Pom pom star ornaments

Pom pom star ornaments are one of those crafts that are genuinely easy to pull off with a toddler or preschooler. The mess is minimal, the steps are simple, and the finished ornament actually looks good on the tree. You can keep things classic with white pom poms for a snowy look, or go with red and green, or let your child mix colors however they like.

All you need are pom poms, non-toxic glue, a star form, ribbon, and scissors. That’s it. Read on to see how we put these together.

This craft is also part of our roundup of 14 Christmas ornament crafts for kids if you want more ideas to work through this season.

Supplies for pom pom star ornaments

December is a good month to sit down and make something. Handmade ornaments add something personal to the tree, and this particular craft is open-ended enough that kids can make each one their own. Some kids want all white. Others will reach for every color in the bag. Either way works.

Here is what you need to get started. You will need white or colored pom poms, non-toxic craft glue, a star form (wire, cardboard, or wood all work fine), ribbon, and scissors. Get everything out and ready before you call the kids over. Because this craft is aimed at toddlers, you want it to move along quickly once you start.

We chose to use a pre-made pack of star forms rather than cutting our own. The two-sided design gave kids a bit of room to be creative, but it kept the actual craft simple enough for a short attention span. If you want to stretch it into a two-part activity, you could make the star shape one day and decorate it the next. That works especially well with younger toddlers.

How to make pom pom star ornaments

Start by setting out a protected surface, since you will be working with glue. Pour a small amount of glue onto a plate or piece of wax paper. Dip each pom pom lightly into the glue, then press it onto the star form. Work across the star until it is covered. Keep going until the whole front is filled in, then set it aside to dry completely. Once it is dry, thread a short piece of ribbon through the top of the star so it is ready to hang.

The toddler in our photos was about two and a half years old. At that age, the dip-and-stick process is very manageable. They can do most of the work themselves, which makes it more satisfying for them.

One thing to note: the materials we used are not weatherproof. This ornament is best kept indoors on a tree or as part of a decoration display.

Tips for doing this craft with young kids

Keep the glue amount small. Too much glue makes the pom poms slide around and takes much longer to dry. A light coating is enough to hold each one in place.

If your child wants to add extra elements like sequins, small beads, or glitter, this star form is a great base for that. The craft is flexible, so follow their lead.

Set the finished ornaments somewhere flat to dry where they will not be bumped or touched. A few hours is usually enough, but overnight is safer if you want them fully set before hanging.

More ornament crafts to try

If your family is in a crafting stretch this December, there are plenty of other ornaments worth making. We have put together piñata Christmas tree ornaments, children’s clay Christmas ornaments, and pipe cleaner bead ornaments that are all good options for this age group. We also love the felt Christmas tree ornaments with buttons and the kids pom pom ball ornament if you want to stick with a similar style to this one.

A few others worth checking out are the snowman ornament craft, the paint drip ornament, the tiny toboggan popsicle stick craft, the alphabet block ornaments, the pom pom pinecone ornament, the melted crayon ornament, and the reindeer ornament. There is enough variety in that list to keep crafting all the way through December without repeating the same project twice.