child. Do what you and your child both enjoy doing together.
