How to Create Gingerbread Crafts for Kids

Looking for quick, joyful gingerbread activities that fit busy winter days? This list rounds up easy crafts perfect for preschool–1st grade that build real skills—letters, numbers, shapes, patterns, storytelling, and simple engineering—while kids play.

Most projects use everyday supplies and take 10–20 minutes to set up and complete. You’ll also find clear safety tips for using small objects, safety scissors, yarn, spices, and recyclables to keep tiny hands safe.

Smelly Cinnamon “Gingerbread” Ornaments

Create a sensational masterpiece of gingerbread ornaments. Simply, use items in your household to create these scented ornaments. 

What you’ll need:

Ground cinnamon, applesauce, a little white glue (optional), rolling pin, cookie cutters, straw, ribbon

How to do it:

• Mix cinnamon and applesauce to form a dough. 
• Roll flat, cut shapes. 
• Poke a hanging hole with a straw.
• Air-dry 24–48 hours.
• Tie ribbon.

Learning boost:

Encourage the following learning skills as you build these ornaments – measuring, counting, patience, sensory vocabulary (smell/texture)

Grown-up tip:

• Label “Not edible.” 
• Note spice sensitivities.

Paper Gingerbread People Pattern Garland

Gather your scraps of paper or tissue paper and create this gingerbread garland. Get creative with various gingerbread shapes to make a unique garland. 

What you’ll need:

Brown paper/card-stock, dot or shape stickers, markers, hole punch, yarn

How to do it:

• Cut or trace gingerbread people. 
• Decorate with repeating color/shape patterns. 
• Punch holes and string into a garland.

Learning boost:

Colors, shapes, patterns, counting, fine-motor skills

Grown-up tip:

• Pre-cut people for little hands; provide simple pattern cards (AB, ABB, ABC).

Gingerbread Play Dough Bakery (Letters and Numbers)

Add a learning component with this gingerbread bakery idea. With letter and numbers, your students can learn while creating bakery goods. 

What you’ll need:

Brown playdough (add a dash of cinnamon/ginger for scent), letter/number stamps or small cutters, trays

How to do it:

• Roll dough and “bake” cookies. 
• Stamp letters to build names/sight words or numbers for simple adding.

Learning boost:

Encourage the following learning skills – letter recognition, phonics, name spelling, counting, number sense, hand strength

Grown-up tip:

• Add “order cards” like “Bake 3 cookie Cs” or “2 + 1 cookies.”

Carton Gingerbread Houses (Mini Engineering)

STEM projects are ideal for little learners. Use gingerbread housing projects to encourage innovation and imagination of gingerbread construction. 

What you’ll need:

Clean milk/juice cartons or small boxes, brown paper, glue/tape, craft sticks, paper “candies,” cotton balls (snow)

How to do it:

• Wrap the carton.
• Add a roof/door/windows.
• Decorate.
• Then test with a gentle “snowstorm” (cotton balls).

Learning boost:

Building, problem-solving, comparing strong vs. wiggly parts, measurement words (tall/wide)

Grown-up tip:

• Offer just a few materials to keep choices simple.

Giant Gingerbread Town Map (Move and Learn)

Develop kinesthetic learning with this gingerbread movement idea. If space allows, create a large size gingerbread house and learn prepositional phrases. 

What you’ll need:

Large paper or floor grid, brown paper house cutouts, markers, arrow cards, small gingerbread figure

How to do it:

• Each child decorates a house and places it on the map. 
• Use arrow cards (up/down/left/right) to “deliver” from school to houses.

Learning boost:

Encourage the following learning skills – directions, sequencing, maps and symbols, turn-taking

Grown-up tip:

• Start with 2–3 steps, then create longer “routes.”

Gingerbread Lacing Cards

Fine motor skills are ideal with this activity. Students will learn how to lace each gingerbread cut out with various textures of materials. 

What you’ll need:

Brown card-stock gingerbread shapes, hole punch, yarn or shoelaces (tape one end), large beads (optional)

How to do it:

• Punch holes around the edge.
• lace in and out like “sewing.” 
• Add a bow.

Learning boost:

Eye–hand coordination, counting holes, persistence

Grown-up tip:

• Begin with fewer holes for beginners.

Roll-and-Decorate Gingerbread Game

Have fun with these gingerbread game ideas. Each cookie is a different creation. 

What you’ll need:

Paper gingerbread “cookie” mats, 1 die, dot stickers or mini pom-poms, crayons

How to do it:

• Roll the die and add that many decorations. 
• Play until your cookie has 10 items or all features are filled.

Learning boost:

Encourage the following learning skills – counting, one-to-one matching, subitizing, turn-taking

Grown-up tip:

• Create a simple code card (1=eyes, 2=buttons, 3=bow).

Gingerbread House Sun-Catchers

Explore light projections with this sun-catcher activity. Students will learn how light manifests through various media. 

What you’ll need:

Brown paper house frame, clear contact paper, tissue paper squares, sequins/foil bits, ribbon

How to do it:

• Stick house frame to contact paper; fill “windows” with tissue and shiny bits. 
• Seal with a second contact sheet.
• Hang in a window.

Learning boost:

Colors and shapes, design choices, vocabulary (transparent, opaque)

Grown-up tip:

• Pre-cut frames to speed setup.

Gingerbread Story Stick Puppets

For little learners, use these stick puppets for storytelling. Or, encourage them to create their own stories. 

What you’ll need:

Craft sticks, gingerbread character cutouts, markers, glue, wiggly eyes

How to do it:

• Decorate characters and glue to sticks. 
• Retell The Gingerbread Man or make a new adventure.

Learning boost:

Encourage the following learning skills – communication, sequencing (beginning–middle–end), creativity, social skills

Grown-up tip:

• Provide simple picture cues for shy speakers.

Gingerbread House Shape Match Collage

Make holiday memories with these collages. Each student can make their own shape collages with various textures or materials. 

What you’ll need:

House background with shape outlines, pre-cut “candy” shapes (circles, squares, triangles, hearts), glue sticks, cotton balls (snow)

How to do it:

• Match and glue shapes to outlines. 
• Add cotton snow on the roof.

Learning boost:

Shape recognition, matching, spatial awareness, fine-motor control

Grown-up tip:

• Color-code shapes for extra support.

Quick Setup Tips

• Keep centers short and sweet: 10–20 minutes each.
• Use visual step cards: “First–Then–Next” to support independence.
• Label learning: “We’re practicing patterns!” connects play to skills.

Safety Tips for Educators and Parents

Small Objects and Safety Scissors

• Supervise closely with children under 3 for small objects (beads, sequins, mini pom-poms, wiggly eyes.)
• Offer larger pieces instead; store small items in closed containers.
• Use blunt-tip, child-safe scissors; demonstrate “points down” carrying.
• One pair per child at a time; teach “thumbs up, paper flat” cutting posture.
• Keep long hair/clothing away from blades; provide a scissor caddy for storage.

String and yarn (lacing projects)

• Pre-cut shorter lengths (18–24 inches) to reduce tangles and hazards.
• Supervise; avoid necklaces or wrapping around wrists or neck.

Spices and scented materials (cinnamon/ginger in ornaments or play dough)

• Check for allergies or sensitivities; avoid if any child has respiratory concerns.
• Label scented dough or ornaments as non-edible; wash hands after use.

Glue, tape, and contact paper

• Choose non-toxic, washable glue. Provide glue sticks for minimal mess.
• Keep caps on when not in use; model “dot, dot, not a lot.”

Recycled cartons/boxes

• Thoroughly wash and dry; tape closed to prevent leaks or odors.
• Avoid sharp edges; pre-cover staples with tape or paper.

General classroom safety

• Provide seated workspaces with clear boundaries.
• Do quick floor scans for fallen small pieces before transitions.
• Build in handwashing before and after crafts.

With these simple projects and safety habits, you’ll have a joyful gingerbread theme that builds skills, confidence, and holiday cheer.

Summary

These gingerbread crafts make a festive, low-prep theme you can use in centers, small groups, or at home. Kids practice fine-motor skills, early literacy and math, creativity, and problem-solving through ornaments, lacing cards, maps, puppets, and more.

With simple visual steps and built-in safety reminders (think blunt-tip scissors, large pieces, allergy checks, and close supervision with small parts), you can focus on fun and learning. Pick a few favorites, rotate them through the week, and watch confidence and holiday cheer grow.

Download the FREE printables here – FREE Printables Set