I believe most children can identify with the helpless, small, insignificant caterpillar, and they rejoice with it when it turns into a beautiful butterfly. It is an affirmation to all children. It says: I too can grow up. I too can unfold my wings and fly into the world. – Eric Carle Young children learn…
Invitation to Create
Mixed Media Calendars
Create postcard-sized Mixed Media paintings, get inspired by the seasons, have an epic, two day Collage Craft Party like we did or collect your children’s mini creations throughout the year to make a calendar! This is my absolute favorite, toddler approved project to experiment with first layering techniques and Mixed Media! Materials Sharpies Oil pastels…
Christmas Potato Prints
Potato Printing is one of the most simple, open-ended and playful printing techniques perfect for little hands. You can make anything from Christmas stockings, wrapping paper or wall hangings with this fun printing activity. Materials Small potatoes and a knife Packing paper and cardboard Tempera paint Tray or paper plate Scissors Tissue paper Glue stick…
Salt Dough Ornaments
Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas. ― Peg Bracken Salt Dough Ornaments make adorable little gifts! Younger children will enjoy manipulating the dough and relish the sensory feedback they are getting, especially from their tactile sense! Squishing, rolling and cutting the dough are fun activities by…
Pumpkin Decorating
Are you still looking for a fun and easy, age appropriate, no-carve pumpkin decorating idea that will keep your toddler busy for hours? Look no further! Ever since seeing Meri Cherry’s Pumpkin Party, decorating pumpkins with tinker trays has become a yearly tradition – we seriously love these pumpkins sooo much! Before decorating pumpkins you…
Halloween Games and Activities
We always have much fun celebrating Halloween! Here are some of my favorite activities and games you can use with your preschoolers and kindergarteners. Face Painting Face Painting never fails to excite children, especially when they get to paint their own faces! We had much fun celebrating our strengths and special powers of who we…
Fall Leaf Suncatchers
With October in full swing, the leaves are starting to show their last colors while the peaks are already snow capped. If you want to hold on to fall a little longer and need an idea what to do with all the leaves on the ground, this project is for you! Go on nature walks,…
Pumpkin Pour Painting
October is an exciting time of the year: Sweater weather, all things Halloween, songs about wind, falling leaves and lots of talk about costumes, candy and decorating pumpkins! Make sure to give Pour Painting a try if you’re looking for a fun, easy, open-ended and REALLY engaging pumpkin project for your children! Young children really relish the…
Mixed Media Autumn Wall Hanging
One of our favorite art projects involves salad spinners! Yes, really. Spin painting is a mesmerizing process and lends itself perfectly to color our collection of fall treasures. Plus, it never fails to create stunning pieces of artwork. Seriously, you have to try this! Materials: Tempera paint in squeeze bottles Trays Tarp Salad spinners Glitter…
Leaf Imprints and Nature Necklaces
Nature crafts are great to encourage children to go outside and engage their senses. As we go on nature walks we observe the changing seasons and collect little treasures: Colorful leaves, pinecones, rocks – anything with beautiful colors, interesting shapes and patterns. Since the children were especially interested in investigating leaf veins and have been…