– White paper
– Plastic cling wrap
Using a spoon, allow your child to dribble paint onto the paper. Have them use several different colors.
Place a sheet of plastic cling wrap over the paint (make sure the cling wrap covers the entire surface).
Allow them to use their hands to smooth the cling wrap over the paper. After they have done so, carefully peel it off starting from one corner.
Allow the painting to dry.
White or cream-colored card stock
Round cotton pad or circle of packing foam
How to make it
To make your own paper sand dollars, first cut a pair of circles, about 3 inches in diameter, from white or cream-colored card stock.
Sandwich the 2 circles together with a round cotton pad or circle of packing foam between them.
Glue the circles together, using clothespins to hold them in place until the glue has dried.
Finally, glue on a star-shaped design of dry barley, white beans, or uncooked pasta shells.
Colored paper clips
Hole punch or pushpins
How to make it
For each, draw a bird figure on a piece of scrapbook paper. You can download a bird template here.
Bend a colored paper clip or two into feet and tape them to the back side of one figure. Use a glue stick to join the two matching figures, sandwiching the paper clip legs between them.
Make an eye with a hole punch or pushpin and adjust the legs so that the bird can stand on its own.
1 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup sugar
4 cups cold water
2 gallon-size ziplock bags
How to make
Over medium heat, combine the cornstarch, sugar, and water in a saucepan, stirring continuously.
Once the mixture begins to thicken, remove the pan from the heat and stir for another minute or so until it thickens to a pudding like consistency. Let it cool for 30 minutes.
Spoon the mixture into two bowls, stir a few drops of food coloring into each , then divide the colors between the ziplock bags. Seal the bags with duct tape and let your child mix and mash the colors (they’ll keep for up to a week). Always supervise your child during play.
2 small bowls
Cooking spray or vegetable oil
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup water
2 sheets of tissue paper cut or torn into roughly 2- by 2-inch pieces
Bowl of white vinegar (optional)
How to make
Coat the outside of one small bowl with cooking spray or vegetable oil, then cover it tightly with plastic wrap.
In the other bowl, whisk the flour and water together until smooth.
Have your child brush the paste onto the plastic wrap, then cover it with pieces of tissue paper as shown. She may need your help pressing down the pieces so that they stick to the paste. When the bowl is covered with one layer, have her brush on more paste and add another layer. Continue until you have a thick, defined bowl shape; you’ll need at least five layers. If the brush gets too goopy, dip it in white vinegar, then rinse it with water. Let the papier-mâché dry (at least 12 hours).
Gently remove the papier-mâché bowl from the bowl mold and peel the plastic wrap away. For a smooth edge, trim the bowl’s rim with scissors.
Squirt Bottle (no paint needed if you find one solid in color)
Buttons, plastic beads, pebbles etc..
Craft Paint – Only if your squirt bottle is clear
Foam paint brush
Stickers, wiggly eyes, sparkly gems, etc
glue dots for items without adhesive
scented oil- non toxic
Be careful of any choking hazards. The small beads or buttons may cause a risk if your child places them in their mouth.
You can decorate your bottle any way you want. Maybe you want to add shiny streamers, stickers or gems.
How to Make Monster Spray
Gather your materials. You could even have your child help you if you think it would help.
If your squirt bottle isn’t a solid color, paint the outside of your bottle with a darker craft paint. Let it dry completely.
Now that your bottle is dry. Time to fill it with the magic! Fill with water, scented oil (not too much, just enough to give it a light scent) and your plastic beads or buttons. The beads give it sound which makes it more magical!
Spray areas you think Monsters like to hide.
White construction paper
Transparent adhesive tape
Pencil and eraser
How to make it:
Draw the sheep by hand very softly with a pencil. They do not have to be all the same or perfectly drawn.
Trace the pencil drawings with a black marker. Draw numbers in the center of each animal.
Have your toddler color the face and ears of the sheep with a black crayon (or any other color you choose) and then proceed to cut out each drawing.
Cover the sheep’s body and hair with glue avoiding the middle area, where the number is.
Use cotton balls to cover the parts that have glue.
Cut the cotton swabs in half with a pair of scissors.
Turn the sheep and use transparent adhesive tape to attach the feet of the sheep to the back.
What You’ll Need:
Non-breakable container with sides (dishpan, cake pan, disposable casserole dish, etc.)
Straws (bendable straws work best)
What You Do:
Trim paper as needed to cover the bottom of the container. Place the paper into the container with sides. This helps control the extra paint that blows around.
If using store-bought paint, you may wish to water it down a bit for easier mobility across the paper.
Have your child choose a color and dribble a bit onto her paper.
Give her a straw and let her experiment with blowing the paint around on the paper. Caution her against sucking in through the straw.
Continue adding colors until your child completes her masterpiece. Talk about what you see in the abstract design. What does the painting make her think of?
Allow the painting to dry and then encourage your preschooler to sign her name in the bottom corner.
What you’ll need:
A long cardboard tube from a roll of gift wrap, or a poster shipping tube
Tan packing tape
Brown magic marker
Optional: aluminum foil
What You Do:
Make a pad of tape by taping a few pieces together, sticky side in. Tape over one end of the tube so it is completely covered, but won’t cause the contents of the tube to stick once your child starts using it.
Have your child add a few handfuls of beans to the tube.
Want to change the sound? Kids can crumple a long “rope” of aluminum foil and insert it into the tube to slow the beans down.
Tape over the other end as in Step 1.
Help your child to draw patterns over the tube to make it look like wood, or just let her use her imagination to make colorful designs.
3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup water
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
3 tbsp. corn syrup
4 cups birdseed
molds (muffin tin, cookie cutters, etc.)
Combine the flour, water, gelatin and corn syrup in a large mixing bowl. Stir until well-combined.
Add the birdseed to the mixture, stir until well coated.
Spray your mold(s) with cooking spray, and spoon birdseed mixture into each mold. Use the bottom of a measuring cup to pack it down, and make the top smooth.
Poke a hole through top of each birdseed mold using a drinking straw, making sure it goes all the way through.
Leave the birdseed mixture in the molds for two to three hours. Then, remove the straws and lay out a sheet of waxed paper. Gently remove the hardened ornaments from the mold, and place them on the wax paper upside down. Allow them to dry for at least two to three more hours, or overnight.
Cut your ribbon and carefully put it through the hole.