Craftivity Corner

Allison McDonald
Creative crafts, book suggestions, and tips to make time for learning in your busy day.

archives

August 30, 2009
Fall Friendship Tree
Fall is right around the corner and the stores are already filling up with fall craft supplies and decor. I picked up these leaves for $1 and had to do something with them. This tree can be used for a friendship tree or a family tree , whatever works for you. 1. Gather your materials. You will need yellow and brown pieces of construction paper, some craft leaves, scissors, glue and a marker. 2. Start by cutting the brown paper into a trunk. If your child is able have them do the cutting. 3. Glue that onto the yellow paper. 4.Together with your child decide who they want to add to their...
Arts and Crafts, Toddlers and Preschoolers
August 27, 2009
Familiar Friends Go To School
I am not usually a fan of character books, the writing tends to be unimaginative and formulaic. However one time of year I really like these books is back to school time. More specifically, for children starting school for the first time. The reason why is that when children can recognize and relate to the characters immediately they can be comforted more easily. If Barney, Clifford or Maisy like school and were okay, maybe they will be too. Also these books are very affordable, usually under $5 and easy to find. There are a lot of these types of books on the market here are a few we like at...
Children's Book Recommendations
August 27, 2009
Paper Bag Apple
Welcome fall and back-to-school with this easy and not very messy at all- which is perfect for , well everyone! 1. Gather your materials. You will need a paper bag, some newspaper or other scrap paper, a red and green crayon and a green pipe cleaner. 2. Start by coloring the bottom 3/4 of the bag red. 3. Color the top 1/4 brown. 4. Crumple up your newspaper and stuff it in. 5. Gather the bag where it turns brown and tie with the green pipe cleaner to make a leaf.
Arts and Crafts, Toddlers and Preschoolers
August 25, 2009
Toy Box Sorting
I am told by parents often that they have a hard time getting their little boys to do any sort of sit down learning activities at home. For a long time my advice has been to find something they love and use it as the base for learning. So using something like toys, in this case different kinds of toy vehicles as objects to sort and classify can be the trick to getting your hard to slow down child sitting and learning. 1. Gather your materials. You will need one large container, 4 smaller ones, various toy cars that can easily be sorted ( we used garbage trucks, fire trucks, motorcycles and...
Early Learning, Preschoolers, Toddlers
August 24, 2009
Goals For School
School is on its way! My son starts preschool in less than a month, so we've been spending a lot of time talking about it. We made this little goal chart today after talking about things he should try to remember at school. 1. Gather your materials. You will need a black, white and various colors ( of your choosing) pieces of construction paper, crayons to match, glue , scissors and a marker. 2. Draw an outline of a crayon, and trace it on your white paper. 3. Have your child color each outline with a different color crayon. 4. While they do that cut out the wrappers for the crayons....
Arts and Crafts, Back-to-School
August 20, 2009
Colorful Reading
Teaching your children about colors can happen anywhere, a game of eye spy, an afternoon painting and sitting down to read. Here are a few fun and colorful books to share. A color of his own by Leo Lionni is a sweet tale of a chameleon that doesn't want to continually change color, he wants to be like other animals and have a color all to himself. This is a great book for toddlers who are just learning colors because there are a limited number of colors on each page. The story is delightful as well, the chameleon never does find his own color but he finds a true friend to share all his...
Children's Book Recommendations
August 20, 2009
The Best From Blogs
Here are a few of the awesome projects I have found and bookmarked to do with my son sooner or in some cases later. Either way these were all too good not to share! Funny Faces from Ramblings of a Crazy Woman Dream Catchers from That Artist Woman Coffee Sleeve Collages from 4 Crazy Kings Felted Stones from The Magic Onions Bubble Wrap Print Fish from No Time For Flash Cards ok so we did this one but I had to share it here too, we had so much fun doing it! Bird Seed Cookies from Let's Explore Do you have one to share? Leave a comment and link it !
Arts and Crafts, Blogs
August 19, 2009
Alphabet Clean Up !
I try to fit learning into our every day fun, and what is more fun to a toddler or preschooler than making something disappear? You aren't limited to letters either, shapes,numbers, even sight words for older kids. 1. Gather your materials. You will need a shallow tub of water, a paint roller, sidewalk chalk and a a patio , driveway or sidewalk to write on. The helmet is purely decorative. 2. Write out your letters all over your patio. If your child is old enough to have them write them, or have an older sibling join in on the fun. 3. Grab the roller and either have them choose and label...
Early Learning, Toddlers and Preschoolers
August 17, 2009
Touch , Feel and Match !
Kids learn using all their senses, it's important to tap into that and let them explore and play with different textures. This simple game can be used in so many ways. You can chose just 2 opposing textures for younger children or as many as you can find for older ones. 1. Gather your materials. You will need some card stock ( I used business cards),glue, feathers, sand, bubble wrap and foil. 2. Prep your textures for gluing , trim your feathers, cut your bubble wrap and press your nail over the foil to make it super smooth. 3. Glue them on. Let dry. 4. Play. We explored them all first ,...
Early Learning, Toddlers and Preschoolers
August 17, 2009
Mask It !
Making a mask is a 2 for 1 activity, not only does your child get to create and make something, they also get to use it for make beleive. 1. Gather your materials. You will need a paper plate, scissors, some wide ribbon, markers and some glitter. 2. Start by cutting the paper plate in 2. 3. Have your child draw a design on the plate. 4. When they are done fold the plate in 2 then fold again and cut a semi circle out to make eyes. 5. Open it up and add your sparkles. My 2 year old clearly didn't do this step but he chose the colors.Let dry. 6. Punch 2 holes on either side ( not too...
Arts and Crafts, Toddlers and Preschoolers
August 14, 2009
Little Books, Big Fun
Ever get a gift and think , yeah thanks but no thanks. Then discover that the gift is awesome and you are shocked you ever didn't want it? My parents bought these books for my son ages ago, and I was not pleased at first. I judged a book by it's cover. I have been put in my place every night or so for over a year. My son reads one of the collection about that often, and I love them too. In this Amazing Machines series they cover submarines, tractors, airplanes, trains, fire engines, boats and more! Author Tony Mitton is a rhyming super star! He entertains and informs the reader about...
Children's Book Recommendations
August 13, 2009
Slow And Steady
Weaving not only creates a fun pattern on crafts, it requires concentration, and steady hands, so it's a great activity to build both of those skills. Also it uses no paint, or glue making it easy to clean up. 1. Gather your materials. You will need 2 different colors of paper, scissors, a hole punch and some tape. 2. Start by folding one sheet of paper in half, and cutting a half circle. Then cut strips into the circle, not going all the way through. 3. Cut your 2nd paper into strips. Leave some paper for the feet and eyes. 4.Weave the strips through. 5. Trim and tape the ends down. 6...
Arts and Crafts, Preschoolers
August 12, 2009
It's Just Too Messy !
I can't tell you how often I hear from parents, " ow do you do it without losing your cool?" They are referring to the paint, the glue and the sparkles that seem to spread far and wide every time they do an art project with their child. Because I know how important it is. It's worth the mess. Honestly. Doing a project with your child is more than just having something to show your spouse, at the end of the day, even though that is still my son's favorite part. It's about bonding, it's about learning while creating, and using their imaginations. So I beg you to chill about the mess. Here are...
Arts and Crafts, Parenting Advice
August 9, 2009
Ocean In A Bottle
This simple activity is something that delights kids of all ages. Babies love watching the oil and water swirl and older children will delight in the slow but inevitable separation of the two. 1. Gather your materials. You will need a simple plastic bottle, water, vegetable oil, food coloring, sequins, and sparkles. 2. Fill your bottle half way with water. Add your sequins. This is a great opportunity to practice fine motor skills as well as counting as you add the sequins. 3. Add in the sparkles. ( you will want an adult to do this). 4. Time for food coloring. 5. Tightly screw on the...
Activities for Chlidren, Arts and Crafts
August 7, 2009
Birds Of A Feather, Read Together!
We just returned from a short beach vacation and my 2 year old surprised me with what struck his fancy while away. It wasn't the water or the sand that he has been talking about , instead it was all about the different birds we saw and didn't see. So in honor of that here are a few great books about birds! "Birds" by Kevin Henkes is a magical and beautiful book written by an author who understands kids and illustrated by an illustrator who grabs their attention. The pages are filled with bright stunning paintings by Laura Dronzek and if you are like me you will find yourself opening the book...
Children's Book Recommendations
August 6, 2009
Rolling Pin Printing
Rolling pins aren't often used for baking in our house, it's usually play-dough and art instead. This is a fun and really easy way to make fun shape prints using your plain old rolling pin. 1. Gather your materials. You will need a plate,some paper, a rolling pin , some self stick foam, a paper cutter ( or scissors) , paint and some aluminum foil. 2. Start by covering your rolling pin with aluminum foil. I let my son help and it was less than smooth after, so it picked up some of the paint when we rolled it in. For better results just make sure it's flush to the pin. 3. Cut out your...
Arts and Crafts, Toddlers and Preschoolers
August 5, 2009
Apple Print Flowers
Using fruits and vegetables for print making is pretty classic, easy and fun. This activity turns plain old apple prints into pretty flowers simply by cutting a few wedges out of the apple. 1.Gather your materials. You will need an apple, some paint, paper, a plate, a knife to cut the apple with and a marker. 2. Start by cutting the apple in half, and cutting out 4 small wedges. 3. Spread some paint out on your plate and dip it in. 4. Print it onto your paper. 5. Add your next color of paint, I didn't wipe the previous off at all, just added the next. Keep going with new colors...
Arts and Crafts, Toddlers and Preschoolers
August 3, 2009
Finger Print Bugs
My son was given a stamp pad in a loot bag this weekend and we've been doing all sorts of stamping activities since. These finger print bugs are fun to do and even though a young child will need a lot of help my 2 year old was amazed how I could turn his little finger prints into bugs. It was "Magic!" 1. Gather your materials. You will need a piece of construction paper, an ink pad, some fine tipped markers , googly eyes and glue. 2. Start by pressing your finger/ child's finger into the stamp pad. I had to show my son how to do this, he was reluctant to touch it at first. 3. Make single,...
Arts and Crafts, Toddlers and Preschoolers
August 3, 2009
Folder Shape Match
Folder games or activities are perfect for the summer when you are spending so much time away from your regular routine. They pack up easily for trips, are sturdy enough for the back yard and are small enough to fit into an overnight bag to Grandma's 1. Gather your materials. You will need 2 sheets of identical paper, a marker, scissors, some double stick tape, contact paper, a ziploc and a folder. 2. Start by drawing your shapes on the paper with a marker. Choose shapes your child is new to, or needs some reinforcement regarding. 3. Layer the 2nd paper under the first with the shapes and...
Arts and Crafts, Early Learning, Toddlers and Preschoolers