Christmas Presents for Teachers by Kindergarteners
Creating Festive Teacher Appreciation Gifts with Toddlers
In a fun and creative twist, a mother has devised a way for her 2.5-year-old child to participate in making teacher appreciation gifts for festive occasions. Using fingerpaint paper, mini cookie cutters, and washable finger paints, these gifts are not only adorable but also a testament to the child's creativity.
Materials Needed
- Fingerpaint Paper
- Mini Cookie Cutters
- Washable Finger Paints
- Paintbrushes (Optional)
- Construction Paper (for a backing or card)
- Glue
- Ribbons or Stickers (for decoration)
- Photos or Personal Messages (optional)
Steps to Create the Gift
1. Prepare the Fingerpaint Paper
Cut the fingerpaint paper into desired shapes or sizes for the gift. You can use the mini cookie cutters as a guide if you want uniform shapes.
2. Create Art with Finger Paints
Let toddlers use their fingers to paint on the prepared paper. Encourage them to make patterns, shapes, or even draw simple things like hearts or flowers. You can also use mini cookie cutters to create fun designs. Place the paper under the cutters and let the toddlers push paint through the cutters to make patterns.
3. Add a Personal Touch
If you want to add a personal touch, you can glue a small photo of the child or write a simple message with a paintbrush.
4. Create a Card or Frame
Attach the painted paper to a larger piece of construction paper to create a card. You can glue it in place or use a stapler if safer. Alternatively, you can frame the artwork using a simple frame or a handmade border to add a more polished touch.
5. Decorate with Ribbons or Stickers
Add a ribbon or some stickers to the gift to make it more festive. You can also write a message like "Thank You" or "I Love My Teacher" on the construction paper.
6. Present the Gift
Once the gift is ready, present it to the teacher with a big smile. Toddlers can proudly say they made it themselves!
Tips
- Always supervise toddlers when they are using paint to ensure their safety.
- Have wipes ready for quick clean-up.
- Encourage toddlers to participate in each step, but be prepared to do some parts yourself if needed.
This gift is a thoughtful way to show appreciation and highlight the child's creativity. The process of making it can be just as enjoyable as the final product. The mother, who wanted to help her child contribute to the teacher appreciation gifts, found that the hard work of the project was primarily done by the child. Mini cookie cutters were used in the activity, and labels were glued to the packages. Large fingerpaint paper was taped to the table, and small labels were cut from red cardstock. After the paint dried, the fingerpaint paper was cut in half and used as wrapping paper. The child was shown how to use the cookie cutters as stamps. Peppermint bark chocolate bars were wrapped with the fingerpaint paper, making for a unique and personalised gift.
- Incorporate the child's creativity in the home-and-garden project by using fingerpaint paper, mini cookie cutters, washable finger paints, construction paper, glue, ribbons, stickers, and optional photos or personal messages to create Festive Teacher Appreciation Gifts.
- By engaging in a lifestyle activity of making gifts, toddlers can learn and experience the joy of creating home-and-garden items as a way to express appreciation for their teachers.
