The holiday season is the perfect time to slow down, gather your kids around the kitchen table, and enjoy some cozy, creative fun. One of our favorite ways to embrace the festive season is with gingerbread men! Whether you’re decorating a gingerbread man, gingerbread houses or diving into a fun activity at home, there’s just something magical about these sweet little characters. This is such a fun way to incorporate your kindergarten students along with your preschoolers and toddlers!
In our homeschool, I’m always looking for simple, low-prep craft projects that keep my preschooler and early elementary kiddos engaged—and these printable gingerbread man templates are a great way to do just that. They’re a fun craft that doubles as learning, building fine motor skills while letting creativity shine.
Gingerbread Craft Ideas
This free template printable gingerbread man holiday craft and activities pack includes several different printable template options:
- Gingerbread boy
- Gingerbread girl
- Blank gingerbread man pattern
- Outlined gingerbread man for coloring
- Fully decorated versions for easy cutting and pasting
We love printing them on white cardstock for durability, especially if the kids want to glue on buttons, ribbon, bow tie, or sequins. These make great activity ideas for a Christmas party, rainy day, or just a cozy winter afternoon.
Christmas crafts for kids of all ages
These printable gingerbread man templates can be used in so many creative ways for this fun time of the year:
- Coloring page – Let your kids color and decorate their own gingerbread people with crayons, markers, or watercolors.
- Dress-up cutouts – Use construction paper or fabric scraps to create hats, scarves, and more.
- Christmas tree ornaments – Punch a hole at the top and hang your gingerbread crafts with ribbon.
- Gingerbread garland – String several gingerbread boys and girls together for festive decor along with candy cane.
- Story sequencing – Use the characters to retell the classic gingerbread man story or create your own holiday tale!
These crafts are such fun and a perfect activity to keep little hands busy while you enjoy the festive spirit together.
More gingerbread man activities for homeschoolers
If you’re looking to expand your gingerbread-themed fun this December, try incorporating a few more hands-on ideas into your homeschool days and Christmas activities:
- Gingerbread playdough – Make a batch of scented playdough with cinnamon and ginger for sensory play.
- Gingerbread cookie baking – Let your kids help measure, mix, and decorate—great for math and motor skills!
- Gingerbread STEM challenge – Build a gingerbread man bridge or raft with household materials.
- Gingerbread counting games – Use mini gingerbread figures or cookies for early math activities.
Gingerbread read aloud books we love for the holidays
Reading is always a big part of our seasonal celebrations, and gingerbread stories are no exception! Here are some of our favorites to pair with your holiday crafts:
- The Gingerbread Man by Jim Aylesworth
- The Gingerbread Girl by Lisa Campbell Ernst
- The Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
- Gingerbread Friends by Jan Brett
- The Gingerbread Cowboy by Janet Squires
- Catch That Cookie! by Hallie Durand
- The Gingerbread Pirates by Kristin Kladstrup
These books are a great way to spark discussion, support literacy, and tie your crafts into your reading time.
Get our Gingerbread Study!
Want to take your gingerbread learning even further? Be sure to check out our gingerbread unit study for early elementary! It’s print-and-go, no prep required—just open, print, and learn. Your kids will explore math, literacy, art, and more, all centered around the classic gingerbread man story and holiday fun.
This unit study is a perfect way to keep your homeschool days meaningful and merry without feeling overwhelmed.
The holidays can be such a busy time, but with just a few supplies and a printable template or two, you can create memories that will last all season long. Whether you’re crafting a gingerbread boy, reading stories, or baking sweet treats, these are the moments that make homeschooling during the holidays so special.
So grab your scissors, markers, and cardstock—and let the gingerbread fun begin!
See this blog post for more Holiday Homeschool Activities!
