What do you think the most frequently asked questions by kids? "What are we doing today?" "What are we making today?" "What's next?"
Of course, I don't have answers to all the questions. I know they are expecting something cool, nice, fun, and exciting. I also know whatever I give them will not be enough for entertaining them. Then I ask ('It's my turn to ask a question!'), "what do you want to do today?" And they pause for a second. Yes, they're thinking. I love this "pause", thinking moment, and time for taking a breath. Sometimes they come up with an idea. Sometimes they need guidance and suggestions (not too many though).
This is an Arts & Crafts activity that I do once a year with my kids. Let's make a name tag!
Prep Materials: beads, a straw, a wired crafts stick, a clothes pin, and a paper with writing lines
How to Make:
First, write your name on the lined paper. Make sure write it neat. You can use different writing tools (i.e. markers, color pencils, crayons, etc) and make your name special and unique.
Practice writing and holding a writing tool efficiently.
Second, put those beads through the wired stick. You can use different color beads or the same color beads. You can make your own patterns as well. Be creative.
Third, tape the straw on the back of the name and put the wired stick through the straw. You only need a portion of the straw. Then continue to put those beads.
Make sure your name is not upside down.
Fourth, leave about 1 1/2" wire at the end (without beads) and put the clothes pin through. Twist the wire and close the ending.
Ta-Da~!! The name tag is done! Clip it on anywhere!
Don't forget to praise your child for good effort as well as the final project.
Kids love to take something that they made during my session.
Q: How can you make this activity easier for younger children?
A: You can use a thick wired crafts stick and bigger sized beads. You can also give them a few beads at a time rather than giving them a bucket of the beads.
Q: How can you make this activity harder for older children or children with adequate fine motor skills?
A: I guess you already found the answer by now. You can use a thin wired crafts stick or thin thread and smaller sized beads. You can also give them a bucket of the beads with mixed sized beads.
*Please do not help your child too soon. Give some time to you and your child. You want to give you some time to learn about your child and how much your child can tolerate the frustration when he/she faces difficulty. You want to give some time to your child to solve the problem independently.
**You know about the CHOCKING HAZARD! Do not leave your child unattended while you do this activity with your child, specially the younger ones.
Enjoy time with your kids~!
First, fold a paper in half (white side out). Then trace the child's hand. Make sure child's thumb and index finger are directed towards the folding edge of the paper. So when you unfold the paper after cutting, you have two identical hands on the entire paper.
Then you can decorate the card. You can write sweet messages to mommy. You can draw some flowers and hearts on it. You can also use different materials for decorations such as pom-poms, pre-cut forms, and so on.
