Use time in your ministry to have children create Christmas gifts for their loved ones using this creative dough bead recipe.

You’ll Need:

• baking soda
• cornstarch
• food coloring
• access to a stove
• a pot
• one shoe string per child
• water
• zipper-seal plastic bags
• toothpicks
• handwipes

Make the Dough

Before class, mix together:

• 1 cup of baking soda
• 1/2 cup of cornstarch
• several drops of food coloring
• 3/4 cup water

You’ll need to mix a batch of the above ingredients for each dough bead color. Cook over medium heat and stir constantly until the mixture solidifies. Don’t overcook. When the dough cools, knead it until smooth and pliable. Store each batch in a zipper-seal plastic bag.

Kids Make the Beads

Have children shape the dough into beads of all shapes. Using a toothpick, have them poke a hole through the center of each bead. Help children make the hole large enough for a shoestring to fit through. Then have children string the beads on the shoestring.

Distribute handwipes as needed to clean hands after working with the food-dyed dough.

Give children a zipper-seal bag to hold their beaded jewelry until they get home and can set it out to dry and harden.

Looking for more Christmas ideas? You can find lots of fun and practical ideas in the book Seasonal Specials for Children’s Ministry: All-NEW Ideas for 13 Holidays.

Check out all our Christmas posts. And for even more ideas for your children’s ministry and daily posts of inspiration for you and your team, follow us on Facebook!