Let the kids loose
Children love to be creative and there are so many crafts out there that they can try.
Painting
A rainy day is always good to settle around the kitchen table and bring out the paints.
Lots of paper is needed as young children tend to want a new sheet after every brush stroke. You can buy rolls of paper or large pads fairly cheaply off the internet. Paints should always be non toxic and suitable for the age of your children. Old clothes or an apron is also a good idea.
Older children may like paint by numbers kits. You can buy some lovely intricate designs and the kit usually includes all the paints and brushes you require. Aqua mats are fun for younger children, they just use water and paint over a mat to reveal a lovely picture. Equally fun are the magic painting books that can be single use or many, once dry, the colours disappear so can be used again.
Sticker pictures
There are many, many sheets of themed stickers you can buy these days. Both young and older children can enjoy creating scenes with stickers, adding pencilled in scenery to create backdrops for games or posters for their rooms.
Salt dough
A great way of making models, ornaments and hand prints that you can do with your kids. Just pick a salt dough recipe off the internet and get creating…
Use cookie cutters for different shapes or go free style. Once you have made your pieces, bake in the oven or microwave to set and then the finished ornaments can be painted and covered with a layer of sealer to preserve.
Origami
Older children may like to fold paper to make origami animals and objects. There are a multitude of videos on the web that can easily be followed or buy a kit that contains the paper and an instruction booklet to help you learn and master the age old art of paper folding
Hats
Make your own hat for any occasion. Cone shaped hats are easy to make and can be painted and decorated to suit the occasion. Dress up for Halloween, a themed birthday party, Christmas dinner, stag do or garden party. Kids can make their hat and then role play for hours as a pirate, policeman or wizard.
To make the cone hat - draw a half circle on thick paper or thin card using a compass or a pencil tied to a string. Fold the edges together, glue and decorate. Most heads will fit a 9 to 10 inch diameter piece of card but make it smaller for kids.
Children love to be creative and there are so many crafts out there that they can try.
Painting
A rainy day is always good to settle around the kitchen table and bring out the paints.
Lots of paper is needed as young children tend to want a new sheet after every brush stroke. You can buy rolls of paper or large pads fairly cheaply off the internet. Paints should always be non toxic and suitable for the age of your children. Old clothes or an apron is also a good idea.
Older children may like paint by numbers kits. You can buy some lovely intricate designs and the kit usually includes all the paints and brushes you require. Aqua mats are fun for younger children, they just use water and paint over a mat to reveal a lovely picture. Equally fun are the magic painting books that can be single use or many, once dry, the colours disappear so can be used again.
Sticker pictures
There are many, many sheets of themed stickers you can buy these days. Both young and older children can enjoy creating scenes with stickers, adding pencilled in scenery to create backdrops for games or posters for their rooms.
Salt dough
A great way of making models, ornaments and hand prints that you can do with your kids. Just pick a salt dough recipe off the internet and get creating…
Use cookie cutters for different shapes or go free style. Once you have made your pieces, bake in the oven or microwave to set and then the finished ornaments can be painted and covered with a layer of sealer to preserve.
Origami
Older children may like to fold paper to make origami animals and objects. There are a multitude of videos on the web that can easily be followed or buy a kit that contains the paper and an instruction booklet to help you learn and master the age old art of paper folding
Hats
Make your own hat for any occasion. Cone shaped hats are easy to make and can be painted and decorated to suit the occasion. Dress up for Halloween, a themed birthday party, Christmas dinner, stag do or garden party. Kids can make their hat and then role play for hours as a pirate, policeman or wizard.
To make the cone hat - draw a half circle on thick paper or thin card using a compass or a pencil tied to a string. Fold the edges together, glue and decorate. Most heads will fit a 9 to 10 inch diameter piece of card but make it smaller for kids.
