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Torn paper Christmas tree: no scissors needed

Age: 2+ · Time: 25 min · For: Ages 3–5

Torn paper Christmas tree: no scissors needed

You do not need scissors for this Christmas tree: just paper, glue and two small hands. Tearing paper is great for developing finger strength and coordination, and toddlers love the sound it makes.

Magazines and leaflets are perfect because they are full of different greens, so the finished tree looks rich and textured.

What your child does, where you help

  • Your child: tears, sticks and decorates.
  • You: draw the outline and put on the glue for the youngest ones.

Tips

  • Thin paper is easiest to tear for small hands.
  • Glue small areas at a time so the glue does not dry before the scraps go on.

Variations

  • A snowman: tear white paper and stick it in three circles on blue paper.
  • A wreath: stick the green scraps on a ring drawn on a paper plate.

You need

  • green paper, or old magazines and leaflets with lots of green in them
  • a sheet of thick white paper or card
  • a pencil or felt tip
  • a glue stick (easier for toddlers than runny glue)
  • a scrap of brown and yellow paper
  • a small tub to collect the scraps

Steps

  1. Draw a large triangle on the white paper as the outline of the tree, with a small rectangle underneath for the trunk.
  2. Show your child how to tear the green paper into small pieces. Tearing is a wonderful exercise for little fingers.
  3. Collect all the scraps in a tub.
  4. Spread glue inside part of the triangle. Toddlers find it easier if you glue a small area at a time.
  5. Let your child press the green scraps onto the glue until the triangle is covered. Overlapping is fine.
  6. Tear the brown paper for the trunk and a yellow piece for the star, and glue them on.
  7. Finish with baubles of torn coloured paper, stickers or fingerprint dots.

Questions

My child keeps putting paper in their mouth. Is that dangerous?

Small pieces of paper are a choking risk for under-3s. Stay right beside them and use slightly bigger scraps.

Can older children do it too?

Yes. Older children can make a mosaic tree with scraps in many shades of green, sorted from light to dark.

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