This is a very simple recipe to make playdough. You can add different food colors to make various colors. All ingerdients are edible (not tasty but edible) so if the dough is used by toddlers who decide to taste no damage is done. The playdough only takes a few minutes to prepare and costs very little.
Ingredients:
Method:
How to Make a Model Town
How to Make a Rattle from a Toilet Roll
How to Make an Interactive Wall Mural
Pizza Snack
How to Make Sherbet | Fizz Powder
How to Make a Fairy Table
How to Make a Wand and Crown
How to make toilet paper roll crafts |Bee
How to make bathtime fun | Soapy Body Paint
How to Make Stilts From Cans
How to get your kids to tidy up
Making Cards | How to Make Cards
How to Make Numbers from Felt
Equipment:
* 1 wooden clock
* Clock parts
* Picture to apply
* Small stamp
* Acrylic paint (color of your choice)
* White acrylic paint
* Masking tape
Method:
1. Paint a clock in the color of your choice.
2. Mark a border with masking tape.
3. Make a lighter shade of color by mixing white paint with your color.
4. Paint the border that you marked with masking tape in a lighter shade.
5. Stamp the lighter area with the darker color.
6. Paste a picture on the top of the clock. You can use a picture, sticker, wooden characters (sold at good craft stores).
7. Attach the clock parts and the battery.
Paper Dolls
The following free printable paper dolls can be downloaded below.
You can either color and make paper dolls yourself by downloading a template which needs to be colored or just print the free printable paper dolls which have already been colored. Either way, print the templates, cut out the parts and then dress the doll.
These online paper dolls make a perfect rainy day craft for kids. Once you have downloaded, printed and cut out the paper art dolls you can play dress up paper doll games with your kids.
Free Paper Dolls:
Printable Paper Dolls to Color:
Paper doll which needs to be colored
Colored Paper Doll Patterns and Paper Doll Clothes :
* Paper Doll 1
* Paper Doll 2
* Paper Doll with no clothes (to be used with clothes below)
Paper Doll Clothes :
Do you want to teach your kids how to recognize numbers? Recognizing numbers is not enough if they do not understand the meaning of each number. These felt numbers not only help them learn to recognize numbers but also to understand what each number represents.
Materials:
* Colored Felt
* Thread/Cotton
* Scissors
* Cotton wool
Method:
1. Print the free downloadable numbers.
2. Cut out the numbers from felt (two layers per number).
3. Sew each number together (i.e. the two layers of felt) leaving a small hole to stuff the letter.
4. Fill the letter with cotton wool.
5. Sew up the end that was left to fill the letter.
6. Cut up little pictures to stick on each number. For e.g. on number 1 you will add one picture, on number 2 – two pictures, etc.
Tip/Variations:
You can use ready made felt pictures to sew onto the numbers.
Submitted by Karen
Method:
Variation:
You can make these cards in different sizes and using different embellishments.
Tip:
On a day when you have free time and are feeling in the mood make a few cards which you can keep and use when needed.
Making Labels for Toy DrawersWould you like your children to help tidy up their toys or enable them to find the toy that they are looking for?
Do you find that when they do try to help they land up making more mess?
This idea helps your kids know where their toys belong despite the fact that they cannot read!
Materials:
* A set of drawers
* Pictures
* Laminating pouch film (if you do not have your own laminator you can have this done very inexpensively)
* Printer
* Double-sided glue
Method:
1. Divide your kids toys and put each group of toys into a separate drawer.
2. Locate a picture for each group (you can do this using the insert pictures function in Microsoft Word).
3. Print out the pictures.
4. Laminate the page of pictures.
5. Cut out each picture.
6. Paste it onto the relevant drawer.
Tip/Variations:
If you want to expose your child to words you can write the word (using a wordprocessor) above or below the picture.
You can also just cut out pictures from magazines etc.
This child craft can be made together with the child. An adult will need to make the holes in the cans but the child can help after that stage, decorate the cans and then of course walk on them.
Equipment:
* 2 empty cans
* String
* Paper and glue
* Stickers
Method:
1. Make 2 holes in each can at the top of the can and on either side.
2. Measure the distance from the child’s hands to his or her shoes with the string. Double the string and add about 10 cm for the knots. Cut the string. Cut another piece the same size.
3. Thread the string through the hole and tie a knot at the end of the string. Thread the other side through the can and then tie a knot at the other end.
4. Repeat the above step with the other piece of string and the other can.
5. Let the child decorate the cans with paper and stickers.
Finger, Bath and Body PaintsHave your kids ever decided that they don’t want to take a bath? How do you persuade them to get into the bath when they don’t want to. The following craft idea will have them asking to take a bath…
Materials:
* Plastic bottles
* New paint brush
* Colored liquid soap (regular liquid soap that comes in different colors)
Method:
1. Fill the plastic bottles with colored soap. Put a different colored soap in each bottle.
2. When your child takes a bath give him or her the soap and the paint brush. Let them “paint” the “paint” on their bodies. When they have finished playing you explain to them that you are going to wash the paint off their bodies and you use the opportunity to wash them!
Tip:
These paints make a great gift for kids.
Made by “Feigi’s Kindergarten”
You can make this bee together with your children or as a kindergarten craft project. If each child makes one bee you can make a mobile with many bees hanging from the ceiling.
Materials:
* Toilet paper roll
* Styrofoam ball cut in half or a half circle polystyrene ball
* Movable eyes or stickers
* Scissors
* Black and yellow paper
* Glue
* Thick clear plastic or cardstock
* Pipe cleaner
Method:
1. Cover the toilet roll with yellow paper.
2. Cut out strips of black paper and paste them on the yellow paper equal distances apart.
3. Cut out wings using the template. You can either use clear sturdy plastic or card stock if you cannot find appropriate plastic.
4. Fold the wings in half and glue the join to the top of the paper roll. You can use any glue but a hot glue gun will ensure that the wings cannot be removed.
5. Cut the ball into half (unless you managed to get a half circle) and then paste it over the opening of the roll.
6. Attach eyes to the circle.
7. Cut a piece of pipe cleaner, fold it in half, apply some glue to the fold and push it into the styrofoam.
Tip/Variations:
If you do use a hot glue gun make sure that your children do not approach during the process as it can be very dangerous.
Submitted by Sarit Kalechman
This activity can be suitable for really young kids (from 12 months) which is great as it is often difficult to find craft activities suitable for them.
Materials:
For the Wand:
* 1 Bamboo stick (skewer)
* Polystyrene ball (can be bought at any hobby shop)
* Water based glue
* Sequins
* Glitter
For the Crown:
* 1 Piece of cardboard
* Stickers
* Fake jewels
* Scissors
* Stapler
Method:
1. Push the sharp end of the skewer into the polystyrene ball.
2. Coat the ball with glue. The easiest method to apply the glue is with a paintbrush. Most young kids will need assistance with this stage.
3. Stick the sequins and glitter onto the ball.
4. Cut out a piece of cardboard. Place it around the child’s head to measure the required length. It should be slightly longer.
5. Cut out triangles from the top.
6. Staple the two ends together.
7. Let the child decorate it with stickers and fake plastic stones and jewels.
This fairy table is perfect for little girls!
Materials:
* Wooden table and chairs
* Acrylic paints
* Paint brush
* Glitter
* Black or dark grey felt tip pen
* Fake flat precious stones – optional
* Silver or gold fabric paint – optional
* Varnish
Method:
1. Paint the table and chairs in the colors of your choice.
2. Download and print the picture of the fairy.
3. Draw over the lines of the picture with a thick pencil.
4. Turn the picture around and put it on the table. Place it exactly where you would like it to appear. Note that the final picture will be a mirror image of the picture that you downloaded.
5. Go over the lines of the picture with the pencil. This time you will be drawing on the plain side of the page but you will be able to see the lines on the other side. This step will transfer the picture on to the table.
6. Paint the picture using acrylic paints.
7. Go over the outlines with a felt tip pen.
8. Paint the wand with fabric paint. This puff paint gives a three dimensional affect but will cause the table not to be flat. This might be problematic if the child wants to draw on the table. If so, you might want to disregard this step.
9. Paste stones on the fairy’s crown. This will also cause the table not to be flat. See warning above.
10. Apply varnish to the table. This will help to protect the furniture.
11. While the varnish is still wet sprinkle glitter all around the fairy. If you did not varnish or if the varnish is already dry then you can apply glue prior to sprinkling the glitter.
12. Apply another layer of varnish.
This is a sweet powder that fizzes on your tongue. In the United Kingdom it is known as sherbet. It can be made by kids or for kids as a treat.
Ingredients:
* 3 Parts icing sugar
* Half part bicarbonate of soda
* 1 Part powdered citric acid (available from supermarkets or baking stores – do not use the liquid form)
Method:
1. Mix all ingredients together. Make sure that the spoon and bowl are dry. If the mixture comes into contact with liquid it will begin to react.
2. Taste the mixture.
3. Decide if you need to adjust the taste. You can do this by adjusting the proportions. If you prefer the fizz powder to be more sour then add more citric acid. If you prefer it to be sweeter then add more icing sugar. If you want it to be fizzier then add more bicarbonate of soda.
Tip:
Once the powder comes into contact with liquid (such as saliva on your tongue) it begins to react and this starts to fizz. For this reason it is important that the mixture does not come into contact with any liquid until you are ready to consume it.
Serving Suggestions:
The sherbet can be served in many ways:
* Sucked quickly through a straw.
* Served with an ice pop (or ice lolly). Dip the ice pop into the sherbet before licking.
* With a lollipop (dip the lollipop into the sherbet before sucking on it).
* Used to make the sand on a beach cake.
Looking for an interesting light meal or snack for Halloween? These ghost pizzas are a great solution!
Ingredients:
* Pizza dough
* Pizza sauce
* Cheese
* 2 olives
Method:
1. Preheat an oven to 180 degrees celcius or 350 degrees fahrenheit (moderate).
2. Roll out the pizza dough.
3. Download the ghost picture.
4. Cut out the ghost and place the picture on the dough.
5. Cut around the ghost shape with a sharp knife.
6. Bake the dough until it is nearly cooked.
7. Spread a layer of pizza sauce on the ghost.
8. Cover it with cheese.
9. Add eyes using olives.
10. Bake in the oven.
Tip/Variations:
This makes a perfect party favor and unique Halloween treats!
You can play with the size of the downloads in order to create various sizes of pizza. Either make little personal ghosts or one big one.
Are you looking for an interesting idea in order to decorate your child’s room? Interactive wall murals not only turn a wall into a focal point but also provide hours of fun for kids. There are many different ways to make a mural interactive. The following article covers just a few examples with some sample themes.
The method used enables even those with no talent or experience to produce professional looking interactive murals.
You can produce the mural using any picture you like. Assuming that the mural is for kids, look on the internet or through their favorite books for pictures. If they are old enough to be involved in the decision show them the pictures and ask them to choose. Depending on their choice you might have to have the final say…
The mural can cover the whole room, one particular wall or a part of one or more walls.
When making an interactive mural it is important to plan your picture before you start. Any picture can become interactive but some have more potential than others. The more “activities” you can provide your kids with the more interesting they will find it. Having said this, you do not want the mural or activities to be overwhelming. I suggest choosing two or three pictures and then writing down a list of potential interactive activities for each picture. Once you have completed this stage you can choose the mural that you will produce. You can also “mix and match” and take various elements from different pictures and form a new picture. Before you start making the mural buy all of the equipment and toys that you will be using to ensure that everything will be available before you start implementation.
You will find a specific article for making each of the themes on this site. If there is a theme that you are interested in and don’t find there try to adapt the other ideas. If you cannot think of an idea or simply want to consult then these please feel free to contact us and we will try to help.
The following ideas can be incorporated into any mural:
* Magnetic surfaces – Certain areas of the mural can become magnetic by using an acrylic magnetic paint. For e.g. in the picture below, the area around the honey is magnetic (you can stick little bees on with a magnetic), the tree is magnetic (you can stick fruit on), the same with certain green areas (to which you can stick flowers) and the stream (on which you can stick fish). In order to stick an item to the magnetic surface paste a piece of adhesive-backed magnetic sheet or strip to the back of the surface you want to stick to the wall. In the other picture, Bob’s palms, belt and tool box were painted with magnetic paint. Magnets were stuck to the back of some light plastic toy tools. Once completed the child can move the tools from the toy box to Bob’s hands (which will become magnetic since they were painted with magnetic paint) and vice versa…
* Blackboard – you can add a black board to the mural (for e.g. one of the characters can be holding a sign or blackboard). The area inside the blackboard can be painted using back acrylic paint (or special blackboard paint) and your child can write or draw on this area with chalk.
* Easel – You can paint an easel on your mural and then paste a block of drawing paper on the easel. You children can then paint or draw on the block and when they are done you can tear out the piece of paper and they can start over again…
* Shoelaces – If you have characters in your mural you can draw shoes on them and then stick a piece of string or a shoelace on each shoe. You child can them practice tying shoe laces.
* Incorporating toys – You can also add real toys like a telephone, musical instruments, etc to the mural. These toys should be incorporated in a relevant spot. For example, if one of the characters in the mural is talking on the phone, instead of painting a phone you can paste a toy phone on to the relevant spot. If a character is playing guitar stick a real toy guitar to the mural with which your child can play.
* Various textures can be used, for e.g. fake fur, textured fabric or paper can be pasted on to pictures of animals.
* Scratch and sniff pictures can be used and pasted onto fruit, flowers or other relevant items.
* If you are drawing a picture of a car, bus or truck then you can use real lights that are activated when touched.
* Luminous glow paint – stars can be painted with luminous glow paint making them glow in the dark.
* A hammock can be hung from a picture of a tree. This can be used to store dolls and stuffed toys (see picture).
* A kitchen can be drawn on the wall. Little shelves can be installed and toy utensils can be placed on the shelves.
* Synthetic hair / wool can be pasted on to pictures of people or characters. Little children can plait or play with their hair
* Clothes – You can paint the characters and their clothes with magnetic paint. Paint over the magnetic paint in a color of your choice. Trace the exact size of the clothes onto a piece of paper and cut out to form a pattern. Place the pattern on a piece of cardboard or sheet of plastic. Cut out additional sets of clothes in different colors. Decorate each set using different colors and accessories (such as buttons, ribbons, ties, etc). Apply magnetic tape to the back of the clothes. Your child can now dress the characters. To store the clothes you can make a washing line out of 2 wooden sticks placed a short distance from each other and attached to the wall. Tie string between the sticks and hang the different clothes to the line with clothes pegs.
The opportunities are endless. Any mural can become interactive you just have to use your imagination…. Possible themes to use in your mural are: Fireman Sam, animals, a band with musical instruments, Bob the Builder, doctor or vet, Postman Pat, basketball, Winnie the Pooh, Dora the Explorer, Fairies, Barbie or Bratz, Noddy, bus or train themes.
Materials:
If you need to paint the wall with a base color: newspaper (for the floor), masking tape to protect areas that you do not want to paint (such as floorboards, etc), water based interior paint, roller or painting pad and tray.
For the mural: Various acrylic paints for the mural, pencil, black fiber tip marker (such as Artline 70 or any similar product), picture of your choice, paintbrush, clear film and overhead projector (If you have one at work ask your boss if you can borrow it over the weekend. If not these can often be hired from craft shops.)
Optional – magnetic paint, little objects or pictures, a roll of magnetic tape with adhesive on one side, luminous paint, toys, musical instruments, etc.
Method:
Preparation: Paint the walls with the base color and then allow to dry completely.
Instructions:
1) Choose the picture that you would like to appear on your wall.
2) Plan and decide on the interactive elements that will be used.
3) Transfer the picture onto clear film. This can be achieved in various ways: If you have the picture on your computer then it can be printed onto clear film (make sure that you choose the clear film that is suitable for your printer. For e.g., if you have an ink jet printer you cannot use film suitable for a laser printer as the picture will smudge). If you do not have the picture on your computer then either scan it and print it or take it to your local printer and have them copy it onto clear film. If you are using a simple picture you can also use write on transparencies (see picture below) and trace the picture onto the film.
4) Place the film on the overhead projector and project the image on to the wall.
5) Adjust the settings and move the projector around the room until your image is on the exact place you want it to be and the right size.
6) Trace the picture onto the wall with a pencil.
7) Go over the lines with the fiber tip marker.
8) Decide if you are going to make any areas of the mural magnetic. If so, prepare the magnetic paint as per the instructions and apply to the relevant area (you usually paint a few layers of the magnetic paint on the wall and then paint the final color over the magnetic paint).
9) Decide which colors you will be using for each area. You can either use the original colors from the picture that you have chosen or you can make adaptations to suit the color scheme in your room.
10) Start with the larger areas of the mural (such as the background). Use a bigger and wider brush for these areas.
11) Paint in the lines with acrylic paint. First, paint the inner outline with acrylic paint and then fill in the rest of the area. You might need additional layers over the magnetic paint to ensure that it does not show through.
12) Once the paint is dry you can go over the outlines if necessary with the fiber tip marker (i.e. if you have painted over parts of the outline).
Tips:
* Keep small quantities of each color used and close tightly in suitable containers. Clearly mark which area was painted with each color. That way, if you ever need to retouch a section this can be easily done. If you find that the paint is dry try adding a drop of water.
* Make sure that the wall is free of dirt and dust before you start.
* If this is your first mural then use a picture without too much detail.
Submitted by Adva Perry
This rattle is made from an empty toilet paper roll and filled with pieces of dry pasta. It can be made by toddlers to play with or by older kids as gifts for their younger siblings or cousins.
Materials:
* Empty toilet paper roll
* Colored paper
* Water based glue
* Stickers
* A few pieces of dry pasta
* Scissors
Method:
1. Cover the opening of an empty toilet paper roll with colored paper.
2. Apply glue to securely paste the paper.
3. Put a few pieces of dry pasta in the roll (through the other side).
4. Close the other opening as you did with the first one.
5. Cut out a piece of paper the width of the roll. The length should be a little longer than the circumference of the roll.
6. Paste the paper on to the roll.
7. Cut off extra paper.
8. Stick stickers on the paper to decorate the rattle.
Step by step instructions on how to make a model town for kids.
Materials:
* A big piece of thin wood (approximately 31 inches X 47 inches / 80 cm X 120 cm)
* Acrylic paints (black, green and blue)
* White oblong stickers (to mark the road)
* Round fluorescent stickers (to mark the runway)
* Plastic toys (cars, aeroplanes, trains, fish – try get the magnetic fish that can be “caught”, football set, trucks, animals for the zoo, road signs, etc).
* Masking tape (to create straight lines)
If this is the first time you are using masking tape to create straight lines then please see our article on How to Paint Lines
Method:
1. Decide how you are going to divide your board up. Consider adding a zoo, lake, roads, rail tracks, airport, baseball and football field, area for houses, etc.
2. Paint each section the relevant color.
3. Download and print the train tracks. Paste them on the area that will be used for the trains.
4. Stick round fluorescent stickers along the run way.
5. Mark the road with a dotted line and stop signs.
6. Stick little pebbles onto the area that will be a zoo.
7. Let your children arrange the items as they please.
Tip:
Keep all of the equipment for the city in one place. Your children will have hours of fun setting it up and playing with each section.
