DIY Activity Advent Calendar

When the winter holidays come around, our family gets into a deep DIY groove. How about you? In that spirit, making an advent calendar is a great way to introduce children to the less commercial side of Christmas through hands-on making.

Although my kids adore their chocolate-filled advent calendar, each envelope in this activity advent calendar holds a description of a holiday activity inside such as:

make our own ornaments
go ice skating
sing carols

To keep my life simple, I only put things inside the calendar that are already on our agenda. No need to make the holidays more stressful than they already are, right?

For a full selection of ideas click over to the PDF download of 50 Winter Activities Checklist.

The Benefits of this Activity

I didn’t grow up with advent calendars, but my children adore them. This handmade calendar, made with the help of children, gives young people the opportunity to:

participate in a holiday tradition
exercise fine motor skills
generate enthusiasm for the festivities to come.

And if you celebrate Hanukkah, you could make something similar for the eight nights of Hanukkah. I know that I would have loved that when I was a kid!

DIY Advent Calendar Supplies

Christmas Scrapbook Paper like this one from Martha Stewart (this is an Amazon affiliate link) or Hanukkah Scrapbook Paper.
White Glue
Scissors
String
Hole Puncher.

Making twenty-four envelopes takes a bit of time, but nothing insurmountable. The steps, however, are beyond simple.

I have a daughter who is thrilled by holidays and had a hunch that she would enjoy making an activity-based advent calendar. When we were still going strong after an hour of folding and gluing, I silently patted myself on the back.

Make an Activity Advent Calendar

Step 1: Cut your paper to the desired size and fold it in thirds. One side should overlap the other by about 1/2 inch.

Step 2: Fold the bottom up about 1/2 inch and crease the paper.

Step 3: Open everything up. Make two cuts (see photo).

Step 4: Fold the paper together and add glue to seal it up.

Step 5: Add some more glue and seal up the bottom.

Make 23 more, and you’re ready to go.

Step 6: Punch holes in the back of the envelopes, run string through them, and hang the calendar.

Decorate away! And don’t forget to add some numbers.

How this worked for us

This project is more crafty than our usual process-based happenings, but my little one was deeply engaged in the industry of selecting images and do-dads to glue onto the bags. The benefits that I witnessed were:

developing fine motor skills
making aesthetic choices
practicing with a glue bottle
commitment to completing a fairly large project.

I also think she really enjoyed the camaraderie of working side-by-side with me, and I must admit that she’s pretty good company. Oh, and did I mention that she was invested in this for a solid hour? Seriously!!

Activity Advent Calendar Ideas

Our calendar is filled with holiday activities, written on pieces of paper, but you could certainly put small treats in each envelope if you’d like. Here are some ideas for activities, or click here to download the complete list as a printable for your fridge:

Look at holiday lights
Go caroling
Make latkes (in case you celebrate Hanukkah too!)
Visit Santa
Build a Fire
Make cookies
Play with friends
Have a family craft night
Make ornaments
Make Salt Dough Ornaments
Deliver canned goods to those in need
Decorate the tree
Watch the Nutcracker Ballet
Make a winter art project
Make a gingerbread house
Make gingerbread cookies with royal icing
Build a snowman
Decorate the house with lights
Sing Carols
Light Candles
Take a family holiday photo
Make rolled paper snowflakes
Eat a Candy Cane
Wrap presents
Make cards for friends and family
Pick out a tree
Drink hot cocoa
Make a snowflake collage
Wear new pj’s
Go Ice Skating
Make Reindeer Food
Volunteer
Go skiing
Make Paper Winter Stars
Watch a Christmas movie
Read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
Buy a special ornament
Make ornaments
Make a wreath
Make homemade gifts
Hang stockings
Go sledding
Play in the snow
Do something nice for someone
Make popcorn
Eat chestnuts
Write a letter so Santa
Make treats for the neighbors

If you make an activity calendar like we did, my best advice is to keep it simple. The holiday can be a stressful time, full of so many activities, parties, and travel. I like to put things in the calendar that we’re already planning to do, so that this doesn’t add more work to an already busy time of year.

Go easy on yourself and don’t overcommit with this project!

6 Kids Valentines Day Activities

By Rachelle 11 Comments

We’ve been crafting up a Valentine’s storm, which mostly means that three-year old N has been collaging all our self-serve bits and bobs of Valentine goodness into a taped-up, glued, and spackled hodge podge of Valentine craziness. In other words, we’ve been having fun, but it’s not something anyone else would likely take inspiration from or worth blogging about!

That said, we have been playing with an amazing batch of Valentine play dough that’s always good for open-ended exploration and imagination-building. And, for my 1.5 year old, it’s great for hand-eye coordination and fine-motor skill development.

I keep my play dough in a big sealable bowl or zipped bag, and it will last for months. I use this recipe, and it’s hands-down the best one out there for the play dough job. Here are the ingredients, but click over to the recipe for all the deets:

The Ingredients

2.5 cups water
1 1/4 c. salt
1 1/2 tbsp. cream of tartar
5 tbsp. vegetable oil
2.5 cups flour
Food coloring or liquid watercolors. I really like Wilton Icing Colors or Liquid Watercolors (from Discount School Supply), which make gorgeous shades of play dough to match any occasion, mood, or toddler request.

For our Valentine Play Dough Station, I made a batch of white dough and a batch of dark pink, and then the kids helped me loosely mix them together to make this fun, mottled Valentine concoction. Oh, and we added peppermint oil to the mix to give it a nice, fresh smell. This would be perfect for Christmas too…something to keep in mind for later.

I gave my kids a new set of heart-shaped cookie cutters, which proved to be too difficult for my little one to effectively use on her own. But that didn’t stop her from trying! I cut a few shapes for her, which she really enjoyed pulling out of the dough and then breaking into three or four pieces. Some of the hearts were too challenging for her to pull out on her own, so I’d break the dough walls, which helped her remove the hearts somewhat intact.

She also enjoyed playing with the rolling pin and practiced rolling snakes.

I was recently asked which of our art materials is absolutely indispensable, and while there are many, play dough is one of those materials that appeals to a wide variety of ages because the threshold is so low. Very young children know exactly what to do with it, and as children get older their ability to manipulate it and use it for imaginative play grows along with them.

Play dough, I love you…Happy Valentine’s Day!

Interested in more Tinkerlab-style Valentines?

Deconstructed Valentines

Valentine Garland

Self-serve Valentines

All-in-one Valentine Envelope

Valentine Snack

Happy Valentine’s Day!

30 Valentine Activities for Kids

By Rachelle 25 Comments

This mother-lode of Valentine activities for kids (toddlers, preschoolers, and any other hands-on kids) covers everything from cards to treats. With 30 Valentine activities for kids here, this should keep us all busy until St. Patrick’s Day!

If you’re so inclined to roll up your sleeves and make something for Valentine’s Day, here are thirty Valentine activities for kids to get you started…

Valentine Cards

How to draw cut out a heart for preschool children, TinkerLab

Make a Valentine Card and Envelope from one heart (above), TinkerLab

Deconstructed Valentines: perfect for toddlers!, Tinkerlab

Self-serve Valentines Station, Tinkerlab

Cards from the Heart: Cut heart shapes from your child’s artwork, The Golden Gleam

Stained Glass Valentines: Peephole cards and tissue paper, Creative Family Fun

Valentine Hearts on a Canvas, Red Ted Art

5 ways to make Valentines Cards, Mama Pea Pod

Set up a Valentine Writing Center, Growing Book by Book

Valentine Sewing Cards for Preschool Children, TinkerLab

Easy Valentine Bookmarks: An awesome no-candy Valentine gift idea, TinkerLab

Valentine Gifts

Heart Blotto T-shirt, The Chocolate Muffin Tree (photo above)

How to Make a Heart Doily T-shirt, The Artful Parent

Make a Jar of Hearts for Dad, The Outlaw Mom

DIY Valentine Heart Puzzle, Allyou

Valentine Heart Gift Bag, Nurturestore

Child-sewn Felt Hearts, MamaSmiles

Heart-shaped Birdseed Cakes, Little Wonders’ Days

Heart Mobile, Rainy Day Mum

Homemade Heart Soaps, Sunhats and Wellie Boots

Magazine Tree of Hearts, Putti’s World

Valentine Crafts and Decorations

Valentine’s Day Garland, Kiwi Crate

Heart Snowflakes, Let Kids Create

Child-made String of Hearts Garland, Hands on as we Grow

Owl-shaped Valentine Craft, This Simple Home

Valentine Activities for Kids

Valentine Play Dough Station, Tinkerlab

Valentine Sensory Bin, The Iowa Farmer’s Wife

Lacing Valentine Card, The Outlaw Mom

Valentine’s Art Journal, Mommy Labs

Valentine’s Day Sensory Box with pink rice, Pink, and Green Mama

Simple Word-matching Game, The Homeschool Den

Valentine Treats

Valentine Snack with Toast, cream cheese, and sprinkles. Looks just like a cookie!, Tinkerlab

Sweetheart S’mores with heart marshmallows, graham crackers, peanut butter, and strawberries. A Mom with a Lesson Plan

Stained-glass Cookies: So pretty!, The Outlaw Mom

Delicious Mini Heart Pies, TinkerLab

How to Draw a Cute Snow Globe

By Rachelle 2 Comments

Today we’ll share how you can draw a cute snow globe. Step-by-step drawing activities are a great starting point for children who are hesitant about drawing or who want a few pointers to help them get started. With a few basic tools, they can add their own ideas and embellish drawing to make them their own.

While drawing should be a fun and enjoyable activity, it’s not the case for all kids. For some children, drawing feels like a stressful chore that challenges them in uncomfortable ways. If this describes your child, easy, directed drawing prompts can ease the way by showing children how simple and approachable drawing can really be.

Let’s dive in to today’s drawing activity…

How to Draw a Cute Snow Globe

There are four easy steps to drawing this cute snow globe. If your child wants to draw them in a different order or do something entirely different, allow for that to happen. Our goal is to make room for creative self expression, so if your child has his or her own ideas, that’s wonderful!

Supplies

This list contains affiliate links

You can use any supplies you like. We used Sharpie markers because they’re waterproof, and we wanted to use our fancy Kuretake watercolors afterwards. Here are the basics of what you’ll use:

Paper
Drawing Tool such as pencil or pen
Coloring Tools such as crayons, markers, or watercolors

Step 1: Draw a base

Step 2: Draw the circular globe.

We like our globe to look hand-drawn and a little wobbly. However, not everyone does! Here’s a tip if you want to make a more precise globe: Find an object, such as a cup, with a round rim that your child can trace.

Step 3: Draw your snowman inside the globe.

The snowman is made up of three circles. Draw the top circle first, then add the middle circle (notice how the top circle overlaps it!), and finally draw the bottom circle. Scroll down for more ideas for what could go inside your globe.

Step 4: Add designs and color it in

Don’t forget to add snow! Dots, circles, and even snowflake shapes scattered around the background give this a wintery effect.

More Ideas for your Snow Globe

Experiment by adding different objects into your snow globe. Houses, trees, and animals all look great in snow globes. What else can you come up with?

You may also want to check out our directions on how to draw a cute penguin. Penguins look amazing in snow globes!

Download the Printable

Click this link and download our drawing sheet. Share it with your child or classroom and encourage creativity and self-expression. Make your own snow globes, too! Drawing isn’t just for kids, after all 🙂

Download the How to Draw a Cute Snow Globe printable here

Drawing Tips for Children Who Get Stuck

Follow the child’s interests. If the topic peeks their curiosity, there’s a better chance they’ll look forward to the drawing challenge.
Make it fun and light and keep the pressure low.
Make it playful. Play drawing games like playing with Art Dice or One-minute drawings.
Use interesting drawing materials such as feather quills or clay.
Model a drawing mindset. Show your own interest in drawing, and willingness to experiment and make mistakes.
Share easy steps that break down the drawing process, yet keep the end result open-ended (like those in this printable)

If you liked this drawing prompt, click over to How to Draw a Cute Penguin

Dried Mandarin Garland for Festive Christmas Decorating

By Rachelle 3 Comments

Making dried mandarin slices is one of the easiest winter crafts, you can use the slices as ornaments or in a dried mandarin garland. This hits a home run in my book for it’s rustic, down-to-earth charm. My kids love nature, and it’s a joy to introduce them natural ways to decorate for the holidays.

My older daughter likes to string up garlands of popcorn and cranberries, a festive home-spun tree decoration she learned from her Massachusetts grandma. Along those lines, I thought it would be gorgeous to add a string of dried mandarin slices to our tree. Boy was I right! This craft is easy, beautiful, and makes the house smell divine while the citrus dries out.

Rather than use oranges for this craft, I chose to use Wonderful Halos, a mandarin from my home state of California! Not only is it a yummy snack (we ate so many while making this!), but the naturally created hole in the center of the mandarin makes it so easy for young children to string up with twine. Because the center isn’t solid, Wonderful Halos mandarins are the ideal citrus for this Christmas garland.

This article may contain affiliate links

Supplies

Wonderful Halos
Serrated Knife
Cutting Board
Food Dehydrator* or Oven
Twine
Scissors

* We LOVE this BPA food dehydrator. It makes the drying time so much quicker and you can use it for other yummy snacks like dried apples or bananas. If you’re also using a Homdox Food Dehydrator, set it to 120-140 degrees. We started our at 5 pm and let it run until 8 am the next day (15 hours total).

That’s one happy kid with her fruit-filled dehydrator! We get a CSA box each week, and she added in an assortment of bananas, apples, and pears for extra snacking.

The mandarins turned out gorgeous! Crisp, bright, and ready to string into ornaments and garlands.

The beautiful thing about these mandarins is that big hole you see in the middle, which makes it extra simple for small hands to string.

Steps

Cut the Wonderful Halos into thin circular slices, about 1 cm wide or as thin as you can make them without tearing. I was able to get between 3 and 4 slices from each mandarin.
Place them on the food dehydrator or in the oven.
Follow the instructions on your dehydrator for temperature and duration. If you’re using the oven, set it to 200 degrees F / 95 degrees C. Place the mandarins on baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 6 hours or so. Flip the mandarins every hour to keep them from browning. Remove when no moisture remains in the mandarins.
Remove from the trays when dry.
Cut a long piece of twine.
String it through the hole of a mandarin slice and tie it off, leaving some tail on the twine.
Keep adding mandarin slices until you reach the desired length.
Hang it from your tree, wall, or mantle.
Play a game with your sister on the couch. 🙂

So pretty! Another idea is to make individual ornaments from the dried mandarins. My girls added some to gifts for their favorite teachers.

Join the Good Choice Challenge

“Good Choice, Kid. Sweet, seedless, easy-to- peel, California mandarins. Wonderful Halos. Pure Goodness.”

Make good snacking choices by choosing Wonderful Halos over other traditional unhealthy snacks in order to lead a healthier lifestyle. Submit your “good choice moment”in the comments below. If your “good choice moment” is selected, you will receive a Wonderful Halos kit and a supply of Wonderful Halos product as a giveaway. Contest closes 9 pm PST on 12/31/17. Good luck!

Thank you Wonderful Halos for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.

Cranberry Popcorn Garland

By Rachelle 1 Comment

Making holiday decorations with natural materials is my cup of tea! My mother-in-law made these with my kids last winter, and my older daughter loved it. We had a few bags of cranberries left over after Thanksgiving, and she asked to make a cranberry popcorn garland. Yes, of course! And so we made a few 🙂

It’s not hard to make, and my hope is that this will inspire you to add some easy, nature-based crafting to your holiday season.

I set this up before bedtime, with the intention of having my girls wake up to it the next morning. They saw the inviting set-up and couldn’t resist jumping in right then and there! Ergo the dark photos. Please forgive me. But they sure did have fun!

Supplies for Cranberry Popcorn Garland

Popcorn
Cranberries
Heavy thread, such as quilting thread
Tapestry Needle

We popped the corn in the microwave. Here’s a handy tip: Pour about 1/4 cup of popcorn into a paper lunch bag and fold it closed. Place it in the microwave and set it to the popcorn setting. Remove it when the pops slow down.

Steps:

Cut a long piece of thread.
Thread your needle. No need to knot the end, but we did for good measure.
Alternate between threading popcorn and cranberries. Cranberry juice can stain, so do this on a covered or non-precious surface.
The popcorn can tear easily – try to push the needle through the fattest part of the corn.