Eco-Friendly Holiday Crafts for Children

Holiday crafts are an easy, affordable, enjoyable way for families to come together during the Christmas season. However, many children's crafts involve the use of toxic paints and nonrenewable materials. The holiday season doesn't have to involve the abuse or mis-use of natural resources, and Christmas can be an excellent time to teach valuable lessons about respecting the earth. The following eco-friendly children's crafts crafts are delightful holiday activities for both children and adults.

Christmas Pinecone Bird Feeder

This kid-friendly variation of the eco-friendly pinecone bird feeder is beautiful and holiday-appropriate. It works well as an outdoor Christmas decoration, and birds will appreciate a helpful snack during these cold months.

You will need:
A large pinecone
Red or green ribbon
Peanut Butter
White chocolate chips
Unsweetened dried cranberries

Tie the ribbon snugly to the top of the pinecone, creating a loop. Spread the peanut butter over the pinecone, then cover it generously with a mix of white chocolate chips and dried cranberries-- this will give it a festive red-and-white appearance. For best results, use unsweetened peanut butter and semisweet white chocolate chips-- while birds do eat some sweet foods in the wild, they unable to metabolize extremely sugary treats. Do not use dark or milk chocolate chips, as these contain theobromine, a stimulant that is toxic to birds.

Wooden Christmas Picture Frames

After the holidays are over, you should have a frame to treasure those beautiful moments you shared with your family. Children can help to make an eco-friendly keepsake picture frame using all-renewable materials. Wooden picture frames are easy to hand-decorate and they require fewer resources than metal or plastic frames.

You will need:
A wooden "blank" picture frame
Nontoxic acrylic paints (look for the letters "AP" and "ACMI Certified Nontoxic" in a white circle)
Natural paintbrush
Wooden holiday shapes (these are available at most craft stores)
EcoHome brand superglue

With your child, select the colors and theme that you want to pursue with your picture frame. Santa? Reindeer? Pine trees? Choose pre-made wooden shapes that match your desired motif. Paint the picture frame in your chosen color. Acrylic paint usually dries very quickly, and it can be sped by running a hair dryer over the wet paint. When it has dried, carefully glue the shapes onto the frame. After the holidays are over, the frame can house your favorite family photo.

Popcorn Garland

This classic eco-friendly holiday children's craft is sure to become a holiday tradition, and it can be a surprisingly beautiful decoration for the Christmas tree. Kids will have fun nibbling on popcorn while they create on this enjoyable project, and it utilizes a renewable resource.

You will need:
Fishing Line
Prepared popcorn
Blunt daming needle
Fresh Cranberries

Attach the fishingline to the blunt needle, then thread the line through each individual strand of popcorn. For an especially seasonal look, thread the fishingline through a cranberry after every few clusters of popcorn. The red and white appearance will look beautiful against the verdant needles of a Christmas tree. After the garland is complete, tie several firm knots as the end and cut the line using a pair of scissors. For best results, add the garland to the tree before other decorations.