Craftivity Corner

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

archives

January 31, 2011
3 Cheap But Meaningful Valentine's Day Activities
1 .Storytime with  hot chocolate and heart shapped marshmallows We did this ( with regular marshmallows) for Christmas and it was my son's favorite activity we did for the holidays. I already have some special Valentine's Day books put aside and my eye on those heart shapped marshmallows that are only in the store for a few weeks! It doesn't take long so even the businest family can make time for this. 2. Share Some Love When better to teach your child about giving love than Valentine's Day? Go to the store with your child and  a pre set amount of money . Have your...
Valentine's Day
January 30, 2011
Read and Spell Magnet Board
My son has been amazing us lately with sounding out words, asking to spell everything and much to our dismay putting together words that we speak spell ,  you know so he doesn't know what we are saying... Well pride and dismay aside I decided to use these new skills for play. This board was play for him, I didn't direct him, just told him to play with the letters and stick them where he wanted and have fun sounding the words out. He especially loved when the words didn't work and even suggested we make up meanings for those words. I hesitated posting this because I didn'...
Early Learning, Reading, Spelling
January 25, 2011
Finger Print Valentine!
People call Valentine's Day a Hallmark Holiday so squash that by making this super cute card that is as custom as it gets! Gather your materials. You will need a blank card, red stamp pad ( washable!!) and a permanent marker. Start by pressing your finger into the ink and making a heart by pressing it twice on the card. Make 3 hearts this way. Print love in capital letters in the spaces. Let dry.
Crafts, Valentine's Day Card
January 23, 2011
Weekend Craft Links
I LOVE this chalkboard door hanger from Oopsey Daisy ! We have made this puffy paint for years and love it, check out these great snowflakes from Mom Endevors . Love these giant paint brushes and snow painting from Child Central Station These duck puppets from Memetales are soft and adorable ! Love this color theme for a semsory tub at A Sugar Mama's Thoughts.
Early Childhood Education, Kids Crafts
January 22, 2011
The Power of Storytelling
In a world where everything plugs in, charges and connects us to everyone it's nice to unplug in order to fully connect.  My son has always loved being read to, we go to the library often, sometimes multiple times a week  and his imagination is fantastic. Sometime around Christmas we started telling stories about Santa's elves, and now all day long I hear " Mama can you tell me a story about the fire fighter elves? " In our North Pole there are all sorts of elves and his favorite are the police and fire fighters. Ok so I tell my kid stories - not ground breaking....
Parenting, Storytelling
January 20, 2011
Feather Painted Valentine
Hearts are such a fun shape to play with and depending on your child's ability this could be a great craft to show your child how to cut a paper heart. If they are still too little they will still have fun with the painting! Gather your materials. You will need some water colors, a feather, white paper, cup of water, and scissors. Start by folding the paper and cutting it into a heart. If your child is able have them do this step. Next dip your feather into the water and watercolors. Paint! Let dry and give your heart to someone you love!
Kids' Crafts, Valentines Day
January 19, 2011
Mitten Match
This is a easy but fun game you can make at home for your preschooler or toddler. My 4 year old likes to play alone with many mittens but for a toddler I would play with them with only a few. Gather your materials. You will need some fun patterned paper in 2-5 patterns, scissors and a marker if you want to draw and trace the mittens, I admit I am a free hand kind of gal! Cut out at least 2 of each pattern. Like i said for older children do more, younger or those still learning how to sort fewer. You want there to be a challenge but you want to facilitate success so the child doesn't...
Early Learning, Easy Crafts, Fun at home with kids
January 18, 2011
Shoe Organizer Art Storage
Staying organized is not my strong suit but creativity is. And here is a creative and cost effective way to organize craft supplies and save space too. By using a cloth over door shoe organizer to store your craft supplies you can : Keep the more damaging supplies ( think sharpies and adhesive) out of reach in the top pockets . While keeping things like crayons and kid scissors well within reach. Use minimal space but provide amazing storage. Unhook and move it to a new place if you want to move where you store the supplies. Wash it if glue, paint or something else gets all over it. When...
Craft Supplies
January 17, 2011
Butterfly Match Puzzles
Learning should be fun and not too challenging. These simple butterfly matching puzzles are fast to make and a great short activity for preschoolers , my son does a series of these sort of activities during quiet time which replaced nap in the afternoon. Novelty is huge for him and I can't afford to buy new puzzles all the time so adding in a few home made ones with store bought makes the rotaion larger without affecting my bottom line too much! Gather your materials. You will need a marker ( permanent works best on foam) , scissors and a few sheets of foam. Draw your butterflies on the...
Early Learning, Matching Games, Puzzles
January 16, 2011
Celebrate Martin Luther King Day
With a great board book!   There are many good books out there to teach your children about the life and achievements of Martin Luther King but this book The Story of Martin Luther King Jr. by Johnny Ray Moore  caught my eye because it's targetted to younger children.  Explaining who Martin Luther King Jr. was and what he accomplished is no easy task but this book is a great start. The text answers simple questions with clear but easy to understand answers . It cover the basics about his life, his fight for civil rights and what segregation was like. The book itself is a...
Children's Books, Martin Luther King Day
January 13, 2011
Snow Activities !
Did you know that yesterday every state in the United States except Florida had snow on the ground? It was a snow day here and because of that I thought I'd link some fun ideas to do with snow! Isn't that styrofoam Snowman awesome? Check out how to make it at Teach Preschool Itsy Bitsy Learners has a chilly cool Winter Sensory Bin    Another awesome Sensory bin that uses one of my favorite manupulatives ( Duplo) is over at Wedded Mommy Bliss    This has been one of my favorite snowman crafts ever and I saw it first at Just 4 Fun years ago.    I just...
Early Learning, Kids Crafts
January 12, 2011
Apple Print Valentines
Valentine's Day is coming up if you haven't noticed all the Halloween I mean Valentine's day candy at the store so I thought I would do the first craft of the I love you season. This classic one is easy to do with young toddlers just make sure you use a smaller apple. Gather your materials. You will need half an apple, some red paint, a plate and paper. Cut the apple legnthwise so the inside looks like a heart. Dip in paint Print. My son asked me to trace them but it's completely optional!
Kids Crafts
January 10, 2011
I love... choice activity!
This was a huge hit for my very decisive 4 year old. He is certain about what he loves and what he doesn't. Using stickers for activities is a great way to keep mess down and fine motor skills up! Peeling those little suckers off works out the muscles in the hand that we use for tasks like writing.  Talk to your children about why they love the things they choose and why they don't like the other. I love the reasons my son gives and know you will enjoy your child's reasoning as well. Gather your materials. You will need some paper, a marker and a variety of stickers. Choose...
Early Learning, Fine Motor Skills, Making choices
January 9, 2011
Learning with Lego
Kids are always learning, so lessons don't have to be huge an elaborte every day. Short fun lessons that fit into play is a great way to teach at home. This easy lesson in ordering by size uses ine of my son's favorite toys to teach an important concept. You can also seamlessly throw in a counting lesson by counting the blocks if you want. Blocks that connect are the best to use for this to avoid the frustration of falling blocks messing up the order. Gather your materials. You will need some Lego ( we are using Duplo) in various colors and a base plate if you are doing it on carpet...
Early Learning, Ordering by Size
January 7, 2011
5 activities for kids home sick from school
We travel every Christmas from our home in Washington State to Texas to spend a week or so with my husband's family. I am blessed with good travelers, no bribes were even needed for either plane ride. One unwanted thing we did get was a nasty cough and ear infection. So now that was are home we are in our PJs , unable to go to preschool, play dates, the library... to say we are going a little stir crazy is accurate. Here are 5 activities besides napping to keep your sanity, and your sick kid happy when you are quarantined at home. 1. Special Art Projects At our house window crayons are a...
Activities, Sick Kids
January 5, 2011
New Years Resolutions
This is an easy activity you can do with any child old enough to answer. You can do the writing, or they can or like my 4 year old and I share the task. Grab a piece of paper or note card, pencil and start answering these easy questions that  introduce your children to resolutions. First Review The Last Year 1.What was the best part of 2010? 2. What was the worst part? Next Write What You Want 2011 To Have 1. What do you want to happen this year? 2. What would make 2011 even better than 2010? 3. What do you not want to happen this year? Choose 3 Steps To Make The Goal Happen 1. What...
Early Learning, Education, Goals, Learning