How to… Keep the kids amused with Christmas craft activities that require little effort

December 11, 2009 Chopsy Baby

Glitter, glitter and more glitter is the key to Christmas. Any weird creations made from cardboard can be glittered up to Christmasfy it.

Make Christmas stockings – Felt, card, glitter, glue, make it as wonderful as your enthusiasm allows.

Create reindeer decorations by using hand prints to make antlers. Remember to wash their hands before they run to the toilet.

Spicy Christmas biscuits can be decorated and hung on the tree or given as gifts. OK so it’s a lot of effort but will teach them how to cook and could taste nice.

Shaving foam and PVA glue mixed together can create a puffy snow scene when it dries. Effort rating about 30 per cent.

Decorate your own wrapping paper. A green potato butchered into a festive stamp can liven up random pieces of paper that have been cluttering up the house for too long this year. Think of all the pieces of paper you don’t want to recycle because you know you can reuse them for something. Here’s the chance.

Make gift tags. So the recycle box is already overflowing because someone forgot to put it out. Cereal boxes can be cut into festive shapes ready for the sticky glitter and glue mess. Vacuum at the ready. Stick on auntie and grannie’s gifts. They will love it.

Christmas cards. How simple is this activity? Well fighting your way through the cheap card shops is too much effort, especially with prams and toddlers. Make cards and market your Christmas as ‘traditional’. Put in plenty of effort if you want to meet the fine art standards of the perfect parents who are inviting your child over for an organic Christmas tea party.

Pottery painting. A cheap white china cup and plate from the pound shop is ideal as a Christmas craft activity. Costing as little as £2, painting a plate or cup will keep children entertained without paying pottery painting shop prices.

Essential equipment

Mess mat

Glitter – as much as the pound shop sells

PVA glue

Random pieces of card and paper

A manky potato

Shaving foam

Bits of ribbon and other tat for decorative purposes

Non-toxic paint

Cheap crockery from the pound shop

Job done!