It’s the same old story every year: you spend bucket loads of money on adorable red and green wrapping paper with little flying reindeer on it, use maybe half and there it sits. Same with the Easter wrapping paper. And that whole roll of baby shower paper you bought for the only friend that will ever have a baby.
Quit wasting money when you can use all of that old wrapping paper, make it just as festive, and even more special by getting your kids into the mix.
So one side is wonderfully decorated for something that has nothing to do with the holiday this year. The other side? White. This is your children’s blank canvas.
Unroll the entire roll of wrapping paper over the top of a counter or dining room table, bring out a plate of cookies, and play some holiday tunes. Then set the kids to work.
Let them decorate the wrapping paper anyway they want. Here are some ideas to get them started:
- Break out the holiday cookies cutters and let them trace around them, and then filling in the details: a carrot nose on the snowman, a Santa suit on Santa and buttons on the gingerbread.
- Let them know who the gift is for so they can write special holiday greetings to your friends and family. If you aren’t sure who you will use the paper for just yet, let them go nuts.
- Use anything you like: crayons, markers, poster paint, glitter (if you’re brave) stickers and stamps.
- Before you set your kids to work, sit down and make a list of everything that reminds them of the holiday: Santa, snowflakes, snowmen, lights, candy canes. Encourage them to draw on the list for inspiration to get a wide array of wrapping paper.
- Encourage them to use all of the paper. Kids tend to draw scrunched and in the middle to sit on opposite sides and corners to make sure everything is filled.
Not only will you be able to use up all of your scrap wrapping paper, you will save money on not buying more, and you and your kids will have a great bonding activity on a snowy day to remember for a lifetime.
