How to Make a Christmas Tree Toddler Craft

We're a craft family. I'm so pleased that my son loves to sit at the kitchen table and do crafts almost on a daily basis. We just completed this Christmas tree craft and he enjoyed it immensly. All I had to do was set it up...he took over after that decorating his tree to his heart's desire.

Before you begin, be sure you have the following supplies on hand: (most of my supplies were purchased from www.discountschoolsupplies.com).

*Con-tact paper (you can get this at Walmart or some craft stores).

*Scissors

*Tape

*Large sheet of construction paper (any color, but green would be best).

*Pen or pencil

*Tissue paper (any color, but again, green would be best).

*Mini pom poms (optional).

*Christmas-themed foam stickers (optional)

*Glitter glue

Find some counter space and fold your sheet of construction paper in half. Starting from the crease and working your way outward, draw half of a Christmas tree with your pen or pencil. You are then going to cut on the lines with your scissors, paper still folded. When you are finished cutting, open your sheet of paper and you've now got two Christmas tree's...the hole in the center of the sheet of your paper should resemble a tree and what was once in the hole is now a paper cut-out of Christmas tree as well. Two crafts in one!

Now take your con-tact paper and measure a piece from the tube that will be long enough to fit within the hole cut-out of your tree. Cut this sheet from the tube with your scissors. Take the paper that is protecting the sticky portion of the con-tact paper off (I find that it's much easier to place a small piece of tape on one corner, then attatching another small piece of tape to the other side of the same corner so the pieces of tape stick to one another, then pull one of those pieces down and it immediately tears the paper from the sticky portion). Now gently lay the sticky side of the con-tact paper down upon your sheet of paper, sure to cover the open hole. You're set to go! Now you can have your toddler decorate the tree by placing tissue paper on the sticky portion. You can also allow them to use pom-pom's (my son loves these) and foam stickers, too. When your child is done decorating, you can place their work in a window and the light seeps through the open hole, lighting up the color/s of the tissue paper. If you'd like to keep this craft after you are done displaying it, you can simply place another sheet of con-tact paper on it, sticky side of the new sheet placed on the sticky side of the art work, and it holds everything together.

Your toddler can also decorate the cut-out of the Chrismas tree that came from your large sheet of construction paper. My son absolutely adores glitter glue and it looks great on construction paper!

This is quite the simple, yet fun, craft that your toddler will be able to do independently and your child can admire their work as you display it in your window!