Changing Color Chameleon

Chameleons are amazing reptiles that possess a wide variety of interesting features including their ability to change color due to their emotions and as camouflage. Children will love making and playing with this simple craft to make their chameleons change color with paper plates. Be sure to read these children books about chameleons while making […]

Ojo de Dios Yarn Craft

Ojo de Dios (oh-ho-day-DEE-ohs) is one of my favorite crafts I learned at summer camp when I was a child. Now my 8-year-old Nanny Kid can’t stop making these beautiful crafts simply made with yarn and sticks. Ojo de Dios originally come from the Huichol people of Central Northwest Mexico, were created as protective and […]

Fireworks Paper Plate Hat

Independence Day celebrations on the Fourth of July in America are celebrated with firework displays. So I made this simple fireworks hat for a girl in my care to wear to the fireworks display this Fourth of July. Click here to see how to make an American flag hat for the Fourth if July. I […]

Handheld Butterfly Sun Catchers

This recycled craft is a simple and clever way to teach children about primary and secondary colors while recycling empty paper tubes. I allowed the children to decorate the craft sticks and choose what colored wings they wanted on their butterflies. But I used a glue gun to make all the wings without the kids […]

Sidewalk Chalk Paint

This is a non-toxic and washable, three ingredient art supply for some summer fun. Children can paint on their driveway and once this sidewalk chalk paint dries the colors are vibrant and beautiful. We used this beautiful food coloring. We didn’t use filters for these photos! We experimented with the recipe. The children in my […]

Blindfold Drawing

This is one of the best boredom busters to do with children. I simply use sleep masks to blindfold the children and instruct them what to draw with a blue or red crayon. I start by telling them to pick a particular color crayon (which they cannot see) and draw a basic house — without […]

“Put Me in the Zoo” and Spot Craft

I remember loving the book, “Put Me in the Zoo” by Robert Lopshire and “I Want to Be Somebody New!” as a child so of course I love reading these books with the children In my care. A preschooler and first grader I babysit for enjoyed making their own Spot because “Put Me in the […]

Indoor Sand Play

Kids love digging, sifting, building, pouring, and exploring with sand. They love using their imaginations when given cars, trucks, people, and animals while playing in a sand box. They strengthen their small and large muscle groups as they mold wet sand into creative designs and pour dry sand through a sieve or sifter or into […]

“Dragons Love Tacos” by Adam Rubin and Paper Plate Taco Craft

After reading the beloved book “Dragons Love Tacos” by Adam Rubin make tacos out of paper plates with children. A 7-year-old child in my care also made a dragon out of a toilet paper cardboard tube. Don’t forget to serve your Nanny Kids tacos for lunch or dinner after reading this book! While reading “Dragons […]

Life-Size Self-Portraits

This project is from Collage Workshop For Kids by Shannin Merenstein Rip. Snip, Cut, and Create with Inspiration From The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. I borrowed Collage Workshop For Kids by Shannin Merenstein Rip. Snip, Cut, and Create with Inspiration From The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art from the library […]