Decorating the Christmas tree is one of the best holiday traditions, and so is finding a unique, new ornament to hang every year. Instead of scouring the internet to buy something that represented your 2019, have your kids make something by hand! They will feel like an extra-special part of the Christmas decorating process, while also making a keepsake for many more Christmas trees to come. Keep reading for our DIY Kids Christmas Tree Ornaments, and more fun ways to celebrate around the Christmas tree!
Before we get started, here are some fun facts about Christmas ornaments from Culture Trip:
The ‘modern’ Christmas tree tradition is thought to have originated in 16th century Germany, where small evergreen trees were decorated with the likes of candles, apples, nuts, and berries as “Paradise trees” in church plays. Over time, devout Christians integrated these decorated trees into their homes during the holiday season. The tradition, which became a Christian ritual, began to spread across Europe.
In the late 1840s, a published depiction of the favorable Queen Victoria celebrating Christmas with her German-born husband, Prince Albert, and their family around a decorated evergreen tree transformed the practice into a fashionable one that wealthy Americans soon rushed to adopt. In short order, local businesses caught on to the ornament’s commercial potential.
Hunt’n Cabin House Tent
These DIY Kids Christmas Tree Ornaments use wood slivers, so what’s a better place to work with wood than in our Hunt’n Cabin House Tent? Inside or outside, this 48IN X 38IN X 48IN hunting cabin makes playtime fun. With two windows, an entrance, and a tunnel port, your little one has plenty of options to let their imaginations run wild, and for crafting their super special Christmas tree ornaments.
Perfect for a backyard or playroom, this tent does not include a floor so a small table and chairs can be added inside. It’s also got plenty of room for your little one’s own small Christmas tree to hang their ornament on!
DIY Kids Christmas Tree Ornaments
These super easy DIY Kids Christmas Tree Ornaments are not only perfect for your tree or your kid’s own little tree, but they also make great gifts for family and friends! They’ve got a fun rustic look, which makes it a fun and different ornament that is sure to stand out.
What You Need
- Chalkboard Paint
- Chalkboard Markers
- Paintbrush
- Wood Slivers (we got ones that already had holes punched in them)
- Twine (we went with white and red for Christmas)
- Scissors
How You Make Them
- Using the chalkboard paint, paint a circle in the middle of the sliver.
- TIP: We left about a quarter space from the edge to show a little of the wood and keep the rustic look.
- Leave to dry.
- Decorate with the markers. We used Christmas imagery, like a reindeer and candy cane. But, of course, have your children get creative here. Don’t forget to have them put their name and year on the back!
- When done, cut your twine and hang it up on your Christmas tree!
Christmas Tree Ornament Traditions
Sure, creating and hanging Christmas ornaments is fun and all, but we love putting a unique spin on things here on Playfully. There’s nothing better than fun traditions on Christmas, it’s what Christmas is all about! So, step up your Christmas tree ornament game with some of these fun tree trimming traditions to try this year.
Secret Santa Ornament Trade
Much like the Secret Santa gift exchange game, fill a bowl with folded pieces of paper of all the family member’s names. Everyone picks a name and has to create a personalized ornament for that person. It could be something as simple as their name and the year, or it could be a fun memory you had together or even something that represented them this year.
The Christmas Pickle
According to WhyChristmas, the tradition of the Christmas Pickle has got to be one of the strangest modern Christmas customs, in that no one is quite sure why it exists at all. Find a fake pickle ornament and hide it on the tree among the other ornaments. Whoever is the first to find it gets a special present! This is especially fun to play on Christmas Eve so that someone gets to open an early Christmas gift.
Christmas Ornament Relay
This game from The Spruce is perfect if your kids have their own personal trees in their rooms, and is sure to make the whole family erupt in laughter! For this game, you will need two small Christmas trees, two bowls of ornaments and two tree toppers. Place the bowls of ornaments and tree toppers on one side of the room. Place the two trees on the other side of the room.
Divide the kids into two teams and have each time line up next to their Christmas tree. One at a time, the players must race to retrieve one of their ornaments and hang it on their trees. The last runner in line must retrieve the tree topper. The first team to have all of their ornaments hanging and their tree topper on their tree wins the race.
You can also play this game by drawing two Christmas trees on two pieces of poster board. Use cardstock cutouts of ornaments and tree toppers and have the kids tape their decorations onto the paper trees.
Let Us Know!
Did you make these DIY Kids Christmas Tree Ornaments? What are your favorite Christmas tree trimming traditions and games? Let us know in the comments, or reach out to us on social media. Happy decorating!