Another Holiday Workshop

Remember last year's holiday workshop? This year's version is all about making ornaments as gifts. Right now, Jack is loving the process of coloring pre-made wooden ornaments from the craft store using markers. (A great activity for strengthening his grasp of a writing tool, working on eye-hand coordination, and learning to stabilize something with one hand while working with the other hand.)

So I re-purposed a set of little drawers (that I've had around for years) to create an ornament station to the left of his desk. Each drawer holds a part of the process: unfinished ornaments in one drawer, markers in another, glitter glue... gift bags... tags... and so on. Everything he needs to complete his handiwork independently is at his fingertips. He's all set to make his gifts, wrap them, check off his list, and squirrel them away in his big red sack.

For a fun touch, I decked-out each drawer with a bell, which makes for some festive little jingling sounds. I usually put some carols on the radio too -- because there's nothing better than listening to kids singing while they work.

He wrote a BIG list of family and friends, which is rolled up Santa-style. And there is a carpenter pencil for checking it twice, also decked out with bells.

The little drawers to the right of the desk hold all sorts of card-making supplies: blank cards, envelopes, holiday stamps, ink pads, etc. To encourage writing, there is a word ring of seasonal sentimets, including: "Merry Cristmas," "Happy New Year," "Season's Greetings," and "Jingle all the way!"

Oh, and a Santa hat is definately a necessity. Once I see it go on, I know it's workshop time, and my boy will be very busy for quite a while. Happy at work, he is learning the joy of giving, and isn't that one of the best gifts of all?

What activities are getting your kids in the holiday spirit?

Comments

[gisele]

I love all the bells everywhere! I think I need to invest in some of those!
We are making ornaments also. For the three year old I cut out circles of paper and she cut bits of paper and glued them on. She loves cutting and glueing so this kept her busy for quite a while while older sister sewed up a special ornament for her little cousin. (I posted pictures on my blog)

[Wendy]

I love this! Reminds me how I used to set up something like this (much less pretty and organized, though) for myself for Valentine's day card making.

[Meg]

awesome! you're so clever :o)

[tiff]

i love the word ring...that also includes the jingle bells...so cute...i wished i had thought of that for my writing center in my classroom. great ideas!

[Jackie]

This looks so fun and inviting. I guess the only "writing" we are doing is finger painting and coloring wrapping paper. Mine are still babies, but I got to get that crayon/marker in their hands... they already love it!

[Susan]

That is so awesome! I love that it's all ready to go for him to do all by himself anytime he wants. I will definitely have to set something up like that for my daughter, although it's probably too late for this year - maybe for letters in general.

We made birdseed ornaments this year following a recipe found on a blog - they turned out really cute, and she's enjoyed giving her first one away already.

[GED Online]

Great have already started thinking of my childhood:)