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 […]

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 […]

Flag Day Hat

Today is Flag Day in the USA. Although there are seven red stripes on the American flag to represent valor, six white stripes to symbolize purity, and 50 stars — one for every state — the kids don’t need to make a perfect American flag. Just a representation is fun to wear as a hat. […]

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 […]

The Playground is My Office: Just One Reason I Love Being a Nanny!

“Moms are Like Buttons, They Hold Everything Together” Mother’s Day Card

The 7-year-old in my care found this phrase to use to make a Mother’s Day card. Allow the children in your care to make any design they want with buttons while using this phrase. This is how the little one I care for made flowers out of buttons for her Mother’s Day Card. You Will […]

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 […]

Perler Beads

As this photo shows, one of my Nanny Kids loves Perler Beads. She spends hours and hours making beautiful patterns. For children with great fine motor skills Perler Beads are the best boredom buster ever. The girl in my care used the Sunny Days Perler Beads Kit and Perler Beads Flower Madness to make these […]

Make Collages with “Perfect Square” by Michael Hall

Perfect Square is a square book about a square that undergoes many changes of shape and of color. The square starts out as a red, four cornered shape. However, in the pages it is cut into tiny pieces, ripped into strips, and painted a variety of colors. With each new challenge from the unseen force, […]

Cardboard Roll Heart Garland and Wreath

I found this cute idea by Jackie Currie on the cbc.ca web site. For young children you will need to do use the hot glue gun. But older children that are allowed to use a low heat glue gun can make the garland and wreath themselves. The kids can make the garland as short or […]