I work with one year olds and I have searched the net all morning for a craft that we could actually do. Most of the Christmas keepsakes are hard to make for one year olds. What have you received as parents that you really liked? Or have you made anything with your kids that you really liked? I want it to be totally hands on for them. They vary in age from 12-24 months. Any suggestions appreciated!

By Kay on Sunday, November 20, 2005 - 01:11 pm:

One of the neatest things I got when Amy was in daycare was an ornament that had a candid photo of her glued on it. You can first get that thin colored foam, cut in simple ornament shapes, and let the kids use washable paint, or even crayons to color. (At that age, I'm not sure if you want to deal with glue and glitter/sequins, but I guess it's possible with a lot of supervision.) Take the finished ornament and glue the photo of the child in the middle, with a hole in the top for a hanger.

By Yjja123 on Sunday, November 20, 2005 - 01:17 pm:

One year I took photos of the kids and glued it to a papermache star (craft store). I had them put their hands in paint and place it on paper and we cut that out and put it on the back of the star. All the parents loved the ornaments and the kids thought they "made" them because they posed for picture and did their handprint.

By Kaye on Sunday, November 20, 2005 - 03:02 pm:

My favorite keepsake ornament is super easy. Take a blue glass ball (wonder if they have faux glass..lol) and paint their hands white, then have them grab the ball, palm towards the bottom and fingers up. Make each of those little handprints into snowmen.

Another option is to make some very simple salt dough ornaments, like a tree and let them paint them green. You can add details if you wish (use fingerprints) and then clear coat it.

By Andi on Sunday, November 20, 2005 - 11:59 pm:

A felt reindeer is what I used to make for my kids to take home from Pre-K and I make them with my kids now.

Trace each hand on Brown felt then cute them out.

Trace one foot on white felt or any other color you would like then cut it out.

The ears are the antlers and the foot is the face with the toes as the hair. Glue a very small red Pom Pom on for a nose the glue on two goggle eyes.

You can also use paint and just do the whole thing on an apron as a gift.


I also trace their hand about 15 times on green felt and then I cut them out and connect them into a circle like a wreath. I add little red Pom Poms for berries and use those as doecoration around the house.

By Kim on Monday, November 21, 2005 - 07:46 am:

Thanks guys, very much! The only bad thing about paint and hands is that some of them fight and smear it all up into a glob~~usually th younger ones. Maybe I will do two different crafts. I appreciate your input very much!