It’s that time of the year again when the holiday season is in full swing, and Christmas decorations and gifts are on everyone’s mind. As parents, we want our children to enjoy the festivities while also teaching them valuable lessons about sustainability and eco-friendly living.
In this blog post, we will discuss three easy and fun baby crafts Christmas that you can do with your little ones to promote sustainable living. We’ll dive into how these crafts help teach green habits among children and why it’s essential to teach them at a young age.
From recycled ornaments to plantable seed paper cards and DIY reusable fabric gift wraps, we’ve got you covered with step-by-step instructions on each craft. Let’s make this Christmas a little bit more special by incorporating sustainable practices into your holiday traditions.
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Understanding the Importance of Green Practices in Childhood
Teaching eco-friendly values in our toddlers and kids is crucial for nurturing their environmental consciousness from an early age. This empowers them to become environmentally conscious adults, making a positive impact on the world.
I remember when I was younger, my sisters and I gathered around the kitchen table, armed with newspapers and empty toilet rolls, ready to make Christmas crafts for family and friends. The few hours in the kitchen was filled with excitement as we cut, glued and coloured our handmade cards for family and friends.
We cut out festive shapes from old newspapers, meticulously crafted snowmen, Santas, and twinkling stars. Our trusty toilet rolls, once destined for the recycling bin, found a new purpose as the base for our Christmas tree-shaped cards. The transformation from mundane to magnificent was a testament to the magic of recycling.
It’s a fond memory that’s stayed with me and one that I hope to pass onto my daughter this year. The process of crafting became a bonding experience, forging memories that would last far beyond the holiday season. Our simple yet heartfelt creations were more than just cards; they were a celebration of family, creativity, and the joy of giving – a true embodiment of the holiday spirit.
Photo by Lil Artsy
Eco-Friendly Craft Idea 1: Recycled Ornament Making
The first baby crafts Christmas activity encourages creativity with recycled materials like old wrapping paper and bottle caps to make unique ornaments. Teach kids about waste reduction during the holidays. Display the ornaments proudly or gift them to family.
Materials Needed
When gathering materials for sustainable Christmas crafts:
- Recycled items like old holiday cards
- Wrapping paper
- Pinecones or branches from your backyard.
- Glue
- Paint
- Non toxic glitter (optional)
Photo by Lil Artsy
Guiding the Kids Through the Process
Step 1. Prepare the all the materials:
- Assemble all the materials in a comfortable crafting space. I like to prepare the materials beforehand just to make sure the activity goes smoothly.
- Lay out the old holiday cards and wrapping paper scraps for cutting and decorating. You make a little making station if that’s easier.
- I put the glue and paint in a pots easy for little fingers to dip in.
Step 2. Cut The Shapes:
- Cut out festive shapes from the old holiday cards. I cut out easy and simple shapes like stars, circles, and squares. This is because my daughter is 18m but if you have older toddler by all means let them cut out shapes.
- You can also fine motor development by letting toddlers to practice their fine motor skills by tearing the wrapping paper into smaller pieces.
Step 3. Prepare Pinecones or Branches:
- If you’re using pinecones, ensure they are clean and dry.
- For branches, trim them into smaller, manageable sizes. I like to cut off any sharp branches to make sure there are no accidental scratches.
Step 4: Glue and decorate
- Apply non-toxic glue to the back of the cut-out shapes.
- Stick the shapes onto the card
- Stick the pinecones and branches as you like. This bit is a bit fiddley to be patient and use a bit more glue to help secure the foliage the card.
Step 5. Painting Fun
- Squeeze child-friendly paint into small finger dipping pots.
- I like to allow my toddler to dip their fingers.
- You can use brushes to add colourful strokes to the ornaments.
Step 6. Drying Time
- Place the finished ornaments on a flat surface to dry completely. I’s leave it 12 hours at least
- This is an excellent opportunity for a break or a snack while eagerly anticipating the final results.
Step 7. Check and Re-glue
- Once the ornaments are dry, inspect them for any loose pieces.
- Reapply glue if needed to reinforce the shapes and decorations.
- Leave again to dry for another 3 hours at least.
Step 8. Hang and Display
- Attach some string or ribbon to the ornaments, creating a loop for hanging.
- Hang the recycled ornaments on a small tree or display them around the house to showcase your little ones’ artistic talents.
- This year we’ve hung ours on our Christmas in the living room.
Step 9. Celebrate
- It’s important to acknowledge and celebrate the effort and creativity put into making these recycled ornaments.
- Like to show my toddler each day over Christmas what she’s made.
- If you want, you can gift the ornaments with family and friends. It’s a thoughtful and cheap gift.
Photo by Jessica Lewis
Eco-Friendly Craft Idea 2: Plantable Seed Paper Christmas Cards
The second baby crafts Christmas activity is creating plantable seed paper Christmas cards. It’s a sustainable and fun activity to make with babies and kids. Children really do learn best through experience and teaching them about eco-friendliness through practical experience is a no-brainer.
Plantable paper is made from recycled paper embedded with seeds, these cards are not only unique gifts but also promote sustainability and nurture fine motor skills.
It’s been a while since those crafty afternoons with me and my sisters, but the memory of making plantable paper is a memory that I’ll always remember to this day. I love the idea that not only of the flowers that bloom but also of the seeds of creativity, sustainability, and sisterly love we planted together.
The little cards, now scattered across the homes of our loved ones, serve as a testament to the enduring magic of handmade treasures and the joy of shared moments.
Photo by Photo by Miguel Á. Padriñán
Preparing Your Materials
- Recycled Paper Scraps:
- You can use old newspapers, magazines, or cardboard packaging.
- Aim for approximately 2 cups of shredded paper.
- Water:
- 2 cups of water for soaking and blending the paper.
- Flower Seeds:
- Choose non-toxic flower seeds suitable for your region.
- Use about 1 tablespoon of seeds for a small batch.
- Blender or Food Processor:
- This should be used by grown ups only.
- Molds:
- Use cookie cutters or small silicone molds for shaping the paper.
- Mesh Screen or Fine Sieve:
- Approximately 6 inches wide
- Rolling Pin or Sponge:
- For pressing and flattening the paper.
- Towels or Absorbent Paper:
- For drying the paper.
Cornstarch (Optional):
- 1 tablespoon (helps with thickness and texture)
Involving the Kids in the Creation Process
Step 1. Prepare the paper
- Shred the recycled paper into small pieces until you have approximately 2 cups.
- You can get you little to help with this as it makes it extra fun!
- Soak the shredded paper in 2 cups of water for about 12 hours or overnight. Make sure yo cover with a tea towel to prevent drying.
Step 2. Blend
- In a food blender blend the soaked paper and water until it forms a pulp-like consistency.
- If the pulp is still watery follow the next step
- Optionally, add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch for added thickness. Don’t add more otherwise it will become too thick.
Step 3 Mix in Flowerseeds
- Add small pinches of the flower seed to the pulp
- you can encourage your little one to use the pincer grip or grabs with fingers to help build their fine motor skills.
Step 4: Shape the Paper
- Take a sieve and pour the pulp into the sieve.
- Spread the mixture evenly.
- Next, pat and roll the paper to take shape.
- This is the fun bit where your little one can go to town and create lots of fun shapes.
Step 5. Press and Remove Excess Water
- Use the rolling pin to press and remove excess water.
- You can help your little one afterwards as this helps the paper to dry evenly.
Step 6. Drying
- Transfer the shapes to a drying towel
- Leave to dry for the next 24-48 hours
Step 7. Celebrate and Share
- Once the plantable paper is dry, celebrate by creating cards or ornament’s with your little ones.
- This also make a lovely cheap sustainable gist for a loved one. You can write a little description of how the paper was made and the seeds you have used.
- Just to note that this NOT suitable for printers. Only use for cards or writing letters.
Eco-Friendly Craft Idea 3: DIY Reusable Fabric Gift Wrap
The final baby crafts Christmas activity is DIY reusable gift wrap. Excess wrapping paper waste is a massive issue over the holidays. The GWP Group stated that the amount of wrapping paper thrown away each year in the UK could reach the moon. That a staggering 384, 400km.
They also say that a lot of the wrapping paper is non-recyclable as it contains glitter and plastic. So let’s reduce holiday waste with creative family fun activity – DIY reusable fabric gift wrap.
Materials needed
- Old fabric like cotton or polyester
- Scissors (crinkle cut is better)
- Ruler (at least 30cm wide)
- Pencil
- String, ribbon, twine
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1. Gather fabrics
- Gather the fabrics you want to use for the wrapping paper.
- I used old t-shirts and sheets anything with fun patterns.
Step 2. Measure
- Using the ruler and pencil measure a square.
- I like to measure 50cm by 50cm as its a good size for most medium sized presents.
Step 3. Cut
- Cut out the shapes using the crinkle cut scissors
- If your little one is too small for this job make sure you guide them by holding the scissors for them.
Step 4. Wrap Presents
- Lay the fabric on a flat surface
- Fold each corner to the center
- You can use a safety pin to secure (be mindful of tiny hands)
Step 5. Tie With Ribbon
- Create a box tie at the bottom or
FAQ
Why are eco-friendly Christmas crafts for kids important?
Incorporating baby crafts Christmas activities into children’s holiday activities is crucial. It teaches kids about sustainability through creative crafting, promoting environmental awareness and positive habits. baby craft Christmas instils eco-friendly behaviours in children, and become an integral part of their holiday traditions.
What green practices can I do with my kids during the holiday season?
The holiday season presents a great opportunity to inspire sustainable, baby crafts Christmas activities with kids. As Parent we can lead by example by creating fun activities such as sustainable crafting and gift-giving. Emphasize the importance of fostering sustainable habits within you family early on, promotes green living, and eco-friendly crafting.
What are some Christmas Reuse and Waste Reduction Activities?
Creating sustainable crafts can be a fun and memorable activity for children during the holiday season. Encouraging the use of upcycled materials like old wrapping paper or cardboard boxes promotes waste reduction. Additionally, using natural items such as pinecones or branches from tree fosters a connection with nature.
What are some easy and fun baby crafts for Christmas?
Some easy and fun baby crafts Christmas include making handprint or footprint ornaments, creating holiday-themed sensory bottles, and constructing paper plate Santa Claus or reindeer masks. These crafts are not only enjoyable for babies and kids, but they also promote sensory exploration and creativity.
Final Thoughts – Baby Crafts Christmas
Incorporating baby crafts Christmas into children’s activities is a fun and effective way to teach them about the importance of sustainability. Using recycled materials, making plantable seed paper Christmas cards, and creating reusable fabric gift wraps, you can instill in them the values of waste reduction and green practices from an early age.
As parents it’s so important to spend time doing these activities with your kids during the holiday season, not only to create lasting memories but also to make a positive impact on the environment. If you enjoyed this blog, make sure to subscribe for more tips on sustainable living and check out my other blogs for inspiration and ideas.
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