Craftivity Corner

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

archives

February 28, 2012
My Favorite Crafts & Activities For Kids
The 3 years of posts took a long time to scroll through but these 10 are my very favorite we made for FamilyEducation.com since May 2009. I hope you will join me over at my main blog No Time For Flash Cards for new activities almost every day ! Sparkly Starfish Fine Motor Letter Match Flower Painting Monster Gift Bag Father's Day Stress Balls Shoe Organizer Art Storage Truck Tracks Kid Made First Aid Kits April Fools Snack Idea Robot Gift Wrap
Kids Crafts
February 26, 2012
Hands On Shape Activities For Kids
Learning about shapes is more than identification it's about manipulating them, understanding space and how things go together. Hands on activities are great ways to start teaching your kids about shapes.   Shape and Hide Circle of Circles Shape Snack   Emory Board Shapes Open Ended Shape Collage
Kids Crafts
February 25, 2012
Alphabet Activities For Kids
I have a passion for letters, specifically teaching them and I love exposing kids to them through crafts, games and play. Here are some of the best alphabet themed posts I have done here at FamilyEducation.com Alphabet Soup Alphabet Clean Up Find and Stick Letter Hunt Letter I-SPY Bottle Candy Letter Match
Kids Crafts
February 24, 2012
St. Patrick's Day Crafts For Kids
Our last post looked back at some of my favorite book posts and today I continue the trip down memory lane with my favorite St. Patrick's Day ideas. Mint Playdough Rainbow Paper Chain Wreath Shamrock Lacing Card Pom Pom Rainbow Easy Glittered Shamrocks   For even more ideas check out this Pinterest board devoted to St. Patrick's Day!
Kids Crafts
February 21, 2012
A Look Back At Books
At the end of this month I will be leaving FamilyEducation.com . As far as I know the posts that are presently published will remain, but still this chapter is closing and it's making me nostalgic.  Over the next 5 days I will be reviewing some of my favorite posts from the past 3 years.   Today is all about Books!   Here are my 5 favorite posts about books. Did you have a favorite?   David Shannon Books Board Books Lucy Cousin Books Books About Manners Books About Trucks  
Children's Books
February 18, 2012
Real World Writing - Purposeful Practice
Learning to write can be hard and frustrating for many kids. Forcing them to practice over and over can be counter productive for many who already don't enjoy it. I don't know about you but when we got into trouble in elementary school we had to write lines. I hated it. Finding real world reasons for them to write and practice words is key. I taught PreK and tutored kids in reading and used exercises like this all the time as class activities and things to try at home for those struggling. You'd think that as my own son struggled with a lack of desire to even try to write that I...
Handwriting Practice
February 17, 2012
Simple Fine Motor Practice
When I am cooking dinner my toddler is ready to play. Unfortunately she like her dad and brother have incredibly long limbs and can grab at things and it's simply not safe some nights to have her walking about. So I make little activities for her to do in her boster chair. This is our recent favorite. Using an old pepper container and straws cut to fit inside she slips them through the little holes until the are all in. I come and dump them back out ... and repeat. She loves it, she is safe from cooking dangers and she is working on fine motor and hand eye coordination skills too!
fine motor
February 16, 2012
Diamond Glitter Collage
Easy shape collages have always had a prominent place in the preschool lessons I have taught. I like including materials like this glitter foam because it adds something special to a basic project. All you will need for this is some glittery sticky back foam and scissors. Cut out a large diamond shape. Cut out multiple small ones. Collage.
Fine Motor Skills, shapes
February 14, 2012
Happy Valentine's Day
I know people say that this holiday was made by Hallmark and isn't real yada yada yada but who doesn't love a day about love?! Every year we make heart shaped tortilla pizzas, have heart shaped dessert ( usually cookies or brownies cut with a cookie cutter) and bubbly pink lemonade. It's easy and silly and what holidays should be like when you have little kids. This year though I am adding a new tradition ( isn't it fun getting to make them?) I am going to go through family pictures and find some from when my husband and I were dating, some wedding photos, and a few pictures...
Love
February 13, 2012
Easy Valentine "Snowflake"
This is a fun craft for kids with great scissor skills, I used to do this with a group of after school kids when I worked in a childcare center. All you need is some paper and scissors. Fold and cut out half hearts on most of the seams. Open and voila! Told you it was easy!
Easy Craft, Valentine's Day
February 12, 2012
Last Minute Valentine Idea To Hand Out At School
These pencil toppers turn run of the mill ( or in our case sparkly) pencils into Valentines with nothing but a pipe cleaner. Start by securely wrapping the pipe cleaner around the end of the pencil. Leave lots of room on the end. Shape the rest into a heart making sure there is a some extra to wrap around and secure on the bottom so that the heart keeps it's shape. Trust me teachers will much prefer this to the sugary treats that are often given out !
Valentine's Day
February 11, 2012
Star Pasta Stars - Toddler Shape Activity
My daughter loves stars, which makes me happy because I do too. I found this pasta at the store and knew I had to grab it for some crafts. They are tiny and perfect for kids that re putting things in their mouths. She popped a few in and spat them out and kept doing the activity. You will need some paper, pasta, glitter and glue. That's it. Let them play with the pasta before you start the craft, feel it, play with it and explore. Add glue to the paper in star shapes. If they are older let them do this. Tell them that they get to cover their stars with stars! Pour it on ( we used a...
shapes, stars
February 8, 2012
Heart Pan Prints
My toddler loves to paint and with Valentine's Day coming up we decided to make some easy heart prints using our silicone pan . You will need some paint, construction paper, a paint brush and a heart silicon mold. Paint the bottom of the mold. Press the paper on. Peel off and dry. My daughter was ecstatic to see she made hearts!
Art, Toddlers, Valentine's Day
February 3, 2012
Lunch Box Love - easiest ever!
When I saw these adorable fruit labels from AlphaMom on Pinterest I immediately knew I had to do something similar.. but my printer is out of ink and I keep forgetting to buy a new cartridge. So instead I made this. While my kids were eating their waffles I left a tiny note for my little man  and started what will likely be a tradition. He loved it. All you need are stationary labels and a few fine tipped markers. I wrote " I <3 you oodles" and will think of new cute things to write tomorrow morning. Maybe " Eat me first" since tomorrow is Friday and I give him a...
Kids
February 2, 2012
Do's and Don't for Reading With Your Toddler
Do read every day. Don't choose books too long for short attention spans.   Do find books easy for fumbly toddler hands to manipulate like board books . Don't expect them to be able to flip regular pages without ripping them accidentally ( or not so accidentally). Set them up for success.   Do let them pick the books to read with you and develop positive associations and favorites. Don't tell them no when they grab that same book for the 47th time, that's normal and not a bad thing.   Do take them to the library. Don't force them to sit at story time. If...
early literacy
February 1, 2012
Low Mess Indoor Water Play
I love our water table but it's big and it's outside. When I only had one kid I could set up the container and have fun on the kitchen floor because as much as he liked water he didn't like getting wet. So we didn't have to be real careful about where we played with water since he was careful himself. My daughter loves water. She loves it all over , and loves getting wet. When I shared how I let her play with a tub without filling the whole bath tub a girlfriend said she'd never thought of doing this , a sure fire sign I should write a post about it. There isn't much...
Sensory, Toddlers, Water Play