Issue 27 – It’s Christmas!
A great time of year to get the kids crafting – with cards, decorations, gifts and tasty treats to make. This issue is packed with more than 80 great seasonal activities; including rocking Christmas cards and sparkly decorations, a selection of international crafts from around the world, magic tricks to amaze, fabulous headdresses for those Christmas plays, and much more!
These inspiring ideas include early years projects helping with co-ordination, exploration of materials, reasoning and role play, plus activities that support learning through creative play for children through to KS2.
In this issue we also announce the winners of this year’s Creative Play Awards, recognising the best creative toys and resources available for you and your children, plus there’s a fabulous hamper of toys to be won!
All this, the regular features – including ’Four Ways with . . . paper plates’, Reading Corner, full sized printable templates and clear step-by-step instructions, making this a superb issue to get your kids crafting this Christmas!
0 – 5 years
Concentrating on texture and sensory stimulation, projects in this group include:
FESTIVE FELT PUPPETS – Stage your own Christmas puppet plays with three easy-to-make cute felt characters.
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS! – Everyone loves receiving a handmade card at Christmas – we’ve got six great ideas for you to try with the under 5s.
CROWNING GLORY! – Turn your Christmas play into a headturning triumph with some fabulous character headdresses.
DAZZLING DECORATIONS! – Transform cardboard kitchen roll tubes into decorations fit for any tree!
LOLLY STICK RUDOLPHS – Make the cutest Rudolphs you’ve ever seen out of plain wooden lolly sticks.
STAR COLLAGE – Recycle polystyrene pizza bases and scraps of paper to make beautiful golden stars.
FANTASTIC PLASTIC! – A fun Christmas activity for really young children and a great way to develop co-ordination skills.
CHRISTMAS COOKIES – Get into the Christmas spirit and bake some delicious iced cookies.
CHRISTMAS CREATIVITY FOR UNDER 5s – Enhance your Christmas activities and fulfil EYFS criteria with this great range of inspiring festive ideas.
5 – 7 years
Fun crafting projects to make with children in Key Stage 1, include:
SANTA’S REINDEER – Learn all about Santa’s special helpers with some fun crafts and Rudolph games.
CHRISTMAS TRUFFLES – Delicious chocolate sweets perfect for children to make as gifts.
ROCKIN’ ROBINS! – Make some beautiful robin cards and tags from basic crafting materials.
CHRISTMAS CLAYTIME! – Decorate festive clay shapes with shiny jewels to make stunning decorations.
PERFECT PRESSIE POTS – Easy-to-make papier mache pots which make fantastic gift containers.
PRINTED REINDEER – Take a potato and create a versatile Rudolph stamp. A great group activity.
SNOWFLAKE GIFT TUBS – Recycle plastic cke tubs and turn them into fabulous Christmas gift pots.
BEJEWELLED! – Search out unwanted CDs and transform them into dazzling decorations!
SPICY CHICKEN – Spice up your Christmas menu with a tasty, easy-to-cook recipe. It’s a great way to use up leftover turkey too!
7 – 11 years
Great ideas for older kids to make and do:
GLOBAL GREETINGS! – Fly around the world this Christmas and learn all about different festive traditions.
MAGIC MOMENTS! – Children can amaze their friends with four great boredom-busting tricks
ROCKING GIFT BOXES – Beautiful painted Christmas boxes made from recycled cheese containers.
PINE CONE FAIRIES – Get in touch with nature and make some sparkling fairy decorations.
ST. ANDREW’S DAY – Learn all about the patron saint of Scotland and have a go at making some fabulous Scottish fudge.
FEATHER ANGELS – Colourful Christmas angels will turn your Christmas tree into something special.
WELCOME SANTA! – Make sure Santa stops at your house by making a festive door hanger.
In addition to these, there are plenty of other great ideas and projects, plus a great selection of books reviewed in Reading Corner and prize giveaways worth £100’s.