Getting children involved in making Christmas gifts and decorations is a wonderful holiday tradition that fosters creativity, builds lasting memories, and brings a special, personal touch to the festive season.
From simple activities like painting salt dough ornaments to assembling edible reindeer food, these projects offer valuable opportunities for kids to learn new skills and experience the joy of giving and creating.
We’ve found ten activities that we think your little ones (and the older generation) will love taking part in, in the run up to Christmas.
9. Reindeer Biscuits
Reindeer Biscuits: This is a 'cheat's guide' and is so simple and easy! Gingerbread Men can be purchased from any shop or bakery. Simply turn the Gingerbread Man upside down, and use the head and arms as the reindeer's head, and the legs of the Gingerbread Man as antlers. Using a piping bag, fill with white icing, and pipe around the head and body to create a reindeer's head. Then, pipe antlers along the middle of the legs making sure they are attached to the 'head'. Fill in with two eyes and a mouth. Different coloured icing and little extras such as chocolate drops can also be used. Photo: casey-chae-3DrCZblTGoQ-unsplash
10. Paper Snowflakes
Paper snowflakes: These are a classic, inexpensive, and delightful Christmas activity that requires only paper and scissors. The key to a good paper snowflake is the initial folding process. Begin with a square piece of paper. Fold the square in half diagonally to form a triangle. Fold that triangle in half again to create an even smaller triangle. This is where the magic happens. Take the bottom right point of your small triangle and fold it diagonally up and across to the left side edge. You will now have a shape that looks a bit like an ice cream cone. Fold the remaining flap on the left side over to the right to complete the cone shape. Cut across the bottom, flat edge of your "cone" shape to make a clean, straight base for the snowflake's centre. Now comes the creative part. Cut small shapes and patterns along the slanted edges of the folded paper, such as triangles, semi-circles, zig-zags, and curves. Important: Do not cut all the way across the paper. This will cut your snowflake into separate pieces. Slowly and gently unfold the paper to reveal your unique snowflake design! Decorate if you desire, and remember - Practice Makes Perfect! Photo: pexels-freestocks-749362
11. Dried Fruit
Dried fruit: Make beautiful dried fruit ornaments for a rustic and aromatic Christmas decoration. The fruit can also be used as a stamp to create unique fruit prints on cardstock for gift tags or cards. What you need: Oranges, lemons, or limes; a sharp knife; paper towels; a baking sheet; parchment paper; a skewer or darning needle; and ribbon/twine. Slice the fruit thinly, about 1/4 inch thick. Slicing apples horizontally will reveal a star shape in the middle. Pat the slices dry with paper towels to remove excess juice. Place them in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet or a wire rack. Bake in a low oven (around 200°F or 90°C) for 2-4 hours, flipping them every so often, until dry to the touch. Let the slices cool completely on a wire rack. Pierce a hole near the top of each slice with a skewer or needle. Thread a ribbon or twine through the hole to create a loop for hanging. For extra scent, you can add a few drops of orange and cinnamon essential oils. You can also glue a cinnamon stick or a star anise to the centre for a decorative touch. Photo: anita-austvika-U93ZrgOORHY-unsplash