by Melly Kenny

Created on: December 07, 2009

Creating memories for your child means a lot. Starting a keepsake box full of your child's art work is very meaningful. Starting at a young age is fantastic, use any holiday as a reason to create a craft. Christmas is a favorite for most, especially when it comes to craft making. Allowing toddlers to get involved in crafts will enlighten their motor skills. Attempting to teach toddlers how to create a masterpiece can be frustrating, but don't give up. Patience and love can make all art projects fun and memorable. Remember to have your camera ready to capture all moments. Paint messes and crayon scribbles may be messy to clean up, but cherish every moment. Your child won't be little for long.

Here are three creative and fun Christmas crafts that are enjoyable and easy to create.

PAPER SNOWMAN:
Pre-cut three snowman balls - small, medium and large circles. Gather fun materials to decorate the snowman. Some examples of decorations are: Buttons, cheerio's, macaronis, felt, sparkles and anything else your child enjoys. Allow your toddler to assist you glue the circles together to form a snowman. Once the glue is dry, let your toddler be creative. Show her how to glue objects on the snowman, have markets and crayons for drawing. Once the product is finished, the snowman on a piece of construction paper. Help your toddler draw a winter theme, or anything else she likes on the paper.

PINECONE ORNAMENTS:
If you live in an area that has pinecones, go out and pick a few with your toddler. Searching together for craft supplies can be an adventure. Once you both have decided what pinecones you want to take, you can start making your Christmas ornaments. This project is simple, and fun for both parent and child. You can decorate the ornaments anyway you wish. Paint, glitter, pom-poms and stickers are a few ways to make the ornament come alive. After decorating the ornament, wrap a ribbon around the pinecone. Tie on the ends, and allow the ribbon to be a circle. Make sure there is enough circle of ribbon to fit around a tree branch. Voila!

HANDPRINT WREATH:
Trace your toddlers hands on green and red construction paper. If your toddler is fidgety and doesn't enjoy getting her hand traced, just trace one. Use the one hand you were able to trace as a guideline. Continue to trace paper hands until you have at least five to ten hands. Once hands are traced, cut them out and place them in a circle. Glue the bottom of the hands into a circle shape. The fingers should be facing outwards to form a wreath type of look. Allow glue to dry completely, tape can also be used. Have paints, stickers, jewels or anything else your toddler can help decorate. Allow your toddlers imagination to run free. Perfection and toddler don't mix, so the messier the more interesting. Once the wreath is completely dried from paint, stickers or whatever else your toddler decided to decorate, it's on to the next step. Choose a picture of your toddler, a Christmas picture would be most fitting. Place the picture in the middle of the wreath, and glue into place. Your toddler can make these as gifts, or even just as decorations for the home. Whatever the reason may be, it will allow you and your child to connect. Nothing is more precious than spending time with your child and creating art.

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