Jingle Bell Waldorf Kite for Christmas
A simple homemade toy, Waldorf Hand Kites have been a staple in our playroom for years. This year we’re making sweet Jingle Bell Hand Kites for all the littles on our Christmas list!
I made our first Waldorf hand kite when Ella was just one year old. It was simple and quick to make and she loved shaking it back and forth, watching the ribbons dance with the motion.
As she got bigger and faster, she loved running with the Hand Kite in her hand and the ribbons flowing behind her.
Now that she’s six, she still sometimes brings her hand kite out to play (especially when she’s running around the yard) but her love of them has evolved to include making them for the toddlers in her life.
Her favorite Christmas song at the moment is Jingle Bell Rock so she naturally suggested we add some jingle bells to the hand kites. Adding the jingle bells is great for kids past the mouthing phase – but I would avoid it with toddlers that might chew on the bells.
After quickly polishing our wooden ring, Ella carefully picked out ribbons and bells and set out a pattern to follow (an easy way to work math concepts into your craft time). We didn’t have any green ribbons in our stash but you could swap out these ribbons for just about any color combination – it’s even better when it’s personalized to the child you make your Waldorf Hand Kite for.
Once the ribbons get dragged through the mud a few too many times, simply cut them off and add new ribbons. The ring featured here is actually the same ring from our original Waldorf Hand kite – 5 years ago! With a quick polish it looks brand new!
You can also use a wood burner to add a name or personalized message on the handle of your hand kite.
Materials to Make a Hand Kite with Bells
- Wooden ring (can use an old bracelet or shower ring)
- Jingle bells
- Two to three colors ribbon
- Scissors
Tip: we polish our Waldorf hand kites before adding the ribbons using this method.
How to Make a Waldorf Hand Kite
Polish or buff the ring until completely smooth. Dry if necessary.
Cut the ribbons in equal lengths – I suggest not longer than the height of the child using it.
Tie the ribbons to the ring so that they loop around the ring and are essentially folded in half (doubling the amount of streamers). There are several types of knots that work for this – so stick within your child’s skill level.
Attach all ribbons in a pattern, as desired.
Thread the bells on one half of the ribbon and then securely double knot with the second half of the ribbon into place.
You can alternate colors of jingle bells – we also preferred to skip a ribbon in between jingle bells to avoid crowding, but with thicker ribbon you won’t have as much of an issue.
Pin this easy Kid-made Jingle Bells Waldorf Kite:
Grab your free printable for our Waldorf Hand Kite tutorial:
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Jingle Bell Waldorf Kite for Christmas
Ingredients
- Wooden ring (can use an old bracelet or shower ring)
- Jingle bells
- Two to three colors ribbon
- Scissors
Instructions
- Polish or buff the ring until completely smooth. Dry if necessary.
- Cut the ribbons in equal lengths - I suggest not longer than the height of the child using it.
- Tie the ribbons to the ring so that they loop around the ring and are essentially folded in half (doubling the amount of streamers). There are several types of knots that work for this - so stick within your child's skill level.
- Attach all ribbons in a pattern, as desired.
- Thread the bells on one half of the ribbon and then securely double knot with the second half of the ribbon into place.
- You can alternate colors of jingle bells - we also preferred to skip a ribbon in between jingle bells to avoid crowding, but with thicker ribbon you won't have as much of an issue.
This easy kid-made Waldorf Kite makes a beautiful homemade gift for a toddler or preschooler, or a great party favor! Swap out the colors depending on the season and occasion! I think these would look awesome at a school play or Christmas parade, too.
For more cool kid-made gifts, check out our Kid-Made Lip Gloss or our Kid-Made Peppermint Sugar Scrub.
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