The BEST Kindergarten Parent Christmas Gift
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Back in 2012, I first shared this Kindergarten keepsake gift and it has been a favorite of teachers each school year. This kindergarten parent Christmas gift is well-received regardless of how people celebrate the holiday season. Teacher friends from all over the world agree that this project is a great kindergarten snapshot from a moment in time.
The Best Kindergarten Parent Christmas Gift
Just look at these kindergarten Christmas gifts (MELT) … such a fun and treasured parent gift!
Here is the history behind them: I was looking for parent gift ideas and a sweet Facebook friend sent me a photo of a project her son had done way back when he was in kindergarten. I loved seeing him towering over this snowman that was the same height he was on the day he made it in kindergarten. She then said that she made them with her class each year. I decided to give it a try with my students and the rest is history! Now, I’m going to share some tips to help you make these parent gifts for kindergarten.
How to Make The Kindergarten Parent Christmas Gift
Step One: Find & Cut the Wood
The first step is to find and cut the wood to use for the snowmen. We went to Lowes and bought wooden fence posts. Then we (when I say “we” I really mean The Perfect Son and Mr. W.) cut them to the exact height of each of my students.
If you plan ahead, you can ask a local lumber yard if they could set aside fence posts that they can’t sell. These are often damaged or cracked, but you usually cut them anyhow. I have gotten the boards for free before, but like I said, you have to plan ahead a bit.
I would love to say you could ask for parent volunteers with sourcing and cutting the wood, but that would ruin the surprise. YES! This project requires a little hard work. With the exception of cutting and painting the fence posts, the bulk of the work took place in the classroom setting. It just becomes part of your classroom Christmas festivities!
Step Two: Paint
Once you have the wood ready to go, it’s time to paint it white. TIP: Write the students’ names on the bottom of the fence post in a permanent marker. Don’t paint over it or you will have a hot mess! Sticky notes fall off!
Step Three: Accessorize
When the paint is dry, it’s time to accessorize! You can add a hat (a fuzzy sock, click HERE to see similar *affiliate), face, scarf, and buttons.
If you plan ahead, you can grab socks on clearance after Christmas is over and save them for the next group of kiddos.
The snowman face is made with black paint (use the child’s fingerprints) and orange craft foam. Just cut the foam into a carrot-like nose shape.
Step Four: Add a Poem
The final step is my favorite: Tying a sweet poem to the snowman. At the bottom of this post, you can grab a free printable copy of the poem I use.
Creating the Fence Post Snowman Craft
Here’s a closer look at the creation process for this snowman craft. I worked with 26 first graders to make their snowmen! I worked with the whole class to personalize their snowman.
More Parent Christmas Gift Examples
This teacher used 1 x 4’s and found she could get 2 students on one long board. It may save you a little money that way.
Here are some of the photos that have been sent to me over the years from other teachers. I love all the great ideas for these class gifts.
And here are a few more.
Then the best thing is when parents send me pictures of their child standing next to their snowman a few years later.
I’ve had some photos of college students standing with their snowmen underneath the Christmas tree. What a fun way to reminisce!
How Much Do These Parent Christmas Gifts Cost?
That really depends. I have shared a few ways you can shed some of the cost. I do know that teaching is such an underpaid profession. So how do you offset the cost? You could ask parents for donations. I have always taught at Title 1 schools, so I know extra money from parents is not often possible. Just remember, a teacher should not have to take a vow of poverty. If this project does not make sense for you this year, but you really want to do it, perhaps take my suggestions from above and plan for next year.
Breakdown of Expenses (2021)
- Fence posts: $1.98 per child
- 1 gallon of white paint: $33 for 27 students $1.22 per child
- Socks (procrastinated and got them in a bulk pack from Amazon so they were a bit more) $1.49 per child. I have seen them at Dollar Tree for much cheaper.
- Scarf (fleece from WalMart): I cut them 6″ x 30″ so you get 6 scarfs per yard. $.70 per child
- Ribbons also from Walmart: $3.69 per roll and I used 2 for 27 students: $.27
- Orange craft foam for the nose: I have no idea because we had some on hand and you just need a scrap per snowman.
COST PER CHILD: $5.66
Options to Help With the Cost:
- Talk to your high school teacher. I have heard from multiple teachers that the shop teacher was able to donate lumber and labor for painting and cutting the boards.
- Talk to your local lumber yard. I have heard some have donated lumber and paint.
- Ask parents for a donation to help cover the cost. Now, this option depends on your student population. You could also ask your PTA.
- Plan ahead and get holiday socks and ribbons at a discount during after Christmas sales.
- Have a school fundraiser. I have done popcorn sales and Pickle Friday sales to help with student projects in the past. Students love the idea of earning the money to make a parent gift.
How Do You Get This Craft Home?
This is a question I get asked a lot! I always sent this fun gift home at the end of the day after our classroom Christmas party. This last day before winter break usually means more parents are coming to the school, so it makes it easier for them to carry them home with them. Think of it as free shipping…LOL For those students who did not have a parent come to the school, I found it was a great idea to find a student who went on the same bus as my student. I asked one of the older kids to help get the project home for the younger kids.
As a class, each student worked on a winter or Christmas card to attach to the snowman. This handwritten note to their family member is the cherry on top of the Christmas sundae!
This is the time of year when life gets hectic, but I promise you will not regret making these Christmas presents part of your yearly routine.
Easy Parent Christmas Gifts
Here are some other easy gift ideas that use a similar idea for the keepsake.
Snowman Craft Tag: FREE Printable
Simply add your email to the box below and the PowerPoint version of this poem will be sent directly to you. Insert the image into a PowerPoint slide and add the year!
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Deedee Wills
My teaching career allowed me to experience teaching in different classroom environments and grades. My heart belongs to early childhood education. My job is to make teaching FUN, ENGAGING, and EASIER. Welcome!
Hi, I'm DeedeE.
My teaching career allowed me to experience teaching in different classroom environments and grades. My heart belongs to early childhood education. My job is to make teaching FUN, ENGAGING, and EASIER. Welcome!
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99 Responses
Those are adorable!!! LOVE!
OMG I love!!!!! It would probably take us all of December to make all 33, but seriously, adorable!!!
Thanks! I had the help of my home-crew! It helped!
The most precious gift ever! Love it!!!
Thank you sweet friend!
These are ADORABLE!!! Such a precious gift for your families!
Love these! Thanks for sharing!
Amanda
A Very Curious Class
OMG, I SO SO SO LOVE these!
Wow, what a great gift idea!
I'm almost ready to get started now for next year…….no not just yet! =)
Merry Christmas and thanks for a great idea!
I wish I taught kindergarten just to make these. Cutest gift ever! I think second graders are just a tad big:(! Love it!
Ashley
Almost finished making one the size of my niece to give to my sister!! SOO CUTE!!
Caitlin
Kindergarten Smiles
What's the cost per snowman? Love this!!
It was between $6-8 each last year I think. I didn't really bargain shop. I swore I would this year, but I didn't… ha!
What is the width of the boards? 4 inches or 6 inches? Thanks!!
I used the 4″ boards.
Where did you get your fuzzy hat socks?
I ordered this year from Amazon
Thanks! Also, how did you send these home. I worry about my firsties who take the bus home.
Parents came to pick them up last year. A few went home of the bus. Nobody was hurt… all worked out fine.
I had a quick question. A friend of mine who's a teacher is recreating your cute snowmen with her kindergarten class. Her school doesn't allow her to use the word Christmas in her projects, so she wants me to recreate the poem for her. I was wonder what font you used, or if you would mind emailing me a file I could edit for her. Thanks so much! And Merry Christmas! 🙂
What are you substituting for Christmas? I was pondering this as well because one of students is Jehovah's Witness and doesn't celebrate holidays.
“year” is what I put
Yes, it's for my friend and she requested I change Christmas to holidays. I wish we didn't have to, but there are a couple kids in the class who celebrate other holidays, I think at least one is Jewish.
We’re a non-Christmas Christian family…I promise their mothers are truly grateful that they have such wonderfully inclusive room parents! I’m very involved in (like the head of two classes) planning events in our classes and it never fails to amaze me when I’m met with the, “If you don’t want your kid participating then he/she should go to the office during the activity/party” attitude. If you ever want anything customized just give me a hollar…there’s never been anything I wanted to do and couldn’t make work within our boundaries (like this cutie which is on a teacher’s note…not sure about getting them home)!
Yes! That breaks my heart! My students took them home after our winter break party with their parents. A few had to take them home on the bus, so I enlisted some older students to help them. 🙂
Julie… the font is one of Cara Carroll's fonts, but I can't find the original version. I'm sorry 🙁 Technology is my friend, technology is my friend…
These are so cute! I saw the pic you posted on FB, and came over to check out the details!
Julie Green Apple Lessons
With the help of your son and husband, how long did it take you to complete the project? These are absolutely adorable!!
These took a few days to paint, but once they were done… the student part was all done in a day.
I'm curious as to how your students got these home? I love them so much, but am worried about the bus rides home.
We had a ton of bus riders. We enlisted the help of older students to help carry them home.
What did you use for the nose and how did you attach it to the wood so it would stay? These are so cute!
I glued orange craft foam with Tacky glue. They stayed really well. I used the same thing for the buttons.
Yes, please! What did you use for the nose? I have got to do these next year!!
I glued orange craft foam with Tacky glue. They stayed really well. I used the same thing for the buttons.
What kind of paint did you use?
Just regular house paint… nothing fancy.
what width of pickets did you use? I had a parent get the 5 1/2 ones donated but i am afraid a sock won’t fit for the hat and that they will be very heavy.
Yes! That is the size that we used. YES! They are very heavy, but they will last forever. I am constantly getting pictures of my students from years gone by, standing next to their snowman. I love it!
I showed this to my handy hubby and he suggested using pvc posts which are already white. I might have to give this a try. Thanks for the idea.
Adorable!!!! Can you share the amazon link where u purchased the socks?
Hi there! I got the socks at the dollar store, but these are similar: Fuzzy Socks (affiliate link)
Thx, found them at the dollar store! .50 a hat ? Any tips on type of fence post? I priced them at Menards and need to check out Lowes.
Woo HOO! I love a good bargain!
I got my fence posts donated from Home depot. We are a pre-k program of 48 kids and they gladly donated them!
Our HEB grocery store had the sock 3 pair for $3 and i grabbed several packages! I used the fuzzy little slipper socks!
HEB for the WIN! Sometimes you can find them super cheap. I also grabbed extras after the season to use for the next year.
I inserted the poem in power point, but I can’t get the word text to disappear so I can insert 2016.
Can you try it again! I had to recreate the file and relink it. It should be working now.
I cannot get the poem to allow me to change the word text to the year. Any suggestions on what I should do? I inserted the picture into powerpoint but it won’t allow me to type in it.
Can you try it again! I had to recreate the file and relink it. It should be working now.
It worked! Thank you for being so quick on that! You rock! Love these!!!!
I can’t download the gift tag. Help!
Thanks!
Can you try it again! I had to recreate the file and relink it. It should be working now.
Can you try it again! I had to recreate the file and relink it. It should be working now.
Will try. thank you
Posts are done!! Thanks again for your help with the download!!
These turned out so cute!
I can’t get the year to print on the tag once I edit it. Any ideas? I really appreciate the cute idea but I’m having technical difficulties!
You’ve Got MAIL! 🙂
Did you sand the wood before painting? Were you worried about kids getting cut/.
I did not sand most of them. A few were REALLY rough, so I took them down a bit, but after they were painted, it seemed to take care of it.
Hi Deedee
These are so cute! Question for you did you use a 4 x 4 fence post? If not what are the dimensions of the wood?
Thank you!!!
Did you wrap them or just send them as they are?
We just sent them home unwrapped. 🙂
Did you use ribbon with wire in it?
Some years I have used wired ribbon and some years I have not. I have found that Costco has the best deal on ribbon!
I love this idea these are really cute. Can you measure the child and have someone at the store (Lowe’s, Home depot or Menards) cut them the length that you need? Thanks
Lowe’s cut all of the posts for me to size! I was so grateful. However, they told me that I needed to wait 6 months to paint because it is treated wood!! I told them that wasn’t possible. Did anyone else run into this problem?
Oh no! I don’t think I had treated wood. If I did, they never said anything to me. GOSH!
Oh my gosh !! I love them and I have all 19 painted and ready to go decorate tomorrow! I can’t wait to see how they turn out, I’ll def attach you to my final social media pic 🙂 I tried to download to the link for the snowman tag since that makes it so much more special! I can’t edit the saying, I’d like to change Christmas to Winter for my diverse classroom. Can you help? Thank so much
Hi Jana,
I just added a generic version. If you go back to the post, you can download it. I moved the link to the bottom of the blog post because some people were having trouble with Google drive.
I am trying to download the freebie tag for the snowmen but it just keeps leading me to an error page. Can you help?
Thanks!
Hi Sonya,
It is probably because you are using a school account… maybe? I changed the link so it is no longer a Google Drive link (it is now at the bottom of the blog post). If you are still unable to download it, try using a non-school email address. Schools often filter these automatic downloads… OY!
For the snowman decorating contest, y’all used toilet paper and how did y’all get the black buttons to stay on the kids
We just used masking tape on them! They had so much fun!
Can I get a copy of the poem please
Yes, I’ll just need to complete the form at the bottom of this blog post and it will come to your email inbox.
Love these! For the hat did you have to do anything to the sock (cut, sew) or just put it on?
Nope! I just used the sock! 🙂
Hi there!
I made these with my preschoolers last year and I am hoping to make them again! All the parents loved them and they are fairly simple to make. Thanks for such a great idea!
Alison
You are welcome!
Can you send me the poem please?
Hi Bonnie, you just need to add your name and email to the bottom of the blog post and it will be sent directly to your email inbox.
If possible, I could get the poem! Can’t wait to try these
Yes! Simply add your email to the box at the bottom of the blog post and the poem will be sent to your inbox 🙂
Would love the poem pleas I’m doing these for my preschool class this year
Hi there!
Simply add your name and email address to the box at the bottom of the post and the free Snowman poem will be sent to your inbox.
I am very excited to do this with my preschoolers, but I can’t find the poem. I have subscribed, but I never got it. Help please?
Hi there!
I will email you!
great idea! love to do this for my preschool class
Yay! You will love it! I know your parents will love them!
I joined the mailing list but I can’t seem to find the poem ☹️
Hi Emily!
The snowman craft should’ve arrived in your inbox. Maybe it is still on its way but I will send a direct download link to your email so you don’t have to wait any longer! Merry Christmas!
I would like to make these snowmen as gifts from my six grandchildren to their parents. How much paint do you think I’d need for six? I don’t want most of a gallon of paint to go to waste!
Also, may I have the poem?
Hi there!
I really think a quart should be enough for six snowmen. If you add your name and email address to the boxes at the end of the blog post, the file will be sent to your inbox.
Would love to add decodable Gingerbread Man story to our K literacy lessons
Hello! You will be sent the free Gingerbread Man decodable book if you add your name and email address to the form at the bottom of this blog post: https://mrswillskindergarten.com/its-gingerbread-week/