Ah, welcome December! We’re looking forward to a wonderful Christmas season. To kick things off, we’re joining with some terrific partners to share creative Christmas play ideas for you and your kids to enjoy this month. The Christmas Play Days series is hosted by Play Trains!, Buggy and Buddy, My Nearest and Dearest, Nothing if Not Intentional, Fun-A-Day! and our site. I know your going to love all of the ideas these lovely ladies have planned.
Ribbon Wreath Craft
Lovey’s got the crafting bug, so you’ll be seeing a lot of crafts in the coming weeks. This ribbon wreath craft was an easy invitation to create, and it was even more well loved than I imagined. She spent a long time placing the pieces of ribbon just so, and when she ran out of ribbon she even asked for more.
GET A FULL WEEK OF CHRISTMAS THEME ACTIVITIES IN OUR PRINTABLE PRESCHOOL CHRISTMAS LESSON PLANS.
Materials
This post contains affiliate links.
- Wreath-We made ours out of a scrap piece of cardboard by tracing two circles (one inside the other) and cutting them out. Then I used green paper to cut cover the cardboard. You could leave it brown or paint it instead. While we had the materials out I made a few different wreaths to be used in other activities throughout the month of December.
- Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue
- Scrap pieces of holiday ribbon-If you don’t have scrap pieces, we usually find inexpensive spools of holiday ribbon in the dollar bins at our craft store or Target. We also save ribbon pieces from gifts that we open and other crafts so that we always have a collection of scraps for crafts or refilling our creation station.
There were no specific expectations for this invitation to create. I simply set up the materials and let Lovey create as she felt inspired.
She also liked to stop to observe and feel the different textures and designs on the ribbon.
She was very focused and intentional about the placement of her ribbon.
I love how colorful and festive her finished wreath craft turned out. She chose to hang it on the door to our playroom.
Have you made any wreath crafts with your kids?
Visit the other sites participating in the Christmas Play Days series to find more fun ways to play this holiday season.
Recycled Play Dough Molds by Play Trains!
Snowy Christmas Tree Small World by Buggy and Buddy
Simple Christmas Sensory Play by My Nearest and Dearest
Healthier Gingerbread House Decorating by Nothing if Not Intentional
Christmas Pretend Play – Wrapping Presents by Fun-A-Day!
GET A FULL SET OF CHRISTMAS THEME ACTIVITIES
The 169-page Christmas Lesson Plan Set includes hands-on activities and these additional printables:
1) Beginning Letters Gift Sorting Game (in color and b/w)
2) Reindeer Math Mats (2 versions in color and b/w)
3) My Christmas Senses Activity Book Making Pieces
4) 0-35 Christmas Number Cards (2 versions in color and b/w)
5) Christmas Counting Syllables Sorting Game (in color and b/w)
6) Christmas Picture-Word Cards (in color and b/w)
7) Ornament Play Dough Mats
8) Candy Cane Play Dough Writing Task Cards (shapes, uppercase letters, lowercase letters, number 0-20)
9) Christmas Light Patterns Activity Pieces (in color and b/w)
Also available on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Less stress, more connecting this holiday season? Yes, PLEASE!
From the arrival of fall to Halloween to Thanksgiving and Christmas, the last four months of the year can be a wonderful opportunity for making family memories and spending time together, but they can also be stressful as we try to collect ideas, recipes, and activities to try together.
Stephanie Morgan, founder of Modern Parents Messy Kids, a site that’s been voted Best Craft Blog in Parents Magazine and one of babble.com’s Top 50 Craft Mom Blogs, recently released a new eBook to help us have a little less stress and more time to connect with family this year, and I’m so glad to be an affiliate for such a great resource.
Stephanie’s goal is to make it easier on all of us to enjoy the holidays with our kids. Hands-On Holidays is 100 pages full of her family’s very favorite ways to connect as a family over the holiday season. I love the convenience of having so many ideas in one place, and most of them are simple enough for even my toddler to participate in.
The book includes picture book suggestions, DIY decor, activities, and treats. Bonus sections also offer even more ideas to enjoy. Click here to view more details.
Anna@The Measured Mom
Featuring on this week’s After School round up!
Anna@The Measured Mom
Lovely and simple! Thanks for sharing at After School.
Natalie F
Love the craft and the engagement of your daughter in it. Thanks for sharing with Afterschool!
Rachael :: Nothing if Not Intentional
As Chelsey said, I love that both of my girls would enjoy this! What a great invitation!
Ann @ My Nearest and Dearest
Really cute, and great for any age!
chelsey
Oooh! Love this invitation! And I really love that BOTH my kids can do it and feel successful!!