With the merriest time of the year just around the corner, we’ve got the perfect festive craft activity that will get everybody in the holiday spirit whilst working on essential skills. All you have to do is get the free Santa craft template, cut out the pieces, and build your own special Santa!
What makes our Santa Claus craft version special? It includes different options and special surprises you must keep scrolling to discover!
My kids have been thoroughly enjoying ‘build your own’ craft activities. These are low prep activities – all I need to do is print them out. The kids use supplies they already have, making it an easy activity which is also convenient during the busy holiday season.
The Benefits of Building a Santa Craft
Between coloring, cutting, and gluing different pieces together, so many important skills are targeted while making sure the kids have some holiday fun.
Here are some of the key benefits:
- Fine motor skills development: coloring, cutting, and gluing are extremely hands-on tasks that develop fine motor skills.
- Improved ability to follow instructions: the activity is systematic and teaches kids to follow instructions.
- A fun way to de-stress: the holidays can be super stressful (yes, even for the little ones) and this is ideal for calming down time.
- Creates a new memory or tradition: making core memories is what the holidays are all about! Add to the magic of their childhood with this simple Santa craft.
- Problem-solving: by putting the different pieces together, your little one learns skills that can later help them solve math problems!
Carrie Barron, M.D., a psychiatrist and the co-author of The Creativity Cure: How to Build Happiness With Your Own Two Hands“Creating something with your hands fosters pride and satisfaction, but also provides psychological benefits. When you make something, you feel productive, but the engagement and exploration involved in the doing can move your mind and elevate your mood.”
Crafting can function as a natural antidepressant. Handmade self-expression can even help us let go of negative thoughts or experiences. It seems clear that tasks involving the hands i.e. cooking, gardening, and crafts have a therapeutic effect on many people. We also experience a deep sense of emotional satisfaction and improved well-being when we engage in activities that require physical effort, including coordination and movement of the hands. To read more about how handmade creativity makes you healthier and happier, check out this post.
Supplies Needed:
Check out our favorite kindergarten and preschool supplies list here. You will need:
- Free printable templates – keep scrolling to get your Santa template.
- Crayons, markers, colored pencils, or any art supplies you can find
- Scissors – if your kids are too young, you can help them by cutting out the pieces.
- Glue – be aware if your toddler turns into a messy little monster when glue appears. Baby wipes are your best buddy!
- Construction paper – you can use any paper of your choice. I prefer white cardstock because it is more durable and the print looks more professional.
- Laminator – this is optional. Laminated printables last twice as long.
- Dry erase pockets – this is a wonderful alternative to a laminator and makes the Santa craft reusable.
Additional recommended supplies
Here are some extra supplies to take your easy Santa craft to the next level. Keeping these on hand is one of the best ideas that a simple everyday mom like me has ever had. They delight kids of all ages and will even delight you if you heart crafty things too. Please note that these are not necessary for the activity, but they are super fun to work with!
- Craft sticks or popsicle sticks – attach Santa to a stick, and voila, we have ‘Craft Stick Santa.’
- Cotton balls or pom poms – these can be used to add a fun detail to Santa’s hat.
- Glitter – create ‘Santa stars.’ Basically, add glitter to Santa’s clothes in the shape of stars.
- Yarn – add some onto Santa for more texture.
- Toilet paper roll – the cardboard is fun to work with. Draw Santa shapes like Santa’s hat and stick it on!
- Googly eyes – let your Santa Claus craft be silly!
- Paint – I usually let the kids ‘color in’ the craft by dipping their fingers into the paint and using their thumbprints to paint. This creates the cutest Santa handprint craft.
What to do with Build a Santa
After you’ve created your Santa Claus craft, the big question is what to do with them. Well, I’m glad you asked. Here are my top ideas:
- You can use the Santas as ornaments on your Christmas tree (what’s cuter than a Santa ornament?),
- Use it as photo props. They’ll make your Christmas photos more fun.
- Turn them into puppets. Let the kids put on a little puppet show for everyone.
- Stick them onto your Christmas gift wrap for a special touch.
- Create a Santa mason jar. Stick the image onto your jar; it will look super cute.
- Create a paper plate Santa. Stick the paper Santa onto the plate, and it will look like cute artwork. It’s easy peasy! The kids can decorate the paper plate too.
- Use it as decor. This works better if you laminate the craft. One year, we even stuck it on on the chimney!
Free Build a Santa Craft
We have ensured that this printable is filled with fun options. We had the elves working all night just to make sure that we got Santa’s beard (yes, this is a bearded Santa!) just right and all the pieces ready for you to assemble!
There are so many elements to this free printable; it is one of the most fun Santa crafts of all! In fact, it is more helpful than Santa’s elves and reindeer because the activity occupies kids for quite some time.
Here’s what’s included:
I can cards – these allow the kids to reflect on what they’ve done and help give them a sense of accomplishment.
Santa Claus craft in color – this is if your little ones don’t want to color it in and just want to get started on building their Santa.
Visual directions – This will aid the kids in piecing their Santa craft together.
Santa Claus craft in black and white– this requires the kids to color it in. If you’re doing a Christmas countdown, coloring in the pieces is ideal and prolongs the activity to keep the kids engaged. Plus, you can save some ink.
As a bonus, we’ve also included:
A writing page and tracing page – these have a special writing prompt and encourage the kids to let their imaginations run wild.
Where to get this printable
GET THE SANTA CRAFT PRINTABLE HERE
This Santa Claus craft activity is a sample from our Christmas Activity Pack
GET THE CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES PACK
Learn how to draw
- How to Draw a Snowflake
- How to Draw a Snowman
- Winter Color By Number
- How to draw a Christmas Tree
- How to draw Santa Sleigh
More Christmas Activities
For more Christmas-themed activities, check out these posts:
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