As the dog days of summer approach, you may be finding yourself struggling to keep the little ones occupied in those weeks after camp has ended and before they get back to school. This month we’re featuring some great projects that will keep little hands busy while creating fun, environmentally conscious toys and crafts!
Crafting has always been a recycling effort—baby food jars, paper towel tubes, and popsicle sticks have been the staples of kid artists everywhere. As parents many of us are looking for ways to nurture our budding artists, architects, designers, etc. Today’s popsicle house could be tomorrow’s highrise—and that macaroni necklace tomorrow’s Harry Winston! But, fostering crafting can help kids learn other important lessons—especially when taking care of the environment and cutting unnecessary expenses are on the minds of most American families. You can create a fun new toy without taking a trip to a department store. There may be more to that empty paper towel roll than you once thought. Why not try to make something fun, save your money, encourage creativity and help the environment all at once!
It’s never too soon to teach kids about the importance of conservation and putting what seems like trash to use offers a great way to teach recycling, reducing and creativity. With a gentle introduction to recycling and kid-friendly projects, these fun activities will appeal to budding environmentalists of all ages.
What are some of your favourite crafting projects to do with the kids? What’s the most creative project your child has come up with on their own?
Post your comment for a chance to win a copy of "Make It" from DK Publishing. Gather will select two members who comment by Thursday, August 7th to receive a copy!
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Comments: 53
At the beginning of the summer my five-year-old son decided to make a kite all by him self. I was so amazed when I saw it, and I searched high and low for a nice string that could fit it, so that we could go flying with it.
Making plaster handprints
Making Fairy houses
Making pinecone bird feeders
I am always saving stuff from around the house and hubby gets annoyed with it, but I usually end up finding a great way to turn it into a neat craft!
Several months ago I made some paper out of some dryer lint and some bits of scrap paper I had around the house. I will probably do that again soon and have my daughter help me this time, I know she would have fun doing it!!
We also like to make stepping stones and a couple of months ago when we did one my daughter had so much fun picking out different pieces of colored glass chips to put into her stepping stone!
Some of my favorite things he's created have been from old items that had been lying around the house with no better use! Here's a recycled piggie bank that he made.
The most creative project he's done on his own is either his nature train his shape bug</>, or his art journal.
we make lifesaver scarecrows and candy cane reindeers:)
Homemade cards are one of our favorite projects. My daughter loves stamping and gluing out of magazine cards for birthdays and other holidays for everyone in our family.
Otherwise, I bought them some water colors to go with the watercolor paper I found at a yard sale and they've all been painting some really creative pictures.
then with cheap nail polish top coat they would seal the finished art! I can not tell you how many presents for birthdays, and Christmas they made from puzzles that were useless do to lost pieces
Angela can also make 101 things out of paper plates. It just amazes me what she can do with a paper plate, scissors, and tape.
Myy daughter has made Kalidascopes with toilet paper rolls.. she also enjoys putting stickers on them..
we have made turkey hands for Thanksgiving
We have made Tye Dyed shirts
We have also made some homeade refrigerator magnets.. that was really fun!
This would be a great book for my family!
And then the boxes can be used for small pieces of jewelry, paper clips, small supplies of any kind, or just for display.
My five year old, and I, take old paper towel rolls, or toilet paper, roll or cover in peanut butter, then roll in birdseed. We then hang them outside her window, (she is upstairs) and she can watch her "birdies" have their meals. They love jewelry also.. It is fun to make things with them. This is a great idea for kids. And Grandma's. Ellen B
Then my life changed drastically! I fell in love with a great guy and not only does he have children, but his son has kids of his own. Suddenly, I have become not only a soon to be step mom, but a step grandmother!
I am learning slowly how to do it, but my crafting skills have been my best skill in relating to the little ones. I often go to thrift stores and purchase small wood items for them to recycle and re purpose when they are here. An ugly, dark wood little spice cabinet has been turned into a lovely present for their mom for example. I helped them sand it down and repaint it with colors that their mom liked.
I like that I am teaching them to see things in a new way and that recycling things and buying at thrift stores doesn't mean eww! I think that it will help them in the future, at least I hope so!
I have no idea how I would be able to relate to my new family if it wasn't for crafting and my craftiness. I am always looking for new ways to grow creatively and by working with this little guys, I am onto a whole new spurt!
The members who will be receiving a copy of Make It! are the following:
B F. and Jennifer N.. Congratulations to you both!
This week, the Parenting group is challenging you to create a craft project with your kids. You can find it by clicking here. Two members who submit their photo essays of this project will receive a copy of Make It!
I must add here that there are some wonderful responses here and I've gotten some GREAT ideas for projects to do with Gideon from the comments.