Christmas window decoration with trees, deer, gifts, and lights.

DIY gifts: Welcome to the Christmas workshop!

What better way to shorten the wait for Father Christmas than an afternoon of crafting? You can make wonderful DIY gifts together with your children – and build up even more excitement for the festive season. Here are a few tips for crafting fun during Advent.

Five hand-painted Santa Claus ornaments made from wood slices with strings, lying on a wooden table.

_{Creative and active: why crafting is so good for kids}

When scissors, paper and craft supplies turn into a masterpiece, children feel empowered. It helps them develop their motor skills, improve their speech and social abilities, and have heaps of fun along the way. Completing a craft project is an achievement children can be rightly proud of – especially when the lucky recipient is absolutely delighted!

Into the woods!

Even when nature is dormant, a walk in the woods provides plenty of crafting materials. With branches and twigs, the last remaining nuts and chestnuts, or even moss and dried leaves, you can bring lovely Christmas ideas to life – such as garlands or a pretty door wreath. To get crafting, you'll naturally need crafting scissors, paints, paper, decorations, and age-appropriate craft sets.

Transparent and blue Christmas bauble with gold glitter, hanging from a branch with Christmas lights in background.

Decorative Christmas treeEveryone loves Christmas decorations - especially when they are personalised. Unbreakable plastic Christmas tree baubles are easy to paint. Younger children should use finger paints, older children can get started with water-based acrylic paints. To ensure that the artwork on the Christmas tree baubles lasts, prime them with plastic primer before the afternoon of crafting and seal them with clear varnish after painting. Even more creative? Airbrush sets for easy colour application.

Festive decorative pendantsWool is an ideal crafting material. Together with cardboard, craft glue and beads, it can be used to conjure up pretty pendants. Cut out Christmas trees or stars from a thick cardboard and glue the beginning of a ball of wool onto the cardboard. The children can then wrap it tightly around the shape - criss-crossing as they please. Glue the end of the thread in place and decorate the unique piece with beads or other pretty little things. Use a needle to thread a thin thread through the tip and the decoration can be hung up.

Three festive paper nutcrackers on a table with Christmas decorations and lit candles.

Easy peasy crafting

A real wooden nutcracker is quite tricky to make. Decorative nutcrackers made from loo roll tubes, on the other hand, are child's play! All you need are empty toilet paper rolls, craft paints, paper and glue. You'll find plenty of templates and inspiration online for that traditional nutcracker look – or you can let your creativity run wild! Santa, reindeer, angels and many other festive friends can be made in no time at all.