Simple Mother's Day Hand Print Craft

I don't have any pictures for this craft, but it's easy enough so you should be able to follow the directions without a problem.

What You'll Need: 
--Finger paint
--Heavy duty poster board or a paper plate
--construction paper
--scissors
--glue

Alternate Options If You're Missing Any of the Above:
--in lieu of finger paint:  Washable markers or crayons
--construction paper or computer paper will work if you don't have poster board/paper plates
--You can skip the steps requiring glue and scissors if you have neither

Instructions:

1.  Cut out a construction paper heart large enough to fit your little one's hand print inside
2. Glue the heart to the center of your poster board, paper plate, or whatever kind of paper you're using.
    Alternate:  If you do not have glue or scissors, draw a heart in the middle using a marker or pen.
3. Have your tot spread their fingers and dip their hand in finger paint.  Help them press their hand print firmly into the middle of the heart.
     Alternate:  Trace their hand in the center of the heart using your markers or crayons.
4. Help them write their name and (of if they're too small do it for them) under their heart.

Something Extra:
Pick out one of the following hand print poems and write it or print it out and glue it somewhere on your paper or on the back of your paper plate:

Option 1:

My dirty little fingerprints
I've left on every wall,
And on the drawers and table tops,
I've really marked them all.
But here is one that won't rub off,
I'm giving it to you,
Because I'm thankful for a mommy just like you!

Option 2:

This is the hand
You used to hold
When I was only
__ years old.

Option 3:

These little hands can wave Hello
Or put smudges on the wall
They can fold in prayer, throw a kiss
Or reach up so very tall
They'll clasp your hand for a little stroll
Or shape a ball from clay
But most of all, they'll stay with you
When I'm grown up and far away

Kid Craft Friday: Go Batty!

Today's craft is really easy, plenty of fun, and even your toddler can do it! I have even included some fun educational suggestions you can do with the craft (or before/after you complete the craft) to help your child learn about bats. Enjoy!

GO BATTY: Handprint Bats

What you'll need:

• Construction paper
• glue
• scissors
• (optional--easier with small kids): black paint (washable)
• Squiggly eyes (or some whiteout and black magic marker, or cut circles out of white paper and draw a pupil with a marker)

Instructions:

1. There are two ways to complete this craft.  Choose whichever you feel is best for you and your child.

         A. Trace your child's hands on construction paper.  Help them cut out the hand prints.

         B.  Using a lighter colored piece of construction paper, dip your child's hand in black washable paint and

         press a few inches apart (sideways) on the paper.  These will be your bat's wings.

2. Trace a big trinagle (about a third of the size of the construction paper) and a long oval (2/3 the size of construction paper).  OR click here for a bat template to print from your computer, then trace those onto thicker construction paper. Cut out your bat's head and body.

3. If you used cut-out paper handprints:  glue the body and head together, then glue the hands behind the body.

    If you used painted handprints:  glue the body and head over the hand prints. 

4. Put the wiggly eyes on (or make eyes as suggested above in the "what you'll need section").

5. Voila!  You've got a bat that looks something like this:

How cute is that?  I love it.  Now if you want to continue the fun keep reading.

Educational Stuff:

Go to this kid friendly website and teach your kids all about where bats live, what they eat, and even how echolocation works!

Now take a trip to your local library (or bookstore) and pick up this book to read aloud to your kids:

I hope you enjoyed this Kid Craft Friday!  If you have Kid Craft suggestions please email me at jenniferwelbornwrites@gmail.com.  Feel free to comment and post pictures of your child's bat!

Kid Crafts: A Nature Walk and Mini Pumpkins

Please let me know if you like this blog post.  If parents enjoy it then I will post a new Kid Craft every week. Also please feel free to share with your friends or local homeschool groups!

Mini Acorn Pumpkins

This cute craft involves a nature walk, acorn gathering, and family fun!

What You'll Need:
-Acorns
-Orange acrylic paint
-Black permanent marker

Optional Stuff:
-Brown or green acrylic paint

Instructions:

1. Take your kids on a nature walk. A park or nature preserve is a fun place to learn and see new things.  Of course if you don't live near a park or nature preserve, a walk through the neighborhood is sure to yield some acorns!

2. Bring a plastic baggie to make sure the kiddos have a place to store their acorns.

3. Sometimes acorns have an unpleasant surprise:  weevils.  To kill the weevils you can place them on a cookie sheet and bake them in the oven for a few minutes (2 or 3 minutes at 350 should do the trick).  Keep a careful eye on the oven to make sure you don't burn your acorns. 

4. Paint acorns orange and set aside to dry.

5. Once dry you can paint a leaf or stem on the acorn's point for added decoration.

6. Use the marker to draw a face.

The mini pumpkins look cute in a small clear jar, or if you're really crafty you can try punching holes in the middle and using them as beads.

This craft courtesy of Disney Family Fun.