Fun and Easy Magnetic Tile Christmas Trees

I probably don’t need to sell you on what an amazing, open-ended, endless-possibilities toy magnetic tiles are. But just when you thought they couldn’t get any better… Here’s a new, festive way to play with them! Magnetic tile Christmas trees are an easy way to combine STEM learning, creativity, and pretend play… and I am so here for it!

• Magnetic tiles (we have and love Picasso Tiles) – you’ll mostly want green ones and the different size triangles, but it’s good to have a variety on hand
• Pipe cleaners – the shiny tinsel ones are extra fun
• Jingle bells
• Optional: other small decorations like pom-poms, stickers, or LED lights.

The first time we tried this activity, we actually hadn’t completely fallen in love with magnetic tiles yet. My older daughter, Ella, was only three at the time, and she was very easily frustrated by building with magnetic tiles.

But building Christmas trees was the perfect magnetic tile activity! For one, anything Christmas-themed was naturally exciting. Two, these Christmas trees are such a simple shape that even three-year-old Ella could build them without getting too overwhelmed!

To build your magnetic tile Christmas trees, just make simple pyramid shapes with your tiles. You can use a square base or a triangle base – try making some of each!

Now comes my favorite part of this activity. Some of our favorite basic craft supplies (such as pipe cleaners and jingle bells) are magnetic! Meaning they will stick to your magnetic tiles… meaning they make the perfect Christmas tree decorations!

I cut some sparkly pipe cleaners into 1- or 2-inch pieces, and I laid them out with a handful of jingle bells.  Ella had so much fun experimenting and decorating her Christmas trees!

If you want to decorate your trees even more, you could certainly pull out even more materials, such as stickers, pom-poms, and even tiny little lights.  But those are definitely not necessary!

While you have your magnetic tiles out, consider building some other Christmas-themed shapes!  A simple cube makes a great “present”.  In fact, Ella spent days filling and refilling a magnetic tile “gift box” with trinkets to gift to us!

We also easily built little “gingerbread houses” … and if you want to get a little more creative, you could try building a snowman or even Santa Claus with your magnetic tiles!

(Plus, a little side note – two years later, at almost six years old, Ella is so much more confident using magnetic tiles and she doesn’t get frustrated with them nearly as easily.  If your little one doesn’t fall in love with magnetic tiles right away, I suggest not giving up on them too quickly!)

Of course, you know I’ve got more fun Christmas-themed craft and activity ideas for you.  The holidays are such a fantastic time of year for festive themed learning!  If you’re looking for more fun and easy Christmas crafts and activities, be sure to check these out:

• Printable A-Z Christmas Ornament Craft
• “Dear Santa” Letter Writing Printables
• Christmas Bible Lesson with Wheel Craft & Activities
• Preschool Christmas Activities Bundle

Also – Click here to learn how to make gingerbread scented play dough that’s fun to play with and smells SO good!

Or check out this easy hot cocoa sensory bin with printable recipe cards!

And don’t miss out on these salt dough Christmas tree ornaments!

Finally, take a peek at some of our favorite Christmas books:

• How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
• The Christmas Blessing by Erin Guendelsberger
• Christmas in the Manger by Nola Buck
• The Grumpy Reindeer by DK
• Pig the Elf by Aaron Blabey
• Santa Duck by David Milgrim

Will you try making these fun and easy magnetic tile Christmas trees?  If you do, I’d LOVE to hear about it!  Comment below or message me on Instagram to tell me about it!