During a recent trip to the pet supply store my children spotted the small bowls with beta fish in them. After 5 minutes of pleading and begging I finally got them out of the store without the fish. Whew!
So I decided to do this craft at home to make up for not buying the fish. You will need a plastic berry container (this one is for strawberries), scissors, colored paper, tape, and crayons.
Draw a few fish and ocean creatures on the paper and let your child color them. I drew some waves and let my daughter color those as well.
Now you just need to cut the sea creatures and waves out. Next you will tape the waves upside down to the lid.
Make sure you tape the waves to both sides of the lid, similar to this.
Using transparent tape, hang the sea creatures from the bottom. You will want to be sure to hang them on both sides, too.
Now close the lid and you have a fun little aquarium that can hold up to the curiosities of a toddler.
It is fun to watch them open it up and explore the small little world you just created.
My kids carried their aquariums around for days. I didn’t have to feed them or change the water. That is an extra good craft in my book. 🙂
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Kim is a contributing writer for No Time For Flash Cards, a mom to a toddler, a preschooler, and a foster parent, too. She juggles her day by trying out fun activities and crafts with the kids. After all, she is just a big kid herself. See what she has been up to over at Mom Tried It.
Charlee Pensak says
We have a beta fish most low maintainance fish ever! All he has is a bowl, a few rocks and water and I only feed him 3 times a week. Its much easier then the goldfish his pre-school sent home 🙁
Great craft and a great use or clear containers!
polwig says
How cute… I bet my little ones would love it too. I bet you can put the fish on springs so they “swim”
admin says
I can’t believe that a school sent home a pet ! Ack!
Kristi Miller says
Adorable!
.-= Kristi Miller´s last blog ..Friday Fun =-.
Ashley Pichea says
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing – I’ve been saving the berry containers but didn’t have any ideas for what to do with them. My kids will love this idea!
.-= Ashley Pichea´s last blog ..Monday Morning in Michigan =-.
Alice Law says
That’s lovely, I want to try it with my girl!^-^
Vanessa says
This looks like such a fun craft! I can’t wait to try it with my kids 🙂 thanks for sharing it with us!
Candace @ NaturallyEducational and @Mamanista says
Sometimes I feel like you (or in this case a contributing writer of yours) have this psychic connection to all the questions I wonder to myself. After throwing out yet another plastic berry container I thought, there MUST be something fun and crafty I can do with this…besides storing craft supplies!
.-= Candace @ NaturallyEducational and @Mamanista´s last blog ..Slithering Songs =-.
Josie says
I love it! I’ve just been pondering how I could make a pretend fish tank for my kids. They too love to visit the pet store, and I do NOT want a pet.