Craftivity Corner

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

archives

October 30, 2011
Little Round Monster
I love teaching about shapes using art. Halloween is a great time to make shape monsters like this one , but they work all year round. Ha! All year round. Sorry couldn't help myself. You will need some construction paper, round collage materials like pompoms, or even circles cut from paper, round stickers, and sequins are all great options. Also some round stamps or paint markers and of course google eyes. You will also need scissors and glue. Start by making a round body with the paper and gluing it on another sheet. Use the paint markers ( these are similar to bingo daubers but the...
Monsters, shapes
October 30, 2011
Halloween Photo Safari
Learning to read and getting your kids to practice doesn't have to rely only on books. Activities where they need to do some reading is a great way to teach kids how reading is more than simply for books, we use the skill all day every day...even when playing games. You could do this with anything but we decided to do a Halloween themed photo safari since most every conversation my 5 year old starts includes Halloween as the subject. Grab a note book or a clip board , markers and a camera. Make a list of items for your child to find. Review the pictures together. Skeleton! This isn...
Rainy Day Fun, Reading
October 29, 2011
Masks and Make Up and Scared Kids Oh MY!
My son is generally a very confident little guy and can talk his way out of a paper bag. Since becoming a big brother in June 2010 he's been very insitant on his place as a "big" boy. Part of that has been his desire to not show fear. He finds excuses not to go to our neighbors house because he is afraid of their dogs. He won't tell you that but he is. According to him he is "Just not too sure of what they will do next, but not afraid." One thing he is openly afraid of are mascots... so as you can imagine we have not had a family trip to the "Happiest Place On...
Fears, Halloween, Kids
October 28, 2011
Paper Plate Collage Spider
While my son is at preschool I love taking the time to do more complicated activities with my daughter who at 16 months sees her brother making things and wants to join in. So a few days ago we make this spider which is now scaring people in our foyer. Obviously with toddlers you need to help a lot but it's all a learning process, which is why I like including lots of learning opportunities about colors, and textures. You will need some paper in spider/ Halloween colors , felt and streamers. Like I said above I like mixing textures because at 16 months they may not be wondering about...
Halloween Crafts, Toddler Crafts
October 27, 2011
Build and Crash
We have had very busy days here and last week we finally had a "stay at home day" with nothing planned just lots of play and luckily my camera was close by for this. I was cleaning out our supply closet when my son grabbed some extra party cups. Being an almost 5 year old boy who loves to break, bust and generally act as a wrecking ball he immediately started to knock the cups over. Then I suggested he build them into a wall... and he was off. He created an all red wall, and all blue... even patterns. All to be knocked down by his fire truck. I just thinks it's a great reminder...
Kid Activities, Rainy Day Fun
October 26, 2011
Halloween Crafts For The Home
I know that I normally link to blogs with kids crafts, post about early learning and fun things to doi with your kids but sometimes I see so many awesome ideas I need to share. Halloween isn't just for the kids so check out these ideas to get your house Halloween ready.   Aren't those wooden pumpkins from Crafty Chic Mommy awesome?! The tutorial on her blog takes you through the steps perfectly so you can make some for your porch too!   I love how simple this wreath from Something To Do  is, but even more I love how it looks. Even the busiest parent could make this!...
Halloween Crafts
October 24, 2011
Ribbon Discovery Bin
Playing and exploring and yes making a mess is fun for infants and toddlers. My daughter's favorite thing to do every day is to empty the dvd from a drawer and then refill it. Doesn't seem too exciting to those of us who can read, watch tv and write but for littles it's teaching them spatial awareness, hand eye coordination and using their senses to explore. If like me you are ready for something less destructive try this with remnants of ribbons. The main warning is of course make sure to supervise at all times but also to keep the ribbon pieces too short to wrap around a neck...
Infant activities
October 22, 2011
Plane? Boat ? Or Car?
  We love to travel and even though we aren't going trans atlantic with our kids until they are old enough to ... well not sure what milestone , but I know we aren't ready yet. What we are ready for is to explore geography through games. This is a simple game that gives kids a chance to play with a globe or map and make their own decisions about mode of travel. Grab a piece of paper and write down some destinations , some close to home and some further away, We live outside Seattle so I had Vancouver BC, Portland, and San Francisco as my close destinations. For the further away...
geography lessons for kids
October 20, 2011
Finger Painted Pumpkin
Crafting with toddlers doesn't have to be complicated. This adorable pumpkin was easy to make and fun for my toddler to explore as we talked about colors and the pumpkins that are everywhere we go these days. You will need a large peice of paper , we used our roll of craft paper but the back side of wrapping paper works great too. Orange and green paint as well as scissors , painters tape to tape the paper down and a marker. Draw a pumpkin on the paper after you tape it down to the table. Add paint to the pumpkin and dive in! My daughter loved this , until she grabbed a fist full of...
Fall Crafts
October 18, 2011
Pumpkin Patch Learning
The fall is my favorite time for year and one of the reasons is going to the pumpkin patch. We are blessed to live in a stunning corner of the world and our local pumpkin patch is beyond picturesque. Ours has a corn maze, tractor rides and of course lots and lots of pumpkins. But choosing just the right pumpkin isn't all you can do at the patch. There are tons of lessons in and around those vines and pumpkins. Shapes - send your little ones off to find an oval pumpkin, a circular one and my favorite a " Funny shaped one! " Colors - How many different color pumpkins can they...
Early Learning, Pumpkins, shapes, Sorting
October 16, 2011
Leaf Crown Craft
  When I saw these fall leaves at the dollar store I knew I needed to make some fun crafts with them. Then I opened the package and realized the stems were wire. Oh the possibilities! This is an easy craft that is fun ti create but more fun to wear and pretend with. You will need 4 chenille stems, fall leaves with wire stems. Make a circle with two chenille stems. Add two more twisting them around to make it stronger. Make sure any poky ends are folded in so your child's head doesn't get poked. Add the leaves by wrapping the stem around the wire circle.   You can add more...
Autumn, Craft, Pretend Play
October 15, 2011
Easiest Ghost Craft Ever!
Even the uncrafty can make this super easy ghost craft!   You will need a white treat box ( party supply and dollar stores have them in stock year round), some black party streamers , googly eyes , scissors and a glue stick. Glue the eyes on. Cut the 5 or more streamer pieces. Glue to the inside of the box. Hang up and watch the ghost tails float spookily in the air !
Ghosts, Halloween Crafts
October 10, 2011
Artist Inspired Art Projects
I love art but what I love more is seeing children get excited about it too. I have started collecting fun links with great fine art themed projects for kids and want to share them with you and your kids. Check them out. Above is my son channeling Jackson Pollack on my other blog No Time For Flash Cards. You must check out this Mondrian inspired lesson from Art Is Basic  ( click to see image) , easy and a great lesson. This Van Gogh Lesson and coordinating art project  from Deceptively Educational gets me excited about teaching, what a great way to teach!   This Monet...
Art Projects, Fine Art
October 8, 2011
Glowing Frankenstein Craft
Glow sticks seem to be experiencing a huge spike in popularity and I had to join in on this trend. This craft took 2 minutes to make and would look so cute alongside a lit jack-o-lantern on your front steps on Halloween. You will need a take our container ( dollar store), 2 green glow sticks, some black sticky back foam and a permenant marker. Draw the face on, add the foam as the hair and pop the sticks in! Seriously cute right?!
Halloween Craft
October 7, 2011
Pumpkin Glasses
It's "get excited about Halloween" time at our house but we didn't have a ton of time to make an elaborte messy craft. So together we vame up with these pumpkin glasses made from 5 pipe cleaners and 2 pony beads! To start make a loop and thread both ends of the pipe cleaner through the bead. Bend the ends down and fold to secure. Repeat. Using another to connect the pumpkins. Next make and attached the ear pieces. This is not a hard to make craft but you do need to be mindful of the ends and eyes. make sure all the sharp ones are tucked under
Halloween
October 4, 2011
Pretty Pumpkin Craft
I love the fall and all the fun that comes with it. This is not an easy craft but it isn't complicated, it just takes a steady hand and patience. This would be a great craft for school age kids. You will need a hole punch, some orange and green construction paper, white paper, glue and crayons. Start by drawing a pumpkin with stem and vine curlies ( do they have a real name?) Add glue to the vines and stem. Punch out lots of green paper, add to the glue. Add glue to the orange . Punch the orange paper  !! Add, let dry. I love how this turned out!
Halloween Craft