Montessori Holiday Gift Guide for Kids Aged 0-8
Montessori gifts made from the heart is how your holiday season should start! We know finding the perfect gift for family and friends during the holiday season can become overwhelming, and that’s why we are sharing these heartfelt gift ideas for you to create just in time for the upcoming holidays – and they are all Montessori friendly!
We’ve rounded up ideas for several home-made gifts you can craft with your little one(s) to help spread some holiday cheer. Each completed gift represents a Montessori learning area in action, and so these hands-on activities can help your child build a bridge of continuity from school to home. Developing consistency between the school environment and home life will help ensure that the learning never stops! In addition to the fun of creatively crafting, encouraging the act of thoughtful gift giving allows a child to develop a connection with others and feel a sense of inner pride as they know their special gift will light up their loved one’s face.
Disclaimer: These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; We are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with the below organizations and do not receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Additionally, parents should be reminded that children mature at different times, and should use their best judgment when it comes to age-appropriate activities for their child(ren).
Infants/Toddlers | Age 0-3
Holiday Art Canvas
An easy and explorative way for your infant or toddler to engage in fine motor skills is painting! Help your child become a miniature artist and identify (and mix up!) various colors of paint to create a holiday masterpiece. Try using colors that fit perfectly into the holiday you’re celebrating with your child or using different shades of the recipient’s favorite color!
No-Bake Birdseed Ornaments
Let your child use their visual and auditory senses while creating and placing bird seed ornaments both inside and outside your home. This quick and fun activity is the perfect gift for bird-lovers and a kind gesture to animals preparing for the chilly season ahead. Hang up your birdseed ornaments outside on trees, off deck railings, or on your porch where you can watch as they are found and devoured by the local wildlife.
Personalized Acrylic Keychains
These keychains won’t be blank for long – using finger paint, add your child’s thumb prints in the shape of a heart to send a tangible symbol of love and goodwill for family and friends to carry with them this holiday season.
Pre-Primary | Ages 2-3.5
Tea Light Candle Holders
Show your child how to light up someone’s room with festive tea light holders! This activity requires some patience and planning ahead as the clay will need a few days to fully dry and mold to perfection in order to then be painted in whatever colors you choose! You can further personalize this gift by including scented tea candles.
Holiday Puppy Chow Recipe
Mix up the perfect blend of sensorial, sweet, and salty this season with a holiday twist on ‘puppy chow’! Once created, your child can serve this tasty recipe to friends and family. CMMS Tip: make this treat personalized and
unique by using color assorted candies that align with the holiday your family celebrates and/or incorporating the gift recipient’s favorite flavors!
Rear-View Mirror Decoration
Keep the memory of Montessori learning fun nearby with a pink Montessori tower decoration! The pink Montessori tower is used often in our classrooms to help understand and practice mathematical concepts. Let your child count out and then paint/color their own pink Montessori tower and hand it out to loved ones to use as a rearview-mirror decoration, holiday ornament, or even a one-of-a-kind keychain.
Primary/Honors & Kindergarten | Ages 3.5-5
Homemade Sugar Scrub
This homemade sugar scrub will keep your family’s body soft and hydrated during these cold winter months. Help your child reinforce their mathematic and science skills to measure and mix together a holiday sugar exfoliant. The real treat is that finished product can be used on faces, hands, feet, or over the entire body!
Hot Chocolate in a Jar
Traveling to coffee shops is too far, let’s make hot chocolate at home in a jar! Help your child use practical life skills like scooping and pouring as they layer yummy hot chocolate toppings in a mason jar. Send off your hot chocolate with a sweet note or drawing attached.
Home-made Snow Globe
Shake up some holiday spirit as you help your child put together a unique holiday snow globe! Let your creativity run wild as you choose to insert a laminated picture of your child or pet, or even place one of your child’s favorite toys inside to create a memorable decoration.
Elementary | Ages 6-8
Puzzle Piece Snowflake Decoration
There are no two snowflakes (or puzzle pieces) that are exactly alike. Make your own puzzle piece snowflake decoration for your friends and family to hang in their home, office, or rear-view mirror! Organizing and classifying which puzzle pieces to use in each location on the snowflake during this activity will help your child hone and refine multiple
sensorial skills.
Shortbread Blossom Cookies
Share a sweet treat with your child and bake shortbread blossom cookies. Let your child use both their fine motor and gross motor skills to mix up and roll the cookie dough in holiday themed colored sprinkles or sugar and finish with a yummy chocolate kiss!
Holiday Stamped Napkins
Perfect for any festive dinner table or personalized Party, this activity requires skills from across all Montessori learning areas to design and stamp holiday oriented designs onto cloth napkins that can make an appearance at holiday dinners for many years to come!
If you would like more information on how to incorporate the Montessori method into your routines at home, we invite you to register for our quarterly Montessori Monday Parent Education Seminars.
