Remember family traditions during the holiday season. • Christmas in the Country, by Cynthia Rylant and Diane Goode • paper • crayons and/or markers This book tells the story of how a family gets ready for and celebrates Christmas. Although timeless in many ways, the story is set in a rural community many years ago. As you read the […]
Patterns are everywhere on this special frame — make one with your child. • several pre-cut picture mats or small cardboard, wooden, or plastic picture frames • glue • craft stick or glue brush • small cup to hold glue • a variety of tri-color and plain pasta shapes (wheels, shells, elbows, and so on) • several small plastic containers, bowls, […]
A secret ingredient makes letter play colorfully fun.  • White glue • Two cups of salt • Shallow pan • Watercolor paints, paintbrushes • Cardboard Your child can use glue as a writing instrument by squeezing it to draw a letter, word, or name on the cardboard. Encourage her to go slowly, making very thick lines of glue. Together, lay […]
Show off family photos with a 3-D collage.  • large cardboard box • masking tape • photos of family members and pets • collage materials (pieces of tissue paper or wrapping paper, felt or fabric scraps, feathers, etc.) • glue Tape the box closed. Invite your child to help you glue photos of family members and collage materials onto the […]
Watching your child learn to write is thrilling. Here’s how you can help her develop this new skill with confidence.  Three-year-old Hannah and her dad regularly have breakfast together. When she heard that he wouldn’t be home from work until after her bedtime, she decided to write him a note about the blueberry pancakes […]
 To make the ornament I buy a glass ball for each of the children. Then I paint the palm of their hand white with acrylic paint. I place the ball in their hand and ever so gently they close their hand around the ball. When the white paint dries they use paint pens and […]
 Gingerbread Ornaments  3/4 cup of cinnamon 1 tablespoon of allspice 2 tablespoons of cloves 1 tablespoon of nutmeg 1 cup of applesauce  Combine first 4 ingredients and blend well. Stir in applesauce and mix well. Roll out ¼ inch thick on ungreased cookie sheet. Cut with cookie cutters of different shapes. Put […]
Cardboard tubes Pipe cleaners Ruler Pencil Scissors Hole punch Thread or string  For each ornament, flatten a 7 1/2-inch length of cardboard tube. Mark and cut it into 3/4-inch-wide rings; you’ll need 10 for this project. On each flattened ring, mark dots 3/4 inches in from each folded edge. With a hole punch, make […]
