Trinitonian 19

KIDS HOLIDAY FEATURE
POPSICLE TREE
These are such wonderful
holiday crafts to make. Not
only will your kids want to make
these, but they will have the
inspiration to make it happen
– popsicle eating time, the
best during our South African
summer.
RECOMMENDED AGES:
From 5 years (strict supervision
required)
LEARNING ABILITY:
• Develop fine motor skills
• Boost creativity
• Relaxation and mindfulness
• Making memories that will last
for a lifetime
MATERIALS:
• 3-4 popsicle sticks (you can
also buy these sticks without
the treat if you are worried
about too much popsicle
eating)
38 | The Trinitonian
• Kids paint
• Big sheets of paper to cover
the surfaces you will be
working on
• Painting aprons
• Low-temperature hot glue gun
• Punch
• Scissors
• Accessories: small pom-poms,
confetti, sequins
• Ribbon
LET’S GET STARTED…
Your stick tree will take about
3-4 popsicle sticks. If you do not
buy the colourful ones, prepare
to paint them. Lay sheets of
paper on your surface and put
on your aprons or old clothes.
First, paint the one side of the
sticks the colours that you prefer
them to be. Wait until they are
completely dry, and then turn
them around and paint them
on the other side in the colour
you selected the first time
around. Prep each Christmas
tree ornament with one craft
stick for the tree’s trunk and then
six pieces of craft sticks to use
as the branches. Then cut the
popsicle sticks (you can use
scissors) to make each branch
shorter and shorter, going up
the tree in a triangle shape.
Ask your children to lay their
tree out on the surface you
are working on. This presents
a teaching moment for your
little ones. If they don’t already
know how to make a triangle
shape, you can guide them in
the right direction. Once it is laid
out correctly, paste the sticks
evenly on the base stick using
the glue gun. Place a book or
something heavy on your tree
and leave it there for a while.
Come back and accessorise
it with sequins, confetti, small
pom-poms or whatever your
heart desires. Adult supervision is
required for the hot glue. Punch
a hole in the top end of the tree,
push a piece of ribbon through
and hang it on your tree. Your
children can sign their tree on
the back for a cherished item for
your tree.