Archive for December 2009
Sent In By You!
These crafts come from Michelle from Chic Baby New York who is a former teacher and mom who generously shared her creativity – she mentioned that a No Time For Flash Cards craft last year inspired the Star of David craft , can you tell which one? Yes our Snowglobe Snowman! Thanks Michelle.
Hanukkah Star of David
Materials:
1 Sheet of white card stock, paint (I used roller paint), pencil, ribbon, sequence, tape, glitter pens ( or regular glitter), hole puncher, contact paper & scissors.
1) Trace out a star of David
2) Paint it (we used blue) and let dry.
3) Cut out a piece of contact paper about a rectangular size since you will be folding it over…make sure it will be big enough to cover the center of the star (folded).
4)Add glitter and sequence to the contact paper and fold over in half when done, making sure there is no exposed sticky areas. Just so you know, the glitter pens leave a little glue film when dryed, so if you want it clearer, you should use regular glitter.
5) Cut out the center of the star and attach the glittered contact paper part with tape.
6) Punch a hole at the top and put a string through it to hang it up.
A Menorah of shapes.
Materials:
2 pieces of construction paper, 1 piece of white paper, 9 sequences, glue, scissors and a marker.
1) Trace out the shapes for the Menorah on 1 piece of paper. You will need to draw a semi circle, a large square, a long rectangle, a small square. 
2) On the other paper, cut out 9 rectangles for the candles, I just eyed them instead of tracing them like on the Menorah. Cut everything out.
3) Start gluing. I outlined the Menorah in glue but the little one did the candles. I was told I didn’t make the glue outline ‘big enough’.
4) Add the round sequences for the flames, which is a great fine motor skill practice. You could cut out little triangles for the flames (to take the ‘shape’ theme all the way) or even using crumpled tissue paper or glitter.
5) Completed (with a lot of extra glue everywhere…which is how we like it)!
Fork Print Tree
I was looking for a paint brush to make a different project when I found this plastic fork and immediately got inspired! This was a fast fun and totally cute project. My son loved it and it could easily be switched to a wreath , just draw one instead of a tree in step 2. Have fun!
- Gather your materials. You will need a plastic fork, a paint brush, a plate, red and green paint , a marker and an old grocery bag or other paper.
- Draw an outline of a tree with marker.
- Spread your green paint on the plate.
- Dip the back of your fork into the paint.
- Print onto your paper.
- When your child is done with the fork prints hand then the brush and red paint to add the lights .
- Let dry and cut out.
Book and Activity!
This guest post is from Amy from Media Macaroni, Amy’s blog is devoted to all things kids media and her love of books and toys are evident! I love how they used a book as a leap pad for play and more learning! Enjoy!
The book that I can’t help but think about constantly as I’m at toy store after toy store buying presents is David Shannon’s Too Many Toys
In Too Many Toys, little Spencer has way too many toys, a sight all too familiar. The toys cover the floors and spill down the hallway. They cover the yard and the bathroom. But, Spencer’s toys were becoming a household hazard. Spencer’s mom (perhaps one of the most relatable moms in a picture book ever) finally loses it when she trips on railroad tracks while carrying a load of laundry. She haggles, bribes, coaxes, and threatens Spencer to start getting rid of toys. Spencer’s mom is victorious when there’s a giant box full of toys to be banished, but when she returns from a tea break, she discovers the toys emptied all over the hall. There’s Spencer, astronaut helmet on, sitting in his new cardboard rocket. Forget all the toys – the box is the best toy EVER!
We took this to heart one day, and built our own rocket out of a gigantic cardboard box. To be authentic to the book, we taped pencils and cardboard tubes to the outside, and drew a nice assortment of planets and blinking lights. One of my favorite features was the control panel that we made on the inside. We drew a numbered keypad beside a list of planets and numbered codes. All you had to do is punch in a three-digit number and you were transported to that planet.
No wonder the cardboard box has been inducted into National Toy Hall of Fame . It’s hard to imagine a better way to spend a morning.
This Christmas ornament is so simple and so much fun to make. Kids aren’t generally known for being the most patient of creatures, and I can relate I am not either. This craft promises instant gratification, no glue to dry, no long wait times just create and enjoy. This ornament can be played with without worry, although not really unbreakable it’s definitely kid friendly. If you don’t have old Easter eggs try using an egg carton section instead.
- Gather your materials. You will need some green plastic Easter eggs, some red pipe cleaners, some jingle bells, scissors and red sticky back foam.
- Start by cutting shapes into your foam. If you are really keen you can make Christmas shapes, we made triangle and rectangles.
- Stick them on the plastic egg.
- Thread your jingle bell onto your pipe cleaner.
- Bend both ends of the pipe cleaner and thread through the holes at the top of the egg.
- Pull through and make a loop.
- Hang on your tree and stop worrying about telling your kids not to touch the tree!
Book
Merry Un-Christmas
This past Wednesday I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Melitsa from Raising Playful Tots, Internet Radio Talk Show & Podcast . The show is dedicated to talking about simple , play and fun appropriate for young children. I have often preached my firm belief in play being the number one job young children have and this is the heart of Melitsa’s mission. You may know Melitsa from Play-Activities her other blog, another wonderful resource for parents. As a former teacher she and I had much in common and could have talked for hours and hours, I couldn’t wait for my interview to be up to spotlight her awesome work. As soon as our chat is up I will link it, until then check her out, you won’t regret it!
