Over the Rainbow

One of the easiest things you can do is color with your kids. Want to get a little more out of it then scribbles? Try focusing their coloring project with a specific and organized picture - we chose a rainbow project.

A rainbow is simple for a child to color in. They just have to scribble back and forth or up and down. No crazy lines to worry about staying in.

For this project you will need:

Scissors
Safety Scissors (for an older child)
Paper plates (or paper)

Tape

Crayons or Colored Pencils (ROYGBIV)

Step by Step:

1. Cut the paper plates in half, you can allow an older child to complete this step on their own.
2. Cut out a half moon from the straight edge of the paper plate half. Set the cuttings aside for later use

3. Color a demo rainbow.

4. Give each child their plate half and let them get to work on coloring the stripes on their own . 5. (optional) Once coloring is complete create a kickstand for your child's rainbow by folding the cuttings from earlier in half.

6. (optional) Tape the cutting to the back of the rainbow to provide support which will allow your child's rainbow to stand up on a counter or table.

TIPS:

Be realistic about your child's ability to recreate the lines. No rules remember!

For older children let them FIND the right colors (ROYGBIV) from a collection of crayons.

For younger children pull out the right colors for them, then just work on the colors names - don't worry so much about a perfect rainbow recreation.

Display the finished project and tell them they did a great job!

Little Hands

Ever hold your little one's hand and think "I wish they'd just stay little?" I think we are all guilty of that at least once during the toddler years - especially on the days when our babies are being sweet angels.

Kids love to color, trace and scribble. They also have a crazy curiosity about how big they are - and if they are growing. Our first daily activity is too easy! If you have scissors, paper, crayons and a sharpie you are ready to go. ((If not go get them and come back we'll wait right here for you...)) Have other craft supplies? Good for you use them to decorate the finished product.

Step By Step:

Allow your child to choose their favorite color paper

Using a black or dark crayon carefully trace your child's hand

take a few minutes to let your child color the outline of their hand.

1. once they've completed their coloring cut out the outline


2. using a pen or sharpie write your child's name and the date on the front (and back) of the cutout

display this project somewhere your LO can't get to it (2 year old LOVE to rip the fingers off these little hands)

Follow up project: Once a month we'll re-do this craft. Kids love to see if they've grown or not. Don't throw the hand prints away! We'll be using them for a great holiday project later in the year.

TIPS!

• Allow your child to do a tracing as well. Let them keep their hand while you save your tracing for the final project.


• With young children (2 years or younger) You'll need to hold down each finger as you trace around it. Try counting each finger to help your little one focused and wiggling at a minimum.


• hold onto the scraps from your cut outs. Let your older toddlers use safety scissors to practice their cutting skills :-) We'll use the scraps in a future project.


• REMEMBER! This isn't a school project - so there are no "rules" use this time to let your little one be creative and just enjoy the time together.


• If your child wants to make more tracings let them! Send the extra hands to grandparents, aunts... whoever might like a keepsake!

Have a great day with the kids!

Inspriratoin

I, like most stay at home moms, go through highs and lows being home ALL the time with no one to talk to but little people who need you to feed them, watch them... let's not forget WIPE them!

So in order to keep my sanity, and remind me of the fun things to do with my little ones I am going to dedicate at least 15-30 minutes a day to do a craft or activity with the kids. It might be as simple as coloring a picture together with a special twist - or maybe we'll go to the beach - we might even have a bake sale.

You never know until you try. I hope you will join me (and my kids) as we enjoy our journey through the next 365 together. My three little ones (2 boys and a girl - ages 4, 3 and 2) will test drive the activity and I will post the results WITH pictures the following morning.

I have to say that I was inspired to do this by my oldest son's preschool teach, Miss Mary Ann. She keeps me motivated as a mom - and I am SO very thankful for that.

~ Jinj

P.S. if you want to hear the funny SAHM stuff check out my other blog (that is where I use my grown up words) http://underthecape.blogspot.com/