Christmas can be a consumerist holiday. Kids get excited about all the new things they will receive, and everyone buys new decorations and treats. Eventually, your living room alone can look like a department store that has exploded with items. You can still enjoy the holiday, however, without making a single purchase. Teach your children the value of recycling and not being wasteful by putting together decorations and gifts made from items you may have around the house.
Christmas can be a consumerist holiday. Kids get excited about all the new things they will receive, and everyone buys new decorations and treats. Eventually, your living room alone can look like a department store that has exploded with items. You can still enjoy the holiday, however, without making a single purchase. Teach your children the value of recycling and not being wasteful by putting together decorations and gifts made from items you may have around the house.
Send
Each year, your mailbox fills up with Christmas cards from around the country and the world. You love each card and display them around the house. At the end of the holidays, however, they then go in a box, large envelope or even the trash. Next year, cut off the back flap of note cards. Recycle them into special, personalized cards. Let kids use the pictures and message on the front. Give kids a blank note card, scissors, paper glue and markers. They can cut out their favorite pictures and words from those old cards. Let the the children give them to family and friends.
Adorn
Your house is probably full of old, used items that can become beautiful and adorable Christmas decorations. Turn used light bulbs into one-of-a-kind ornaments. Gather pompoms, glitter, pieces of fabric, felt and other little trinkets for dressing up your ornaments. You might also let your kids paint them with acrylic paints. The round end of the bulb makes the perfect belly for Santa or a plump bottom for a snowman. Cover and decorate the bulb as you want to fit your theme. Glue a ribbon to the screw portion of the bulb with hot glue so that you can hang it on a tree.
Drape
Make garland to wrap around the tree, along a mantel or down a staircase. If you send a lot of packages, or have received a lot, you can use the little packing peanuts the same way that many use popcorn. Use them in their plain white version or let kids color them with acrylic paint. Thread a needle with fishing wire or other thin string. Poke the needle through the peanuts and thread them on. Kids can work on this project while watching their favorite holiday movie or listening to seasonal music. After you fill a string, drape it around the tree.
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