Arts and crafts with the kids - ideas please

Babbawah

PenniesMake£s wrote: »

I have had such a nice time with my 3 kids today. I decided to do some crafty activities with them. I've never done this before because of the mess and also they were too young before but they're at a nice age to enjoy it now. So we made playdough, I taught them how to do cross stitch and we painted a bit. I would like to do more things like this with them over the school holidays but need ideas please xx

I'll give you this for nothing, your kids will appreciate ANY and ALL quality time with you.

Whatever activity you choose, to them it's irrelevant.

My grandfather used to lead all of his grandkids on a walk through the woods, except we were never just walking through the woods . . . we were hunting Tigers . .. . !

My grandad swore blind that there's a Tiger loose somewhere in these woods and we dutifully set off to find it. I can't remember how many miles we walked through those woods, but I do remember my Gramps asking me Mam "how knackered do you want him back" ?

With a little bit of imagination on the part of the grown up, then a simple walk in the woods can become so much more for a child.

double_mummy

Babbawah wrote: »

I'll give you this for nothing, your kids will appreciate ANY and ALL quality time with you.

Whatever activity you choose, to them it's irrelevant.

My grandfather used to lead all of his grandkids on a walk through the woods, except we were never just walking through the woods . . . we were hunting Tigers . .. . !

My grandad swore blind that there's a Tiger loose somewhere in these woods and we dutifully set off to find it. I can't remember how many miles we walked through those woods, but I do remember my Gramps asking me Mam "how knackered do you want him back" ?

With a little bit of imagination on the part of the grown up, then a simple walk in the woods can become so much more for a child.

my uncle does bear hunts with the kids no matter what time of the year they always seem to come back covered up to their eyeballs in mud!!!!!

Babbawah

The other thing he did . . . . he used to get hold of some Iron Pyrites and 'salt' the local stream bed in a place that was almost perfect for his grandkids to do a spot of gold panning.

How much fun is paddling in a stream panning for gold?

peachyprice

I used to have a big plastic storage box filled with coloured paper, glue, glitter, googly eyes, lolly sticks, pompoms, pipe cleaners and the like, all bought very cheaply from Wilkinsons, we'd while away many an hour making pictures and covering things.

Serendipitious

Chocolate krispie cake-making, then while they set, everyone makes their own sandwiches and wraps in foil, then pack crisps and drinks and cakes and head off into the garden for a picnic lunch. Treasure hunts in the garden are good, make treasure lists beforehand of available 'treasures' for them to find, eg 6 different leaves, 3 different colour flowers, a stone, a feather etc etc. Back indoors make collages or pictures from the leaves.

theoretica

Some of the pasta shapes are great for stringing as beads and you can paint them too. If they are of a scissor age cutting lacey snowflakes out of paper folded into 6 or more are great (and who says they have to be winter only - you could call them stars if you want). Collecting and pressing flowers and leaves with heave books then gluing them on cards.

Flyonthewall

Kinetic (magic) sand is good. Bit like playdough in a way. You can mould it. It doesn't stick to anything else, only itself, so no mess to worry about (although it may get on their hands a bit, but it washes off easy enough). You can get it in various colours.

Perdi

For MSE collages we save the supermarket magazines & catalogues that come through the door and cut out pics from these that they can use to make 'scenes'. Holiday brochures too.

Cut out butterfly shapes for then to decorate and string up. Also Chinese lanterns, paper windmills.

Depending on age competitions to see who can make the best paper airplane or boat.

amistupid

PenniesMake£s wrote: »

:j these are fantastic suggestions, I can't wait to do these activities, thank you xxx :j

Well done for engaging them is creative activities. I bet when they've got kids of their own they'll do the same.

mrsHall2b

make beads out of old news paper/ magazines, this is so fun! Ive done it with my 3 year old.. http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Paper-Beads
the longer you make the triangles the more bead shaped they become.

also any small glass pots (baby food jars, or small glass ramekins) some glue, sparkly bits, string, gems, and SHARPIE PENS! and make your own tea light holders.

Another vote for pinterest here its an amazing website with so many ideas!!