Dramatic Play
Back-and-forth Drawing
I recently read this book about artist Mica Angela Hendricks, who has been making collaborative work with her four year old. While I don’t have her awesome illustration skills, I still thought it would be fun to create a game out of making artwork together. So, inspired by Hendricks (and partially by the game “Exquisite […]
Make Your Own Plates Part III: Yarn Art
Oh boy, this one was fun! To design these plates we used yarn, glue, and the MakIt plate templates. Simply paint a circle of glue in the center of the plate area and start winding the yard around the center point. Continue painting the glue around the outside of the yarn and pressing the yarn […]
Color Matching and Paintbrush Craft
Practice color recognition with these fun ‘paintbrushes’. You’ll need paper, scissors, Popsicle sticks, glue, and crayons. Cut the paper into approximately 3×4 rectangles. On each piece of paper, write a color name in the correct color. Have your child add ‘paint’ to each brush by coloring one end. Glue each brush to a Popsicle stick […]
Multi-colored Hand Stamps
Make your own handprint stamp, and use all the colors of the rainbow to make this project! As you stamp, you can use the process as an opportunity to talk about differences, working together, and equality. You’ll need A “block” to make your stamp on. We used a piece of linoleum, but […]
Musical Instrument Coloring Pages
We explored the new interactive appbook about a Little Lost Note that was on a mission to find herself. Through this self discovery she has a chance to try on lots of different musical sounds and your kids get to play the instruments she encounters along her way. Such a whimsical story that leaves children […]
Simple Animal Masks
Dress up is always a favorite around here, no matter the occasion. Today we made this simple, but cool masks using only some basic supplies. Maybe you’ll be able to tell (or maybe not!) we were inspired after a talk about how Eric Carle might make his artwork in some of our favorite books, like […]
What Would You Do with Feathers, Pipe Cleaners, and Tissue Paper?
We recently ran another Kids Craft Blogger Challenge where we sent a few lucky bloggers a package full of craft supplies. These crafters were challenged to come up with a craft or kids project using feathers, pipe cleaners, and small tissue paper squares. There were so many great submissions! Here are a few of our […]
Easy Winter Animal Paper Costumes
At school recently, we found ourselves in a time crunch to create a whole bunch of winter creature costumes for the winter pageant. They had to be super affordable, easy enough that the kids could make their own, and I obviously wanted to have them be recognizable! These paper costumes were fun to make in […]
Pinch Pot Monster Texture Project
We recently made these “pinch pot monster texture projects” in my classroom, and it was such a fun project! I think the lessons involved can easily be implemented at home too. The project came about because we were learning about texture in art class. There’s no better way to cement an idea than to actually […]
Paper Plate Craft: Thanksgiving Pies
Half the fun of Thanksgiving is in the preparation, right? Make these funny little pies with your kids in anticipation of the holiday weekend! We used small paper plates, paint, construction paper, pencils, glue and scissors to make these mini play pies. You probably have all these things around the house already! First decide what […]
Play Binoculars from Cardboard Tubes
Birdwatching is a great winter activity for your preschoolers. With these “binoculars” they will feel like a pro! Obviously, proper birdwatchers will be equipped with professional equipment for their hobby, but we weren’t going to buy a quality spotting scope for the money reasons, as well as the fact that our preschooler is so young, […]
DIY Mummy Decorations from Toys
We’re getting pretty into dress-up here lately, and it’s extending into the toy collection. It’s almost like they have a big costume party coming up or something… Today we turned a ordinary dollar store tough guy into a seasonally appropriate mummy! This project is fun because kids get to work with their hands preparing the […]
DIY Play Telephone (that works!)
Make your own it-really-works diy play telephone with styrofoam cups and string! Here’s how. In the bottom of each cup, poke a small hole (a very sharp pencil works well; this is a good part for an adult to do). Thread one end of a 2-3 foot length of string through the hole in each […]
Stand-up Paper Giraffe Project with Printable
Here’s a project to do before or after your next zoo trip. You’ll need: paper, scissors, a hole punch, pipe cleaners, and this printable. You can print the giraffe-printable on colored paper or print it out and use it to trace onto construction paper. If tracing, fold the paper in half widthwise first and make sure […]
Easy Soft Play Dough Recipe
This super-easy play dough is not only is it easy to make (only two or three ingredients and you probably already have them!), it’s a snap to clean up and makes for a great sensory experience. You need some hair conditioner (whatever you have should work), cornstarch, and, if you want, food colors. I started […]
Backyard Fun: Digging for Worms and Bugs
It’s always fun to dig in the dirt when it’s not work. Kids love getting dirty and finding little critters to put in their buckets. If you’re closing up your garden for the season make sure to let your kids dig around a bit for this great sensory activity! It’s a brilliant way to get […]
Practice Cutting: Paper Snakes
This activity is great for more advanced preschoolers to practice their cutting skills. You’ll need paper, a pencil, and scissors. Starting in the center of a piece of paper, draw a spiral line. Don’t make the circles too close together. Go all the way to the edge. Starting at the edge, carefully cut on the […]
Daisy Flower Chain Instructions
Have you ever wanted to teach your kids how to make daisy chains? Here are simple instructions. You will need: flowers. Small flowers that grow in the grass are perfect for daisy chains; dandelions work great too! Make sure you leave a few inches of stem when you pick the flowers, as you will need […]
Rainy Day String Pictures: A Fine Motor Activity
For this fun and easy indoor project, all you need is some lengths of string or yarn. The more colorful the better! Try this creative, fine motor activity with your preschooler. Show your preschooler how to use the strings to make shapes and pictures. The sky is the limit! Beware – this project is fun […]
Flying Butterfly Craft: Straw and Construction Paper Butterfly
Make this impressive butterfly with craft supplies you already have lying around. You will need: construction paper (2 colors for each butterfly), scissors, a cup and a pencil (for tracing circles), pipe cleaner, straws, and brads. 1. Trace the butterfly wings on one sheet of construction paper using the cup as shown. 2. Stack the […]
DIY Clay Food for Play
We made this play pizza and cookies with our easy diy modeling clay. This is a fun way to teach children about shapes and give them another tool for their imaginative play. Help your child form the clay into shapes. You’ll need a big triangle for the pizza slice and smaller circles for the cookies. […]
Recycled Foam Helicopter Craft
If your preschooler is obsessed with all things flying, then you will love this easy helicopter craft. You will need: a foam egg carton, a foam craft sheet, scissors, and split pin For each helicopter, you will need to cut out one egg carton section (do this ahead of time, as it’s definitely an adult […]
Learning About Feelings Balloon Activity
Young children often experience frustration when they cannot communicate how they are feeling. Help your preschooler learn how to express their feelings with this fun balloon activity. You will need: balloons, markers, and lots of air! Blow up a balloon. Ask your child how people look when they feel happy. Draw a smiley face on […]
Paper Cube Ninja
Print, cut, and fold your way into this AWESOME paper cube ninja! What you need: – download and print this paper cube ninja design – paper – scissors How to do it: 1. Cut the white parts away from the 5 character sections. 2. Use your scissors or exacto knife to cut the […]
Popsicle Stick Kazoos
This popsicle stick kazoo project is easy and fun. Kids enjoy making then and them making music with them afterwards! What you need: – 2 popsicle sticks – washi tape – 1/2 in wide strip of paper – 1 wide rubber band – 2 thin rubber bands Start by decorating your sticks with […]
DIY Play Camera Necklace
While they may be way too young to check out ViralRace and other sites to boost followers on social media (although that may well be yet to come), kids love pretending to take pictures! This activity lets them make their own camera to play with. You will need: craft foam, pencil, scissors, and glue. It’s […]
Where The Wild Thing Are Masks
What preschooler doesn’t love Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are? Here’s how you can make your own monster masks to play with next time you read the story. You’ll need: brown shopping bags with plain backs, white paper, markers, scissors, and glue. First draw Wild Thing faces on the plain backs of the paper […]
DIY Musical Instruments: Cereal Box Guitar
Musical instruments are all the rage at my house recently. Last week my preschoolers put on a ‘marching band’ where everybody was a drummer (ear-splitting!) and had a blast. Each of them like different instruments too, which is great because I love to see them explore their talents! I just know some of them will […]