As we enter December, preparations for Christmas are now well underway and here at StPeter’s, the end of term is fast-approaching. Amidst shopping for gifts, hosting various family members, attending local Christmas-themed events and preparing for the all-important dinner on the day itself, many families will be kept busy from the moment school breaks up until the morning of the 25th. Younger children are likely to be very excited for the big day, and here at St Peter’s, we’ve produced a list of creative Christmas crafts that are suitable for children of various ages to keep their brains occupied over the festive period.
Paperchains
A traditional craft that’s sure to bring back a few memories of your own, paperchains will brighten up any area. Strips are fairly inexpensive and can be purchased from most stationery shops – families with younger children may want to identify pre-cut strips if they are a little too young to handle scissors. You can then leave children of all ages to it, challenging them to make the biggest chains of all; an activity that’s bound to keep them entertained for hours!
Tree Ornaments
As those with young children or pets can attest, glass decorations are not practical and are not likely to survive the festivities let alone be kept for the following year. Instead, invest in some plastic baubles which can be found in most craft stores and fill them with their favourite ribbons and materials. Children can mix and match with their favourite colours and designs, adding glitter and whatever else they see fit before proudly hanging them on the tree for everyone to enjoy.
Gingerbread House
For those who like to get creative in the kitchen, making a gingerbread house is a fantastic activity that children of all ages will enjoy. There are plenty of recipes available online and once the gingerbread has been cooked and cooled, children can be set up with the task of constructing their own house. They can make doors and windows out of icing or chocolates and sweets, and if there’s any leftover dough then make them into trees for a garden. The assembly of the house might need some adult supervision, but remember any broken walls will make for a fabulous snack or can be left by the fireplace for Father Christmas.
Make A Wreath
Wreaths are a fantastic outlet for creative flair and can be hung on as many doors as required – inside and out! Head for a wintry walk to gather the plants required for the wreaths, be it holly, twigs, pinecones, Christmas tree branches or anything else you fancy! Some craft shops will sell premade bases, so you only need to worry about the decorations which is ideal for children, or the more adventurous amongst us can try to create the shape of the wreath from scratch using vines.
Dress a Window
For a slightly larger project, why not give children free rein to create a festive window? This could be the first thing your visitors see upon arrival this Christmas and you can provide fairy lights, candles and any other décor items you can think of to help them make a start. Encourage them to create an imaginative, seasonal scene in whichever way they would like, and siblings can work together on the same window or create several different ‘window wonderlands’.
Bake the Christmas Cake
Slightly older children may appreciate the responsibility of baking the Christmas cake and while some more organised families may have done this months ago, there are plenty of last-minute recipes online that are just as tasty. Encourage them to choose the recipe themselves, write out a shopping list and then once you have all the ingredients they can set about following the cooking instructions to create their masterpiece. In the last few days before Christmas allow them to decorate the cake before serving something they can be proud of to the whole family on the big day itself.
Go Holly-picking
The colder weather makes it easy to curl up in front of the fire and watch a few Christmas films, but everyone will feel so much better for a breath of fresh air. Head out to find some holly to decorate the mantelpiece with or search for any materials that could be used for other Christmas craft inspirations. Those with a real log fire can also head out in search of kindling or sticks that are perfect for marshmallow-toasting. It goes without saying that if we do get any snow before or during the Christmas period, drop all preparations and head out for a play in the white stuff.
Knitting/sewing
The Christmas holidays are a fantastic opportunity for children to learn new skills and friends and family will appreciate the time and effort that’s gone into a homemade gift far more than something bought on the high street. Learning to knit or sew will teach children about problem-solving, logical-thinking and the importance of commitment and is likely to keep them occupied for hours while they work hard on their creations. Don’t know how to knit? No worries! Let YouTube take the reins for this one while you focus on everything else that needs to be done before the big day.
That concludes our Christmas craft inspirations! We hope it has given you some ideas of how to keep everyone busy and productive over the school holidays. Don’t forget to check the school calendar for upcoming festive-themed events and if you have any questions about our private school in Devon, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today and a member of our fantastic team will be more than happy to assist.
