Wishing Wand New Year craft for children

Do you make New Year resolutions with your children? Here’s a lovely New Year craft for children that encourages them to think about their hopes and dreams for the year ahead: a magic wishing wand craft.  

 

 

 

Wishing Wand New Year craft for children

Materials needed:

:: card

:: scissors

:: sticky backed plastic /contact paper

:: pretty embellishments such as glitter, sequins, ribbon, tissue paper or left-over wrapping paper

:: pencil or marker pen  

 

 

 

Start by cutting out a circle from the piece of card. A cereal bowl is about the right size to draw around.  

Once you have your circle you need to turn it into a star shape.

Fold your circle half, then fold the half into three sections.

While your circle is still folded, cut out a segment as shown in the picture.  

 

 

Then open out your folded card to reveal a pretty star.  

 

 

You can use the star as it is and glue on some decorations. Alternatively, for an extra magical effect, cut out the centre of your star to just leave the outer frame.  

 

 

Stick this star frame onto piece of sticky backed plastic (contact paper) and trim around the edges. Then you can decorate the inner star.  

 

 

 

Using sticky backed plastic rather than glue stops things being too messy and children can stick, peel and re-stick as much as they like.

Plus, the decorations look like they are magically floating in the middle of the wand!  

 

 

 

 

To make your wand extra special for New Year, use it to make wishes and resolutions.

 

You can write ‘I wish…‘ on the outer edge of the wand and then ask your child to say, write or draw what their wishes are. You might be surprised about what they pick!  

 

 

 

Add a stick – we used a rolled up piece of the card – and some ribbons and you’re done. Then your little fairies and New Year pixies can waft around granting wishes into the New Year.    

 

 

 

 

Download your ready-made New Year thematic unit

Download your ready-made New Year thematic unit from the Play Academy and you’ll have everything you need to guide your children through a fun and thoughtful new year.

In this New Year Unit your children can:

:: learn about New Year celebrations and enjoy new year fizz sensory play

:: make a homemade calendar

:: complete their unique What A Year! journal page

:: make noise makers and fireworks

:: set New Year’s resolution goals

:: make a wishing wand or make a poster of their Word of the Year  

 

 

Bonus New Year thematic unit printables

The Play Academy’s thematic units come with practical printables that make the lessons more engaging for your children and easier for you to teach.

No need to go searching for printables to accompany your lessons, they’re all included when you download your chosen unit.

In this New Year Unit you’ll receive these bonus printables:

:: a Draw Your Own Calendar

:: a What A Year! New Year Review poster / journal page

:: a New Year Colouring page

:: and New Year Goals printables    

 

 

 

How to download your ready-made New Year Unit

You can download your ready-made New Year unit, along with over 50 more, from NurtureStore’s Play Academy.

If you are already of the Play Academy, you can download this unit straight away from our Library here.

If you are not yet a member, find out more and choose your first unit here. Your teaching is about to get a whole lot easier!