Archive for the ‘Age 8 and older’ Category

One of the best parts of creating with your child is the time you spend together. Parent and tot projects like this Beach Shell Picture Frame  are a special time to not only work together on something but also to practice taking turns something that can never be done too much . Ironically I did this without my son, he was at summer camp all week hopefully practicing taking turns with other kids, and exhausted when he got home. I will be doing this with him when we get back from our beach getaway next week though!

1. Gather your materials. You will need some cardboard ( 2x as large as you want the frame to be) , a large magnet , crayons, shells, hot glue gun and glue, scissors , tape and a picture.
2. Start by cutting your cardboard in half, then cutting an opening in one piece for the frame.
3. Tape your picture ( I trimmed mine) on the other half  of the cardboard. Trim the cardboard so that it’s no larger than the frame piece , you don’t want it peeking out from underneath.
4. Have your child decorate the frame with crayons.
5. Heat up the glue gun. When I do crafts that require the glue gun but I want my son’s input of where to place things like these shells I will ask him before I add the glue where I should add it and what I should put on it. At the very least have them choose the shells to add.
6. Glue the shells on.
7. Glue the magnet on the back of the piece with the picture.
8. Glue the two pieces together and let cool.

More Shell Activities

Shell Sorting

Beach Sensory Tub

I love pretty paper and before I started blogging I used to make greeting cards and sell them on Etsy.com I still have many supplies and I decided to make this garland to add some more color to my daughter’s nursery, but it would be a cute craft for any kids room, just adjust the colors to match the decor.

1. Gather your materials. You will need some cards stock in a plain color, and various sheets of patterned card stock, scissors, a circle paper punch ( ours in 1″) , glue, ribbon, and a hole punch.
2. Start by cutting your plain paper into squares. I purposefully made mine imperfect. There is something about birdhouses that suggest that imperfections are the way to go.
3. Next cut the patterned paper into triangles for roofs.
4. Punch the holes.
5. Glue the roofs and circles on. Let dry.
6. Punch a hole at the top of each house.
7. Thread onto your ribbon, either randomly or in a pattern.
8. Hang up!

This too sophisticated a craft for your little one? Try Feather Painting!

Bird Books

Now that school is out for most of you I have been brainstorming crafts that are a little more challenging but that can be adapted for younger kids as well. This was fun to make and by no means do you or your child have to make flowers, the sky is the limit with these fun vibrant colors. Also you can take this opportunity to talk about shades and hues ! Don’t miss the matching activity after the craft for younger kids either!

1. Gather your materials. You will need some paint samples, scissors, paper and glue.
2. Start by deciding what to create, or deciding to make an abstract creation.
3. I started with some grass and glued it on my paper.
4. Next I made flower stems and leaves, and added them.
5. Time for some pretty colors, I chose to make pink and purple flowers.
6. Cut out the petals and glued them on.
7. Now was the more creative part – the “extras” I decided to make some clouds with a dusty blue.
8. Then my favorite a butterfly!
9. As it dries the glue will stick but the paint samples will pull away some. I personally LOVE this, I like how 3 dimensional it makes the craft. If you don’t like this just pop a piece of wax peper over it and lay a heavy book on top for a few hours.

Paint Color Match

This activity is not just a color match it’s also a wonderful fine motor challenge for toddlers and preschoolers.
Here are the instructions.

I stole then adapted  this idea from this awesome silhouette my son made for me at preschool. Wanting to make it a little different I decided to add some letter recognition into it and make a canvas with the word Dad on it instead. What’s great is that it works for all ages, babies can finger paint, older children can add more than just “Dad” .

1. Gather your materials. You will need a canvas, some vinyl letters, paint brush ( if you want little guys to cover a lot give them a big brush), paint and if you want a frame to display it.
2. Start by placing the vinyl letters on the blank canvas.
3. I placed the colors my son chose in a ice cube tray to make it easy for him to paint.
4. Next start painting!
5. Right after I took that picture above my son’s brush lifted off a letter – luckily we were able to move the letters and save the project, learn from my mistake use a sponge brush ( which we switched to) to avoid disaster.
6. Let dry.
7. Remove the letters carefully after the paint is fully dry.
8. Give your child’s dad a true masterpiece!

Daddy Song

I love my daddy
He’s really smart
He’s got big muscles and a bigger heart
When I get all cranky and I pout
He gives me hugs and never shouts!

Books About Dad

Daddy Hugs 1 2 3 by Karen Katz is a cute little counting book for toddlers. I gave it to my husband two years ago for his first father’s day and my son hated it. However in the years since it’s become a favorite and nothing beats a board book for when toddlers get to that destructo stage. Also like Katz’s “Mommy Hugs” book it grows with your child. Now at 2.5 my son likes to find the number on the page and read it to us before we read him the text.

The Ten Best Things About My Dad by Christine Loomis didn’t leave much of an impression with me until I hit #8, which says ” When I am sad he hugs me close . He never says “Don’t cry”. That page won me over, and made this book stand out for me. I love that it’s promoting sensitivity in both the dad and little boy! I think anything that shows such care is worth a look.

Dad’s Bald Head by Paul Many made all of us laugh when I read it during a family lunch last weekend. My husband shaves his head so , so much of this book was familiar to all of us.The story is about a dad who decides to shave his head and his son who isn’t so sure about this new development. It’s sweet, funny and realistic about how kids do and don’t transition to our changes. My favorite part was the passionate kiss the mom plants on her husband after he shaves his head. Not just because I thought it was sweet, it is nice to see parents having romantic though appropriate moments in children’s books. I want my son to see I love my husband and I show it in all different ways.

Time flies and it’s that time of year again! These are our Mother’s Day Crafts from years past, we are busily thinking up new creative activities to celebrate moms. Feel free to print out or email this to your significant other too , as a gentle reminder that homemade gifts really are that special!

Family Garden

(pictured above)

Foam Fridge Frame

Beautiful Bookmark

Beaded Ring

Treat Nest

Shape Necklace

Don’t forget to make your own wrapping paper too! We have two fun ways to do that:

Sponge Painted Paper

Fly Swatter Paper