Handprint placemat

(This idea came home from school.)

Materials:

• large sheet of coloured construction paper
• smaller sheet of white paper (shown cut with scalloped edges)
• marker / crayon for drawing on paper
• fingerpaint for making handprint
• glue
• smocks to keep child and adults clean
• clear contact paper or laminate large enough to cover the sheet of construction paper
  

Instructions:

• write any messages ("Happy Mother's Day," "Happy Father's Day," "Happy Birthday" etc) on the white sheet of paper leaving room for two handprints
• have child make handprints around text
• glue white sheet of paper to construction paper
• laminate

This is a terrific gift idea for a "special" occasion such as Mother's Day, Father's Day or a parent / grandparent birthday!

Pipe cleaner caterpillar

(This idea came home from school.)

Materials:

• pipe cleaner
• decorative beads with whole large enough to fit over pipe cleaner
• optional: paper circle on which to draw face, white glue
  

Instructions:

• curl one end of the pipe cleaner (so the beads don't fall off)
• string beads along the pipe cleaner
• leave 2 cm of pipe cleaner unbeaded
• curl the remaining end of the pipe cleaner (so the beads don't fall off)
• decorate the paper circle to be the face
• glue the face on to one end of the pipe cleaner
• bend the beaded pipe cleaner to shape!
  

Happy Mother's Day!

The code for this doodle and other doodles you can use on your blog can be found at Doodles.

Bird's nest

This idea came home from school. I wish I had the exact recipe!

The nest is made of crushed shredded wheat and melted marshmallows. The eggs are candy covered chocolate eggs. And the Peep is a terrific finishing touch!

Angry Chicken has a yummy looking recipe for making chocolate nests!

Firefighter's hat

(This idea came home from school.)

Materials:

• a sheet of yellow or red construction paper approx 29cm x 20.5cm (11.5"x 8"), with an ovalish hole cut in it approximating 16cm x 18cm (6.25"x 7") (this will vary depending on the size of your child's head), this will from the brim of the hat
  
• a piece of the same colour construction paper that's about 10cm x 10cm (4" x 4") which can be cut into the shape of the front of a firefighter's hat (the first photo above shows the whole design cut out of a single piece of paper)
• gold or silver wrapping paper about 6cm 7cm (2.25" x 2.75") cut into the shape of a firefighter's crest
  
• glue
• things with which to decorate the hat (stickers, paper scraps, tissue paper, sparkles etc)
  

Instructions:

• have child glue crest on "front of hat"
  
• have child glue decorations on hat
• if the "front of hat" is a separate piece, glue or tape to the brim, fold upwards at a 90 degree angle (see second photo above)
  
• enjoy your hat!

(This craft can also serve as a reminder to work on your Family Fire Escape Plan.)

Sidewalk Chalk Paint

Is your little one itching to get at the sidewalk chalk even though the weather isn't co-operating? Get them to "paint" with their chalk inside!

(This idea came home from school.)

Materials:

• sidewalk chalk
• sturdy paper (finger paint paper is good)
• container to hold water
  

Instructions:

• have child dip chalk in water until very wet
• child can then "paint" with the chalk on the paper
  

Coffee Filter Flower

This was created at our local Ontario Early Years Centre.

Materials:

• coffee filter
• things with which to decorate flower (bingo daubers, stickers, glue and glitter, crayons etc)
• pipe cleaner
  

Instructions:

• spread coffee filter flat (one big circle) have child decorate coffee filter
• adult to scrunch coffee filter in the centre and wrap pipe cleaner stem around center