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Christmas Sensory Stamping!

by The Empowered Educator 22 Comments

Christmas Sensory Stamping

I recently pulled out my DIY Paint Sponge Pads for a little Christmas toddler sensory stamping fun!ย 

We've been doing a little Christmas Craftย ย here and there but I am keeping it pretty simple this year due to my reasoning in this post! I do want to involve the toddler twosome in a little Christmas crafting fun but I don't want it to be all we do for the next month (years working in child care turned me a little against Christmas craft just for the sake of the season…it causes to much stress and expectation in my opinion!)so I am trying to be a little creative in my thinking with the girls activities this year!

I have also noticed recently that Ruby seems to be getting a little more sensitive again about touching new texturesย and I wanted to challenge her a little without pushing too far…..so I combined a little Christmas stamping with some feely ball painting fun!

Iย purchased a pack of these little feely balls from the $2 shop because they really provide a sensory challenge for Ruby to touch and hold but she has been getting used to them over time. Adding paint to the balls brought a whole new dimension to the experience for her……

Find out how to make your own paint stamping sponge pads and use a few simple tools to help toddlers create their own Christmas prints and wrapping paper.

I simply got out my kitchen sponge stamp pads again, added a little paint, the balls and some paper and watched the girls explore. They made little patterns the girls called ‘doggy feet' and they did look a bit like it I guess…with a dash of toddler imagination thrown in!!!

Ruby did a lot of holding by the very tip at first and didn't add enough pressure to get a dark print on the paper but she soon learnt she needed to hold the whole ball, press hard in the tray and then onto the paper if she wanted to see the print.

This drive to create seemed to overcome her reluctance to touch the texture of the balls soft fingers and the squishyness of the paint. She mastered it slowly but enjoyed the process in her own way and in her own time….exactly what I had hoped for! Of course, she also threw in a little hand printing…as she always does when we use the sponge pads!

Tara really enjoyed exploring the different patterns the ball could make with less or more paint and by stamping or swishing across the page. They are quite small balls so it was a challenging activity for their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills too.

Stamping pads really are a wonderful tool to use with toddlers as they can press down hard into the paint pads without wasting to much of the paint while ‘exploring'! You can use them with stamping tools or just for handprinting. Want to make your own?

How to make your own Paint Stamping Pads

What you need

  • A packet of rectangular kitchen sponges (old style with holes in them)
  • Recycled plastic takeaway containers – preferably with a lid.
  • Acrylic or poster paints

What to do now

  • Simply dampen the sponges, give a squeeze so they are not dripping then place in container. You want the sponges a little wet to begin with or they will suck up too much of the paint when you first pour it on.
  • Pour a little paint on then spread with a spoon across surface of the sponge. Don't overload the sponge or you will end up with paint overflowing everywhere when the first little hand presses down!
  • The paint will seep down into the sponge holes and collect on the bottom. When the top of the sponge seems to be getting a little dry or the stamping isn't as bright on the paper simply flip over to the other side which will now be full of paint and keep going.
  • Pop the lid on when play is finished so you can keep your paint pads to use again another day – no wastage!

To extend the activity a little further and add some Christmas cheer I brought out our Christmas cookie cutters and showed the girls how to press them into the stamp pads and then make shapes on the paper….they absolutely loved it!

I loved that they were free to stamp and create in the way they wanted to without me ‘directing' the craft to look Christmasey (I'm not sure that is a word…but you get my meaning I'm sure!).ย I am a huge believer that open ended play for toddlers is so very important.ย 

There are ways to incorporate a little Christmas fun but for me that doesn't mean fancy stencils and projects above their developmental level that need to be completed more by an adult for the ‘desired' pretty end result.

I want them to feel involved and in control of their own creativity…they will be less likely to get frustrated and therefore be proud of their end result that way I believe.

I love to watch how toddlers can make an activity their own and the finished product may not be what you envisaged but if we understand and accept that it is the learning process of a toddler then I think there will be a lot less stress all round…that's what I'm aiming for anyway! All this wonderful stamping made lots of colourful Christmas wrapping paper to use – a lot more specialย than the brought kind don't you think?

christmas sensory craft

Have you started doing a little Christmas craft with your toddler? Are you enjoying it or finding it a stressful experience?ย 

Perhaps worth scaling back your expectations a little if it is all ending in tears…especially if you have a little one asย challenged by their senses as I do!

If you are looking for more Christmas activity ideas you can find them HERE.ย ย  There are also lots of Christmas activities being shared in our Empowered Educator Facebook group which you can join HERE.ย 

Are you on Pinterest? You can find more early learning Christmas ideas on THIS Pinterest board.

A Little About Me

Jodie Clarke is an early childhood professional supporting educators who want and need to stay passionate about the work they do! She has 30 years hands-on experience in the early childhood and human services sectors across many different roles.


Jodie is mum to 3 in Australia and has already helped thousands of educators with their work through her popular blog posts, activity ideas, online training and e-books.

Filed Under: Christmas, outdoor fun, painting, sensory fun, SPD

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Comments

  1. pinkoddy says

    05/12/2012 at 5:23 pm

    Sounds a good idea to me. We did potato stamping thus week with red and green paints too

    Reply
    • Jode says

      10/12/2012 at 3:53 am

      Love potato stamping and yet haven’t done it for ages!!

      Reply
  2. MsXpat says

    05/12/2012 at 6:27 pm

    times like this I miss have access to a garden, wonderful idea

    Reply
    • Jode says

      10/12/2012 at 3:54 am

      We do love our garden for soaking up the mess!!

      Reply
  3. Atta Rehman says

    06/12/2012 at 7:09 am

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    Reply
  4. Toddy Boy says

    06/12/2012 at 7:23 pm

    INCREDIBLE THINKING!! You did really making sense. My little baby girl like different things to do and I think this will be enjoyable for me also when I’ll see she is making this.

    Reply
  5. Penny says

    06/12/2012 at 7:41 pm

    These turned out beautiful! Great sensory idea! I just bought art smocks for the twins so now I don’t have to worry so much about paint mess!

    Reply
  6. Twins Squared says

    06/12/2012 at 7:59 pm

    I like the cookie cutter idea! Maybe we’ll have to try that over Christmas break!

    Reply
    • Jode says

      10/12/2012 at 3:55 am

      I use my cookie cutters for everything at the moment lol!

      Reply
  7. Jackie says

    10/12/2012 at 1:18 am

    how fun! and so true–it IS about the process and NOT the finished product. thanks for the reminder:)

    Reply
    • Jode says

      10/12/2012 at 3:55 am

      And the more mess we make the better hehe!

      Reply
  8. Michelle @ Raising Will says

    10/12/2012 at 1:52 am

    I looooove this so very much. Master W adores painting and stamping stuff. Really interested in your stamp pads – They are fantastic. Have you posted about creating these before?

    Reply
    • Jode says

      10/12/2012 at 3:56 am

      I have posted them in quite a few activities Michelle but perhaps i shall do a post just on them as they seem to interest a few people…i have used the for years…love them!Thanks so much for stopping by x

      Reply
  9. Boy Mama Teacher Mama says

    11/12/2012 at 4:37 am

    Love it!!

    Reply
  10. Jay @ Learning to play and playing to learn says

    11/12/2012 at 12:15 pm

    We are going to do this next week, I hope we don’t make as much mess as you. Looks like you had fun!

    Reply
  11. Happy Whimsical Hearts says

    12/12/2012 at 2:40 am

    Cute doggy feet ๐Ÿ™‚ Such simple, joyful paint play going on here Jode. I really must start using a sponge like you, it seems to make it easier for the kids ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  12. Housewife in Heels says

    13/12/2012 at 1:46 am

    This looks like fun- my 2 year old would love this, but his 1 year old brother would probably try and eat the paint!!! (maybe I should make some non-toxic paint like the cornflour???)

    Reply
  13. Deborah Alter-Rasche says

    13/12/2012 at 7:32 am

    Ahh, glorious, messy fun, exploration and learning!

    Reply
  14. [email protected] says

    13/12/2012 at 9:53 am

    What a treat! Featuring this as part of my roundup of this weeks’ Weekly Kids’ Co-op. xoxo P

    Reply
  15. Amie (Triple T Mum) says

    13/12/2012 at 2:05 pm

    Hey Jode! Thanks for the link ๐Ÿ™‚ Are your sponge stampers re-useable? I.e. Do you rinse them out ready for the next activity or keep them covered so the paint doesn’t dry out? Looking forward to reading a post about them ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
  16. Claudee says

    02/12/2016 at 12:21 pm

    Great ideas i will do it with my children

    Reply
    • The Empowered Educator says

      09/12/2016 at 2:03 pm

      That’s great to hear Claudee – have fun with them!

      Reply

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Jodie
Hi, I'm Jode, Mum to twins and a teen, and an early childhood educator.
I love to share ideas & resources for play based learning
Find out more about me here...

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