I find myself trying to come up with things to do with my daughter (who is 3), especially in the winter when it is so cold outside. This past summer we were at Lowe’s a lot (put up a fence around our whole backyard) and it always seemed to be on Saturday mornings. Lowe’s offers Build & Grow Clinics for kids on Saturday mornings at 10 am. During the summer it seems like they are every weekend but during the winter they aren’t so check and see when they are offered. This was a great activity. First off, it is FREE! It teaches your kids how to follow instructions, use tools, and they get to take home what they create. I love that Lowe’s offers this for kids (and parents). Nothing better then free activities for kids. Check out what clinics are available at http://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/. After a few clinics, your kids will feel confident in helping with the big projects…Like replacing a fence!
I will be the only sister not joining the rest of the family for Thanksgiving this year. So I have to make my own decor and fun. I'm not a super entertainer (especially when it's just going to be our family plus one), but I wanted to have a little something to spice up the table. So I came up with some cute little turkeys (well, in addition to the 3 I take care of every day) to hold our napkins.
I am always looking for a fun craft that I can do with my 3 and a half year old. She loves to spend time with mom, being creative. I’ve inherited a box full of random wood pieces and thought it might provide a bit of inspiration. This time it proved to be quite successful!
I love the cardboard picture books for my 1 year old. We also have a few foam books that are very durable. I have searched the web for ways to make my own sturdy books, but have only seen kits or blank cardboard books to buy then color or print onto. One day while browsing the isles at my local craft store, I saw the 6 mm foam and thought I could make it into a book :) Here is how I did it:
I am a lucky grandma who gets to see her grandkids quite often. We love to play dress up and pretend. I keep a box of dress ups just for those occasions. As the kids are getting older and growing out of the clothes I am doing more just accessories such as masks, hats, capes, etc. I always get to be a vampire named ‘Alice” and they are various other characters. These are our Dodo Bird, Canary, Baby Penguin, and Parrot.
I keep them in our ‘Dress Up’ box to use over and over again.
They are made out of Craft Foam. Gather a variety of colors. They do fit on 8 1/2 X 11 inch size. I like to use the sticky back foam for the eyes and beaks, it is so much easier and the small kids can do it.
Gather Materials: Craft Foam (variety of colors), Glue or sticky back foam, Elastic Cord.
Cut out all the pieces, The Dodo bird and Parrot have longer ‘hair’. Make sure you cut out the eyes. Then glue or just stick the white face of the penguin, whites of eyes, colored part of eye, beaks to mask.
I use a very small hole punch to punch holes for elastic. Measure child’s head and cut elastic about 14-15 inches long. Depending on child’s head size. Trim around the eyes if the layers didn’t match up like you would like.
Be creative and make your own birds. Do a pink one for a flamingo. Just have fun.
). Nothing better then free activities for kids. Check out what clinics are available at 
