*Update 12.10.13–I have a newer version of the Magic Reindeer Feed with a printable if you are interested in seeing or using it. To see the newer version click here: Magic Reindeer Feed
A few years ago my daughter came home from her Pre-school class with some magic reindeer food. She was instructed to sprinkle it on the front lawn on Christmas Eve so that Santa and his reindeer could find her home. She was so excited and my other kids wished they had some reindeer food too. It worked just like magic. Santa definitely came! We have continued the tradition every year since to ensure that Santa can find his way to our house.
The food has special “glow in the dark” crystals that are illuminated by the moon and as my daughter pointed out today, Rudolph’s Red Nose! I wish she would have said that before I got them all printed out :). That is so much more fun than being illuminated by the moon. (I will have to change it for next year as I have already made ours up).
This would be so fun to make for your kids friends as a small, inexpensive gift, an elementary school party, your neighbor’s kids or your grandkids! Be sure to make it edible so that the birds don’t eat something that is not good for them…like glitter.
Here is our simple recipe.
Reindeer Food
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup red or green sugar crystals (for cake decorating)
**I have seen some recipes that call for glitter, but I have heard that it can be dangerous for any birds who might eat it, so we just use colored sugar. Colored sugar can be made so easily. Just take some sugar and drop a few drops of food coloring in the sugar. Then take a fork and stir it until the sugar is colored evenly and there are no lumps.
Here is a fun poem that you can give along with the reindeer food to let people know what it is and how to use it.
Sprinkle on the lawn at night
The moon (Rudolph’s Nose) will make it sparkle bright
As Santa’s reindeer fly and roam
This will guide them to your home.
I filled a cellophane treat bag (6 in. x 3.75 in.) with the reindeer food and attached a label by stapling it to the top. The writing on the label is upside down so when you fold it,the writing will be right side up.
There are two different downloads if you are interested. I would love to know if you end up making some! I love to see the projects my readers are enjoying and making for themselves.
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I have the same recipe that we will be using next week!
Thank you for sharing! I love this idea and SO many of your other ones. I am going to borrow this for my daughter's preschool class.
My little girl is just old enough to do these! I have made these with groups of kids before. Thanks for the labels!
Cute! I have done that before too, but never with those adorable labels like you did. I posted on my blog a recipe for snowman seeds and magic powder-cocoa and marshamellows. Check it out.
http://www.shannonrodriguez.blogspot.com
I love it and just printed it out for my grandsons.
Thanks
Thanks so much Kay for sharing that. I hope they enjoy them!
I love this idea…they usually make it at school for the kids to put out with milk and cookies!
Love it!
I make this for all my co-workers kids and grandkids each year…this year 125! Another fun thing to make is snowman soup–packet of coco, holiday marshmallows or peeps, small candy cane and hershy kiss or hug. http://christmas.organizedhome.com/printable/gift-tags/snowman-soup-bag-topper
Lots of other ideas at http://christmas.organizedhome.com/ look under gift and crafts tab or printable gifts. Merry Christmas!
Super cute idea!!! I wasn't sure what to make for my 4 year old's preschool class gift but this will be PERFECT!!! Thankyou Thankyou!!!
Amy, my question is, do you ever sleep??? Thank you, this is too cute :)
We do this too!!! We add cheerios to it though along with all the oats, colored sugar!
I work at a preschool and my kids would love that! I can't wait to make it for them…and it's much better than giving them a treat bag filled with candy! Thank you for the great idea!
This is wonderful! Instead of flipping the text box in word, does it work to flip the clipart/picture upside down? I think I'm going to try that!
Hi Amy,
I have had difficulty flipping text before in Word myself. After spending hours on the web looking for a solution, I have found that the easiest way to print text in two different directions is to use PowerPoint. You can rotate the text box and the text will turn with it. I hope this helps!
I brought home Reindeer Food when I was in first grade using broken Shredded Wheat and we continued this tradition as a family for many years and I will certainly continue the tradition with my own family!
I love reindeer food!! :)
we've been doing the same thing for 7 years! My daughter turns 12 next week…..I wonder if she will still want to do it….I hope so!
We do this every year and give to to friends and neighbors. I think we first did it in preschool. Our poem is slightly different and it makes for some fun photos.
On Christmas Eve when the moon is out,
Clap 3 times and stomp about.
Sprinkle this reindeer food on the ground
Shout Santa 2 times and turn around.
The sparkle of the glitter and smell of the oats
will guide Santa's slay straight to your house.
Great idea!!! Thanks so much for sharing!
clothedmuch.blogspot.com
I just flipped the clip art, much easier! I love your site. So many great ideas. I am going to give this away with the personalized hand sanitizers.
THANKS FOR THIS AWESOME IDEA! I AM MAKING SOME FOR MY GIRLS TO GIVE TO ALL THEIR CLASS MATES!
sending it in to be approved today. I put a disclaimer on mine* (Ingredients:Sugar,Oatmeal.
Please do not eat, it is reindeer food and what ever they do not eat the birds will appreciate.)
hopefully it will be approved! haha… if not I guess we could use prepackaged oatmeal and sugar packets! haha…
Super cute!
I love this idea!
Thank you for sharing this adorable craft.
I just posted my version on my blog. :)
Totally posted this on our blog too. I had forgotten all about it until you reminded me.
Thank you!
These are going on the top of the annual Christmas Eve gift… new jammies… we're sure to have fun in those footed pjs covering the lawn!
Katrina
Thank you so very much! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I just discovered your site…and I am in love….it makes me happy to just look at all your wonderful ideas.
That is such a good idea Amy!! My kids will love it!!!
xoxo
Jen
Love this idea, but why put sugar in it?? Just do the oatmeal. Won’t hurt a child to eat it but they won’t be tempted to eat more by sugar. And the birds who do clean up will not appreciate the sugar.
hi its a lovely idea but i would recommend bird seed instead of oatmeal.the oatmeal if eaten by the birds is bad for them it swells up in their stomach…we have made some for xmas school fete with bird seed and glitter….great site by the way
I LOVE this! Thank you for sharing.
This reindeer food is awesome. i love it. im going to use it for christmas eve
Thanks Selina! My kids insist on doing it year on Christmas Eve as part of our tradition. Even as they get older and wiser in the ways of “santa”!
LOVE this. I am going to do this with my 2 & 4 year old this year!!! Great idea :)
Thank you for including the adorable pdf’s …. I am taking these in for my daughter’s kindergarten class tomorrow. I am going to read Reindeer Christmas by Mark Kimball Moulton, make handprint reindeer paintings with them and give them each a bag of magical reindeer food to take home! Thanks again for sharing!! Merry Christmas!
I would like to prepare the Magic Reindeer Food before I go on holiday for 2 weeks and be ready for the Christmas Fair 7th December. Will the Oats and sugar last if I have rapped it up in Voile?
Absolutely! I make it well in advance in preparation for Pre-School gifts and for the kids on Christmas Eve!
My children in my class loved making this.
I love the reindeer food project from your site. By chance do you mind updating the wording in the PDF attachment that would make reference to “Rudolph’s nose will make it sparkle bright” I like the PDF art work of just Rudolph in the three circles.
THANKS SO MUCH !
We made this in our creche and all the children loved making it A really simple activity that all the children can take part in thanks
Thank you Monica! I am so glad you were able to make it with the children and that they enjoyed it! Thank you for taking the time to come back and share that with me. I love hearing from people who end up making something I have shared! xo
Thank you so much for not using glitter in your reindeer food. The glitter sticks in the windpipe of the bird slowly chocking it to death. If the glitter does indeed manage to make it to their stomached, it can not be digested, so will slowly poison the bird – a very painful and horrid death.
It makes. E so mad when I see people telling the children,their food has ‘extra magic glitter’ cos that means hey, you might kill 2 birds!
Edible sparkles are fine.- it keeps the birds and the magic of Christmas alive!
Many thanks,
Tamara Hodgson-May
Such a great point! Thanks for sharing!
Hi! I just printed out Reindeer Food #2. They were an exact fit for the bags I bought. Thank you so much!!! Merry Christmas!
Yay! Love to hear that! Have a Merry Christmas too!