Age 3-4 - Age 4-6 - Age 6-8 - Age 9-11 - Craft

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Age 3-4 Age 4-6 Age 6-8 Age 9-11 Craft - Always Learning

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Homemade Lava Lamps

January 26th 2012 03:02

I recently implemented "Science on Saturday" projects with my youngest daughter. This little ritual is a hit. One of our favorites are the Easy Lava Lamps we made with her cousin.

Easy Lava Lamps

You will need:

Plastic bottle (water or pop)
Water
Vegetable oil
Food coloring
Alka-Seltzer tablets (generic is fine)

Wash the label off your plastic bottle and then fill approximately a quarter of the way full with water.
Pour vegetable oil into the bottle, almost to the top.
Let the oil and water separate and then squeeze about a dozen drops of food coloring inside.
Watch the coloring fall through the oil and mix with the water.
Break an Alka-Seltzer tablet into small pieces and then drop one piece into the bottle.
When the action slows down add another little piece.

Check out a couple more fun projects here

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Posted By: Sylvie Branch - Category: Age 3-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 9-11, Cooking, Craft

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Build a Better Snowman

January 12th 2012 03:06

The basics of snowman building are simple.

It does not take any special knowledge to understand that a snowman is traditionally three snow balls on top of each other, with the largest on the bottom.

But there is a difference between knowing and doing, so the following tips can help make snowman building a success.

Noodle Necklaces....revisited

November 30th 2011 21:07

Technicolor noodles and a handful of pipe cleaners surprisingly kept three young video game addicts very happy all afternoon. My niece and nephews had never made noodle necklaces- this was a SHOCK to me. So simple.

If you have forgotten the drill here is the "recipe"

After checking my pantry for a variety of uncooked pasta noodles, I gathered the kids around the kitchen table.

To make custom-colored noodles you will need:

Pasta
White vinegar
Zip-loc baggies
Measuring cup
1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon
Food coloring

1. Pour one cup of dried pasta into each zip-loc baggie.

2. Add 1/2 teaspoon of white vinegar to the baggie of pasta.

3. Add 8-10 drops of food coloring to the pasta and vinegar. We happened to have fancy colored food dye in the cupboard, but regular colors work just as well.

4. Seal the baggie. Shake gently so the noodles are coated with the coloring, but not smashed in the process!

5. Inspect the noodles. If they are very dry, add a drop more vinegar. If the color is not intense enough, or there are noodles that are not covered add a few more drops of food dye.

6. Cover a cookie sheet with paper towels. Pour the noodles on the towels, separating as you go. Let them dry as you gather yarn, shoelaces, thin ribbon, or string. The noodles should be ready to string in twenty minutes or so.

7. Make necklaces or bracelets by stringing one noodle on a piece of yarn and then tying it in place to keep the rest of the noodles from sliding off. Pipe cleaners make cute bracelets or rings that are easy for small hands to manipulate.

8. Put a child to work separating the noodles by color or shape in muffin tins, or pull out cardboard or paper plates to create a mosaic pattern.

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Posted By: Sylvie Branch - Category: Age 3-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 9-11, Cooking, Craft

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Encourage Creativity

November 3rd 2011 00:55

9 Ways to Encourage Creativity

Creativity is not a frivolous trait. Children raised to be creative thinkers are also often excellent problem solvers and have an innate trust in their abilities. Your child may not write a Pulitzer Prize winning novel or star on Broadway, but then again, you very well may have a budding creative genius underfoot. Regardless, the benefits of creativity are wide-spread. Here are 9 ways to encourage creativity.

1. Ask lots of questions. Let your child ask questions. Indulge your child's curiosity by letting them pursue tangents and explore new subjects.

2. Tell stories. Encourage your child to come up with alternate endings to favorite stories or movies. Before finishing a storybook, see if your child wants to guess the ending. Imagine new characters or put the same characters in a different setting. Retell these stories at bedtime, while cooking dinner or driving.

3. Allow time and space to create. Exploring takes time. Resist the urge to give short cuts, or exclaim that an idea won't work, let your child try. Unless of course their idea is dangerous to herself or others. If you can designate a corner for art work that can be left out, great.

4. Be silly. Singing and dancing along to the radio or making up your own silly tune is the best way to encourage the same freedom for your child. Even if you are not a natural extrovert, you can let your silly side show every so often.

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Posted By: Sylvie Branch - Category: Age 3-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 9-11, Books, Computer Based, Craft, Toys, Writing

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No-Carve Pumpkin Decorating ideas

October 28th 2011 18:37

No-carve pumpkin decorating ideas

Are you running short on time....or motivation this year? Skip the mess and try one of the following No-carve, minimal mess pumpkin decorating ideas.

Great for babies, toddlers....and on the other end the spectrum, busy teenagers!

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Posted By: Sylvie Branch - Category: Age 3-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 9-11, Craft

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Make a Fort - Fort making kits

October 28th 2011 04:16

Forts are FUN.

Forts can also be an inexpensive gift that encourages imaginative play. You do not even have to wait for a special occasion to present this amazing indoor gift, but it does make a wonderful present to bring along to one of the seemingly hundreds of birthday parties your children are invited to over the years

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Posted By: Sylvie Branch - Category: Age 3-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 9-11, Books, Craft, Reading, Toys

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Candy Wrapper Crafts

October 24th 2011 14:04

Candy wrapper crafts

Go ahead, let your child have lots of candy this Halloween. What? Am I crazy? No, but instead of fighting the candy horde, embrace it and use it for good. Let your child eat a designated amount, stash your favorites and then unwrap the rest and store for baking, all the while carefully saving the wrappers

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Posted By: Sylvie Branch - Category: Age 3-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 9-11, Cooking, Craft

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Remember Mod Podge?

September 14th 2011 03:34

Mod Podge is still around, and it is better than ever.

Mod Podge Dimensional Magic can be used in combination with regular Mod Podge to create a clear, hard, raised surface that acts much like acrylic resin, but without the fumes or multiple steps involved

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Posted By: Sylvie Branch - Category: Age 3-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 9-11, Craft

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BIG outdoor art!

August 12th 2011 21:22

Really Long Link

Before your kids head back to school, let them end summer BIG. Big backyard art projects are a great way to release some of the anxiety surrounding school preparation. The following projects are more fun when done with a friend or two, besides, containing the mess in one backyard is good for everyone

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Posted By: Sylvie Branch - Category: Age 3-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 9-11, Craft, Toys

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Kids Art Show

August 2nd 2011 13:28

Better than a lemonade stand, a kids art show can be a fun way to promote creativity, earn money and build a sense of community.

Host your own with the following tips for a One Dolla Holla, Fifty Cent Center or Quarter Show Tips
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Posted By: Sylvie Branch - Category: Age 3-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 9-11, Books, Computer Based, Cooking, Craft

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Junk Drawer Jewelry

June 9th 2011 15:12

Junk drawer jewelry

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Posted By: Sylvie Branch - Category: Age 3-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 9-11, Craft

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17 Skills that Art Built

May 30th 2011 02:04

Discover 17 skills that art built

Art is so messy. It takes so much time. Did I mention it was messy? Open-ended art projects can really take over a home. On the other hand, art offers a host of surprising benefits that overlap with academic subjects

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Posted By: Sylvie Branch - Category: Age 3-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 9-11, Craft

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J is for Job Jar

April 12th 2011 14:51

J is for Job Jar. This A to Z challenge post does not seem 'fun' at first glance. It is not an art or craft project, not a game or learning toy....but my sixteen year old daughter recently mentioned how much she loved our old job jar.

odd

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Posted By: Sylvie Branch - Category: Age 3-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 9-11, Craft, Toys

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