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Home » Activities

DIY Paper Chain Garland with Indoor Activities for Kids

Published: Jan 8, 2025 by Shelly · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

Make a DIY Paper Chain Garland with Ideas for Indoor Activities for Kids on each paper chain strip! Take off links to find fun things that the kids can do on a school break or a snow day! Choose from over 100 activity ideas to keep kids from boredom.

Paper chain made from light green, red, and green construction paper with indoor activities written on them with colorful pom-poms around. Strip of paper saying "Make a pop up card" and pen near by.
Jump to:
  • Cute Craft Alert: Indoor Activities for Kids on a Paper Chain Garland!
  • Supplies for a Paper Chain Craft 
  • Steps to Make a DIY Paper Chain Garland with Ideas for Indoor Activities for Kids
  • Activity Ideas for "Bored" Kids!
  • Craft Tips
  • Craft Variations 
  • FAQ
  • More Easy Paper Crafts for Kids
  • Come Join the Fun!
  • More Crafts!
  • DIY Paper Chain Garland with Indoor Activities for Kids

Cute Craft Alert: Indoor Activities for Kids on a Paper Chain Garland!

How about a new twist on a Paper Chain Garland? We’ve all made paper chains to hang on the Christmas tree. But how about using it as a list full of indoor activities for kids?

Write an activity on each paper strip of paper before forming it into a chain. The chain will be full of fun things to do on winter break when kids are home from school, or on the weekend, or a snow day.

When the kids are bored just grab a link and let the fun activities begin!

Colorful pieces of construction paper, a ruler, tape, glue stick and pen with colorful pom-poms near by as decoration.

Supplies for a Paper Chain Craft 

You don’t need many supplies to bring these cute paper chains to life!

  • Paper- Use whatever paper you have such as construction paper or colored paper for the printer.
  • Pen- I used a regular ball point pen to write on mine, but you could also use a Sharpie Marker.
  • Glue- Use clear tape, glue stick, school glue, or a stapler to connect the links.
  • List of Activity ideas- There is a list below of many activity ideas to write on the paper chain. Many are posts on www.WelcomeToNanas.com and there are links to the posts.
Person measuring out even strips on pieces of colorful paper to cut to make paper chains with colorful pom-poms near by.

Steps to Make a DIY Paper Chain Garland with Ideas for Indoor Activities for Kids

Cut paper chain strips 

Cut strips of construction paper that are about 1 inch wide. 

Write an activity on each paper chain strip using a pen or Sharpie. The list of activities below are available to choose from (or make up your own ideas)!

Pick activities of interest to you and your kids. Choose ideas you can help with or you can provide materials for.

Person cutting strips of colorful paper to make paper chain with colorful pom-poms near by.

Make a construction paper chain 

Make a circle with the first paper strip (with the writing to the inside). 

Glue or tape the two ends of the circle together. 

Thread the second paper strip through the first circle and glue or tape it together.

Continue this pattern until all your strips are connected into a long paper chain.

Person writing indoor activities on colorful strips of paper with pom-pom garland near by.

Hang the paper chains and garlands

Hang up the paper chain on the end of a curtain rod, on a bulletin board, the refrigerator, or wherever you have room. Hang it as a chain or drape it like a garland.

Take off a link whenever the kids are wanting something to do!

Young girl in pink shirt loops green strip of paper through paper chain garland.

Activity Ideas for "Bored" Kids!

Here is a list of things to do when bored at home. Kids will love doing these activities with friends and family! Choose a few to write on the paper strips before making the paper chain.

  • Fold Origami Lucky Paper Stars
  • Create Free Printable Paper Dolls and Clothes
  • Make Homemade Hot Chocolate (or Hot cocoa mix)
  • Have a dance party
  • Make the Best Fluffy Slime Recipe for Kids
  • Make Easy DIY Giant Tissue Paper Flowers
  • Paint the cover of a book or journal
  • Make an invention out of recycled materials
  • Make a Heart Waterfall Card (so cool)
  • Make Fruit Leather
  • Make a Printable DIY Secret Message Decoder Wheel 
  • Make Yummy Homemade Granola Bars
  • Put together a puzzle
  • Make DIY Hand Embroidered Cards
  • Create an Indoor Scavenger Hunt
  • Learn How to Draw a Cylinder or can (there is a series of how to draw posts)
  • Play (learn) a card game
  • Make Your Own Ice Cream in a Bag
  • Color on Coloring pages (free coloring pages)
  • Make your own movie and watch it!
  • Create a Yarn Laser Maze Indoors
  • A simple painting project like Paint with Broccoli- a Spring Tree
  • Make Handmade Envelopes: 3 Ways
  • Make an Easy Macrame Plant Hanger DIY
  • Draw your own cartoon
  • Learn How to Grow Spring Flower Bulbs Inside
  • Learn Soft Pastel Techniques to Learn
  • Have a movie night
  • Make a Simple to Sew Apron DIY Gift
  • Make an Easy to Sew Microwaveable Rice Pack
  • Cook Easy Peasy Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
  • Make Kids Quick Pinecone Bird Feeder
  • Read a book out loud (or just read a book)
  • Make a Cute Yarn Bird
  • Make a DIY Easy Pom Pom Bookmark from Yarn
  • Make a treasure hunt for your family
  • Make a DIY Wooden Picture Frame Loom
  • Learn How to Make an Easy Weaving Loom
  • Play hide and seek
  • Make an Easy Personal Pizza Recipe
  • Have fun Painting Rocks
  • Build an Inside Epic Fort
  • Make a Pretty Painted Terra Cotta Flower Pot
  • Play hide and seek
  • Make and play with an Amazing Homemade Playdough Recipe
  • Make some Torn Paper Mosaic Art
  • Learn How to Make a Paper Airplane
  • Do a service project
  • Have an Amazing Paper Airplane Competition
  • Make a Kids Obstacle Course Adventure
  • Play a board game or have a game night
  • Make Plastic Bag Toy Parachutes
  • Make a DIY Quill Pen and Ink
  • Make a Flip Book with Index Cards
  • Look through photo albums
  • Make a DIY Bookmarks Using Sharpie and Alcohol on Plastic
  • Create a DIY a Origami Paper Fortune Teller (Cootie Catcher)
  • Call a friend
  • Make a Fun Plastic Bottle Fish Craft
  • Learn How to Make Easy DIY Animal Masks from Craft Foam
  • Make a DIY Round Friendship Bracelet with a Cardboard Loom
  • Make a sculpture our of toothpicks, marshmallows, ow whatever you have
  • How to Creatively Use and Store Children’s Wall Art
  • Learn how to Make Homemade Stickers with Packing Tape
  • Make Easy Origami Corner Bookmarks
  • Put on a play
  • How to Enlarge a Drawing to Scale with a Grid
  • Make DIY Easy Book Page Roses (Upcycle Old Paper)
  • Create Paper Plate String Art
  • How to Make Simple Chinese Paper Lanterns
  • Invite a friend over to play
  • Make Cute Toilet Paper Roll Animals
  • Paint a Glue Line and Watercolor Wash Painting
  • Make a DIY Easy Paper Fan Craft for Winter
  • Make a fun Scribble Monster Drawings
  • Write a letter to a friend or relative
  • Paint an Easy Toilet Paper Roll Flower Painting
  • How to Weave a Paper Basket of Newspaper
  • Make DIY Punched Tin Can Lanterns
  • Go to a museum
  • How to Make a Paper Bag Book Cover
  • Make a fun DIY Paper Bag Book with Pockets
  • Create a 3D Elephant Craft from a recycled milk jug
  • Exercise
  • Learn How to Make a Pop Up Card
  • Make a Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft
  • Make your own instrument
  • Clean out the closet in your room (or other area)
  • Weave a Chevron Macrame Friendship Bracelet
  • Make an Easy 3-D Paper Plate Snowman Craft
  • Discover Aluminum Foil Embossing Art
  • Draw Simple Scribble Art for Kids
  • Watch a movie
  • Make Paper Bag Puppet Pals
  • Learn How to Make a Paper Whirligig
  • Easy Fast Fun Paper Plate Crafts
  • Create Your Own Fingerprint Art
  • Bake cookies
  • Learn How to Make a T-Shirt Tote Bag (2 Ways- one with sewing, one without)
  • Learn One More Way to Make a T-Shirt Tote Bag (no sewing)
  • Get ready to plant a flower garden by starting seeds
  • Go on a virtual field trip
  • Have a tea party (make your own scones)
  • Make breakfast for the family (10 ideas)
  • Make a t-shirt with markers or a t-shirt with stamping
  • Make a car from a cardboard box
Person showing how to glue the paper chains together with a dab of glue stick with other supplies and paper chain near by.

Craft Tips

Here are a few extra tips and tricks for your paper chain garland with indoor activities:

  • Draw lines- Use a ruler to draw lines on the paper so that young children can cut even strips of paper. 
  • Cutting strips- Stack 2-3 pieces of paper and cut them all at once.
  • Stapler- Staple the loops of the chain together.
Person pressing down ends of paper chain with indoor activities written on them with other supplies and colorful pom-poms near by.

Craft Variations 

Here are a couple variations you’re welcome to try with this craft:

  • Countdown paper chain- Number each link of the chain. Put them in order and use the links as a countdown to an event (like spring break, vacation, a birthday, or a holiday). The kids will have an activity to do each day before the event.
  • Paper chain for chores- The links could have a simple chore for the child to do to on a day off.
Young girl with pink shirt tapes edges of piece of paper together to make paper chain garland.

FAQ

How do you make a paper chain?

Cut strips of paper. Loop one link and glue the ends together. Thread a second strip through the first loop and glue the ends together. Repeat this process till the paper chain is the length you want.
How to make a paper garland chain, how to make a chain with paper.

List of things for kids to do when bored at home? 

This post has a long list of things to do when bored at home. Kids will love the activities! There list contains links to each activity idea to make it easy for you. You can choose activities that are of interest to you and that you can provide materials to do.

Paper chain made from light green, red, and green construction paper with indoor activities written on them with colorful pom-poms around.

More Easy Paper Crafts for Kids

Looking for more easy paper crafts for kids to make on winter breaks? Here are a few of our favorites:

  • Three 4th of July firecracker treat boxes decorated with red white and blue paper and washi tape with some scraps of festive paper scattered around.
    Easy 4th of July Craft: Firecracker Treat Boxes!
  • Person showing a Father's Day card with red flowers and a windmill against a sunset with type saying "Happy Father's Day"
    A Kind Word Magazine Collage Card for Father’s Day
  • Three colorfully colored straw rockets.
    3 Cool Ways to Make Straw Rockets (Free Straw Rocket Template)
  • Four origami butterflies in pastel shades of blue, yellow, orange and pink.
    Easy Folded Origami Butterfly for Kids
Young girl in pink shirt holds up her paper chain garland made from colorful construction paper.

Come Join the Fun!

Try this craft, leave a comment, rate it, and tag a photo with #WelcometoNanas wherever you post.

More Crafts!

Love getting crafts straight to your inbox? Sign up to receive a weekly email and get a free gift!

Strips of colorful paper with indoor activities written on them and an image of a paper chain garland made from light green, red and green papers.
Paper chain made from light green, red, and green construction paper with indoor activities written on them with colorful pom-poms around. Strip of paper saying "Make a pop up card" and pen near by.

DIY Paper Chain Garland with Indoor Activities for Kids

Shelly
Make a DIY Paper Chain Garland with ideas for Indoor Activities for Kids on each paper chain strip! Take off links to find fun things that the kids can do on a school break or a snow day!
Print Pin
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Type Activity to do, Craft, Paper Craft
Cuisine Activity to do, Craft
Yield 1 Paper chain with indoor activities for kids

Equipment

  • none needed

Items Required
  

  • construction paper or colored paper for the printer
  • ball point pen or a Sharpie Marker
  • clear tape, glue stick,or school glue or a stapler
  • List of Activity ideas- There is a list in the post of many activity ideas to write on the paper chain. Many are posts on www.WelcomeToNanas.com

Instructions
 

Paper chain strips

  • Cut strips of construction paper that are about 1 inch wide. 
    Write an activity on each paper chain strip using a pen or Sharpie. The list of activities below are available to choose from (or make up your own ideas)!
    Pick activities of interest to you and your kids. Choose ideas you can help with or you can provide materials for.

Construction paper chain

  • Make a circle with the first paper strip (with the writing to the inside). 
    Glue or tape the two ends of the circle together. 
    Thread the second paper strip through the first circle and glue or tape it together.
    Continue this pattern until all your strips are connected into a long paper chain.

Paper chains and garlands

  • Hang up the paper chain on the end of a curtain rod, on a bulletin board, the refrigerator, or wherever you have room. Hang it as a chain or drape it like a garland.
    Take off a link whenever the kids are wanting something to do!

Video

Notes

There is a long list of ideas (and active links to articles on how to make or do the activities) on the post found at: https://welcometonanas.com/diy-paper-chain-garland-with-indoor-activities-for-kids/ 
Keyword construction paper chain, family activity, indoor activities for kids, kids craft, paper chain craft, paper chain garland, paper chain strips, paper chains and garlands, things to do in the winter, things to do on winter break, things to do when bored at home

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Hello there! I'm Shelly (Nana), an artist, previously homeschooling mother of 3, and now proud grandma (Nana) of 6. I love sharing artistically inspiring, hands-on crafts for kids of all ages. Let's go have some fun!

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Strips of colorful paper with indoor activities written on them and an image of a paper chain garland made from light green, red and green papers.