Pirate Chest Toddler Crafts

Pirate Chest Toddler Crafts
Supplies Needed


Supplies Needed: Construction Paper (and any other colors you would like) - Scissors - Glue or Tape - Crayons - Tea Box

Step 1: Tea boxes are perfect for a pirate treasure chest because they are shaped like a chest. Take your tea box and help your toddler cover it with which ever color of construction paper you want, yellow or brown are often the first choices. You can tape or glue the paper on the outside and the inside of the tea box.
Feel free to use any empty food box that you may have for this craft if you do not have an empty tea box that would work for the chest.
Step 2: Next cut out circles for your gold coins. You can use white paper and have our toddler color them silver and gold of cut them out of colored construction paper. Also cut out diamond and rubies shapes so your pirate treasure chest can have some jewels in it. Cut out the shape of a lock for you pirate treasure chest as well to keep all of the riches safe.
You and your toddler can really have fun deciding what treasures your treasure chest will hold.

Toddler Silent Piano Craft

Toddler Silent Piano Craft
Supplies Needed

Supplies Needed: Black and White Construction Paper (and any other colors you would like) - Scissors - Glue or Tape - Crayons (Option) - Cereal Box

Pianos are huge and can make a lot of noise but they can also be fun to play. The best way to encourage your toddler's interest in a piano without owning a piano or at least one that you can turn the volume down on is to make a silent piano with them.

Step 1: The first thing that you need to do is to cut out the keys for your silent piano craft. Cut out white strips for your white keys, making them a little bit longer than half the width of the cereal box that you will be using. Then cut out your black keys, making them shorter and a less wide than the white keys.
In most cases cutting paper isn't an option for toddlers. The first step can be something that you can do ahead of time before starting the craft with your toddler and something that you can help your young child with.

Step 2: With all of your black and white keys cut you can help your toddler glue the white strips down to the front of the cereal box that is your piano. If you do not have glue or find it too messy for your toddler you can help them tape the keys down. There is no need to make the white strips evenly spaced but it helps for the piano to look better if you do.
Leaving a small amount of space between each key will actually help the look of the piano.

Step 3: Once you glued (or taped) all of your white keys in place you can begin to put the black keys on. If you want to make the piano more realistic you will want to space the black keys in a way that will resemble how they are on an actual piano. On a standard keyboard you have two black keys next to one another then a space and then three
black keys next to one another and then the whole then starts over again. Place the black keys so they are are a bit away from the front of the piano.

Toddler Train Craft

Supplies Needed

Supplies Needed: Index Cards (optional) - Construction Paper - Scissors - Glue or Tape - Crayons (Optional) - Three Cereal Boxes - At Least 3 Toilet Paper Rolls - String

You can make this toddler train craft as long as you want, keep in mind that each toilet paper roll that you have can be used for a train car. Also the length of string that you use will determine your trains size.
Step 1: Cut a piece of string, colorful yarn works very nicely, the length of what you want your train to be, including enough excess string to pull the train. Cut one third of a toilet paper roll off. If you are using index cards trim the bottom so that there are two half circles at the bottom of the card for the train car's wheels. Use three index card for each train car that have.
If you are using construction paper in place of the index card simply cut out rectangles the size of an index card (3x5 in.) and trim in the "wheels". Keep in mind that you will need an index card for the train car roof, but that will not require any trimming.
Step 2: Have your toddler color the index card or construction paper. Let them use their creativity by choosing different colors, and what designs that want the train car to have. Older children (or you) can draw in such things as windows, doors or hatches on the different sides and roofs of the train cars.
If you want to avoid crayons you can paste on different shapes of construction paper.

Feed the hummingbirds

What you need:
Adult supervision
1 cup sugar
4 cups water
Hummingbird feeder
What you do:
1.
Boil the water and sugar for 1-2 minutes. Allow the mixture to cool.
2.
Fill the hummingbird feeder and hang near a window.
3.
Extra mixture can be stored in the refrigerator
4.
Change the food in your feeder every 3-4 days or when it becomes cloudy.
5.
Put out your feeder in early May and leave your feeder up for three weeks after seeing your last hummingbird.





Learning
length 76 - 95 mm
they flap their wings about 55 times per second.
are attracted to the colour red, that's why most feeders have red on them
humming birds feed approximately every 15 minutes
normal flight speed is about 25 MPH
life span is about 4 years on average. The record is 12.
each spring they migrate across the Gulf of Mexico, which is about a 1300 km trek.

Bubbles

Here is a recipe to make some bubble solution for bubble blowing.
What you need:
1/2 cup dish washing detergent
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup glycine (available at most drug stores)


What you do:
1.
Mix all the ingredients together. Stir gently.
2.
If you don't have any bubble blowers, you can use straws.

Giraffe and a Kazoo

Easy KazooYou'll Need:

toilet paper tubes or paper towel tubes

crayons and/or markers

wax paper cut to ~4"x4"

square rubber bands

stickers (optional)



Color and decorate the long or short tube with crayons, markers & stickers. Secure a piece of wax paper to one end of the tube using a rubber band.Poke 4-6 small holes in the wax paper using a pencil.Talk, sing, hum, or make noises into the uncovered opening. The vibration will make the buzzing sound of a Kazoo.



Did you know a Giraffe could Bark?

Use the great out doors for art supplies with this giraffe

You'll need:

Decorative bark broken into small pieces

Cardboard (cereal box would do)

Yellow/brown Paint

your child draw their best giraffe on the cardboard.

You can cut it out if they are too young.

Paint it the giraffe color of choice.

Place the bark pieces on with lots of glue.

Use grass for the mane & dirt or sand on for the hooves.

Cool Mobile

Supplies
Sea shells
Nylon fishing line (available at craft stores)
Wooden skewer, small branch, or wooden dowel
Colored beads (optional)
Instructions
Use shells that have a natural hole in them String the fishing line through the hole
Tie knots at preferred intervals to create space between shells
Add colored beads as desired

Tie strings to wooden skewer and hang!

Milk Carton Waterwheel (Great for a hot day)

The milk carton waterwheel is a fun way to play with water on a hot, sunny day. Put on your thinking caps and your bathing suits! An adult may need to help kids out when they do this summer water activity.

What You'll Need:
Paper milk carton
Pencil
Scissors
String
Water
How to Make a Milk Carton Waterwheel:
Step 1: Use a pencil to poke a hole in the bottom left-hand corner of each of the four sides of a paper, half-gallon milk carton.
Step 2: With scissors, poke a hole in the top flap of the milk carton (an adult may need to help kids do this).
Step 3: Tie a string through this hole, and tie the carton to a tree branch or something similar.
Step 4: While covering the holes in the milk carton with your fingers, have a helper pour water into the carton.
When the carton is filled, take your fingers off the holes and see what happens to the milk carton as the water flows out. You've created a waterwheel!

Water Purse

Materials
Onion or other mesh produce bag
Plastic twine
Plastic clip
Instructions
Weave a length of plastic twine (or other waterproof material) around the onion bag's opening to serve as a drawstring.
About halfway around the bag, weave the twine through the loop of a plastic clip, like the kind commonly sold as key chains.



** Saw this on family fun and thought it was neat.....

Popsicles

What you'll need:
Popsicle molds
Juice, soft drink mix (non-carbonated), yogurt, or pudding
How to make it:
Carefully pour liquid into mold. Fill only as far as you want the first layer. Do not insert the mold handles. Freeze.
When the first layer is frozen, add the second layer of liquid. Insert the mold handles and freeze again.
Remove from freezer and take out the handles. Fill with remaining liquid and put the mold handles back in. Freeze.
Remove finished Popsicles from the freezer and run the molds under warm water to loosen. Popsicles should slide out.
Eat!
Tips:
You can add drops of food coloring to plain or vanilla yogurt to make fun layered frozen yogurt pops. Mix the yogurt and food coloring in a separate bowl and then add to the molds.
Pudding freezes well. Layer different flavors and colors for a fun effect.
Find Popsicle molds at discount department stores. You can also use ice cube trays — just fill the tray, cover it in plastic wrap, then insert toothpicks or mini Popsicle sticks for handles.

Bicycle Horn

What you'll need:
1 bicycle horn
Instant grab fast dry glue
Sequins
How to make it:
Pipe a line of instant grab glue down the length of the horn.
Gently press sequins into the glue. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until you've gone all the way around the horn.
Glue some sequins around the ring near the horn's bulb.

Tips:
Other decorative items you could use are glitter or small beads.
Instant grab glue is available from your local craft supply store.

Dancing Raisins

Materials



Tall clear glass

raisins

club soda can't be flat



Process



First pour the club soda in the glass

Next drop in some raisins

Wait at least 20 to 30 seconds and watch what happens to the raisins



*The reason why the raisin floats to the top is because the bubbles stick to the sides of the raisin and make the raisin more buoyant. The bubbles make the raisin float the way a life jacket makes a person float.

Rainbow Stew

Materials

1/3 cup sugar

1 cup cornstarch

4 cups cold water

Food coloring

Mixing Bowls

Heavy duty zip lock plastic baggies



Process

Mix the first 3 ingredients over medium/high heat stirring constantly until it thickens about 10 minutes then let cool

Divide mixture into 3 containers and add food coloring

Add 3 heaping tablespoons full of each color into a zip locked baggie

Seal the baggie and reinforce it with masking tape

Have the children knead their bag, mixing the colors into a rainbow stew

Hang the finished rainbow stew on windows or store in the refrigerator to use the next day

Clean Mud

Materials

Charmin toilet paper

Water

Water table or plastic container



Process

Have children tear toilet paper apart and put in a water table

Add water until its the consistency of mud

Monster Goop

Materials



Corn starch

Water

Food Coloring (Optional)

Large dishpan or any plastic container



Process



Mix two parts cornstarch to one part water in a large dishpan

Add food coloring, mix with a spoon

Children can mix with their hands, this is an observe and explore process for them

Messy so have paper towels near by



ENJOY

Sea Plaster

What you'll need:
Sand
Plaster of Paris
Water
5 3"-long twigs
Assorted shells
Stiff bristled paintbrushes
4 cup measuring cup
Spoon

How to make it:
This project can be made at the beach right there in the sand or in a large bowl filled with moist sand. If sand is dry, mist it with a spray bottle, or sprinkle it with handfuls of water. Get the sand evenly moist by spreading and mixing with your hands. Form a 6-inch diameter circle, about 2-inches deep; this will be your mold. Smooth the floor of the mold with your hand and pat it down gently.
Place the twigs into the circle, pressing down firmly, but gently, forming a star shape. You do not want any plaster to seep underneath them.
Arrange the sea shells face down in the sand, pressing in firmly, but gently. Mix 3 cups of plaster with 1 1/2 cups of water in 4-cup measuring cup. Stir mixture well until creamy; be sure to remove all lumps. Slowly pour the plaster mixture into the sand mold. You do not want to pour it too quickly or you may disturb the placement of your objects. (Read the tips at the end of these instructions for disposal of your remaining plaster.)
Allow plaster to dry for at least an hour to let it harden.
Carefully dig around the edges of your mold with the spoon and gently loosen and lift the plaster cast.
Let the sand casting dry for another hour. Use stiff bristled paintbrushes to remove the excess sand.


Tips:
If you will be making this project at the beach or at a lake or pond, please be sure to bring along a roll of paper towels and a couple of small trash bags (plastic grocery bags are ideal). Do not wash out the bucket or bowl you mixed the plaster in by sticking it in the lake or ocean water! Instead, wipe out as much of the plaster as you can with paper towels and dispose of them in the small trash bags.
Use whatever you have available to you, such as sticks, pebbles, shells, and stones.
If making this project at home, do not rinse plaster of Paris down your sink drain. Instead, wipe as much out of the bowl as you can with paper towels and throw away.

ENJOY

Idea's on how to display your childrens art work...

You can make laminated place mats from your child's artwork for a wipe-able surface that family member can enjoy for years to come. Try to collect six to eight pictures, and glue the pictures onto an 8-1/2 x 14-inch sheet of heavy card stock paper. You may also glue pieces of cloth to the back of the paper for a reversible effect. Have the mats laminated in medium or heavy plastic.

Inexpensive Wrapping Paper The Children Can MAKE!

Simple Inexpensive Ideas for Creating Original Gift Wrapping

Rolls of plain craft or butcher paper make a wonderful canvas for budding artists. Give each child a pot each of green and red paint and a brush and let them loose for festive Christmas gifts. Grandparents and young children particularly like receiving gifts decorated in these brightly coloured homemade wrappings.
For smaller hands, cut simple shapes out of foam (kitchen sponges work well) and make printed paper. Alternatively, children can use hand prints or footprints to decorate in their favourite colours.
Buy large rolls of gold or silver paper from craft stores. For Christmas accent with red and green ribbon or Christmas stickers. For birthdays or other celebrations, use a favourite coloured ribbon or bow.

Need a bike??

Know of any adult or child in need of a bike??


Mr. Belt and his alternative class fix and repair bikes. Most bikes cost under $5.

If you know of someone who has a bike but needs it looked at or needs a tube give him a call he will work on it for free.


Shannon Belt
854-0810
Press 9, then BELT

Fireworks Picture

Here's what you'll need
• Q Tips• Water• Small container• Food coloring• Paper plate • Black construction paper• Glue

Here's how you make them...
1. Cut your Q Tips in various sizes. You can actually break them off pretty easily with your hands. 2. Now you will need to color you Q Tips. Put some water in a small container and add food coloring (6-8 drops is good). Dip your swabs in to the colored water and place on a paper plate. Repeat for as many colors of fireworks as you'd like.
3. If you are not doing this craft right away, or have time to prepare ahead of time, you can leave your swabs out to dry overnight. If you need them to be dry quickly you can put them in the microwave, on high for 5-6 minutes, or until they are dry. 4. On a piece of black paper glue your Q Tips in a circular pattern. For younger children it will be easier if you draw a black dot on the paper and instruct them to glue their swabs all pointing to the dot in the middle.
Make as many different fireworks as you can, make them all different colors, sizes and patterns!
Keep in mind that the more food coloring you add the more vibrant your swabs will be!

Sand Feet

Here's what you'll need...
• Construction paper• Glue• Sand• Paper plate or shallow dish• Masking tape

Here's how you make it...
1. Use masking tape to secure a piece of construction paper onto your working surface. Pour some glue into a paper plate or shallow dish. The glue blob should be big enough to press a hand into it. Curve each hand into a hook shape (like the picture) and dip it into the glue.
2. Press your hook shaped hands onto the construction paper, making your hands walk across. Wipe your hands off and then dip each finger into glue to make five toes on each of your foot prints.
3. Sprinkle sand over top of the glue and shake off.

Have a great weekend!

I will not have any post until next week!

Potato Friend

Breakfast bird feeders

Easy Here's what you'll need...
•Stale bread or toast •Cheerios, or any round shaped cereal •Yarn •Scissors •Pen or Pencil

Here's how you make it...
1. With a pen or pencil punch holes into your bread slices and if not toasted, leave out until stale (overnight).
2. Using your yarn, string together the bread crusts and cereal and find a great place to hang it in your favorite tree! Soon you will have some little friends in your yard!

Bubble Stamping

Here's what you'll need...
• Toilet paper roll(s)• Tempera paint• Paper plate or shallow dish• Paper

Here's how you make it...
1. Pour some paint into a paper plate or shallow dish. Your paint blob should be big enough to submerge the end of the TP roll. Dip your TP roll into the paint and you'll notice a 'bubble film' form on your roll. 2. Stamp your "bubble" onto a sheet of paper and repeat. You'll need 1 TP roll for each color of paint (unless you want your colors to mix).
You can do a lot of stamping with 1 TP roll, but if you are doing this craft with a group of kids keep in mind that the TP roll will get soggy after a while, so have some extras on hand!

Bug House

Here's what you'll need...
•Empty 2L plastic bottle with lid •Knife or sharp kitchen scissors •Dirt (plants optional) •Netting (bridal tulle was used in the picture, but any netting will do, as long as the bugs can’t get through it)•Glue, tape will work too, unless your planning to collect some really big, strong bugs!

Here's how to make it...
1.With a craft knife or sharp scissors cut an air hole into your plastic bottle.
2. Add dirt, and plants if you wish, into the bottom of the bottle. You will need the dirt in the bottom to weigh the bottle down, and the bugs will like it too!
3. Securly glue on the netting around the air hole.
Now add bugs! Guide your bugs into the jug through the open top and then seal it up with the lid, and observe!

Cheerio Necklaces

CHEERIO NECKLACES

String Cheerios or Fruit loops onto a piece of yarn or string. Tie ends together so that they slip easily around a child’s head. Children can munch on them while playing. (For an extra treat-they can also be strung on very long and thin red licorice candy.)

Cheese Hammers

CHEESE HAMMERS & TOWERS

1. Cut a variety of cheese into small squares.

2. For a hammer, poke a pretzel into each one.

3. Children can connect their cubed cheese with the pretzel sticks to make cheese towers.

Heat from the sun craft!

Materials Needed:
Construction paper
Crayon Shavings
Heat from the sun


Draw an outline of a flower or what ever you want on a piece of construction paper. Place the crayon shavings within the lines of the flower shape to make a colorful design. Carefully place the picture outside in the sun. Place a rock or some other heavy object, on the paper to keep it still. Allow the shavings to melt. For best results, leave the paper outside overnight to allow the shavings to harden completely.

Sea Shell Easy Craft

Materials Needed:
Sea shells
Paints
Paintbrushes
Ribbon
Hot Glue Gun

Paint the grooves and lines of the shells using different colors. Glue a loop of ribbon to the top of each shell so you can hang it up. For a larger decoration, hot glue multiple shells together.

Sand Picture

What You Need
Construction paper
Glue
Sand
What You Do
1. Give each child a piece of construction paper, and allow them to draw a picture or write words with the glue. Make sure that they do not put globs of glue in any one spot.
2. Before the glue dries, pour dry sand over the construction paper by hand.
3. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then shake off the excess sand.
4. Let it dry flat for about a half an hour or depending on how much glue was used.
Helpful Hints
* This can also be done with colored sand, but, for those on a budget, regular sand works just as well. I did this project with my after school children and they loved it!

Science Project or Craft Project

Here's a science project that doubles as a fun craft. Create your very own ocean waves in a plastic soda bottle.



What you need
Empty two liter plastic bottle with lid
Clear vegetable oil or mineral oil
Water
Funnel
Blue food coloring
Small star fish, shells and other sea creatures
One tsp glitter
White craft glue
Hot glue


What you do
1. Wash and dry two-liter bottle and remove all labels.
2. Fill bottle halfway with tap water.
3. Add a few drops of blue food coloring and swirl around to mix.
4. Add glitter.
5. Add sea creatures.
6. Fill bottle the rest of the way with vegetable oil using a funnel.
7. Be sure that rim and cap are dry, then apply white craft glue around the rim. Seal cap.
8. Use a layer of hot glue around the outer edge of the cap for added protection from leakage.
9. Turn bottle on its side and gently rock the bottle to create a "wave" inside your ocean habitat!
Helpful hints
* Use lightweight starfish, shells and other sea creature toys that can float. Test them first in a bowl or glass of water. Find these at your local craft supply store or discount department store.
* Make the ocean any color you choose! Blue is standard of course, but if your child's room is decorated with red and yellow, go with red food coloring. There's no rule that says your ocean must be blue.
* Small children will be mesmerized by this creation. They can help make this every step. Let them insert the sea creatures, hold the funnel and help add the tap water. In the steps that may be more difficult for little fingers, have them hold the bottle steady for you while you add the glitter.

Paper plate jelly fish

Here's what you'll need...
• Paper plate Yarn• Glue• Paint and brush• Google eyes (optional)

Here's how to make it...
1. Paint your paper plate. I only painted the bottom of the plate. The "eating" side of the plate usually has a waxy coating that makes it difficult to paint, so paint only the bottom, or the "non-eating" side of the plate. 2. Cut many lengths of yarn, how ever long you'd like your jelly fish's tentacles to be. When the paint is dry, turn the plate over and glue each of the tentacles around the plate.
3. I glued google eyes on our jelly fish to make him look friendly. Jelly fish don't have eyes, so it's up to you if you want to add them or not.

Learning: Read a book on jelly fish to your child!

Fish Baggies

Here's what you'll need...
• Zip-lock baggie (either sandwich or gallon size)• Scotch tape• Construction paper• Rubber band or string• Google eyes (or white paper circles)

Here's how you make it...
1. Cut the extra part of the baggie that is above the zipper (don't cut off the zipper). 2. Fold both corners of the baggie in (the non-zipper end) and secure with scotch tape. 3. Cut construction paper in squares. Scrunch up you paper into balls and fill up your baggie about ⅔ full.

Popsicle Paints

Here's what you'll need...
•A container to make your paints in like an ice cube tray or a real Popsicle container.•Water•Food coloring•Popsicle sticks•Cling rap (optional)

Here's how to make them...
1.Fill your container with water and add 5 drops of food coloring in each section. Make as many colors as you wish. 2.Insert the popsicle sticks into each section. They don't need to be straight. If you are using an ice cube tray you can cover with cling wrap and insert the sticks through the wrap to keep them straight. 3. Freeze until solid and then you're ready to bring them outside..paint on paper, paint the side walk or fence, make some wonderful creations!

The Bubble Factory

The Bubble Factory
The Bubble Factory is a homemade bubble blower, kids love this craft! All you need is an old margarine tub, straw, hole punch and dish soap and you've got instant summer fun! You will need to make sure the child doing this craft knows how to blow into a straw and will not drink the soapy water (yuk!).

Here's how you make it...
1. With your hole punch, punch a hole in the lid of the magarine container. Punch it any where, as long as the hole is past the lip of lid it will work. 2. With your hole punch, punch a hole in the magarine container. The hole needs to be punched near the top, otherwise your "bubble juice" will leak out when you fill it. 3. Now you're ready to blow some bubbles! Pour in some dish soap and water into your tub. Insert the straw, flexible end first, into the hole on the side of the tub. Aim the straw down to the bottom of the tub. Put the lid on the container, with the hole in the lid opposite the hole in the tub.

Homemade sidewalk chalk/paint!

Here's what you'll need...
• ¼ cup corn starch• ¼ cup water• 8 drops of food coloring in different colors• Small containers (one for each color)• Paint brush(es) Here's how you make it...

In a small container mix the cornstarch and water. Add food coloring. Repeat to make as many colors as you can. If you want white paint don't add any food coloring!
You'll notice when you paint it looks a little watery, but when it dries the colors will be vibrant.
If you are using this paint outside on a warm sunny day it will dry almost immediately. Hose it off, or just use a wet rag. Since this paint is made with natural ingredients it will not harm your plants, grass, or any of your outdoor drains. Happy Painting!

SUN!!

Supplies needed:
A paper plate
Yellow construction paper
Scissors
Glue (or a stapler)
Crayons, paint or markers
Googly eyes (optional)

Paint the back side of a paper plate yellow.
Trace a child's hand on yellow construction paper about 7 times.
Cut out the tracings.
Glue or staple the hand print tracings to the paper plate - the fingers are the sun's rays.
Color in the sun, drawing a mouth and a nose. Either draw the eyes or glue on googly eyes

Campfire!!

What you'll need:
Old CD
Rocks – about the size of a quarter
Sticks
A handful of soil, dirt or sand
White craft glue
Small scraps of red, orange and yellow tissue paper
Toothpick
How to make it:
Cover CD with glue and use a paintbrush or your finger to spread the glue out for an even coat.
Cover glue area with dirt or sand and tap off excess.
Use your finger to push back a little of the dirt from the edges, all the way around the CD, to make room for the rocks.
Squeeze out a generous amount of white glue onto the cleared edge of the CD. Press a rock into the glue. Repeat until entire rim of the CD is covered in rocks.
If necessary, break sticks into approximately 4 inch pieces. Using white craft clue, build a "fire" with the sticks by laying them down in a tee pee formation, gluing as you go. Let everything dry for 2 hours (will not be completely dry, but won't slide around).
Tear tissue paper into small pieces, approximately 1" or 2" squares.
Place tip of toothpick into the center (don't poke through) of a piece of red tissue paper. Wrap the tissue paper around the toothpick.

Dab some glue on the tip and dip it into the sticks, removing the toothpick once inserted. Repeat around the top of the sticks with several red pieces and then add a few orange toward the middle, and lastly one or two yellow pieces at the top of the stick mound.
Let project dry completely overnight.


Tips:
If you don't have tissue paper, crepe paper streamers work well. You may also use construction paper cut into flame shapes.
We do not recommend hot glue for this project. While the rocks will stick well, they can easily pop off later on. White glue will adhere much better so be sure and plan for an overnight dry time.

Porthole

What you'll need:
2 paper plates
Silver craft paint (recommended: Rich Art Tempera Metallic Washable Paint in Metallic Silver, available at Michaels)
8 pieces of ring shaped cereal
Fish-shaped crackers
Silk plant leaves(Or make your own)
Sea shells (recommended: Value Pack Sea Shells, available at Michaels) (Or head to the beach)
Sand
White craft glue
Blue cellophane
Wax paper
Scissors

How to make it:
Take both paper plates and set them on the table. One should be right side up and the other should be upside down.
On the plate that is right side up, draw your sea floor about 1/3 up the center of the plate.
Line the floor area with white glue, use an old paintbrush or your finger to spread the glue out evenly.
Cover the wet glue with sand and set aside to dry.
On the upside down plate, draw a circle where you will cut out your porthole in the center of the plate.
Glue ring shaped cereal pieces around the circle; these are the bolts on the porthole. Let dry.
Paint the cereal pieces and the paper plate from the outer edge to your penciled lines. Don’t worry about painting over the lines a little, as you will be cutting it out. Set aside to dry.
Take the paper plate with the sand on it and hold it over a sheet of wax paper. Turn the plate sideways and gently tap it to loosen any excess sand. The sand should end up on the wax paper and you can save that for another project.
Glue sea life onto the plate with the sand floor. Glue on shells, silk leaves, and fish shaped crackers. Let dry.
Take the silver painted plate and cut out the center circle to create your porthole window. Place it gently over the top of the other plate to see if you are happy with its size and viewing area. Increase size of the hole if you like.
Turn silver plate upside down.
Cut a piece of blue cellophane large enough to cover the hole on the plate and glue in place. Let dry.
Place porthole plate over the top of the sea life plate and glue together. Let dry.
You can add a hanger to the project if you like, simply glue some string or yarn between the two plates.

Tips:
You can simplify the supplies in this project by using construction paper to make fish, plants and even shells.
Make your fish scene more cartoonish by adding wiggle eyes to the fish.
If you don’t have blue cellophane, use clear plastic wrap and paint the background of the seal life plate blue before adding sand and sea creatures.

Rocks?? Yes you can make cute crafts out of rocks!

What you'll need:
Smooth, round or oval rocks, washed and dried
Acrylic craft paint in colors of our choice
Black acrylic craft paint
2 wiggle eyes for each ladybug
Black permanent marker
Acrylic matte sealer spray
White craft glue (recommended: Tacky Glue)

How to make it:
Completely wash and dry all rocks.
Paint rocks in desired colors, allow to dry. Apply second and third coats if needed. Lighter colors will require more coats than darker shades.
Paint head on using black acrylic craft paint. There is no pattern needed, simply paint about ¼ of the rock black in the "front."
Use a black permanent marker to draw a straight line down the center of the rock, starting at the center of the base of the "head."
Dip the end of a large paint brush, or the eraser of a pencil, in black craft paint. Dot on the spots, reloading with paint after every dot.
Once the paint is dry, spray the rock(s) with acrylic sealer spray. Allow sealer to dry completely. Using white craft glue, attach wiggle eyes and let dry.

Tips:
If you are doing this in a group setting such as scouts or a classroom, you may find it easier to prepare the rocks ahead of time. Wash, dry and apply a coat of gesso (recommended: Liquitex Basics Gesso) to each rock. This is a craft medium (white) that works well with many projects. It will also create a base so that less coats of color paint will be required.
Bigger rocks are easier for small hands to manipulate. They are also heavier, so be sure that there are enough adult helpers for a group of little ones.
White and black paint can be used instead of wiggle eyes. Simply dot on white paint, allow to dry, then use a smaller tool to dot on the black.
If you cannot find suitable rocks outside, you can purchase them at most craft stories.

Marker FUN

Paint Brushes
Markers
Construction Paper
recycled newspaper
paper towels
container(s) of water

Using Washable Markers, draw a picture of your favorite plant or flower. Try to have the drawing touch at least three sides of the paper.

Cover your work area with recycled newspaper. Blend the markers with a wet Paint Brush, so that the water pulls color from one area to another.

Stawberry Snacks

Strawberries dipped in YOGURT

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
1 quart fresh strawberries
1/2 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup granola
Preparation:
Wash and dry strawberries with a paper towel. Do not remove stems.
Beat yogurt until very smooth.
Place granola in a small bowl.
Dip strawberries, one at a time, first in the yogurt, then into the granola, pressing gently with your fingers to help the granola adhere.
Place strawberries on a plate. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

More fun snacks!

Frozen Grapes

Frozen grapes make a refreshing and healthy snack you will find absolutely surprising and delightful. You'll still get that familiar grape flavor. But when frozen, grapes take on a texture that is almost like a sorbet. Indeed, this frozen grapes recipe is almost like little sorbet nibbles!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
1 large bunch of seedless grapes (preferably red, though green grapes work well, too)
Preparation:
Wash grapes and pat dry with a paper towel.
Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Place grapes on paper towels, trying to leave some space between them. Freeze until firm.Eat frozen. Don't let the grapes thaw they might become mushy.





Gold Fish on a Pond

Rice cakes, cream cheese, Goldfish crackers and blue food coloring are all you need for these fun kids snacks.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
4 plain rice cakes
1/4 cup whipped cream cheese
2 drops blue food coloring
Goldfish crackers for decorating
Preparation:
Put the whipped cream cheese into a small bowl, and add two drops of food coloring. Stir until it becomes the color of the sea.
Spread one tablespoon of cream cheese on each rice cake.
Place the Goldfish crackers standing up in the "pond."Serves 4.

Tired of the same old snacks for kids then check this out!!

Fruit Ice Cream Cones

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
3/4 cup fresh fruit (cut into small pieces)
ice cream cone
honey
granola
Preparation:
Fill ice cream cone with fresh fruit, drizzle with honey, and top with granola.



Sand Pudding

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
2 large box Instant pudding; vanilla flavor
Milk
1 box Nilla wafer cookies; crushed
1 new plastic beach pail and shovel
Preparation:
In a large bowl, make the instant pudding according to the instructions on the box add in the crushed cookies. Serve in the beach pail with the shovel.
Great for beach themed birthday party's!



Apple Dip

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
5 medium apples; cored and sliced
½ cup orange juice
1 8-oz. package of cream cheese; at room temperature
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
Preparation:
Directly after coring apples, place them in a large bowl and pour orange juice on them. Stir so that the apples are coated. This will keep them from getting brown.
Using a mixer in a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, brown sugar and vanilla.

Toddlers

Write and Squish

Materials: Catsup, resealable bags and tape

Place about two tablespoons or catsup in a sandwich size resealable plastic bag. Squeeze out the excess air and seal. Tape the bag onto the table. Show your toddler how to use their index finger to press down on the bag and draw. Squish and pat the bag to erase the marks.

Learning: Creativity and pre-writing





Leaving Tracks

Materials: Paper plate, paint and plastic cars

Tape a paper plate to the table, Spread about two tablespoons of washable paint on the plate. Let your toddler drive a plastic car through the paint and then drive on the paper.

Learning: Creativity with designs and patterns.





Gingerbread Boy

Materials: Sandpaper, cinnamon stick, raisins and glue

Cut a gingerbread boy figure out of sandpaper. Let your toddler rub the cinnamon stick across it. Glue on raisins for eyes or buttons.

Learning: Sense of smell





Painting with Glue

Materials: Glue, paint brush, sand or glitter, food coloring, paper cup, water, sawdust or dry coffee grounds

In a paper cup add two parts glue to one part water. Add a few drops of food coloring to make the glue easier to see. Give your toddler a small paintbrush to spread the glue on the paper. Your toddler can sprinkle with sand, sawdust, dry coffee grounds or glitter. Shake off excess.

Learning: Eye-hand coordination

Toddlers

Gloop

Materials: Cornstarch, baking pan, water and (Optional food coloring)

Mix one box of cornstarch with enough water to make a thin paste. Tint the mixture with food coloring if desired.

Place the gloop in a 9" x 13" pan in order to contain it.

Place gloop on plastic or vinyl place mat for toddler to play on give toddler spoons, cups etc.

The gloop will change from wet to dry thick to thin as it is stirred.

Cleans up well just brush off the powder.

Learning: Sensory motor play and exploration

Glurch

Materials: Liquid starch available in the laundry supply section of the supermarket and washable school glue.

This concoction is stickier and messier than gloop.

Mix equal parts of school glue with liquid starch in bowl. A half cup of each works best.

Place glurch on a place mat as you would the gloop.

If mixer gets to sticky just add more cornstarch.

Learning: Sensory motor play and exploration

Toddlers

Junk Mail

Materials: Old shoebox and junk mail

Make a mail box by cutting a slot in the top of a shoebox. Then cover the box with paper or wrapping paper, and write Mail on the box. Your toddler can put the junk mail in his mailbox and take them out.

Learning: Pretend play, eye hand coordination



Car Wash

Materials: Foamy shaving cream, bowl of water, small towel and toy cars

Squirt a small pile of foamy shaving cream in one end of the table or dishpan then put a shallow bowl of water in the center. Lay a small towel at the other end now your toddle can wash their toy cars has your toddle drive the cars through the foamy shaving cream.

Learning: Pretend play, sequencing

Toddlers

Family Place mats
Before you know it your toddler will be moving from their high chair to the table.

Materials: Pictures of each family member, paper and clear shelf paper

Mount each individual picture onto an 8x11 piece of paper. Then draw an outline for the cup, plate and silverware. Then cover each place mat with clear shelf paper to them waterproof.

Learning: Matching game (cognitive), Independence




Balls and Nets

Materials: Plastic golf balls, goldfish net and a plastic colander

Place some plastic practice golf balls into the tub or sensory table. You’re welcome to try ones with holes and ones without. Then let your toddler fish them out and count them together as your child takes them out.

Learning: Hand and eye coordination and pre-math



Grocery Bag Blocks

Materials: Paper grocery bags, old newspaper, wide tape, crayons or markers.

Let your toddler help you tear and crumple old newspaper and then stuff each bag about half full with the newspaper. Fold the top over and securely tape it shut to make BLOCKS. Make at least four or five. Then decorate them.

Learning: These blocks stack and topple safely, give your toddler opportunities to reach, bend, build and kick.

Toddlers Week

Found some of these idea's from the book-The Diaper Bag Book for Toddlers

This week is about craft ideas or entertainment for your toddler. Things they can make or things you can make for them.

Bathtub Crayons
These thick and sturdy crayons are just right for toddlers.

Materials: Soap Flakes, Food Coloring, Ice Cube Trays

Add one teaspoon of food coloring to one cup of laundry soap flakes. (Not detergent)
Add water by the teaspoonful, stirring constantly until the soap dissolves into a paste.
Press the paste into ice cube trays.
Let dry for a few days, until hard.

Learning: Creativity



Egg Beater Bubbles
Let your toddler use an eggbeater in the tub or tabletop with a dishpan. (Hand held eggbeater)

Materials: Hand-operated eggbeater and bubble bath

Add a capful of bubble bath.

Learning: Sensory motor skills

Leftover Puzzle Piece Crafts

Photo Frame (Sorry on picture)

Materials Needed:
4 Craft Sticks
Puzzle Pieces
Photo
Tab From a Soda Can
Craft Glue

Scissors

Instructions:Glue the craft sticks together at the edges to make a frame. Glue the puzzle pieces around the craft stick frame. Trim the photo to the same size as the frame and then glue it to the back side of the frame. Finally, glue the pop tab to the back to use as a hanger.
If you want, you could paint the puzzle pieces before gluing them onto the frame. You can also try gluing magnets to the back of the picture.

Puzzle Piece Picture (Sorry no picture)

What You’ll Need:
pencil
white poster board
jigsaw-puzzle pieces
glue
paint
crayons or markers

How to Make It:
Draw a simple picture on white poster board.
Find an old jigsaw puzzle that is missing a few pieces. Sort the pieces into color groups. Glue them onto your picture. Or paint the backs of the pieces, then glue them on with the painted sides up.

Color a scene around your puzzle-piece picture.

Puzzle Piece Butterfly

You Need:
Puzzle Pieces from Old Puzzles

Craft Wire/pipe cleaners
Glue
Paint and Brushes

Instructions:
Paint puzzle pieces in bright colors. Paint a black head and body. Cut a 3" piece of craft wire/pipe cleaners. Fold in half and bend into antennae shapes. Glue to the back of the butterfly. Glue on pin or magnet.

Alien's

Supplies
Large pieces from old puzzle
Wiggle eyes
Glue
Paint
Marker

Paint puzzle pieces in your favorite alien color. Let dry

Glue on wiggle eyes.

Draw on other alien features.

Enjoy creating your own stories about beings from far away planets.


Puzzle People

Supplies
Large jigsaw puzzle pieces
Paint
Paint brush
Wiggle eyes
Scraps of yarn and ribbon
Red thin line marker
Bits of beads and trim

Select a piece of puzzle that looks like it has two ears.

Paint the back of it to represent the skin tone that represents the child making it.

Glue yarn hair, wiggle eyes and bits of trim to represent earrings.

Draw on mouth, nose and freckles.

Tie ribbons in yarn hair if you desire.

Paper Plate Animal Crafts

Childrens Craft Ideas: Teddy Bear

Needed: Small paper plate, large paper plate, brown paper, pink paper, brown paint, wiggly eyes, fuzzy wool for the tummy, glue, and scissors.

Directions: Cut out the bear’s arms, legs and feet, and outer ears from the brown paper. Cut out the bear’s inner ears from the pink paper. Glue the small plate to the large plate. Then, paint the plates brown. Glue on the outer ears, inner ears, mouth, eyes, arms, legs and fuzzy tummy.

Learning: B is for Brown, circle, 2 ears, 2 arms, 2 legs

Idea's: Read a book about bears.

I love this piggy! He’s so cute!

Needed: Small paper plate, black and pink construction paper, marshmallow, black marker, pink paint, and scissors.

Directions: Paint your plate and the marshmallow pink. (The marshmallow will be the nose.) Cut out the ears from the pink paper. Cut out a set of eyes and a mouth from the brown paper. Glue on the eyes, ears and nose. Then, draw on the rest of the mouth and dots for the nose.

Learning: Pink, P is for Pig. Please count the ears and the eyes

Mother's Day Gift Idea's

What a lovely gift to make for your mom for Mother's Day, her birthday or even for Christmas.

What you'll need:
4-6" clay pot
Fabric scraps, crepe paper, tissue paper or streamers
Scissors
White craft glue
Water
Bowl
Paint brush
White craft paint
Yellow craft paint
Acrylic sealer spray

How to make it:
Paint the clay pot white and set aside to dry.
As it dries, cut fabric or paper into 1" squares.
Paint pot with a second coat of white paint, set aside to dry.
Mix together equal parts of water and white craft glue in the bowl. Stir with paint brush until combined.
When pot is dry, use paint brush to add glue/water mixture in small sections to the pot. Place fabric or paper squares onto glued areas then add more glue mixture on the top of the square to stick it to the pot.
Continue this process in whatever pattern you like all over the pot. We used white, yellow and pink leftover streamers from a birthday party. We covered the pot in white squares first, and then randomly added yellow and pink.
Set aside to dry completely.
When pot is dry, paint the top rim and just underneath the rim with yellow craft paint (this step is optional).
Spray with acrylic sealer and set aside to dry.
Fill with kitchen utensils.

Tips:
Save streamers and tissue paper left over from birthday and other parties to use in your craft projects.
If you don't have white craft glue, white school glue will work just fine.
Looks for tall pots to keep it from tipping over due to the weight of the kitchen utensils.

April 17th A.C. Moore Free Craft

April 17th at A.C. Moore in S.Portland from 1-3pm FREE PUZZLE MAKE AND TAKE!!

Craft Stick Idea's (Only a few for now)

With a few craft sticks, some paint, and a lot of imagination, your child can have a personalized door hanger to call their own. This project is simple and it’s fun to make.

What you'll need:
5 jumbo craft sticks
2 regular-sized craft sticks
Ribbon or twine
Scissors
Pink acrylic paint
Paintbrush
Acrylic sealer spray
White craft glue
Foam sticker letters
Foam sticker flowers
Buttons
Wax paper

How to make it:
Lay five jumbo craft sticks on wax paper.
Lay the two regular-sized craft sticks across the jumbo sticks in the opposite direction, one at the top and one at the bottom. This should resemble an old-fashioned snow sled.
Glue the regular-sized sticks onto the jumbo sticks, then pipe glue down in-between each of the jumbo sticks.
Smear the glue between the seams of the jumbo sticks and gently squeeze them to get them close together. Let glue dry completely.
When dry, turn craft stick figure over and paint pink. Repeat for a second coat and let dry completely.
Take outside and spray craft sticks with acrylic sealer, let dry. (Don't have to do this if you don't have sealer)
Cut a piece of ribbon about 24” long.
Turn dry craft stick figure over and tie each end of the ribbon to the regular sized craft stick at the top of the figure. Be sure to knot the ribbon at the back side.
Dot on some glue to the knots. Let dry.
Turn craft stick figure over again and decorate with foam letter stickers and flowers. For flower centers, glue on buttons.
Use scissors to trim the ends of the tied ribbon hanger.

Tips:
If child’s name is too long to fit stickers, paint the name on or use a craft paint pen with glitter glue.
Don’t trim the tied knots until after the glue has dried.

What you'll need:
2 jumbo craft sticks
2 regular sized craft sticks
Glittery stickers
2 glittery chenille stems or pipe cleaners
Hot glue gun
Scissors

How to make it:
Cut the two regular sized craft sticks in half.
Glue two rounded ends of the cut craft sticks to the end one of the jumbo craft sticks to make the legs of the balance beam. Repeat this process with the other jumbo and cut craft sticks.
Glue the two jumbo craft sticks together and the open ends to form the balance beam.
Shape chenille into a stick person with two simple legs, two arms, torso and a head.
Get an adult to help hot glue the gymnast to the balance beam in whatever position you like, we chose a back bend.
Attach stickers to the legs of the balance beam.

Tips:
Instead of chenille try cutting a gymnast out of a magazine and glue her to your beam like a paper doll.

Here's a game to play on those boring car rides!

What you'll need:
Cardboard
Construction paper
Popsicle sticks
Scissors
Ruler
Pencil
Glue

How to make it:
Cut a piece of cardboard into a 6x6" square.
Lay four Popsicle sticks across it like a Tic-tac-toe board and then glue them down. You may have to cut the Popsicle sticks so there are no cracks.

Fun Ideas:
Take any colour of construction paper (let's say it's Easter). Cut out eggs as your pieces. Make 10; 5 any color for one person and 5 another color for the other person.
You can use Chips.
You can colour your cardboard.
Next, Play tic tac toe!!!!

So glad everyone is enjoying my craft ideas!!!!!

Jenn's daughter enjoying her binoculars!!

Toliet Paper Roll Crafts

•2 Cardboard Toilet Paper Rolls
•Small Piece of Lightweight Cardboard (From a Cereal Box, Etc.)
•Paint
•School Glue
•Scissors








Dragon

•Toilet Paper Roll
•Paint
•Orange Tissue Paper
•Pom-poms
•Wiggle Eyes
•Craft Glue
•Tape
•Paint Brush
•Scissors
Instructions:
Paint the cardboard tube green to be the dragons head. You can leave it 'just green' or you can add details like scales, nostrils, teeth along the side, and anything else you might want.

While you are waiting for the paint to dry, you can cut several strips from orange tissue paper (you can use other colors, but I usually choose orange to represent the fire). You will want about 8 strips that are 1" wide by about 10" long, although the length can vary a little.

When the paint on the tube is dry, tape one end of each tissue strip to one end of the tube. The tissue should be taped just inside the tube opening to hide the end. You can tape on as few or as many tissue paper strips as you like. This will represent the dragon's mouth and the fire.

Now you can make the dragon's eyes by gluing two green pom-poms, side-by-side, onto the center of the roll. Glue the wiggle eyes onto the pom-poms facing the side of the tube with the fire.

Once your dragon is complete, you can make it 'breathe fire'. Gently tuck the tissue paper strips into the opening they are taped in and blow hard on the other end of the tube. Watch how the dragon seems to breath fire!


Pencil Holder

You need:

Empty Toilet Paper Holder
15 Craft Sticks
Cardboard
Paint/Markers
Tacky Glue
Rubber Bands
Circle and Star Woodies
Instructions:

Paint craft sticks. Let dry. Trace the end of the toilet paper holder on to cardboard. Cut this circle out. Glue it on to one end of the cardboard tube. Let dry. Cover tube with a light coat of tacky glue. Place painted sticks side-by-side to cover tube. Wrap with rubber bands until dry. Decorate with painted, pre-cut wood shapes if desired.


Bracelet
You will need:

4 cardboard tubes
Small box
Pink/purple card
Pink/purple paint
Black pen
Glue
Sequins/glitter/pens to decorate


Castle
Paint the castle in either pink or purple paint, then leave to dry. From the card cut out two side-plate sized circles. Cut the circles in half to make 4 semi circles. Roll the semicircles into cones and tape to secure. These should be placed (not glued) onto the towers as roofs, so that they become "lids" to the containers within the towers.

For the door way / front tower, draw a rectangle as tall as the box and about 2 inches wide, with an arch at the top (see photo above) and cut out. Glue the front tower to the middle of one of the wide sides.

With the black pen draw windows and doors on to the castle. Use sequins, glitter, pens and any other embellishments to decorate.

Now you can store your pens and pencils in the towers and your pencil sharpeners and erasers (rubbers) in the base of the castle.





Make a Toilet Paper Roll Octopus

Make octopi!

Start by cutting 8 tentacles of equal width. Start by pinching one end so that it’s almost flat. You can pinch the sides to make a crease as long as you only pinch one end. Then you just use scissors to cut the tube in half. Make the cut somewhere between half and two-thirds the length of the tube, depending on how long you want the tentacles to be.


Next, rotate the tube 90 degrees and cut again. If you pinched the sides before, be sure to align the tube so that the creases touch. At this point you should have four more-or-less equal “legs”.


From here you just cut each leg in half length-wise, giving you a total of eight legs. Fan each tentacle outward.


Optional: Trim each tentacle so that it’s narrower at the top than at the base.

Also Optional: Roll each leg around a pencil or crayon and release to curl the tentacles upward.

Also Optional: Color the octopus or glue a half-sheet of construction paper around the outside (I recommends trying this before you start cutting out the octopus). Alternately, you could color it with crayons, but I’ve always found coloring a round surface challenging at best.

Insanely Optional: If you have a hole-punch, you’ve also got lots of little paper circles left over. If you have the patience of a saint, you can glue them to the underside of the tentacles and it will look like suckers.

The final step is just to draw some eyes on your octopus. I used white-out and a marker to make mine’s eyes. You can use octopi as decorations for an aquatic themed birthday party, Octopus Day, or Talk Like a Pirate Day celebration!

Making this craft is a good opportunity to teach your kids about octopi. It could be just the thing to get them interested in science.

Octopus Facts = Learning Time

•Octopi have no bones. Animals with out bones are called invertebrates.
•Octopi usually eat crabs and other mollusks.
•Some octopi can change change color to blend in with their surroundings like a chameleon.
•When threatened by a predator, some Octopi will squirt ink to help escape.

IHOP

Kids Eat Free at IHOP
For the entire month of April, families can break out of their routine without breaking the bank by heading to IHOP for its national ‘Kids Eat Free’ dinner promotion.

DETAILS:
· Kids Eat Free EVERYDAY from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
· Promotions runs from April 1 – April 30
· Families who dine in at IHOP will receive one free Kid’s Meal with each adult entrée purchase
· For more information please visit www.iHOP.com

Marble Paintings

Feel like you're losing your marbles trying to keep your kid entertained? Well, don't lose them—use them!

Need
White printer paper
A bunch of shooter marbles: The big kind
Craft paint: In lots of colors
Dixie cups: One per paint color
A cake pan or any rectangular dish that's a few inches deep and won't break
Plastic spoons


Pour a little paint into each paper cup.


Have your kid gently put a few marbles into each cup.


Put a piece of paper into the cake pan.


Then have your kid scoop out some marbles with a plastic spoon and dump them into the cake pan.


Have them roll the marbles all over. The marbles will make a cool pattern on the paper.


Get them to try it with marbles dipped in all the different color paints.

Alphabet Lake

Turn those refrigerator letter magnets into Alphabet Lake, and let your kids fish 'em out!

Magnetic letters: Pull them off the fridge!

Stick: Check your yard or local park…or use one of the 7 magic wands your kid has lying around.

String: Yarn will do nicely.

Magnet: One of those u-shaped ones is best.

Duct tape

Kiddie pool/ Or bath tub


Help your kid duct tape or knot a floor-length piece of string to one end of the stick. The length will vary depending on your child's height.


Work with your child to tie the U-shaped magnet to the other end of the string and voila, a fishing pole. That was easy!



Go get the hose and have your kid help you fill the kiddie pool with water.



Get the kids to toss in all of the magnetic letters.



Have them go fishing for the letters with the magnetized fishing pole.


The U-shaped magnet should attract the letters for an easy catch!




Older kids can try to fish out the letters of their name, or a meaningful phrase. How about, "Thanks!"

Cheap Crafting Ideas

You don't need to spend a lot of money on craft equipment for your kids.

Think before you throw out things.

Pictures from old magazines can be cut out and used for projects such as collage. Another fun project is have the children make up there own face pick a nose off one page eyes for another and so on. Lots of fun laughing!

Raid your sewing box for old buttons, pieces of wool or scrap material. Again, these can be used for collage or cards, and for making bangles, necklaces, or even dolls clothes.

A store cupboard item you can use for crafting with young children is dried pasta such as penne. Help them thread it onto string to make a long necklace or picture.

Make your own play dough. Put 1 cup water, 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 2 teaspoons cooking oil and 2 teaspoons cream of tartar in a pan. Add a little food coloring and cook gently for a few minutes until the mixture forms a ball. Store in a plastic container.

Lolly or Popsicle sticks, washed and dried, can be made into many interesting objects such as doll's furniture.

Paper plates make great masks. Cut out holes for the eyes and attach a piece of elastic once the plates are painted or drawn on. Halve the plates to make carnival eye masks and attach a Popsicle stick as a handle.

A great place to find free craft materials is outdoors. Nature provides us with a wealth of ideas. In the woods, gather leaves, twigs or bark. An imaginative child will find plenty to do with them. While you're there, give your kids paper and crayons to make tree bark rubbings. See what patterns different trees make.

Flowers can be picked for pressing. You don't need an expensive flower press, just gently wrap the blooms in kitchen roll and place between the pages of an old book. Put it in a warm place such as an airing cupboard, weighted down if it's a paperback, and wait a few days until the flowers are completely dry.

The beach is another good place to gather materials. Small shells can be glued onto plain trinket boxes or picture frames to make highly individual gifts.

Buy cheap glassware and crockery to paint on. Old wallpaper rolls are great for scrap paper and cutting out.

Collect and Walk

This is a lot of fun with younger children.

Grab a pail, big cup anything our child can put their collect in. Then head out on a walk even around the yard let them pick up what they want leaves, rocks, acorns, flowers, and anything else they want.

When done go sit on a sidewalk, front porch and go through what they collected. Count together how many items they found, name each item, talk about them, go over the colors of the items and so on.