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Every year, Americans observe the Fourth of July, a holiday celebrating our country's independence. While the Fourth may look a bit different this year due to social distancing, there are still plenty of ways to have fun right at home.This year, make the most of your Fourth of July celebration and show a little patriotism, too, with our favorite traditional American games, like:
Bobbing for Apples
This classic cool-down game is perfect for a hot, almost-summer celebration. Simply fill an oversized bowl or cooler with water, float some smallish-sized apples, and set the timer to see who can grab the most apples, using only their teeth, in 60 seconds.
2.Potato Sack Races
Since not many of us are buying our potatoes by the sack, you may want to opt for old pillow cases here. Designate a starting line and a finish line, line up your racers, and have each person step both feet into a pillowcase. The first racer to hop their way to the finish line wins.
3.Three-Legged Race
Turn the traditional Potato Sack Race into a team sport by assigning one pillow case to every two people. Players stand together, then step the leg closest to their partner into the case, holding the edge with their inside hands. Ready, set, run, with three legs instead of two!
4.Baseball Game
What’s more American than baseball? An impromptu baseball game adds a bit of patriotic pep to any summer party. Bring a tee for the kids and batter up!
5.Red, White, and Blue Tag
Divide your guests into three teams and tuck a 6”red, white, or blue streamer into the waist of their shorts. Call “ready, set, go” and all players race to collect one streamer of each color first!
6.Spoon Race
It takes a steady hand to win this old favorite! Break into teams, with half of each team’s players on either end of a start and finish line. Hand the first players at the starting line a hard boiled egg, balanced on a spoon. Blow the whistle and they’re off, racing toward the next player on their team at the finish line and passing the egg without dropping it, until the first team crosses the finish line, egg on spoon.
7.Beanbag Toss
Even if you don’t have your own corn hole game you can easily create a fun beanbag toss using bowls and buckets. Set them up at varying distances and take turns seeing who can get one beanbag in each target.
8.Limbo
Although limbo originated in Trinidad, Americans have embraced this back-breaking, body-bending move as our own. Designate two “holders”, line your guests up, then grab your broom and turn on the tunes, taking turns passing under the limbo stick, bellybutton first. Fall down and you’re out; lower the stick each time the whole line has made a pass until only one player is standing.
9.Neck to Neck
Really get to know your guests, up close and personal, with this touchy-feely game of pass the balloon. Gather your guests in a circle, then tuck a balloon under your chin. Turn to your neighbor and pass the balloon to their chin,without any hands. Continue until the balloon comes full circle.
10.Tug of War
Go mano a mano with your friends and family in a good old-fashioned game of tug of war! Grab a rope (knots are cheating!), divide into teams, set a center point, and... PULL! Tug back and forth until one team brings the other down, literally.
Every year, Americans observe the Fourth of July, a holiday celebrating our country's independence. While the Fourth may look a bit different this year due to social distancing, there are still plenty of ways to have fun right at home.This year, make the most of your Fourth of July celebration and show a little patriotism, too, with our favorite traditional American games, like:
Bobbing for Apples
This classic cool-down game is perfect for a hot, almost-summer celebration. Simply fill an oversized bowl or cooler with water, float some smallish-sized apples, and set the timer to see who can grab the most apples, using only their teeth, in 60 seconds.
2.Potato Sack Races
Since not many of us are buying our potatoes by the sack, you may want to opt for old pillow cases here. Designate a starting line and a finish line, line up your racers, and have each person step both feet into a pillowcase. The first racer to hop their way to the finish line wins.
3.Three-Legged Race
Turn the traditional Potato Sack Race into a team sport by assigning one pillow case to every two people. Players stand together, then step the leg closest to their partner into the case, holding the edge with their inside hands. Ready, set, run, with three legs instead of two!
4.Baseball Game
What’s more American than baseball? An impromptu baseball game adds a bit of patriotic pep to any summer party. Bring a tee for the kids and batter up!
5.Red, White, and Blue Tag
Divide your guests into three teams and tuck a 6”red, white, or blue streamer into the waist of their shorts. Call “ready, set, go” and all players race to collect one streamer of each color first!
6.Spoon Race
It takes a steady hand to win this old favorite! Break into teams, with half of each team’s players on either end of a start and finish line. Hand the first players at the starting line a hard boiled egg, balanced on a spoon. Blow the whistle and they’re off, racing toward the next player on their team at the finish line and passing the egg without dropping it, until the first team crosses the finish line, egg on spoon.
7.Beanbag Toss
Even if you don’t have your own corn hole game you can easily create a fun beanbag toss using bowls and buckets. Set them up at varying distances and take turns seeing who can get one beanbag in each target.
8.Limbo
Although limbo originated in Trinidad, Americans have embraced this back-breaking, body-bending move as our own. Designate two “holders”, line your guests up, then grab your broom and turn on the tunes, taking turns passing under the limbo stick, bellybutton first. Fall down and you’re out; lower the stick each time the whole line has made a pass until only one player is standing.
9.Neck to Neck
Really get to know your guests, up close and personal, with this touchy-feely game of pass the balloon. Gather your guests in a circle, then tuck a balloon under your chin. Turn to your neighbor and pass the balloon to their chin,without any hands. Continue until the balloon comes full circle.
10.Tug of War
Go mano a mano with your friends and family in a good old-fashioned game of tug of war! Grab a rope (knots are cheating!), divide into teams, set a center point, and... PULL! Tug back and forth until one team brings the other down, literally.
The weather is getting warmer, the sun is starting to stay out longer, it can only mean one thing: Spring is here!This year do something out of the ordinary with our Ultimate Spring Break List! Each activity gets your kids' brains working while they have fun during their vacation. How many will you and your family do?
Go to a local museum.
Pack up the kids and find a museum near you, no need to travel far! Fun tip: Check to see if the museums have a special kid day!
Plant flowers.
Your little learners will love to watch their creations grow! You can also plant veggies and watch your kids' delight as they eat something they planted with their own hands! This may be the trick to getting them to eat their vegetables. ???? ???? ????
Get up early (or wait for dinner-time!) to watch the sky burst with colors! Explain what causes this awesome view in the sky! Small particles in the atmosphere change the direction of light rays, causing them to scatter different directions.
Read a book everyday.
Just because there's a break from school doesn't mean you should take a break from reading! Mix it up: Keep your kids' brains active by having them read to you!
Walk to the park.
Get moving and bring some snacks for a trip to the swings! Have the kids navigate your way to and from the park!
Try a new food.
Break the habit of picky eating with a new food; maybe mango or another sweet, exotic fruit! You never know what new favorite will be discovered!
Cook dinner together.
Have the little ones be sous chefs for the night with mixing and pouring! This is a fun way to teach basic measuring skills.
Rainy day activities.
Spring showers bringing you down? No worries, check out this Rainy Day DIY Activities list! It includes an umbrella craft and an indoor rainbow activity!
Learn a new game.
Pick out a new board game or find one on Pinterest.
Make up a game.
Take it a step further and make up your own game instead! Put on your thinking caps and make up your own rules for a classic game, maybe a new way to play checkers? The kids can also get creative by designing the board themselves!
Paint a picture.
Get wild with the water colors!
Volunteer.
Go to the local pet shelter and help feed the cats and dogs for a few hours! This is an amazing habit to get kids into at an early age. It teaches compassion and you get to play with animals all day! Win-win!
Go bird watching.
Break out the binoculars and see how many birds are coming out to play! Listen and look carefully and record each birds different characteristics.
Go on a nature hike.
Find a local forest preserve and walk the paths! Bring a bucket for special findings along the way!
Make a bird feeder.
Click here to create this simple bird feeder out of recycled items in the house!
Ultimate Spring Break Activity List
The weather is getting warmer, the sun is starting to stay out longer, it can only mean one thing: Spring is here!This year do something out of the ordinary with our Ultimate Spring Break List! Each activity gets your kids' brains working while they have fun during their vacation. How many will you and your family do?
Go to a local museum.
Pack up the kids and find a museum near you, no need to travel far! Fun tip: Check to see if the museums have a special kid day!
Plant flowers.
Your little learners will love to watch their creations grow! You can also plant veggies and watch your kids' delight as they eat something they planted with their own hands! This may be the trick to getting them to eat their vegetables. ???? ???? ????
Get up early (or wait for dinner-time!) to watch the sky burst with colors! Explain what causes this awesome view in the sky! Small particles in the atmosphere change the direction of light rays, causing them to scatter different directions.
Read a book everyday.
Just because there's a break from school doesn't mean you should take a break from reading! Mix it up: Keep your kids' brains active by having them read to you!
Walk to the park.
Get moving and bring some snacks for a trip to the swings! Have the kids navigate your way to and from the park!
Try a new food.
Break the habit of picky eating with a new food; maybe mango or another sweet, exotic fruit! You never know what new favorite will be discovered!
Cook dinner together.
Have the little ones be sous chefs for the night with mixing and pouring! This is a fun way to teach basic measuring skills.
Rainy day activities.
Spring showers bringing you down? No worries, check out this Rainy Day DIY Activities list! It includes an umbrella craft and an indoor rainbow activity!
Learn a new game.
Pick out a new board game or find one on Pinterest.
Make up a game.
Take it a step further and make up your own game instead! Put on your thinking caps and make up your own rules for a classic game, maybe a new way to play checkers? The kids can also get creative by designing the board themselves!
Paint a picture.
Get wild with the water colors!
Volunteer.
Go to the local pet shelter and help feed the cats and dogs for a few hours! This is an amazing habit to get kids into at an early age. It teaches compassion and you get to play with animals all day! Win-win!
Go bird watching.
Break out the binoculars and see how many birds are coming out to play! Listen and look carefully and record each birds different characteristics.
Go on a nature hike.
Find a local forest preserve and walk the paths! Bring a bucket for special findings along the way!
Make a bird feeder.
Click here to create this simple bird feeder out of recycled items in the house!
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to recognize all the people in our life that we're grateful for. Getting crafty and reflecting on the people we're thankful for was the perfect combination for this year's Thanksgiving activity. In addition to a fun activity, children will tap into their emotional intelligence. Giving children opportunities to express the way they feel and think about others is extremely important for children's growing minds and emotional awareness.
What You'll Need:
Unfinished wood picture frame
Construction paper (fall colors)
Scissors
Pen or pencil
Photos of special people
Tape
Yarn
Glue
Plastic plate or container
Paintbrush
Hole Puncher
Decorate the frame:
First, cut the colored construction paper into small strips. Have your child draw small leaf shapes on the first strip of paper.
If your child has had a lot of practice with cutting, stack 2 or 3 strips of paper on top of one another and then cut out a few leaves at a time. Otherwise, cut one leaf at a time. Once you have a pile of fall colored leaves it's time to begin gluing.
Squirt some glue onto a plastic plate or other container. Use the paintbrush to add glue to the picture frame and paste the leaves to the frame. We happened to use a heart shaped frame, but a rectangle opening would look great too! Cover the whole frame with fall leaves.
Once all the leaves are on the frame, paint over the leaves with glue once more and let it dry.
Find a photo of your child and cut out a speech bubble related to giving thanks. Tape the speech bubble onto the photo. I wrote, "This year I have a lot to be thankful for..." which seemed fitting. Place the photo inside the frame.
Prepare the hanging items:
Next, use the remainder of construction paper to draw four large leaves to a page. Have your child cut the big leaves out.
Begin to have the conversation with your child of people in their life they are thankful for. Be patient, this could take some prompting and some examples. This year was unique and exciting because my son had an easier time expressing who he was thankful for and why, on his own. As your child grows and practices this exercise and other thankful activities it will become easier for your child too.
Now use the large leaves to write down your child's words of who he is thankful for and why. Also, print photos of these special people. Hole punch a hole in the top and bottom of each photo and leaf.
Cut long pieces of yarn and tape the yarn to the bottom back of the frame. Use one piece of yarn to string on a photo of a person your child is thankful for and the leaf (the reason they are thankful for him/her). Use a seperate piece of yarn for each person (photo and leaf). When you string on a photo or leaf, make a knot below each item so they will stay in place.
Now, your Thankful Mobile is complete! After completing this activity with my son, I too, felt thankful that he has really begun to understand the meaning of being grateful.
Wishing everyone a happy and fulfilling Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to recognize all the people in our life that we're grateful for. Getting crafty and reflecting on the people we're thankful for was the perfect combination for this year's Thanksgiving activity. In addition to a fun activity, children will tap into their emotional intelligence. Giving children opportunities to express the way they feel and think about others is extremely important for children's growing minds and emotional awareness.
What You'll Need:
Unfinished wood picture frame
Construction paper (fall colors)
Scissors
Pen or pencil
Photos of special people
Tape
Yarn
Glue
Plastic plate or container
Paintbrush
Hole Puncher
Decorate the frame:
First, cut the colored construction paper into small strips. Have your child draw small leaf shapes on the first strip of paper.
If your child has had a lot of practice with cutting, stack 2 or 3 strips of paper on top of one another and then cut out a few leaves at a time. Otherwise, cut one leaf at a time. Once you have a pile of fall colored leaves it's time to begin gluing.
Squirt some glue onto a plastic plate or other container. Use the paintbrush to add glue to the picture frame and paste the leaves to the frame. We happened to use a heart shaped frame, but a rectangle opening would look great too! Cover the whole frame with fall leaves.
Once all the leaves are on the frame, paint over the leaves with glue once more and let it dry.
Find a photo of your child and cut out a speech bubble related to giving thanks. Tape the speech bubble onto the photo. I wrote, "This year I have a lot to be thankful for..." which seemed fitting. Place the photo inside the frame.
Prepare the hanging items:
Next, use the remainder of construction paper to draw four large leaves to a page. Have your child cut the big leaves out.
Begin to have the conversation with your child of people in their life they are thankful for. Be patient, this could take some prompting and some examples. This year was unique and exciting because my son had an easier time expressing who he was thankful for and why, on his own. As your child grows and practices this exercise and other thankful activities it will become easier for your child too.
Now use the large leaves to write down your child's words of who he is thankful for and why. Also, print photos of these special people. Hole punch a hole in the top and bottom of each photo and leaf.
Cut long pieces of yarn and tape the yarn to the bottom back of the frame. Use one piece of yarn to string on a photo of a person your child is thankful for and the leaf (the reason they are thankful for him/her). Use a seperate piece of yarn for each person (photo and leaf). When you string on a photo or leaf, make a knot below each item so they will stay in place.
Now, your Thankful Mobile is complete! After completing this activity with my son, I too, felt thankful that he has really begun to understand the meaning of being grateful.
Wishing everyone a happy and fulfilling Thanksgiving!
We’ve all been there… Our toddlers or preschoolers come to us crying about mean words spoken, cutting in line, or a friend not their sharing toys. Whatever injustice they are feeling, our first instinct is to tell our little ones that “it’s okay!” And it is okay. Odds are that the issue is not a too big that they can't get by with patching it up with a hug, a kiss, or a Popsicle!However telling our kids “it’s okay” doesn’t help them understand what they’re feeling and why they’re feeling that way. With a little guidance behind emotions we can help them identify and verbalize their feelings and also learn to cope with them. In fact, only saying “it’s okay” kind of brushes your child’s feelings under the rug and tells them that it’s time to let the issue go and move on, whether it feels resolved to your child or not.In fact, what we should be teaching our kids is that whatever they’re feeling in any moment is fine and a normal part of life! Feelings are feelings and your child is going to have them for the rest of their life, so best learn how to deal with them head on. The first step is learning to identify WHAT they’re feeling. Are they crying because they’re angry, frustrated, hurt, or sad?To assist your child name the emotion they’re feeling, it’s helpful to understand what happened leading up to the feeling. Start by having your child take a few deep breaths to calm down. When they’re ready, ask your child to tell you what happened. Then help them name their feelings AND show that you understand the scenario with a reply that goes something like, “Oh, gosh! It sounds like Timmy pushed you in the sandbox and that made you angry!” Then, show some empathy yourself, “It would make me angry to be pushed, too.” And help your child learn to problem solve with a question like, “What do you think we should do about how we feel?”
Learning Resources’ Soft Foam Emoji Cubes are a great way to help kids name and talk about their own emotions.
They will also learn to begin to recognize various emotions in others. Two cubes feature emoji faces displaying 12 different emotions. Begin by rolling one die and asking how your child thinks that emoji is feeling? Is it feeling sad, confused, embarrassed?Next roll one of the other colored die and read the question it lands on. “Share a memory of when you felt shy” or “One time I was frightened because…” are perfect conversation starters and will get your kiddo comfortable with talking about various emotions.
A paper plate emotion spinner is another fun activity to help kids learn to identify their emotions.
Start by drawing 8 small circles around the edge of a paper plate.If your child is able, let them draw a different emotion in each circle. You can suggest things like happy, sad, angry, frustrated, silly, shy, scared, and nervous.Next, cut a circle the same size out of the edge of a second paper plate. Label the plate “How Am I Feeling?” Let your child paint the center, if you like. Stack the plates, punch a hole in the center of both, and attach them with a brad.Spin the top plate to reveal various emotions peeking through the hole and ask your child to identify them. You can also use the plates as a tool to help your child verbalize feelings in the moment – a particularly helpful (and distracting!) tool when your child is too upset to speak or doesn’t know how to articulate what they’re feeling.Next time your child is upset, take a deep breath, and in addition to telling them “it’s okay”, help them feel their emotion and understand it. This will do wonders for their emotional well-being as well as your own. Then, of course, give them a hug, a kiss, and a Popsicle! ????
Whatever You're Feeling Today is Okay!
We’ve all been there… Our toddlers or preschoolers come to us crying about mean words spoken, cutting in line, or a friend not their sharing toys. Whatever injustice they are feeling, our first instinct is to tell our little ones that “it’s okay!” And it is okay. Odds are that the issue is not a too big that they can't get by with patching it up with a hug, a kiss, or a Popsicle!However telling our kids “it’s okay” doesn’t help them understand what they’re feeling and why they’re feeling that way. With a little guidance behind emotions we can help them identify and verbalize their feelings and also learn to cope with them. In fact, only saying “it’s okay” kind of brushes your child’s feelings under the rug and tells them that it’s time to let the issue go and move on, whether it feels resolved to your child or not.In fact, what we should be teaching our kids is that whatever they’re feeling in any moment is fine and a normal part of life! Feelings are feelings and your child is going to have them for the rest of their life, so best learn how to deal with them head on. The first step is learning to identify WHAT they’re feeling. Are they crying because they’re angry, frustrated, hurt, or sad?To assist your child name the emotion they’re feeling, it’s helpful to understand what happened leading up to the feeling. Start by having your child take a few deep breaths to calm down. When they’re ready, ask your child to tell you what happened. Then help them name their feelings AND show that you understand the scenario with a reply that goes something like, “Oh, gosh! It sounds like Timmy pushed you in the sandbox and that made you angry!” Then, show some empathy yourself, “It would make me angry to be pushed, too.” And help your child learn to problem solve with a question like, “What do you think we should do about how we feel?”
Learning Resources’ Soft Foam Emoji Cubes are a great way to help kids name and talk about their own emotions.
They will also learn to begin to recognize various emotions in others. Two cubes feature emoji faces displaying 12 different emotions. Begin by rolling one die and asking how your child thinks that emoji is feeling? Is it feeling sad, confused, embarrassed?Next roll one of the other colored die and read the question it lands on. “Share a memory of when you felt shy” or “One time I was frightened because…” are perfect conversation starters and will get your kiddo comfortable with talking about various emotions.
A paper plate emotion spinner is another fun activity to help kids learn to identify their emotions.
Start by drawing 8 small circles around the edge of a paper plate.If your child is able, let them draw a different emotion in each circle. You can suggest things like happy, sad, angry, frustrated, silly, shy, scared, and nervous.Next, cut a circle the same size out of the edge of a second paper plate. Label the plate “How Am I Feeling?” Let your child paint the center, if you like. Stack the plates, punch a hole in the center of both, and attach them with a brad.Spin the top plate to reveal various emotions peeking through the hole and ask your child to identify them. You can also use the plates as a tool to help your child verbalize feelings in the moment – a particularly helpful (and distracting!) tool when your child is too upset to speak or doesn’t know how to articulate what they’re feeling.Next time your child is upset, take a deep breath, and in addition to telling them “it’s okay”, help them feel their emotion and understand it. This will do wonders for their emotional well-being as well as your own. Then, of course, give them a hug, a kiss, and a Popsicle! ????
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Mother’s Day is May 13th, so you still have plenty of time to create a handmade gift that shows the mother in your life just how much you and your family love her! The DIY art projects below are sure to make meaningful memories that Mom will truly cherish – and they’re fun! So, gather your little ones and get ready to create some truly adorable keepsakes!
Lots of Love Sun Catcher
Mom will go to pieces when she sees this sweet gift!
Materials:
Sheets or squares of colorful tissue paper
Coordinating-colored construction pape
rContact paper
Craft scissors
Hole punch
Ribbon
Cut a heart-shaped frame out of construction paper. Write your kids’ names and the year along the edge and include a Mother’s Day message, if you like.
Unroll your contact paper until you have a sheet twice the size of your heart frame and peel away the backing.
Place the heart frame at the top of the sticky side of the contact paper.
If your child is old enough to use safety scissors, have them cut the tissue paper into small squares. Younger children can tear the tissue into small pieces (and develop fine motor skills at the same time!). Let your kids place the tissue pieces wherever they like, within the heart shape.
Fold the bottom half of the contact paper over the heart, bringing the bottom edge up to the top edge. Press and smooth the contact paper flat and cut it away, about ¼ inch away from the outer edge of the heart frame.
Punch a hole in the top of the frame, string with a ribbon bow, and hang in a window as a sweet Mother’s Day surprise.
Fun with Fingerprints Heart Frame
Leave a permanent print on Mom’s heart with this sweet fingerprint photo frame!
Materials:
Raw wood frame
White, pink, and purple paint
Paintbrush
Permanent marker or Sharpie
Paint the front and sides of your frame white and allow to dry completely.
Pour the pink and purple paints onto a paper plate.
Show your child how to roll their pointer finger into the paint and press twice, overlapping, to form a heart shape on the frame. (You may have to help ????)
Continue until frame is full of heart-shaped fingerprints, leaving a space on the bottom edge for a message in marker, if you like.
Beautiful Palmprint Butterfly
Mom’s heart will soar when she sees this colorful art piece made from her little one’s palmprints!
Materials:
Large white construction paper
Colorful markers
Colorful paints
Plate
Aluminum foil
Paint brush
Use your markers to outline a long oval topped with a circle – these will be your butterfly’s body and head. Your child can color the head and body in with the markers and add antennae.
Cover a plate with aluminum foil and drop various colors of paint, filling the center of the foil-covered plate.
Press your child’s hand flat into the paint, making sure to cover the hand thoroughly. You should hear a squish as you press down. The lift your child’s hand straight out of the paint.
One at a time, press the palm, wrist-side to your butterfly’s body, down on the paper. Use your hand to press the fingers and palm down firmly, then help your child lift their hand straight up and off the paper. Have your child write their name and age and “Happy Mother’s Day” or other sweet message, if they’re able.
Mother’s Day is May 13th, so you still have plenty of time to create a handmade gift that shows the mother in your life just how much you and your family love her! The DIY art projects below are sure to make meaningful memories that Mom will truly cherish – and they’re fun! So, gather your little ones and get ready to create some truly adorable keepsakes!
Lots of Love Sun Catcher
Mom will go to pieces when she sees this sweet gift!
Materials:
Sheets or squares of colorful tissue paper
Coordinating-colored construction pape
rContact paper
Craft scissors
Hole punch
Ribbon
Cut a heart-shaped frame out of construction paper. Write your kids’ names and the year along the edge and include a Mother’s Day message, if you like.
Unroll your contact paper until you have a sheet twice the size of your heart frame and peel away the backing.
Place the heart frame at the top of the sticky side of the contact paper.
If your child is old enough to use safety scissors, have them cut the tissue paper into small squares. Younger children can tear the tissue into small pieces (and develop fine motor skills at the same time!). Let your kids place the tissue pieces wherever they like, within the heart shape.
Fold the bottom half of the contact paper over the heart, bringing the bottom edge up to the top edge. Press and smooth the contact paper flat and cut it away, about ¼ inch away from the outer edge of the heart frame.
Punch a hole in the top of the frame, string with a ribbon bow, and hang in a window as a sweet Mother’s Day surprise.
Fun with Fingerprints Heart Frame
Leave a permanent print on Mom’s heart with this sweet fingerprint photo frame!
Materials:
Raw wood frame
White, pink, and purple paint
Paintbrush
Permanent marker or Sharpie
Paint the front and sides of your frame white and allow to dry completely.
Pour the pink and purple paints onto a paper plate.
Show your child how to roll their pointer finger into the paint and press twice, overlapping, to form a heart shape on the frame. (You may have to help ????)
Continue until frame is full of heart-shaped fingerprints, leaving a space on the bottom edge for a message in marker, if you like.
Beautiful Palmprint Butterfly
Mom’s heart will soar when she sees this colorful art piece made from her little one’s palmprints!
Materials:
Large white construction paper
Colorful markers
Colorful paints
Plate
Aluminum foil
Paint brush
Use your markers to outline a long oval topped with a circle – these will be your butterfly’s body and head. Your child can color the head and body in with the markers and add antennae.
Cover a plate with aluminum foil and drop various colors of paint, filling the center of the foil-covered plate.
Press your child’s hand flat into the paint, making sure to cover the hand thoroughly. You should hear a squish as you press down. The lift your child’s hand straight out of the paint.
One at a time, press the palm, wrist-side to your butterfly’s body, down on the paper. Use your hand to press the fingers and palm down firmly, then help your child lift their hand straight up and off the paper. Have your child write their name and age and “Happy Mother’s Day” or other sweet message, if they’re able.
Full of bright colors and loud noises, the Chinese New Year begins on February 1 this year (the date of the celebration changes year to year because Chinese New Year starts on the second new moon after the winter solstice). In ancient times the festival was an effort by villagers to scare away a mythical wild beast named Nien with bright lights and big noises. Nowadays, Chinese New Year is celebrated worldwide with family dinners, thorough house cleaning, fireworks, and parades. Your family can enjoy the festivities with three cool crafts perfect for ringing in the Chinese New Year!
Paper Plate Chinese Dragon
The dragon is a symbol of China, thought to bring good luck. The dragon dance is a typical part of most Chinese New Year celebrations, and it is believed that the longer the dragon dances, the more luck he brings! Make a bit of your luck with this DIY Chinese Dragon project!
Materials
Paper plate
Red paint
Yellow construction paper
index cards or card stock paper
Markers
Scissors
Tape or glue craft sticks
1. Paint your paper plate red.
2. While drying, draw a dragon head on one index card and a tail on another. You can find many templates and inspiration online if you’re not a master artist. Color your dragon with vibrant-colored markers or crayons.
3. Cut the head and tail out and glue or tape each to the top of a craft stick. Packing tape works well.
4. Cut a piece of yellow construction paper, roughly 1” x 4”, accordion and fold it—tape one end to your dragon’s head and the other to its tail.
5. Use a knife to carefully slice the bottom of the center of the plate and insert your craft sticks into the opening.
Construction Paper Chinese Lantern
Chinese New Year lasts two weeks and culminates with The Lantern Festival. The Lantern Festival is celebrated near the beginning of springtime when it’s finally warm enough for people to go outside at night. People everywhere head out of doors, carrying lanterns, often red which symbolizes hope, to light their way. Follow the instructions below to create your Chinese Lanterns!
Materials
Red construction paper
Scissors
Stapler or tape
1. Fold your sheet of construction paper in half, longways, pressing to make a heavy crease at the fold.
2. Cut through the folded edge of the paper, stopping about a ½” from the other side. Continue cutting until you read the other side.
3. Unfold the paper and tape or staple the two edges together to form a tube.
4. Add a handle made of a strip of construction paper and embellish your lantern with fringe, ribbon, and stickers. Tape or staple a tube of paper in another color to the inside of your lantern to create a “hurricane” style, or add a bit of fringed paper to the bottom edge.
Full of bright colors and loud noises, the Chinese New Year begins on February 1 this year (the date of the celebration changes year to year because Chinese New Year starts on the second new moon after the winter solstice). In ancient times the festival was an effort by villagers to scare away a mythical wild beast named Nien with bright lights and big noises. Nowadays, Chinese New Year is celebrated worldwide with family dinners, thorough house cleaning, fireworks, and parades. Your family can enjoy the festivities with three cool crafts perfect for ringing in the Chinese New Year!
Paper Plate Chinese Dragon
The dragon is a symbol of China, thought to bring good luck. The dragon dance is a typical part of most Chinese New Year celebrations, and it is believed that the longer the dragon dances, the more luck he brings! Make a bit of your luck with this DIY Chinese Dragon project!
Materials
Paper plate
Red paint
Yellow construction paper
index cards or card stock paper
Markers
Scissors
Tape or glue craft sticks
1. Paint your paper plate red.
2. While drying, draw a dragon head on one index card and a tail on another. You can find many templates and inspiration online if you’re not a master artist. Color your dragon with vibrant-colored markers or crayons.
3. Cut the head and tail out and glue or tape each to the top of a craft stick. Packing tape works well.
4. Cut a piece of yellow construction paper, roughly 1” x 4”, accordion and fold it—tape one end to your dragon’s head and the other to its tail.
5. Use a knife to carefully slice the bottom of the center of the plate and insert your craft sticks into the opening.
Construction Paper Chinese Lantern
Chinese New Year lasts two weeks and culminates with The Lantern Festival. The Lantern Festival is celebrated near the beginning of springtime when it’s finally warm enough for people to go outside at night. People everywhere head out of doors, carrying lanterns, often red which symbolizes hope, to light their way. Follow the instructions below to create your Chinese Lanterns!
Materials
Red construction paper
Scissors
Stapler or tape
1. Fold your sheet of construction paper in half, longways, pressing to make a heavy crease at the fold.
2. Cut through the folded edge of the paper, stopping about a ½” from the other side. Continue cutting until you read the other side.
3. Unfold the paper and tape or staple the two edges together to form a tube.
4. Add a handle made of a strip of construction paper and embellish your lantern with fringe, ribbon, and stickers. Tape or staple a tube of paper in another color to the inside of your lantern to create a “hurricane” style, or add a bit of fringed paper to the bottom edge.
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To assist your child name the emotion they’re feeling, it’s helpful to understand what happened leading up to the feeling. Start by having your child take a few deep breaths to calm down. When they’re ready, ask your child to tell you what happened. Then help them name their feelings AND show that you understand the scenario with a reply that goes something like, “Oh, gosh! It sounds like Timmy pushed you in the sandbox and that made you angry!” Then, show some empathy yourself, “It would make me angry to be pushed, too.” And help your child learn to problem solve with a question like, “What do you think we should do about how we feel?”
They will also learn to begin to recognize various emotions in others. Two cubes feature emoji faces displaying 12 different emotions. Begin by rolling one die and asking how your child thinks that emoji is feeling? Is it feeling sad, confused, embarrassed?Next roll one of the other colored die and read the question it lands on. “Share a memory of when you felt shy” or “One time I was frightened because…” are perfect conversation starters and will get your kiddo comfortable with talking about various emotions.
If your child is able, let them draw a different emotion in each circle. You can suggest things like happy, sad, angry, frustrated, silly, shy, scared, and nervous.
Next, cut a circle the same size out of the edge of a second paper plate. Label the plate “How Am I Feeling?” Let your child paint the center, if you like. Stack the plates, punch a hole in the center of both, and attach them with a brad.
Spin the top plate to reveal various emotions peeking through the hole and ask your child to identify them. You can also use the plates as a tool to help your child verbalize feelings in the moment – a particularly helpful (and distracting!) tool when your child is too upset to speak or doesn’t know how to articulate what they’re feeling.
Next time your child is upset, take a deep breath, and in addition to telling them “it’s okay”, help them feel their emotion and understand it. This will do wonders for their emotional well-being as well as your own. Then, of course, give them a hug, a kiss, and a Popsicle! ????
