This little paper Christmas tree must be the most adorable craft you'll make with your little ones this festive season! It's a wonderfully simple and beautiful decoration for the Christmas tree!
The crafts we make with our little ones leave the most wonderful memories — and this activity will help them practise using scissors and improve their paper-folding skills, two excellent exercises for fine motor development!
What You'll Need
- Printed template (ready to download below)
- Scissors
- Glue
- Thin string or twine
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1 — Print and colour Print the ready-made template — or let your little ones colour the large rectangular shape, the baubles and the star in whatever colours they love!
Step 2 — Cut Cut out the rectangle, the baubles and the star together.
Step 3 — Fold accordion-style Begin folding the rectangular paper accordion-style as shown in the pictures. This is the most fun step — your little ones will absolutely love it!
Step 4 — Create the fan shape Fold the accordion in half and glue the two ends together to create a beautiful fan in the shape of a Christmas tree.
Step 5 — Decorate and hang! Glue the star at the top and the baubles onto the tree. Add a thin piece of string to hang it on the Christmas tree. Alternatively, small pom-poms or sequins can be used instead of baubles for an even more sparkling result!
Happy crafting!
Educational Benefits
Fine motor skills: Accordion folding and cutting exercise the small muscles of the hands in a creative and enjoyable way — excellent preparation for writing.
Spatial awareness and mathematical thinking: Understanding how a flat piece of paper transforms into a three-dimensional shape through folding develops spatial reasoning — an important skill for mathematics.
Hand-eye coordination: The precise alternation of the accordion folds develops visual-motor coordination and attention to detail.
Creative expression: The choice of colours and the decoration with baubles, pom-poms or sequins makes every little tree unique — a personal ornament made with lots of love!
Memories and emotional development: A handmade ornament on the Christmas tree becomes something truly special — children feel proud to see their creation decorating the home year after year!
