We have been working towards a minimalist home and that extends to our Christmas celebrations. I have tried to focus the children on giving to others rather than receiving.
1. Stamping and decorating postcards
In responding to his sensitive period for language without duplicating the Montessori materials he has at his school, we have a stamp set.
That and some stickers (leftovers from my craft box) has made for lots of card and postcard-making. I love how he cut up the sticker into smaller pots and repositioned them.
2. Folding tenugui
We can also extend the stamping work to make our own wrapping paper, but I thought of minimising wrapping paper waste by using Japanese tenugui, a multipurpose cloth which can be folded in various ways like a bottle holder, tissue box cover, bag, etc! I put them in old wallet/ watch boxes instead of trays so it would be a control of error for how exact and small they would have to fold the tenugui to fit in each box.
They mastered the folding fairly quickly…
So I introduced them to a simple way to wrap the box with tenugui, which they were able to do because it just involved placing the box atop the tenugui diagonally, and then doing two half knots.
I then demonstrated another folding technique that had a little handle for carrying the gift around, but making the half knots on the sides proved rather tricky for the children.
3. Washi tape
Some taping work with washi tapes of local trains and buses.
I am disproportionately proud of this “tape dispenser” I made from a chocolate box and a straw that lifts up so you can take out each roll. Still smells like chocolate 😍
4. Packaging and taping parcels
My child raided our kitchen for local teas and 16-multigrain rice, wrapping and taping them for sending to friends overseas.