This design an ugly Christmas sweater activity is an amazing way to provide your kids with frugal and creative holiday fun.
Using basic craft supplies, your children will have the opportunity to put together their own Christmas sweater. This design process can either be done again and again OR made more permanent with glue. A tray with a variety of materials allows your young learners to make cool combinations of festive sweaters for DIY Christmas fun.
Learn more about my tips and ideas for enjoying this activity to boost your holiday celebration, screen-free time, and more.
Frugal Way to Inspire Creative Holiday Fun
If you’re look for an affordable activity to use with young learners this Christmas season, I’ve got just the idea for you! It’s a simple way to help your kids enjoy a quiet activity with that sparks imagination and helps build fine motor skills.
What is this incredible idea? Well, it’s this design an ugly Christmas sweater activity!
As I look back on past Christmas seasons with my 5 boys, I often think about how much fun they all were. So much energy, excitement, and anticipation! We continued our homeschooling adventures with many Christmas homeschool fun activities. To do so, I had to think outside the box for frugal ways to help my boys focus their energy in positive ways.
Activity trays with holiday themes were one of my favorite ways to give my boys screen-free options. After going through our craft and homeschool supplies, I’d put together these trays with objects that we had. The boys would have a blast, especially with sensory play when I’d include playdough) and more!
This Ugly Christmas Sweater theme was a huge hit with my boys. I hope that it inspires you to have a ton of fun with your kids, too!
Recommended Materials for This Ugly Christmas Sweater Activity
A fantastic thing about this DIY activity is that you really can’t do it wrong. Go through your craft supplies and see what you have to use. Use this list of ideas for inspiration. Feel free to substitute with the materials that you have.
- Felt (or foam sheets)
- Pom Poms
- Foam Christmas Stickers
- Extra decorative items, like confetti and sequins
- Pipe Cleaners
Simetufy 8 x 12 Inch Felt Sheets for Crafts, 40 Pcs DIY Craft Felt, 1 mm Thick Non-Woven Felt Squares, Stiff Felt Sheets for School Projects, Decoration, 40 Assorted Colors (20 x 30cm)84PACK Foam Craft Sheets 8.5×5.5 inch Eva Color Bulk Foam Paper Set for Kids Classroom Art Craft Projects DIY Handcraft by MEARCOOHYooThink 1500 Pieces Pompoms for Crafts,Small Size 1CM Small pom poms for Crafts,Pompoms for DIY Creative Crafts DecorationsArts and Crafts Supplies Kit for Kids – Boys and Girls Age 4 5 6 7 8 Years Old – Toddler Art Set Activity Materials – Great for Preschool and Kindergarten Crafting Project – Carl & KayJULBEAR 300 Pieces Christmas Foam Stickers Glitter Self Adhesive Stickers for Crafts Holiday Foam Stickers Greeting Cards Home Party Decoration Supplies (Christmas Style)
Other options for your sweater can be construction paper or cardstock. Go with what you have!
Cut the felt (foam sheets or paper) into the shape of a sweater. This free printable template of a sweater by Spot of Tea Designs can be used if you’d rather not draw it. If there are multiple Christmas sweaters to make, stack two or three sheets of felt together and cut them all at once.
Ideas and Inspiration for This Design An Ugly Christmas Sweater Activity
Remember: There is no right way to make an ugly sweater. Encourage your students to be creative.
This kid-friendly activity is perfect for celebrating Ugly Christmas Sweater Day (the third Friday in December).
Kids can either lay decorations on the sweaters (making this a reusable activity) or you can glue them down to turn their masterpieces into special keepsakes.
For older kids, bending pipe cleaners into the shape of a tree, reindeer, or other Christmas theme (like star, bell, or stocking) could be a fun challenge.
Look up pictures of ugly sweaters online and have the kids try to recreate them. Brainstorm ideas for colors, patterns, and textures.
Consider providing additional supplies to take your Design an Ugly Christmas Activity to another level. A few other suggestions are:
- Small jingle bells
- Wood beads
- Pony beads
- String or yarn
- Ribbon
- Washi tape (wonderful choice because you can use to hold down items and then easily peel off!)
- Mini-erasers
- Sequins
⭐ I’d love to hear your ideas for doing this design an Ugly Christmas Sweater activity with kids! Let me know what you come up with in the comments area at the bottom of this post – thanks so much!!
