Festive Christmas Tree Fine Motor Activity: Fine Motor Activity for Kids

Gina
Nov 11
3 min read

Updated: 2 hours ago

In this BLOG post I will teach you how to set-up this festive fine motor activity.

The holidays sparkle with magic, and what better way to capture that joy than with a hands-on activity that lets kids build their very own twinkle trees? Using simple Styrofoam cones and colorful plastic lights, children can create festive masterpieces while secretly working on important developmental skills.

There is nothing like a fun and festive activity that also works on a TON of skills!

This activity blends right into the holiday season while working on fine motor skills, color recognition, hand-eye-coordination, counting and more!

Why do we need to strengthen fine motor skills you ask? GREAT question...

Fine motor skills involve the coordination of small muscles in the hands and fingers. Developing these skills helps children with everyday tasks like writing, buttoning clothes, and using utensils.

Holiday crafts are a joyful way to practice these skills without it feeling like “work.”

As an added bonus, this activity is perfect for a crowd: think siblings, playdates, small group centers or therapy groups.

Materials linked HERE!

There’s something wonderfully satisfying about pushing little lights into a soft Styrofoam tree. Kids LOVE this!! They laugh and giggle as they press, wiggle, and pop each light into place.

What looks like play is actually powerful practice:

Fine motor skills: Every push strengthens tiny finger muscles.
Hand-eye coordination: Spotting the perfect place and lining up the light takes focus.
Color recognition: Red, green, blue, yellow—kids learn to name and sort as they decorate.
Creativity: No two trees look alike, and that’s the beauty of it!

Materials:

Cone-shaped Styrofoam trees (all materials linked HERE)
Plastic ornament lights
Sensory tray or baking sheet

Step 1: Take the materials out of the package and place on a sensory tray or baking sheet. This helps to contain the materials and keep them from rolling around.

Step 2: Encourage the kids to pinch and push the lights into the tree.

Mix and match: Encourage patterns, rainbow stripes, or random bursts of color.
Show it off: Line up the finished trees for a glowing holiday forest display.

Why is this so magical?

This activity feels like playtime, not practice. Children delight in the tactile sensation of pushing lights into the foam, and the instant visual reward of a tree that sparkles with their own design. Parents and teachers love it too—it’s mess-free, inexpensive, and packed with developmental benefits.

Want to extend your learning and play? Try these variations:

Color challenges: “Can you make a tree with only red and green lights?”
Counting fun: Count how many lights each child uses.
Storytime trees: After decorating, kids can tell a holiday story starring their tree.

Styrofoam craft trees with plastic lights are more than just holiday décor, they’re playful tools for growth. With every push, kids strengthen their fingers, sharpen their eyes, and brighten their imaginations. And when the trees are done, the room glows with both twinkling lights and proud little smiles.