Posts Tagged ‘Arts & Crafts’
Free Printables: Valentine’s Day Cards
Wednesday, February 9th, 2011
Ah yes, it’s that time of year where shoeboxes get papered over with hearts aplenty. If you’re like me, you’ve waited until this week to even consider that your kids need to start filling out Valentine’s Day cards.
Have no fear! We have some freebies that you can print out for junior to start on when he or she gets home from school today. You can find them in the Love Issue.
Click on the picture above or here to download these adorable gender-neutral cards designed by artist Sara Michener.
And while you’re clicking through the Love Issue, check out this Valentine essay from author Shawn K Stout. We agree with Diana—it should be required reading for all girls! (and boys too).
Tags: Arts & Crafts, childhood, friends, holidays, love issue
Posted in Ideas and Inspiration | No Comments »
pH Painting
Monday, February 7th, 2011
In the Science Issue of Classic Play!, brilliant scientist turned madly-talented illustrator Mithila Shafiq offered up a science experiment that doubles as an art project.
Since it looked like a heap o’ fun, we decided to try it out for ourselves. I boiled up some red cabbage, soaked pieces of watercolor paper and then we went around the house to find products to test. There is a great list of commonly found acids and bases in Mithi’s article.
Notes: We cut up a plastic egg carton to hold our solutions. It was the perfect container.
This was a great experiment that kept the kids entertained for a good part of an afternoon: sourcing materials, painting, hypothesizing, discussing. This makes a terrific weekend project OR science party activity.
And here’s another idea too: homemade gift! No, seriously. Hear me out. Make a batch of pH paper, add some little jars, paintbrushes and instructions for this activity and put it in a cute little box. Instant science kit.
Oh! Oh! Oh! One more idea: if you’re having a science party, you could send kids home with pieces of the cabbage pH paper in their goody bag too. It’d be very cute, inexpensive (especially if you have a crowd) and original.
Tags: afterschool fun, Arts & Crafts, parties, Playdate, science
Posted in Arts & Crafts, Science Fun | 1 Comment »
Spies Like Us: Secret Codes pt 1
Tuesday, February 1st, 2011
A couple months ago the kids and I surprised my husband with a birthday present: a trip to the Spy Museum in Washington, DC. There was an activity where you could crawl through duct work (we did that one SEVERAL times), a car from James Bond, a movie theater showing propaganda films (the kids loved the Walt Disney cartoons) and so much more.
Naturally, that trip inspired a great deal of spy talk for the next several weeks. This, of course, got me thinking about playing spies. The idea of clandestine meetings, being sneaky and creating a whole world is quite appealing to kids. There’s role playing, negotiating skills, planning, writing, science, problem solving—I mean it’s got the whole kit-and-kaboodle when it comes to creativity and learning through play.
So with that in mind, we came up with some kid-friendly spy related activities we think the kids will like.
First up are secret codes. The one we did today is backwards writing. This is fun for kids who have a solid foundation in letter formation and handwriting skills (so I’d say generally, about second grade on). But you could easily adapt this for younger kids by either cutting out the letters for kids or just helping them read the notes you write in the mirror.
I imagine writing a dinner menu backwards, sticking it in a tube (like an old paper towel roll) and leaving it out for the kids to find and read in the mirror. Maybe they’d eat what I make that way. Or you know, perhaps a note like, Go clean your room! Guess it’ll depend on my mood.
Oh! Oh! The kids could deliver an invitation to a spy themed party this way. How cool would that be?! Just be sure to include directions for reading.
Tags: afterschool fun, Arts & Crafts, friends, parties, Playdate
Posted in Games & Creative Play | 8 Comments »
Postcards from Id Town
Monday, January 31st, 2011
Welcome to Id Town, where imagination runs wild. This activity engages both the planner and the player within. Bonus: It’ll keep the kids entertained for a good long while as it’s a multi-step project (planning, drawing, building, playing).
Here are some notes:
We used a variety of materials I had squirreled away for this project: cereal boxes, shipping boxes, some crazy piece of cardboard left over from Ikea packaging. We even used a grocery bag for a jail. (Gimmee may have ended up there once or twice.)
This is a great after school activity for kids in younger grades. Think pre-K to second or possibly third, depending on the amount of homework they have. And if you’re a parent who works out of the home, this is an excellent project for a weekend afternoon.
You actually don’t really need to do much here. Aside from painting and, if you’re using permanent markers, supervising, you can either set the kids up and enjoy a few moments of ‘you-time’, which I fully encourage, or you can go hog-wild and join in the play. Heck, you can even make a building yourself, if you feel so inclined. It’s really up to you. Either way, your child will be engaged and learning through play.
Ah! One more tip before we get on with the project: use flat spray paint. We discovered the gloss and satin didn’t work as well on cardboard.
Tags: Arts & Crafts, Playdate
Posted in Arts & Crafts, Games & Creative Play | 3 Comments »
Marshmallow Building
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011
Today, we’re wrapping up our Science for Kids activities. Although, I guess, technically, this is probably more of a math or engineering activity. In any event, I’ve saved the easiest, and tastiest, one for last.
Kids, remember on Monday when I said, “Don’t eat what you make.” Well, you can ignore that for this project. Yum!
Parents, your turn: You don’t have to do much of anything for this one except provide a bag or two of mini marshmallows and toothpicks. Feel free to provide a helpful hint or two about how triangles can be used to reinforce objects (think bridges) and encourage them to try something different if the first structure doesn’t work out (power of perseverance) but generally, just let them take it and run with it. The kids will be highly entertained. In fact, these kids below built for an hour or more. True story.
Oh! Almost forgot! Note learned from experience: if you’re combining the science experiments in this series for a birthday party or playdate, this activity is a great one to do while the kids let their Preposterous Polymer rest. You can even break the kids into groups and have them work together on this one.
Okay, enough from me. Let’s get on with the good stuff! We give you: Marshmallow Building
Tags: afterschool fun, Arts & Crafts, parties, Playdate, science
Posted in Arts & Crafts, Science Fun | 6 Comments »
Toys
Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010
The kids have been planning their Hot Cocoa for Water fundraiser. Their big idea? To make and sell toys—arts and craft toys no less. Honestly, I had nothing to do with it. It was completely their idea. (You know I’m quietly beaming with pride, yes?)
Here’s what they’ve made so far…
Tags: Arts & Crafts, Hot Cocoa for Water
Posted in Arts & Crafts | No Comments »
Holiday Entertaining
Tuesday, December 7th, 2010
Hosting a get-together with friends or family this holiday season? Julee Dyer from Warm Hot Chocolate is here today with a fantastic activity for all those kids on your guest list.
You may remember Julee from the amazing Rock and Roll party she threw her son. Julee is clever, creative and genuine. You can find a wonderful assortment of crafts for kids, recipes and musings on family life—all lovingly photographed—on her site.
Whether planning a children’s party or an adult party with children attending, I like to include a craft table for the kids. It’s my secret wish that the kids will sit quietly at the table instead of transferring every toy in our playroom into the living room. While that never happens, I do find that the kids really enjoy a special activity just for them.
Tags: Arts & Crafts, holidays, parties
Posted in Guest Posts, Parties & Celebrations | No Comments »
Wigwams and Puppets
Wednesday, November 24th, 2010
The other day, Willow asked if we had pictures of how we incorporated our children and our friends’ children into a party. Great request Willow!
Last weekend we celebrated a pre-Thanksgiving with friends and I was tasked with creating a few activities for the kids. I came up with a two activities: one was a team exercise where we asked the kids to build and decorate a wigwam, and the other was a less structured activity where kids were given blanks to draw on to make their own puppets. Here’s how it turned out…
Trouble viewing the video? Click here to watch on youtube.
For more info on these projects and other Thanksgiving themed activities click here.
Wishing you a Very Happy Thanksgiving!
Tags: Arts & Crafts, childhood, friends, parties, thanksgiving
Posted in Ideas and Inspiration, Parties & Celebrations | No Comments »
