When I pulled out our Christmas decorations last week and proudly displayed the school artwork and crafts that have come home over the past 12 years, my sister (a teacher) mused, “I wonder whether the kindergarten teacher who helped out with that little cut and paste Christmas tree expected it to be hanging up 10 year later?”
Teachers, take heart. As parents we treasure the artwork that you nurture from our children. And if you’re feeling uninspired, the internet is a treasure trove of resources to help you find something new for the class project. Have a look at a couple of my favourite sites for holiday baking and craft ideas to come up with a solution.
How about this adorable Mini Holiday House from Kraft Canada. I love the idea of decorating this as the inn, adding a few little “teddy bear” sheep and wise men. The site suggests putting it on a ribbon to hang on the tree. So cute!
Here’s my standard Christmas craft that I’ve helped with in every Kindergarten class. It’s a “Paper Plate Angel”. I am not a very crafty person, and I love its simplicity and the nostalgia factor; my mom helped out in class when I was in Kindergarten and I brought home a very similar angel that hung for years on our tree.
I tried googling to find the instructions on how to make this, but evidently times have changed and the Paper Plate Angel has become much more sophisticated. Though probably no longer appropriate for the Kindergarten crowd, I may try Martha Stewart’s Paper Plate Angels myself for our Christmas dinner decorations.
I found some adorable craft ideas on Kaboose, and particularly loved this Rudolph Paper Cup; I think I might enlist my daughter to make a few to fill up with cello bags of cookies for teachers and daycare staff.
And finally a new holiday tradition that we’ve started in our house. I first read about the idea of an “Advent of Books” from @BOREDMommy and @OHMommy on Twitter. It’s a simple idea; instead of the standard cheap chocolate piece every morning from December 1-24, create some memories. Collect and wrap all the Christmas or holiday books in your home (you’ll be surprised at how many you have…though I did have to augment our collection with a couple of new ones!). Each day one of the kids gets to choose a wrapped book and open it. Even though it’s a book they’ve read over and over for years, it’s exciting when it’s all wrapped up. Each night we read that book. It has already become my new favourite tradition.
So, share..what are your holiday craft traditions?
My father loves this sort of stuff. I’d appreciate a book that i could get him for christmas associated to this topic.
Love the Rudolph pot! We have one like it from mom son in preschool. It is easy so it turns out looking good no matter what 🙂