These homemade Valentine heart dog treat bags are the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the dog in your life. This potato stamp project is an easy and fun kid’s craft.
If you’ve ever asked a young child to, “wait a minute,” they’ll be inquisitive before that minute is up – heck, it might even happen before you’ve finished speaking! The concepts of time and patience are abstract, and difficult to grasp for concrete thinkers. That’s why I used the Crayola Melt ‘N Mold Factory to help teach time and patience to my almost 8 year old son with Autism.
Teachers do so much for our kids, each and every day. We spend so much time talking to our kids about how great their teachers are, but when was the last time you told your child’s teacher that you appreciate all that they do for your kiddo?
Here are 10 handmade teacher Christmas gifts that have a personal touch to help you express your appreciation.
1. Thank you for coloring our lives and making us Sharpies teacher gift from Design Wash Rinse Repeat
2. DIY fabric covered book (this would be so cute to do with a journal or notebook) from Two Twenty One
3. Homemade Tea Wreath from Kojo Designs
4. Thanks a Latte for all you do teacher gift from Longing For Home
5. Succulents planter from Shabby 2 Chic
6. DIY Tub Teas from Martha Stewart
7. Dum-Dum lollipop tree from Meet the Dubiens
8. DIY Oh Sew Easy 10 Minute Fabric Flower Brooch from Sew Creative
9. Teacher Scrabble tile coloured clothespins from Pen and Paint
10. DIY Chalkboard Coasters from Living Well Spending Less
We’ve all been there. School is out and the days can get long! Children tend to need a little push in the right direction to stay occupied and continue their learning and play during the summer months. Here are a few ideas for activities that will make memories and keep them busy!
UrbanMommies publisher Jill Amery was interviewed on Shaw TV’s Studio 4 about great no mess crafts and activities to do with kids that help with bonding and learning. A boon to parents everywhere! We wanted to share some of the ideas, with some credit as well to the original sources of the ideas. Happy bonding!
1. Fairies in a jar: Cut the end off of a glowstick. (This should be done by an adult – there’s a glass vial inside which, when shattered, creates the chemical glow reaction.) Dump the contents of the glowstick into a jar and add 4 T. glitter. Put the lid on the jar and secure the lid with duct tape (so curious kids won’t open it). Shake. Fairies in a jar. We’re picturing lumieres at hallowe’en or backyard-camping companions in the tent.
2. Denim Roads. Faded jeans? Upcycle, mama. Cut the denim into 3-inch wide strips and arcs. Paint yellow dotted lines down the centre and stick velcro to the backsides. Presto! Portable roads that will stick on carpet. (Dinky cars not included). Kudos to Jen from ‘lil Mop Top for the idea!
3. Periodic Table of Cupcakes. Ditto. What an amazing way to teach chemistry to kids going in to high school – especially if they have a sweet tooth. Kudos: Buzzfeed. Wow.
4. Ice Excavation. Fill a bundt or cake pan halfway with water. Freeze. Scatter lego, plastic animals or your child’s favourite obsession over the ice. Fill the rest of the pan with water and re-freeze. Once solid, pop the ice ring out of the pan and let them go to town with a hammer, blunt knives or chopsticks, ‘excavating’ the treasures from the ice. Note: It’s a good time to talk ice age, dinosaurs, etc. You can also do this with jello for younger kids.
5. Edible Glitter: Edible Glitter!! 1/4 sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of food coloring, baking sheet and 10 minutes in the oven. Kudos to Silver Taylor for the idea.
6. Indoor hopscotch. Wow. You are now a rockstar.
After I purchased cute boxes of Sweet Tarts for the kids to use as Valentines ‘cards’ at school, I got the ‘memo’ that no candy is allowed. Great. (read: PANIC!) And ‘from scratch’ is preferred. Naturally…. So, we did some digging and came up with some simple, original homemade valentines ideas! For more craft ideas as well as the original instruction on how to make these, please check out out craft page on Pinterest. Happy February 14th!