Family get-togethers, joyous festivities, and customary activities define the holiday season. Christmas tree decorating is still a big tradition, and families can learn and work together with handmade ornaments. Making Christmas decorations with kids fosters creativity, improves fine motor skills, and creates enduring family customs. During the winter holiday season, these activities can offer significant engagement.
Children feel a sense of contribution to household customs when they help make decorations. Each handcrafted ornament serves a practical function in holiday décor while also representing personal expression. Ornament projects come in a range of complexity levels to suit a variety of age groups and skill levels.
While providing challenges for those with more advanced crafting skills, this range guarantees accessibility for novices. Christmas ornaments come in a wide variety of materials, design ideas, and construction techniques, so families can choose projects that fit their budget, time constraints, and kids’ developmental stages. Choosing the appropriate materials is essential when starting the process of creating Christmas ornaments with kids. Particularly for younger children, safety and usability should be the top priorities.
Sturdy yet lightweight materials like felt or cardstock, child-safe scissors, and non-toxic, washable paints are all great options. Craft stores frequently stock a range of kid-specific materials, which can facilitate and enhance the process. Also, choosing easily manipulable materials will help kids avoid frustration and concentrate on their creativity. When creating ornaments, natural materials can also be a great choice.
With little work, pinecones, twigs, & dried leaves can be made into lovely decorations. These items offer a chance to teach kids about sustainability and the natural world while also adding a rustic charm to holiday décor. The age and skill level of the kids involved should be taken into account when selecting the materials; younger kids might benefit from pre-cut shapes or kits, while older kids might like more difficult projects that test their limits.
For younger kids, think about beginning with simple shapes like circles or stars cut out of vibrant cardstock. They can add stickers, glitter, or markers to these shapes to personalize their creations without the need for sophisticated skills. Making festive shapes out of clay or salt dough with cookie cutters is another simple idea that can be painted after it dries. For older children or those seeking a little more difficulty, think about creating ornaments out of recycled materials. For example, old CDs can be painted on one side and embellished with ribbons or sequins to create shiny decorations. As an alternative, children can be incredibly creative when they use clear plastic ornaments as a base; they can fill them with glitter, fake snow, or even tiny toys to create original designs.
By repurposing objects that might otherwise be thrown away, these projects foster resourcefulness in addition to artistic expression. Salt dough ornaments are a traditional craft that is delightful to decorate & simple to make. In a mixing bowl, combine two cups all-purpose flour, one cup salt, and one cup water to make salt dough.
If the mixture is too sticky, add a little more flour until the desired consistency is achieved. Knead the mixture until it forms a smooth dough. When the dough is ready, roll it out to a thickness of about 1/4 inch, then cut it into festive shapes with cookie cutters. Remember to drill a tiny hole at the top of each ornament so it can be hung later. Once the shapes are cut out, put them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake for about two hours, or until they are firm, at 200°F (93°C).
After cooling, children can let their imaginations run wild by decorating the ornaments with markers & glitter or painting them with acrylic paints. Lastly, insert a string or ribbon through the holes to hang it from the tree.
Children’s imaginations are stimulated by the variety of ways that clear glass ornaments can be decorated, providing a blank canvas for creativity.
Filling them with vibrant objects like beads, sequins, or fake snow is a common technique. Children can make aesthetically beautiful ornaments that express their individual style by selecting their favorite colors & textures. While having fun, this activity inspires them to consider color schemes & layering strategies. Using paint made especially for glass surfaces is another inventive solution. Youngsters can apply paint inside the ornament with brushes or even their fingers, creating festive designs like snowflakes or Christmas trees on the outside or swirling colors together for a marbled effect.
Use tissue paper for an extra twist; children can tear it into tiny pieces and adhere them to the ornament’s surface to create the appearance of stained glass when it is hung on the tree. These decorating methods let kids try out various artistic styles while also improving their fine motor skills. During the holiday season, personalized photo ornaments are a fantastic way to preserve memories and make enduring mementos. Choose your child’s favorite family photos or pictures that have special meaning for them before creating these ornaments.
Print these images on cardstock or photo paper, then cut them into the shapes you want—circles, stars, or even designs with a holiday theme work well. When the pictures are ready, you can affix them to a durable backing, like cardboard or wood. After that, children can add glitter, markers, or stickers to the picture to make it more visually appealing. To complete the ornament, make a hole in the top and insert a ribbon to hang it. Children can express their creativity through this project, which also acts as a lovely memento of special times spent as a family.
Pom poms are a multipurpose crafting tool that can give Christmas decorations a whimsical touch. Pom pom ornaments are a fun project that lets kids experiment with various hues and textures while honing their crafting abilities. First, collect yarn in a variety of festive hues; red, green, white, and gold are ideal choices for the holidays. Pom poms are made by repeatedly wrapping yarn around your fingers or a pom pom maker until the desired thickness is reached. Before cutting through the loops on either side, carefully tie a piece of yarn around the middle. When your pom poms are ready, you can use string or glue to attach them to a base ornament.
By combining several pom poms of various sizes, kids can make entertaining characters like Santa Claus or snowmen, or they can just use them as vibrant accents on simple ornaments. As kids work with yarn & other materials, this craft develops their fine motor skills in addition to fostering creativity. Making ornaments that kids can give as presents makes the crafting process even more enjoyable. When creating these unique mementos, think about letting children choose the colors and patterns they believe their loved ones would adore.
Personalization is essential; each ornament can feel special and thoughtful if names or special messages are added. Children should be encouraged to consider the interests of the recipient when creating their ornaments. For instance, they could use felt or clay to make ornaments in the shape of animals for their animal-loving friend. As an alternative, they could create sentimental photo ornaments with images of themselves with their pals. Presenting these handcrafted gifts at holiday get-togethers is made more exciting by wrapping them in vibrant tissue paper or putting them in beautiful boxes.
Incorporating natural elements into ornament creation not only stimulates children’s creativity but also cultivates an appreciation for the environment. Pinecones, acorns, twigs, dried flowers, & leaves are just a few examples of the many materials found in nature that can be used to create lovely decorations. Family walks and excursions in parks and forests are good times to gather these things. Making ornaments with pinecones as the base is one easy yet efficient idea. Before attaching ribbons for hanging, children can paint them in festive hues or sprinkle them with glitter. As an alternative, twigs can be shaped like stars & adorned with organic materials like dried flowers or leaves.
This method not only produces beautiful decorations but also promotes outdoor exploration and provides an educational opportunity about the local flora and fauna. During the holiday season, throwing a do-it-yourself ornament-making party is a great way to get friends together & participate in creative activities. The first step in successfully planning such an event is choosing a suitable location, which could be your house or even a community center if you anticipate a larger number of kids.
To allow children to switch between activities, set up multiple crafting stations with a variety of supplies & equipment. Encouraging parents to participate in the fun can improve the experience; they can help younger kids while older kids handle their projects. To keep everyone motivated during the crafting session, think about offering drinks & snacks. At the conclusion of the celebration, you could even hold a mini-competition where attendees vote on their favorite ornament designs to add some excitement.
This promotes friendly competition while honoring each child’s inventiveness. Preserving and showcasing your children’s exquisite handcrafted ornaments is crucial to ensuring their longevity. Using a clear sealant spray made specifically for crafts is an easy way to shield paper-based ornaments from fading & moisture damage over time.
After painting salt dough ornaments, you might want to apply a layer of clear varnish to preserve the colors and prevent wear. When it comes to showcasing these treasured works of art, think about setting aside a particular spot on your Christmas tree or setting up a dedicated ornament display area in your house so they can shine all season long. When hanging ornaments on the tree, using ribbons or decorative hooks adds an additional element of charm. Also, think about establishing a yearly custom in which your child’s new creations are added alongside those from prior years. This not only demonstrates your child’s artistic development but also weaves a lovely tapestry of memories that will be cherished for years to come.
If you’re looking for more fun activities to do with your kids during the holiday season, you might also enjoy reading about creative ways to engage them in other projects. For instance, check out this article on how to quit vaping, which, while not directly related to Christmas ornaments, emphasizes the importance of healthy habits and can inspire discussions about making positive choices together as a family.
