Holiday Craft Ideas By Pamela Caywood

Pam, Bill & Grace

With the holidays approaching, it is never too early to start your toddler making some special crafts. These crafts can be to decorate your own home or to give as presents. Grandma and Grandpa will especially treasure them.

Listed below are some of my ideas. You can adapt them for your child's abilities. Most importantly these projects should be fun!

Christmas Refrigerator Magnet:

Supplies:

Talk to your child about what would reminds him of the holiday. He will probably say, presents, Christmas tree, snowflake, cookies or something even more creative. Cut out the shape of this object from your material. Then let your child decorate the front with the glitter, beads or sequins. Attach the magnet to the back. Voila...a wonderful holiday magnet.

Creative frames

Supplies:

Glue whatever objects that you would like around the frame. You can personalize for the person who will receive it. You can paint their name on it or put items that they like on it.

Tree Ornaments

Supplies:

For this project, I will suggest making ornaments that would fit the theme, "The Twelve Days of Christmas." However, you could use letters for a persons initials. Paint the wooden number on both sides with craft paint. Cover with a coat of clear finish. Then decorate accordingly, e.g. for 5, you could attach 5 "fake" gold rings to the number with glue. The set of 12 makes a great gift.

Coloring Book

Supplies:

Have your child draw some of their favorite designs. Then copy it and staple the pages together. Her friends will love receiving an original coloring book as a stocking stuffer and your child will be proud to tell her friends about her drawings.

For the Birds

Supplies:

Attach a ribbon to the pine cone. Have your child coat it in peanut butter and roll in the bird seed. Then hang on a tree near a window and watch the birds enjoy the holiday too!

Holiday Wrapping Paper

Supplies:

Unroll a section of paper and have your child paint the paper with holiday images. Hand prints all over the paper is fun too. Then wrap your gifts with the paper for a special homemade touch.

Holiday Stamp Gift Bags

Supplies:

Give your child a bag and let them stamp away to their hearts content all over the bag. Using two colors will make the bags look even more festive.

Holiday Place Mats

Supplies:

Cut the poster board to the size of a place mat. Glue photographs onto the board. If you saved last years holiday cards, use them. Otherwise pull out photographs of family and friends. Try to save your photographs this year to make next years place mats. Have your child decorate the mats with holiday stickers or their own drawings. Put the year on the mat. Take the place mats to a banner making store and ask them to laminate them. As you add to your place mat collection each year, it is fun to display how the children have grown from year to year.

Pamela Caywood is the proud mother of 3 year old Grace and is expecting her second child any day!.