Christmas tree play dough

My girls love play dough and today’s activity is an activity we come back to year after year. We do vary the decorations each year. For example, the first year I did Christmas tree play dough, my eldest daughter was 18 months old and we kept the decorations big and chunky such as sparkly pom poms, pipe cleaners and foam shapes. This is one of our favourite Christmas activities for toddlers.

This year I set this invitation to make Christmas trees from play dough for my 5 year old. I used Hama beads so that she could really work on her fine motor skills. She really enjoyed this activity which would also work for preschool children, obviously, supervision is required for children who may put the beads in their mouth.  

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Invitation to create Christmas tree play dough

You will need:

• * Play dough, yellow and green (you can purchase it ready-made or make your own), find my recipe below if you decide to make it. Alternatively you could use this Ground Cloves Playdough Recipe.

• * Christmas tree cookie cutter
• * play dough rolling pin
• * Star cookie cutter
• * Hama beads for decorating  

Other suggestions for decorations:

• Foam Shapes
• Cake sprinkles
• Pom poms
• Pipe cleaners
• Buttons
• Table sparkly decorations

Set out the play dough, cookie cutters, rolling pin and decorations on a table or a tray if you want to try and contain the mess.  

My two had lots of fun making and decorating playdough Christmas trees. So much so that we have done this a few times already this December.  

These Christmas Tree fine motor mats are also great for using with play dough as well as other tools to help build fine motor skills.

Cutting practice is great for developing fine motor skills. Try this Santa Beard Cutting Practice.

Find out more about why fine motor skills are important here.

Next up, why not try this Christmas slime?

If you love this play dough activity, you’ll love this gingerbread playdough recipe.

For another Christmas tree related activity, you could follow this felt Christmas tree tutorial.

How to make play dough

You will need:

• 1 cup of plain flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 tbsb vegetable oil
• 1 tbsp cream of tartar
• 1 cup of water Green and yellow food colouring, I love * Wilton gel colours as they are so vibrant (you will need to make two batches, 1 green and 1 yellow)  

1. Mix all the dry ingredients in a pan.
2. Add the water and food colouring
3. Stir to combine
4. Put the pan on medium heat and stir until the dough starts to come away from the sides of the pan.
5. Allow to cool briefly before kneading until smooth

Where to next?

Still, want more Christmas play dough ideas? Then try this gingerbread play dough

If you are looking for more simple Christmas crafts, have you seen our Christmas marbled paper and cards?  

Find loads of Christmas card ideas for toddlers here

Find more Christmas activities for toddlers here

Have you chosen an advent calendar yet? Find the best toddler advent calendars here.

Find 14 more fantastic sensory toys for toddlers here.

Find lots of Christmas cards for kids to make here

How cute are these? DIY Air Dry Clay Christmas Decorations

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