What You’ll Need

• Short cardboard tube

• Goodies to go inside the cracker (confetti, fun size candy, a small toy, or a joke)

• Wrapping paper or tissue paper

• Scissors

• Tape

• String

What to Do

1. Put the goodies inside the cardboard tube.

2. Cover the tube with wrapping paper, leaving extra at each end. Then tape the paper in the center.

3. Tie a string at each end of the tube.

4. Cut the paper ends to make fringe.

Extend the Fun

Younger kids: Will it fit? Before you put the goodies in the tube, play a game with your child about size. Hold up an item and ask “Will this fit in the tube?” Start with objects that are obviously too large. Then ask about some objects that are smaller and might fit inside. Spatial awareness develops over time, so have some fun with it!

Older kids: Make it a personal gift. Before you start, encourage your child to write down something nice about the person receiving the party cracker. She could say something about personality, share a special memory from the past year, or write down a few adjectives that describe this person. Then she can put the paper inside the cracker so the recipient will receive a sweet treat and a sweet note.