Magic reindeer Food, Christmas dust

One of the members of the forum (blueliz) explained how she made christmas dust with the children each year. It is basically a mixture of oats and glitter. I have since read how it's best to use coloured sugar crystals due to the danger of birds eating the glitter. However, Liz explained how she made the dust and I thought it was lovely.

We sit in a circle, the lights off, so its dim. Depending on the children, I might have a large candle in the middle of the circle. I read a Christmas story, something about Santa Claus. I explain what we are making, Santa Dust, to sprinkle on our front step, front garden, driveway etc on Christmas Eve so Santa Claus will know a good little child lives there. The porrigde oats are for Rudolph and the other reindeers to eat, the glitter is the magic. We have a mixing bowl, a bag of porridge, and glitter. and take turns adding a small teaspoon of porridge and a pinch of glitter (the magic) to the bowl. Then stir it up, making a christmas wish. It's all very magical and atmospheric. When the bowl has gone round everybody we take turns to put a spoonful of the mixture into a small plastic bag, tied with a piece of thin parcel ribbon. I have little cards with a picture of Santa and a verse, which is attatched to the bag with the ribbons. Its a lovely calm, restful and magical activity at the end of term. just what the children need in the midst of the hustle and bustle. (And I love doing it to).

I found some other ways of making it, using birdseed, cheerios, coloured sugar crystals and of course rolled oats or oatmeal. To make coloured sugar crystals you basically add a couple of drops of food colouring to a bag of sugar and mix up well.

I made a couple of labels with two different poems but if you google there are loads more poems out there





click here and here for labels already set out and ready to print

I found out about it too late last year but I still made some for the children who live down my street and it went down very well.

Here is how I intend to do this activity. I am going to wrap up a parcel with brightly coloured Christmas paper. Inside will be a bag of oats, a bag of coloured sugar, a tablespoon, a teaspoon and a mixing bowl. There will also be a letter from Santa to read to the children. We will then make the Santa dust.

Here is the letter I have made



For lots more Christmas resources click here