Frankenstein Sun Catcher

This is an easy Frankenstein Sun Catcher to make with the kids. Click here to see how to make Jack-o-Lanterns and Ghost Sun Catchers as well. I prefer using self-adhesive laminating sheets rather than contact paper, which is more flimsy, to make this adorable Halloween sun catcher.  You Will Need: Black Construction Paper Green Tissue […]

Watercolor Tape Resist Spider Webs

Making watercolor spider webs after reading children’s books about spiders and spider webs is a fun, non-scary project to do with children as Halloween approaches. Try reading, “Mrs. Spider’s Beautiful Web” by Beverly Randell and “Spiders” by Gail Gibbons to help the child learn about how amazing spiders can be, how beautiful webs are, and […]

Halloween Night Lights 

These adorable Halloween night lights are so easy to make with mini mason jars, (or any clear plastic or glass jars), with tissue paper, a black sharpie marker, and battery operated tea lights. Let the kids use construction paper and glue sticks for accessories like a witch’s hat if they want to as well.  You […]

Scissor Skills Autumn Tree 

It’s Autumn in my neck of the woods, making it a great time to read children’s books about autumn and the changing colors of the leaves with the little ones in my care. I also had the kids practice their scissors skills while making autumn trees out of construction paper. I recommend reading children’s books […]

No-Sew Felt Hand Puppets

Always allow the children in your care to do as much of their craft projects that they can do safely by themselves. The 7-year-old in my care cut her own bunny and dog puppet templates and decorated them by herself. It’s fine that the puppet templates don’t match perfectly since she has pride in her […]

Flextangle

By Mini Mad Things I found this fun craft project to do with the kids in the Mini Mad Things web site. It’s super easy to purchase the craft for just one dollar and print. Head on over to the Mini Mad Things web site to see how to make this neat project.  You Will […]

Cardboard Clothespin Clips 

If you need a boredom buster, these do-it-yourself clips made from cardboard will keep boys and girls happily busy. I cut out shapes from cardboard found in the recycling bin at the home where I work and provided plenty of paint, markers, and glitter glue pens for the children to decorate the shapes to make […]

Origami Butterflies

A girl I babysit on the weekends loved making these origami butterflies I found for free on the itsalwaysautumn web site. I simply printed the two templates and allowed her to color them in with her favorite markers. The instructions on how to fold the butterflies is available on the itsalwaysautumn web site.  You Will […]

“My Book of Beautiful Oops!” by Barney Saltzberg and Activities 

I love the book “My Book of Beautiful Oops!” by Barney Saltzberg. One part of social emotional development is the ability to “go with the flow.” Allowing ourselves to make mistakes and to adjust is a key part of maturity and a personality trait that can be difficult to teach unless given examples and practice. […]

 Tulip® Tie-Dye Shirts

Kids love tie-dying shirts each summer. I used the Tulip® Block Party One-Step Tie-Dye® Kit with the kids to make these shirts. Stocked with 8 must-have shades of One-Step Dye (128 ounces) in a bright rainbow palette: 8 (16-oz.) XL dye bottles (yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, blue, turquoise, and green), plus gloves, rubber bands, […]