Craftivity Corner

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

archives

May 31, 2010
Easy DIY Dice Game
I hope you all had a great Memorial Day long weekend. We were stuck inside with rain and played this easy game, so fun my son didn't even know he was learning. How you play: You need 2 or more players. You each get numbers from 1-6 and you take turns rolling the die. When you roll a number you flip the card with the number over . The first person to have all their numbers flipped if the winner. Easy but fun, especially with these over sized dice from the dollar store. Here is how to make the game pieces. 1. Gather your materials. You will need some construction paper,plain white paper,...
Early Learning, Math
May 28, 2010
Summer Links
I am in love with these flower frisbees from Make and Takes! How awesome is this flip flop wreath from Ramblings of a Crazy Woman? Make easy inexpensive Garden Stones with directions from Frugal Family Fun Blog. I know we eat out more during the summer, make this crayon roll for your little one so they stay busy while you wait at restaurants. Check out the tutorial at Feels Like Home. Make and race fun Soap Boats from Kiddio !
Craft Links
May 27, 2010
5 Summer Tools For Learning !
The summer is a time of freedom for many kids so we as parents need to work even harder to providing an environment where play hides the learning or at least jazzes it up so they still feel refreshed come September. Here are 5 fun tools for learning all summer long that won't make your kids feel like they are in school. 1. A Play structure or access to a playground. Kids who get enough gross motor play are better able to concentrate on other tasks like reading and problem solving. Get your kids moving and they will also be thinking. 2. Side walk chalk. It's cheap, it's creative and if you...
Arts and Crafts, Learning, Play
May 26, 2010
So cute I had to share
My son brought this home from preschool a few weeks ago and I have to share it. It's so easy, cute and putting the sequins into the bag is phenomenal for fine motor skills. 1. Gather your materials. You will need a pipe cleaner, small ziplock and sequins. 2. Fill your bag with sequins. Some kids will carefully pick out colors, other will grab and dump. Let them do it however they want. 3. Zip it up and wind the pipe cleaner around the middle, leaving 2 longer ends for antennas.
Arts and Crafts, Butterflies, Preschool
May 25, 2010
Incentives to read all summer long!
I am passionate about literacy, I focused on early literacy while completing my degree in Education and have been devoted to promoting reading since. The summer can be a really hectic time, with day camps, family holidays, and trying to fit special event after special event into your schedule. One thing I beg you to fit in is time to read! I have gathered some fun incentive programs for you to get involved in to keep the reading going until school starts back up! Barnes & Noble Booksellers is hosting a summer reading program where children read a number of books, write about their...
Literacy, Reading, Summer Reading
May 24, 2010
Best Homemade Bubbles!
I must disclose that I loathe bubbles, not the round fun floaty things that kids chase so much as the slimy solution that seems to find it's way onto me all the time! Still there is no reason to buy bottle after bottle this summer when you can make your own and save money, time and packaging. After trying 4 different recipes our favorite was this one from San Francisco's Exploratorium : 1 gallon of water 2/3 cup (160 ml) of dish washing liquid 1 tablespoon of glycerin At first I was like I doubt my pharmacy will have glycerin ( I live in a small town) but sure enough they did! I followed the...
Activity for kids, Fun with Kids
May 21, 2010
Food Craft
Trying to create a happy relationship with food is an ongoing thing with young kids. So today we did a simple " My favorite foods" activity. There were no wrong answers, just gentle guidance to include what we call growing food not just treats. 1. Gather your materials. You will need a paper plate, cooking or food magazines, glue, a marker and scissors. 2. Write a title on your plate with the marker. 3. Flip through the magazines with your child, talk about the food you see. Cut some favorites out. 4. Glue onto your plate.
Early Learning, Kids Crafts
May 19, 2010
Father's Day Craft Links
This is one for the older kids but how cool is this gadget case made from a tie from Dollar Store Crafts? We made these last year after getting inspired by Ramblings Of A Crazy Woman Make Dad a custom memory game to play with your kids! Use silly old pictures that will get your kids giggling. Check out how on Muffin Tin Mom Check out this cool frame from Kaboose I was so proud of this from my own blog No Time For Flash Cards, it was a huge hit with readers too.
Father's Day Crafts
May 18, 2010
Patriotic Wand
Memorial Day is coming and you can show your pride and appreciation for the troops. This is easy to adapt to any theme just change the colors. 1. Gather your materials, you will need a piece of doweling, some party streamers in white and blue , a red pipe cleaner , tape and scissors. 2.Start by cutting your streamers to whatever length you want. I kept ours short to discourage pulling on them but long ones would be awesome. 3.Lay out a piece of tape sticky side up and place the streamers on it. 4.Roll the tape around the dowel. 5.Wind the pipe cleaner around the dowel.
Crafts
May 17, 2010
Parades are for more than just candy and sunburns.
Parade season starts around here with our town's yearly festival, then there is Memorial Day and 4th of July. If you want a good spot you have to sit down early and keeping young kids entertained can be a big task. Here are some fun ideas to keep them having fun and even learning while you wait and watch summer parades. Eye Spy You remember this game right? Use people in the crowd, store fronts and even road markings. Depending on how old your child is you can use letters ( on store signs), numbers ( on speed limit or parking signs) colors or even sight words too. Tally Up Grab a small pad...
Early Learning, Summer Fun
May 15, 2010
Author Showcase : Lois Ehlert
Lois Ehlert has written and or illustrated many books. Any public library will have a good number of her books available in the children's section and rightfully so. She makes unique, entertaining and dynamic books for kids. Hands I had never read this book before grabbing it at my library this week, and I am so sad I missed it for so long. This little book has a great message. It's all about a daughter watching her parents create by building , sewing and gardening. She too creates both my watching, helping then painting. Making things with your hands isn't just something you pick up, it's...
Children's Book Recommendations
May 13, 2010
Recycled Music !
Music is a big deal in our house, my son can make anything into a drum or guitar, his favorite being the toilet ( lid down) and the mop. Today we made 3 different shakers using things from our recycle bin and pantry. 1. Gather your materials. You will need some empty boxes, tins or jars from your recycle bin, some tape and various dried foods like beans, quinoa , pasta etc... 2. Start by filling the tins with the dried foods. Use a different one for each. The goal is to make different sounds. 3. Tape the tops on, the goal is not to make a huge mess ! 4. Shake and play. I asked my son...
Carfts, Musical Instruments, Preschoolers
May 11, 2010
Make reading more fun with themes!
Preschoolers naturally group, sort and classify things. You may notice your child grouping their construction vehicles or all their dolls with ink clothes apart from their other toys. You can promote literacy using this same idea by providing them with themed books, and activities. This will boost learning as well as interest in books for those who are less inclined to bring their parent a book and ask to read. 1. Find 2-3 themes that they are interested in. Look to their favorite toys, tv shows or books at home for help. What have they been asking about lately, jump on their curiosity and...
Early Learning
May 10, 2010
Wait don't throw that out!
I look at everything as possible craft materials, from food to stationary to packing materials that come in the mail. This piece of foam came with god only knows but I saved it in hopes of making something with it. Today we used it for shape painting! 1. Gather your materials. You will need some foam ( or kitchen sponges), paint, a plate and scissors. Oh and paper of course! 2. Cut your foam into shapes. 3. Dip into paint. 4. Stamp away! The foam was light and easy for small hands to manipulate and didn't pick up too much paint, so it made interesting prints too.
Arts and Crafts, Recycled Art, shapes
May 7, 2010
Last Minute Mother's Day Crafts
Make mom a personalized pendant ! Check out Frugal Family Fun Blog for the how to ! Love these personalized hot pads from Dresses and Messes! What a fun way to make a bag beautiful! Pop over to Paint Cut Paste for the directions for this awesome project! Simple and beautiful! Hand print flowers from Ramblings of A Crazy Woman!
Mother's Day, Mother's Day Crafts
May 6, 2010
3 Sidewalk Chalk Activities
I hope the weather where you are is warmer than ours in Western Washington, it's been horrible and I can't wait to get outside more to learn! Here are 3 great activities you can do with sidewalk chalk : 1. Sidewalk Spray! Grab your hose and some washable sidewalk chalk . Write letters, numbers and make shapes with the chalk. Then have your child spray them off with the hose while you yell them out. This was a huge hit with my son last summer and easily adaptable for 2-10 year olds. For the older kids this is a great way to keep up with sight words over the summer. 2. Nature Counting Grab...
Early Learning, Outside Activities, Preschoolers
May 5, 2010
Coconut Smoothie Treats
Treats in our house range from cupcakes, to stickers but today after my son was incredibly patient at a long OB appointment we celebrated with a " Mama and Little Man Date" which consisted of fun coconut fruit smoothies in coconut cups and story time. I thought this could also be a fun activity for Mother's Day as well. 1. Gather your materials. You will need some fun themed cups, our coconut ones came from a party supply store, and your favorite smoothie recipe, here is ours: 12oz coconut milk or cream 1 small container ( single serve) of vanilla yogurt. 1 cup frozen strawberries 1 banana...
Mother's Day, Smoothies, Treats
May 4, 2010
Wave,Swish , Dribble... books about water !
Have you ever noticed how young children flock to water? Public fountains, water tables, sprinklers... it's all heaven to young kids. These books are all about different kinds of water but what they all have in common is that they are great books to share with your kids. Bedtime Kiss For Little Fish by Lorie Ann Grover is a sweet little board book for babies and young toddlers. All the animals in the sea are getting ready for bed in this bright, rhyming book. I love the illustrations by Debra Ziss and the calm feeling of this bedtime book. Ruby's Storm by Amy Hest is a story about a...
Children's Book Recommendations
May 3, 2010
Woven Place Mat Craft
Weaving is a wonderful quiet activity, and an easy way to make fun place mats to be used for all sorts of things. 1. Gather your materials. You will need 2 pieces of contrasting construction paper, scissors and contact paper. 2. Start by folding one piece of paper in two and making cuts from the fold almost to the edge, leaving at least a centimeter uncut. 3.Cut your other paper into strips, don't worry if they aren't perfectly even, weaving is very forgiving of imperfections. 4. Start weaving, remember to alternate how you start each strip. 5. When you are done sandwich it between...
Kids Crafts