Creating gifts is a wonderful activity for young children. There’s a certain magic in receiving a present made by little hands, knowing the thought and effort that went into it. For kindergarten educators, guiding children through gift-making projects can be incredibly rewarding, though it sometimes brings the pressure of ensuring the gifts are truly child-made. The key lies in balance, common sense, and understanding the children and families you work with.
To ensure gift-making is a joyful and meaningful experience for kindergarteners, I follow these simple guidelines when planning projects:
- Will it be fun and engaging for them? The most important question! Is the project age-appropriate for kindergarteners? Will it spark their interest, or will it lead to frustration? Kindergarten gift ideas should be about the process, not perfection.
- Is it manageable for a group setting? Consider the logistics. If you’re working with a large group of kindergarten children with varying schedules and backgrounds, the project needs to be adaptable and not overly complex. Simple kindergarten gift ideas are best.
- Will the recipient appreciate it? Think about the families. Will the gift feel personal and special to the parents or family members receiving it? Kindergarteners’ handmade gifts have a unique charm that families treasure.
- Can we incorporate recycling or upcycling? This is a fantastic opportunity to teach kindergarteners about sustainability. Can we use recycled materials in our gift projects? Upcycled kindergarten gift ideas are both eco-friendly and budget-friendly.
- Embrace their creativity! Be open to deviations from the plan. If a kindergartener wants to take the project in a different direction, encourage it! The goal is to foster their creativity and self-expression. A unique, child-led gift is far more valuable than a perfectly uniform one.
Finding fresh and exciting gift ideas for kindergarteners can be challenging. So, I’ve gathered a collection of inspiring projects from the Empowered Educator Facebook Community and across the web to spark your imagination.
These ideas are designed for various skill levels within the kindergarten age group. You’ll find simple, hands-on activities perfect for younger kindergarteners (requiring minimal adult assistance), projects with easy-to-follow steps for ages 3-5, and even some more involved crafts suitable for older kindergarteners or holiday programs.
You’ll notice some handprint and footprint crafts included. While I understand this can be a sensitive topic in early childhood education, I believe that when approached respectfully and with the child’s comfort in mind, these can be meaningful keepsakes. Never force a child to participate in handprint or footprint activities. These should be occasional options, always prioritizing the process over the product.
Let’s explore these kindergarten gift ideas and get those creative juices flowing! Click the links below the image collages to learn more about each project and the materials you’ll need.
Save money and help children to create a special handmade Christmas present for family and friends with this collection of project and activity ideas!
Empowered Ed member Danielle created adorable Christmas trees from pinecones with her kindergarten class. A pinecone hunt can be a fun pre-craft activity! Small pots are inexpensive, or parents might be happy to donate extras. This is a fantastic nature-based kindergarten gift idea.
![alt text: Kindergarteners’ handmade pine cone Christmas trees in small pots, a charming and rustic gift idea.]
Save money and help children to create a special handmade Christmas present for family and friends with this collection of project and activity ideas!
Save money and help children to create a special handmade Christmas present for family and friends with this collection of project and activity ideas!
Emma, another educator from our Facebook group, made these sweet “Mistletoes” pictures using footprint art with her kindergarteners. Imagine how treasured these footprint mistletoe keepsakes will be for parents and grandparents for years to come! A simple and budget-friendly footprint art kindergarten gift.
![alt text: Footprint mistletoe art made by kindergarten children, a sentimental and easy-to-create gift.]
Save money and help children to create a special handmade Christmas present for family and friends with this collection of project and activity ideas!
These Santa flower pots are a super cute Christmas gift idea and incorporate a bit of gardening fun! I created these with kindergarteners even on a tight budget. A practical and festive kindergarten gift idea.
![alt text: Kindergarten-made Santa Claus painted flower pots, a festive and functional handmade gift.]
Save money and help children to create a special handmade Christmas present for family and friends with this collection of project and activity ideas!
If you have old CDs around (or families can donate some), recycling them into Christmas ornaments is a brilliant idea from Empowered Ed member Fiona. Let kindergarteners decorate them with paint, glitter, and other craft supplies for unique and sparkly ornaments. A creative recycled kindergarten gift idea.
![alt text: Recycled CD Christmas ornaments decorated by kindergarteners with paint and glitter, an eco-friendly gift.]
Save money and help children to create a special handmade Christmas present for family and friends with this collection of project and activity ideas!
Save money and help children to create a special handmade Christmas present for family and friends with this collection of project and activity ideas!
Fiona also shared this simple fine motor activity using craft sticks and buttons to create these adorable Christmas trees. These craft stick Christmas trees would look lovely hanging on the tree each year. A fine motor skills kindergarten gift idea.
![alt text: Craft stick Christmas trees with button decorations, a simple fine motor skill activity for kindergarteners.]
Save money and help children to create a special handmade Christmas present for family and friends with this collection of project and activity ideas!
These Christmas bells made from old plastic bottles are a fun and upcycled gift for kindergarteners to create. See how to make these upcycled Christmas bells HERE.
![alt text: Upcycled Christmas bells made from plastic bottles, a fun and eco-conscious kindergarten gift project.]
Save money and help children to create a special handmade Christmas present for family and friends with this collection of project and activity ideas!
Save money and help children to create a special handmade Christmas present for family and friends with this collection of project and activity ideas!
Educator Kim from our Facebook group made these charming snowmen using simple sewing techniques. This could be a great holiday program activity for older kindergarteners or a simplified version for younger ones. A hand-sewn kindergarten gift idea (with adult supervision and assistance).
![alt text: Hand-sewn snowman ornaments made by kindergarteners, a charming and crafty gift idea for older children.]
Save money and help children to create a special handmade Christmas present for family and friends with this collection of project and activity ideas!
Save money and help children to create a special handmade Christmas present for family and friends with this collection of project and activity ideas!
Salt dough is always a fantastic, budget-friendly gift idea that kindergarteners love to make. Find a simple salt dough recipe HERE to create personalized ornaments. A classic salt dough kindergarten gift idea.
![alt text: Salt dough ornaments made and decorated by kindergarteners, a timeless and customizable gift.]
Save money and help children to create a special handmade Christmas present for family and friends with this collection of project and activity ideas!
How easy is this? Fiona shows us how to turn plaster Christmas trees (made using ice cube trays!) into magnets. Simply add magnet strips to the back. You could also use salt dough for this idea! An easy plaster or salt dough magnet kindergarten gift.
![alt text: Plaster Christmas tree magnets made by kindergarteners using ice cube trays as molds, a simple and practical gift.]
Save money and help children to create a special handmade Christmas present for family and friends with this collection of project and activity ideas!
My nature clay ornaments are a beautiful and versatile gift idea, easily adapted for different kindergarten ages. I love using my white ‘clay’ recipe – it’s so easy to make and budget-friendly! A beautiful nature-inspired clay kindergarten gift.
![alt text: Nature-imprinted clay ornaments made by kindergarteners using natural materials, a beautiful and earthy gift.]
Save money and help children to create a special handmade Christmas present for family and friends with this collection of project and activity ideas!
reusable bag gift ideas using children
What a thoughtful and practical gift! These reusable bags decorated with children’s paintings come from Fiona in our Empowered Ed group. Kindergarteners’ artwork transforms ordinary bags into personalized and eco-friendly gifts. A practical and personalized painted bag kindergarten gift.
![alt text: Reusable shopping bags painted by kindergarteners, a practical and eco-friendly personalized gift.]
Save money and help children to create a special handmade Christmas present for family and friends with this collection of project and activity ideas!
Save money and help children to create a special handmade Christmas present for family and friends with this collection of project and activity ideas!
Save money and help children to create a special handmade Christmas present for family and friends with this collection of project and activity ideas!
Save money and help children to create a special handmade Christmas present for family and friends with this collection of project and activity ideas!
Did you discover a kindergarten gift idea or two that you’d like to try for Christmas or another special occasion?
Remember to revisit those 5 simple guidelines as you plan. They’ll help ensure the gift-making process is fun, engaging, and stress-free for both you and the kindergarteners creating these special gifts.
Looking for even more inspiration and ideas? Join our Empowered Educator Facebook group and connect with over 15,000 other early years educators! Click the image below to join.
A Little About Me
Jodie Clarke
Jodie Clarke is an early childhood professional dedicated to supporting educators who want to maintain their passion for their work! With 30 years of hands-on experience in early childhood and human services across diverse roles, Jodie understands the challenges and joys of early education.
As a mum of 3 in Australia, Jodie shares her expertise with thousands of educators through her popular blog posts, activity ideas, online training, and e-books.
