Craftivity Corner

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

archives

August 31, 2010
Bath Games
Finding alone time to focus just on my oldest child is challenging now that I have an infant who is nursing and generally gobbling up my attention. So times that used to be functional like bath time have now become fun learning time. Here are some fun games to play ! Bath Paint Color Lab! This is an old standard but by adding some small yogurt containers and plastic spoons you can mix colors and foster wonderful pretend play. My son pretends he is a scientist mixing up blue ooze to put on trees to make them taller! Have fun and run with your kids imaginations. Letter Rescue! Foam bath...
Activities, Bathtime, Early Learning, Kids
August 30, 2010
3D Pictures
This is a fun craft you can make easily and cheaply but it looks great when it's done. 1. Gather your materials. You will need 3 identical photos, a frame, foam, scissors and glue. 2. Start by cutting out the parts of the picture you want to make 3D. Only cut 2 of the 3 pictures. 3. Cut small pieces of foam and glue it on the base picture. I stacked 2 pieces of foam. 4. Add another layer. 5. Frame!
Crafts
August 29, 2010
Fire Fighter Books!
As Halloween approaches my son's obsession with firefighters and dressing up as one intensifies. When we went to the library for a mama son date that is the only book he wanted to check out. Here are 4 books we found and what we thought of them. Fire Fightersby Paulette Bourgeois is a great book. I would not read it to your tinniest firefighter ( under 3) but preschoolers who love fire trucks and the people who drive them will love it. There is ample information about fire stations, fighting fires and even fire safety. There are also all different types of fire vehicles highlighted so if...
Children's Books
August 27, 2010
Apple "Fries and Ketchup" Snack
I thought a perfect way to end Apple week would be with a "treat" . These were fun to make and even more fun to eat. 1. Gather your materials. You will need an apple, some yogurt, red food coloring , a knife,cutting board, and some dishes. 2. Slice your apple into long thin sticks. 3. Mix your yogurt and red food coloring. 4. Serve!
After School Snacks, Apples
August 26, 2010
Button Apple Tree
Apple week is still going strong! Today we are grabbing some buttons and making an apple tree! 1. Gather your materials. You will need some card board, markers, buttons ( green, red and yellow), glue and scissors. 2. Start by drawing a tree on your cardboard with marker. 3. Color it and cut it out. 4. Add glue. 5. Add buttons and let dry!
Apples, Back-to-School, Kids Crafts
August 24, 2010
Apple Links!
Love this paper plate apple tree craft from Ramblings of A Crazy Woman! So cute and easy. How adorable is this yarn apple from Make and Takes? Get learning with this apple lap book from 1+1+1=1 ! Look at this! Super cool Magnetic Apple Tree from Cute As a Fox !
Crafts
August 23, 2010
Apple Sorting
Sorting is fun and you can use similar objects to sort by size , an important skill for preschoolers to master. 1. Gather your materials. You will need some fake apples ( or red pom poms!), some containers ( these are berry ones I saved), paper, scissors and markers. 2.Start by drawing 3 apples, small, medium and large. Label them as well. If you want to make it tougher omit the signs. My 3.5 year old did fine without them. Pop them in the baskets. 3. Start sorting!
Early Childhood Education, Pre-Math
August 22, 2010
Apple Week! - Bath Poof Apple Craft
I love this time of year. I love school supplies, and buying new clothes for school and all this week I am celebrating by making apple themed posts all week! This one is great for little guys, the bath poof is great for hands that can't hold small items yet, but still fun for older kids too. 1. Gather your materials. You will need some cardboard ( like a cereal box), some red paint, a red and green marker, scissors,a plate ,and glue. 2. Draw an apple on the cardboard. 3. Pour your red paint on your plate. 4. Dip your bath poof in. 5. Paint. 6. Draw and color in a green leaf with your...
Apples, Back-to-School, Kids Crafts
August 20, 2010
Kids Craft Links!
I love finding and sharing craft ideas from the multitude of crafty blogs out there. Here are 5 great kids craft ideas that you need to see! This Bug Habitat ( pictured above) from indietutes is the perfect project, it's fun to make and even more fun to play with after ! These sun catchers from The Picky Apple are easy to make and so pretty! This is such a creative way to use a water bottle! Crafts by Amanda show you how to do it! How cool are these? These blocks and dice are made from milk cartons! Check it out over at polwig kids !
Blog links, Kids Crafts
August 18, 2010
Shape Snack!
Kids are always learning, through play, observation and set lessons like this one , designed for lunch or snack time! 1. Gather your materials. You will need some fruit leather, cookie cutters in shapes you like and kitchen shears. 2. Punch out the shapes with cookie cutters ( this is a donut hole cutter). 3. Use the shears to cut squares, rectangles and triangles. I love fruit leather for this activity because it's easy to cut but holds shape perfectly. 4. Serve it up. We often play Simon says with our snack . " Simon says eat the rectangle.... Simon says eat the circle.." You can feed...
Early Learning
August 16, 2010
Button Sorting
Preschoolers naturally sort things. You may have noticed your son or daughter saying things like " Only girls can ... " or " We only do that on Monday..." sorting and classifying things brings order and control to their lives and so activities like this is a great fit ! 1. Gather your materials. You will need some buttons with 2 and 4 holes. Some tongs ( optional) , a container with 3 sections or 3 bowls, a marker and some paper. 2. Start by drawing the buttons on small pieces of paper, include the number of holes under each drawing. 3. Pop them into the container , pour the buttons in...
Early Learning
August 11, 2010
Cup Prints
I love painting with unconventional tools. We have been talking about shapes lately and this is a fun art project that makes funky circle prints! 1. Gather your materials. You will need a plate, some paint, paper and some plastic cups. 2. Spread some paint on a plate. 3. Dip your cup in. The edge gets covered really easily. 4. Print! 5. Use different sizes and different colors of paint and keep going!
Arts and Crafts, Toddlers and Preschoolers
August 9, 2010
Back-to-school Backpack Tags!
School is fast approaching, if it's not already here. One thing I loved about getting ready for school was buying school supplies and a new backpack! Well this craft will help keep your kid's backpack from getting lost and your child will have fun and gain pride making it themselves. 1. Gather your materials. You will need some business cards ( or card stock cut to that size), some markers, stickers, some contact paper, scissors and a hole punch. 2. Have your child color the back side of 2 of the cards ( I am making 2 tags). 3. Write or if they are able have your child their name on the...
Back-to-School, Kids Crafts
August 6, 2010
Crafts from the Blogosphere!
Here are the crafts I bookmarked this week under " Awesome!" I was going to link a different craft from Frugal Family Fun Blog but couldn't resist her newest addition - No Mess Marbled Painting! These sunflowers from NurtureStore got bookmarked as soon as I saw them last week , amazing! I have used muffin tins for so many different projects but never like this! Check out Let The Children Play ! Cool off with these super Puffy Ice Cream cone crafts from Teach Preschool !
Kids Crafts
August 3, 2010
Using Your 5 senses to Choose Childcare
Over the years I have been asked by many friends to help them decide which preschool or daycare to send their children to. As a former preschool teacher and childcare center director I have a few tips to share with them and you. Use all 5 senses when you go on a tour of the school/ facility. 1. Sight - what do you see? Are the teachers on the floor playing, teaching and interacting with the kids? Do you see posted emergency procedures, exits and first aid kits?Do you see things in the way of the exits? Do you see children's art work on the walls proudly displayed? Do you see lots of books...
Childcare, Early Childhood Education
August 1, 2010
Find, Cut and Paste Letter Craft
Learning letters doesn't have to be all about flash cards you can make it fun and dynamic with activities like this one. You can do just one letter, slowly work through the alphabet or even have your child do their initials or name! 1. Gather your materials. You will need some construction paper, scissors, marker, glue and magazines or catalogs. 2. Write out your letter on your construction paper. 3. Find that letter in your magazines and catalogs and cut out. If you are doing this with a really young child do this with them. It's tricky so give them a hand but don't do it for them, just...
Early Learning