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Lolly stick Christmas star for preschoolers

Age: 3+ · Time: 40 min · For: Ages 3–5Ages 6–9

Lolly stick Christmas star for preschoolers

Lolly sticks make sturdy, light Christmas stars that last for years. This craft is a team effort: a grown-up glues the star shape, and your preschooler does what they love best, painting and decorating.

What your child does, where you help

  • Your child: paints, chooses the decorations and ties the ribbon with help.
  • You: glue the star the evening before so it is completely dry.

Tips

  • Wood glue holds best, but any PVA glue works if you let it dry overnight.
  • A little glue in the paint helps it stick to the wood.

Variations

  • Glitter star: brush with glue and sprinkle with glitter.
  • Star of the family: write everyone's name on one point.

You need

  • 5 wooden lolly sticks per star (washed and dry, or craft sticks)
  • PVA glue or wood glue
  • paint (poster paint) in yellow, white or the colour your child chooses
  • a paintbrush
  • felt tips, stickers or circles of coloured paper
  • string or ribbon, for hanging
  • clothes pegs to hold the sticks while the glue dries

Steps

  1. A grown-up makes the star: lay two sticks in an upside-down V, then lay the other three so they make the classic five-pointed star you draw in one line. Glue each point where two sticks cross.
  2. Hold the points together with clothes pegs and leave the glue to dry completely, ideally overnight.
  3. Let your child paint the star on both sides. Leave to dry for 20 minutes.
  4. Decorate with dots, stickers, sequins or small paper circles.
  5. Tie a ribbon to one point to hang it on the tree or in the window.

Questions

Can a preschooler glue the star themselves?

The star shape is tricky for little hands, so a grown-up usually makes it. Children of 6 and up can try it themselves with a drawing to follow.

Can I make a simpler shape?

Yes. Glue three sticks into a triangle for a Christmas tree, or two sticks in a cross with two more on top for a snowflake.

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