December is the season of winter crafts, celebrating lights, snow and a plethora of religious holidays. When your children are enjoying their winter break, pull out some crafting supplies and enjoy this time with them. Along the way, these crafts will be helping them develop motor and life skills, Imagine Pediatric Therapy explains.
Paper Snowflakes
By starting with a coffee filter or circle of paper, you’ll have a round shape built right into your materials. Fold the filter or circle in half, then in half again and again, forming a pointed triangle shape with a curved bottom and eliminating the need to cut along the bottom.
Kids can use scissors to cut into the folds, creating holes of all shapes and sizes, but not cutting all the way through the triangle.
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Why is this helpful?
Working with scissors helps your child build their hand strength, develop hand-eye coordination and improve bilateral coordination, as they use one hand to operate the scissors and the other hand to manipulate and move the paper.
Pine Cone Bird Feeders
Wintertime is the perfect time for bird watching, as trees are bare of leaves, allowing kids to see birds more clearly and easily. Children can make pine cone bird feeders to attract these little animals and watch animals feast on their creations.
You’ll need:
- Pine Cones
- Peanut butter
- Bird seed
- String
Tie a string at the top of the pine cone for hanging on the tree.
Put bird seed in a shallow container, at least 5 inches wide.
Using a butter knife, spread the peanut butter on the pine cone, coating it as much as possible. Roll the cone in the birdseed so the seed sticks to the pinecone. Refrigerate for 5-10 minutes and then hang on a tree outside – preferably where your child can see it from a window.
If the peanut butter is too hard, put it in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds and then, while holding on to the string, dip the cone in the peanut butter. If it gets too runny, simply refrigerate for a minute or two to firm it up.
Why is this helpful?
Like working with scissors, wielding a butter knife to coat a pine cone helps hand-eye coordination and bilateral coordination skills. This also helps children develop spatial perception and strengthen hand muscles.
Joyful Door Bells
The sound of bells or chimes is associated with many holidays, so let’s make some noise this winter!
You’ll need:
- 1 wide-mouth Mason jar ring or plastic bracelet
- Six extra large bells
- One 3 yard reel of 5/8″ satin ribbon
- Double-sided tape
- Cut the ribbon into one 40″ length, three 15″ lengths and one 6” length.
- Wrap the jar ring with the 40″ length of ribbon. Anchor the beginning with a piece of double-sided tape and apply tape at the end of the ribbon to anchor that.
- Tie a bell to each end of the three 15″ lengths of ribbon.
- Add a small piece of double-sided tape to the center of the wrong side of two of the 15″ lengths.
- Expose the adhesive, and stack the ribbons, one on top of another, securing them together.
- Tie one bell onto each end of the 15” ribbons.
- Tie the 6” ribbon around the bundle and the ring, securing the ring and bell ribbons together.
- Hang and enjoy!!
Why is this helpful?
Wrapping the ribbon around the ring helps your child develop planning skills and develop spatial perception. Tying the bells and ribbons helps develop hand muscle strength, hand-eye coordination and bilateral cooperation.
Dough Gift Tags
These are perfect for any time of the year! You can make these with cookie cutters, stamps, pencils and clay shaping tools, but our favorite is having your child press their hand into the dough to make a lovely keepsake.
You’ll need:
- 2 Cups Flour
- 1 Cup Salt
- 1 Cup Lukewarm Water
Mix together flour and salt. Slowly add lukewarm water while mixing until a dough forms. If it’s too wet, add more flour. Too dry? Add more water. Knead for 15-30 seconds to create a soft ball of dough.
Roll out dough to about 1/8” thick on a lightly floured counter, then use cookie cutters or cut into shapes with a butter knife. Set aside until thoroughly dry and then decorate them with paint, ink & stamps, or markers.
Why is this helpful?
Using a rolling pin helps your child develop both arm and hand strength. Using cookie cutters develops spatial perception and planning skills. Using modeling tools and decorating improves fine motor skills.
When you are looking for ways to help your child’s development, get in touch with Imagine Pediatrics. Our therapists can help your child with physical, academic and emotional skills to improve their future and help them reach their full potential.
