Cardboard Christmas Tree Decoration Fine Motor Activity with Toddler

We got a real Christmas tree from Swansons Nursery at their Reindeer Festival (experience captured here) and it was a joyous family event putting up the baubles together.

Miss 19 months enjoyed the Christmas tree decoration tremendously. She single-handedly put up 20 Christmas baubles lol.

My husband and I decided to extend this interest by DIYing a mini Christmas tree from upcycled cardboard to let Miss 19 months decorate her own little tree whenever she likes. That way, she's happy doing her thing and our real Christmas tree is spared from daily decorating efforts haha.

Just look at the fun Miss 19 months had!

Cardboard Christmas Tree Decoration Fine Motor Activity with Toddler

Cardboard Christmas Tree Decoration Fine Motor Activity with Toddler

Cardboard Christmas Tree Decoration Fine Motor Activity with Toddler

Cardboard Christmas Tree Decoration Fine Motor Activity with Toddler!

Tutorial to DIY Cardboard Christmas Tree

You'll require the following materials to craft the cardboard Christmas tree:

  • 2 equal sizes of large cardboard
  • 1 small piece of cardboard
  • Penknife
  • Pencil
  • White ink marker

Steps:

  • Use the pencil to draw a Christmas tree on cardboard
  • Cut out the cardboard Christmas tree
  • Cut a long slit in the middle of this cardboard Christmas tree from the base to nearly the top of the tree

Cardboard Christmas Tree Decoration Fine Motor Activity with Toddler

Cardboard Christmas Tree Decoration Fine Motor Activity with Toddler

  • Place it over another piece of cardboard and trace its outline
  • Cut out an additional cardboard Christmas tree
  • Cut a short slit on this cardboard Christmas tree in the middle from the top down

Cardboard Christmas Tree Decoration Fine Motor Activity with Toddler

Cardboard Christmas Tree Decoration Fine Motor Activity with Toddler

Cardboard Christmas Tree Decoration Fine Motor Activity with Toddler

Cardboard Christmas Tree Decoration Fine Motor Activity with Toddler

  • Decorate Christmas tree by inking patterns on it (white ink looks really pretty on brown cardboard)
  • Fit and overlap cardboard Christmas trees so it becomes self-standing

Cardboard Christmas Tree Decoration Fine Motor Activity with Toddler

Optional: Make a Base for the Cardboard Christmas Tree

  • Align the intersection onto a small cardboard piece and trace the "+" outline on the cardboard
  • Use penknife to make light slits for the "+", do not cut all the way through, but just enough to fold the cardboard

Cardboard Christmas Tree Decoration Fine Motor Activity with Toddler

  • Slot Christmas tree into the base

Cardboard Christmas Tree Decoration Fine Motor Activity with Toddler

Cardboard Christmas Tree Decoration Fine Motor Activity with Toddler

How to let Your Toddler Decorate Cardboard Christmas Tree

Provide the following materials to your toddler for draping over the tree:

  • Bead necklaces of different colors and sizes
  • Ribbons of assorted textures, colors and lengths

Other decoration ideas:

  • Stick pom pom balls onto the Christmas tree to pass off as baubles
  • Poke holes to fit short straw lengths throughout Christmas tree and loop pipe cleaners around the straws
  • Let your toddler freely sticker on Christmas themed stickers (Amazon gives out holiday gift guides with such free stickers in them!)

Cardboard Christmas Tree Decoration Fine Motor Activity with Toddler

Cardboard Christmas Tree Decoration Fine Motor Activity with Toddler

Cardboard Christmas Tree Decoration Fine Motor Activity with Toddler

Developmental Benefits of this Activity

  • Sensory play with ribbons aids cognitive skill development and brain growth
  • Improve hand-eye coordination
  • Fosters concentration and focus
  • Fine motor practice (with all the pulling, stretching, draping and arranging of ribbons on the cardboard Christmas tree) strengthen hand muscles and tendons, which help with later skills like writing and drawing
  • Free artistic expression enables children to build creativity and confidence
  • Object and shape recognition (Star/Tree)
  • Display of decorated tree artpiece at home enables children to feel that their work is valued and they are useful members of the household

Cardboard Christmas Tree Decoration Fine Motor Activity with Toddler

Cardboard Christmas Tree Decoration Fine Motor Activity with Toddler

Cardboard Christmas Tree Decoration Fine Motor Activity with Toddler

Other Cardboard Christmas Tree Tutorials

I scoured the blogosphere and found these amazing DIY cardboard Christmas tree crafts you can reference too!

If you're interested in other Christmas themed DIY projects, try making a Life Size Cardboard Santa Sleigh for your little one to ride! It brings great imaginary fun!

To follow Gwen's play adventures, check out @miraculove_sg (Instagram), save our pins or join A Toddler Activity A Day Facebook Group.

Cardboard Christmas Tree Decoration Fine Motor Activity with Toddler

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Hi! I am Yunnie. I am the newly minted mama to a little baby girl and a mum friend to everyone on this special (and many times scary) journey of motherhood. Also a graduated bride with a penchant for weddings.

Hi! Thank you for taking time to read my blog. I am a stay-home Singaporean mama living in Seattle who is passionate about child-led and open-ended play for children in a conducive home environment.

Discovering Montessori and Reggio has been a life-changer for me. It made me an empathetic and mindful parent who follows my child’s needs and interests in the activities I plan at home. I hope the Montessori-friendly and Reggio inspired baby and toddler activities I share here inspire you too.

Happy reading!