Fun Thanksgiving Craft Ideas & Inspirations for Kids

Crafts are more than just a way to keep your kids occupied, while they’re working to create their masterpieces they’re also learning valuable lessons that will stay with them long after they’ve finished. In addition to fostering creativity and imagination, by taking the time to put effort into their project kids learn a good work ethic and build self-esteem while at the same time they also learn about shapes, colors and textures.

If you’ve done any crafts with your kids you know this is not an activity that you can set them up with and leave them unattended – there will be a thousand questions and likely a huge mess if that’s your approach. Taking the time to spend with your child while you work on a craft gives you a chance to have some fun time with them while you step back from the craziness of life for a little while.

So in the spirit of promoting fun with our children, here are a couple of homemade craft ideas you can do with your child:

Keepsake Handprints: You will need Crayola Model Magic, paint and a small bowl or plate. Make a flat shape of your child’s choosing, just make sure it’s bigger than your child’s hand (you can use a bowl as a guide for the shape). Press your child’s hand into the model magic to make an impression, peel it off of their hand and set out flat to dry for 24 hours. After the Model Magic is set you can paint the handprint in your favorite color. Let paint dry and give as a great keepsake gift.

Homemade Sidewalk Paint: This is environmentally friendly, easy to make & inexpensive! You will need ¼ cup cornstarch, ¼ cup cold water and 6 to 8 drops of food coloring. Put the cornstarch in a small plastic bowl and gradually stir in the cold water. Add your desired food coloring and stir. If the paint still feels too dry add a little more water until you get the right consistency. You can make as many colors as your heart desires by repeating the process with different colors. This paint washes off very easily and will not harm plumbing or plants. If you mix it in containers with lids you can keep the leftover paint for next time.

Homemade “Stained Glass” Decorations: You will need good quality wax paper, inexpensive crayons (cheaper quality crayons are actually better for this project!), hand held pencil sharpener, shapes to use as stencils, a hole punch, some ribbon, an old dishtowel and an iron. Fold your wax paper in half, using enough to be able to get multiple shapes from. Using the pencil sharpener, sharpen the crayons all the way down until you have a pile of wax shavings. (Use any color or combination you choose) Scatter the shavings evenly inside the wax paper and fold flat over them. Lay an old dishtowel over the wax paper to protect the surface of your iron, which should be on a high heat setting without steam. Iron the wax paper evenly under the dishtowel until the wax shavings are all melted. Let the paper lie flat until cooled. Using your stencils (you can use cookie cutters too!), outline your shapes on the wax with a pencil and then cut them out. Punch a hole in the top of your pieces and hang it in your window with yarn, ribbon or string.

Please visit the following sites for more great ideas.

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/crafts-by-age/

http://www.allfreecrafts.com/kids/index.shtml

Related articles

• Stumped Finding Easy Christmas Crafts for Kids That Are Fun? (prweb.com)
• Making Homemade Gifts With Kids Using Broken Crayon Pieces (suite101.com)
• Make Cookie Cutter Crafts (brighthub.com)
• Preschool Crayon Activities for Young Artists (brighthub.com)
• Gobble Gobble: Time for a Thanksgiving Craft Round-Up! (blogher.com)

Baby’s First Valentine’s Day – Make it Memorable!!

Your baby’s first Valentine’s Day is special. As a dad, you want to make sure you do everything to make this a memorable day. There is no limit to your options—you know your baby best and can find things to do that you and your baby will both enjoy.

Here are some ideas for dads on celebrating their baby’s first Valentine’s Day:

1. Dress up your baby: Find your baby an appropriate outfit to mark the occasion. Think of something with cute red hearts all over—the perfect choice for any baby’s first Valentine’s Day.
2. Have a photo session with your baby: Take lots of pictures to keep the memories of this day alive. Let your baby pose with different people amongst your friends and family members, with pets, and in different situations. You can later compile these into a scrapbook and preserve the memories of your baby’s first Valentine’s Day.
3. Prepare a special treat: Serve your baby your love in the form of a tasty treat. Use heart-shaped pans to make your baby some Valentine’s Day cookies or muffins. Serve them as little red hearts with strawberry jam or red sugar crystals. An even easier option is to make your baby some sandwiches and cut them up to resemble little hearts.
4. Give your baby Valentine’s Day popsicles: Here is another novel idea to make your baby’s first Valentine’s Day special. Use heart-shaped molds to make Valentine’s Day popsicles for your baby. Simply freeze fruit and vegetable juices or pulp in the molds with little sticks in them. Give them to your baby to relieve teething pains.
5. Gift your baby a Valentine’s Day basket: Celebrate your baby’s first Valentine’s Day traditionally with a gift basket. You can put some new toys and clothes in it. Also, remember to include something to keep a record of the day, such as a baby handprint kit, or a picture scrapbook.

Automatic Bouncie Chair? I’m All Eairs! Check out Bright Starts New Bouncie

My daughter lived in her bouncie chair until she was 6 months old! She ate in it, she slept in it, she hung out in it!  She had such a bad acid reflux problem, I even let her sleep in it over night while I slept on the couch next to her.

During her colic months, it was the only thing that would soothe her crying and help her relax. I don’t know if it was the vibrations or the bounce, but it’s one item I and she couldn’t live without!

Two years later, my nephew is reliving the boucie chair phenomenon. He loves his bouncie and refuses to sleep anywhere else!

So it’s two for two!

Imagine my happiness, if I were to have a second child, when I discovered this bouncie chair by Bright Starts – “the only bouncer that truly bounces.

The boucies we had so far didn’t actually bounce, but this one features a unique technology that provides a smooth, consistent bounce that mimic’s mom’s natural bouncing motion.

Features and Benefits:

• Automatic Bounce with 2 bounce speeds: low or moderate
• Battery Savings – more than 2X the battery life of other bouncer seats
• Removable Toy Bar – pivots back for easy access to baby
• 10 Melodies and Nature sounds to soothe baby
• Removable head rest
• Cushioned bolster system for ultimate comfort
• Integrated, cushioned foot rest
• Machine Washable seat pad, bolster system, and head rest
• 3 point Harness keeps baby secure
• Non-slip feet

Need I say, music to my ears!!! aaahhhh…..can you hear the silence???

If you are looking for the perfect baby gift idea, this is IT! The new mom will be thanking you for months to come!

Who Doesn’t Want a Room with a View?

Sometimes, an idea comes along so simple, elegant and revolutionary, I just marvel at the fact that no one has come up with it before.

Acrylic-sided cribs made by Spot On Square are such an obvious upgrade to cribs, that I am baffled by the fact that we’ve settled for dingy, ugly wooden crib rails for so many years! My gosh!!!!  What an AWESOME choice for babies!

Imagine the improvement to your little ones view this new crib will create!  Made out of durable half-inch, BPA free, phthalate free, 100% recyclable clear acrylic that is framed by locally sourced Walnut, this modernist crib creates a stunning addition to the modern nursery.

Simply Genius! Now you can truly admire your offspring day and night without any obstructions!

Fabulous Holiday Dresses – Luna Luna Copenhagen

Holidays are such a great time for family parties, office parties, great food, great company and lots of festivities.

One tradition in my family was to always wear our best outfit for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve!

Last year, Kara was too young to wear a fancy dress as she was only 1 and couple of months. However, this year, I just couldn’t resist! I got this absolutely FABULOUS dress by Luna Luna Copenhagen. I know, I know, it’s a bit over the top @ over $120 but it will look amazing in our holiday photos! I got it one size bigger so she can wear it again next year.

Check out Tuttibella.com for super trendy designer kids clothes for your holiday festivities this year! You may find some unique gift ideas as well some adorable outfits for your own toddler!

Cute Gift Idea – The Run Bike by Wishbone

Awww….lazy days in the summer, teaching your kid to ride a bike. For those of us in North, we have to wait a few more months. But if you’re shopping for someone living in a warm state, this clever little bike is perfect.

This pedal free balance bike, also known as a run bike, is 3-bikes-in-1 to grow with tikes ages 1 to 5.

As soon as your kid can walk, he or she is ready to scoot with the first phase of this Wishbone Bike (the three-wheel trike). When kids develop their skills and confidence, lose a wheel and the wood-framed trike becomes a two-wheel balance bike. For phase three, flip the frame for extra height!

Made from 60 percent post-consumer recycled plastic wheels and sustainably managed woods, this awesome little bike is even environmentally friendly.

Should We Tell on Santa or Keep it to Ourselves

There are so many people on either side of the fence these days on whether to tell your kids Santa isn’t real or to keep the mystery and fun going.

According to About.com, “although Santa Claus was originally based upon the Christian figure of Saint Nicholas, a patron saint of children, today Santa Claus is wholly secular. Some Christians object to him because he is secular rather than Christian; some non-Christians object to him because of his Christian roots.He is a powerful cultural symbol which is impossible to ignore, but this doesn’t mean that he should simply be accepted without question. There are good reasons to dispense with the tradition.”

There are many reasons for abandoning Santa. As parents we have to lie to our children. And with time, as our children grow and begin to ask questions on Santa’s supernatural powers, our lies have to grow.

At some point, our children will catch on that SOMEONE is always watching them (kind of creepy if you ask me), and that Santa will judge them based on a few acts of naughtiness rather than as the whole package.

Also, there are too many correlations between Santa and Jesus and for those who do not believe, this may be an issue.

On and on goes the argument for killing Santa.

In our house, we go ALL OUT! Uncles dressed in Santa Suits with huge red bags packed with presents. We ring the door bells and knock on windows. We put on the WHOLE show.

When I grew up that was the highlight of my year and wouldn’t have given it up for anything. I think somewhere in the back of my mind, I always knew my parents were full of it but I went along with it for their own sake. They seemed to have such a great time “fooling me”.

What do you do think about this? Do you promote Santa with your children?

Adorable Holiday Baby Gifts Idea – Socks

Love these little socks from Little Miss Matched. Under $25.00, colorful, fun and useful, they are the perfect stocking stuffer for little baby! Includes 6 pairs of mismatched socks for your little out of the box kid.

The company is also offering free shipping on orders over $75.00 or more. Stock up on pajamas, leg warmers, socks and more.