Gift Games For Kids

If kids are bored during the holidays get them playing some games. A good on is the 'What's in the Box Game.'
This gift has layer and layers of wrapping paper but who will be the lucky person to unwrap the last layer and win the gift! This hot potato style of game has variations that can make each unwrapping entertaining.
In the basic version you wrap a gift or gifts if several groups in several layers of wrapping paper. The number of layers depends on how long you want the game to last, plus the more people the more layers.
Have everyone sit in a circle and give your group / groups a gift and tell them when you turn on the music to pass the gift in one direction and when you turn off the music who ever has the gift gets to remove ONE layer of wrapping paper.. The many layers are removed in this fashion until the last layer of paper is taken off and whoever has the gift unwrapped gets to keep it.
Yet another good game is Dice Doubles. This is an Unwrap the Gift Game. Announce that you are going to play a game where you unwrap a gift. Then after everyone is seated and ready to go place a set of oven mitts next to the gift. Now it gets a little harder!
Get a gift or gift certificate and place in a solid box. Then wrap the gift with paper, then masking tape, paper, masking tape, paper etc… The more layers, the harder the game will be to play and the more interesting.
Sit everyone in a circle and announce how the game is played.
Each player takes a turn at rolling 2 dice.
The first person to roll doubles goes to the center of the circle put on the oven mitts or gloves and then starts unwrapping the gift with their hands. They cannot use their teeth or any other part of their body. While the person is working on trying to unwrap the gift, the dice continue to be rolled and passed until the next person rolls the dice and yells, 'Stop!'
At that point the person in the middle must put down the gift, take off the oven mitts/gloves and return to their seat. The next person now puts on the mitts and works to unwrap the gift.
The dice rolling and unwrapping continues until someone finally gets through all the layers of wrapping paper and tape and holds up the gift. Then the gift is theirs to keep.
In a variation you can make it a little harder by making the players wear a hat, scarf and gloves. It can also be made a little harder by only allowing players to change places every time double sixes or ones are rolled.

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Making Christmas Wreathes with the Kids

Making your own Christmas Wreath with the kids is very simple. There are a couple of ways to do it.
The first way to make your own Christmas wreath is without an armature. An armature is a wire frame. I always thought I had to go to Walmart to get one of these or the wreath would not turn out. This is not true. This means going outside and collecting your own branches from a pine, spruce or other type of evergreen tree. Collect some pine cones too. Just remember not to hurt any trees that you may be stripping of branches.
Once you have found the boughs that you want to use to all you need is some heavy duty wire. Bend the boughs into a circular shape and attach them in place with the wire. Attach some pine cones to the boughs with wire as well as some shiny red and green ribbons and you will have created the simplest wreath possible. Keep in mind too that you can also string this type of wreath with battery operated xmas lights to make it look more glamorous. The only caveat – don't let really young kids get a hold of wire cutters.
The second way to make a Christmas wreath is to buy a Styrofoam armature at a crafts store. You can then glue or pin any type of object that you want to these circular shapes to make your own wreath.
An easy wreathe to make is one made out of shiny Christmas balls. All you need to do in this case is buy some inexpensive glass balls and then pin them to the armature in a circle. The entire thing can be finished off with a bright big bow at the top.
One of the most popular homemade Christmas wreath ideas is the wreath made out of candy canes. This is a good one for kids, especially if they are good with tape. All you need is tiny candy canes that you can pin, tape or glue to the armature to makes a sunburst shape.
If your kids are older and can handle a needle and thread then make is one made out of popcorn. These look great decorated with green or red bows.
A good example of an easy and clever Christmas wreath to make is the one made by Martha Stewart that was constructed entirely out of gum drops. She simply pushed pins through gumdrops and then pushed them into the armature. The frost on the gum drops made the homemade Christmas wreath look as if it was frosted with snow.
A picture frame hook can be used to help hang any type of wreathe on the front door or a mantelpiece. Another option is to simply hang it on a nail and attach it with wire or looped fishing line. However this can ruin your door. They can also be laid flat on a table with a candle placed in the center to create an attractive holiday centerpiece. Don't place a candle in the center of this type of decoration unless you are absolutely certain that the materials are not flammable.

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