Craftivity Corner

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

archives

November 30, 2009
Poinsettia Craft
This is an easy and really pretty Christmas craft that even the youngest can make. I don't know about you but I always buy Poinsettias but they never last, I just can't seem to keep them alive. So instead we made one! 1. Gather your materials. You will need a paper plate, a red marker, red crayon or paint, glue , scissors and green pom poms. 2. Start by drawing a flower on the paper plate with the marker. 3. Invite your child to color the flower with crayons or paint. 4. Add glue to the middle and add green pom poms. 5. Let dry and cut out.
Arts and Crafts, Christmas, Preschool
November 27, 2009
Books for all ages !
Did you brave the middle of the night line ups? The hoards of thrifty shoppers? Waiting til Cyber Monday? I am not brave enough, I was tucked in by 9pm last night exhausted by pregnancy and a 3 year old. But I do have some great tips about books and what to look for , for each age group. Newborns - 6 months Bold colors, and shocking contrasts will grab infants attention, silly sounds, short text and repetition are all things to look for. A good example is Peek-A-Moo by Marie Torres Cimarusti. A simple book about farm animals and their sounds with a game of peek a boo thrown in! 6 months -...
Christmas Gifts, Tips
November 25, 2009
Thanksgiving Helpers!
This Thursday is Thanksgiving and through all the prep, cooking and feasting sometimes the littlest act up not because they plan to ruin your day but because they just don't feel included! Here are some fun ways to help your young child feel included this Thanksgiving. 1. While you are cooking give your child an extra pot and spoon and a little dry rice or beans to "cook". My son loves it if I give him empty salt and pepper shakers, for some reason that takes it to a greater level. 2. If you are driving to family or friends have your child count how many red cars they see, how many gas...
Preschoolers, Thanksgiving, Toddlers
November 24, 2009
Clothes Pin Turkey
You are probably already finished your Thanksgiving grocery shopping so now it's time to get down and make something fun with your kiddos. This is an easy craft that incorporates patterning, fine motor and counting skills. 1. Gather your materials. You will need some orange and yellow paper ( we use scrap), glue stick, scissors,markers and some colored clothes pins. 2. Start by cutting your orange paper into a semi circle. Have your child color it. 3. While they are coloring cut the yellow into a turkey body ( think figure 8) and draw a face and gobble. If your child is able to have them...
Kids Crafts, Preschoolers., Thanksgiving Craft
November 23, 2009
Mess Free Christmas Craft
Crafts don't have to be messy- this one leaves little for clean up time but is adorable none the less. 1. Gather your materials. You will need a paper plate, some gift bows , scissors and ribbon. 2. Cut the middle out of your plate. 3. Peel the backing from your bows. 4. Stick them on! We made a pattern, which is a really important math skill for kids to learn and so easy to incorporate into crafts! 5. Add ribbon!
Christmas, Crafts, Preschoolers
November 20, 2009
Holiday Book Preview
The holidays are coming and I thought I'd share some great books for "older" kids. I have older in quotations because I mean the 5-7 year old crowd, ones that still believe in all the magic but are old enough to learn some of the deeper meanings. These three books are all great to learn more about each of these holiday traditions. It's Kwanzaa Time by Linda and Clay Goss is such a great resource for this holiday. I am not terribly familiar with Kwanzaa but after reading this book I am both familiar and full of awe for this African American celebration. I would not read this whole book to...
Children's Book Recommendations
November 19, 2009
Shape Make and Hide
In our focus on shapes this week I wanted to do an active game that got my son up and moving. Young children learn in all different ways and exposing them to various experiences will only encourage more learning! 1. Gather your materials, all you need are some pipe cleaners! 2. Together with your child make or have them make shapes with the pipe cleaners. My 3 year old suggested shapes and I made them. I let him play with them , manipulating the shapes. 3. Next we hid them around the house and as he found them he announced what shape and color they were and moved to the next. We did this...
Early Learning, Preschoolers
November 18, 2009
Thanksgiving Craft Links!
Thanksgiving is almost here and these are some of the craft ideas I wish I had thought of, well one I did but the others had me saying " Why didn't I think of that?" you'll love them! I love this Pet Rock Turkey from Let's Explore! This pilgrim paper bag puppet from Ziggity Zoom is so cute! Hand and footprint turkey from Just For Fun is perfect for all ages! These pilgrim hat cookies from The Entertaining Kitchen will be a huge hit for sure! This is a craft from Our Nifty Notebook for older kids or parents but I thought it was so cute! This is a multi-cultural wreath for saying...
Crafts, Kids
November 17, 2009
Stick Shapes !
I could not believe how big a hit this amazingly simple activity was with my son. He's been mixing up rectangles and squares so I have been focusing on shapes a lot. 1. Gather your materials. You will need popsicle sticks, construction paper, and a marker. 2.Using the popsicle sticks make shapes - the only rule is to make sure that your child can cover the line easily with the sticks. 3. Label the shapes. 4. Invite your child to lay the sticks out on the shapes.
Early Learning, Preschoolers and Toddlers
November 16, 2009
Shape Art
Crafts are fun but letting your child loose with nothing but some shapes and a glue stick is a great way to teach shapes and have a great open ended art activity. 1. Gather your materials. You will need some scrap construction paper , one piece of black construction paper , scissors and glue. 2. Cut the scrap paper into rectangles. 3. Glue them on. 4. All done! Simple but such a fun thing to make, you can label colors, count how many rectangles you have and even make shapes with your shapes if you want.
Arts and Crafts, Early Learning, Preschoolers, Toddlers
November 13, 2009
Hot At Our House
We have a large library of children's books, and we have on average 50 books signed out of the library at any given time. So my son has ample books to choose from. Yet, as any parent can attest, toddlers and preschoolers play favorites. We read throughout the day but at nap time and bedtime favorites are clearly defined. Here are the favorites at our house right now. Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boynton was not initially a hit with my son when I bought it last year around Valentine's Day. He sat through it but many readers raved about it and I just never got that reaction from my son. Until now...
Children's Book Recommendations
November 11, 2009
Gourd Painted Leaf
The fall is a fun time to be outside with your children , they can pick up leaves, see the colors changing and run around so everyone sleeps better at night! This craft is fun and easy to do with things that we all associate with the fall, gourds and changing of the leaves. 1. Gather your materials. You will need some red, yellow and green paint, a cereal box ( any box will do), some light colored construction paper, scissors, and 1 or 2 gourds. 2. Start by cutting your cereal box and paper into the shape of a leaf - you can leave it as a plain paper too, the prints are really cool. 3....
Crafts, Preschoolers, Thanksgiving, Toddlers
November 10, 2009
Family Fun Links
Making something for your whole family, with your whole family is an experience no one big or little will forget. So today I searched the blogosphere for some fantastic family projects! This make your own foosball from Filth Wizardry had my jaw on the floor, seriously how cool is that? And yes the kids helped! This indoor campfire from Fun In The Making is perfect for chilly November evenings but still encourages storytelling and time together as a family. What kids won't love DIY Moon Sand ? ! You can find the recipe at Skip To My Lou Last but not least get moving as a family with...
Arts and Crafts, Family
November 9, 2009
Tissue Paper Indian Corn
Thanksgiving is coming up fast and so often gets overshadowed by Halloween and Christmas. I love Thanksgiving because my son was born just as most of you were finishing up your pumpkin pie in 2006. So I love to make Thanksgiving crafts . 1. Gather your materials. You will need a piece of brown construction paper, some yellow, orange and red tissue paper, a marker, scissors and glue. 2. Start by drawing the outline of corn with husks on your paper. 3. Cut your tissue paper into small squares and start making tiny balls with them. 4. Add glue to your corn. 5. Add your tissue balls. Let...
Arts and Crafts, Preschoolers, Thanksgiving
November 6, 2009
Multicultural Books
My Granny Went To Market by Stella Blackstone is an amazing book. It's a counting book, a trip around the world and a view into different cultures as well. Granny buys a magic carpet and goes from place to place, buying souvenirs that number from 1-10. The text isn't lengthy and the illustrations are bright and busy that even really young toddlers will love it. The Colors of Us by Karen Katz. You may recognize Karen Katz because of her awesome board books for babies. Well this is a book for older ( preschool) kids but it's equally awesome. Lena is a 7 year old artists and she is...
Children's Book Recommendations, Toddlers and Preschoolers
November 5, 2009
Their Job Is To Play
Young children need play. Developmentally this is the time that they make the connections, they learn most naturally and practice the social skills we may wonder if they will ever get. Because of my blog here and No Time For Flash Cards it is often assumed that I sit with my child for long periods of time doing craft after craft at a table... the reality is , is that mostly we play. Something that has made a drastic difference for us was giving up a guest room and turning it into a small but effective playroom. I made this transition for free, using only what we already had. His old change...
Early Learning, Playroom set up, Preschoolers, Toddlers
November 4, 2009
DIY Magnetic Notepad
This time of year I find myself writing list after list, for holiday shopping among other things. This craft is perfect for jotting down chores, homework or friend's phone numbers. 1. Gather your materials. You will need some card stock, plastic jewels, glue, magnets, a hole punch, some ribbon and paper. * please be careful when crafting with magnets. If you have a little person capable of swallowing the magnets please use magnetic strips instead of small round ones. 2. Start by cutting your card stock and paper. You will want your card stock to be wider and longer than your paper pad. We...
Arts and Crafts, School Age Kids
November 3, 2009
Fun with Candy
Did your child get more candy Saturday night than they have ever consumed? I know mine did. So instead of banishing it , I am devoting a few days this week to learning with candy. Candy Pinch! 1. Gather your materials. You will need 2 bowls, some bamboo tongs, and some small candies like M&Ms or Skittles. 2. Put your candies in the larger bowl- you can count them here if your child wants to but don't feel like you need to. 3. Start pinching and transferring the candies to the smaller bowl. 4. If your child is able to pinch them successfully, start requesting specific colors to be...
Early Learning, Preschoolers., Toddlers
November 2, 2009
Learn with Candy
All my son wants to do is relive Halloween. It was his first time trick or treating and he fell in love. I decided to harness this candy madness and use it to teach. Check back tomorrow for more candy related learning! Candy Alphabet 1. Gather your materials. You will need some black construction paper, some white chalk ( any color with a marker will do, we just wanted the blackboard look.) and a collection of candies that have written names on them. 2. Write our the alphabet with your child. I would write a few letters, stop and ask my son what comes next. If he was stumped we would sing...
Early Learning, Preschoolers., Toddlers