Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids
Here are 3 examples:
Tag Archives: Aupairs
10 Christmas Tree Ornaments Kids Can Make
10. Handprint Reindeer
This cute little reindeer ornament is super simple to make and only requires your kid’s hand, some brown paint and paper. Have your child place their hand in the paint and press it on a fresh piece of paper. Once it dries, cut it out and add your decorations for a super cute reindeer you can hang on the tree. Easy, cheap and fun!
9. Cupcake Angels
This is a great way to use up the extra cupcake wrappers you had leftover from the school bake sale. Simply fold them in triangles and glue them together to create charming little angels. Add a small cotton ball for the head and you are well on your way to spreading Christmas cheer. They are also a fun craft the whole family can enjoy making.
8. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Pine Cone
Instead of throwing out the pine cones that are littering your yard, why not turn them into fun Christmas ornaments? All you need is some pipe cleaner for antlers, some cloth for ears, and a big red button for the nose. Add some google eyes from the crafts store and you’ve got adorable Rudolph ornaments to enjoy.
7. Gingerbread Man
These ornaments are super fun to make because you can actually bake the cookies and decorate them before hanging the cute creations on your tree. Just follow any gingerbread recipe and let them dry out over night. Decorate them how you wish and then place a hook in the head so they can hang on the tree. They are super fun and create an awesome activity to get you in the holiday spirit.
6. Frosty the Snow Jars
Frosty is looking super cute this year with this Frosty ornament that’s made out of a small paint jar. All you need to do is paint the jar white and add on a cute face. Place a hook through the top of the jar which also substitutes as a hat and you are good to go. Frosty won’t have to worry about melting this year when he’s safe on your tree.
5. Bottle Cap Snowmen
This cute ornament is a perfect way to use up old bottle caps you may have lying around the house. All you need to do is spray paint them white and glue three together to create little snowmen. Next paint on the buttons and faces and you’ve got brand new ornaments for mere pennies.
4. DIY Santa
These handprint Santa ornaments are made from dried play dough and are absolutely charming. All you need to do is make some play dough and cut out circles. Make a hand print and then let it dry overnight. Now you can paint the hand prints to look like Santa’s face with a long white beard.
3. Puzzle Piece Reindeer
If you have kids then we’re sure you have random puzzle pieces collecting in your drawers that you don’t know what to do with. Well, now you do! You can easily use three of these puzzle pieces to create super cute Rudolph ornaments. Simply paint them brown and add some eyes and a nose! These literally take minutes to make and are loads of fun!
2. Starlight Stars
For this simple star ornament, all you need is construction paper and glitter, Cut the construction paper into strips and then loop them into circles. Glue the circles together in a star fashion as seen above and then sprinkle with glitter.
1. Melting Frosty
These are super wrong but also so so right! These melted Frosty ornaments are absolutely hysterical and all you need are some clear Christmas ball ornaments, some salt, peppercorns and orange felt. Fill up the ornament with some of the salt to simulate snow, then add the peppercorns for eyes and buttons and cut out a little orange felt nose.
Source: http://definevirals.com/10-adorable-christmas-tree-ornaments-kids-can-make/10/
Christmas Traditions – December 6th Sinterklaas
For most children in The Netherlands, the most important day during December is the 5th of December, when Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) brings them their presents!
St. Nicholas’ day is on the 6th December, but in The Netherlands, the major celebrations are held on the 5th December. The name Santa Claus comes from the name Sinterklaas.
It all starts on the second Saturday of November (the first Saturday after 11th November) when Sinterklaas travels to a city or town in The Netherlands. Dutch tradition says that St. Nicholas lives in Madrid, Spain and every year he chooses a different harbour to arrive in Holland, so as many children as possible get a chance to see him.
Sinterklaas travels with his servants called ‘Zwarte Pieten’ (‘Black Peters’). When Sinterklaas and the Black Peters come ashore from the steam boat, all of the local church bells ring in celebration. Sinterklaas, dressed in his red robes, leads a procession through the town, riding a white horse. Every town in The Netherlands has a few Sinterklaas helpers, dressed the same as Sinterklaas who help give the presents out. (and sometimes you might one see one or more Zwarte Pieten with Sinterklaas!)
Children are told that the Zwarte Pieten keep a record of all the things they have done in the past year in a big book. Good children will get presents from Sinterklaas, but bad children will be put in a sack and the Zwarte Pieten take them to Spain for a year to teach then how to behave!
On the evening that Sinterklaas arrives in The Netherlands, children leave a shoe out by the fireplace or sometimes a windowsill and sing Sinterklaas songs. They hope that Sinterklaas will come during the night with some presents. They also believe that if they leave some hay and carrots in their shoes for Sinterklaas’s horse, they will be left some sweets or small presents. They’re told that, during the night, Sinterklaas rides on the roofs on his horse and that a ‘Zwarte Piet’ will then climb down the chimney (or through a window) and put the presents and/or candy in their shoes.
October is National Pizza Month
Pizza is easy and fun to make and can be a nutritious meal for the children and is easy to make at home.
You will need a ready-made pizza dough or a ready-made crust, shredded mozzarella cheese and a jar of pizza sauce. First the dough or crust goes on a cookie sheet or pizza pan. Then spread the sauce, add the other toppings, and last of all, sprinkle the cheese. Bake as directed for the crust. Be careful, and keep the children away from the oven as the oven must be very hot to make a nice crusty pizza.
If you want to get a little fancier and try these Animal Face Pizzas, click on the photo to get the recipe.
Click here for a coloring page where kids can draw in toppings and make their own pizza.
Photo: blog.annabelkaramel.com
TOP TEN ACTIVITIES FOR FALL
Summer is over, and in many places the air is turning colder. As the weather changes be sure to take advantage of what the fall season has to offer. Even if you don’t live in a place that sees a lot colorful leaves, there are fun family-friendly ways to get outdoors this fall:
• Go apple picking. Sure, most of us can get apples year-round from the grocery store, but there’s nothing quite like orchard fresh apples, picked straight from the tree during harvest season. That crunchy, tangy, sweet apple flavor is at its peak during this time of year. Many commercial orchards will let you pick your own. It’s not only fun, it’s also a great way to show kids where their food comes from. Get extras for canning applesauce, or making pies. When you’re done, warm up with a delicious mulled cider.
• Go on a nature hike. Bring along a field guide to identify different kinds of trees. Look for wildlife collecting food for winter. Explain to kids how animals are starting to fatten up and grow thick, protective winter coats. Watch for migrating birds.
• Collect fall leaves. Press them into books or preserve them in glycerin. Paste them onto handmade paper to create greeting cards, or glue them between two pieces of wax paper to make an attractive sun catcher. Go lightly on the glue, or substitute crayon shavings to add color; use a warm iron to melt the shavings and hold the paper together.
• Take a hayride. Many farms offer hayrides during the fall. This is a great way to kick back and enjoy nature with smaller kids who may not be up for a long walk.
• Visit the pumpkin patch. Don’t buy your Halloween pumpkin from the grocery store. Go straight to the source. Kids will love wandering around the patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin. Choose a couple of big ones for jack-o-lanterns, and grab a few smaller ones for painting or general household decorations. Smaller pumpkins make great additions to fall centerpieces. Roast the seeds in your oven with a sprinkling of tasty spices, and grab a few to make pumpkin pies.
• Visit a corn maze. Many farms earn extra income for the winter by turning their cornfields into large mazes. Test your directional sense, and get some fresh air in the process. Corn mazes are fun or all ages.
• Stuff a scarecrow. Dig out an old shirt and overalls, and stuff it with leaves until firm. Add a pumpkin head (from your trip to the pumpkin patch) and you’ve got a great fall decoration.
• Fly a kite. The gusty, brisk air makes autumn a great time for flying kites. Buy one from the store, or make your own from two long sticks, strong paper, and string.
• Have a bonfire. Invite some friends over for a backyard bonfire. The chill in the air makes fall the perfect time to sit together by the warmth of a blazing fire with a nice warm mug of cocoa or cider. Be sure to get any necessary permits from your town first.
• Make a leaf pile and jump in!
Photo: Lecates