Mary & Joseph – Donkey Handprint Craft for Christmas

Looking for an easy Christian Christmas craft for kids? This handprint donkey craft is a fun activity to help kids of all ages learn about the first Christmas.

You can use this fun Christmas craft at home or in Sunday school with your kids during a bible lesson and talk about Mary riding the donkey into Bethlehem before the birth of Jesus. It’s an adorable keepsake and a creative way to spark curiosity about the Christmas story!

• Table Of Contents:
  • Materials
  • Instructions
  • Christmas Craft Template Download
  • Tips & Troubleshooting
  • Benefits of This Christmas Craft For Kids
  • Final Thoughts

Materials

• Markers
• Grey and black paper
• Template & printer
• Markers or pencil crayons
• Scissors
• Yarn 
• Glue

Instructions

Step 1)

Gather your supplies and print the template.

Step 2)

Color in the template for Mary and Joseph and cut them out.

Step 3)

Trace the template pieces for the handprint donkey onto colored paper and cut them out.

Step 4)

Trace your hand onto grey construction paper and cut it out.

Step 5)

Attach the black tail to the thumb of your handprint. Attach the donkey head to the palm of the craft. Attach little black hooves to the fingertips of your handprint.

Step 6)

Glue your finished handprint donkey onto a sheet of paper then glue Mary to the back of the donkey and Joseph near the donkey’s head. You can use a small piece of yarn to make it look like Joseph is leading the donkey, just glue it near the donkey’s face and Joseph’s hand.

Video Tutorial

Prefer videos for your craft instructions? Subscribe to Crafty Kids Play YouTube channel and watch the full video tutorial for this Christmas donkey handprint craft here.

Christmas Craft Template Download

You can print this craft template on regular white printer paper. If your children are very young and have a hard time cutting out the little details, you may want to cut out the template pieces with or for them. Young kids should be supervised by an adult during craft time, especially while handling safety scissors. 

This printable template is only for you to use or for classroom use, not for resale or commercial use; if you want to share this template with a friend, please send them the link to this article instead of sharing the template directly. 

Tips & Troubleshooting

Contained Crafting Chaos

Keep a small tray for each child’s cut pieces so they don’t get mixed up (or mysteriously “disappear”). They’ll feel in control, and you won’t be scrambling for that missing donkey hoof!

Glue Gob Control

To avoid glue overload, pour a small dab on a plate and have kids use cotton swabs to apply it. This keeps things neat (mostly) and helps the paper dry faster so they can see their finished masterpiece sooner!

Mary, Joseph, and Donkey Positioning Tips

Glue Mary and Joseph on once the donkey is dry. Kids love seeing how the pieces come together, but adding them too early can lead to slippin’ and slidin’.

No Hoof? No Problem

If the little black hooves are a bit tricky to cut, swap them for simple black dots with a marker. It still looks cute and takes one less cut out of the equation.

Benefits of This Christmas Craft For Kids

Bible Story Connection

This craft gives kiddos a hands-on way to learn about Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem, a central part of the Christmas story. According to the Gospel of Luke (Luke 2:1-5), Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to register for the census, where Jesus would soon be born. While the Bible doesn’t specifically mention a donkey, it’s often pictured in traditional depictions and nativity scenes, helping bring the story to life for little ones.

Fine Motor Skills

Between tracing their hands, cutting out the pieces, and gluing everything together, kids are developing those small muscle movements and hand-eye coordination. Plus, cutting out smaller pieces like the donkey’s hooves and mane challenges their focus and patience.

Creativity Boost

Easy crafts like this still let kids add their personal touch by coloring in Mary, Joseph, and the donkey. They get to make choices about colors and design, helping them feel proud of their work and encouraging their artistic expression.

Cultural and Historical Learning

Crafting while hearing the story of Mary and Joseph introduces kids to cultural aspects of the nativity, such as the journey to Bethlehem. It’s an easy way for them to learn a little history and gain perspective on the Christmas season.

Final Thoughts

We hope you love this adorable handprint donkey craft! This little guy isn’t just cute, he’s a great reminder of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem. We hope this craft brought a little extra joy and meaning to your Christmas season. Stick around Crafty Kids Play for more fun crafts, free printables and creative ideas for kids!