Whether you like to bake, decorate, or eat gingerbread men, one thing is certain, everyone loves gingerbread men! These charming little characters are a staple during the festive season and can be turned into an array of fun arts and crafts.
Decorating gingerbread cookies is a super fun way to practice fine motor skills and eating them is even more exciting (although, there is no skill involved there). There is seemingly no end to the amount of gingerbread theme activities you can get preschoolers involved with, each one being more tantalizing than the next.
Can you smell the cinnamon in the air yet? If not, take a dive into this collection of gingerbread theme activities and you are sure to feel the festive cheer soon before long!
1. Play-Doh Gingerbread Man
Instead of making a mess with real dough, try making gingerbread men with fragrant gingerbread playdough instead. This way, kids can get creative and add all manner of craft supplies to their "gingerbread cookies" without wasting any of them.
Learn more: Danya Banya
2. Gingerbread House Craft
Every gingerbread man needs his own little house! Use popsicle sticks, some wooden circles, washi tape, and beads to make these fun houses that can be used as decorations along with your other Christmas ornaments.
Learn more: Fireflies and Mudpies
3. Giant Gingerbread People
What is better than a bite-sized gingerbread man? A giant one of course! Unfortunately, these aren't edible but kids love making these giant creations in their own likeness.
Learn more: Toddler Approved
4. Gingerbread Hunt
This activity can be fun for the whole family as you hide and find gingerbread cutouts around the house or the classroom. This fun free printable will keep young ones occupied for hours as they cut out, decorate and search for the people.
Learn more: KC Edventures
5. Sensory Tray
Kids love gingerbread activities where they can get their hands dirty and this sensory activity is the perfect way to get them exploring. With cookie cutters, spoons, and sprinkles kids can explore textures and practice writing.
Learn more: Frogs and Snails and Puppydog Tails
6. Mrs. Plemons' Kindergarten
This is a fun gingerbread art activity that lets kids dip cookie cutters in some paint and print them onto a paper. They can use different-sized shapes to make a whole family and some friends and then use crayons to decorate each shape.
Learn more: Mrs. Plemons' Kindergarten
7. Gingerbread Puffy Paint
Take arts and crafts time up to another level by using fun puffy paint to create these adorable gingerbread creations. The smell of the cinnamon-infused puffy paint will have your mouth watering for real gingerbread cookies so have them on hand for a treat after craft time!
Learn more: Growing a Bejeweled Rose
8. Gingerbread Slime
Gold slime is the perfect addition to a festive day of crafting. Use a gingerbread man cookie cutter to keep the slime in a shape and add googly eyes and beads as decorations. Slime is always a good idea when preschoolers are involved!
Learn more: Preschool Inspirations
9. Gingerbread Paper Dolls
Make fun gingerbread-themed paper dolls that hang hand-in-hand. A long enough string will make the perfect addition to your festive theme mantlepiece or Christmas tree. Decorate each of the gingerbread friends with their own style to complete this unique craft.
Learn more: Creative Family Fun
10. Gingerbread Plate Craft
A paper plate makes a great foundation to create an adorable gingerbread baby. Decorate the body with pom poms, beads, paint, and pipe cleaners, and hang the new art piece up to add to the fun gingerbread theme.
Learn more: Glued to my Crafts Blog
11. Christmas Tree Ornaments
Create lasting memories by creating gingerbread man theme Christmas tree decorations. A simple cardboard cutout with some decorations is a fun, simple, and effective way to make a gingerbread man ornament.
Learn more: Happy Hooligans
12. Letter Recognition
A gingerbread baby is always hungry for some yummy gumdrops so let kids feed their happy faces with these letters. Print out capital letters and lower case letters and let kids feed them as you call out the letters.
Learn more: ABC of Literacy
13. Lacing Activity
A lacing activity is one of the best ways to practice fine motor skills while having fun. Lace up the gingerbread baby with fun festive colored yarn and use the finished product as a cute decoration.
Learn more: Modern Homestead Mama
14. Handmade Gingerbread Sun Catcher
Make gingerbread friends hang in the window, reflecting late afternoon sun rays. Use an outline of a gingerbread man with a collage of cellophane squares pasted in the center to create these charming crafts.
Learn more: The Gingerbread House
15. Retelling Bracelet
Run, run, run, as fast as you can... what's next? Help kids retell the gingerbread man story with this easy-to-make bracelet that gives them clues about what comes next in this classic tale.
Learn more: One Sharpbunch
16. Counting Game
This is a great free gingerbread man printable for preschoolers who love counting. Match up the cute gingerbread cards with the numbered shapes and play fun number games with the kids.
Learn more: Active Littles
17. Q-tip Design
With a q-tip instead of a paintbrush or crayon, you can give a gingerbread printable a whole new life. Carefully dotting paint on the dotted line is a nice challenge, especially for kids that struggle to concentrate or work patiently.
Learn more: Differentiated Kindergarten
18. Pom Pom Match
Cut out some gingerbread cookie cards and decorate them in a specific color. Then let kids use tongs to sort and place corresponding colored pom-poms on the cards. Using tongs is an excellent exercise for a preschooler's pincer grip, working muscles that help them with writing.
Learn more: Child Care Land
19. Gingerbread Man Scissor Skills
These basic gingerbread men cards can be turned into a fun cutting activity by drawing lines down the middle. Kids must cut along the line and can use the separate pieces as puzzle pieces once they are done. Use thicker paper or even cardboard for more of a challenge when cutting.
Learn more: Schooltime Snippets
20. Gingerbread Man Fishing
Use gingerbread cookie cutters to trace some shapes on cardboard and paste a paperclip on their bellies. You can number the shapes or write letters on them to let kids fish for cards as you call them out.
Learn more: Mrs. Lee's Kindergarten
21. Alphabet Match Up
Gingerbread man printables are an adorable way to teach basic concepts. The gingerbread man theme is colorful and cute and makes even a basic task like an alphabet match activity more fun. The gumdrop letters are a favorite among young learners.
Learn more: Preschool Play
22. Gingerbread Headbands
Of all the gingerbread theme ideas, this could be the most adorable. The big goofy eyes on the headbands are irresistible! From now on this should be the outfit of choice when munching on some gingerbread cookies.
Learn more: Simple Everyday Mom
23. Gingerbread Line Counting Activity
Gingerbread theme ideas can be applied to just about any activity, including this adorable math game. Kids can roll the number die and then the symbol die to create a basic sum. Move the gingerbread man up and down the numbered line to add and subtract and find the answer.
Learn more: Adventures of Adam
24. Storybook Finger Puppets
The classic gingerbread story is a firm favorite among kids at any time of the year. The gingerbread man printable and other characters in the story are perfect for kids to retell the story or act it out as they read along.
Learn more: JDaniel 4s Mom
25. Gingerbread Man Word-Maker
This printable activity is another great accompaniment to kids who are reading the gingerbread man book. Move the letter strip up and down to create all the "-an" words that are found in the book.
Learn more: Teach With Me
20 Pirate Activities for Preschool Mateys!