Homemade Bath Crayons

Homemade Bathtub Crayons

What could be more fun for a kid than drawing pictures in the shower or bath? Colored bathtub crayons can be quite expensive, and they aren’t very long lasting. You and your child can make homemade bathtub crayons for pennies on the dollar, and you will both have fun in the process.

For this activity you will need powdered laundry soap, food coloring, water, and ice cube trays or candy molds. Mix together ½ cup of laundry soap with approximately 20 drops of food coloring. Gradually mix in drops of water until the soap turns to liquid. Blend the mixture well, and pour it into an ice cube tray or candy mold. Set it out in the sun for two or three days or until it completely hardens. Pop the soap out of the tray or mold, and have fun drawing in the tub or shower.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/18080/homemade_games_for_kids_pg2.html?cat=25

Spring Crafts

I'm going to attempt to make these for preschool tomorrow!

Make a pretty flowery crown from a paper plate and paper flowers. These are fun to make for Spring or Easter.

Supplies:

• A paper plate
• Colored construction paper or tissue paper
• Paint, markers, or crayons
• Scissors
• Glue
• Optional - glitter, crepe paper or other ribbons

Cut a slit through the center of the paper plate, leaving about an inch at the edges of the plate. Cut three more slits.

Bend the triangles formed by the cuts upwards, forming leaf-like shapes. Paint the crown light green (or use markers or crayons to color it). Let the paint dry.

Cut out some construction paper or tissue paper flowers for your hat. Any shapes will do - let your imagination run wild and invent your own flowers.

Glue flowers to the crown. Optional: Decorate it with glitter and/or staple two long ribbons of crepe paper to your beautiful hat.

Variation: Instead of flowers, make paper eggs, decorate them, and put them on your hat.

Source: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/hats/flowerhat/

St. Patricks Day Crafts

In this simple project, a brown paper grocery bag and construction paper are made into a cute potato head.

Supplies needed: A brown paper grocery bag (or brown construction paper) Various colors of construction paper Scissors A pencil Glue

Using the brown paper bag (or the brown construction paper), have the child cut out a potato shape -- it must be at least as big as your hand or it will be too hard to glue the facial features on it.

Cut out the eyes (the whites plus the darker inner part), a nose, a mouth, hair, a bowtie, and any other desired features.

Glue the features onto the brown paper potato head. You now have a potato face to help you celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

Source: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/stpatrick/potatohead/

Valentine Lollipops

I'm in charge of my daughters preschool Valentines Day Party. This is one of the crafts that I'd like to do.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Red and green construction paper or card stock
	Scissors
	Lollipop
	Glue stick
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. From red construction paper, cut out a heart that's just larger than the lollipop candy and glue it to the wrapper.
2. For the leaves, fold the green paper in half and cut out a leaf shape, leaving the two sides attached at the seam.
3. Unfold the double leaf shape, coat the entire inside surface with glue, and fold it back over the lollipop stem, pressing to secure.
Tips:
If you use cardboard templates, one child can trace and cut hearts while another works on the leaves.

Variations:
Make cardboard templates of the hearts and leaves.

Source: www.familyfun.com

I'm a slacker!!

Ok, so obviously I can't keep this site going all by myself. Does anyone else want to contribute and add activities that they would like to do with their families?? If so, please leave your email address and I'll add you as an author:)! Thanks~

Christmas Family Night

Opening Song: We Wish you a Merry Christmas

Opening Prayer: Child

Lesson: Daddy

The Symbols of Christmas (taken from this site: Luv's Creations)
Preparation- gather these items: Christmas tree, a star, a red ornament, a bell, a candle (or christmas lights), a candy cane, a wreath with a red bow, Santa Claus picture. You can pick and choose and only do the ones you want. Paraphrase the sections based on the ages of your children.

Christmas tree- Green is the second color of Christmas. The evergreen with its unchanging color represents the hope of eternal life in Jesus. Its needles point heavenward as a reminder that man's thoughts should turn heavenward as well.

A Star-The star was the heavenly sign of promise. God promised a Savior for the world and the star was the sign of the fulfillment of that promise of the night that Jesus Christ was born. God always fulfills His promises and that the wise will still seek Him.

Red-the first color of Christmas. It is the color of the life giving blood that flows through our veins. It is the symbol of God's greatest gift. Christ gave His life and shed his blood for them that they might have eternal life.

Bells-Just as lost sheep are guided to safety by the sound of the bell, it continues to ring today for all to be guided to the fold. Follow the true Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep.

A candle- The glow of the candle represents how man can show his thanks for the gift of God's Son that Christmas Eve long ago. Follow in Christ's footsteps... to go about doing good. Let your light shine before men that all may see it and glorify God. This is what is symbolized when the twinkling lights shine on the tree like hundreds of bright, shining candles, each of them representing one of God's precious children, their light shining for all to see.

A candy cane- White to symbolize the virgin birth and sinless nature of Jesus. The shape 'J' to represent the precious name of Jesus who came to earth as our Savior. It also represents the crook of the Good Shepherd which he uses to reach down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like sheep, have gone astray. The original candy cane had three small red stripes which are the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed, and a large red stripe that represents the shed blood of Jesus so that we can have eternal life.

A wreath tied with a bright red bow-The bow reminds us of the bond of perfection which is love. The wreath embodies all the good things about Christmas for those with eyes to see and hearts to understand. It contains the colors of red and green and the heaven turned needles of the evergreen. The bow tells the story of good will towards all and its color reminds us of Christ's sacrifice. Even the wreath's very shape is symbolic, representing eternity and the eternal nature of Christ's love. It is a circle without beginning and without end.

Santa Claus- Represents the spirit of family fun and the joy of giving and receiving.

Activity:
Make this Baby Jesus
or this angel ornament
or this Christmas tree

Closing Song: Christmas Bells, Children's Songbook #54

Prayer: Mommy

Treat:
Candy Cane Cookies (Make dough ahead of time. If you kids like Play Doh, they'll love making these!)

1	cup sugar
1	cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2	cup milk
1	teaspoon vanilla
1	teaspoon peppermint extract (I prefer almond extract)
1	egg
3 1/2	cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1	teaspoon baking powder
1/4	teaspoon salt
1/2	teaspoon red food color
2	tablespoons finely crushed peppermint candies
2	tablespoons sugar

Stir together 1 cup sugar, the butter, milk, vanilla, peppermint (or almond) extract and egg in large bowl. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt. Divide dough in half. Stir food color into 1 half. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours. (I didn't need to refrigerate it)

Heat oven to 375ºF.

Stir together peppermint candy and 2 tablespoon sugar; set aside.

For each candy cane, shape 1 rounded teaspoon dough from each half into 4-inch rope by rolling back and forth on floured surface. Place 1 red and white rope side by side; press together lightly and twist. Place on ungreased cookie sheet; curve top of cookie down to form handle of cane.

Bake 9 to 12 minutes or until set and very light brown. Immediately sprinkle candy mixture over cookies. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes Source: www.nataliesfhespot.blogspot.com

Snowflake Ornament

Box of Love


To make this gift you'll need:

Small plain boxes- Jewelry boxes work very well.
Glitter, sequins or any ornamentation.
Ribbon
Printed poem, on good
stock paper if possible.

This is a very special gift
That you can never see.
The reason it's so special is,
It's just for you from me.
Whenever you are happy,
or even feeling blue.
You only have to hold
this gift and know
I think of you.

You never can unwrap it
Please leave the ribbon tied.
Just hold the box close
to your heart,
It's filled with love inside.

Have your child decorate the boxes in anyway
she/he pleases. Add ribbon and the poem
with the signature.

Source: http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/gifts_kids_make2-6.htm