While perusing the dollar store, I came across some Christmas themed party picks. There were red Christmas bells, blue snowflakes, and green Christmas trees and came twelve to a pack. So I picked up one package of the trees and one of the snowflakes, but had no idea what I was going to do with them.
Then I thought about little Christmas villages and how fun it would be to make our own little village using the picks and styrofoam. There was only one small problem. I didn't have any buildings or snowmen or other village type accessories that would work for the toothpicks and styrofoam activity that I had in mind. So we made our own!
Using cardstock, I drew two houses and a little toy store. They each have Christmas lights on them, just to make them more festive. Then I cut the houses out and taped them to a toothpick.
I also drew a bunch of snowmen shapes on some cardstock. I added the details onto one, but J drew details onto all the remaining snowmen. Then I cut them out and taped them to the toothpicks as well. Cute, right?
Here you can see the other house and one of J's snowmen.
J happily created a little village using all the different picks.
After using all of the picks, J started reorganizing them to create a winter forest around one particular house. He even moved all the snowmen to huddle around the house, trapping some poor person in his little house. Just kidding, no imaginary house dwellers were forcibly confined during this activity.
Then J had to stop and admire his work...very closely.
And did you notice the green dinosaur toy lurking in the background of the photos? It was just waiting to plan its attack on J's village. I bet you want to scroll back up and look for it now...go on...you know you want to.
Looking for more fun fine motor activities? You can check out the rest of my Fine Motor Fridays posts here.
Now go check out the other fine motor activities that my partners in crime came up with.
Clothespin Letter Match Busy Bag from Craftulate
Going on a Snack Hunt from Lalymom
Cranberry Play Fine Motor Skills from Little Bins for Little Hands
Stacking on the Light Box from P is for Preschooler
Bath Time Fine Motor Activities from Racheous
Kandinsky Inspired Felt Button Board from School Time Snippets
Everyday Fine Motor Activities from Stir the Wonder
Awesome idea! I love the twist you gave to the simple toothpicks in styrofoam idea. This winter village is great for pretend play - and so cute too!
ReplyDeleteThank you. It is definitely good for pretend play!
DeleteVery cute! Caden loved a toothpick activity that I came up with last Winter! This is awesome! I think I need to find some of these!
ReplyDeleteEven if you can't find any, remember you can always make your own!
DeleteWhat a great idea for fine motor and pretend play! Definitely easy to make too!
ReplyDeleteVery easy to make!
DeleteAdorable!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteOMG I love this! I remember the little villages being so awesome as a kid! I love the cardstock houses with lights!! So great!
ReplyDeleteI still love little Christmas villages as an adult! And thank you.
DeleteHow cute is this? I'm forever jealous of those who get to have a white christmas. Our Christmas is scorching hot and humid.
ReplyDeleteI remember the one year when we had no snow on Christmas day. It was so weird. I love our snowy white Christmases!
DeleteThis is such a cute idea!! I love it! Pinning it for future use ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear. I say pin away!
DeleteI saw this on Pinterest, and my four year old came up to me and was like, "OH I WANT TO DO THAT!" This looks like a lot of fun. :)
ReplyDeleteHaha, cute story! Tell him he's got good taste ;)
DeleteThis is great, Dyan! We just used umbrella picks and styrofoam a couple weeks ago and that's only fun for so long! Love this village idea. SO creative; and yet another reason to go to the dollar store ; )
ReplyDeleteLittle umbrellas! Oooh, I am thinking a beach scene variation of this activity would be fun!
DeleteThat is so cute! I totally want to play with it! I know the girls would have so much fun with this! They are currently obsessed with snowmen and snow themed play!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part of this activity was J drawing adorable little snowmen!
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