Crafting reindeer during the holidays is a surefire way to bring some festive fun to your home, and this “Decorate the Reindeer” craft takes it to the next level. My kids couldn’t get enough of this activity—they loved threading beads onto the antlers and giving their reindeer unique personalities. It’s not just a creative project, it’s also a sneaky way to help them work on fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Plus, there’s something so satisfying about seeing their finished reindeer proudly displayed.
This craft is fun, festive, and educational all in one. Not only do kids get to design their reindeer, but they also practice threading, which is great for fine motor skills and concentration. Plus, the end result is an adorable handmade decoration or gift that’s truly one-of-a-kind.
Why You’ll Love This Christmas Craft
You’ll love this craft because it’s simple to set up, inexpensive, and endlessly customizable. Kids can make their reindeer as bright and colorful as they want, and the hands-on decorating process keeps them engaged. It’s a perfect blend of holiday creativity and skill-building that will have everyone excited to get involved.
Materials You’ll Need:
- Cardboard
- Scissors
- Googly eyes
- Pipe cleaners
- Brown construction paper
- Glue (glue stick or craft glue)
- Pony beads
- Red pom pom
- Hot glue gun (for adult use)
How to Make the Reindeer Craft
1. Cut the Reindeer Shape
Start by cutting a triangle from the cardboard to form the reindeer’s head. The size is up to you—larger triangles give kids more room to decorate! Cut out two small ear shapes from the brown construction paper.
2. Assemble the Reindeer Face
Glue the ears onto the top corners of the cardboard triangle. Attach the googly eyes below the ears, and glue the red pom pom to the tip of the triangle for the nose. Let the glue dry completely.
3. Create the Antlers
Using the hot glue gun (adults only), attach two pipe cleaners to the back of the reindeer’s head to create the main antlers. Position them so they stick out evenly from the top. Next, take another pipe cleaner, cut it in half, and twist one half around each of the main antlers to form branches. Repeat this step with a second pipe cleaner if you want more branches, making sure to space them out for a balanced look. Now your reindeer has sturdy, festive antlers ready to decorate!
4. Decorate the Antlers
Set out a selection of colorful pony beads and invite your child to thread them onto the pipe cleaner antlers. They can create patterns, mix colors, or just have fun experimenting with different designs. The beads will stay in place as they slide onto the fuzzy surface of the pipe cleaners, making it easy for little hands to handle.
How to Play and Display
Once the reindeer is complete, you can turn it into a decoration by propping it up on a shelf, hanging it on a wall, or attaching a ribbon loop to the back for a festive ornament. If you’re crafting with a group, each child can create their own unique reindeer to take home. You can also turn it into a game—ask your kids to name their reindeer and tell a story about where it might travel on Christmas Eve!
This “Decorate the Reindeer” craft is not only fun and festive but also a fantastic way to keep kids engaged during the holiday season. They’ll be so proud of their creations, and you’ll love the cheerful reindeer faces bringing holiday joy to your home!
Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers
There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!
But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.
Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.
Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again!
These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!
Click here for more information: Play2Learn
Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids
Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon.
Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.
Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids
Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more.
Find out more and grab your copy here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids
Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.
- 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
- Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
- Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.
Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!
Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.
TV Show: Curious Crafting
I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.
Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!
Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.
In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create.
Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.
This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up.
