There’s something magical about capturing those tiny hands before they grow. These DIY handprint ornaments are a simple, heartfelt holiday craft that doubles as a memory you’ll treasure for years. Made with our Homemade Air-Drying Clay Recipe, this activity lets toddlers explore textures and creativity while strengthening fine-motor skills.
Whether you hang them on your Christmas tree or gift them to grandparents, this easy project brings together play, art, and connection.
🧠 Why Make Handprint Ornaments?
Creating handprint ornaments isn’t just a holiday tradition — it’s a beautiful sensory and learning experience for toddlers.
Skills developed:
- Fine-Motor Development: pressing, shaping, and painting build finger strength and coordination
- Sensory Exploration: exploring soft, smooth, and cool textures of the clay
- Creativity: choosing colors and decorations
- Emotional Connection: strengthens family bonding and memory-making
🧰 Materials You’ll Need
- Homemade Air-Dry Clay – get the full recipe here
- Rolling pin
- Cookie cutters (circle or holiday shapes)
- Straw (for making a hanging hole)
- Acrylic paint or washable paint
- Ribbon or string
- Optional: clear sealant for preservation
🪄 How to Make Your Handprint Ornaments
- Prepare your clay using the Homemade Air-Drying Clay Recipe.
- Roll the clay flat (about ¼-inch thick) on parchment paper.
- Use cookie cutters to create your desired shapes.
- Gently press your toddler’s hand into the clay to create a print.
- Use a straw to poke a small hole at the top for hanging.
- Let dry completely (24–48 hours).
- Once dry, paint your ornament with festive colors — think red, green, gold, or snowy white!
- Tie a ribbon through the hole and hang it on your tree or add a tag for gifting.
💡 Tips for Success
- Make two or three prints — one to keep, one to gift.
- Label the back with your child’s name and year using a marker once dry.
- For a sensory experience, let your toddler mix glitter into the dough before shaping!
- To protect it long-term, finish with a light coat of clear sealant once paint is dry.
🧩 Extend the Learning
- Language: Talk about size and shape (“Your hand is small like this star!”).
- Math: Count fingers together as you press them into the clay.
- Science: Observe how the clay feels soft at first and hard once dry.
- Storytime tie-in: Read The Sweet Smell of Christmas or Bear Stays Up for Christmas after crafting.
🧼 Cleanup Tips
- Wipe table surfaces before the clay dries.
- Store leftover clay in an airtight container for future crafts.
- Use damp paper towels for easy cleanup.
✨ Keep the Fun Going
This activity is part of our December Lesson Plan inside The Home Play Curriculum!
Discover more easy winter ideas like Yogurt Snow Paint, Ice Sensory Bin, and Exploring Holiday Lights — all designed to help your toddler learn through curiosity and play.
👉 [Explore the full December lesson plan here.]