Wooden bead toys & games

You don't need to spend a lot of money on toys or games for your kids.  They can easily make their own, using simple materials like: wooden beads wire or pipe cleaners cardboard, cardboard tubes, or boxes wool/yarn, cord or rope Using wooden beads in your toys or games is a great way for kids…

Funky paper folding

Paper folding is a great way for kids to strengthen their fine motor skills and hand/eye coordination.  The projects in this post will teach them a range of paper folding techniques, including: making something that can fly making something that can spin accordion folding folding and joining circles folding and looping paper strips to make…

12 jiggling jellyfish crafts for kids

Fun jellyfish facts: Jellyfish are not fish; they are mostly made up of water and protein Most jellyfish live in the sea; some live in fresh water Jellyfish are often transparent (see through) or transluscent (semi-transparent), which allows them to hide from predators Some jellyfish are bioluminescent, which means they glow in the dark Some…

Awesome chalk art ideas

Sidewalk chalk art is a great way to get kids outside doing something creative, and as an added bonus, it keeps the "mess" out of the house.  Dry or wet, kids can use sidewalk chalk to create: constellations, hearts, mandalas, mosaics circle art, shadow art, tape resist art rainbows drawings with nature drawings with their own shadows…

DIY lacing cards

Lacing cards have several wonderful benefits for kids, including: introducing simple sewing, with their pre-cut holes for threading through shoelaces, wool/yarn or ribbon teaching how to tie shoelaces teaching letters, numbers, shapes, weather, solar system, healthy eating, and more developing fine motor skills and hand/eye coordination You can make your own lacing cards with recycled…

Setting up loose parts play for kids

Loose parts are open ended items that can be used in multiple different ways.  Types of loose parts include, but are not limited to: craft materials - cupcake cases, doilies, fabric scraps, lace, paper clips, pom poms, ribbons, rubber bands, straws, string/twine, wool/yarn food - beans/peas, pasta shapes game pieces - counters, dice, dominoes, letter…

Dyeing materials for sensory play

You can make your own brilliant bases for sensory play using simple materials around your home, including: beans, chick peas, coconut, popping corn, oats, salt hay, sand pasta, rice, rice noodles, cooked spaghetti There are several different ways of dyeing your materials, including: food colouring/food dye - some materials may also need vinegar or rubbing…

Fantastical fairy tale crafts

"If you want your kids to be intelligent, read them fairy tales.  If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales." ~ Albert Einstein Benefits of fairy tales for kids: storytelling - fairy tales teach them the basics of a story, such as beginning/middle/end, setting (time and environment), characters and character…

Fun ladybug facts & crafts

Fun facts about ladybugs: Ladybugs are a type of beetle, and both male and female. Ladybugs can be red, yellow, orange, brown, pink, and even all black. Not all ladybugs have spots - some have stripes and some have none at all. Ladybugs defend themselves against potential attackers with their bright colours, and by releasing…

16 cool things to make with shoeboxes

Empty shoeboxes are a wonderful recycled craft resource that can be used to make a variety of cool things, including: dioramas doll houses & castles games & toys puppet theatres weaving looms Here are some of our favourite shoebox craft ideas for kids! Dioramas Decorate your shoebox with a themed background, then add cut out…