Families with children are always looking for ways to keep the kids busy to help use up some of that energy that is running into overdrive during the Christmas season. Why not harness that energy and put the youngsters to use by letting them take part in the decorating of the home for the Christmas season. 1. Create a special tree for your kitchen area. On a cold and snowy day when the kids are driving you crazy, pop some popcorn. String the popcorn along with some cranberries. Bake and decorate some sugar cookies (Pillsbury slice and bake will do). Dye some penne or macaroni with food coloring and string them together for colorful swags. Construction paper chains are also a good idea for younger children. After the holidays, move the tree outside by a window, add some suet balls, and watch the birds enjoy the fruits of your labor.
2. Decorate your houseplants with small ornaments and/or small strings of Christmas lights to help make them more Christmasy.
3. Remove books from one of your bookshelves or china from your hutch. Set up a display of bears, dolls, nutcrackers, etc interspersed with arrangements of holly and/or Christmas ornaments.
4. It's great fun to decorate a Christmas tree with a theme. Place a small Christmas tree in a child's bedroom decorated with small toys, miniature dolls, or small sports items. Add twinkling white lights and you'll have a wonderful night light for the holiday season.
5. This is a great time to buy a bow maker from your local craft store. They come with videos and you may find bow making to be addictive. Bows look festive and the ribbons you choose should tie together with the rest of your decorating. Tie ribbons using various types of bows to chair backs, candlesticks, picks in plants, wreaths, garlands, basket handles, drapery tie-backs, stair railings, and doorknobs. Attach jingle bells along with the bows to doorknobs for a festive sound.
6. Since you now have a bow maker, start a tradition of a bow making party with your family and neighbors. Invite everyone to bring ribbons, bells, small ornaments, etc. (along with food for later ) Have a few bow makiing books and videos on hand along with several bow makers. Spend the afternoon making all types of bows for your Christmas presents. You'll have some great laughs, lots of fun, and the satisfaction of creating something useful and original.
7. Purchase an inexpensive mail box. Spray paint it red or green. Use craft paints to add simple Christmas shapes or attach store-bought ornaments with a hot glue gun. Use it to create a tabletop display to hold your Christmas cards.
8. If you are looking for an activity to do with your children, then you may want to consider taking a white table cloth and painting it with fabric paint. This is a great way to add your children's personality to your room. Just be sure that you explain that painting on the tablecloth is a one time thing.
9. Set up an easel in the family area with a large drawing pad. Count down the days to Christmas by having the children draw a picture each day of December. This makes a great family keepsake and it's great to compare each year to see how the children's drawings and ideas change from year to year.
10. This project should be done with supervision. The parent can do the paraffin part and the children can roll the cones in the sawdust mixture. If your children are too young for making the cones, let them decorate the box or basket the cones will go into.
Fire Starter Pine Cones
Mix sawdust with one of the chemicals listed below in a large can. Melt paraffin in a double boiler. With tongs, dip a pine cone into the wax, then into the sawdust/chemical mixture. Put aside to dry, then fill a basket with the pine cones, and add a festive bow. These make great gifts for friends and family who use a fireplace. Chemicals (from chemical-supplies store):
* Copper sulfate will create a blue flame
* Borax will create an apple green flame
* Trisodium chloride, or table salt, will create a yellow flame
* Potassium chloride, or salt substitute, will create a violet flame
Decorating your home for the holidays is an important part of your celebration and can help your home feel more inviting during the holidays. There are many different ways to decorate your home, but making your own Christmas decorations with your family can help make the time together more special and can give a great sense of pride and ownership. You can make your home into a Christmas masterpiece with some simple interior Christmas decorations.
