Guest Post: Christmas Crafts – Part 2 {Ornaments for Preschoolers}

December 25th, 2011 admin

By Athalia Critcher

Previously, I shared how our Christmas preparations began in July. When we were making jam, I initially planned to also make mini loaves when the holidays arrived. The jam would be marvelous spread on tea biscuits or sour dough or even hearty whole grain bread, but with so many food sensitivities and different dietary needs, I decided not to bake.  Instead, we went another homemade route and picked up wooden, die-cut ornaments, then pulled out our paint tray and set to work. I say “we,” but the ornaments were all hand-painted by our wee preschooler.

As I try to keep pace with my little blue-eyed girl, I myself learn something new everyday. A few months back, I adopted a preschool-based schedule to set pace of our days. On the days when we are home together, I conduct “Mommy School.” Her imagination and physical dexterity has rendered her capable of creating complex games and plot-driven, imaginary play, but my gal stills needs her mommy to set the pace and help her transition from structured activity to free play to snack time and back again. Our structured activities revolve around either an art or craft project or learning a new skill or concept, such as counting and measuring, telling time, or exploring the seasons through a scavenger hunt.

Without a doubt, our favorite craft this fall was making Christmas ornaments for holiday gifts. Using simple watercolor paints and an oversized brush, my gal mixed and blended colors for one-of-a-kind creations. While she painted, we used the time to talk about friends and family, holiday traditions, and the shapes that the different wooden, laser cut ornaments represent.  I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and so perhaps I see them through a mother’s eyes, but the water color splashes from her brush created lovely and unique works of art. I am so proud of her, and I cannot wait to share these sweet tokens of friendship.

How to:

Prepare a work station at a comfortable height for little artists. Cover surface with newspaper to protect surfaces from stray paint. Consider using a jelly roll pan, cookie sheet, or plastic cutting board to create a waterproof barrier. Set out paints and drip a little water into each color to moisten. (Hint: I permanently remove the brown and black paints from the tray, since I dislike how they blend over the other colors.) Hand the brush over to the young artist, step back and cheer them on. This is a great craft to encourage artistic freedom and expression.

Ornament Supplies:

Non-toxic, watercolor paints 

1 inch bristle brush (the larger size is easier for small hands; found at a hardware or specialty paint stores)

Craft-ready, laser cut, wooden ornaments (ours came from Michael’s)

Newspaper (or other material to protect table surface)

Small cup of water (to rinse brush and wet paints)

Athalia Critcher is a southern girl who married a mountain man and now calls the Blue Ridge Mountains home. She holds down the fort and writes about her misadventures in their small mountain community at LittleCreekLife.com