Christmas is a magical time, filled with warmth, joy and the spirit of giving. For foster parents and their foster children, this time of year can be particularly special, as it provides an opportunity to create cherished memories, including through the art of crafting.
This article will cover 7 delightful Christmas craft ideas that foster parents can enjoy with their foster children. We hope these ideas are not only enjoyable but allow for meaningful connections to be formed.
Christmas Cards
Sending out heartfelt Christmas cards is a cherished tradition for children. Encourage your foster children to create their own cards for family and friends. Provide them with art supplies like coloured paper, markers, stickers and glitter. Foster siblings can join in and create cards together, offering each other support and encouragement. These homemade cards will be warmly received, especially as they will have been so thoughtfully made.
Christmas Baubles
If there is one thing children love in the run up to Christmas, it’s decorating the Christmas tree! Extend the fun by getting children to decorate their own Christmas baubles, which you can do by purchasing DIY bauble kits, or even creating paper baubles to hang on the tree. Whether they create Christmas themed characters or base their designs on their favourite superheroes, custom baubles can generate hours of fun for foster children.
DIY Stockings
Decorating stockings is a wonderful way to get foster children and their foster siblings excited about Christmas. You can purchase plain stockings and provide various decorating materials such as fabric markers, felt, glue and glitter. Let the children personalise their stockings with their names, favourite colours and festive designs. This craft not only enhances the anticipation of what Santa might bring but also reinforces the sense of belonging within the foster family.
Gingerbread House Decorating
Gingerbread houses are not only delicious, but they’re also a fantastic craft project for creating a sense of togetherness during the holidays. You can start by baking or purchasing gingerbread house kits, which often include the pre-baked pieces, frosting and an assortment of sweets. Then, gather everyone around the table to assemble and decorate the houses. Foster children can collaborate with their foster siblings and foster parents can join in too. This activity is not only creative but also a great way to strengthen bonds within the foster family.
Handmade Ornaments
Beyond making Christmas baubles, there are an array of other handmade creations you can encourage your foster children to make. For instance, paper Christmas trees or festive Play-Doh creations. Gather some simple supplies like coloured paper, markers, stickers and string. Then, let the creativity flow! Encourage foster children to design their own ornaments, using their imaginations to create something special and unique. This activity not only allows them to express themselves but also provides a sense of accomplishment when their finished creations go on display.
Handprint Reindeer
Create adorable keepsakes by making a handprint reindeer with your foster children. This craft is simple, fun and perfect for kids of all ages. All you need is some brown paint, white paper, googly eyes and red pom-poms. Help the children dip their hands in the paint and press them onto the paper, fingers splayed out to create the reindeer’s antlers. Once dry, add the eyes and red pom-pom for the nose. These cute handprint reindeer can be framed or hung as holiday decorations, serving as a sweet reminder of the time spent together.
Paper Snowflakes
Cutting paper snowflakes is a timeless winter craft that promotes creativity and patience. All you need is some white paper and scissors. Foster children can experiment with different folding techniques to create unique snowflake designs. Foster siblings can collaborate on the project, sharing ideas and designs. Once finished, these delicate snowflakes can be hung throughout the home to create a winter wonderland atmosphere.
Christmas Crafts Children FAQs
We’ve answered some common queries about crafts that foster children may enjoy below.
However, if you have any questions about becoming a foster parent, then we’d like to hear from you! Please scroll down to see our contact details.
What Are Some Fun Christmas Crafts For Children?
Children have a wonderful sense of imagination, meaning all it takes is some paper, colouring pens and glitter to make a wide array of crafts.
Some ideas to try include paper snowflakes, DIY Christmas baubles or handmade ornaments. If children fancy eating their creations, then a gingerbread house is also a must!
How To Make A Magical Christmas For Foster Children?
In short, become a foster parent! There is a national shortage of foster carers in the UK, including here in the West Midlands. By offering your services as a foster carer, you can make a lasting impact on the lives of children in need, including at Christmas.
How Is Crafting Beneficial For Children In Foster Care?
Crafting in all its many forms can have a therapeutic effect, including for children in the foster care network.
When children sit down with pens, paper and other crafting materials, this fuels creativity and self-expression. It can also give them a chance to partake in a calming activity, which in turn can help them process their emotions better.
At Match Foster Care, we hold several crafting activities throughout the year. We also encourage our foster carers to partake in crafting with their foster children, as it is a great way to help them settle into an unfamiliar environment.
Match Foster Care – Join Our Foster Network This Christmas
We hope our Christmas craft ideas will inspire you to have fun as a foster family this year. If you happen to give any of them a go, why not tag us over on Facebook?
Match Foster Care wishes you a merry festive season, including if you are currently part of our foster network in the West Midlands.
Or, if you are yet to join us and think what you have what it takes to become a foster carer, we’d like to hear from you. Please contact us and a member of our team will be in touch.
