Coloring books are relaxing and fun but we highly recommend making Zentangles for a fun art project instead! Here's a simple Christmas Zentangle that you can do with your kids. All the ideas in this project use lines or circles making it easy for a child to do. Simple Christmas Zentangle for Kids 1.Start by drawing a triangular Christmas tree like the one below-- a big triangle for the tree and … [Read more...]
How to Make Cute Clay Creatures
Modeling Clay with 3 Basic Shapes by Bernadette Cuxart shares step-by-step directions and photographs for kids to create cute clay animals. (Or cute eraser creatures as we did.) Using three basic shapes -- a ball, a worm, and a teardrop -- this step by step book will show you how to make tons of (40) cute creatures. Creatures such as a panda, owl, rhino, kitten, puppy, turtle, fish, … [Read more...]
Play the Forest School Way
Play the Forest School Way: Woodland Games, Crafts and Skills for Adventurous Kids by Peter Houghton and Jane Worroll knows that the greatest playground for children is outside in nature. Play the Forest School Way I like the activities in the book as well as the background information for facilitators to know and share with children before, during, and after each activity. Each activity … [Read more...]
Make a Wish Jar! DIY Origami Stars
Inspired by the Star Darlings positive messages, my daughter and I created our own Wish Jars -- with our wishes written on colorful strips of paper which we made into origami stars. Star Darlings are star-charmed girls who encourage and help others to fulfill their heartfelt wishes. Now with nine books, dolls, music and apparel, along with a mobile app and animated shorts, Star Darlings … [Read more...]
Project: Pet Rock (Craft and Writing Activity)
Help your kids adopt the easiest pet ever -- a ROCK! (I know. Why didn't you think of this before?) Once your child adopts a rock, he can dress it up, name it, and give it a home! Not only that, add literacy learning with this funny and fun writing project / activity. Use Laura Numeroff's 10-Step Guide to Living with Your Monster as a mentor text from which you'll help your child write her own … [Read more...]
DIY Heart Book
I'm loving Making Books with Kids: 25 Paper Projects to Fold, Sew, Paste, Pop, and Draw by Esther K. Smith with illustrations by Jane Sanders and typo-o-graphics by Dikko Faust which will be published 2/1/16. I adapted one of the book's projects to make a found-object heart book for kids for Valentine's Day or any day. Kids: use this book for poems, drawings, stories, or memories! To make it … [Read more...]
Patterns for Doll Clothes
My kids are big crafters -- and recently, sewers. Is that the genderless term? I'm not sure. But you get the gist. The girls love to sew doll clothes for Barbies and American Girls. I bought a great inexpensive Brother sewing machine for us a few years ago and it's been fabulous. (Under $100!!) I can hem and fix small things and after I taught the kids, now they can use it, too. The … [Read more...]
10 Art Activity Books for Kids
Have you heard about the new fad sweeping the nation? It's called coloring therapy. Ok, it's not really called that. I made it up, but it IS true that more adults are taking to art activities as a way to de-stress. If it helps adults unwind, then it's definitely good for kids too. Here are 10 art activity books you and your children will love! This post contains an AWESOME giveaway at the bottom. … [Read more...]
No Sew Fleece Blanket
We just spent a half day making no sew blankets because I wanted a tangible way for my kids to give to others in need. I love the blankets since they're hands-on and practical -- everyone can use a blanket, right? *Plus, kids can relate to the important blankets are for warmpth as well as for a feeling of security. How many of our kids had their own binkies?* Then with your finished … [Read more...]
A New Literacy-Based Craft Kit: Page’s Corner
Page's Corner's StoryCraft Box™ wants kids to activate their imaginations through books and build literacy skills. The kit arrives with a wonderfully unique picture book, two crafts with a literacy tie-in to the book, enrichment activities, and website links. . We tried The Big Orange Splot Box and enjoyed the book and crafts. (And I couldn't believe we'd never read this fantastic book … [Read more...]
Goo, Gak, Goop: Slimy Summer Play
Need another fun summer activity? Make your own goop, gak, flubber! It's slimy fun that gives kids math, science, and sensory play. Talk about learning fun, right? Goop Recipe (This is my favorite recipe, adapted from Education.com. However, if you prefer a non-Borax recipe, try this cornstarch Goop recipe on Scholastic.) Elmer's Glue Food Coloring Borax Water 1. Pour 8 oz. of white … [Read more...]
Beautiful Oops Moments Everywhere by Barney Saltzberg
Guest post written by author and illustrator, Barney Saltzberg whose newest book is Beautiful Oops. Beautiful Oops was inspired by teachers to whom I’ve show how I write and illustrate picture books. Two of the images I show how I turned mistakes into artwork. One is the cover of my sketchbook. I spilled coffee on it and decided the shape looked like a monster. The other is from an old book … [Read more...]