The 12 Days of Christmas
Simple fun for your family that will knock their stockings off!

Day 1
Have a wrapping party! Set out inexpensive wrapping paper left over from last year and let the kids wrap up small and large blocks like presents. Include tape, bows and ribbons. Toddlers love to fill gift bags or tins with stuff from around the house too so be sure to throw in a few of those.

Day 2
Make magic reindeer food! Cut a piece of Christmas material into an 8x8" square. Onto a piece of plastic wrap place a tablespoon of oatmeal and a few sprinkles of colored sparkles. Twist the saran tightly and place in the center of material. Twist and tie together with a piece of ribbon. To each attach this little verse: "Magic Reindeer Food" Sprinkle on the lawn at night. The moon will make it sparkle bright. Santa's reindeer fly and roam. This will guide them to your home. Remind the parents to let their children sprinkle the "food" on the lawn before putting the children to bed.

Day 3
Christmas Counting Chain: Attach one of the following poems to a piece of cardstock that is cut into a bell, star, tree or whatever the poem refers to. Attach a traditional paper chain to the poem and let the countdown begin!

How many days until Christmas,
Its awfully hard to count.
But this little counting chain
Will tell the exact amount.
Just take one off each day
And before you know it.....Christmas is today!

Each evening when goodnights are said,
Take off one link and hop into bed.
When only the star is left to shine,
Then you will know it's Christmastime!

How many days till Christmas?
It's mighty hard to tell.
Take off a link every night
When the Sandman casts his spell,
And Christmas Eve will be here
By the time you reach the bell.

Day 4
Make edible wreaths. Take plain mini-bagels, spread with softened cream cheese. You can even tint it green with food coloring, Top with assorted holiday sprinkles or green-tinted coconut.

Day 5
Indoor Snow Play? Pour two to three boxes of instant potatoes into a large plastic container or dishpan. Add mittens, gloves, and winter hats and pretend it's snow. Children will love the feel as they scoop, sift and pour with shovels, pails, and real kitchen gadgets.

Day 6
Sing The Reindeer Pokey
(to the tune of The Hokey Pokey)
You put your antlers in.
You put your antlers out.
You put you antlers in,
And you shake them all about.
You do the Reindeer Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your hooves in . . .
You put your red nose in . . .
You put your fluffy tail in . . .
You put your reindeer body in . . .

Day 7
Play Freeze! The children dance to holiday music until "Mother Nature" or "The Ice Princess" says "freeze". The children freeze until the music starts again.

Day 8
Pin the Nose on the Snowman. Draw a large snowman using butcher paper, on a large chalkboard, or a poster board. Each child, blindfolded, is given a cut-out carrot with masking tape on the back to stick on the snowman. The closest to the nose wins.

Day 9
Eat a Snowman! Each child gets 3 small rice cakes or popcorn cakes. Spread cream cheese on the popcorn/rice cakes to make them white. Use plastic knives and soften the cream cheese. Use raisins to make the eyes, nose, mouth and the snowman's buttons.

Day 10



Oh No! A Melted Snowman? This winter craft is easy for kids to make is a good use for a recycled water bottle. Remove the label from your bottle and remove any glue residue. Fill the bottle 2/3 of the way with water and add a dash of vinegar. Cut out a carrot shape from orange craft foam. Punch out 7 circles from black craft foam using a standard size hole punch. (These are the snowman's eyes, nose and mouth.) Drop the black circles and the nose into the bottle of water. Add some glitter (snow) to your bottle. Cap your bottle and tie a plaid fabric strip around the neck of the bottle for his scarf. You could also make this melted snowman using recycled baby food jars.

Day 11
Create Puffy Snow Pictures: Mix an even amount of white glue and white shaving cream to create a paint that dries into a soft, puffy form. Children can shape it on paper in a form of a snowman and add collage items for the eyes, nose, mouth, etc. They can also add the "snow" to any picture they draw. The little ones can simply finger paint with it to make a snow storm.

Day 12
Enjoy the "Call Rudolph" Song!

Eight little reindeer pulling Santa's sled,
One fell down and bumped his head.
The elves called Santa and Santa said:
"Can seven little reindeer pull my sled?"

(Count down the same way until you get to one little reindeer.)

One little reindeer pulling Santa's sled,
He fell down and bumped his head.
The elves called Santa and Santa said:
"Call Rudolph!"


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