Kids will love making mason jar decorations as gifts for family and friends. Enjoy this kid-made ornament at home or surprise a favorite teacher or relative.

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What's on your list for teacher this year? How about Gramma and Aunt Mary? It isn't easy to come up with new ideas for holiday gifts.

A mason jar kid-made gift can help lighten your shopping list this year. These homemade decorations are just right for little hands to create.

And a mason jar activity is hands-on fun, with lots of support for creativity along with fine motor and sensory play.

• Mason jars are easy to reuse in crafts and activities. These sturdy jars are inexpensive, available online or in department stores or dollar stores.

This craft is easy to adapt to any event, any season of the year.

Simply change the small parts placed in the mason jar to reflect the occasion.

• Use pastel colors for Easter, autumn colors for fall, or special items for a birthday.
  
  
• A mason jar filled with mini erasers or crayons will make a fun teacher gift.

This simple activity is a great way to include little ones in creating fun decorations and unique gifts. They can simply fill a mason jar with festive colors and materials to make this beautiful gift for someone special.

Mason jar Christmas craft

Set out the supplies, then allow time for your preschooler to explore the materials.

Each result will look different. There is no right or wrong way to complete the activity.

Materials list

• small decorations from a craft store or dollar store
• mason jar with handle 
• narrow ribbon
• mini pine cones. 

A mason jar with a handle will be easier for your preschooler to lift and carry.

Search through your old and unused decorations for small parts that can be removed for this activity.

Mini decorations can also be purchased in craft stores.

Provide a variety of old and new items to keep the cost low while inspiring creativity.

Instructions for making a mason jar ornament

Layer pine cones and small decorations in the mason jar.

There is no right or wrong way to make this mason jar decoration.

• Fill the jar. Empty the jar. Fill it again until it looks just right! 

Tie a ribbon around the top of the jar.

That's it! That's all there is to it. The only step kids might ask for help with is tying a bow.

The end result will depend on the materials you provide and the items kids choose, making each mason jar Christmas decoration unique and beautiful!

As a bonus, this activity engages early development skills - sensory, fine motor, cognitive - as kids choose materials, sort and count items, and fill the jar. 

Kids love to give as much as they love to receive. With this activity, they share the wonderful colors and textures of Christmas!

Join us with a group of bloggers participating in 12 Days of Christmas, a roundup of crafts, food and activities to help you celebrate the holidays.