Looking for easy crafts for kids this holiday season? This project is for you!
Every November for the past few years, we’ve made a “Thankful Tree” with our boys in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. Each night at dinner, we go around the table and write something we are thankful for on a piece of paper and hang it from our little tree. This year, we decided to try something a little different.
The mom in me was looking for a way to make sure my boys were understanding the true meaning of the holiday. The crafter in me was looking for a cute holiday decoration for the house.
And the OT in me was looking for a fun way to help kids learn how to use scissors and learn how to tie shoes (many of my kids at work are struggling with these skills right now, and they’re always on my mind :)
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
-Different types of ribbon or fabric strips
-Yarn, string, or twine
-Scissors
WHAT TO DO:
Cut a bunch of strips of fabric or lengths of ribbon (about 3-4 inches long). This is a great time for kids to practice snipping with scissors!
Cut a length of yarn, string, or twine (a LONG piece if you want to use it as a garland for your Christmas tree, or a little shorter if you just want to hang it around the house).
At dinnertime, or whatever time of day you’re all together, have each member of the family say something they’re thankful for as they tie one of the strips of fabric or ribbon to the long piece of twine. This is a great way to give kids repetition with going through the same motions they need to tie their shoes.
As the days go by, you’ll see your garland grow more and more colorful with ribbons that represent all of the things you have to be thankful for! It’s a great way to connect with your family and the garland is pretty cute too! :)
HOW TO CHANGE IT UP:
-For our garland, we just used one simple knot to tie the ribbons on (great for beginners who are just learning the basics of how to tie their shoes).
-For kids who are getting the hang of shoe-tying, cut the ribbon/fabric strips a little bit longer and see if they can tie a bow with each strip.
SKILL AREAS ADDRESSED: Fine motor skills, grasp, bilateral coordination, visual motor integration, social skills