Want a low-mess holiday craft to do with your toddler?
This Sticky Christmas Tree Craft brings all the sparkles without wet paint or glue. It is also open-ended and simple.
This Sticky tree is also a great way to introduce your child to their sense of touch while they explore STICKY.
Your kids will love it!
Have you talked with your kids about their five senses?
Christmastime is such an exciting time of year to explore the five senses with kids. There are so many new sights, sounds, tastes, etc. to experience!
What are the five senses?
Do you remember learning these back when you were little? Here's a quick reminder of each of the senses and the body part you use to explore them:
- Taste (mouth)
- Touch (hands/feet)
- Sight (eyes)
- Hearing (ears)
- Smell (nose)
RELATED: Here are some fun Christmas activities for kids using their five senses.
Why is it important to teach kids about the five senses?
Did you know that sensory play activities can involve any of the five senses? Often we get really caught up focusing on one particular sense, but it is important for kids to have the opportunity to explore all of them!
I love this reminder from ReadWriteThink, "The outside world shapes children's development through experiences that they have, which include using their five senses—hearing, sight, smell, taste, and touch. Drawing a child's attention to the five senses and discussing them increases understanding of and communication about the world around us."
Being aware of their five senses and using them can help kids make sense make sense of their world. They can also use their senses to help them solve problems and even keep themselves safe.
How to make a Sticky Tree
This Sticky Christmas Tree is quick to set up and uses contact paper, which can also be called clear shelf liner!
Here's what you need to make a Sticky Tree:
- Green cardstock
- Scissors
- Contact paper
- Pom poms
- Sequins
- Ribbon
- Other embellishments
If you don't have contact paper, you could try this with packing tape.
How to set up your Sticky Tree:
1. Start by folding your cardstock in half and then cut out one side of a tree shape. Open it up and you'll have the full tree.
2. Next, open up your contact paper and peel off a piece and stick it onto the green cardstock so that the contact paper covers the whole empty tree space. Make sure to keep the contact paper sticky side up so that you don't stick your paper to the table.
3. Now you're ready to add some decorations! We love mini pom poms for this activity, along with sequins and cut up pieces of ribbon. You can use anything you have on hand though.
**After awhile, some of the puffier items might start falling off your tree, especially if you want to display it. You can always cover the other side with contact paper (sticky side down) to seal everything in and turn it into a simple sun catcher craft.
This activity helps your child explore their sense of TOUCH and SIGHT.
Want to explore some of the other five senses? Try adding in some Christmas spices to shake onto the sticky contact paper or even some mini jingle bells.
RELATED: Check out all of our Hands-on Christmas activities here.
If you liked this activity? You may like these other fun Christmas tree crafts and activities:
- Christmas Tree Activities for Toddlers by I Can Teach My Child
- Build a Photo Christmas Tree by Toddler Approved
- Sticky Tree Wall Mural by No Time for Flashcards
For Day 4 of our #HandsOnChristmas series with Jenae from I Can Teach My Child, we're sharing some easy Christmas craft ideas!
If you missed any of our activities, Go here to check them out.
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