quick, minimum mess christmas dec's to make with pre-schoolers?

[RoobyMurray]

We're going for Thanksgiving dinner at SILs and I want to make a quick Christmas decoration with our kids whilst dinner is cooking.

The kids are 2x3yr olds and 2x5yr olds, all boys. I've seen some stuff which is a bit too advanced for the little ones, or is too messy considering SIL will be busy enough cooking dinner for 10.

Any ideas please?

Paper chains?

I have one pack of paper chains (thought I'd ordered a few) so I'll take that.

Those snowflakes are easy?

Salt dough? I've done it with my DTDs the last two years. They're at school now, so we'll have to make time for it when they break up.

Recipe here

Make the dough in advance and keep it in cling film, then there will be very little mess - just roll it out and cut with cookie cutters, or make candy canes by rolling sausages.

It can dry out in the oven after dinner, ro you can microwave it if you want it done quickly.

here

I'd be tempted to go for something colouring/ sttickers based if you want to keep mess to a minumum. Have you looked at Baker Ross? Lots of kits and ideas.

Do you think the 3 year olds would be able to do Hama beads? That might work too, although perhaps a bit fiddly, especially if the grownups are on the vino!

How about some pipe cleaner ornaments.

www.marthastewart.com/article/pipe-cleaner-ornaments

Thanks for the ideas guys. I'm going to see what I can get hold of tomorrow.