Easy Christmas Ornament Preschool Craft

When we began this Christmas preschool craft, we were just going to be making candy canes, and that's exactly what some kids did.  Others made even more beaded ornament shapes!  This is the perfect preschooler Christmas activity--they can do it just for fun and you can use it to review colors, talk about shapes, strengthen their eye-hand coordination and improve fine muscle skills!  And when they're done, they have some fabulous little ornaments to display!!

Simple Supplies:

• pipe cleaners
• beads
• optional: small needle nosed pliers

Easy How-To:

1- Cut the pipe cleaners in half with scissors.  This brings the project down to most young children's attention level.

2- Optional: Sort the beads by color into trays.  I use muffin tins.  This lets children practice sorting and review color names.

3- Let your children choose their first bead.  Bend the pipe cleaner around the bead so it doesn't roll off.  Small needle nosed pliers may be helpful for this.

4- Let your children continue to fill the bead up, using any design they choose or following a pattern! 

5- If your children are making candy canes, bend the pipe cleaner around their last bead.  If they are making circles, twist the two pipe cleaner ends together.

6- Hang up and display their art!!

Note: My 2-year old also loved this project.  If you choose to do this with younger children, make sure you watch them closely so they don't eat any beads.  If your child usually eats small objects, you may want to let him color a paper candy cane instead. 




I may share at any of these parties!