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Good Housekeeping published ideas for making children active participants in a holiday party, including decorated snowflake crafts, handmade cards and a build-your-own cocoa bar. The report also suggests preparing supplies ahead of time and keeping hand soap available; it does not report a new event or independently tested safety guidance.
Good Housekeeping has published a guide to making holiday gatherings more engaging for children, offering three hands-on activities: decorating craft-stick snowflakes, making holiday cards and customizing hot cocoa. The report also includes suggestions from crafting expert Kimberly McLeod and advice to prepare materials before guests arrive.
For a snowflake craft, the guide recommends that hosts glue four craft sticks into snowflake shapes before the party. Guests can decorate them with supplies such as glitter, stickers, bells, pom-poms, washable paint or markers. Twine attached to the back lets children hang the finished pieces on a tree. McLeod names glitter, glitter stickers, bells and pom-poms among her favorite decorating supplies.
The card activity starts with folded cardstock marked with two rows of wavy lines, drawn in black marker to suggest holiday lights. Children can use paint-dipped fingertips to add colorful bulbs; adults can use cotton swabs instead. Guests can write messages inside and either exchange their cards or take them home. The report suggests allowing the paint to dry before cards are handled or packed away.
A make-your-own cocoa bar can include toppings such as crushed candy canes, chocolate spoons, sprinkles, chocolate syrup, chocolate shavings, cinnamon and whipped cream. The guide also describes marshmallow snowmen made by stacking two large marshmallows on a toothpick, adding chocolate features and an orange-sprinkle nose, and tying licorice beneath the top marshmallow as a scarf. It recommends setting up toppings on a counter or on a folding table covered with a plastic tablecloth.
Activities Give Children a Party Role
The ideas address a common hosting challenge identified by the report: children may be left without a planned activity while adults socialize. Crafts and a cocoa station give young guests something specific to do and create options for children and adults to participate together. The activities also produce cards and decorations guests can keep, exchange or display.
Advance preparation can make the activities easier to manage during a gathering. The host can assemble craft-stick shapes, draw the card designs and arrange toppings before guests arrive, leaving participants to personalize the projects. The source does not provide evidence that these ideas improve party outcomes; they are practical suggestions rather than tested findings.
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Planning the Crafts and Cocoa Bar
The report frames its recommendations around making children part of a home holiday celebration rather than expecting them to entertain themselves. Its activities use readily recognizable party materials—paper, paint, craft sticks and sweets—and offer both group participation and individual keepsakes.
The article also promotes Good Housekeeping Seal holder Simple Pleasures soaps, describing refillable seasonal bottles and scents as decorative items, stocking stuffers, hostess gifts or party favors. That product mention is part of the source report; the supplied material does not include independent testing details, pricing or availability.
“Some of my favorite craft supplies to decorate with are glitter, glitter stickers, bells, and pom poms.”
— Kimberly McLeod, crafting expert, as quoted in Good Housekeeping
Safety and Practical Details Not Specified
The supplied report does not specify a recommended age range, adult-to-child supervision, allergy accommodations or precautions for toothpicks and other small craft materials. Hosts will need to judge whether each activity suits their guests and adapt supplies accordingly. The cocoa suggestions include common allergens such as milk and potentially wheat, soy or other ingredients, depending on the products used; the report does not give allergen-labeling guidance.
It is also unclear from the supplied material when the guide was published, whether the listed seasonal soaps are currently available, or what their prices are. The source offers party ideas and product descriptions, not a report of a newly announced event or a formal evaluation of the products.
Hosts Can Adapt the Suggestions
The next step for readers is to choose activities suited to their guests, prepare materials in advance and provide clear supervision where needed. Hosts planning a cocoa bar can check product labels, offer alternatives for guests with allergies and serve drinks at a temperature appropriate for children. For crafts, washable materials and a protected work surface may help limit cleanup.
No further development is reported in the supplied source material. It does not announce an event date, future update or follow-up from Good Housekeeping or McLeod.
Key Questions
What activities does the holiday party guide recommend?
It suggests decorating craft-stick snowflakes, making holiday cards with painted fingertip lights and setting up a customizable hot cocoa bar.
What can guests use to decorate the snowflakes?
The guide lists glitter, glitter stickers, bells, pom-poms, washable paints and markers. Hosts can attach twine to each preassembled shape so guests can hang it on a tree.
What toppings can go on a hot cocoa bar?
Suggestions include crushed candy canes, chocolate spoons, sprinkles, chocolate syrup, chocolate shavings, cinnamon and whipped cream. Check ingredient labels and provide options for guests with allergies.
Does the report give child-safety or allergy instructions?
It does not give detailed age, supervision or allergy guidance. Hosts should consider the ages of children, supervise materials such as toothpicks, and check food labels before serving.
Source: goodhousekeeping.com
