Kid Friendly Christmas Village Decor

Adults and children were always gathered around the tiny houses, watching the miniature train travel round and round the Christmas village, while the magnetized ice skaters did their figure eights over the glass ice, and the little light polls shined bright around the village people.

I could have stood and stared at the village for hours, noticing all the fun little details. It would never fail though, after a while my hand would involuntarily start to raise and suddenly my fingers would almost touch one of the tiny people. Mother, ever watchful, would say in a hushed, stern voice, “Don’t touch!” and I’d be drug away to continue our Christmas shopping excursion. 

Years have gone by since then, and here I am with two kids. Recently, as I was walking the isles of Walmart, I notice the most inexpensive little Christmas village items. Tiny people, houses, hotels, shops and barns. Woodland creatures, Santa, and everything else a little child would go crazy over. I mean, I went giddy over them! They were sold individually and also in sets. The prices were amazing, and then I had a thought. . .

I’ll make a village out of these items and I won't care if the kids played with them. If they break and have to be replaced. The kids want so much to be part of Christmas, and I want to give that to them. I want them to touch and play and feel Christmas between their little fingers. So I’ll make them a village they are allowed to play with.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

• A tray or three tiered tray to keep the village items and snow in place
• Fake snow
• Village items of your choice

ASSEMBLE THE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE

Go ahead and place the village pieces where you want them. This is such a fun part to get the kids involved in. They'll giggle and move things over and over.

Once all the pieces are where they are going to start at, go ahead and add the snow. This might be a mom only job. ;)

I chose to use the fake snow pieces, but you could also use the fake snow blanket, or forgo the snow altogether.

Yes, the snow is messy, but the kids just think it's so dang fun and I don’t mind running a quick vacuum over the area around the Christmas village once or twice a day.

I had purchased a few items to start us off with when I was shopping solo, and then brought the kids back with me on my next visit and allowed them to each pick three items to add to our collection. From here on out every year we’ll return to get a few more items, or replace ones that went broke or missing from the year before.

The kids have found so much joy in spending time playing with the village, or even changing a piece or two each time they walk by. It’s fun to stop and examine what’s been going on in the little village when I stroll by as well. I even change a piece or two and play with it a bit. What can I say, I’m the same girl as years gone by, giddy to reach my hand out at the toy store and touch the enchanting Christmas village people. 😉