When the temperatures drop and the snow starts falling, toddlers spend a lot more time cooped up indoors. While winter is beautiful, keeping energetic little ones entertained without relying on screens all day can be a huge challenge. You want to set up fun activities, but you don't want a complicated project that results in a massive mess.
The secret to beating winter cabin fever? Keep it simple, highly tactile, and incredibly silly!
We have gathered 25 classic winter crafts and given them a fun, toddler-friendly upgrade. By focusing on fluffy cotton balls, colorful pom-poms, and oversized googly eyes, these crafts double as sensory play while remaining completely low-prep.
Grab your glue sticks and let's get crafting!
1. Paper Plate Polar Bear
Bring the arctic indoors with this incredibly fluffy friend! Using cotton balls gives toddlers a great sensory experience while building their fine motor skills.
-
Instructions: Glue fluffy white cotton balls all over a paper plate, add two white paper half-circle ears at the top, and glue on two big googly eyes and a black pom-pom nose on a white paper circle snout.
2. Paper Plate Cute Penguin
Waddle on over to the craft table for this sweet and simple bird. The contrasting black rim and oversized googly eyes make this penguin pop!
-
Instructions: Paint the outer rim of a paper plate black (leaving the center white), glue on two black paper wings, two big googly eyes, and an orange triangle beak.
3. Paper Plate Cozy Snowman with Earmuffs
Stay warm, little snowman! Those giant fuzzy pom-pom earmuffs and googly eyes make this the absolute cutest snow day craft ever.
-
Instructions: Glue two big googly eyes, an orange paper carrot nose, and a black marker smile onto a paper plate, then attach two giant fuzzy pom-poms on the sides connected by a pipe cleaner across the top as earmuffs.
4. Paper Plate Yeti / Abominable Snowman
Meet the friendliest little snow monster in town. Kids will love giving this fluffy paper plate Yeti some silly googly eyes and a toothy grin.
-
Instructions: Glue light blue paper in the center of a paper plate, surround the rim with fluffy white cotton balls, and add two giant googly eyes and a silly marker smile with two white paper teeth.
5. Paper Plate Lacing Mitten
Sneak in some fine motor lacing practice with the happiest little winter mitten. It is incredibly easy to prep for busy little hands!
-
Instructions: Cut two mitten shapes out of colorful paper plates, punch holes around the edges to lace white yarn through, and glue two big googly eyes and a smile in the center.
6. Popsicle Stick Happy Snowflake
Every snowflake is unique—especially the ones with big googly eyes! This is a fantastic, low-mess activity that looks great hung up in the window.
-
Instructions: Glue four light blue popsicle sticks overlapping into a star shape, decorate the ends with white pom-poms, and glue a blue paper circle in the center with two big googly eyes and a sweet smile.
7. Popsicle Stick Cute Penguin
Four craft sticks plus googly eyes equals the cutest little penguin pal. This is a wonderfully sturdy craft that can double as a winter bookmark!
-
Instructions: Glue four black popsicle sticks side-by-side, glue a white paper oval over the tummy, and add two big googly eyes, an orange paper beak, and two orange paper feet.
8. Popsicle Stick Snowman Hat
Look at that happy little face! Turn plain wooden craft sticks into this adorable snowman character in just five minutes.
-
Instructions: Glue five white popsicle sticks side-by-side, glue a black construction paper top hat across the top, and add two big googly eyes, a red pom-pom nose, and a marker smile.
9. Clothespin Snowy Owl
Who-o-o wants to make an easy winter craft? Clip these cute, fluffy clothespin snowy owls onto curtains, string lights, or holiday branches.
-
Instructions: Wrap or glue fluffy white cotton onto a wooden clothespin, add two white paper wings on the sides, two big yellow-backed googly eyes, and a tiny orange paper beak.
10. Popsicle Stick Hot Cocoa Mug
Time to warm up with the cutest cup of hot cocoa! The cotton ball marshmallows and happy little smile make this craft extra sweet.
-
Instructions: Glue five blue popsicle sticks side-by-side, add a blue paper handle on the side, glue fluffy white cotton balls along the top edge as marshmallows, and add two big googly eyes and a smile in the middle.
11. Handprint Penguin
Turn tiny handprints into a waddling little penguin! No paint required—just construction paper, glue, and big googly eyes.
-
Instructions: Trace and cut out a child's hand on black cardstock (fingers point down as feet and wings), glue a white paper circle on the palm, and add two big googly eyes and an orange triangle beak at the top.
12. Handprint Polar Bear
The sweetest little polar bear keepsake to remember how small they once were. Trace their little hand on white paper and add googly eyes and a fluffy cotton tail!
-
Instructions: Cut out a white cardstock handprint (four fingers are the legs, thumb is the head), glue a cotton ball tail on the back, and add two googly eyes and a black dot nose on the thumb.
13. Handprint Cozy Mitten
Custom-fit to their tiny hands! Cut out a paper mitten and let the kids go wild decorating it with soft cotton balls, pom-poms, and googly eyes.
-
Instructions: Trace a child's hand with fingers together on bright blue cardstock to make a mitten shape, glue cotton balls along the wrist cuff, and add colorful pom-poms and two big googly eyes in the center.
14. Fingerprint Snowman Family
The tiniest, cutest fingerprint snowmen! Grab some washable white paint and mini googly eyes for this adorable winter afternoon keepsake.
-
Instructions: Have kids stamp three stacked white paint fingerprints on light blue cardstock, then glue on tiny googly eyes, draw an orange nose and stick arms, and add a tiny ribbon scarf.
15. Handprint Snowy Owl
Look at those cute handprint wings! This paper snowy owl is completely mess-free and so fun for little ones to glue together independently.
-
Instructions: Cut out two white paper handprints and glue them side-by-side as open wings, glue a white paper circle body in the middle, and add two huge googly eyes and an orange beak.
16. Toilet Paper Roll Penguin
Save those empty cardboard tubes! In just a few minutes, your kids can upcycle them into the cutest googly-eyed penguin friends.
-
Instructions: Wrap a cardboard tube in black paper, glue a white paper oval on the front, and add black paper wings, two big googly eyes, and an orange paper beak.
17. Toilet Paper Roll Polar Bear
Simple, clean, and super cute. Turn an empty paper roll into this adorable polar bear with just white paper, a fuzzy pom-pom, and googly eyes!
-
Instructions: Wrap a cardboard tube in white paper, glue two white paper circle ears to the top rim, and add two big googly eyes, a black pom-pom nose, and a drawn smile.
18. Toilet Paper Roll Yeti
How silly is this fuzzy-haired cardboard tube Yeti? Toddlers absolutely love gluing on the fluffy cotton hair and sticking on the giant googly eyes!
-
Instructions: Paint or wrap a cardboard tube in light blue, glue white yarn or cotton balls around the top like crazy hair, and glue on two giant googly eyes and a toothy paper grin.
19. Paper Cup Penguin
A paper cup, some googly eyes, and a fuzzy pom-pom make the happiest winter penguin! This is a great 3D craft that kids can actually play with afterward.
-
Instructions: Turn a black paper cup (or white cup painted black) upside down, glue on a white circle belly, two big googly eyes, an orange beak, and top with a fluffy pom-pom winter hat.
20. Paper Cup Polar Bear
Zero paint needed! Grab a plain white paper cup and let the kids turn it into a cozy, googly-eyed polar bear wearing a warm winter scarf.
-
Instructions: Use a plain white paper cup, glue two white paper ears to the top, add two big googly eyes and a big black pom-pom nose, and wrap a colorful felt strip around the bottom as a scarf.
21. Silly Beaded Pipe Cleaner Icicle
Fine motor fun with a silly twist! Threading winter beads onto pipe cleaners keeps little hands busy, focused, and happy.
-
Instructions: Thread clear, white, and light blue pony beads onto a pipe cleaner, twist it slightly into a spiral icicle, and glue two tiny googly eyes onto the top bead.
22. Torn Paper Snowman
Rip, tear, and glue! Tearing paper is amazing for building little hand muscles, and those googly eyes bring this snowman right to life without the need for scissors.
-
Instructions: Draw two stacked circles on blue cardstock, let kids tear up white paper and glue the pieces inside to fill the snowman, then add googly eyes, an orange paper nose, and pom-pom buttons.
23. Cotton Ball Cute Igloo
Who's peeking out of the cozy cotton ball igloo? This highly tactile, sensory-friendly winter craft is perfect for busy toddlers who love to glue.
-
Instructions: Glue fluffy white cotton balls inside a half-circle igloo shape drawn on blue cardstock, and glue two big googly eyes peeking out from the dark blue paper doorway!
24. Pinecone Snowy Owl
Turn backyard pinecones and cotton balls into the cutest baby snowy owls! So simple, tactile, and adorable for a nature-themed craft day.
-
Instructions: Stuff small pieces of white cotton balls into the scales of a pinecone, then glue two big googly eyes, an orange paper beak, and white felt wings onto the front.
25. Pom-Pom Winter Hat Cutout
The happiest little winter beanie! Cut out a paper hat and let your toddlers decorate it with their favorite fluffy pom-poms and silly googly eyes.
-
Instructions: Cut a winter beanie shape out of bright purple cardstock, let kids glue colorful pom-poms along the brim and a giant pom-pom on top, and add two big googly eyes and a smile in the center.
Love these simple, mess-free ideas but don't have the time to hunt down new activities every week? Let us do the planning for you!
Our Monthly Crafted Membership (Preschool & Kindergarten Collection) gives you instant access to an entire library of high-quality, zero-prep crafts, interactive learning binders, and educational worksheets. You get fresh, exciting seasonal activities every single month for one low price, saving you endless hours of scrolling and prep work.
👉 Click here to learn more and join the Monthly Crafted Membership today!
What is the best glue to use for pom-poms and cotton balls? For toddlers, standard washable school glue (like Elmer's liquid glue) works perfectly for cotton balls. For heavier pom-poms or pipe cleaners, you may want to use a few glue dots or help them use a low-temp hot glue gun for a stronger, instant hold.
How do I minimize the mess during craft time? Keep it contained! We love placing all the craft materials (like the googly eyes, pom-poms, and paper cutouts) inside a standard baking sheet with raised edges. It keeps the beads from rolling away and the glue off your kitchen table!
Are these crafts good for a preschool classroom? Absolutely. Because these crafts rely heavily on basic supplies (paper plates, paper rolls, cotton balls) and require very little drying time, they are perfect for large groups and winter classroom centers.
Being stuck indoors during a snowstorm doesn't have to mean bouncing off the walls. With a handful of cotton balls and a few silly googly eyes, you can easily turn a chilly afternoon into a warm, giggly memory.
Grab your supplies, clear off the kitchen table, and enjoy the magic of winter crafting with your little ones!