Need some help from parents to young children about crafts!

[Fassa Albrecht]

OK, bizarre question I know but there's a reason for it.


I volunteer at a children's activity centre which every half-term does a 'family fun day' in which children can come and do various activities. One of these is an arts and crafts session which is usually related to the season that we're in- chicks and bunnies at Easter, reindeer and Santa at Christmas etc.

But this time we're doing a summer-themed fun day and we've got no idea as to what we can make or do with the arts and crafts. At Easter we did things like foam bunny-shaped egg holders, and at Christmas it was tree decorations.

SO, anyone with young children got any idea as to simple things we can make or do? We usually see children of 1-4yrs old come to this fun day so it needs to be simple. Ideally it needs to be some sort of paper/card craft too.

Anyone got any ideas?

[Relic]

Lots of brown, blue, yellow and green, pink (just a wide mix of colors) construction paper. Cut out palm trees, suns, ocean scenes. Sailboats, fish, seashells, etc etc. Paste them on poster board to make summer scenes at teh seashore

[DwaynieAD]

i struggle with crafts for my son to do all the time.. drives me nuts..

lucky for me walmart has craft kits.. he just painted his own piggy bank.

a google search is always a good idea, but as relic mentioned construction paper and safety scissors can go a long way..

cut some fringes in green construction paper for grass.. suns, flowers, trees, clouds...

here just did a google search, got this one:

http://familycrafts.about.com/od/sum...a/summermn.htm

idk what else is on the site, but the sun project on the front page seems pretty cool

[Absentia]

build kites from sticks found outside.

[Mark Latimour]

I'd take inspiration from the Australian artist "Pro Hart" and suggest the kids vomit on a piece of paper and then call it art. You could "next level" it by vomitting on an acoustic guitar, or a bass (depending on what forum you are posting on). That'd defintely be a draw.

[EricF]

Puppets made from paper lunch bags.

[Relic]

here in America, we draw guns.
I mean, not draw is in "draw" but "draw" as in cowboy gunfights and such. "OK kids, DRAW!" They then pull out their incredibly real-looking toy guns and proceed to shoot anyone who does not look like an American.
It's fun.

[MatticusMania]

SOCK PUPPETS FTW!!!!!

[Fassa Albrecht]

Originally Posted by Relic

Lots of brown, blue, yellow and green, pink (just a wide mix of colors) construction paper. Cut out palm trees, suns, ocean scenes. Sailboats, fish, seashells, etc etc. Paste them on poster board to make summer scenes at teh seashore

Good idea!

Originally Posted by DwaynieAD

i struggle with crafts for my son to do all the time.. drives me nuts..

lucky for me walmart has craft kits.. he just painted his own piggy bank.

a google search is always a good idea, but as relic mentioned construction paper and safety scissors can go a long way..

cut some fringes in green construction paper for grass.. suns, flowers, trees, clouds...

here just did a google search, got this one:

Summer Crafts and Activities - Free Summer Arts and Crafts

idk what else is on the site, but the sun project on the front page seems pretty cool

Cheers, will take a look.

Originally Posted by Absentia

build kites from sticks found outside.

Might be a bit of an issue with the numbers of kids we're expecting.

Originally Posted by EricF

Puppets made from paper lunch bags.

Hmmmm....will try this.

[MJ5150]

Popsicle sticks are always a hit. Well, they were when I was a kid.

Try this webpage: Crafts for Kids, Activities, Coloring Pages & Printables, Creative Arts Ideas for Children, Preschoolers, Kindergarteners

-Mike

[Cabazon]

Related to this time of year, I recommend making construction paper ticks. You can attach the legs with those brass pins which allow movement and whatnot.

[Tat2dHeart]

Crafts with paper plates, construction paper and glue sticks go a long way in this age bracket.

Summer sun - cut out yellow constuction paper hands (about 7 depending on the kid's hand size), then glue them around a paper plate painted yellow. Fingers should point out to be the sun's rays. Attach google eyes with a glue stick and color in a nose and mouth with crayons.

Flowers - same concept as the sun, but use different colors. Starting at the outer edge of the plate, glue hands to the front of plate, not the back - palms facing inward. Gradually move inward and glue another row of hands. Keep making additional rows until the whole plate is filled with concentric circles of hands and the fingers make up the flower petals. You can do this with all one color or several mixed colors.

I use this website to find things to do with my grandkids who fall in that age range:

Crafts for Preschoolers and Kindergartners - EnchantedLearning.com

Have fun!

[blendermassacre]

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

OK, bizarre question I know but there's a reason for it.


I volunteer at a children's activity centre which every half-term does a 'family fun day' in which children can come and do various activities. One of these is an arts and crafts session which is usually related to the season that we're in- chicks and bunnies at Easter, reindeer and Santa at Christmas etc.

But this time we're doing a summer-themed fun day and we've got no idea as to what we can make or do with the arts and crafts. At Easter we did things like foam bunny-shaped egg holders, and at Christmas it was tree decorations.

SO, anyone with young children got any idea as to simple things we can make or do? We usually see children of 1-4yrs old come to this fun day so it needs to be simple. Ideally it needs to be some sort of paper/card craft too.

Anyone got any ideas?

step 1: warm beer
step 2: puke on kids
step 3: ???
step 4: profit

entertainment for hours.

[turbo chicken]

tissue paper flowers !!!

have them draw a beach scene ... put glue where the sand would be... put sand on glue... add a shell or two also

[MakiSupaStar]

Teach them how to vomit in Serbian.

[geeza]

Booger sculptures!

[MatticusMania]

Force them into a praise & worship group! And if they misbehave, just show them the big knife that scared your roommate off.

[Fassa Albrecht]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Force them into a praise & worship group! And if they misbehave, just show them the big knife that scared your roommate off.

Hey, no need for that.

[MatticusMania]

Jokes Fassa! Just jokes! You know what they say, what you post in the internet stays there forever!

Have the kids make Mr. Pickleheads. Its kinda like a Mr. Potato head, only you use those giant Dill pickles.

[Fassa Albrecht]

Hey, I still love ya!

And sculptures would be a good idea!