This easy Twig Tree Ornament is a great Christmas craft for preschoolers who are working on their fine motor skills. The toddlers can make these ornaments for the Christmas tree too with just a little assistance.
Here’s a cute and easy Christmas craft that starts out with a nature walk with the kids. Similar to our Twig Star Ornaments from last year, the toddlers and preschoolers are combining twigs and yarn, and using their wrapping and winding skills to make this adorable nature craft for Christmas.
You likely know how much we love crafting with sticks and other natural materials here in my home daycare! Using sticks and other found items for your crafts and activities is a great way to stretch your crafting budget, and also a lovely way for your kids to explore the natural world around them.
Even in winter, we like to get outside every day. Sometimes we play in the yard and sometimes we head into the forest behind the house. Where ever we are, there are always sticks to be found. We took a plastic bag along with us this morning and the toddlers and preschoolers searched for sticks as we walked.
Back home, we emptied our bag and placed our sticks by the fire for an hour or so to dry them out.
Then we sorted through our yarn collection and found this sparkly silver and blue eyelash yarn. It was perfect for a Christmas tree craft. It almost looks like tinsel.
To make our Twig Tree Ornaments, you’ll need:
- twigs (3 for the tree and 1 for the trunk)
- yarn
- hot glue gun
Pretty simple, right? I used Martha Stewart’s “Glitter Eyelash” yarn in a silvery blue, but don’t let yourself be limited by materials. You could use regular yarn in festive colours, rafia, strips of fabric scraps, ribbon, or even strips cut from colourful plastic bags. Get creative and use what you’ve got!
Instructions:
Using the hot glue gun, glue your twigs together to form a triangle and then glue a small trunk to the bottom.
Once your glue has set, secure the yarn with a knot to one of the twigs.
Your toddler or preschooler can now wrap and wind the yarn around the little twig Christmas tree.
This exercise is great for young children to strengthen their fine-motor skills and co-ordination.
Finish by tying the yarn off at the top of the tree and attach a ribbon for hanging your ornament.
You may also like:
10 Easy Christmas Crafts for Kids
12 Fine Motor Christmas Ornaments
12 Tree Ornaments that look like Christmas Trees
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Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.
