Crafts For Less

Recipes for Childhood

                                                by Allyson Garner

           

           

            In today’s busy world, it is not always easy to find quality time with your children.  Working moms and dads head out every morning and return home in the evenings with dozens of household duties to perform.  I have first hand knowledge of this dilemma as a mother who has been a student, bookkeeper, and teacher.  Days at work are long, and sometimes it is much easier to ask a child to watch television or play with toys than to take the initiative to find an activity we can do together.  It is also fair to say that some of us may need help in finding activities we can share in with our children.  Finding activities that challenge your children to use their imaginations, explore their world, and strengthen their relationships with parents is my goal.  As an educator, I can tell you that in several weeks when school begins it will be heart breaking to hear children say they did “nothing” over the summer.  While at times I think this can be an over exaggeration on the child’s part, I also understand that some children literally spend all of their time away from school sitting in front of a television or laying on their bed.  I understand what it is to not have money to take grand vacations or spend your days at the public pool, but I have discovered throughout the years that my children can have as much fun at home.  When we take a vacation or make special plans, it is a very special time, but throughout my children’s lives we have spent time creating special memories that will stay with them forever.  Some of the activities I am going to suggest, you will remember from childhood.  Perhaps, like me, you had a stay at home mom and it just makes since that it would be easier for her to do these things than it will be for you.  I remember days when there just wasn’t enough time, but I know now that we can create time when we need to.  Purchasing dinner from the freezer section at your super market may be one way to give you time to spend with your child.  Sometimes those of us who keep habitually clean houses may have to throw in the gauntlet and have a little fun.  Your child may be two or ten, but I challenge you to find as least two activities on the following cards that will entertain your child and put a smile on his/her face.

 

Art/Craft Activities:

 

Create an Art center for your child

Need:

Copy paper

Crayons

Washable markers

Pencils (you know if your little one can handle these)

Instructions:

Take the basket at place art supplies inside. 

Encourage the child to take the basket to the

place you designate as their art spot.  This may

be a small table of their own, a kitchen table, a bar,

or a hard surfaced floor.  Children can use these

supplies to create pictures, cards, books, and many

things that we won’t think of, but they will.

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Create a Crazy Hat

Need:

Paper grocery sacks              streamers

markers                                   pom-poms

sequins                                   google eyes

school glue                              stapler

any small items for decorating

Instructions:

See who can make the craziest hat to wear!

Roll the top of the paper down so that the bag is

about fifteen inches long.  Fold the sides of the bag

and staple on the folds to fit each persons head.

Have fun gluing and drawing to create the craziest

hat ever.

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Create a storybook with your child

Need: 

Copy paper, 2 sheets

Hole punch      (or a stapler)

yarn

crayons or markers

writing utensil

Instructions:

Fold the pages of paper like a card.  Punch holes

along the left edge, and string yarn through the holes,

tying of the ends.  Instead, you may want to staple along

the left edge.  Brainstorm with your child about what

kind of story you can create.  Make a cover page with the

title and illustration.  On each page in the book include an

illustration and words.  Small children may

illustrate the pages as mom or dad writes the words.  Older

children may want to write the words and illustrate the pages.

To make this an activity you do with your older child, take turns

writing and illustrating every other page.  Place the book on

a bookshelf where you can take it down and read it with your child.

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Create symmetrical pictures

Need:

washable watercolor paints

copy paper

paintbrush

Instructions:

Fold the paper like a card, and then open the card.  On the right

side of the fold, have child drop ladybug sized drops of watercolor

on the paper in several places.  Close the card and have child rub

their hand several times over the top of the card.  Open the card

and ask your child what they see.  It may be a butterfly, a tree,

or anything your child imagines they see.

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 Make Building Blocks

Need:

2×2 piece of lumber

2×4 piece of lumber

electric saw

craft paint

paint brushes

Instructions:

Have an ADULT use the saw to cut squares and rectangles from

the 2×2 piece of wood.  Use the 2×4 piece of wood to cut squares,

rectangles, and triangles.  Sand any rough edges.  Invite your

child to pick their favorite colors and start painting the ‘blocks’ together.

These come with a promise that your child will use them for years

of play.  Use more lumber to create more blocks.

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Put Together a Puzzle for Wall Art

Need:

an age appropriate puzzle, let your child pick the design

craft glue or school glue

1” foam brush

poster board that can be cut to the size of the puzzle (more than 1 sheet if big       puzzle)

Instruction:

Work with your child to put the puzzle together.  Flip the puzzle over.  This is usually easy to do by picking up the puzzle on one end and laying it facedown on the table.  If you fear your puzzle will fall apart, place a flat object such as a cutting board or a cookie sheet on top of the puzzle and slide the poster board underneath the puzzle.  With one hand under the poster board and one on top of the cookie sheet, carefully turn the puzzle over.  Cut the poster board to the size of your puzzle.  Squeeze glue in zigzags all over the back of the puzzle.  Spread the glue with the 1” foam brush.  Place the poster board on the sticky back of the puzzle and press down firmly, smoothing the poster board over the back of the puzzle.  Allow to dry and then hang on your child’s wall.  You may hang with tacks, or for a nicer look use super glue to attach a hanger to the back of the poster.  You may make the hanger with yarn, and then hang the puzzle on the wall with a small nail or tack.

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Fun Activities for the Kitchen:

 

Make Kool-Aid  Play dough

recipe by: Valarie Karl

Need:

2 ½ cups of flour                                 ½ cup salt

2 pkg. unsweetened Kool-Aid             2 cups boiling water

3 tbsp. oil

Instructions:

Place all ingredients in heavy pot.  Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until dough makes a ball.  Let cool.  Store in Ziploc bag or airtight container.  Keeps well and kids love the smell. Hint:  I turn the hot play dough onto paper plates and need a few time with kitchen mittens on my hands, and then my hands covered with plastic bags to keep the play dough from sticking.  This allows you to get any lumps out of the play dough and also speeds up the cooling process.

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 Make a Paper-Mache Piñata Ball

Need:

balloon, blown-up and tied

3 cups of cold water

additional water in a bowl for wetting first layer of newspaper strips

2 1/4 cups of flour

Newspaper cut into 1 inch strips that are about 12 inches long.

Styrofoam/plastic cup

Glue

Party streamers

Instructions:

Place the three cups of water and the flour in a bowl.  Whisk the water and flour with a wire whisk until smooth.  Start dipping strips of newspaper in the bowl of water and coating the balloon with the water dipped newspaper.  After the water dipped coat of newspaper has been applied, begin dipping newspaper in the flour mixture and coat the balloon with the strips.  Place the Paper-Mache balloon on top of the cup to dry.  Let the Paper-Mache dry completely.  Have an ADULT use a pair of sharp scissors to cut a small flap in the piñata.  Cut the flap towards the large end of the balloon.  Fill the piñata with a treat for the kids.  Glue a piece of newspaper over the flap to cover the whole.  Have children cut streamers into three inch pieces and glue all over the balloon.  Take children outside and play a game of kick the ball until it breaks.  You may want to use sticks to hit the ball back and forth.

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Mix Up a Batch of Personalized Trail Mix

Need:

your child’s favorite snack foods

Examples:

cheerios                                  snack crackers

pretzels                                   raisins

M&M’s                                     peanuts

Instructions:

Place chosen ingredients in a plastic container or large Ziploc bag.  Shake around and seal.  Serve by the handful when your little one, or you, need a fast snack.  My kids love having their own special trail mix when its snack time.

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Bake and Decorate Sugar Cookies

recipe by:  Kelly Myers

Need:

1 cup of shortening                             1 cup of sugar

2 eggs                                                 1 Tbsp. milk

1 tsp. vanilla                                        3 cups unsifted flour

1 tsp. baking powder

cake icing and sprinkles for decorating

Instructions:

Cream shortening and sugar.  Add eggs, milk and vanilla to the mixture.  Add flour and baking soda.  Mix until thoroughly blended.  Cover and place dough in refrigerator to sit for one hour.  On a floured surface, roll out dough to ¼ inch thickness.  Use cookie cutters to cut out cookies.  Bake at 400° for 8 minutes.Cool cookies on a cloth.  Allow children to decorate cookies with icing and sprinkles.  Enjoy!

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Use Shaving Cream to Clean the Kitchen Table

Need:

any brand of shaving cream (Colgate works great)

a child who likes getting messy

a table that needs to be shined

Instruction:

Squirt shaving cream onto the table and spread around, or allow an older child to spread, until it is about ¼ inch thick on the table.  Children can use their finger to write and draw in the shaving cream.  When their finished playing, take a paper towel and wipe up the shaving cream.  You now have a clean, fresh smelling table.

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 Play Time Activities

 

Erect a Sheet Tent

Need:

Sheets

Your child’s room

Instructions:

Use the sheets to make a tent in your child’s room.  Tie sheets to doorknobs and stick ends under mattresses.  Make sure you do not secure the sheet with anything that the child could pull down on themselves.  See how big of tent you can make! Play in the tent with your child some, and allow the tent to stay up for a day.  Remember, your tent doesn’t have to be really tall for little people who like to crawl around. 

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Sidewalk Chalk

Need:

Sidewalk chalk

concrete

Instructions:

Find a piece of concrete outside and let you child draw.  Remember, you can also join in.  Don’t worry, the chalk washes off easily with the water hose or the next rain.

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Have a Water Day

Need:

water balloons

water guns (if desired)

sprinkler attached to water hose

buckets for collecting water in

Instructions:

Fill water balloons with water and place in a large bowl or ice chest.  Turn on the sprinkler and have fun.  See who can get the wettest.  Throw balloons at each other and use the buckets to collect water from the sprinkler to pour on each other. 

 

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 Make a Terrarium

Need:

a large jar or a soda bottle

saran wrap

ice pick or knife for poking holes

the great outdoors

Instructions:

Use a large jar, or remove the label and cut the top three inches of a soda bottle.  Take your child outside and find grass to place in the bottom of the bottle.  Place a few drops of water in with the grass.  Look for bugs to place in the terrarium.  Cover the terrarium with saran wrap and secure saran wrap with masking tape.  Have an ADULT use a knife or ice pick to punch air holes in the saran wrap.  Make sure your holes won’t allow your insects to escape.  Allow your child to keep the terrarium for a few hours or a day to watch the insect within.  Release the insects back into the yard after your child has had time to observe the insect and make discoveries.  You may even give your child a piece of paper and encourage them to draw what they see in their terrarium.

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   Spending time after work, or on the weekend, with your child is something you will never regret.  There are so many activities you can use to have fun with your child.  My boys love the Kool-Aid play dough.  For years we made this play dough every summer and it lasted until someone forgot to close the bag.  In fact, my eight year old said, ”Hey, we need to make some of that!” when he saw me typing out the recipe.  The wooden blocks were also a great hit at my house.  My boys are eight and eleven years old, and they still play with the blocks.  They have built caves for dinosaurs and wild beasts, army command centers, car garages, and so many other things with their colorful blocks.  Every activity I share with you has been tried and tested by my children and myself.  We have enjoyed each activity, and now I hope that you and your children will receive as much enjoyment from these projects as we did.  I am so thankful for the memories my family has made throughout the years using these simple activities.  As a fellow working mom, I understand the time restraints placed on our lives by work and home.  Every once in a while, we need to take a deep breath, let it go, and do something fun with our children.  Last week, after a morning of bill paying, I walked into the kids room and said, “Get on some swim trunks, I want to play in the sprinkler!”  The look of surprise on my sons’ faces was soon replaced by smiles as we chased each other in and out of the sprinkler.  “Mom, you’re crazy!” my eleven year old says.  “Thanks.”  Every once in while, we all need to get crazy and have fun with the kids.                                

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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