Of course some might equally entitle this blog post "recycling old stuff" but, hey, those people are cynics: accurate cynics, but cynics none the less. What's more, they're not getting a mince pie. There! That should teach them.
For the rest of you reindeer-hugging, egg-nog quaffing, snowflake-fanciers, I give you my favourite Christmas (ish) things to do with the kids that are all sort of garden or growing-based (you can see why that didn't quite make it as the blog title).
1. Grass head elves - make them, sow them, cut their hair in amusing styles (featured in Garden Crafts For Children) - equally good with cress (as pictured)
2. Child friendly wreaths - wreaths that are easy for children to make, rather than wreaths that befriend children (in case you were wondering) - and number 59 from 101 Things For Kids To Do Outside
3. Ice mobiles - Cupcake moulds, berries and a love of glitter - you'll need them all for this activity (featured in Garden Crafts for Children)
4. Seed cards - simply add red and green backgrounds and a white central shape (as pictured) to adapt this for a Christmas theme (featured in Garden Crafts For Children)
5. Make snow lanterns - okay so you need some snow, but it is getting rather chilly outside (number 95 from 101 Things For Kids To Do Outside)
6. Pinecone bird feeder - a decorative version features in Garden Crafts For Children but equally you can use this recipe to fill all sorts of containers, as a very young Archie can prove.
7. Paint snow - don't worry, temperatures are dropping... rapidly (number 98 from 101 Things For Kids To Do Outside)
8. Sow microleaves - sow into old pots, or equally create your very own microleaves farm using an old wine box (as featured in Garden Crafts For Children)
9. Decorate wellies - it's a lot more fun to go outside with some personalised puddle stompers (number 89 from 101 Things For Kids To Do Outside)
10. Make Twig Stars - red stems from dogwood make wonderful Christmas decorations when you connect them using garden twine or wire. You can even learn how to bend your own five-pointed star with no wire needed at all (number 100 from 101 Things For Kids To Do Outside)
What's that you say? Why yes, I guess you're right - 101 Things for Kids To Do Outside and Garden Crafts For Children would make perfect Christmas presents. Here. Have a mince pie. With genius ideas like that, you deserve it.
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