Christmas Tree Collage Craft for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Looking for an easy Christmas tree craft for toddlers or preschoolers? This glittery Christmas tree collage gives children a simple way to decorate a paper tree with sparkly craft supplies. It’s an open-ended art activity, so every child can choose their own colors and decorations.

You can use supplies you already have on hand, such as glitter glue, metallic pipe cleaners, foam stickers, and acrylic jewels. Since the tree is cut from construction paper, setup is quick, and the decorating can begin right away.

Materials for a Christmas Tree Collage

Gather a few sparkly art supplies, or use whatever you have available:

• Green construction paper
• Glue
• Glitter glue
• Sparkly or metallic pipe cleaners
• Glittery star foam stickers
• Acrylic jewels or other craft decorations
• Scissors for an adult to cut out the trees

You don’t need every item on this list. A few different textures and colors are enough to make the collage fun to explore.

Safety note: Small decorations can be a choking hazard. Choose age-appropriate materials and supervise children closely. For children who still mouth objects, use larger paper shapes instead of small decorations.

How to Make a Glittery Christmas Tree Collage

1. Cut out a tree shape. Cut a simple Christmas tree from green construction paper. You can make one tree for each child or prepare several sizes.
2. Set out the decorations. Place the glitter glue, pipe cleaners, stickers, and other decorations where children can reach them.
3. Invite children to decorate. Let them add the materials to the paper tree in their own way. They might press on stickers, squeeze glitter glue, or arrange pipe cleaners across the tree.
4. Let the collage dry. Follow the directions on your glue and glitter glue, then leave each tree flat until it is dry.

That’s all there is to it! The project is meant to be child-led, so the finished trees may look different from one another—and that’s part of the fun.

Adapting the Christmas Tree Craft for Different Ages

• For toddlers: Cut out the tree shapes ahead of time and offer a few large, easy-to-handle decorations. Put out small amounts of glue at a time, and stay close to supervise.
• For preschoolers: Invite children to choose and arrange their own materials. If they’re ready to use scissors, they can help cut simple shapes or snip pipe cleaners with child-safe scissors and adult supervision.
• For a mixed-age group: Prepare the trees and materials before the activity. Younger children can decorate with larger pieces while older children add smaller details or make patterns. Let each child decide how much help they want.

Easy Setup and Cleanup

Cover the table with a washable tablecloth or scrap paper before you begin. Put the decorations in small trays or containers so children can see their choices without everything getting mixed together. A small amount of glue in a dish can be easier to manage than passing around a large bottle.

Glitter glue and glittery stickers add sparkle without using loose glitter. Keep a damp cloth nearby for sticky fingers, and let the finished trees dry flat in a place where they won’t be disturbed.

A Simple Christmas Art Activity for Little Hands

Decorating the paper tree gives toddlers and preschoolers chances to pinch, grasp, press, and squeeze. These actions provide practice with fine motor movements and hand-eye coordination.

The different materials also let children explore color, texture, and placement as they decide where each decoration should go. There’s no right way to arrange the collage. Offer a few choices, then let children take the lead.

More Christmas Activities for Kids

Keep the holiday fun going with these ideas from Where Imagination Grows:

• Browse more Christmas crafts and activities.
• Try these Christmas songs and fingerplays for kids.
• Find more ideas in the kids’ activity index.

Need more activities? Try our free activity planner for December:

Looking for more crafts and activities? Check out our index for 100+ kids activities! Find activities by theme, materials, skills, age, and much more!

Originally Published December 2013; Updated December 2026

*I received the supplies pictured above for free from CraftProjectIdeas.com for the kids to play and create with. Although they provided me with these materials, all of the ideas and opinions posted here are strictly my own.