2 handmade christmas ornament ideas for kids to make as parent gifts
The kiddos were so excited to get Santa’s workshop in full swing… Making ornament gifts for parents gets giggles every year and I love that sweet sound of cheerful givers in my classroom! Read to find out more about the two Christmas ornament ideas for kids to make as parent gifts!
Craft Stick Rudolph Ornament Gift
I’ve been making this adorable Rudolph ornament at Christmas for a really long time…probably at least 6 of the 9 years I’ve taught. I found it on a friend’s Christmas tree at a party a while back and thought it was adorably simple and cute! My first graders can make this entire ornament without any adult help…which is one of the things I love about it!
Just make a triangle with 3 craft sticks and glue. I like to do this right before lunch, recess, specials, something like that. We let them dry while we are out of the classroom. Then, when we come back (and the craft sticks are FULLY dry!) we twist on the pipe cleaner antlers. Some kids do need help with this, but there is usually a kid or two who is really good at this and can go around and help!
After the antlers are secured, we use glue to attach googly eyes and a red pom pom nose and let it dry one more time. Then, just add their name and year to the back and it’s ready to send home!
Ribbon Christmas Tree Ornament Gift
The other Christmas ornament ideas for kids we made, ribbon Christmas trees, were a new one I found! And unlike the Rudolph, it does need LOTS of adult help….but is perfect to work on during table station rotations or to do during small group time those last few crazy days before break!
First, I cut 6 ribbons for each kid:
*2 eight inch greens
*1 seven inch green
*1 seven inch red
*1 six inch green
*1 six inch red
I also die cut yellow stars out of laminated yellow card stock. The last thing I prepped was cutting brown pipe cleaners in half. Then, I folded it in half, put my finger through the top to make space for a loop, and twisted the rest of the brown pipe cleaner below the loop for the Christmas tree trunk!
I called the kids back in groups of 4. The rest of the class worked on letters to Santa from this Elf on the Shelf packet while I did this.
Anyway, in our small groups, they got one of each length of ribbon. They each ordered the lengths of their ribbons from shortest to longest {Hello, math standards!}. Then, they worked with a partner to help each other tie the ribbons, tying the shortest one closest to the loop and working down to the longest.
Once all the ribbons were tied, I tightened them and then “trimmed” the edges with scissors to make the ribbons into even more of a Christmas tree shape. Last we added the yellow laminated star on top with some hot glue!
**TIP: the ribbons are cut extra long to make it easier for little fingers to tie. You trim them down to a more appropriate size! :)**
By the end of the day we had a stack of ornaments on our back table ready to be gifted!
Gifts and Christmas cards were sent home Thursday afternoon…with one day to spare before Christmas break! What are your favorite ornaments to make with kids?
Do you need more Christmas ornament ideas for kids that your kids can easily make? Read more parent gift ideas here!