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The short answer: the best Christmas gifts for parents from kids are the ones with a little bit of the child in them: a handprint, a fingerprint, a drawing or their own wobbly writing. Parents keep these for years, long after the store bought gifts are gone.
Below are 18 easy homemade Christmas gifts kids can make for their parents, from keepsake ornaments to things for the home. Every one works at the kitchen table, and most work for a whole preschool, daycare or kindergarten class too. There is a section on making them in bulk at the end.
The supplies I would grab first (we earn a small commission if you buy, at no cost to you):
- Air dry clay: for handprint ornaments with no oven needed.
- Clear flat disc ornaments: for fingerprint lights and photo ornaments.
- Paint markers: for mugs, ornaments, tiles and pots.
- Flour sack tea towels: a cheap blank for handprint gifts.
- Kraft gift bags: to wrap a whole class worth of gifts.
SaveFree printable
Free Dear Santa and Dear Winter Letters
Letter pages at two levels (K to 1 and 2 to 5), fold-up envelopes and a 2 minute calm moment to start. A cozy December writing lesson.
Free download. You will also get a couple of follow-up emails with classroom ideas. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keepsake ornaments kids can make
1. A clay handprint ornament
SavePress a small hand into a circle of air dry clay, poke a hole for the ribbon and let it dry. Paint it or leave it white, then write the name and year on the back. It is the classic gift parents hang on the tree every single year.
Good to know: Air dry clay needs no oven, so it works for a whole class. Allow two days to dry fully.
2. A fingerprint Christmas lights ornament
SaveDraw a wavy black line across a clear flat ornament for the wire, then let the child add colorful fingerprints along it as the bulbs. It takes five minutes and looks adorable hanging in a window.
Good to know: Flat disc ornaments are easier for little fingers than round balls.
3. A thumbprint reindeer wood slice
SaveA brown thumbprint becomes a reindeer face on a natural wood slice. Add antlers, eyes and a red nose with a paint pen, then the name and year. It looks rustic and sweet on any tree.
Good to know: Predrilled wood slices save you from drilling 25 holes the night before.
4. A craft stick photo frame ornament
SaveGlue four craft sticks into a square, let the child paint and decorate it, then tape a small photo behind. Parents love seeing their child’s face on the tree.
Good to know: Print the photos wallet size so they fit the frame.
5. A swirl paint ball ornament with their name
SaveSquirt a few drops of acrylic paint inside a clear ball ornament and let the child swirl it around until it is coated. Once dry, write their name and the year on the outside with a paint marker.
Good to know: Leave the cap off overnight so the paint dries fully inside.
6. A shrink plastic drawing keepsake
SaveLet the child draw a picture on printable shrink film, then bake it into a tiny, hard charm. It makes a lovely ornament, keychain or bag tag with their own artwork on it.
Good to know: Drawings shrink to about a third of their size, so draw big and bold.
Homemade gifts for the home
7. A handprint art canvas
SavePaint the child’s hand green and press it in a tree shape, or brown for a reindeer, on a small canvas. Add a few dots of paint for ornaments and a star on top. It is ready to hang or stand on a shelf.
Good to know: Small 5 by 5 canvases dry quickly and fit in a gift bag.
8. A hand painted coffee mug
SaveKids draw on a plain white mug with paint markers: a snowman, a family portrait or a simple message. Bake it in the oven if the markers say so and it becomes the mug a parent reaches for every morning.
Good to know: Keep designs below the rim, and hand wash to make them last.
9. A handprint tea towel
SaveUse fabric or acrylic paint to stamp handprints on a white flour sack towel, turning them into reindeer, Santa beards or a little wreath. It is useful, cheap and very cute hanging on the oven door.
Good to know: Iron the back of the design to help the paint set before washing.
10. Drawing tile coasters
SaveKids draw on white ceramic tiles with paint markers, then add felt pads to the bottom. A set of four makes a proper gift that sits on the coffee table all year.
Good to know: A coat of clear sealer keeps the drawings from rubbing off.
11. A painted plant pot
SavePaint a small terracotta pot with dots, stripes or fingerprints, then fill it with a little plant or a few candy canes. It is a gift that keeps growing after the holidays.
Good to know: A coat of white paint first makes the colors much brighter.
12. A tissue paper candle jar
SaveKids tear colored tissue paper and glue it around a small jar with decoupage glue. Pop an LED tea light inside and it glows like stained glass.
Good to know: Use LED tea lights for kid made jars, never real flames.
Little gifts parents keep forever
13. An All About My Mom or Dad page
SaveAsk the child a few questions, like how old Mom is, what Dad cooks best and what they love doing together, and write down their answers word for word. Framed, it is the gift that makes parents laugh and cry.
Good to know: Keep the funny answers. They are the best part.
14. A laminated photo bookmark
SavePair a photo of the child with a drawing or a little note, laminate it and add a ribbon tassel. It is quick, flat to wrap and lives in a parent’s book all year.
Good to know: Thermal laminating sheets need a laminator, which most schools already have.
15. A coupon book from the kids
SaveStaple a few strips of paper into a small book and let the child fill it with promises: one big hug, I will tidy my room, breakfast in bed, a quiet five minutes. It costs nothing and parents love cashing them in.
Good to know: Let them decorate each coupon with stickers or drawings.
Easy Christmas gifts for parents from a whole class
16. A hot cocoa jar
SaveFill small jars with hot cocoa packets or mix and mini marshmallows, and let each child decorate the lid or add a drawn reindeer face to the front. It is easy to make 20 at once and every family uses it.
Good to know: Check your class for allergies first and keep treats nut free.
17. Cookie cutter clay star ornaments
SaveRoll out air dry clay, cut stars or trees with cookie cutters and press each child’s fingerprint or initials into the middle. It is the fastest way to make a full class set of matching ornaments.
Good to know: Make the hole for the ribbon before the clay dries.
18. Kraft bags with twine for every gift
SavePop each gift in a small kraft bag, fold the top and tie it with red and white twine. Let the child draw on the bag so even the wrapping is part of the present.
Good to know: Write each name on the bag as you go so nothing gets mixed up.
How to make Christmas gifts for parents with a whole class
Pick one gift and set it up like a little station. Prep everything the day before, like cutting clay circles or writing names on bags, so the children only do the fun part. Work in small groups of four or five, keep wipes close by and dry everything on a labeled tray. Most of the ideas above take 10 to 20 minutes per child.
If you are short on time, the fingerprint lights ornament, the thumbprint reindeer and the kraft bag drawing are the quickest. For more easy projects, see our easy Christmas crafts for kids.
More Christmas craft supplies on Amazon
Keep reading
- Easy Christmas crafts for kids
- Christmas gifts for mom that feel thoughtful
- Christmas gifts for dad he will actually use
- Classroom Christmas gifts for students
- Christmas gift wrapping ideas
Frequently asked questions
Handprint ornaments, fingerprint light ornaments, painted mugs, handprint tea towels, drawing coasters and an All About My Mom or Dad page are all easy and loved by parents.
Keep it simple and hands on: a clay handprint ornament, a thumbprint reindeer on a wood slice or a fingerprint lights ornament. They take a few minutes per child.
Fingerprint ornaments and handprint canvases work well for toddlers because the adult does the setup and the child just adds their hand or fingers.
Roll air dry clay about a quarter inch thick, cut a circle, press the hand in gently, make a ribbon hole and let it dry for a day or two before painting.
A hand painted mug, drawing tile coasters, a swirl paint ball ornament with their name or a hot cocoa jar are all doable for kindergarten.
About the author: Shinku Studio shares simple classroom and home ideas, with supplies chosen from well reviewed, popular options on Amazon.