10 Weeks to an Organized Christmas: Kids Activities 2

How is your Christmas planning going so far?  Has it been a relaxing start to the month, or has it been stressful?  I hope that we will each be able to organize ourselves enough to fully enjoy and appreciate the season.  Here are a couple more kids crafts for you!  As always, they are simple, can be done with things around your house, and best of all, they tie typical Christmas symbols to Jesus!

T.P. Candle Light

This is a great craft because you also get to teach your child about recycling and using old things to make new things!

What you need: 

*A left-over toilet paper tube

*Paint (or markers, stickers, etc.)

*Yellow tissue paper (and/or red & orange)

*Glue

What to do:

Begin by allowing your child to paint (or color) the outside of the toilet paper tube.  If you used paint, allow the tube to dry before continuing.

Cut small triangles for your child out of tissue paper.  This will be your "flame".  Let your child glue the tissue paper to the inside of one end of your toilet paper tube.  The point from the triangle should stick up above the tube so that it looks like fire.  Allow to dry before playing with it.

How to tie it to Jesus:

Memorize (or recite it to your younger child) this verse: "You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden" (Matthew 5:14).  Talk about how Jesus came as a baby on Christmas so that he could be the light to our world.  Just like Jesus was a bright shining light, we are also supposed to be lights for Jesus!  

Sing:  This Little Light of Mine (my favorite version of this song is a fun, upbeat version produced by Nick, Jr.).

Candy Cane Art

This is an activity that can be adjusted for different aged children.  Younger children can simply color with a white crayons, while older children can crush candy canes and glue them on the paper!

What you need:  

*Red construction paper

*White crayons or paint

*Scissors

* (optional: crushed candy canes and glue)

What to do:  

Trace a large candy cane shape on your red paper.  If your child is old enough, allow him to cut out the shape using scissors, otherwise, go ahead and cut it out yourself.  Using the white paint or crayon (or crushed candy canes and glue) create "stripes" throughout the red candy cane.  If your child is younger, you may want to draw the stripes as a guide for your child using a pencil.  

How to tie it to Jesus:  

Once dry, show your child the candy cane upside down.  What letter do they see?  Letter J is the first letter in Jesus' name!  Turn it right side up again.  Doesn't it look like a shepherd's cane?  Jesus is our Shepherd!  The white background represents purity.  Jesus had no sin!  He always obeyed his Father in heaven, just like we are supposed to obey our parents and our Father in heaven.  The red in the cane represents the blood Jesus shed for us to save us from our sins.  What an awesome God we have!  

A Shiny Star Ornament

What you need:

*Yellow card stock (or thick paper, or cardboard)

*Elmer's Glue

*Glitter

*Hole punch

*5-6 inches of yarn

What to do:

Cut out a star shape from your paper.  It should be about 3-5 inches in diameter (you can print a star template from the internet, if necessary.  There's one HERE).  Punch a hole in one corner of your star.  Let your child decorate the star shape with glue.  It can be a smooth, even layer, or a zig-zag, messy pattern!  Sprinkle glitter over the glue on your star.  Allow it to dry.  

String the yarn through the hole, tie in a knot, and hang on your Christmas tree.

How to tie it to Jesus:

The big star that we often put on top of our trees is representative of the star that appeared over Jesus when he was born.  Your little star ornament can also be a reminder that a star appeared just for Jesus!  

Before bed, let your child look outside to hunt for the brightest star in the night sky.  The star the hung above Jesus was even brighter!  It allowed "the three wise men" to follow it to find Jesus.

Thanks for joining me in a fun, relaxing, and meaningful Christmas!  Check out all the posts in this series HERE.

10 Weeks to an Organized Christmas: Children's Activities 1

If you are joining us for the first time for the 10 Weeks to an Organized Christmas series, be sure to check out all the posts in the series HERE.  

I have to admit that I'm slacking a little at publishing all my Christmas Activities.  There will be 25 of them, and almost all of them will tie to Jesus in some way!  While I'm completing the other activities on my list, here are three to get you started.  I will be utilizing my calendar print out (find it HERE) to plan each day for my family.  I will be writing down at least one activity to do on each day leading up to Christmas!

Hershey Kiss Advent

This activity should be done on the 1st of December, or even the last day of November.

You will need:

*A long strip of plastic wrap or colored cellophane (one for each child)
*25 Hershey's kisses (or other candies) per child
*Ribbon, cut into pieces

What to do:

Lay out a long strip of plastic wrap or colored cellophane on the ground.  Have your children each count out 25 "kisses".  Encourage older children to help younger children with counting, if necessary.  Have the children lay out the kisses along the strip of wrap.  Then, use the ribbon to tie the wrap around each individual kiss.  Tie a long, looped string at the very top to hang.

How to Tie it to Jesus:

While making this "kiss" advent, talk about the meaning of advent with your kiddos.  The word "advent" means "to come".  Talk about how we are counting down to Christmas, which is when we celebrate that Jesus came to earth as a little baby!

Snowy Night Scape & Follow the Star Game

This is a fun craft for kids of all ages, even the little guys.

You will need:

* Black or Dark Blue Paper
* Salt
* Water
* A yellow star (made from construction paper, a yellow button, etc.)
* Paintbrush
* Glue
* White crayon

What to Do:

Mix up a solution of salt water.  You will want it to be heavy on the salt, as it will represent the snow when the water dries on the paper.  You can add a bit of glue to the solution, too, if you want to ensure that the salt sticks well; just don't add too much or it will be hard to paint with the salt.  Have your child glue the yellow star onto the paper.  Then, allow your child to color "stars" with the white crayon.  Finally, allow your child to paint with the salt mixture.  Allow it to dry.  The end result should be a snowy night scape.

How to tie it to Jesus:

While doing this activity, place an emphasis on the big, yellow star.  Talk about how the star appeared in the sky when Jesus was born.  The wise men followed the star to find their way to Jesus.

Bonus Activity:

While the landscape dries, place a trail of big yellow stars (print from your computer or cut from construction paper) around your house leading to a small treat.  Have your children pretend that they are the "wise men" following the star to baby Jesus.

Foot and Handprint Angel

This craft can be done in one of two ways.  You can do it with paint on paper, or with just paper.

You will need:

*Yellow and white construction paper
*A picture of your child's face
*Yellow and another color (maybe light blue or pink-for the "robe") paint (if doing the paint angel)

What to do:

If you are utilizing paper only:

Trace your child's hands on yellow paper (these will be the wings).  Trace your child's foot on white paper (this will be the angel's robe).  If your child is old enough, allow her to cut out her templates.  Once cut out, allow your child to glue the wings to the body (toes face down).  If desired, let your child embellish the angel with glitter, markers, or other decorative items.  Finally, cut out the picture of your child's face and glue it to the top (you can also have your child draw their own face).

If you are utilizing paint:

Paint your child's foot with a color of your choice.  Have him step straight down on to a piece of paper (toes will face down). Paint your child's hands yellow and then press their hands down to make the angel wings on the paper.  Either draw or glue a photo of your child's face to the top.

How to tie it to Jesus: 

While doing this craft together, talk about the angel Gabriel who appeared to Mary and informed her that she would be giving birth to baby Jesus!  You can also talk about how 9 months later, a full sky of angels appeared to some shepherd's to tell them that Jesus had been born.  It would also be great to talk about how the angels worship God, and that we are supposed to worship God, too!