Sunday, December 8, 2013

Advent activities and crafts for kids

Lots of fun activities to keep small hands busy in December. Many of these were found on Pinterest- the pictures/ideas are not my own. I included links to sites under their photos so you can see how it's done (and to give credit where due)




24 Advent Activities for Kids

1. Make a paper advent calendar - cut out a Santa face and write the numbers 1-24 on the beard. Every day glue a piece of cotton to his beard. 



2. Make salt dough ornaments and paint them: salt dough ornament recipe

All Recipes photo

3. Star ornaments make out of popsicle sticks. Grown up uses dollar store sticks + hot glue to make the star (white glue would work, hot glue dries much faster). Kids can add glitter glue and decorations like stickers, pompoms, and loose glitter. popcicle stick stars


4. Add some confetti and plastic shapes to hand soap - tie a ribbon around it (couldnt find a photo, but this is the idea) Hand soap
5. Put together a box of donations and drop it off - ask the kids to put in useable toys and clothes they no longer use.

 
clutterfairyhouston.com 

6. Make candy cane play dough, and cut out shapes with cookie cutters. Scent with peppermint extract! Candy Cane Play Dough

7. Visit Santa (at the mall, at a parade, etc)
8. Make a gingerbread house and decorate it

9. Hand print ornament - the dollar store has big sparkly ball ornaments, add kid's hand prints and names with acrylic paint
           
10. Write Christmas cards and mail them - if the kids are too small for handwriting, they can add stickers or scribbles
11. Tree ornament with popcicle sticks. Grown up uses dollar store sticks + hot glue to make the tree (white glue would work, hot glue dries much faster) - kids can add glitter glue and decorations like stickers, pompoms, and loose glitter. popcicle stick trees

 
ivstatic.com

12. If you're able to, sponsor another family for the holidays - YMCA, YWCA, and many shelters have programs where you can donate toys and gifts for a family in need. If this is beyond your means, make a meal for a family that could use a hand with dinner (elderly neighbors, families with new babies, pregnant moms, or anyone who could just use a little love).

13. Buy some felt, and cut out a Christmas tree as big or as small as you'd like. Cut out some felt ornaments, topper (star, angel, etc), and gifts so the kids can decorate it their way. Felt Tree Craft


14. Make paper snow flakes How to make paper snowflakes

 
marthastewart.com 

15. Make bird feeders by adding peanut butter to pine cones, and then rolling in bird seed. Hang from trees outside. Pine Cone Bird Feeders






16. Make gingerbread cookies and decorate them gingerbread cookies recipe

17. Fill balloons with water and some food coloring and freeze them. Once frozen remove the balloon and let the kids play outside, or even put them in an empty bathtub. Frozen Water Balloons

 
18. Kids pick a movie- snuggle up with a blanket and hot cocoa
19. Decorate a paper wreath with bows markers or paint   wreath craft


20. Decorate ice cream cones to look like christmas trees: Ice Cream Cone Christmas Trees


21.Write your letter to leave out/mail to Santa
22. Drive around and see Christmas lights in your neighborhood
23. Make reindeer food out of oats and sparkles, and leave outdoors on Christmas eve (dont forget it parents!)

24. Make cookies for Santa! Cookies For Santa



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