Tag Archives: arts and crafts

Activities with Toddlers

Toddlers are a bundle of inquisitive energy! So much to explore! Lets look at some engaging activities, inside and out, that we can plan for our days together!!

How about some outdoor hopscotch? Grab some chalk and get creative!

ilya-haykinson-flickr

Practice cause and effect with this easy craft project. Bonus points – it travels well for entertaining small hands in waiting rooms, restaurants, etc.

Try playing with muffin tin sorting! Easy to find items in the home become useful tools of play as your and your child sort, place in, take out, etc.

Try your artistic hand at making a rainbow salt tray to explore! Completely reusable, this activity has long staying power!

Use recyclable water bottles and some miscellaneous items to create a Discovery Bottle.

emma-craig-flickr

Try creating a rainbow sand box! This compact box is perfect for small spaces, indoors, etc. Just grab another shallow container with a lid, add in the colored rice after it dries and some digging and sifting equipment!  kidz-activities

Photo credits to – Ilya Haykinson – Flickr;  Emma Craig – Flickr;  Kidz Activities – Flickr

As with any activity, please use your own judgement about what your particular child can do or try.

Camp Au Pair – Pirate Adventures!

Ahoy! Save yourself from walking the plank of summertime boredom but checking out Au Pair in America’s summer fun theme PIRATES!

Find great books to grab from the library, or even a telescope! How about some coloring pages, playing Pirate Bingo or searching for buried treasure?  Create a sailboat lunch! Create a treasure map, have a Cannon Ball toss and create a Pirate name!

Join us for some swashbuckling fun!

Leonid Mamchenkov

Photo by: Leonid Mamchenkov

Camp Au Pair – Castles, Princesses, Knights and Fire Breathing Dragons!

This week we are all about adventure! From magical castles and fire breathing dragons! Learn how to make princess paintings with your feet (really!) or a knight tunic with a pillowcase!

How about a fire breathing dragon from a cardboard tube or a cardboard shield and sword or a magical wand with ribbons! So many wonderful options for this week!

Make a castle, fairy dough or even play bingo! When you are ready for a lunch break, you’ll find a simple recipe for a castle sandwich!!! You’ll find even more on our Pinterest boards!!

USAG Humphreys

Photo by USAG Humphreys

Halloween Fun Ideas

Halloween is fast approaching! There are many ways that you can make this time fun and interesting for both you and the children you care for!

philip-james-flickrAu Pair in America has captured a wonderful array of projects you can work on together. You can find them on our Halloween Fun Pinterest board! Try making a collection of glowing pumpkins using jars from the host family’s recycling! You’ll need clean jars, liquid glue, orange tissue paper, some paint, black construction paper or cardstock and a strand of lights or battery operated tea lights.

mootsie

If you have a collection of plastic pumpkins for trick or treating, place them on a shelf or table and dress them up! baseball hats, party hats, tiaras, fire fighter hats, pirate hats and more will help you create a fun display! Dig through the dress up collection for some great options or make some of your own with craft supplies!

Check out the Pinterest board for some other great ideas like ghost bowling using toilet paper!  How about adding some fun to lunchboxes by slipping a Halloween joke in? Try making some glowing cups – Frankenstein, ghost and pumpkin! Try transforming some acorns into pumpkins using paint!

                                                                                                            Photos by Philip James and Mootsie

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Activities for Toddlers!

Toddlers are a bundle of inquisitive energy! So much to explore! Lets look at some engaging activities, inside and out, that we can plan for our days together!!

How about some outdoor hopscotch? Grab some chalk and get creative!

ilya-haykinson-flickr

Practice cause and effect with this easy craft project. Bonus points – it travels well for entertaining small hands in waiting rooms, restaurants, etc.

Try playing with muffin tin sorting! Easy to find items in the home become useful tools of play as your and your child sort, place in, take out, etc.

Try your artistic hand at making a rainbow salt tray to explore! Completely reusable, this activity has long staying power!

Use recyclable water bottles and some miscellaneous items to create a Discovery Bottle.

emma-craig-flickr

Try creating a rainbow sand box! This compact box is perfect for small spaces, indoors, etc. Just grab another shallow container with a lid, add in the colored rice after it dries and some digging and sifting equipment!  kidz-activities

Photo credits to – Ilya Haykinson – Flickr;  Emma Craig – Flickr;  Kidz Activities – Flickr

As with any activity, please use your own judgement about what your particular child can do or try.

Camp Au Pair – Castles, Princesses, Knights and Fire Breathing Dragons!

This week we are all about adventure! From magical castles and fire breathing dragons! Learn how to make princess paintings with your feet (really!) or a knight tunic with a pillowcase! How about a fire breathing dragon from a cardboard tube or a cardboard shield and sword or a magical wand with ribbons! Make a castle, fairy dough or even play bingo! When you are ready for a lunch break, you’ll find a simple recipe for a castle sandwich!!! You’ll find everything in our Pinterest boards!!

USAG Humphreys

Photo by USAG Humphreys