Easy Toddler Christmas Wreaths!

I know everyone is probably getting  a little tired of Christmas craft now but i had to show you these wreaths as the toddler twosome had such a great time making them and they really are my all time favourite easy Christmas craft for toddlers!

There is very little preparation but once ready you can just sit back and let them decorate their wreaths any way they want to!

All you need are some cheap paper plates (dinner size is best), a few little bits and pieces to stick on and some paint. I used my CORNFLOUR PAINT RECIPE  in Christmas colours...although it is getting a little brown now as i have used that same paint for nearly 2 weeks of Christmas activities!

I added some bits and pieces from our Christmas collage box...saves so much time if you put one of these together before you start some toddler Christmas craft. I used a couple of old shoeboxes and just filled them with cut tinsel, red and green felt squares, green and red cellophane, some gift bows and anything else that caught my eye over the past month. Then when we pull out a Christmas activity i just choose a few things and set out on trays or the box lids and let them explore and use what they want to!

Turn the paper plates upside down and then cut a rough hole from the middle...you can be as precise as you want to be here but to be honest i don't think you need to worry about perfection...you are just providing the canvas for their creating!

Both girls absolutely loved the patterns the brush made as they painted over the ripples on the plate...an unexpected bonus to the activity!!

As soon as i sat the paint and the plates down the girls got straight to business! Both decorated in their own unique way...Tara was very precise with where she painted and then placed her collage pieces...arranging them just so!

Ruby did a lot of experimenting first it seemed...painting  a bit, then sticking a bit, then going for a wander and coming back to add more...she really loved the sensory experience of the bumps on the plate and spent a lot of time painting this area.



Of course there was also a little taste testing....but that's why i like to use the cornflour paint...nothing to worry about then although i did direct her back to painting the plate instead!

We went through quite a few plates so i recommend having a few ready to go as it is such an easy and fun activity for toddlers that they really enjoy completing quite a few...exploring something different with the creativity of each one!

As you might see in the pic below Ruby also decided that the ball needed a little Christmas cheer!

Tara spent quite a lot of time on each creation...often taking pieces off and rearranging them....

It can be hard at times not to be tempted to 'fill in' the gaps on the wreath for them but just think how we might feel if someone came along and 'fixed' our masterpiece after we had spent so much time creating it!

I did add a little kid's PVA glue to the paint pots just to help the collage pieces stick as i knew they would load the wreath up once they got started!

I included a few larger pieces of cellophane in the trays and showed the toddler twosome how to scrunch them with their hands and then stick them on.

There really are a lot of opportunities for fine motor practice with this activity, lots of picking up slippery little pieces and arranging on the wreath....a bit of problem solving too as some areas filled up and others stayed empty....Tara wasn't happy with that and worked out how to fill in her gaps. Ruby isn't quite at this stage yet but her wreaths were no less beautiful!

I added a simple little hanger by twisting some pipecleaners together and leaving a loop at the end...

Hang where they can be admired for their cheery Christmas splendour....and enjoy pulling them out again next year! 

I like to write the girls' names and the year on the back so we can look back and remember the fun when they next come out to deck the walls! 

 

A really simple Christmas craft but one that toddlers can fully participate in and therefore achieve a sense of pride and satisfaction.....when you run out of wreaths just keep passing them paper plates to paint and collage....the girls had fun with this activity for well over an hour with very little input from me.

 

I  have noticed that one of my favourite blogs at Home with Ali also just recently did some lovely colourful Christmas Wreaths too...she added some sweet little bells which is such a great idea...why not pop over for a look...there are lots of other Christmas crafts and toddler inspiration there too!

 

 

I hope your not feeling too stressed as we come into the final week before Christmas...we will actually be celebrating Christmas on Saturday as Miss Teen flies off on Sunday to stay with her

Father for Christmas this year.

 

Because we have had to face this a number of times...and Christmas just isn't the same without her we always celebrate a little early on these alternate years....it's the spirit that counts not the day i guess but it is still always a tough one for this Mummy to deal with! 

 

So depending on how much i manage to get done in the next few days blog posts may be a little less regular sorry!

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Warm Wishes


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