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Christmas is always a special time of year.
This Christmas, gather the family together for some fun Christmas activities everyone can enjoy. They all use everyday items too, so they're perfect if you’re on a budget. From DIY Christmas cards to handmade gift ideas, it’s time for you and your little ones to get creative.
We’ve designed these activities for families to enjoy together, so please supervise your children while you do them.
Make your own Christmas cards and decorations
Giving a homemade Christmas card is a great way to show people just how much they mean to you. It’s also a chance for children to brush up on their art skills and get excited before Christmas. Here’s how to create your own snowman and personalised snowflake cards. With our simple step-by-step instructions, you can’t go wrong.
To add a really personal touch…
Have you thought about making Christmas cards using your child’s hand or footprints?
Or you may find the colder months are the perfect time to look out for pinecones. They’re great for making anything from snow topped pinecones to pinecone Christmas trees.
And when you want to keep the little ones busy for hours, they can try making homemade paper chains. This is a favourite festive activity that also leaves your family with some beautiful festive decorations to put up around the house.
For a handprint reindeer card, you’ll need:
Step 1:
Mix the red and green paint to create brown. Then use it to paint the palm of your child’s hand brown.
Step 2:
Fold the card in half (portrait style). On the front of your card, firmly press your child’s hand in the centre of it.
Step 3:
Peel their hand away from the card carefully. There should now be a perfect handprint.
Step 4:
On the paper, or spare card, draw two black eyes and a large red nose. Now cut them out, leaving some white space around the eyes.
Step 5:
Glue the eyes and nose to the handprint to make a reindeer face.
Step 6:
Paint your child’s fingertips red and green. Press them down at the top of the card to create a colourful festive pattern.
Step 7:
Write your Christmas greeting on the front, and then add your message inside the card.
For a footprint penguin card, you’ll need:
Step 1:
Fold the card in half (portrait style). Mix the white and blue paint. Then let your child paint the front of the card light blue.
Step 2:
Once it’s dry, paint the sole of your child’s foot white. Place it on the card and press down firmly. Their heel should be at the top.
Step 3:
Peel their foot away to reveal the print. Then go round the edges with the black paint. Use a broad brushstroke to create a wing on either side.
Step 4:
On the paper, draw two eyes in black felt tip and a triangular red beak. Cut these out.
Step 5:
Let your child glue the eyes and beak on the penguin wherever they want.
Step 6:
Write your Christmas greeting on the front, and then add your message inside the card.
For a pinecone Christmas tree, you’ll need:
Step 1:
Paint your pinecone green.
Step 2:
Once it’s dry, paint the edges white to create a snow effect. Then use a smaller brush to paint tiny red, blue, and yellow lights on the green branches.
Step 3:
Draw a small star shape on the cardboard and cut it out. Paint both sides yellow.
Step 4:
Glue the bottom of the tree to the wooden plinth. Make sure it sticks.
Step 5:
Finally, put the star on the top. Hold it in place until the glue is dry.
If you’ve any cones spare, snow topped pinecones look great scattered around a fireplace or grouped together in a bowl. Take the biggest cone, paint the edges white, and you’re done.
For homemade paper chains, you’ll need:
Step 1
Cut the paper roughly into strips. Around 2cm wide by 20cm long is perfect.
Step 2
Take one strip and curl it round so the two short ends meet. Glue (or tape) them together. Hold for a few seconds until the glue dries.
Step 3
Take the next strip and feed it through the middle of the first chain. Next, curl the ends until they meet and glue together as before.
Step 4
Repeat these steps until you’ve made a chain long enough to hang up.
