simple gifts

This time of year gets us thinking about those people in our lives that we are truly grateful for. Sitting at the table today, we began our lists of gifts that we would like to make for our family, friends and teachers. The lists are long and a lot of work needs to be done but it feels so fulfilling to know we are putting our precious time into something that will be cherished and appreciated.

Our work began with candle making. This activity is so easy, open ended and is appropriate for children as young as 3. We started with sheets of beeswax that we found at the school store. Both Samantha and Jasper chose to cut their sheets in half to make shorter candles. After cutting a wick (also purchased at school), they placed the wick at one end of their sheet and carefully pushed it into the wax. Then using their fingertips, they rolled the sheet around itself. Voila.... a handmade, sweet smelling candle. But we were not done there; our favorite step was next....Embellish.

With a box of wax sheets and small clay cutters (found at Michael's in the Fimo isle), the children easily punched out shapes. Then they warmed the shapes in their hands and gently pressed them onto the candle.

These particular candles will be used as package decorations for Samantha and Jasper's teachers.