Magic Reindeer Food is another one of our traditions at Christmas. We were first introduced to Magic Reindeer Food when my daughter was in preschool. I thought it was the cutest idea, and immediately decided the kids would be feeding the reindeer and lighting the way for Santa on Christmas Eve. This year we also decided to give it as a gift to our little friends – great DIY gift idea!
It is so simple and fun. After your fun Christmas Eve festivities and right before you send the kids off to dream of sugar plums, send them outside to sprinkle “Reindeer Food” on the lawn. The idea is that the moon lights up the sparkly stuff (glitter or sugar crystals) and guides Santa’s sleigh to your home. Then the reindeer get oats as a treat.
Now, there are other ways to make this reindeer food, but I like to do it the *easy* way. Also, the kids can help you put the baggies together.
For “mine”, all you do is:
Put some glitter or red/green sugar crystals and a small handful of oats in a snack baggie.
Close the snack baggie and fold it in half. Staple a little poem to it. I found free clip art of a reindeer, typed the little poem, and printed it on colored construction paper. Here’s the poem (this is the one I made up, but you can google others):
Reindeer Food
Sprinkle, sprinkle
Make it bright
Light the way on Christmas night
Santa’s sleigh will appear
With gifts, and joy, and Christmas cheer!
Having out of town guests? This is the perfect activity before bedtime on Christmas Eve. Let them take the kids out to sprinkle the reindeer food, and you stay inside where it is nice and warm! Grammies and Papas love that kind of stuff.
