4 Montessori Inspired Christmas Activities
{DISCLOSURE: THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. THESE LINKS ARE AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU. WHEN YOU USE THEM, I MAY RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION. THIS HELPS ME TO KEEP THIS BLOG UP AND RUNNING. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING MY WORK}
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. But it’s also the busiest time for many parents. Baking gingerbread cookies, decorating the house, and buying presents for the whole family are just a few new items on your endless to-do list. In the “hustle and bustle” of the holiday season, it can feel overwhelming to include your toddler in all this.
The following 4 Christmas activities will inspire you to make memories with your toddler. And they’ll help your child to feel included in preparations for the upcoming holidays.
1. Making POMANDERS
Have you ever made a pomander before? Not only will a pomander make your house smell like Christmas, but it’s also a great activity for toddlers to practice their fine motor skills.
You’ll need:
whole cloves
orange
How to Make Pomander Balls
Using a toothpick, make holes in the orange.
Show your child how to push whole cloves into pre-pierced holes.
Invite your child to have a turn.
Notes:
If you have an older child, you can skip the first step.
With older children, you can work on more intricate designs. You can also lookup how pomanders were used in the past.
2. Making POM-POM Ornaments
In my previous blog post, I talked about making easy cinnamon Christmas ornaments with your child. And while this recipe is easy, you need enough time to make the ornaments, have them dry, and decorate them.
If you don’t have much time and have a young toddler at home, try to make pom-pom ornaments instead. Emma spent an hour engrossed in making these ornaments.
You’ll need:
clear plastic ornaments (I got mine in Michaels)
How to Make Pom-pom Ornaments
Remove the silver tops and place them aside.
Show your toddler how to push pom-poms inside the ornament.
Turn it over to your child and let them finish.
Once done, put the silver tops back on the ornaments. Let your child hang the ornaments on the tree.
Notes:
Pom-poms represent a choking hazard. Supervise your child during this activity.
3. Baking
If baking Christmas cookies is part of your holiday traditions, invite your little one to participate. It can be as simple as mixing the cookie dough, pouring ingredients into the bowl, or using cookie cutters to make some cookies. If your child has never helped you in the kitchen, the following blog post will give you valuable tips to get started.
Related reading: How to Include Your Toddler in Cooking Activities
Emma has been baking with me since she could stand on her learning tower. This year we made gingerbread cookies together. I set up her work area right next to mine. She had her own cutting board, a child-sized rolling pin, cookie cutters, and a baking sheet to put the gingerbread cookies on. Setting up her own space made a big difference. I stayed calm because she wasn’t getting into my space, and she could use her piece of dough as she liked. She ended up kneading the dough, rolling it, and kneading it all over again.
If you detach yourself from the final product, you can see baking with kids for what it is;-for the sensorial experience and the joy of the actual process. You can read more about the benefits of including your child in cooking here:
Related reading: 6 Reasons to Include Your Toddler in Cooking Activities
4. Tree Decorating
A young toddler and a tall Christmas tree make for an interesting combo. To avoid your toddler feeling left out and minimize the “damage” on the actual Christmas tree, offer a small tree to your child to decorate.
You’ll need:
small tree (I got mine from Ikea)
unbreakable ornaments
Demonstrate to your child how to hang an ornament. Let them decorate the tree as they wish.
Note: Having a small tree doesn’t guarantee that your toddler won’t touch ornaments on the actual Christmas tree. The shiny objects might be just too appealing, and you will have to set up other boundaries to keep everyone safe. But having a small tree accessible to your child will help them feel included in festivities. And isn’t it what Christmas is all about?
What are your family traditions? Please share them in the comments below.
You could also enjoy: