Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Christmas Jumper Day Colouring Activity
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Christmas Jumper Day Colouring Activity is a free printable colouring sheet where children design and decorate their very own Christmas jumper. It needs only colouring pens or pencils. Page 2 gives the grown up notes on using the sheet, help for children who find it hard and a stretch idea.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well, so the colour comes from your child.
What is on the sheet
Children decorate their own Christmas jumper. There is no right or wrong design. They choose the colours, decide where each pattern goes and make the jumper look the way they want it to. Some children like neat repeating patterns. Others prefer one big picture. Both are fine. It is a calm, creative task that suits a quiet moment at home or in class.
Ideas for decorating your jumper
Choose a theme
Pick one idea before you start, such as snowy hills, a robin, presents or a Christmas tree. A theme helps children decide what to draw and keeps the design looking planned.
Repeat a pattern
Draw a small shape, then repeat it in a row. Try stripes, zigzags, dots or snowflakes. Changing colours in a set order, such as red, green, red, green, makes the pattern easy to see.
Colour with care
Press lightly first, then go over the parts you want to be darker. Colouring in one direction leaves fewer gaps. Try to stay inside the lines, but a little going over is fine.
Add a finishing touch
Leave space for a small detail, such as a name, a star or a row of tiny hearts. Children can add it last, once the main colours are down.
About Christmas Jumper Day
Christmas Jumper Day is a well known date in the UK calendar. It is run by the charity Save the Children and takes place in December. Schools, nurseries and workplaces take part by wearing festive jumpers and often donating money. Many children have heard of it, which makes it a friendly topic for a creative activity.
A knitted jumper is made from yarn, and the patterns are often bands of repeating shapes and colours. Stripes, snowflakes, trees and reindeer are popular choices. Designing a jumper on paper lets children practise making patterns and choosing colours that go well together, without needing any knitting skills.
Jumper facts
- Christmas Jumper Day in the UK is run by the charity Save the Children.
- Knitted fabric is made from loops of yarn.
- Wool yarn comes from sheep.
- Fair Isle is a style of knitting with bands of repeating patterns. It is named after a Scottish island.
Skills and curriculum link
- Colouring control
- Pattern making
- Colour choice
- Creative design
- Fine motor skills
Ideas for helping your child design
- Start with the planAsk your child to say what their jumper will look like before they pick up a pen. Even a short plan helps them make choices.
- Limit the coloursChoosing three or four colours often gives a neater result than using every pen. It also helps children think about which colours go together.
- Work from big to smallColour the large areas first, then add small details on top. This stops tiny shapes from getting lost.
- Praise the choicesSay what you notice, such as a bold pattern or a clever colour mix. This builds confidence and encourages children to try new ideas.
Key words
- DesignTo plan how something will look before you make it.
- PatternShapes, lines or colours that repeat in an order.
- RepeatTo do or draw the same thing again.
- FestiveCheerful and connected to a celebration, such as Christmas.
- KnitTo make fabric by looping yarn together with needles.
- SymmetricalThe same on both sides, like a mirror image.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes, help ideas and stretch idea.
- Gather colouring pencils, felt tips or crayons. Let your child look at the jumper and say how they want to decorate it.
- Encourage them to choose a few colours and a main idea, such as a pattern, a picture or a mixture of both.
- Let them colour at their own pace. Join in with a few kind questions, but let the design be theirs.
- Finish by talking about the jumper. Ask what they like best, then display it on the fridge or the classroom wall.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Start with one simple pattern, such as stripes across the middle. Colour in one section at a time and take a short break if hands get tired. Pick just two or three colours so the choices feel easy. A grown up can draw a first shape to copy.
To stretch confident children
Make the design symmetrical, so the left side matches the right side. Or use a repeating pattern of three colours in a set order along the whole jumper. Then explain to someone how the pattern works and what comes next.
Make it a game
Play pass the jumper with a friend or family member. Each person adds one pattern or picture, then swaps sheets. Carry on for a few turns. At the end, talk about how the jumper changed and which parts you like best.
Talk about it
- What is your jumper going to look like, and why did you choose that?
- Which colours did you pick, and what do they make you think of?
- How did you make your pattern? What repeats?
- If you could add one more thing to your jumper, what would it be?
- Who would you like to wear this jumper, and what would they say about it?
- What would you change if you did a second design?
Take it off the page
Paper jumper collage
Tear coloured paper into small pieces and glue them onto a jumper shape drawn on plain paper. Make stripes or a Christmas tree from the pieces.
Pattern hunt
Look around the house for patterns on clothes, blankets, cushions or wrapping paper. Talk about what repeats, then draw your favourite pattern.
Design a family jumper
Draw a jumper for each person in your family. Choose colours and pictures that suit them, such as their favourite animal or hobby.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child at the start, then let them lead. There is no need to correct the design. Show interest and ask about their choices. It makes a good quiet activity before a busy day or while you are wrapping gifts.
Teachers
Use it on or around Christmas Jumper Day, as a calm end of day task or as a warm up for art. It links to the art and design strand on using colour, pattern and a range of materials. It also works well for display work.
Home educators
Use it as a gentle art session within a December topic. Pair it with a talk about charity, winter or knitted fabrics. Children can photograph or keep the finished jumper in a seasonal portfolio.
Where this fits
Colouring a jumper builds control with pens and pencils, along with an eye for colour and pattern. Children usually begin with large shapes and simple colours, then gradually add more detail and plan more of the design in advance.
Next, children can try other pattern work, such as colouring repeating borders, designing wrapping paper or making a pattern with printing or collage. In art and design, they can later explore colour mixing, textiles and designing for a purpose.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- Who is the Christmas Jumper Day Colouring Activity for?
It is for young children who enjoy colouring and drawing, and for any family or class that wants a calm festive activity. Older children can make the design more detailed, while younger ones can keep it simple.
- What do we need to complete the sheet?
You need a printer and colouring pencils, felt tips or crayons. Plain paper is fine. Black and white printing works well because children add all the colour themselves.
- Is there a right way to decorate the jumper?
No. Every design is a good design. Children can use patterns, pictures, one colour or many. The aim is to make creative choices and enjoy colouring, not to match a model.
- What is on page 2?
Page 2 is for the grown up. It has notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard and a stretch idea. Page 1 is the sheet your child colours.
- How can I help a child who does not know where to begin?
Suggest one simple idea, such as stripes or a row of stars. Offer two or three colours to choose from. Once they have started, they usually find it easier to keep adding ideas.
- Can teachers use it in the classroom?
Yes. It suits a festive art lesson, an end of term activity or a quiet task during Christmas Jumper Day. The finished jumpers also make a bright classroom display.
- Is the sheet free to print?
Yes. It is a free printable from the Mini Minds Hub by Jaques of London. You can print as many copies as you need for your family or class.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.