Paper cups are commonly used at holiday parties. Instead of trashing the relatively clean and minimally used paper cups, here's an environmentally-friendly way to upcycle paper cups into creative Christmas Tree crafts for young toddlers that help to refine their fine motor skills!
Christmas Tree Fine Motor Activity for Young Toddlers!
Tutorial for Christmas Tree Fine Motor Toy
The following materials are required:
- Upcycled paper cups
- Paint and paintbrushes
- Markers/crayons
- Velcro dot stickers
- Felt cloth
- Scissors
- Upcycled plastic straw
- Small piece of cardboard
- Penknife
- Tape
Steps:
- Paint the paper cups with your toddler. I chose green paint to make it look more like a Christmas tree but feel free to use any color to make an unconventional and unique tree! Let dry.
- Stick the rough hook side of velcro dot stickers onto the paper cups.
- Cut out shapes from differently colored felt cloth with scissors. Those felt pieces are ornaments for the Christmas tree.
- Draw and cut out a cardboard star topper for the Christmas tree. Attach it to the straw.
- Turn the paper cups upside down and use penknife to poke a hole on the top for the cardboard star topper straw to fit through.
- Demonstrate sticking the felt ornaments and inserting the star topper into the Christmas tree and let free play begin!
Tip
- Make play time longer! When interest starts to wane, extend play time by engaging your toddler in a fun game. Call out a shape and color and have your toddler stick it onto the tree! It's a wonderful way to teach colors and shapes.
Also try counting the ornaments as they are stuck onto the Christmas tree for more educational benefits.
- Stack paper cups to save space. If you're planning to keep these adorable Christmas tree crafts for next year or as memorabilia, remove the cardboard star toppers and you can stack them for easy storage!
Developmental Benefits for this Activity
- Art and craft promotes creative and artistic expression in young children
- Fine motor skills are honed (esp pincer grip) as children paint vertically on the paper cups and then position and stick the felt ornament onto paper cups
- Build concentration and focus
- Teach shape and color recognition
- Introduce counting (early math skills)
- Teach about seasons (winter/holiday) and cultural symbols associated with them (Christmas tree)
- Instill a sense of ownership and self-confidence when completed artwork is displayed at home and children feel they have contributed to decorating their home
Be Inspired by Other Christmas Tree Crafts
There are so many ingenious Christmas tree craft ideas circulating in the blogosphere! These are my favourite picks for DIY Christmas Tree crafting projects:
- Popsicle stick Christmas tree craft by Make and Takes
- Bathroom paper roll Christmas tree craft by The Resourceful Mama
- Stained glass Christmas tree craft by Pick Ease
- Ripped paper Christmas tree craft by Tots Family
- Footprint painted Christmas tree craft by Play Eat Grow
- Pine cone Christmas tree craft by Hello Wonderful
- Egg carton Christmas tree craft by Albert the Egg
- Pipe cleaner Christmas tree craft by Whimsy Workshop Teaching
For more toddler craft and fine motor ideas, check out @miraculove_sg (Instagram), save our pins or join A Toddler Activity A Day Facebook Group.
