• Children can place handmade decorations on the Christmas tree.Chris Stein/Digital Vision/Getty Images
  
  The Christmas tree is the highlight of the holiday's decorations. From traditional trimmings to kitschy homemade decorations, each tree is special to the family that decorates it. One way to create family memories is to involve children in making tree decorations. With a little adult supervision, children can create one-of-a-kind ornaments and embellishments from scratch that will add a personal touch to the holiday celebration.
  
  

Ornaments

• A basic ornament can be as simple as a pattern cut out of construction paper threaded with yarn for hanging on the tree. To help paper ornaments last from year to year, try laminating the paper cutouts to preserve their color and integrity. Instead of creating all new ornaments, children can add their own touch to readymade Christmas balls and figurines. Children also can shape ornaments out of clay. Once they have shaped an ornament, it an be baked, painted and looped with yarn to hang on the tree. Remember to have each child sign and date his ornaments to preserve memories.
  
  

Garland

• Wrap decorative garland around the tree or string it vertically, depending on personal taste. One way kids can create garland is to string a rope of popcorn, which adds color and interest to the tree. This is not recommended for outside trees unless you don't mind attracting bugs, birds and rodents. Another way children can create garland is to cut out patterns from construction paper and string them together to create a colorful rope. Children can trace their hand shape or cut images out of paper such as ornaments, trees, snowmen, Santa, stars or leaves.
  
  

Tree Toppers

• A tree topper gives presence and drama to a well-decorated Christmas tree and allows kids to flex their creative muscles. To make a tree topper, have the child wrap a piece of thick cardstock into a cone and fasten it shut to form the base. Create a tree topper shape out of paper, clay or papier mache. Traditionally, toppers feature stars or angels, but any shape will work. Attach the topper design onto the cone with tape or hot glue, decorate it and place it on top of the tree.