Putting The Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

Santa

Santa Claus Playdough Tray

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Fun red and white Santa Claus themed playdough invitation which features oh so soft and aromatic cherry jello playdough.

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This Santa Claus playdough tray is stocked with white and cherry red dough. You’ll want to save this post to have the recipes on hand, as they are oh so soft and aromatic.

Santa Claus is a fun part of Christmas celebrations, and legend has it that he lives at the North Pole. With the help of his elves, he makes toys all year long. He fills a sack with toys on Christmas Eve and delivers them to children all around the world in a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer.  

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Related: Read a Christmas Santa Claus Story about how the jolly man may have originated on howstuffworks.com.

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Santa-Themed Loose Parts Tray

Santa Claus is most often pictured with a long white beard and red, fur-trimmed clothing. So red and white loose parts are predominant in this collection.

Red and white Santa Claus and reindeer themed loose parts tray.

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The tray includes:

  • Santa and reindeer erasers
  • reindeer ring and buttons
  • red snowflake gems
  • red and white round gems
  • various sized white pearl beads
  • cut-up candy-striped straws
  • reindeer and stocking cookie cutters
  • Santa Claus and present-shaped cookie cutters could be added to the tray.  
Santa Claus-themed sensory tray with red and white loose parts.

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White Playdough Recipe

My go-to basic playdough recipe (featured in this post) has the following ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup salt
  • 4 teaspoons cream of tartar
  • 2 cups water
  • 3 tablespoons oil

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Add the first three ingredients to a sturdy pot and mix them together.

Stir two tablespoons of oil into two cups of water.

Add the water and oil to the dry ingredients and combine.

Heat on the stove on medium heat.

Stirring frequently, cook until the mixture is no longer glossy and the dough forms a ball.

Place the dough on a cutting board.

Knead when cool, adding in one more tablespoon of oil.

Store the playdough in a sealed plastic bag.

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Cherry Jello Playdough

Oh so aromatic and soft cherry jello playdough.

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To make the aromatic, deep red cherry jello playdough, boil the water, and stir in two 3 oz / 85-gram packages of cherry jello powder. Next, mix in two tablespoons of oil. Add the hot colored water mixture to the dry ingredients in a pot as above, and finish making the recipe the same way.

Oh so aromatic and soft cherry jello playdough preparation.

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Santa Claus Playdough Invitation

Set out the loose parts on a tray with the red and white playdough. Add rolling pins and more cookie cutters if desired, and watch your little learners create while discussing their perceptions of Santa Claus.

Festive red and white playdough tray with a Santa Claus theme.

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Wooden Santa decorations are included on the above tray.

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Santa Claus and reindeer playdough invitation with red and white playdough.

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Santa Claus playdough invitation with white and deep cherry red dough.

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This Santa Claus playdough tray is inspired by a lovely Santa-themed sensory tray Instagram post by @Places_Spaces_Wonder_Delight.

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Festive red and white playdough tray with a Santa Claus and reindeer theme.

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Santa’s Beard Scissor Activity

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Super fun Santa's beard scissor skill activity. Scissor use tips and guidelines are included.

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This Santa’s beard scissor activity is a fun way to introduce cutting practice. The combination of a favorite activity (using scissors) and a well-loved character (Santa Claus) is a win-win. Snipping the beard strands adds a challenge, as yarn is more difficult to cut than paper.

By participating in cutting activities, early learners grow in their physical development. They get practice in bilateral coordination: using hands and fingers on both sides of the body at the same time to do two different things. Hand muscles are strengthened. And eye-hand coordination (being able to cut with one hand while following the movement of scissors with the eyes) is improved.

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Setting Up The Santa’s Beard Scissor Activity

Materials needed:

  • threadable Santa head wall décor
  • white yarn
  • 30-cm / 12-inch ruler
  • children’s scissors
  • white duct tape

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Preparing The Scissor Activity

Cut yarn into 60-cm / 24-inch strips using a standard ruler as a guide.

Cut strips of yarn in 60-cm/24-inch sections to string through Santa head wall decor. A scissor practice activity for young children.

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Thread yarn through Santa’s chin to enhance his beard.

Repurpose Santa Head Wall Decor as a scissor skill activity. String white yarn to enhance Santa's beard and prepare it for cutting.

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Repurposed wall decor Santa with enhanced yarn beard for cutting. A super fun scissor skill activity for young children.

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Add a layer of white duct tape at the back to stabilize the yarn.

Back view of Santa Head Wall Decor. A strip of white duct tape stabilizes the threaded yarn beard extensions. A scissor activity for young children.

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Place the Santa head on a table with a pair of children’s scissors for an invitation to trim his beard.

An invitation to trim Santa's beard with repurposed wall decor. A scissor skill activity for young children.

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Tip: Santa can be placed sideways on a table. Then children can hold a section of Santa’s beard with their nondominant helping hand and cut the beard in the direction away from their body with their dominant cutting hand.

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Choosing Scissors

Scissors offered should have blunt edges. Fiskars children’s scissors are highly regarded by teachers.

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Scissor Use Technique

  • Thumbs on each hand point up.
  • The thumb in the cutting hand goes in the small hole of the scissors.
  • The middle and index finger go in the larger hole. The ring and pinky finger curl under the scissors into the palm.
  • Elbows are positioned near the ribs.
  • Scissors are held at least 8 inches from the face and pointed away from the body.
  • The non-dominant “helping hand” holds the paper and moves it during the cutting process.

Tip: To help children remember to keep their thumb up, place two googly “crocodile eyes” on top of the scissors. Encourage children to “snap like a crocodile opening and closing his mouth.”

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Santa head wall decor repurposed as a beard trimming scissor activity for young children. The white yarn is threaded through Santa's chin to add beard extensions perfect for cutting.

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Guidelines For Using Scissors

Young children need supervision when using scissors. These guidelines are helpful to discuss with them:

  • Cut only paper or the assigned cutting materials.
  • Do not cut your own or others’ hair, lips, fingers, or clothes.
  • Do not cut toys.
  • No running with scissors.
  • When walking with scissors, hold the scissors closed and pointing down. (The need for walking with scissors should be minimized.)

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Scissor Skill Progression

Using scissors is challenging for early learners. With plenty of practice, cutting will improve and get less messy. Scissor skills are not fully developed until children are six years old.

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Alternatives To Using Santa Head Wall Decor

A yarn-bearded Santa can be crafted from a paper plate. Or a Santa to embellish can be cut from a Christmas card or gift bag.

Invitation to trim gift bag Santa's beard.

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A “Trim The Beard Paper Plate Santa” activity is featured on kidscraftroom.com .

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A Santa’s beard scissor activity can be offered before Christmas, so Santa can be “Christmas Eve ready.” Or it can be set out after Christmas Day…because then Santa finally has time for self-care!

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