ParentDish

Shamrock Crafts for Kids on St. Patrick's Day

Gina Provenzano — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Holidays, Activities: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Activities: Tweens, Activities: Family Time

Watch a Video on How to Make Another Shamrock Craft

Everybody -- and every teddy -- can be Irish on St. Patrick's Day with a shamrock adornment. Credit: Gina Provenzano

Spread the luck of the Irish with friends and family by learning how to make fun shamrock crafts for St. Patrick's Day.

What you'll need:

o. Green tissue paper
o. Ruler
o. Pencil
o. Scissors
o. Green pipe cleaners
o. Green jingle bells

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Kids' Craft: Valentine's Day Cards

Gina Provenzano — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activities: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Activities: Big Kids, Activities: Tweens

From starchy veggies to messages of love, turn potatoes into personalized Valentine's Day cards. Credit: Gina Provenzano

Let kids of any age craft their own Valentine's Day greetings for classmates and friends with heart-shaped stamps made from potatoes.

What you'll need:

3 to 4 large baking potatoes
Heart-shaped cookies cutters
Cutting board
Sharp knife (for adult use only)
Butter knife
Paper towels
Foam brush
Water-based paint in desired colors
Blank greeting cards or folded cardstock paper in white and pink or desired colors
Assorted charms, appliqués, stick-ons, ribbon, glitter paint and accouterments
White craft glue
Small twist ties or wire

What to do:

1. To make heart-shaped stamp: On a cutting board, an adult should take a thin lengthwise slice off one potato. Opt for the flattest side and cut enough to give you a large surface area of potato flesh.

Credit: Gina Provenzano

2. Let the child choose a heart-shaped cookie cutter, then center it to fit on the potato and push down into flesh as if cutting dough to make cookies.
3. Using a butter knife, kids can slice potato around cookie cutter about 1/4 to 1/2 inch down so that knife hits cookie cutter and stops it from cutting below shape.
4. Pull off excess and remove cookie cutter. Hint: You may want to notch top and bottom of potato to delineate top and bottom of heart shape.
5. Pat potato dry with paper towels. Use foam brush to apply a very thin layer of paint to heart-shaped stamp.
6. Position stamp over cards in desired place and press down, trying not to let potato slip. Hint: Practice a few times on a blank piece of paper, so that the child gets the hang and feel of the stamp.
7. Repeat in desired colors, and with different sized cookie cutters.
8. When paint is dry, about 30 minutes, play with different add-ons. Glue, stick, paint or attach your embellishments onto cards surface in desired place.

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New Year's Eve Craft: Party-Perfect Hat to Make and Wear

Gina Provenzano — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Holidays, Activities: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Activities: Big Kids, Activities: Teens, Activities: Family Time

Cut and paste the perfect party hat to ring in 2011 in crafty kid-style. Credit: Gina Provenzano

Your special prince or princess will love welcoming the New Year in a glittery party hat they make themselves.

Don't let these directions put a cap on their creativity; let them go even further by adding glittery pipe cleaners and fun foam shapes to their creations. Then, let the countdown begin ...

What you'll need:

o.Fun foam glitter sticker letters and numbers, 1 1/4" tall
o.Fun foam glitter sticker sheets, 8 1/2" x 11" in desired colors
o.2 fun foam glitter sheets, 8 1/2" x 11" in black
o.Glitter gold fabric paint
o.Tacky glue
o.Safety scissors
o.Tape measure

What to do:

1. Help children sort through and pull out letters/numbers to spell out their desired New Year's message: "Happy New Year 2011," "New Year's Prince," "New Year's Princess," etc.
2. Arrange letters on one sheet of black glitter fun foam. Keep letters/numbers to approximately 10 inches wide and 6 inches high. Children can peel off backing and apply small dabs of glue to back of letters and adhere in place.
3. For balloons, draw small circles in desired colors on fun foam glitter sheets. Cut out balloons, peel and glue onto black glitter fun foam as before. Allow to dry one hour.
4. Kids can cut black foam leaving a slight edge around entire message.
5. Measure, mark and cut two 9-inch x 2-inch bands from the second sheet of black glitter fun foam. Overlap ends and glue a band to each side of cut out message along bottom edge. Allow to dry thoroughly.
6. Help children cut a notched tab at the end of one band and cut slits at the end of the other band for securing hat in desired size.

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Halloween Crafts: Gruesome Gourd Creatures

Gina Provenzano — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Your Kids, Big Kids, Health & Safety: Big Kids, Development: Big Kids, Behavior: Big Kids, Nutrition: Big Kids, Education: Big Kids, Activities: Big Kids, Gear Guides: Big Kids, Research Reveals: Big Kids, Expert Advice: Big Kids, Activities: Tweens, Activities: Family Time

Need some Halloween crafts? Scare Halloween revelers with wacky gourd creatures like this creeping critter. Credit: Gina Provenzano

Tired of the same old jack-o-lanterns and tombstone lawn ornaments that serve as standard Halloween decor? DIY creepy creatures will delight kids young and old this season.

Unleash your pint-sized peeps with overactive imaginations on a pile of pumpkins and gourds and see what comes of it all. OK, you might need to lend a hand or two. Here's how to scare up some family fun.

What You'll Need:

Gourds and pumpkins
Dowels or wooden skewers, 3 -4 inches in length
White glue
Permanent marker
Sharp tool to punch holes, an awl or metal skewer (to be used by adult only)

Directions:

Play with gourds and pumpkins to find the perfect combination and general location for placement. Indicate where gourds should be placed by making a dot with a marker. Adults should pierce both entry points on gourds at markings. Then, allow child to dip ends of dowel in glue and insert halfway into main body and extremity. Get crafty. Use mini gourds for eyes, curly squash as a nose or legs (our octopus could have easily been a spider by swinging his legs in the opposite direction). If necessary, use a knife to trim ends in order to fit one end to another.

Allow to dry. Then set out to scare and inspire.

Get tangled up in an orange octopus. Credit: Gina Provenzano

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Make-and-Learn-Crafts: Lasting Summer Memories in a Shadow Box

Gina Provenzano — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activities: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Activities: Big Kids, Activities: Tweens, Activities: Family Time, Family Time

Turn summer vacation memories into a hanging scrapbook page for all to see and enjoy. Credit: Gina Provenzano

When vacation euphoria is over and all that remains is sand embedded in the car seats and layers of mud caked in sneakers, stop and take stock. Pull out the photos, mementos and tchotchkes from your summer adventures and help your child create a lasting memory to hang and treasure.

A shadow box or collectible case is a wonderful way to "scrapbook" a memory -- and keep it from remaining hidden in a book. And, besides getting kids to recount a summer trip, it's a great way to relive the memories together as a family. So grab the photos and mementos and get to work.

What You'll Need:

Shadow box or collectible case frame (this one is 12 inches by 12 inches)
Vacation photos
Construction paper or decorative paper in desired colors
Small mementos from your trip (a fishing lure, seashells, ticket stubs, ID bracelets)
Craft store painted wooden shapes (in the theme of your vacation)
Pencil
Ruler
Scissors; straight edge and decorative edge
Tacky white glue
Double-sided tape
Adhesive-backed foam letters (about 3/4 inch tall)

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Easy Ways to Bring New Style to Old Hand-Me-Downs

Gina Provenzano — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Relatives, Siblings, Decor, Fashion, Activities: Big Kids, Activities: Tweens, Activities: Family Time

Turn denim scraps into a bouquet to dress up jeans or a jacket. Photo: Gina Provenzano

Just try to name a kid who would pass up something new for a hand-me-down from an older sibling. Still thinking? That's what we thought.

While nobody prefers hand-me-downs, few can deny the budgetary bonuses, as well as the ecological benefits, of passing along gently worn clothing from one child to the next. Good news: With a few simple steps, you can give previously-worn duds an entirely new look.

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Make-and-Learn Crafts: Tie-Dye Tees and Paper Pinwheels for a Spirited 4th

Gina Provenzano — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:10:00 EST

Filed under: Holidays, Activities: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Activities: Big Kids

Red, white and blue and your all set for a festive Fourth. Credit: Gina Provenzano

Make Independence Day festivities even more of a blast with DIY patriotic paper pinwheels and tie-dye tees.

Summer celebrations call for outdoor activities and star-spangled gear. Psychedelic tie-dye t-shirts are easy to make, and they're impossible to mess up. Kids will take pride in their work, no matter how they come out and then model their finished fashions for your July 4th celebration.

While they're at it, why not embellish the table as well as the tots? Twirling stars-and-stripes pinwheels add sizzle as a centerpiece when stuck in a bucket of sand. Or, they make a great garden decoration.

Here's how to make both projects:

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Make-and-Learn Crafts: Father's Day Craft Projects for Deserving Dads

Gina Provenzano — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Holidays, Activities: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Activities: Big Kids, Activities: Tweens, Activities: Family Time

Make a frame that suits your pop: Think pennies for a financial father, nuts and washers for a mechanical man, bandages for a doctor. Credit: Gina Provenzano

He goes to every game, gives the best advice and is always there with a hug when one is needed most. So to celebrate Father's Day on June 20, give Dad a homemade gift to show how much he's loved.

Kids can celebrate Dad and all he does with a collection of crafts that range from super easy to creatively crafty. Let them choose a project that best suits their ages, skills and their Pops.

Fabulous Frames
Easy

What You'll Need:

Flat front wood frames, in desired sizes
Paint, in desired colors
Paint brush
Pennies, nuts and washers, golf tees or other small trinkets
White glue

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School's Out for Summer: Hot Gifts For Teacher

Gina Provenzano — Fri, 28 May 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Books for Parents, Gear Guides: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Gear Guides: Big Kids

A classic children's story book with a personalized note is priceless. Credit: Amazon

Looking to earn an "A" when it comes to picking out an end-of-year gift for your child's teacher? With these creative and thoughtful ideas, you'll be at the head of the class.

After asking many parents and teachers for ideas, the answers I received on gift-giving ideas seem to need their own grading curve -- they run the gamut from gift cards to Gucci bags. Yes, I said Gucci bags. It almost makes me want to change careers.

But, let's assume, for a moment, that you're not going to rush out and drop a mortgage payment on a new designer satchel for the third grade teacher. There's still a whole lot of room for a little creativity. Because even though the end-of-year gift is a gesture, it shouldn't be meaningless. After all, how many travel mugs and Starbucks gift cards does one teacher need?

We broke gift giving down to a few categories -- with reasonable budgets -- to help guide you through the end of the school year and send you breezing into summer with high honors without blowing your vacation money.

FROM $5 to $15

Children's Book with personal note, about $15: One teacher I spoke with says the best gifts she's received were personalized letters from parents detailing how much she helped a child learn and grow. A handwritten note from a parent or child is priceless. Inserting the note into a favorite children's book can take the gesture one step further. Because, let's face it, if we can tip our barista for giving us our daily morning jolt, shouldn't we at least give a decent nod to the people shaping the minds of our young children?

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Make-and-Learn Crafts: Mother's Day Keepsake Box

Gina Provenzano — Wed, 05 May 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Holidays, Activities: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Activities: Big Kids, Activities: Tweens

Little fingers shape air-dry clay into a trinket box for mom's special day. Photo: Gina Provenzano

Is one day really enough time to truly take note of the kind and loving gestures our mothers make every day?

Of course not. But it's a start.

Kids may not truly appreciate all that their moms do for them, but little ones do know one thing: They love their moms unconditionally.

Let them express that love with a keepsake box to be treasured. Like the stick figure drawings stuck to the fridge, this can be displayed for all to see, and then later tucked away for a lifetime of memories.

Made from air-dry clay, the box is easy enough for young children to craft, while older kids can it embellish it further by making a lid and filling it with coupons and messages of love for mom to uncover all year long.

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Make-and-Learn Crafts: Easter Funny Bunny Ears

Gina Provenzano — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activities: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Activities: Big Kids, Activities: Tweens

Hippity-hoppity, the Easter bunny is on her way. Photo: Gina Provenzano

Ask any kid younger than 10 to name the first thing that comes to mind when he or she hears the word Easter, and we can pretty much guarantee the answer won't be the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Chances are the Easter bunny is more in line with a child's thinking. How the two became linked may lie somewhere in the spring rituals surrounding the hare symbol of an Anglo-Saxon goddess. Through the years -- and with the help of American capitalism -- the hare became a bunny, and lucky for us, the vehicle through which we miraculously receive chocolate eggs. Yummy!

Spread the word to your little ones: Help them make the connection between the religious and commercial side of the holiday, and, in the meantime, have some fun with bunny ears they make themselves.

Hop to it. Easter is right around the corner.

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Make-and-Learn Crafts: Passover Seder Plate

Gina Provenzano — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 10:12:00 EST

Filed under: Holidays, Activities: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Activities: Big Kids, Activities: Family Time

For a Pesach with panache, get kids to craft a bright seder plate. Photo: Gina Provenzano

This year, when pulling out the special crystal and china for the Passover seder, keep the kids in mind. After all, much of the ritual surrounding Passover is the recounting of the story of the exodus from Egypt and the conveyance of the Jewish faith from the elders to the youngsters. The observance encourages kids to get involved and ask questions. We think that crafting a bright pink and purple Passover seder plate for the occasion is a fine way to elicit curiosity and conversation.

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