Simple holiday crafts for a toddler?

DD is 2. When I was little I always made little Christmas gifts for my grandparents, aunts and uncles. I would like DD to do the same. I did things like painting ornaments, stained glass ornaments (when you put the crystals into the from). Simpler things when I was smaller and edible things as I got older. Here is my idea for this year tell me if you think I'm nuts.

I want to give her a pretty red pipe cleaner and have her feed a few jingle bells on it. then will make it into a ring and tie a red and green bow on it (I'll let her choose the ribbon).

Sound like something a toddler can do with supervision or am I nuts? She likes stringing the large beads so I think this will work.

Re: Simple holiday crafts for a toddler?

I think it's cute and may try it with my 2 yr old.

I was at the Dollar Tree today and they had foam shapes that could be stuck to a larger foam piece (a wrath, ornament, or Christmas Tree). I bought some with the thinking Connor would enjoy making them for his grandparents.

Re: Simple holiday crafts for a toddler?

- Get some small pine cones (go to park... they are free!). Have DC paint with white, green and red for the Holiday colors

- Get big leaves in the yard or park. Paint one side and press the painted side on paper. Leaf acts as a stamp.

Re: Simple holiday crafts for a toddler?

Re: Simple holiday crafts for a toddler?

Pine cones are great. You can also make homemade play-doh and make ornaments out of that.

You can also paint DSs hand and/or foot and make foot/hand stamps for grandparents.

I would skip the stained glass things--I can't see DS putting the stuff in, I think it would get thrown or eaten.

Re: Simple holiday crafts for a toddler?

ohh I love these ideas! keep em coming girls!

Re: Simple holiday crafts for a toddler?

Spinoff on my own craft.

You can get a nice colored rope like red or green or gold (Michael's, etc..) and glue the pine cones on it to make a garland. In such case I would just paint the tips of the pine cones in white.


Other craft: Make a Santa Claus

Get 2 yoplait type yogurt like containers (top is narrower than base).

Get a 2 inch craft ball (styrophane). That will be the head. Make in paper color: eyes, nose. Glue eyes, etc.. on the ball
Wrap red paper around the base of the 2 containers. Make 3 very small cotton balls and make tiny button and glue on top container. And glue small cotton all along the bottom base of the small container. Bottom container is just wrapped in red paper.

For hair, pull string of cotton and glue. Do same for beard. Or get remnant of white yard.

Re: Simple holiday crafts for a toddler?

We did these cards last year for DD to give her grandmothers and aunts/uncles.

It was really cute. It's a trace of her hand for the antlers, and the trace of her foot for the head. Obviously I had to do a lot of the stuff (tracing, cutting), but she helped me glue, put the glitter on, etc. She colored on the antlers with crayons too.

Re: Simple holiday crafts for a toddler?

We have a bunch of pine cones at the park down the block from my house. I plan on letting DD put glue and glitter on them to give as gifts.

Of course, this activity will happen OUTSIDE but have the weather to do that

Re: Simple holiday crafts for a toddler?

I do crafts with Cailen all the time - she can definitely do it, but what i have learned is letting them take it in their own direction and adding their own spin to it - even if its unplanned - will make it adorable and special!!!