Ages 3 and up

Muffin Tin Crayons

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AGES:

3 and up 

INGREDIENTS:  

  • Muffin tin (single use or silicone work well)

  • Crayons (old broken pieces are perfect for this)

  • Oven 

  • Optional: use baking cups to add fun textures!  

INSTRUCTIONS: 

  1. Take paper off crayons and break them into small pieces. Let your child help! Peeling and tearing is great fine motor exercise. 

  2. Preheat the oven to 190° or the lowest temperature on your oven. 

  3. Place crayon pieces in the muffin tin. You can mix colors or sort them. 

  4. Place in oven for 15 minutes. Add additional time if not melted. 

  5. Let cool in oven for at least 3 hours, or overnight. 

  6. Pop them out and draw!  

Nature Mobiles

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AGES:

3 and up 

INGREDIENTS:  

  • Items collected on a nature hike (sticks, pine cones, dried flowers, scrubs, etc.) or bought at a craft store

  • Yarn or ribbon 

INSTRUCTIONS: 

  1. Take a walk around your neighborhood (staying socially distant!) and collect items for your mobile. Use all your senses to describe the items you found! 

  2. When you get back inside (and after you wash your hands), use yard or ribbon to secure 2 sticks in the shape of an X.

  3. At the 4 ends of the sticks, hang some of the items you found on your hike using yarn or ribbon.

  4. Do the objects balance each other out? If not, try rearranging the items or hang more than 1 item from a stick end.  

  5. Now hang the mobile to see your treasure in a new way. 

Tiny Photographers

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AGES:

3 and up 

INGREDIENTS: 

  • Your phone’s camera

  • Black fabric, white sheet, or large white paper for a backdrop

  • Your beautiful works of original art! 

INSTRUCTIONS:  

  1. Set up a temporary mini photoshoot area (kitchen/dining table, game table, etc.) 

  2. Tape the backdrop to the wall, letting some of it fall on the table as well.

  3. Photograph works of art in both a full-view and detailed format.

  4. Organize the pictures into a digital photo journal, or print them out and tape them into a notebook.

  5. Encourage your child to add titles, dates, and notes describing the creative process and materials used. 

Finger Puppets

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AGES:

3 and up  

INGREDIENTS:  

Felt cut into approximately 3’’x3” squares

Glue dots or tacky glue in cups with popsicle sticks  

Yarn, sequins, googly eyes, and other fun small stuff  

Puppet stage   

INSTRUCTIONS:  

  1. Roll felt square into a tube shape that will fit on your finger. Attach side and top with glue.

  2. Add personality to your puppet. Is it a monster with 3 eyes, a person with long hair, a lamb, astronaut, or alien?

  3. Put your puppet on and play! You can act out a story, sing a song, or have it tell jokes. 

Ribbon Weaving

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AGES:

3 and up  

INGREDIENTS:  

Embroidery mesh or other netting material  

Ribbons  

Masking tape  

INSTRUCTIONS:  

  1. Hang or set out a large embroidery mesh.

  2. Set out a basket of ribbons.

  3. Weave the ribbon through the netting.

  4. Tape the end of the ribbons with masking tape if you need help getting the weaving started.

  5. Weave designs, make shapes, or just practice the ins and outs of this classic art form. 

Super YOU Cape

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AGES:

3 and up  

INGREDIENTS:  

Old sheet (cut to fit on your back.)  

Markers  

Yarn or ribbon  

Scissors  

INSTRUCTIONS:  

  1. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Use markers to design a superhero cape for the hero in YOU.

  2. Cut slits at the upper corners of the cape.

  3. Tie a long piece of yarn or ribbon to each slit.

  4. Secure it to your back by wrapping the string around your shoulders and under your arms. Then tie it in a bow (it should fit like a backpack). Do not tie the cape around your neck.

  5. Now test out your new superpowers and all the amazing things you can do.  

Rice and Bean Band

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AGES:

3 and up 

INGREDIENTS:

Toilet paper tube  

Dried rice and/or beans  

Colorful crepe paper or paper scraps  

Markers  

Stapler, masking tape, scissors, and glue  

INSTRUCTIONS:  

  1. Staple one end of the toilet paper tube shut.

  2. Add a small amount of rice or beans, then staple the other end shut.

  3. Cover the staples with masking tape.

  4. Decorate with markers and paper.

  5. Cue up your favorite songs and shake along.