A little more than a month to Christmas and I’ve been hoarding advent calendar inspiration! I’m rarely organized enough to get 25 little gifts together for so many of the cute advent calendars I lust over on Pinterest, so I opted for something uniquely versatile instead…
This snowy little Christmas tree farm scene doubles as a sensory-filled wintry experience for little ones AND an easy countdown to Christmas.
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As a holiday season bonus, this was both relaxing and fun to build together. We really enjoyed scouting the neighborhood for different types of pinecones for our “tree” varieties and planning out the little details.
Once painted, we tossed our pinecones with a few drops of cedar oil for easy sensory-stimulating winter play! And adding a dusting of fresh powder at the end was the cherry on our snow-covered sundae.
There is no wrong way to make this, and the process of imagining your own little scene and making it come to life is pure magic! The fun is all in experimentation, finding new ways to play with natural materials, and building a tiny world together.
Press play to take a little tour around our tiny Christmas tree farm!
Pair this activity with some read-alouds from our favorite picture books about Christmas trees for a cozy afternoon of fun on the pine tree farm! Or recycle a box into a cardboard snowplow with moveable parts that you can use with your sensory play tree farm!
To make your own miniature pine tree farm play setup you’ll need:
Note: We prefer to shop locally or use what we have at home, but this list contains Woodpeckers Crafts, Etsy, Blick Art Materials, Bookshop.org and/or Amazon affiliate links for reference. As affiliates (and Amazon Associates), we make a small commission on qualifying purchases.*
BASIC SUPPLIES:
- Pinecones
- Paint and a brush
- A small cardboard gift box
- Twigs and/or paper straws
- Chalkboard paint (like this)
- A glue gun
- A few small balls of clay or playdough
- Cotton or faux snow (I used this kind because it’s non-toxic and biodegradable). You could also use white kinetic sand or baking soda.
OPTIONAL SUPPLIES:
- Moss, evergreen sprigs, or other natural decoration
- Cedar oil or similar (for scent)
- A string of fairy lights (like these)
- A chalk pen (I used this kind)
- Plastic gloves (for paint-dipped pinecones)
How to Make a Pine Tree Farm Play Activity – DIY Instructions:
Collect natural materials.
We used sticks, twigs, and pinecones, but you can collect and use anything you like!
As we collected our pinecones, we noticed there were so many different types – right in our backyard! With our selection of three different kinds, we were able to make a few different types of “trees”.
Paint and scent your pinecones.
We used three different colors for our three different “pine varieties” but you can use as many or as few as you want! This is a great opportunity to talk and learn about different kinds of coniferous trees.
You can use a brush to paint your pinecones, but we dipped ours in a jar filled with paint, using our (plastic-glove-covered!) hands to push the paint into some of the nooks and crannies.
Optional: finish off your pinecones by scenting them with cedar oil. Toss in a bag with about 10 drops of cedar oil (or whatever scent you prefer).
Make a vendor’s stand for your countdown.
The adorable little stand we made isn’t just there to look cute…it’s your Christmas countdown!
Cut a small, sturdy gift box in half, then use hot glue to cover the front of the box with small twigs cut to the length of the box. Hot glue two twigs to each side at the front.
Cut a piece of cereal box the same length as your box and paint with chalkboard paint. Once dry, glue sticks along the edge, then use a chalk marker to add your countdown text and the numbered countdown.
Add holiday details!
We made a little truck from cardstock and a long, thin cardboard jewelry box (perfect for toting pine trees). And a pine tree lot is never complete without a small stack of logs for cozy winter fires!
Arrange candy-striped poles on your cardboard base.
We had some paper straws that created the perfect poles to define our Christmas tree lot. You could use sticks or painted twigs though too! We stuck our straws into small mounds of clay – this gives them a nice solid base to help them stand and hold them upright.
We hung a tiny string of paper lights, but how cute would this look with some actual fairy lights strung up from pole to pole?
Build your scene by adding the pinecone trees, stand, and more.
Time to begin building your scene! As with our paper straw poles, some of our pinecones needed a small clay base to stand upright. Arrange and re-arrange all of your mini elements for some fun small-world play!
Just add snow!
We thought we’d cover up a bit of the cardboard AND make this DIY a full sensory experience by adding a layer of faux snow. The kind we found (linked in the supply list) was INCREDIBLY fun to watch expand and play around with!
Don’t forget to add some little “footprints” through the snow with your fingertips!
This is honestly one of the most enchanting small-world activities we’ve ever made. Maybe in part because there’s just something so special about this time of year.
With the Christmas playlist on repeat and an early snow falling, we cozied up around the kitchen table and just played.
40 Supplies to Use in Your Pine Tree Farm Sensory Bin or Small World
Here’s a list of 30 alternative supplies, toys, and tools for a pine tree farm sensory bin, grouped by their use within the setup. These supplies can be combined in countless ways to create a sensory bin that’s visually appealing, tactile, and even aromatic, providing a multi-sensory experience that’s both educational and entertaining.
Safety Note: Always ensure that the materials are safe for the children’s ages, especially for those who might be inclined to put items in their mouths.
Pine Tree Farm Sensory Bin Base
- Cotton Balls or Batting: Fluffy and white, perfect for creating a snow-like base or snow drifts.
- Shaving Cream: This can be used to simulate snow and adds a tactile element.
- Rice: White or dyed blue for a wintery effect.
- White Kinetic Sand: For molding terrain and adding a unique texture.
- Dry Navy Beans: Naturally white navy beans are a wonderfully simple way to represent snow.
- Felt or Fabric Scraps: Different textures to create land, water, or sky areas.
- Cornmeal: Yellow cornmeal can mimic sawdust around the tree-cutting area.
Pine Tree Farm Miniature Trees
- Toy or Bottle Brush Trees: Small plastic or wooden trees from train sets or dollhouses.
- Painted Egg Cartons: Cut and attached to sticks to form tree shapes.
- Green Play Dough: For molding pine tree shapes.
- Green Craft Pom Poms: Glued onto sticks or cones to make fluffy trees.
Pine Tree Farm Fine Motor Play Accessories
- Scoops: For digging and moving the base materials.
- Tweezers or tongs: To pick up and move objects around.
- Toy Trucks: For transporting “trees” and other materials around the bin.
- Small Shovels: For kids to “plant” or “harvest” their trees. A small craft stick or spoon can serve as a shovel for kids to clear paths or gather snow.
- Small Baskets or Containers: To hold the harvested “trees” or other elements.
Pine Tree Farm Decorations and Details
- Figurines: People, animals, or any other small toys to populate the pine tree farm.
- Mini Ornaments: For decorating the trees.
- Tinsel: Chopped into small pieces to mimic ice or to use as garland.
- Ribbon Pieces: To simulate garlands or to tie around mini trees as markers.
- Small Bells: To add a jingle sound when the bin is played with.
- Colored Stones: To line pathways or decorate the landscape.
- Small Branch Cuttings: Small pieces of wood branches can represent tree stumps or logs to stack.
- Small Wood Slices: Small wood slices or wooden craft disks can create a path.
- Craft Stick Saws: Craft sticks can be cut and painted to look like miniature hand saws.
- Playdough Snowman: White playdough, air dry clay, or stacked cotton balls can be shaped into a tiny snowman, with seed beads for eyes and buttons.
- Pipe Cleaner Mini Wreaths: Fold a pipe cleaner and half and twist it into a circle to make a simple miniature winter wreath you can hang around your pine tree farm.
- Craft Stick Sleds: Ice-pop sticks can be crafted into miniature sleds for decoration or as props for figurines.
- Scrap Fabric Blankets: Small scraps of fabric can be folded or rolled up to look like blankets in a warming area.
Pine Tree Farm Structures and Signage
- Popsicle Sticks: To make signs, fences, or a small cabin.
- Cardboard Pieces: To create stands or buildings.
- Small Boxes: Decorated as small houses or storage sheds.
- A LEGO Hot Cocoa Stand: A tiny box or LEGO build can serve as the stand, with brown beads for cocoa cups.
- Craft Stick Signs: Use craft sticks to create signs for prices or tree types.
Pine Tree Farm Sensory Elements
- Whole Spices: Use cinnamon, star anise, or whole nutmeg to add a holiday scent.
- Textured Fabrics: Burlap, buffalo plaid fabric scraps, or felt to create different areas or paths.
- Clear Water Beads or a Mirror: To create a small pond or icy patches.
- Feathers: White feathers for additional soft, tactile snow.
- LED Tea Lights or a Fairy Light String: To add a warm glow and make the scene magical.
- Natural Elements: Additional natural elements like small rocks, sticks, or pine tree cuttings can be incorporated to add more texture and realism to the setup.
These items can be mixed and matched to create a dynamic and engaging sensory bin that stimulates various senses and encourages imaginative play.
6 Ways to Use Your Christmas Tree Lot for a Countdown to Christmas
Our little Christmas tree lot setup can be a delightful way to count down to Christmas. Here are six easy ways to incorporate a Christmas countdown into the play:
- Daily Decorations: Add a new decoration to the pine trees each day, such as a tiny ornament, ribbon, or a sprinkle of glitter, representing the countdown.
- Story of the Day: Introduce a new mini storybook or picture each day that can be read aloud and then placed in the scene.
- Countdown Crafts: Have a daily craft activity related to the setup, like making a mini wreath or garland, and add it to the scene each day.
- Hidden Surprises: Hide a small treat or note under one of the pinecone trees each day for children to find.
- Tree Lot Sales: Each day, “sell” or remove a tree from the lot, counting down the trees as you get closer to Christmas.
- Festive Visitors: Introduce a new visitor to the tree farm each day, such as a different animal figurine or a character from a Christmas story.
These activities help build the excitement as the holidays approach, and also encourage daily interaction with the play setup, creating a festive new family tradition.
More Kids Winter Sensory Play Ideas
Looking for a few low-stress sensory play activities to keep younger kids entertained throughout the holiday season? Here are a few favorites..
- Make a tabletop winter sensory play garden
- Cut out a set of 5-minute cozy felt counting houses
- Try one of these winter-themed sensory tray activities
- Make scented DIY winter playdough
More Christmas Tree Activities for Kids
Pair this activity with one of our favorite picture books about Christmas trees for a cozy afternoon of fun on the Christmas tree lot! And for fun art activity kids of all ages love this time of year make your own easy cardboard Christmas tree (a great way to use up scrap wrapping paper!).
And don’t forget to download our pine tree art template bundle for hours of winter evergreen arts and crafts entertainment.
If you follow us on Instagram, you’ll probably recognize this little scene as part of our #Craftmas celebration this year. For more details, be sure to visit our DIY for a simple twig and pinecone holiday hanger. Then hop over to our nature-inspired menorah – for a kid-safe, colorful celebration of lights!
*A note about affiliate links: We strive to use simple, earth-friendly supplies that can be purchased locally whenever we can, but sometimes we find the best universally available options, a rare eco-friendly find, or a niche product only available on Blick Art Materials, Amazon, Etsy, or Woodpeckers Crafts. When included in our supply list, these products are affiliate links, and if you click through to make a purchase we receive a small commission that helps us re-order these supplies!
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I love seeing all the ways people make these ideas their own! If you're sharing the results of one of our projects, mention or tag me with @barleyandbirch, or share it in the comments of one of our Pinterest project pins.
