Sculpture

We have become big fans of Sculpey polymer clay in this house. My children adore making tiny sculptures with it. We have several polymer clay idea books that are geared for children. Our favorites are the Klutz books which have great illustrations and even come with clay in a rainbow of colors.

Polymer clay can get quite expensive, so we find it is best to use it for tiny projects. If you are looking to do larger projects and use something more appropriate for small hands, you can make your own clay to bake. This is something that you do not color, but paint after it has been baked and cooled.

Bake and Paint Dough
4 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 1/2 cups water

Mix and scupt as desired. Bake at 350 degrees
until dry but not browned. Cool. Paint as desired.

Have fun!!!

Homemade Puzzles

Homemade puzzles are very fun and easy to make.

Find Your Image
First you select your puzzle image which could be found in many places. It can be a something personal like a photo you have taken. If using one, you may want to enlarge it to about 8" x 10". If you are reading this, you probably have a computer and have the ability to do this inexpensively right at home. You can also use clip art graphics and print those, too. Other sources for great puzzle images are magazines, junk mail, even old books. I am not really an advocate of tearing apart books, but you may have one that is seen better days, is falling apart and bound for the landfill. Sometime you can find books like this at a garage sale for next to nothing.

Glue to Backing
The puzzles are best if you glue your images to some type of cardboard backing. This can be a corrugated box, a cereal box (which sometimes already have great images to begin with), or you can purchase foam core board which is very nice.

Cut into Pieces
After the glue is dry, use scissors or a razor blade to cut your puzzle into fun shapes. Keep in mind the age of the child you are making this for; making the size and number of pieces appropriate for their ability. You can get as creative as you want with the shapes. You can cut your shapes to follow the image or cut random pieces.

Bag it Up
If I have created my puzzle from an image I printed out myself, I will usually print an extra on cardstock to keep with the puzzle. Then the little ones can used it as a reference or even put the puzzle together right on top of it. Place everything together in a ziplock.

Puzzles for Learning
Puzzles can be a fun learning tool. Not only do they teach some great motor and thinking skills, but you can make the image something educational, as well. Print out a fun learning sheet from a site like Enchanted Learning, let your child complete and color it, and then use this for your puzzle image. Every time your child works with the puzzle, that information will be reviewed and reinforced.

Have fun with this! This is a fun new activity you can create with your child for minimal cost. And if you lose a piece it is no big deal. That is just an excuse to create a new puzzle!

Crazy Family Photos

Here is another idea I have wanted to try, but just haven't gotten around to it. Take several photos that are the same size and cut them into 4 equal sized pieces. Now, they can be played with like individual puzzles or mixed and matched for new crazy family photos. With the right photos, kids of all ages could be entertained by this.

Indoor Sand Box

Rainy day? Kids sad they can't go outside to play? Create an indoor sand box!
In a jelly roll pan place 5 cups of:
crushed graham crackers OR
rice krispies OR
uncooked oatmeal OR
cornmeal

Then let the fun begin! Be sure an take advantage of this perfect opportunity to show your little ones how to make their letters and numbers. First you trace a letter in the crumbs and then shake the pan and let them try. Learning and fun all wrapped up in one!

Finger Paints

Finger painting is a blast! Kids love it and it is even fun for us adults to join in the mess. There is something very gratifying about the sensation of squishy paints between your fingers.Get creative!
Instead of using store-bought paints,try using:
pudding (chocolate is my fave!),
jello,
whipped cream (make several colors using food coloring),
yogurt or
cooked cereal.

If you are feeling ambitious, make your own paints. Here is a recipe from Creative Kids at Home:

Home-Made Finger Paints
Ingredients:
1/2 cup cornstarch
3 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups cold waterfood coloring
Directions:
In a medium pan, mix all theingredients together to make the finger paint. Cook over low heat 10 to 15minutes. Keep stirring the finger paint mixture until it is smooth and thick.After the finger paint has thickened take the pan off the stove and let themixture cool.After cooling, divide the finger paint into storage containersdepending on how many colors you would like. Add a few drops of food coloring toeach container. Stir the coloring in to the paint to determine the shade ofcolor. You're ready to finger paint! Cover tightly when storing.

Fairy Day

It's a fairy day at the Rich Hearts Folk School!
I have long been a fan of Klutz books. If you aren't familiar with these fun little gems, you really should be! They are kid's DIY crafts books with all the supplies included. Today I was cleaning out and packing in the craft room when I came across this one that my daughter, Anna received as a gift several years ago. We really enjoyed it, but she was still young enough to need a lot of parent involvement to do this. She had forgotten about this book and rushed through her chores today so she could get her hands on this baby and start creating fairies! What I love is that even my reluctant reader enjoys these books filled with descriptive photos and fun inspiration. And NO, I am not getting paid to say this.

Artists in the Tub

Tired of your pint-sized Picasos making messes? Let them do their art and get clean at the same time with Bathtub Paints!

Here is a recipe from Preschool Education that you can make easily yourself:

Bubble Bath Finger Paints
Need:
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon
salt,
food coloring,
bubble bath (not the foamy type),
water

Directions:
Mix water with the flour until you get a paste. Add food coloring and bubble bath until you get the thickness you like. This works well in the bath tub. They can paint themselves or the walls and it washes right off. It may turn the water the color of the food coloring but it won't stain the child.

Cook's Assistant

Do you have a little helper every time you make dinner? Let them join in by making them the "Official Cook's Assistant." Invite them into the kitchen and let them practice pouring. Water, uncooked rice or dried beans are great for pouring from one measuring cup to another. Make them really official with their own personalized apron. Most craft store have blank ones that can be decorated, or make your own:
Dish Towel Apron - I saw these at a craft bazaar a couple of years ago and have been meaning to whip some of these up ever since. They are quite clever and would be very quick to make.
Here are a few others I found on the web:
Child's Art Apron
Quick and Easy Child's Apron
An Easy-to-Make Child's Apron

Kitchen Helper

Since the children are usually hanging out in the kitchen while dinner in being prepared, why not put them to work. Even young children can be taught to set the table. An easy way to do this is by creating table setting placemats. Trace plates, glasses, and silverware onto a placemat-sized piece of paper in their proper locations. This can be a fun craft project to do with the children. Let them color and decorate them with stickers. When your masterpieces are complete laminate or cover them with contact paper. Now, even toddlers can set the table by matching the silverware and dishes to their shapes. Please hold back the knives and do these yourself or let an older child handle them.

Mini Maids

Toddlers love to "clean." It is so sad that this trait usually disapears by the time they are old enough to be productive at it! ;-) It is still good to encourage this clean behavior, but you don't want them handling any chemical cleaners. Luckily they will be just as satisfied with a clean spray bottle (new and not previously used for chemical cleaners) filled with water and a rag. Set them up in front of some low level windows and let them go crazy. A word to wise, though. I discovered that my 3 year old son could spray out all of the water of an entire bottle in about 2 minutes flat - drenching anything in his path, even electronic equipment, much to my dismay!

While we are on the subject of cleaning, I should mention chores. Even a child as young as 2 years old can and should have regular chores. When the are small, most of their chores revolve around taking care of themselves like brushing teeth, combing hair, helping to dress themselves. It is also good to develop their habit of taking care of their environment, too. They can pick up toys and place them in a basket, help make their bed, even help set the table (more on that later). I can tell you from experience that it is easier to train a young child in good habits than an older one.