So here's what I am doing this December.
1) Edible Christmas trees made out of upside down sugar ice cream cones, icing, assorted candies, tiny marshmallows, and sprinkles. This is fun for kids of all ages! The littlest children may need help getting the icing onto the cone. Afterwards, they'll have no trouble decorating that tree. I separate the candy into snack baggies so that each child has their own (more sanitary too). I put the icing and cone onto a plate, give them a spoon and a bag of candy, and let them go. Sprinkles and marshmallows are usually passed out separately.
2) Cottonball snowman cards are so easy to make. Even very little children can make these if you put some prep time in. The red card is a piece of cardstock folded in half. On top of that is a snowman template cut out and glued onto the cardstock. I use white cardstock for the snowman. Two snowman fit onto one page of cardstock so you can give each child one snowman and let them cut it out or you can precut some for children who cannot yet manage scissors. Children can color the hats and then glue cottonballs on the snowman. Finish up with noses, googly eyes, little pompoms, ribbons, glitter glue, or whatever you have on hand. Here's a template:
Original art idea found here: http://www.craftscope.com/snowman/
3) Salt dough ornaments. An inexpensive craft but somewhat labor intensive if you need to make a lot of them. These can be made way ahead of time though. Here's the recipe I used: http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Salt-Dough-Recipe.html. I dried these in the oven watching carefully and at very low heat. If the heat is too high, they will puff up too much. Use a straw or a chopstick to poke a hole in the top for a ribbon. Let dry thoroughly before painting. Here's a step-by-step tutorial: http://theimaginationtree.com/2011/12/easy-salt-dough-ornaments.html.
4) Reindeer craft. It wouldn't be Christmas without a reindeer craft. This year I am planning on having the kids make double candy cane reindeers like this:
I will use a glue gun to glue the candy canes together ahead of time. Kids will be given a choice of pipe cleaners, pom poms, and googly eyes so they can make their own reindeer creations. Yes, I will leave the plastic wrapper on the candy canes because I just know someone will get into them eventually.
5) Gingerbread men, women, or children. If you have an opportunity to read a gingerbread man (boy or baby) book, do so. The kids love it! I like both the Paul Galdone and Jan Brett versions depending on age and what you can find in your local library. This year I am going to use this template for a craft:
Because I am working with very young children, I will cut out the gingerbread men and let them do the decorating. I plan to offer different options; some sandpaper, some cardboard (cereal and cracker boxes). If I can find some cheap cinnamon sticks I will bring them for the kids to rub on the sandpaper. The decorating will be the fun part. There are so many options (puffy paint, oh my!), but I want to use up some supplies so I will offer some markers, buttons, feathers, sequins, googly eyes, bits of yarn and ribbon this time around.
And finally we reach #6...
6) Holiday hodge podge. This is just what it sounds like, a variety of holiday art projects! I'm not sure what I may decide to bring out; it depends what I am left with. This is also a great opportunity to put together some "take-away" projects as a little special holiday treat for the kids that come to the last art project of the year. They can make a project at the event and then take one home to make later. It's also fun to offer a final project that can be given away as a last minute holiday gift.
We made these snowflakes last year. I just used a glue gun to preassemble large colored craft sticks. Even the littlest kids really enjoyed decorating these with pom poms and sequins. A few leftovers may come out for the great holiday hodge podge of 2013.
So that's this year's wrap up. Happy holidays to all.
