Making Christmas Gifts With Kids: 12 Easy Ideas

Making Christmas gifts with kids is most relaxed when you plan small and let things dry early. Here you'll find 12 easy ideas (from babies to school kids), a lean materials list, a routine that works in real kitchens, and a few safety tips that are better read once too often than once too late. And don't worry: if it turns out a little wonky in the end, that usually means it's just right.

Ulli & Flo

Owners of bieco · Hamburg · parents themselves

We like to craft in a way that leaves enough energy for hot chocolate at the end. These ideas are short, doable and child-friendly – no pressure to be perfect. Feel free to browse our Christmas gifts collection.

Homemade beats polished – especially with grandma and grandpa. They rarely care about perfection, but almost always love a handprint, a photo or a little note saying “Thanks for pancakes”.

Table of contents

• What you really need
• Which idea suits which age?
• 12 craft ideas (step by step)
• Child-friendly materials: what's good, what's better left out
• Candles & Advent: staying safe
• A plan for a craft afternoon
• Why we see it this way (a few words from bieco)
• FAQ

Making Christmas gifts: what you really need (and not more)

With a small basic box, you can make almost all the ideas in this article. You don't have to empty the craft store – honestly. A solid foundation is enough, the rest is a bonus.

• Paper: card stock, kraft paper, white paper
• Glue: solvent-free craft glue, glue stick
• Scissors (child-safe) + one “grown-up scissors”
• Pens: felt-tip pens, colored pencils, optionally an acrylic marker for lettering (with supervision only)
• Ribbon/cord, washi tape
• Salt dough ingredients (flour, salt, water) or air-dry modeling clay
• Optional: wooden beads (large), pipe cleaners, stamps, potato (for stamps)

Making Christmas gifts with kids: which idea suits which age?

The best idea is the one that suits your child – not the picture in your head. A two-year-old can stamp beautifully, but can't sort mini beads. And a school kid often wants to “really design something” rather than just make prints.

A “print gift” uses hand or foot prints as the motif and spares you fine-motor stress. This is especially handy when kids can't yet cut or paint neatly.

“Salt dough” is a mixture of salt, flour and water that can be shaped into ornaments and painted after drying. For many families it's the classic, because you usually have the ingredients at home.

• Babies (0–12 months): print ideas (with help), photo + frame, “keepsake” gifts
• Toddlers (1–3 years): stamping, gluing large pieces, painting, simple collages
• Preschool (3–6 years): salt dough, threading (large), paper cutting with help, paper stars
• School (6–10 years): small craft projects, jewelry (larger pieces), calendar/notebook, coupon booklet

12 quick craft ideas: gifts for parents, grandparents & friends

These 12 ideas are designed to work even with tired parent eyes. Pick 1–2, not all of them. Christmas is not a craft marathon (unless you want it to be – then respect).

1) Handprint card as a reindeer or Christmas tree

A handprint turns into a motif with just a few strokes – and the card is done. Press the hand into paint (or finger paint), print it onto paper, let it dry. Then paint on eyes, a nose, stars. Inside, one sentence from your child is enough (dictated is perfectly fine).

2) Photo + “art” frame made of painted cardboard

A simple photo instantly feels special when your child designs the frame. Cut out the cardboard, cut a window in the middle (grown-ups), and let your child paint/glue on the outside. Glue the photo in. On the back: date and name – priceless later.

3) Salt dough ornaments for the Christmas tree (or as gift tags)

Salt dough ornaments are little classics that are welcome to return every year. Knead the dough, roll it out, shape it with cookie cutters. Don't forget a hole for the ribbon. Let it dry (depending on the method) and then paint it; if you like, seal it with a water-based varnish (follow the manufacturer's instructions).

4) Modeled figure as mini decoration (star, heart, fir tree)

A simple figure is a sweet little gift that kids can manage well. Use a child-safe modeling clay, shape big, clear motifs, let them dry, paint them. For little ones: no mini parts, better “one piece, done”.

If you're unsure about ingredients, stick to clearly labeled, child-safe products. According to the BfR, substances in toys are assessed for health risks in order to protect children.

5) “Kids' helper” coupon booklet (for parents or grandparents)

A coupon booklet is a gift that really makes a difference in everyday life. A school kid writes 6–10 coupons: “Set the table”, “Read aloud”, “Tidy up with music”, “Cuddle time”, “Empty the dishwasher (with help)”. For preschoolers: let them draw symbols.

6) Cardboard bookmarks with ribbon

Bookmarks are quick, practical and still look charming even when crooked. Cut cardboard strips, punch a hole at the top, thread a ribbon through. Your child paints, sticks on stars, writes their name. Ideal as a little extra with a book.

7) Christmas ball made of paper strips (for preschool & school kids)

Paper strips and brass fasteners make a sturdy ball. Cut 8–10 strips (all the same length), punch holes at the top and bottom, join them with brass fasteners, pull them apart. Add a hanger. It looks like “a lot of work” but is quite doable.

8) “Family hand” poster (all handprints on one sheet)

A joint poster is a gift that can go straight on the wall. Take a large sheet, and everyone makes a handprint (or outline). Label it: names + year. Especially lovely as a Christmas gift for parents or grandparents.

9) Stamp pictures with potato stamps

Potato stamps are wonderfully old-fashioned – and they simply work. Grown-ups cut a star/heart into the potato, and your child stamps patterns onto cards or wrapping paper. Let them dry. Bonus: your child feels like a little printing pro.

10) “Thank you, Grandma/Grandpa” jar (notes in a jar)

Lots of little notes add up to a big gift – without much crafting effort. Your child dictates 10 things (“Thanks for reading to me”, “for pancakes”), you write them down, roll them up together, and put them in the jar. Cover the lid with a paper circle, tie a ribbon around it, done.

11) Mini photo album as a concertina book

A mini album is perfect for godparents, aunts, uncles – anyone who loves photos. Fold 6–10 pages, glue them together as a concertina book, and use thick cardboard on the outside as a cover. Your child designs the cover, and the inside gets photos + short sentences.

12) Homemade wrapping paper + gift tags

Self-designed wrapping paper instantly makes any gift personal. Roll out brown packing paper, and let your child stamp or paint patterns (stars, dots, fir trees). Add gift tags made from cardboard (star shape) – done. Ideal when time is short.

Which craft materials are child-friendly – and what should you leave out?

Child-friendly means: easy to oversee, easy to handle and suited to the age. Solvent-free glue, thick pens and large pieces have proven their worth. Trickier are very small beads, water beads, long strings and anything that quickly ends up in the mouth.

• Good: glue stick, solvent-free craft glue, paper, cardboard, washi tape, large wooden beads (for older kids)
• With supervision: scissors, hole punch, acrylic marker, hot glue (adults only)
• Better to skip (with small children): small parts, water beads, very long ribbons, sharp tools

If you wonder whether something is “too small”: then it usually is. A northern German rule of thumb – it saves you arguments with yourself.

A good guideline is: only use materials that are clearly suitable for children. The consumer advice center recommends paying attention to possible harmful substances in children's products and preferring tested, clearly labeled products.

Candles, wax & Advent: crafting yes – but please without a wax fire

Open flames are not craft supplies – candles belong near children only at a safe distance. If you have candles lit (Advent wreath & co.), then only under supervision, with a stable holder and enough distance from flammable things.

Keeping it relaxed: a plan for a craft afternoon

A good routine is half the battle – the other half is humor. This has worked for many families (and yes, for us too):

1. Prepare (5–10 min.): cover the table, set out the craft plate, show an example.
2. Set a mini goal: “Today we're making 2 cards.” Not: “We're making all the gifts.”
3. Rough first, then fine: paint/stamp first, then glue, then write.
4. Drying spot: a windowsill or a board out of reach.
5. Tidying up as a ritual: put 3 things back in the box – done. Nothing more is needed.

Why we see it this way (a few words from bieco)

We've been doing this for 66 years – and kids rarely craft quietly and neatly. As a family business from Hamburg, we're relaxed about it in a northern German way: the main thing is that it's doable, child-friendly and you know where you stand.

Transparency helps in everyday crafting: “Only with supervision” is not a shame, it's a plan. That's exactly why we pay attention to clear information on age, use and safety for play ideas and materials – so you don't have to guess.

If you're still looking for something “ready-made” after crafting, take the pressure off. Browse Christmas gifts, for example, or have a look at wooden toys – sometimes the best gift is also: no further craft evening.

FAQ

Which Christmas gifts can you make with 2-year-olds?

With 2-year-olds, print pictures, potato stamps and large collages work most reliably. What matters: no small parts, short steps and quick successes. A handprint card or self-stamped wrapping paper is often already “the” gift – plus a photo of the crafting for the grandparents.

How long does salt dough need to dry?

Salt dough must dry completely through before you paint or hang it. The exact time depends on thickness, humidity and drying method. As a rule of thumb: better to roll it out thin and plan an extra day than to end up with cracks or soft spots later.

Which materials are especially safe for crafting with kids?

Safe materials are those that are age-appropriate and easy to keep under control. These include paper, cardboard, glue stick and solvent-free craft glue. According to DGUV, the choice of materials and supervision should be consistently adapted to age, especially because of small parts.

Which Christmas gifts do kids in preschool like to make most?

In preschool, projects with stamps, salt dough and simple paper shapes work especially well. Kids like repetition: show it once, then let them make “their pattern”. Bookmarks, cards and ornaments are popular because they're finished quickly and instantly look like a gift.

How do I wrap handmade gifts without everything getting broken?

Sturdy wrapping is the trick: envelope, box or cardboard instead of loose in a bag. Cards go in an envelope, ornaments in a small tin, and concertina albums are secured with a ribbon. And anything that's still sticky: better to craft a day earlier than to be blow-drying at 11:48 p.m.

In closing: wrap it up, breathe, done

The loveliest handmade gifts are the ones made without drama. If you still need inspiration, take a look at our hub Christmas gifts – and if you're looking for ideas by age, The Best Christmas Gift Ideas for Kids (0-10 Years) can help too. And now: hot chocolate. Well deserved.