OH CHRISTMAS TREE, 🎄OH CHRISTMAS TREE! 🎄

I came across this activity via @funwithrashikaarav the other day and HAD to try it. @moorethanhappy was kind enough to indulge me by laying out the tree with painter’s tape, and Bianca grew weary as I raided the art supplies for potential decorations…until she realized what it was for and became excited. The great part? ANYTHING can be a decoration!

Cut up pieces of tissue paper and felt became leaves, craft sticks became the tree trunk, pom poms and round wooden shapes became ornaments, and metallic pipe cleaners became candy canes. Honestly, the possibilities are endless and easy enough for a toddler to do, while being able to become more complex for older kiddos (patterns, for example, or creating a tree topper). Provide the materials, engage in the activity yourself, and become the co-creator of a low-prep, open-ended art activity. It really doesn’t get more simple than this, and it’s fun.

For the record, cleaning up was just as much fun, providing a lot of opportunities for math and language. B collected the craft sticks and H collected the tissue paper, as we sorted each item into a separate bag or pile, which also fostered cooperation. If you’ve spent any amount of time around 3-year-olds, you know exactly how HUGE this concept/skill is. Nothing wasted, everything gained.

If you try it, I’d love to see your version.