How to Decorate a Kids-Theme Christmas Tree

Let's face it - Christmas is really for kids. Give them a big thrill by letting their tastes and interests determine the mood of the Christmas tree.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ribbons
• Christmas Tree Lights
• Christmas Trees
• Tree Stands
• Yarns
• String
• Chidren's Toys

1. Buy a tree and set it up.

2. Put lights on it. Any kind is fine, but multicolored lights are perfect for a kids-theme tree.

3. Get your kids to help you make or collect the materials you'll need: Costume jewelry, plastic animals, key chains, miniature tools from the plastic toolbox and tiny medical implements from the plastic doctors kit, toy soldiers, Pokemon figures and Barbie shoes are a good start.

4. Ask the kids to help you figure out how to attach the fun ornaments to the tree - they'll never know they're learning math, geometry and engineering all at once.

5. Don't forget popcorn-and-cranberry and paper-chain ornaments! These are fun to make on a rainy or snowy day.

6. Start with the biggest and heaviest items - stuffed animals, for example. Then move on to medium and smaller items, arranging as you go.

7. Use string, yarn or ribbon to tie the items to the ends of branches.

Tips & Warnings

• Kids can get very enthusiastic about running around the house scavenging for decorating materials. Some things can be used as ornaments and then returned without damage - dollhouse furniture, for example. Others, however, are never the same. Before your child pokes holes in all of his or her Pokemon cards to tie them to the tree, see if there's a better choice (last year's fad?).
• Sap is hard to remove, so if items are precious - a treasured teddy bear, for example - they might be better off on the ground.

on 1/13/2006 Get your kids to tie a feather boa to the top of the tree. Take other party things and put on the tree. For the topper take a star that flashes bright colors and put it on top.

on 11/22/2005 Invade your kids' toy chest and gather all of the McDonalds, Burger King etc. kid meals' toys. Get the kids to help you tie a ribbon or embroidery floss on each toy. Make hot cocoa and a batch of cookies and decorate the tree with your kids' memories.