Sun Catchers
This is about as low mess you can get and still end up with a fun sparkly craft. Contact paper takes the place of glue and even though we used felt and buttons for differing textures you could add just about anything you have on hand .
- Gather your materials. You will need some contact paper, a sheet of construction paper, crayon, scissors, felt, buttons, and googly eyes.
- Start by drawing the outline of a fish on the construction paper.
- Cut the fish out so you are left with a frame.
- Cut a piece of contact almost as large as the full sheet of construction paper , peel the backing off and stick on .
- Cut your felt into small pieces.
- Invite your child to the table .
If you were me yesterday go into long negotiations with your Batman costumed child over doing or not doing a craft with gloves that belong to his grandmother on… which then turned into ” You always boss me around, I hate fish, I won’t do your baby craft.” Inspired by techniques discussed in our Parenting Book Club Book “Playful Parenting” I resisted the urge to give a lecture about talking back and instead pretended to call Batman himself for help and listened to “Batman’s” suggestions. So we added some gems from our art closet , he took one glove off and we had a fun time together which is the whole point . - Add your eyes and collage materials.
- Hang up in your window – no need to wait for anything to dry.
Today I really wondered for a few minutes if maybe my wee man was actually done with craft time. If he is I will be sad because I love our time creating but only when he loves it too. His play is almost entirely pretend play and he loves making anything that goes with his favorite theme du jour so we’ll see… either way I think I better start saving for his law school, this kid can negotiate!
Book
Barry the Fish with Fingers
For this activity you will need a wooden embroidery hood, cheese cloth, red paint, yarn or string, green paper or foam, and some sugar.
Mix one part sugar to two parts water in a bowl. Dip the cheesecloth into the sugar water and then wrap it around the embroidery hoop.
Wait for it to dry completely–it should be somewhat stiff. 
Have your child dab paint all over the cloth. 
Run water over the cloth to spread the color around.
Again, wait for the cloth to dry.
Cut a stem and leaves from the green paper/foam and add them to the embroidery hoop. I used green for my stem, which makes it look a bit like a tomato–brown might have been more realistic. 
Tie a string around metal part of the hoop that sticks out and then hang it in front of a window. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Believe it or not in almost 15 years of doing crafts with kids I had never done this! Thanks to Denise in Florida for the inspiration for this activity!
- Gather your materials. You will need some contact paper, various colors of tissue paper and scissors.
- Cut your tissue paper into all different sizes but keep the shape consistent.
- Make your sun catcher by folding a large piece of contact paper so that the front and back piece would be connected by a seam, so for a square I cut out a large rectangle then folded it in two.
You can make a triangle by cutting out a square and folding it in two. - Peak back the backing only as far as the seam. You can see in this picture the backing is still on 1/2 of the contact paper.
- Stick your shapes on, encourage your child to over lap them, and notice that they make a new color when that happens.
- Peel the remaining backing off and seal it onto the other side.
- Go catch the spring sun!
The Shape Song!
Do you know what shape this is?
What shape this is?
What shape this is?
Do you know what shape this is I’m holding in my hand?
Books!
“ The Greedy Triangle” by Marilyn Burns is a funny story about a triangle who keeps adding more and more sides until he is confused, but your preschooler will be learning all about shapes while fun. The author is a bit of a superstar in the teaching world, I am a huge fan of not only this book but her methods in general. If you are a teacher , especially elementary aged and aren’t familiar with her you should be.
” My Very First Book of Shapes” by Eric Carle is a great introduction into shapes, but won’t loose it’s appeal as your child ages. The book is split so the fun begins when you try to match the shapes! Carle’s distinctive collage illustrations are a delight !
” Flip a shape: Go! “ by Harriet Ziefert will keep busy toddlers interested in all the shapes that are made with a school bus , boat and more! The simplistic and bright illustrations coupled with the movements of the flip a shape, this book will be a hit with your toddler!
