Puppets are a wonderful way to enjoy art and drama and to develop language skills. They can be used with all ages of children. The youngest children can watch you perform and talk to the puppet. Starting at about age 3 the children can help make the puppets and put on simple ‘shows.’ You can make a puppet from almost anything…socks, paper bags, Popsicle sticks, magazines…use your imagination.
Photo: Jodimichelle
Click here for more information on FirstPalette.com
This is a fun art project for children ages 7 and up. You need paper, crayons (make sure you have a black one), and a paper clip. Take one crayon and rub it over a section of the paper. Use the flat side of the crayon and rub hard. Take another color and do the same to another part of the paper. Cover the entire paper with different colors of crayon. Now, take the black crayon and color over all the other colors until the whole paper is black. With a paper clip or coin, draw a picture by scratching through the black crayon. The other colors will show through where the drawing is scratched.
Keeping children happy in the car can be challenging. One helpful approach is to engage them in car games – the safety of their car seat or seat belt.
Alphabet Game- ages 3 and up
Children who can identify letters and can easily see out the window of the car can play this game. One child starts with A and has to find a word on a sign visible from the car with the letter A. The next child has to identify the B, and so on.
Photo: epSos.de
Use an empty coffee can or oatmeal container as a drum and bang on it along with some lively music.
~Make a drum!
Here are instructions (from http://www.pbskids.org) for a drum experiment for school age children. Younger children like to use a coffee cans or pots as drums.
1. First get a container that you think will make a good drum, like a metal bowl or an oatmeal container.
2. Put the double-sided tape all the way around the container 2 inches from the top.
3. Cut 2 pieces of shrink-wrap big enough to cover the tape on the container. Then, push it onto the tape.
4. Tape the edges of the shrink-wrap with masking tape so it’s really secure.
5. Now blow-dry the shrink-wrap with a blow dryer set on hot. This shrinks the plastic and makes a very tight drum. Be sure you don’t put the end of the blow dryer to close to the plastic, or it will melt.
6. Once it’s really tight, bang your drum.
Photo: Thomas Kohler
Click here to find fun pizza recipes like these “pizza pops” on kidspot.com
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 pizza pops. Click on photo for recipes.
Click here for a coloring page where kids can draw in toppings and make their own pizza.
More kid friendly recipes here
As the weather cools and the leaves start to change color it is apple-picking season in most parts of the United States. Try these simple apple recipes, no matter where you get your apples:
Photo: (left) Brian Richardson- (Right) Alessio Maffeis
Click here to see Au Pair In America’s Spring Pinterest Board
Spring is finally here! The sun is coming out, flowers are blooming, and birds are singing
Check out Au Pair In America’s Spring Has Sprung Pinboard on Pinterest for fun activities to share with your family!
Photo: Anatakti (Flickr)
Chinese New Year begins January 31st. 2014 is the year of the Horse.
Check out the APIA Chinese New Year Pinboard on Pinterest for great activities and craft ideas related to the Chinese New Year.
Photo: Tony Hisgett (Flickr)
A is for Art – try drawing, painting or gluing
B is for Baking – bake a dessert together for dinner
C is for Clay – Use non-hardening clay or play dough to shape and mold
D is for Dance – put on a lively tape
E is for Exercise – be sure to get some everyday
F is for Friends – invite some over
G is for Greenhouse – find a local greenhouse to visit to enjoy the sights and smells
H is for House – make a playhouse from a large appliance box
I is for Ice skating – take the children to a local rink
J is for Jigsaw puzzle – be sure to pick one that isn’t too difficult
K is for Kitchen science – try a safe experiment
L is for Library – borrow some new books
M is for Movie – make one with a video camera, or watch one
N is for Necklace – make one out of cereal or macaroni
O is for Origami – learn to make simple paper creations
P is for Puppets – socks make easy and fun puppets – put on a show!
Q is for Quiet Time – everyone needs some of this
R is for Reading aloud – choose a good book and a comfortable place to sit
S is for Seeds and Suet – put out food for the birds and watch them eat
T is for Tent – make one from old blankets and chairs
U is for Unplugged – do a day with no TV
V is for Variety – try something new everyday
W is for Walk – take one in any weather (be sure to dress appropriately)
X is for Xylophone – make your own with glasses, water and a metal spoon
Y is for Year – make a calendar or scrapbook to remember the year
Z is for Zoo – visit the animals
Orville and Wilbur flew their plane for 12 seconds in 1903. Make paper airplanes with the children and see if they can fly that long!
If you’ve forgotten how to make a paper plane, click here and you’ll find 10 great paper plane designs with how-to video tutorials
From www.kidspot.com:
Make a paper plane that can actually fly with these easy instructions. This traditional paper-plane design is a simple paper craft for kids that will then lead to another fun activity for kids: flying a paper aeroplane.
The plane is now ready to fly!
