Wrap artists

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A gift-wrapping competition is a great opportunity for children to learn and practise wrapping skills while having fun - you may be surprised to find how many of your children have never wrapped a parcel at all. The club's mock gifts will make great decorations when placed under a tree, and you can also use them as props for other activities.

You will need:

* Junk items to wrap

* Sticky tape

* Newspaper

* Plain paper

* Decorative items (sequins, glitter, bows, ribbon, tissue paper etc)

* Felt tip pens/coloured pencils/crayons/ paint

* Items for printing

Children can work alone or in pairs, starting by choosing some junk items to use as the 'gifts' (empty boxes and so on, ideally in a range of shapes). The children wrap their item however they like, letting their imaginations run free. Some children might like to wrap their gift in plain paper and then decorate it with sequins, ribbon and other attractive bits and pieces, while others may prefer to transform a piece of plain paper into unique wrapping paper prior to the actual wrapping. Provide plenty of felt tips, crayons and pencils for this, and don't forget the paint as printed paper can look particularly effective. Perhaps the children would like to make some extra sheets to take home too.