Preschoolers will not mind that these gingerbread men are not for snacking.
Preschool children enjoy craft projects because they love the creative process involved in a project's completion. Demonstrate make a variety of gingerbread man crafts that look yummy enough to eat. Introducing novel items into a craft such as sandpaper and cinnamon ensure the appeal of these gingerbread man ideas for preschoolers.
Gingerbread Man Ornaments
Cinnamon adds a special touch to these gingerbread man ornaments for preschoolers. Let the children place two layers of craft paper together. Help them to trace the gingerbread man shape on the top layer of paper. Cut out the gingerbread man shape through both layers. Give each child an 8-inch length of string that has been folded and knotted at the ends. Show the children spread glue on one of the paper gingerbread man. Let them place the knotted string on top of the glue, leaving a small part of the loop outside of the paper at the gingerbread man's head to serve as a hanger. Tell the children to tear cotton balls apart and then place them on the remaining glued area of the paper gingerbread man, leaving some space at the edges. Demonstrate sprinkle cinnamon on the cotton balls. Place the second paper gingerbread man on top. Help the children to gently press the edges together. Provide glitter glue, markers, googly eyes, yarn and buttons to the children for decorating the outside of their gingerbread men.
Sandpaper Gingerbread Man
Cut out a gingerbread man shape from sandpaper for each child. Give the children whole cinnamon sticks. Demonstrate rub the cinnamon stick on the sandpaper and let the children to rub their gingerbread men with cinnamon sticks. Let the children decorate the gingerbread men with "icing" made by placing food coloring into white glue. Provide other decorating materials such as buttons, pom poms, fabric paint and glitter glue. Add twine or colored ribbons to hang the gingerbread men.
Gingerbread Man Chain
Cut strips from white butcher paper that are 5 to 8 inches wide and 10 to 12 inches long. Print the template of the gingerbread man (see Resources). Show the children fold the strips back and forth in an accordion fashion. Help the children to make folds that approximate the width of the printed template. Trace the gingerbread man template on the top fold. Cut out the gingerbread man without cutting the ends of the feet or arms. Let the children paint the gingerbread man chains with brown paint. Allow the chains to dry. Provide paints, markers, wiggly eyes, sequins and scraps of ribbon and lace for decorating the chains.
Yummy Aroma Gingerbread Man
Trace gingerbread man shapes that measure 3 to 4 inches in length and cut the shapes out from firm cardboard. Let the children cover the gingerbread men with white craft glue. Provide mustard seeds, peppercorns, dried herbs and ground ginger, cinnamon and allspice for decorating the gingerbread men. Tell the children to use their imaginations to make buttons, eyes, a nose and a mouth with these natural decorations.
