My oldest son has sensory issues and, as a result, he avoids doing most messy crafts. However, contact paper suncatcher crafts are far from messy and he always enjoys making them.
We've made a variety of suncatchers with contact paper in the past, but this giant Christmas light-themed option is the perfect easy Christmas craft for toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarten kids.
Kids will love the sensory aspect of the contact paper while enjoying the freedom to rip and tear materials — or is it just my kids who love to rip and tear things?
You Will Need:
- contact paper (you can pick it up from dollar stores, where it's often called vinyl book protector)
- tissue paper in a variety of colors
- black permanent marker
- scissors
- tape
Instructions:
1. On the non-sticky side of the contact paper, draw large light bulb shapes with the permanent marker. We made eight giant light bulbs in total using just over one roll of contact paper.
2. Tape the contact paper to a flat surface with the sticky side up. Remove the sticky side's cover when the kids are ready to craft.
3. My kids always enjoy touching and exploring the sticky contact paper before crafting. It's a great sensory activity for them!
You'll Also Love: Christmas Play Dough Gift Sets
4. Ripping tissue paper is a great fine motor workout for kids, but they could also use scissors to cut small pieces of tissue paper. Simply stick the tissue paper onto the contact paper. Encourage your kids to cover the entire light bulb shape so that there are no empty spots.
5. Once the kids have filled the contact paper with tissue paper, either encourage them to cut out the light bulb shape themselves or cut it out for them.
6. Arrange the giant light bulb suncatchers in a window, as if you were hanging up a string of Christmas lights. We have ours hanging in the front window and they look almost like real Christmas lights from the street!
Dyan Robson
Read more from Dyan here.
Married to her high school sweetheart, Dyan is mom to two boys, J and K, who also teaches piano out of her home. On her blog And Next Comes L, Dyan shares her story of raising a child with hyperlexia, hypernumeracy and autism, amongst a variety of sensory activities for kids. You can find out more about their story on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram and Google+.
Most Popular
-
Ages:
allLearning
How To Talk To Kids About The National Day For Truth And Reconciliation
-
Ages:
allStories
What I Wish My Parents Had Said When I Came Out As Gay
-
Ages:
allStories
I’d Rather Honestly Answer My Kid’s Questions About Sex While He’s Still Listening
-
Ages:
allTech & Media
Social Media Is Designed To Lure You In, But Will It Protect Your Kids When They’re There?
-
Ages:
allLearning
My Daughter is Leaving French Immersion After 9 Years — Was It Worth It?
Add New Comment
To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted.
By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.
Submission Policy
Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.