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Good Housekeeping published ideas for making holiday gatherings more engaging for children, with crafts, handmade cards and a hot cocoa station. The report also recommends keeping hand soap nearby and includes advice from crafting expert Kimberly McLeod.
Good Housekeeping has published ideas for hosting a kid-friendly holiday party, recommending group crafts, homemade cards and a build-your-own hot cocoa bar to give younger guests activities alongside the festivities. The guide also includes suggestions from crafting expert Kimberly McLeod and advises hosts to keep hand soap available for cleanup.
For a snowflake craft, the guide suggests preparing groups of four craft sticks in snowflake shapes before guests arrive. Children and adults can decorate them with glitter, stickers, bells and pom-poms, or use washable paint and markers. A piece of twine taped to the back lets guests hang the finished decorations on a tree.
A second activity turns folded cardstock into holiday cards. Hosts can draw wavy lines on the front to represent strings of lights, then set out washable paint for guests to make fingertip prints as colorful bulbs. Cotton swabs offer another way to dot the paint. Guests can write messages inside and exchange the cards or take them home to send.
The suggested cocoa station can include toppings such as crushed candy canes, chocolate shavings, sprinkles, cinnamon and whipped cream. McLeod’s snowman marshmallows use two large marshmallows stacked on a toothpick, with melted chocolate for facial features, an orange sprinkle for a nose and red licorice for a scarf. The article also promotes Simple Pleasures soaps, a Good Housekeeping Seal holder, as a seasonal option for handwashing and party gifts.
Activities Give Children a Party Role
The ideas address a familiar hosting challenge: children at holiday gatherings may have little to do while adults socialize. Shared projects give young guests a defined activity and invite adults to join, rather than treating children as spectators. The crafts also produce cards or decorations that guests can take home, extending the activity beyond the party.
The suggestions rely on common supplies and can be prepared in advance. Washable paint and a covered table can help contain mess, while the cocoa station lets guests customize a treat. These are practical hosting ideas, not evidence that any particular activity will suit every child or prevent spills; hosts will need to adapt them to their guests’ ages and needs.
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Crafts, Cocoa and Cleanup
The source is a Good Housekeeping lifestyle report, not an announcement of a new product or a formal event. It presents party-planning suggestions and includes product promotion for seasonal hand soaps. The supplied material gives no publication date, sales figures or independent testing results about the soaps.
Its recommendations combine preparation before guests arrive with activities done together. Hosts can assemble the craft-stick snowflakes and draw card designs in advance, then leave decorating and personalization to guests. The cocoa toppings and marshmallow decorations are also presented as options rather than requirements for hosting a holiday gathering.
“Some of my favorite craft supplies to decorate with are glitter, glitter stickers, bells, and pom poms.”
— Kimberly McLeod, crafting expert, as quoted by Good Housekeeping
Age Range and Safety Details
The supplied report does not specify age ranges for the activities, how much adult supervision is needed, or whether the craft materials and toothpick-based marshmallow decorations are appropriate for every child. Hosts should account for choking risks, allergies and individual needs, especially around small decorations, food and pointed sticks. The article also does not provide measurements, preparation times or a tested party schedule.
Although the report recommends washable materials and soap to help with cleanup, it does not establish that these steps will prevent stains or mess. Its product descriptions and gift suggestions are editorial content alongside promotional references; the supplied source does not provide independent evidence about product performance.
Prepare Supplies Before Guests Arrive
The article gives hosts a set of ideas to adapt for their own gatherings; it does not announce a scheduled follow-up or event. Before a party, hosts can prepare the snowflake bases and card fronts, arrange washable supplies, and set up a cocoa area with any toppings they plan to serve.
Hosts should check food allergies and offer alternatives where needed, supervise children using toothpicks or small craft pieces, and keep hot cocoa at a safe serving temperature. The source provides no further reporting or confirmed updates about the guide.
Key Questions
What activities does the guide recommend?
It suggests decorating craft-stick snowflakes, making cards with painted fingertip-print holiday lights and setting up a customizable hot cocoa bar.
Who is Kimberly McLeod?
Good Housekeeping identifies McLeod as a crafting expert and quotes her advice on decorating snowflake crafts.
What supplies are suggested for the snowflakes?
The guide recommends preparing groups of four craft sticks in snowflake shapes, then offering materials such as glitter, stickers, bells, pom-poms, washable paint or markers, plus twine for hanging the finished crafts.
What should hosts keep in mind about safety?
The source does not give age-specific safety guidance. Hosts should supervise children using pointed toothpicks and small decorations, check food allergies, and serve hot drinks at a safe temperature.
Source: goodhousekeeping.com
