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Craft Ideas for Kids

Helping kids stay creative can be fun and easy by giving them some simple items commonly found around the home and the freedom to experiment. Crafts don't have to be difficult or involved and the less direction about the 'right' way to make something the better. Creative activities can also be great boredom busters for those rainy afternoons when they have run out of things to do. Here are 4 examples of some easy crafts that can be done at home.

Recycled Robot Everyone has heard about the importance of recycling items. One way to recycle is to repurpose items that have already been used. This activity will require some scissors, duct tape, glue, markers and a bunch of used items from around the home. Examples include empty cereal boxes, toilet paper rolls, empty tin cans or plastic bottles and wire ties from bread bags.

Place all of the gathered items on a table or flat surface and encourage the kids to create their own robot. They will need to figure out how to make a body, arms, legs and a head. They can add details with tin foil, wax paper, construction paper or markers. Some kids may want string to help make their robot arms and legs move. Once the machine has been constructed, they may spend the rest of the day playing with it.

Food Art Many kids hear 'stop playing with your food' at many of their meals. These fun food activities will encourage them to play with food. The first idea uses frozen bread dough and the second marshmallows and toothpicks. Kids who enjoy playing with clay will probably using thawed bread dough to make an edible sculpture. Follow the package directions to thaw the dough and let it rise. After it has risen divide the dough into sections for each child and let them make whatever they want. Let the dough rise again and bake it for about 20 minutes in an oven preheated to 350 degrees. Once it has baked everyone can eat their artwork.

Kids who enjoy playing with blocks and building will like playing with marshmallows and toothpicks. The toothpicks are stuck into the marshmallows to build bridges, buildings or whatever the kids can imagine. The marshmallows can be stacked or multiple toothpicks can be inserted into the same marshmallow to create more angles and interesting sculptures. Take a picture of the finished products before eating the marshmallows.

Group Art Art may be thought of as a solitary activity, but it doesn't need to be. This fun art activity utilizes several participants to create the final work of art. There are actually two ways to do this group art activity. Use clay to make a group sculpture or paper to make a group picture. When using a marker everyone is given a piece of paper and instructed to make a specific mark on the paper. Start with a straight line, then everyone passes their paper to the left. They are then instructed to add a circle to the paper in front of them and pass it to the left when done. Repeat the process and add a triangle, square, heart, oval, octagon, swirl or any other set of shapes desired. When all shapes have been added the pictures are shared with the group. When using clay each person is given a different color of clay and they add whatever they want to each sculpture as it is passed to them.

These are fun and creative activities that will help kids think creatively. They are also great ideas for activities on a rainy day.

Article Source: GardenGap.com

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