Christmas Craft Kid

There's nothing more precious in the world than a homemade gift for the holiday season. Get your child excited about a homemade project by dubbing them the Christmas Craft Kid.

Their job, as the Christmas Craft Kid, is to help Santa make special presents for members of the family. After naming your child the Christmas Craft Kid, here is a great project to get them (and you) going.

Christmas Craft Kid Countdown Calendar

Getting excited about Christmas is easier when you have your own countdown calendar. These can cost anywhere from $10-$50 in department or craft stores, but you can make your own with just a few supplies. You'll need one piece of 11 X 17 cardstock (any color), various pieces of construction paper, glue, and your imagination. Ask your Christmas Countdown Kid to help you pick out the cardstock and construction paper. You will need to make 25 'pockets' for your countdown calendar.

To make a pocket, cut the construction paper into squares and create a ¼ inch fold on three sides. On the front (not the side with the fold against it), either you or your Christmas Craft Kid should write the numbers 0-24. On the top of the 1/3 cardstock, ask your helper to draw their favorite Christmas or winter scene. After the top is completed and the pockets are numbered, you are ready to put the pieces together. Glue the pockets to the cardstock, beginning with the pocket numbered 24. Allow to dry overnight.

While the pockets are drawing, discuss what you would like to use as your countdown marker, which should be light and festive. A snowflake or construction paper snowman, perhaps? Have your Christmas Craft Kid create the countdown marker.

Once your pockets are dry, your calendar is ready to be used. Put the new marker in the pocket numbered 24 and make it part of your holiday ritual to move the marker once each day. As you do, your Christmas Craft Kid will get more and more excited about the holiday season! Make one for the grandparents and babysitter, as well!

The Heart of the Christmas Craft Kid

We try to teach children that it is not about the getting, but the giving that matters during the holiday season. Having your kids involved in the creation of homemade gifts and decorations allows them to not only give something tangible, but give a piece of their life to someone else. Encourage your children to give and create from the heart.

Make your Christmas tree extra special this year by adding your own homemade Christmas ornaments to the branches. Here is a great recipe for ornaments. Once you have the dough made, use holiday cookie cutters or your Christmas Craft Kid's imagination to create the ornaments. Bake as directed, and remember to put a hole in the top about half way through the baking (usually with a toothpick) so you can hang the ornament later! Paint, let dry, and add to the tree. Don't forget to put the year on the back so you will always remember when you made the ornaments!