Paper Lanterns

Paper lanterns are a fun and easy craft that takes its origins in the oriental culture. Paper lanterns are commonly seen in the celebrations for the New Year, but are fun for any party or any other time. This simple paper craft can be used with toddlers using construction paper, or older children may enjoy the challenge of using a more delicate paper that the light can shine through.

You may want to make some of these in preparation for the Chinese New Year that occurs on Sunday February 14, 2010. We may be celebrating Valentine's Day, but this date will also begin the lunar year 4708. This will be the year of the Tiger. you may want to add this craft to a unit study of the Chinese New Year, and have fun celebrating for two reasons this year!

Supplies Needed:

• Construction paper - any color you choose
• Scissors
• Crayons
• Markers
• Tape or Glue

Directions to Make Paper Lantern:

1. Take a piece of construction paper and fold it in the middle along the long way, crease it this way.
2. Take the scissors and cut down 3 inch slits about an 1 apart each in the folded paper along the crease.
3. Carefully open back up the paper.
4. Take the unfolded paper and wrap it around itself so the slits in the paper are vertical, (straight up and down) Glue or tape the ends together. Tape from the inside, or if using glue hold together until dry.
5. Take another piece of paper cut a 1-2 inch strip along the long way of the paper.
6. Tape or glue one end to each side of the paper lantern, this will be the handle.
7. Enjoy!

Additional Tips

• You may want to let your child color the paper and draw on it before turning it in.to a lantern. After cutting the slits into the paper it has a tendency to rip quite easily.

Pine Cone Angels

Pine cones dot the landscape wherever you find conifer trees. It is easy to pick pines cones up from under their branches when you go for a nature walk. Pine cones are easily one of nature's most versatile craft supplies.

If you live in an area that does not have conifer or evergreen trees, you can purchase pine cones at a craft store for next to nothing. Here's a fun and beautiful project to turn a pine cone into an angel.

This project can be adjusted to fit a variety of ages, so even the toddlers can have fun participating. Perhaps your family can create a family of pine cone angels to become natural play toys, or a lovely display to grace your table.


Supplies Needed

• Medium-sized pine cone
• Acorn
• White spray paint or acrylic paint and medium paintbrush
• Black and red acrylic paint and small paintbrush
• Silver or gold glitter
• Glue
• White card stock
• Pencil
• Doll hair or yarn
• Silver chenille stem
• Ribbon
• Scissors
• Newspaper (to cover your work area

Directions to Make a Pine Cone Angel

1. If you are using a pine cone that you found outdoors, you may want to bake it in order to kill any bugs inside and dry up the sap in them. To do this, place your cone on a foil-lined cookie sheet and bake at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes to an hour.
2. Once the pine cone has cooled, paint it with the spray paint or acrylic paint and paintbrush. Sprinkle lightly with glitter while still wet. Let dry completely.
3. While waiting for the pine cone to dry, paint a face on the acorn. Turn it upside down and use black for the eyes and nose, and red for the mouth and cheeks. Let dry.
4. Glue the acorn head onto the pine cone body, with the pointed side of the pine cone up.
5. Draw a wing shape on the piece of card stock, and cut it out. Trace the shape onto the scrap of card stock, and cut it out as well. Turn one wing over so that they are facing in opposite directions.
6. Using the glue, trace along the inside of each wing. You might also want to make some markings inside the wings. When you're done, sprinkle the wings with glitter, tap off the excess, and let dry completely.
7. Glue the wings onto the angel's back. Let dry.
8. Place some doll hair or yarn in a hair color on the angel's head. Glue into place. Then form the chenille stem into a circle that will fit on top of the head for a halo. Glue into place and let dry.
9. Cut a piece of ribbon about 6 inches long. Form it into a loop and glue the ends to the back of the angel to make a hanger. Let dry completely before hanging up.

Tips

• If you don't like working with loose glitter, try using a tube of glitter glue. Dot some onto the painted pine cone here and there, and draw the details on the wings with it.
• If you prefer, you could use a piece of wide lace to make the wings. Gather the lace in the middle, secure with a piece of chenille stem, and glue to the back of the angel.
• For a more natural looking angel, skip the paint and/or the glitter.
• Try coming up with other characters to make your pine cones into.. perhaps you can create a family of them, or even start a village of pine cone people.
• A simpler pine cone person could skip the acorn.

Easy Ice Sculptures

Ice sculptures are not the first thing we usually think of when we think of easy crafts, but what is it that actually makes them so hard to do? Usually, when we see ice sculptures, it is at a wedding or other formal affair. The beauty of sculpted ice is fascinating to adults and children alike. If you were to find simple instructions for creating an ice sculpture, it might make a fabulous craft to try at home with your children. You could easily turn it into a full fledged family affair, and get everyone involved. With the low cost of the supplies, and how common the items are, this could make a great project to try out any day.

You don't have to give your children sharp objects to create a beautiful ice sculpture. Molded pieces can be assembled to make a creation, or molded pieces can be scraped with flat objects like rulers to create the perfect shapes. Best of all, creating an ice sculpture provides a valuable learning experience for kids of all ages.

Supplies Needed

• Water
• Ice molds and/or plastic containers
• Food coloring
• Salt
• Dish washing liquid

Directions to Make an Ice Sculpture

1. Wash the ice molds or plastic containers thoroughly with dish washing liquid and warm water. You need to make sure there are no traces of dirt or dust inside of them, because if there are, it will affect the outcome of the sculpture.
2. Fill each mold or container about 90% full of water to allow room for expansion during freezing. Add a few drops of food coloring and mix thoroughly. If the molds or containers you're using are opaque, you might want to mix the food coloring and water in a clear container beforehand so that you can see the results.
3. Place the molds and containers in the freezer, making sure that they sit level. Allow to freeze at least overnight, and for a couple of days if possible.
4. Remove the molds from the freezer and place them on a table. It's a good idea to do this outdoors if possible, because it will get messy!
5. Have your child or children build sculptures with the various shapes of ice. Each child can build his own sculpture, or they can work together to create one big one.
6. When the sculpture is the way they like it, sprinkle a bit of salt on the parts of the ice that touch other pieces. This will melt the ice a bit, helping the pieces stick together.

Tips

• For best results, use distilled water instead of tap water. Distilled water makes clearer ice, especially if you let it sit in the ice mold for a few hours to overnight before freezing.
• If you'd like to add a little extra shimmer to your ice sculpture, try adding a bit of glitter to the water before freezing.
• If temperatures are below freezing outside, and won't get above freezing for several days, you could leave the molds outdoors to freeze. This will eliminate the need for extra freezer space and make it possible to make as many pieces as you have molds. If you choose to do so, it's best to place the molds in a for sheltered area and leave them for at least a few days to ensure proper freezing.
• For a colorful idea, try mixing food coloring into the water before freezing the mold(s).

Fun Ice Skating Picture

Among winter sports activities, ice skating is one of the most common. People love to ice skate at their local skating rink, or frozen pond. Ice skating is a wonderful physical activity, and a great way to get out and enjoy the winter months. Watching graceful figure skaters on television or at a live presentation or competition is a favorite activity for many people of all ages. Ice skaters have that certain grace that is truly a beautiful sight to behold. That's why ice skating is so frequently photographed and videotaped.

The beauty of ice skating can also serve as the inspiration for some fun craft projects. This ice skating picture is easy enough for even a small child to create with just a bit of help. Your finished project will be beautiful enough to keep on display all winter. Here's how to make it.

Supplies Needed

• Piece of light blue card stock or construction paper
• Piece of white card stock or construction paper
• Piece of yellow card stock or construction paper
• Aluminum foil
• Cotton balls
• Fine-tipped black marker
• Small twigs
• Pictures of figure skaters
• Glue
• Scissors

Directions to Make an Ice Skating Picture

1. Cut the white card stock in half lengthwise, but instead of cutting in a straight line, make some subtle curves. Glue the cut out piece onto the bottom half of the blue card stock to make a snowy ground.
2. Use the scrap of white card stock to cut out some cloud shapes, and glue them onto the blue sky. Cut a circle out of the yellow paper to make a sun, and glue it onto the sky as well.
3. Cut an oval shape out of the aluminum foil. Glue it onto the white card stock with the shiny side up to make a reflective pond.
4. Find some small pictures of figure skaters, either in a magazine or book or online. If you can't find any that are small enough, you could use a computer graphics program to resize them and print them out, or even draw some on white paper or card stock. Cut out the figure skater pictures and glue them onto the aluminum foil pond.
5. Glue three cotton balls onto the “snow” in a vertical line to make a snowman. Draw a face and some buttons on with the marker, and glue two small twigs into place to make arms.
6. Hang up your work of art for all to see!

Tips

• For best results, use heavy duty aluminum foil. Regular aluminum foil tears more easily, and might rip as you're gluing it onto the paper.
• To make sure your pond is smooth and bubble-free, use a craft stick to smooth it down after gluing it into place.
• If you want to make it look like it's snowing in your picture, you could splatter paint it once you've done all the cutting and pasting. Simply splatter white paint onto the picture with a toothbrush, and let dry.

Frozen Sun Catcher

When I ran across the idea for this frozen sun catcher, I was hooked by the idea. Take advantage of the natural winter conditions to try this out for me. Living in Arizona, I am not going to get the opportunity to try it out myself. I would love to see the results if you try it out. Let me know if I can post your pics of it here with the instructions!

When you think of winter, most of us think of cold and snow. I think of beautiful scenes of the sun glistening of off the freshly fallen white snow. This sun catcher is bound to suit the bill and take advantage of the freezing temperatures and the winter sunlight. It is bound to add beauty to your porch or lawn, or anywhere you grace with it's presence.

This sun catcher uses the crystal clearness of frozen water to encase your treasures and display them in the sunlight.

Supplies Needed

• Water
• Any color of food coloring
• Shallow disposable aluminum pan (pie pans work nicely)
• Round orange slices
• Dried flowers
• Pressed pine needles
• Small pine cones
• Cranberries
• or any other tidbits you want to use 
• Sturdy twine
• Scissors

Directions to Make a Frozen Sun Catcher

1. Run enough water into a pitcher or bowl to fill the aluminum pan. Add food coloring until the desired color is achieved.
2. Pour colored water into the pan until it is about a quarter of an inch deep. Keep the rest of the water for later use making the second half of the sun catcher.
3.  Place the pan in the freezer or outside overnight so that it freezes solid.
4. Cut two pieces of twine, each about a foot long. Place the end of one piece about halfway down one side of the ice, and run it along the side up to the top, leaving the remainder outside of the pan. Do the same on the other side with the other piece of twine.
5. Arrange the orange slices, flowers, pine needles, pine cones, cranberries, or other tidbits on the surface of the ice. When you have arranged them to your liking, slowly pour another quarter inch of the colored water into the pan. You can either pour the water over your layout, or arrange your layout in the freshly poured layer of water.
6. Place the pan back in the freezer or outside overnight so that the new layer of water will freeze into ice, locking your design in place.
7. Sit the sun catcher out in your home at room temperature until you can easily remove it from the mold. Or if you prefer, run warm water over the back of the pan until the sun catcher is released.
8. Sit the sun catcher out in your home at room temperature until you can easily remove it from the mold. Or if you prefer, run warm water over the back of the pan until the sun catcher is released.
9. Find a nice spot outside, and tie the pieces of twine together to hang your sun catcher!

Tips

• You can use lemons or lime slices in addition to or instead of the orange slices.
• For best results, use a light color of food coloring. Darker colors could soak into the orange slices and change their color.
• Keep in mind that the sun catcher will eventually melt. Make sure you put your sun catcher somewhere that will not be affected by the dripping water as it melts.
• Consider putting it in a spot is shady for at least part of the day to keep it frozen and looking good longer.
• If it's nice and cold outside, consider doing the entire project on the porch or patio. That way you won't have to move it after adding the decorations and the water, and the items won't shift around as much.
• You may want to try running the twine right down the middle of the pan. It might hang onto your frozen treasure just a little bit longer this way.

Enjoy trying this green nature project by yourself or with your kids. Find more green craft projects in Green Crafts for Children: 35 Step-by-Step Projects Using Natural, Recycled, And Found Materials to try out all year long with your kids.

How to Make a Halloween Handprint Spider

Halloween is the time of year for fun costumes, candy and ghost stories. And what would this fun and spooky time of year be without spooky decorations? Having lots or even a little scary things hanging around the house  really sets the mood for this spooky holiday just as like a decorated tree and mistletoe sets the mood for Christmas.

Spiders may not be supernatural creatures like ghosts, goblins, or witches but they are pretty scary! However these 8 legged creatures are not too scary for the little ones. Plus, spider crafts provide an opportunity to learn about living things. Here is a cute and fun spider decoration craft for preschoolers to make. In fact, it's easy enough for even toddlers to do with a little help from an older person or adult! These spider crafts make a great decoration to put on your front door or window to greet trick or treaters on Halloween!

What You Need

*Card stock or construction paper (any color but black)
*Black tempera or poster paint
*Paintbrush
*Googly eyes
*Glue

Instructions

1. Using the paintbrush, paint your child's palm and all fingers but not the thumb with black paint.

2. Have your child press their hand down on the paper firmly.

3. Paint the child's other hand the same way as instructed above.

4. Have your child press that hand down on the paper, overlapping the first handprint and making sure the fingers are across from the ones in the original print. This will form the spider's body.

5. Have your child use the paintbrush or his or her fingers to paint any areas of the spider's body that are not filled in. Let the paint dry.

6. Glue on googly eyes. Let dry.

However this is not the only way to do it! Here are some tips are suggestions to make it even more fun to do with your child!

Cover the work area with newspapers. This project could get messy!

If you prefer, you could use black construction paper and a different color of paint.

If you want a spider cutout, trace the child's hand (minus the thumb) onto a piece of construction paper. Place the other hand so that it overlaps the first handprint, trace all but the thumb, and cut around the edges. Glue on googly eyes, punch a hole in the top, and hang up with a piece of string.

Your child might like to use paint in a different color to add a mouth and/or nose.

To really make the spider stand out, let the paint dry completely and embellish with glitter glue or metallic paint. Or you could glue on some pom poms or stick on some stickers.

To add to the educational aspect of this project, find a book or website that has lots of pictures of different kinds of spiders to look at with your child. Then encourage him to make a spider that looks like their favorite one. This is fun for you and your child. It even encourages them to learn about nature and express their creativity!

How To Make Paper Crowns

Paper crowns for kings and queens, princes and princesses are always a lot of fun and a great tool to create childhood memories! How much fun can you have with a pillow fort and some paper crowns? Enjoy doing this easy kids crafts idea with your child.

What you will need:

• Construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue and or Tape
• Crayons and or Markers

Instructions

1. Cut a strip of paper about 2 inches wide along the long side of the construction paper.
2. Measure the strip around your child's head, make sure it's large enough for them to get it on and off without being so loose it falls over their head. Mark the length of the strip with a marker or crayon since you have already got them handy.
3. Go to the left over paper and cut three triangles. Two smaller ones and one larger on to put in the middle of the paper crown.
4. Have your child carefully color and design the strip of paper and triangles. The triangles may have large gem designs in them while the strip of paper may have small jewels or gems.
5. Once colored lay the strip of paper down flat with the inside part that will face your child's head up. Take the triangles and glue them to the paper strip allowing as much as the triangle to be above the paper strip as possible, make sure the triangles design faces towards the table. (so you can't see)
6. Once the glue has dried completely you may move the the next step.
7. Now measure strip to the size you marked and glue or tape that part of the paper crown. If glue keep pressure on the glued ends of the strip until dry.
8. Let you child wear their new crown!

Halloween Cut-Outs: Easy Kids Crafts Idea For Halloween Preparation

As Halloween approaches I'm sure that many thoughts come to mind,  tricker treaters, costumes, parties, candy, and of course decorations. However one thing that is always enjoyed is spending time with your child, how do you do this with all these things you have to get done with the upcoming holiday? The answer is simple include your child in the activities. Here's a way that you can spend time with your child with a Halloween kids crafts idea.

Making Halloween Walk Hanging Cut Outs

The first thing your going to want to do is to gather your supplies, here's what you will need:

• Paper
• Crayons/Markers
• Scissors
• Tape

1. Use the paper to draw out some Halloween shapes with the marker, Pumpkins, bats, cats, broom sticks, etc.
2. Have your child color and design the shapes! Encourage them to use the colors they want but you can remind them that good Halloween colors are orange, black, purple. If you have your child color the shapes while still on the page it makes it easier to keep the surface underneath clean and also you don't have to worry about coloring outside the lines.
3. Use the scissors to cut the shape out of the paper, be careful when doing this, this is a par you will want to do rather then your child!
4. Have your child help you decide where to put up the new Halloween decorations, hang with clear scotch tape. To hang without seeing the tape take a 3 inch piece of tape and curl it to barely meet so it becomes a stick loop that you can stick to the back of the cut out and the wall, or use double sided tape.

Ideas For Kids Crafts For Toddlers

Great ideas for kids crafts don't have to wait until your kids are of school age. Toddlers love to explore new things, and their minds are as active as their bodies as they do this. Planning ides for creative fun for 0-3 year olds might seem daunting. Sometimes it seems an impossible idea to have them sit down and do crafts, but it might just be easier than you think. Crafts that keep them engaged are great for their cognitive development and hand-eye coordination.

Keeping it simple is the key to success when finding ideas for kids crafts with toddlers. They do not have the attention span needed to create things that require a great deal of time or long-winded instructions. Crafts that can be completed in a few simple steps are better at holding their attention, and will have a better chance of geting finished happily.

When choosing toddler crafts, keep in mind that all materials should be reasonably safe for young children. If sharp objects are required, you will need to do the part that requires their use. Very small objects such as seed beads should not be used because they could easily be swallowed without your knowledge. Anything the size of a large button or bigger should not pose a problem as long as you provide close supervision.

Here are some simple ideas for kids crafts to try out with your toddler!

1. Pasta Jewelry - This idea for kids crafts can be as simple as threading different noodles onto a piece of yarn, and tying the ends together to create a necklace. 
2. Paper Plate Fish Craft For Kids - This fun and easy idea for kids crafts will inspire underwater adventures for your toddler.
3. Paper Plate Mask For Kids - Holes in paper plates have never been so much fun!
4. Simple Collage Craft For Kids - A great way to create fun pictures of anything!
5. Play Doh sculptures - You may only end up with squished shapes, but how much fun will your child(ren) have?

What other ideas for kids crafts for toddlers do you have? Please share!

Sewing Safety Tips for Young Children,

If you enjoy sewing, it is likely that your child is curious about sewing also. While we don’t want to discourage from learning this creative activity,Tte image of kids with sharp scissors and needles in hand makes almost all parents cringe. Fine motor skillls as well as math skills can be taught with sewing, it is a skill that everyone will find useful at some point in their life.

With proper safety precautions, sewing can be taught to even toddlers! While it doesn’t make much sense to let a three-year old loose with a sewing machine, even young kids can get started with the right tools and close supervision. Here are five safety tips to remember when dealing with budding tailors and seamstresses.

1.) Use age-appropriate supplies. Sewing scissors are too sharp and too large for young hands, and regular sewing needles present a laundry list of dangers. Let your child work with safety scissors and a plastic needle. If you give him a loosely knit, porous fabric, they will work just fine.

2.) Watch your child closely, especially during the first few attempts. For the youngest children, swallowing small parts such as needles and spools of thread is a concern. And even safety scissors could cut little hands. Until your child gets the hang of things, careful supervision is of the utmost importance.

3.) Maintain strict control over the sewing machine. Children younger than eight years old probably don’t have the motor skills and good judgment to attempt machine sewing. At eight years of age, it’s up to the parent to decide whether the child is ready. If you feel that she is, provide plenty of guidance and stay right with her while she makes those first stitches.

4.) Make sure the sewing machine is secured and inoperable when you’re not around. Put the needle and pressure foot down when done sewing, cover the machine and turn it off. You may even want to unplug it as an added precaution. Kids who are curious about sewing might try to use the machine when you’re not around, and if it’s not properly secured, they could be seriously injured.

5.) Keep scissors, needles and pins put up and out of kids’ reach when not in use. These things create a temptation for young, unsupervised kids as well. It’s also wise to keep a magnetic pin cushion in case of spillage.

Encouraging your child’s interest in sewing may help him develop a lifelong interest in this activity. This may serve him well later in life. He may even decide to sew clothes for himself or his family, or perhaps become a fashion designer in the future!

Physical Benefits of Arts and Crafts

Kids love art because it gives them opportunities for self-expression and a sense of accomplishment. Parents love it when their kids create art because it keeps them quietly and productively occupied. Little thought is usually given to the physical benefits of art, but they are significant.

It’s easy to see how art promotes hand-eye coordination. The simple act of putting crayon or pencil to paper and scribbling requires the hands and eyes to work together. Once that’s mastered, the child can take it a step further to begin to form lines and shapes.

Another important benefit of art involves the development of muscles in the hands and fingers. If you think about it, this makes as much sense as the relationship between art and hand-eye coordination. Going back to the drawing example, a child must learn to properly hold a crayon in order to successfully use it. Doing so requires him to use specific muscles in the hand that may have previously been rarely utilized. These are the same muscles that he will use later in life to perform everyday tasks such as writing.

Drawing isn’t the only type of art that develops muscles in the hands and fingers. Virtually every type of visual art offers such benefits in one way or another. Finger painting, for instance, requires controlled movement of the fingers. Painting with a paintbrush requires kids to grip in a different manner than that used when drawing or writing. And modeling clay or play dough involves squeezing, mashing and rolling.

Using scissors is another activity that is great for building muscles in the hands. The motions required to open and close the scissors work the hand in ways that few other activities do. Children can also build important muscles by beading. Using chenille stems and large beads makes it easy enough for small hands without compromising the benefits of the activity.

Even music can help develop hand and finger muscles. The most obvious example is playing the piano. The motions used to strike the keys directly correlate with those used in typing, which is an important skill later in life. Wind instruments also require certain hand motions. Even gripping drumsticks offers unique benefits.

Art in any form provides more benefits for young children than most of us realize. It’s good in a number of ways for cognitive and emotional development. And those simple tasks that we take for granted can help children build a good foundation for skills that they will use in coming years. From a simple pen and paper drawing to an intricate clay figurine, any art project can provide opportunities for kids to use hand and finger muscles in ways that they may not have used them before.

Toxic Chemicals in Common Art Supplies

Art is a wonderful thing for children. It helps them develop creativity, cognitive skills and motor skills. It is also great for self-esteem. While these benefits are undeniable, art also poses some risks to children. That’s because many art supplies contain toxic chemicals.

It’s fairly well known that kids should not be exposed to certain types of paint. The chemical fumes are quite obvious, and the containers are clearly labeled with warnings about breathing those fumes and ingesting the product. But many parents are unaware that not every product that contains toxic ingredients is clearly identified. There are certain labeling standards that must be adhered to by law, but the label doesn’t always tell the whole story.

Every art supply sold in the United States must conform to ASTM D 4236 standards. This means that they must display warnings if they present an acute or chronic health hazard. Manufacturers are not, however, required to list each product’s ingredients on the label.

Some art supply manufacturers have their products tested by the Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI), which is a non-profit organization that conducts evaluation and testing. ACMI may approve the product or require the manufacturer to place a caution label on it. Products with caution labels are not recommended for use by children.

While these measures are helpful, some harmful products can still slip through the cracks. For example, in 2000, three brands of crayons bearing the ACMI seal of approval were reportedly found to contain asbestos. While asbestos was not used as an ingredient, it may contaminate talc, which was an ingredient. ACMI testing did not find asbestos, but the manufacturers voluntarily stopped using talc in their products.

Another concern involves ACMI’s standards for approval. They do not require that products contain no toxins whatsoever, but that toxins not be present in quantities that pose a hazard. That means that approved products may contain small amounts of solvents, heavy metals, phthalates and other substances that are known to be dangerous.

How to Choose Safe Products

Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee that a product we buy off the shelves contains absolutely no toxic chemicals. But we can make choices that are less likely to harm our children’s health. Here are some things to keep in mind.

• Avoid oil-based paints. They often contain solvents that can cause serious health problems. Watercolors are the safest choice for children, but even they can contain dangerous pigments. Make sure they bear the ACMI approved seal.

• Keep kids away from anything with a strong smell. This is usually an indicator that a solvent is present. In addition to paint, such solvents may be found in markers. Choose markers that are water-based if possible. Alcohol-based markers contain some toxins, but they are less toxic than solvent-based ones.

• Steer clear of rubber cement and similar adhesives. They contain neurotoxins. White glue and library paste are much safer choices.

• Do not allow children to work with dry clay. Clay contains silica, which can be harmful if inhaled. Wet clay is much safer. Children should be kept away from kilns, because some of the dust is released when clay is dried in them.

If you are concerned about toxic chemicals in store-bought art supplies, you can make your own. Finger paint and playdough are easy to make at home. Using all-natural ingredients can eliminate concerns about hazardous chemicals. Recipes may be found on this blog or in many other places online.

It’s unfortunate that many art supplies can be detrimental to our children’s health. But if we make informed choices, we can greatly reduce the risk and concentrate on the good things about art for kids.

The Importance of Art and Self-Expression in Toddlers

The toddler years are full of discovery for a child. Not only is she learning about the world around her, she’s also learning about herself. One of the most discussed aspects of toddlerhood is how children learn to use words to convey their thoughts and feelings. But children also learn to express themselves in other ways during the early years.

One of the most intriguing ways that youngsters express themselves is through art. If you hand a young child a crayon and a piece of paper, she will almost certainly start scribbling away contentedly. While this may not look like art to an adult, it’s fascinating to young minds.

Toddlers are not consciously aware of color co-ordination and spatial relationships. But art can give them a sense of these things. And this is only the beginning. Some of the many benefits of art for toddlers include:

• Art boosts a child’s confidence. Even monochromatic scribbles on a piece of paper give kids a sense of accomplishment, because they've created something that wasn’t there before. And as they progress toward using multiple colors and forming recognizable shapes, they gain even more confidence.
• Artistic activities are soothing. Being a toddler can be frustrating, and participating in a quiet activity provides a chance to calm down. Art takes a child’s mind off of the source of frustration and channels it into something enjoyable and productive.
• Art lengthens a child’s attention span. The simple act of putting crayon to paper or squeezing a ball of clay requires a child to pay attention to what she’s doing. And while toddlers tend to spend most of their waking hours on the run, art can keep them sitting still for several minutes at a time. As their skills develop, so will their attention spans.
• Art builds motor skills. Holding a crayon, finger painting, squeezing and flattening clay or play dough, and gluing shapes onto paper all require kids to use their hand muscles in different ways. Such activities also promote hand-eye coordination.
• Creative activities promote abstract thinking. When a child takes an idea and puts it on paper or models it in play dough, she is creating a physical representation of something that exists in her mind. Learning to use this type of thinking early will help your child learn more efficiently throughout life.

Self-expression is a critical part of every child’s development. Speech can help toddlers convey what they’re thinking and feeling, but it can hardly keep up with their constantly evolving brains. Art provides another much-needed outlet for budding young minds, and at the same time it teaches important skills. It’s also lots of fun for them. With all of these benefits, it’s easy to see why encouraging toddlers to be artistic is so important.

Easy Craft Ideas for Toddlers

Young children are always on the go. Children have an insatiable need to explore their world, and learn about everything in it. Although children need plenty of time to run around and actively play, a creative project can keep them interested in some quiet time. Crafting can provide a perfect creative project for toddlers and children of all ages.


These easy craft ideas are great for toddlers or young children for several reasons. Simple crafts can help children to develop or improve their hand-eye coordination. Longer attention spans can be developed as you increase the complexity of the craft projects. Simple crafts will also help children learn to follow step by step instructions. Try out these simple children's craft ideas with your toddler!

Craft Stick Puppets

Puppets are fascinating to toddlers. Creating their own puppets is easy, and it's lots of fun. All you really need are some craft or popsicle sticks, construction paper, safety scissors, markers and glue.


Help your toddler cut animal shapes out of construction paper. He can draw faces and other details with washable markers. Glue the stick to the back of the shape, let dry, and he's ready to put on a puppet show. If you want to make more elaborate puppets, try cutting shapes out of foam. Glue on a pom pom for the nose, and add some googly eyes.

These new craft stick puppets can be taken along for when you need to have your toddler quiet and entertained. They will enjoy playing with their new toys that they made, and be happily quiet for a time.

Paint with Pudding

Kids love to fingerpaint, but it's so messy. And there's also the concern about them eating the paint. Even if the paints are nontoxic, it can make cautious parents uneasy. The solution? Let them paint with pudding!


You don't need different flavors to make different colors. Just use one serving of plain vanilla pudding, divide it up into small portions, and add food coloring to create various shades. Give your child a paper plate to use as a canvas for his masterpiece. When he's done, he can eat it with no worries.

Design a T-Shirt

If your toddler sees you sewing or painting clothes with fabric paint, she may want to try her hand at designing clothes. But needles are small and sharp, and fabric paint is messy. What to do? Break out the markers!


Kids can have a blast decorating a plain white t-shirt with colorful markers. If you use washable ones, they can create a design, wear it, and start over after you wash the shirt. If a permanent design is desired, however, you'll have to let him use non-washable markers. You can avoid a mess by covering the work area with newspaper and putting a smock on your toddler.

Placemats

Making placemats out of contact paper is very easy. Have your toddler cut shapes out of construction paper and glue them onto a whole piece of construction paper with a glue stick. He can add detail with markers or embellish with stickers. When he's done, place the artwork on a piece of contact paper, sticky side up. Place another sheet of contact paper on top, sticky side down.


Even if your toddler only has the patience to make one placemat at a time, don't despair. This is an easy project to be packed up, and brought back out when they are ready. Eventually enough will be made to fill the entire table. Then you can start on presents for family or friends! 



Crafting can help your toddler learn important skills while keeping him quietly occupied. Whether it's a rainy day or they are just feeling creative, seize the opportunity to let him channel his imagination into something you can both admire.

Create an Independence Day T-Shirt

Treat yourself and your family to fabulous shirts to wear for the Fourth of July this year! Children will love to get involved in creating their own designs for their shirts, and designing them for everyone else too! What could be more fun than for the whole family to be sporting original patriotic shirts at the festivities this year, whether it is the town parade, the family barbecue, or the evening fireworks at the park!


T-shirt painting is a craft that almost anyone can do, and it’s lots of fun. So if you’re lacking Independence Day apparel, why not get out the fabric paint and make yourself a patriotic tee? Or better yet, get the family together and let everyone make their own!


There are many ways you could design your Independence Day t-shirt. In general, you’ll need a plain white t-shirt, a t-shirt board or piece of stiff cardboard to place inside the shirt, newspapers, fabric paint and a paintbrush. Before you begin, wash the shirt and do not use fabric softener. Dry and stretch the shirt onto the board to keep it straight and prevent paint from soaking through to the other side.

Fireworks Design Instructions

To make a fireworks t-shirt, use fabric paint in a squeeze bottle. For each firework design, draw a horizontal line in the color of your choice with a break in the middle (in other words, two short lines of the same length side by side). Then make a vertical line that intersects with the horizontal one, again with a break in the middle. This will look like a plus sign with the middle removed. Use another color to make an X in the same manner, but make the lines slightly shorter. Add some dots at the end of each line to finish.

Stars and Stripes Design

Extra Supplies Needed

• Masking tape
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Star-shaped sponge or foam stamp
• Rectangular sponge or foam stamp
• Plastic plate, bowl or lid

Directions

1. Stick a strip of masking tape across the shirt from seam to seam, starting just below the neck opening. Place another strip below that one, overlapping slightly. Repeat until you have taped off a stripe approximately 1 ¾ inches wide.
2. Measure 1 ¾ inches below the stripe you made, and make a light mark with the pencil. Make another stripe just like the first one.
3. Continue placing stripes of tape 1 ¾ inches apart all the way to the bottom of the shirt.
4. Put some red paint in a plastic plate, bowl or lid. Dip the rectangular sponge into the paint, and dab it onto the areas that are not taped off. When finished, let the paint dry completely.
5. Put some blue paint into a plastic plate, bowl or lid. Dip the star-shaped sponge into the paint, and press it carefully onto the shirt anywhere you like. Pull straight up when removing to avoid smudging.
6. Continue adding stars to the shirt as you like. When finished, let dry.  Remove the masking tape.

If you’re particularly artistic, you could try your hand at a Statue of Liberty t-shirt. If you’d rather not paint, try using markers! For a different twist, make a tie-dyed Fourth of July shirt with red and blue dye. For your children's safety you may want to try your hand at creating your tie-dye with food coloring or Kool-Aid! Use your imagination and create a patriotic tee that’s as individual as you are!

Patrotic Necklace

This is a perfect craft for this time of the year! Your child(ren) will love being able to wear jewelry that they had a hand in designing and crafting.


Independence Day is a wonderful time to show your patriotism. In the weeks before the holiday, you can find red, white and blue t-shirts, hats and jewelry in almost any store. But it’s also easy to make your own patriotic clothing and accessories. This patriotic necklace is easy and inexpensive to make, and it’s sure to be quite the conversation piece.

What You Need

• 1 tbsp. all-purpose flour
• ½ tbsp. water
• ½ tbsp. salt
• Toothpick
• Acrylic paint
• Paintbrush
• Nylon cord or strong fishing line in desired length, plus about 8 inches (for an 18-inch necklace, the cord should be about 26 inches long)
• Beading needle
• Small red, white and blue beads
• Clasp
• Scissors

Directions

1. Mix flour, salt and water until dough forms.


2. Preheat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.


3. Model dough into a star shape for the pendant. Make it at least ¼ inch thick. You should have some extra dough when you’re done.


4. Poke the toothpick through the star about ¼ inch from the top, going from side to side so that it will face forward when placed on the necklace.


5. Bake the pendant for 2 to 2 ½ hours. Let cool completely.


6. Paint the pendant with acrylic paint. You could make it solid red, blue or gold, or paint designs on it. Let dry completely.


7. Thread the nylon cord onto the beading needle. String beads onto the cord in the pattern of your choice. Keep stringing beads until the necklace is half done.


8. Add your finished pendant to the necklace. Then continue beading in the same pattern until you’ve added enough beads to make a necklace in the desired length. Make sure you have several inches of cord left on each side so that you can add the clasp.


9. Hold the necklace up to make sure the pendant is centered correctly. If it isn’t, remove beads from one side and add them to the other until it is centered.


10. Tie the eye of the clasp onto one end of the necklace, getting it as close as possible to the last bead. Knot securely, and cut off the excess cord. Tie the hook of the clasp onto the other end, knot and trim.


Want a matching bracelet? You can make one in no time! Just cut a piece of nylon cord about 16 inches long, and string beads in the same pattern you used for the necklace. Make the beaded portion about 7 ½ to 8 inches long. Then add a clasp the same way you did with the necklace, and trim the ends. Now you have a matching set of patriotic jewelry!

This craft could be easily adapted for toddlers by using just elastic cord and beads!

Three Helpful Tips for New Scissor Users

As adults, we think of scissors as nothing more than a simple tool for cutting things. If you can think back to when you were little, you may realize that scissors are held in high regard as something cool by small children. Most children love to practice using scissors, and need no more encouragemnt than to be given a pair of scissors and something to cut!

As parents, we worry about giving our little ones something that they could get hurt with. I dare say that we should worry just as much for the safety of our books, magazines and anything else within their reach that can be cut. We have all heard of a child giving himself, the dog, or the dolls a haircut. Learning to use scissors is an important skill that needs to be mastered at some point, and it need not cause so much apprehension.

3 Tips To Make Scissor Practice Better

1. The scissors you give to your little one can be very important.

Scissors made completely from plastic may appear to be safer, but it can be hard to cut anything with them. This leads to frustration for you child, which may cause them to quickly give up.

Blunt-tipped scissors with metal blades cut so much easier, and are really very safe.

Remember that small hands need small scissors. Large handles are much harder for small hands to hold on to, and large blades are more difficult to control. Small scissors are made with these thoughts in mind, and are created just for kids. These smaller scissors are recommended for children to use until they are comfortable with larger ones.

2. What you give your child to cut can make a huge difference. Common household items like newspapers and magazines may appear to be a good choice, but the thiness of the paper is quite difficult for begginers. Other common household items such as construction paper, old greeting cards, or note cards provide a thickness that is much easier to cut through.

Finding a variety of items will be both exciting for your child, and provide a complete learnign experience for them. A quick search through your home is bound to yield a wide range of materials to be cut up. Thin cardboard boxes, such as cereal boxes, are great for scissor practice. Thicker fabric scrapes are great fun to cut through. Play dough, clay, or a simple bread dough is another great material giving an entirely different texture to cut through.

3. Be patient. Let your kids start out doing their own thing. It is bound to get messy, and straight lines will probably not be seen at the beginning. But giving them their own space to experiment can be the best teacher of all. They will figure out how to hold the scissors, and the easiest way to make them work, and you can teach them the finer points later.

As your child improves, let them move on to bigger challenges. Provide your child with thinner types of paper, thinner types of fabric, or draw straight lines for them to follow as they cut. Work up to following along simple shapes as your child finds it easier to use their scissors. Simple shape outlines drawn on fabric or paper can provide double duty as you use the freshly cut shapes in other crafts!


It is a big step for a child to learn how to cut with scossors. It helps them to develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Cutting is something we all need to know how to do. By providing the right tools and materials, and keeping a close eye on the child(ren), we can help them learn this important skill and have fun doing it.

Colorful Pasta Jewelry

Check out my hub page on how to make Colorful Pasta Jewelry. This is an easy craft that is appropriate for any age! Pasta jewelry can be as simple as stringing noodles onto yarn, or can be turned into some quite fantastic jewelry by the older children. Learn how to dye your pasta to make a colorful design. Another idea is to paint the pasta, either a solid color or with a special design. Perhaps a special message could be written out this way.

Pasta necklaces are a favorite homemade gift that your toddler can give for any occasion.Teenagers may want to try their hand at using silver or gold paint and fishing line or elastic string to make a more elegant design. Others may want to give hook earrings a try!

Any way around it, noodles are cheap enough to try, try again! So have fun and be creative!

Paper Chain - How to Make a Paper Chain

Paper chains are fun and easy paper ornaments for children of all ages to make. This classic craft activity is often forgotten or overlooked. An easy to make paper chain is a great way decorate for special events or holidays. By tailoring your color choices to the event or holiday, you can have a perfectly themed decoration. This is a great craft activity to do as a family, and even young children can easily participate. Involving children in this project can help them develop their hand-eye coordination as they measure, draw lines and cut. It is also a great activity for pattern recognition. For many small children, making easy paper ornaments is the perfect way to introduce a ruler and scissors to them.

Supplies Needed to Make Paper Chain Decorations
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• 9" X 12" Construction Paper
• 12 inch Ruler
• Scissors
• Pencil or pen
• Glue stick, craft glue or stapler and staples
• Markers or crayons(optional)
• Glue (optional)
• Sequins, Buttons, Beads, Confetti, Glitter glue (optional)

Paper Chain - How To Make Paper Chain - The Instructions!

Paper Chain - How To Prepare Your Strips

1. First, decide how wide you want your paper chain links to be. You will want to measure out your paper strips to this width. One inch is a good width. It is large enough for small hands to handle, and small enough to easily link the loops. Adjust the size to fit your tastes and project.
2. Measure your strips along the long side of the construction paper, so that the strips are each 12 inches long. Mark the bottom and top of your paper at your measured width, and then use the ruler to draw a straight line the length of the paper.
3. Repeat this measuring process for the entire width of the paper, using the line you just drew as your new edge. Continue until you have enough strips or have reached the end of your paper.
4. Cut along the lines you have drawn to create your strips. Even small children can be a part of this cutting activity. Be sure to provide them with blunt tip scissors, and supervise them as they cut.
5. Repeat this process to create more strips, or to make strips of a different color.

Paper Chain - How To Tips For Decorating Your Strips

• Decorate your strips however you would like.
• Remember that you will be covering about 1/2 inch of the end of each strip when assembling the links.
• If you decide to use glue to add decorations, or glitter glue, you will need to allow time for the strips to dry before assembling your chain.

Paper Chain - How To Assemble Your Paper Chain

1. Create your first link by overlapping the ends of a paper strip so that it forms a circle. Make sure the decorated side is facing out. Use glue, tape, or staples to affix it in this position.
2. To link the chain together, assemble the next link by running the next paper strip through the first link. Form this strip into a circle with thte decorated side facing out. Secure in the same manner as the first.
3. Repeat this procedure until your paper chain is the desired length.

Paper Chain - How To Tips & Suggestions

• When using two colors, alternate them to create the most appealing chain.
• Use several different colors and create a pattern for your child to reproduce.
• To calculate how many links your chain will need, assemble five or six links and measure the length they create. Calculate how many times this length will need to be used to cover your desired space, and mulitply by how many links are in your original lenngth.
• A finished paper chain is perfect to wrap around a banister or over a door frame. It can also be wrapped around a tree (such as a Christmas tree).
• Another creative use for your paper chain is as a replacement for streamers.

Paper Chain - How To Tailor Your Colors

• Try Red and White for a Valentine's Day chain.
• Green, Orange, and Yellow are a great combination to make a spring chain!
• Pastel colors are perfect for Easter.
• Use Mom's favorite color(s) for Mother's Day.
• Use your school's colors for end of year celebrations, or school sporting events.
• Use Dad's favorite color(s) for Father's Day.
• Red, White and Blue make a great 4th of July or Memorial Day chain!
• Red, Orange, and Yellow are a great Fall theme.
• Orange and Black are classic for Halloween.
• Brown, Orange, and Yellow are perfect for Thanksgiving.
• Red and Green are the classic combination for Christmas.
• Try a Blue and White (Silver) chain for an alternate Christmas or winter idea.
• A Rainbow theme is great for birthdays.
• Pastel Pink and Blue are perfect for baby showers.

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