Keeping kids entertained during school breaks and the holiday season can be challenging and people are always looking for fun and creative things to do at home. It is great to get children out and about, but sometimes we just don’t have the time. Here are some craft ideas that are the perfect indoor activities for kids. More engaging than a kids movie on Netflix, and using things that you probably already have around the house.
Homemade Winter Lava Lamp Snow Globe
What You’ll Need
Vegetable Oil
Food coloring
A small cup
Baking soda and vinegar (or a Alka Seltzer tablet)
An empty water bottle
Spoon
Glitter or other winter themed small items (i.e. sprinkles confetti)
When using the baking soda and vinegar technique these are the steps
Place the baking soda in your bottle (about 3 tablespoons)
Next fill your bottle about ⅔ full of your oil (make sure not to mix in the baking soda)
In your small cup mix a bit of (about 1 tablespoon) vinegar, 3 drops of food coloring, and glitter, along with any winter themed sprinkles or confetti you may have laying around (even if you don’t have sprinkles this is still a fun activity)
Then add your vinegar mixture to the bottle and watch the magic unfold!
When using the Alka Seltzer tablet follow these steps
Place the tablet in your bottle (you can use 1-2 depending on the size of your bottle)
In your small cup mix the oil (you can measure out how much your bottle holds to determine the amount of oil), 3 drops of food coloring, and glitter, along with any winter themed sprinkles or confetti you may have laying around
Then add your oil mixture to the bottle and watch the magic unfold!
Paper Hats
Do your parents have left over wrapping paper from wrapping up presents? Well here is a great way to use those pieces that just aren’t big enough to wrap those presents.
Fold a sheet of paper in half horizontally to create a neat fold.
Make the peak of the hat by folding the top 2 corners of the folded edge to meet at the centre, with the flaps lining up.
To make the brim, lift up the bottom flap and fold it up. Flip the paper over, and repeat with the other flap. Carefully open the hat. Now you’ve made yourself a one of a kind accessory!
Paper Snowflakes
Here in sunny Southern California we don’t get any snow, but that doesn't mean you can’t create your own winter wonderland.
All you need is paper and scissors and you’re ready to go!
Start with a square piece of paper. (Tip: To cut a perfect square from a standard 8-by-11-inch sheet of paper, fold paper into a right-angled triangle; trim off excess.)
Fold the paper in half so that it makes a triangle
You can fold the paper as many times as you want and once you’re happy with the folds it is time to cut!
Cut out shapes and designs however you want. (remember though because of the folding your design is repeated)
Then carefully open up your folds to reveal your snowflake (and remember no snowflake is alike they are all unique)
Snowman Socks
What You’ll Need
Old Socks: White for Body; Colored for Hat
Uncooked Rice
Buttons
Rubber Bands
Paint or Markers
Needle & Thread
Glue
Optional Supplies: Yarn; Ribbon; String
Cut off the heel of the sock to leave a hole for rice insertion.
Turn the sock inside out and use a rubber band to tightly close the top of the sock. Turn right side out.
Fill the sock with rice using the hole in the heel. Tie off the sock with another rubber band.
Cut off the toe of another sock - typically colored - and roll up the ends to create a rim. Sew Or glue the hat to the snowman’s head.
OPTIONAL: Use a piece of fabric or string to tie a scarf around the snowman’s neck.
Decorate the snowman! Use paint/markers to create the snowman’s face and any other clothes it might be wearing!
Reindeer Puppets
What You’ll Need
Brown Paper Bags
Construction Paper
Googly Eyes
Colored Cotton Balls
Scissors
Glue
Trace your child’s hand over the construction paper. Then, carefully using scissors, cut out the hand’s outline. (NOTE: This is the perfect practice for a child to use scissors if an adult is in the room and it feels it’s safe enough!)
Using glue or tape, attach the ‘antlers’ to the unfolded bottom part of the paper bag.
Glue googly eyes and a colored cotton puff to the front of the folded section. OR you draw the eyes on the folded part with a marker.
CONGRATULATIONS! Your child now has one of Santa’s reindeer as an easy, celebratory puppet.
Q-Tip Snowflakes
What You’ll Need
Q-Tips
Construction Paper
Scissors
Glue
Cut up construction paper into circles and cotton swabs into various lengths
Glue the cotton swabs onto the paper in whichever pattern works best for you! (hint: try to have the longest swabs meet up in the center)
Star Of David
What You’ll Need
Paper Plates
Thick String/Ribbon
Pencil
1. Using something pointy, poke six (equally distant) holes along the edges of the plate.
2. OPTIONAL: To help with accuracy and guide the kids, it’s best to outline the shape of
the Star of David in pencil on the plate.
3. Using the outline, poke the yarn through the holes to create the Star of David.
4. Tie the two ends of the string together at the top. This craft can be hung up as a
decoration during the 8 nights of celebration
Los Tres Reyes
What You’ll Need
Empty Paper Towel/Toilet Paper Rolls
Markers
Paint
Googly Eyes
Tin Foil
Yarn
Felt Fabric
Construction Paper
Color the bottom half of the cardboard roll. If using paint, set it aside to dry.
Using the tin foil, cut out crowns that can be wrapped around the top of the rolls
Glue eyes to the top of the roll. Or you can draw them on with markers. Then color on the nose and mouth of the king.
If desired, either color on a beard or use yarn and glue one on the face of the king.
Finally, glue the crown around the head of the king. He’s now all dressed up and ready for an adventure!