By Elyssa Yeh, MA, R-DMT
This holiday season is in full swing for many different cultures around the world, and it truly is one of the most wonderful times of the year. With all of the sights, smells, sounds, tastes, and feels of the holidays, it is a great time to get creative and crafty as you connect and learn with your kiddos.
Below, I have listed a few links to some fun ideas that you and your child can do together to celebrate winter and a few different holidays from all over the globe in your home, such as Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.
H. Camille Smith shared a wide range of holiday crafts and activities in her gallery of 65 Christmas Crafts for Kids
Jennifer Perkins presented 10 Fun Hanukkah and Winter Crafts for Kids that are great for your little hands
And, Activity Village has compiled some Kwanzaa Crafts that are inspired by traditional African handicrafts and the colors of Kwanzaa.
These activities are great for calming the chaos in your home as this time of year can become quite busy and stimulating! They can also help you and your child to play with sensory exploration, socialize and connect, explore with your creativity and imaginations, and so much more! Some of my favorite ways to do all of these are…
Using the advent calendars you and your child make to help your kiddo visualize and anticipate the holidays with something tangible
Refocusing and redirecting attention with the holiday snow globes you all put together
Exploring the different textures, smells, and tastes of baking and cooking together
Making sensory games by guessing what different crafts are, such as pom pom ornaments, indoor snowballs, fruit ornaments, pinecones, necklaces, woven fabric, dreidels, gold coins, candy canes and marshmallows using your senses
Acting out your family’s favorite holiday stories and events by bringing them to life with crafty props and costumes
Sharing your creations as gifts of gratitude for friends, mentors, and teachers
Instilling pride and joy in your kiddos as you display and present the personalized wrapping paper, holiday cards, centerpieces, and winter and holiday décor you and your kiddo have made
Though this may be a busy time of year for you and your family,the holiday season is my favorite time of year because it is the perfect time to bring joy into the home with inspired crafts and activities that promote learning, curiosity, play, and connection. Merry crafting, my friends!