The 413 Mom

Halloween Confetti Popper (perfect #brainbreak tool) #craftingwithkids

Halloween Confetti Poppers are where it's at this autumn season when we are focused on remote learning.

I love these little crafts because you can make them from materials from around the house, the kids get to practice their motor skills while creating them, and they make perfect little distractions when your little one needs a break from remote learning. 

Here's what you need to make a Halloween Confetti Popper:

paper cup

balloon

scissors

marker

scrap paper

Step 1: Cut the bottom out of the paper cup

Step 2: Draw a spooky face on the cup

Step 3: Tie off the balloon, and then cut off the rounded (untied) edge. Fit the cropped balloon around the narrow end of the cup:

Step 4: Use the scrap paper to cut and mold little paper balls. You can also used pom poms or a ping pong ball if you have one. Fill the cup with the balls.

Step 5: Pull down on the balloon tail to make your confetti go flying! Enjoy! #craftingwithkids

Easy Beaded Seasonal Corn Craft #craftingwithkids #happyfall

We have such an easy, fun and affordable seasonal craft idea to share: Beaded Fall Corn.

All you need are pipe cleaners and pony beads.

Each of which you can get at Dollar Tree. Total cost: $2. 

Step 1: Lay out 3-5 pipe cleaners in a star shape and give them a gentle twist around the middle to hold them together:

Step 2: Load beads onto each pipe cleaners. We did 15 beads on each stem. You can be consistent with patterning or go crazy and create a different pattern on each stem. Afterall, Indian corn comes in all kinds of colors and patterns.

Step 3: Once you have all the stems beaded, just gather them up together and twist the tops of the pipe cleaners together. You can take the longest stem and wrap it around all the others to make it more secure. 

This craft is so satisfying to create as an adult, but also provides excellent fine motor skills practice for little one. It's suitable for any age -- as long as little ones won't put the beads in their mouths. These colorful, little corn cobs look so cute gathered in a basket or displayed on a mantle or as part of a centerpiece. We hope you enjoy this craft as much as we did. Happy Fall! #craftingwithkids 

Gotta Try: Hooray for Heroes Activity Kit from Springfield Museums

Running out of socially distanced summer fun ideas? Me too. Which is why we're so grateful the Springfield Museums asked us to check out their new Hooray for Heroes Activity Kit. 

This kit is geared towards kids in grades preschool through fifth and is available for purchase for $35. It includes enough activities to keep the kids busy for the rest of this very quiet summer:

• Color-Your-Own Superhero half-masks
• Magnetic slime ingredients
• Scratch art cars and banners
• Primary paint strips
• Build your own solar system sticker set
• Markers
• Mini shields
• Hero nomination form
• Create your own superhero ID
• Write a mystery message (puzzle)
• A selection of hero themed reading materials and books
• Invent a gadget with Wikki Stix
• Create a 3D star
• Decoding secret messages
• And more! 

From the Springfield Museums: 

Blast off into adventure with our Hooray for Heroes kit!  Let us help keep your children busy at home with art, culture, and science activities for children, featuring both super and real-life heroes.  Kits are a perfect way to experience the museums from home or extend your in-person visit, combining education and entertainment to keep them actively engaged and learning while having fun!

Kids in grades PreK-5 can look forward to science experiments and demos, art-making, picture books, ideas for outdoor play, and other fun surprises!  Our detailed instructions and complete kit will make it easy to have fun and keep learning all summer long.

Additional materials for more than one child available and include additional sets of the consumable supplies in each kit for $10 per child.  (Photo above shows one full kit plus one additional consumable set). You can order for your entire family or even your daycare or camp setting.

Of course, Faith's favorite activity was the magnetic slime:

And mine was the teeny, tiny zine we created about the life of Supreme Court Justice Sona Sotomayor:

You can purchase a Hooray for Heroes Activity Kit for your own little superhero here. Not only is it a great selection of uplugged, sneaky learning activities, it helps benefit one of our most beloved local institutions. 

The kit coincides nicely with this Saturday's Virtual Family Fun Day (August 15, 2020) highlighting their new Hall of Heroes exhibit. The Virtual Day's activities include:

• Downloadable activity sheets that explore art, science, and culture, using materials easily found at home
• Videos, including one that features David White, illustrator of children’s books for Scholastic and comics for LEGO Magazine
• An opportunity to ask questions via the Super Hero Hotline!
• Chances to win prizes by posting your art work using #AtTheMuseums and #HoorayForHeroes

Follow along with all the fun at SpringfieldMuseums.org. 

#AtTheMuseums #HoorayforHeroes #SpringfieldMuseums #ChildhoodUnplugged 

Don't throw away those Bunch O Balloons stems! Create something new instead. #upcycle #reuse #summerfun

The self-tying water balloons from Bunch O Balloons have been our go-to this spring for outdoor fun. We've had some pretty epic water balloon battles. Which means we also have a bunch of the plastic stems that are left behind once the water balloons are filled and dropped. We love the bright colors and design so much we just knew there were some ways we could upcycle them. Here's our top five ideas for reusing these stems you might otherwise throw away:

 

1. Photo display -- Don't spend money for a cute photo branch holder. Use these water balloon stems to make fun photo displays. Weave larger photos through the individual stems to hold in place.

 

2. Hose attachment -- thread the stem back onto the hose to create a gentle stream of water for tender plants. This attachment also makes for fun water play for the kids. 

 

 

3. Crafting -- there are a lot of fun crafts you could imagine with these. We created this flower bouquet using tissue paper squares and those teeny tiny rubber hair ties. 

 

 

4. Recipe card holder -- similar to the photo display, keep one of the stems in your kitchen utensil drawer for an easy recipe card holder. No more lost recipes when creating your favorite meal. 

 

 

5. Pool toys - the sweeping, flexible straws make for fun, floating pool toys in a toddler pool (best for little ones over age 3). Or as float sticks in a big pool to encourage new swimmers. 

 

 

If you're unfamiliar with Bunch O Balloons, here's what they look like in their original form:

 

 

And if upcycling isn't your thing but you still love these water balloons as much as we do, please consider participating in their recycling program with Terracycle. Wishing you many epic water balloon battles this summer! #upcycle #reuse #recycle #summerfun

Gotta Visit: The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art (Amherst)

If you haven't been to The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in a while, it's time to put it on your Gotta Visit list. This Amherst hot spot has become much more interactive in recent years and is one of the best museums around that is geared toward self-paced discovery for the littlest museum goers.  As the name suggests, this museum celebrates the artwork of famed children's author and illustrator Eric Carle and others like him. There are many hands-on activities for the kids that encourage them to explore the arts (including drawing).

Currently on exhibit through May 31, 2020 is the awesome Under the Sea with Eric Carle exhibit which features a story boat that you can take high seas adventures in, a "shellphone" where you can place important calls, and and under the sea puppet theater where you can act out your favorite stories and of course admire the captivating illustrations from Carle's books. 

Through April 5, 2020 you can enjoy The Pursuit of Everything: Maira Kalman's Books for Children -- an exhibition that allows you to try out different larger-than-life props from her illustrations, and encourages you to create your own sketches.  

My very favorite part of this museum is the art studio -- a beautiful, light-filled classroom where visitors are invited to create a guided art project. During one visit (a special Meet the Very Hungry Caterpillar Day) we were invited to create our own Very Hungry Caterpillar out of a cool array of recycled materials and also to create large, wearable butterfly wings out of craft paper. On our most recent visit we made letter collages out of a variety of materials -- we each picked our first initial and made lovely keepsakes. All ages are welcome in the art studio and support staff is on hand if you need inspiration or guidance for your project. But it's also important to note that nobody hovers -- it's a delightfully welcoming space where anyone can feel encouraged to create. 

The Eric Carle Museum also boasts a beautiful library full of the best picture books available. There are regular storytimes here, free choice worksheets, toys and puzzles for the little ones, and lots of comfy chairs and couches to curl up and enjoy the books. There is also a movie theater where family friendly films are shown. Bring a picnic -- there is a large cafeteria available to visitors, and lots of beautiful lawn space and a patio to enjoy a during the good weather. (If you don't want to pack your own, Atkins Market is right around the corner). The cafeteria also offers complimentary coffee. 

We love to visit the museum during the winter months as a remedy for cabin fever (that sun-filled art studio can warm up the dreariest day). But it is also a fabulous day trip in the warmer months -- there is a huge lawn space where the kids can run and play. The Carle hosts many unique programs throughout the year, some of which require an additional ticket purchase. You can find a calendar of their events here. 

The Carle does a great job of appealing to the whole family. As mentioned, all ages are welcome in the art studio; however, if one member of the family is too young or is just not interested in creating a project there is a corner filled with blocks, picture books and small games. Same with the library, there are plenty of quiet toys to play with if someone is not in the mood to read. Parents can feel safe bringing several children to the museum knowing that everyone can be happily occupied in the same room. Hovering is not required. Another advantage is that the Carle is quiet and relaxing. It is a very peaceful place, which is helpful for children with sensory sensitivities. 

If you love to watch your little one freely explore a safe space, The Carle is for you. If you love to let your teen rekindle their childhood through a creative art project, The Carle is for you. If you love kids' books, The Carle is for you -- afterall, their mission is "to inspire a love of art and reading through picture books."

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is located at 125 West Bay Road in Amherst. The museum is open Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Sunday noon - 5 p.m. During July and August, the museum is open 7 days. Admission is $9/adult, $6/youth (ages 1-18). Admission for a family of four (two adults, two children) is capped at $22.50. 

DIY Spray Chalk Recipe as seen on Mass Appeal #diy #craftingwithkids

I had too much fun making a crafty mess today on Mass Appeal sharing a DIY Spray Chalk recipe. Don't pay for costly refills when the spray bottles run dry -- make your own! Check out all the fun here! 

Summer 2019 List 6: FREE and low cost Arts & Crafts programs

 

There are many FREE and inexpensive ways to indulge your little crafter this summer, while not making a mess at home: 

• Michael's stores Camp Creativity offers craft classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon through July 26 for ages 3 and up in all their stores. This year the program has a different theme each week and participants can collect stickers and coloring sheets each time they visit. Cost: $3/child. Registration is required. For schedule and registration information, click here. 
• The Second Friday art program runs through the summer at the Smith College Museum of Art, July 12 and August 9, from 4-8 p.m. Kids get to make a FREE (and always very cool) art project. 
• Make It Springfield offers workshops for all ages. Every Sunday afternoon from 3:30-5:30 p.m. there is a Make It Together workshop where families are invited to create together -- projects may vary from drawing, to painting, to sewing, to crafts. Cost is $5/person, drop ins welcome. There are other workshops offered throughout the week, some are FREE. You can follow their schedule on their Facebook page. 
• All Barnes and Noble stores also offer weekly storytimes geared toward the younger set which always end with a simple craft project. They have lots of other hands-on events for all ages throughout the summer. Check the events page for your local store. 
• Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft stores offer the Learn with Jo-Ann program where older children can sign up for more advanced crafting classes like sewing, knitting, and jewelry making. These classes cost around $30, but kids will learn more advanced techniques and leave with a functional product like a pillowcase or jewelry set. You can find a list of classes offered at the Holyoke store here. 
• The Home Depot Kids Workshop series will also be held throughout the summer, first Saturday of the month, 9 a.m. - noon, FREE. Register here. 
• Check with the children's department of your local library to find out what types of drop-in crafts programs are offered during the summer. There are usually a bunch of really cool projects kids can make for FREE. 
• Your town's parks and recreation department may also have a crafts program you can sign up for (usually for a fee).  

Wishing you a creative summer!

*Don't forget -- we'll resurrect our "What to do with the kids tomorrow" posts beginning on June 24 to help you plan FREE and low cost summer fun all season long.*

New favorite Easter Craft! #holyweek #craftingwithkids

We made a new favorite Easter craft today!

Here's what you need:

*small, clear planter tray
*small rock
*cut off section of toilet paper tube
*preserved moss
*three small crosses made from twigs and twine

We made this at the egg hunt party at Feeding Hills Congregational Church. I love the simplicity and beauty of this resurrection craft. You can easily substitute materials with items found around the house and yard. It's a quiet reminder for Holy Week. #eastercraft #craftingwithkids #palmsunday

Fun with cereal #craftingwithkids #playwithyourfood

If your house is anything like mine, there are usually at least six open boxes of cereal in the pantry. We love cereal not just for breakfast but for a snack at any time of the day (I'm eating handfuls of Maple Cheerios as I write this).

There are also lots of super simple kids' crafts created with cereal. Putting these together is great motor skills practice for the littles. Here are a few of my favorites (you can read that as easiest):

Froot Loop Rainbow

Froot Loop Flowers (thanks to Ginnygingerpie)

Cheerios Bird Feeders (thanks to thedecoratedcookie)

Corn Pops Pot of Gold (thanks to 123homeschool4me)

Honey Combs Bee Hive (thanks to teachingheart)

Lucky Charms Graphing Activity (thanks to howtohomeschoolmychild)

Motor Skills Practice

I hope you enjoy these delicious ideas as much as we do! Combining sneaking learning with snack time -- there's nothing better.  #craftingwithkids #notjustforbreakfast

Crafting with kids: make a snow family!

I'm a little obsessed with this craft. It reminds me of the funny Jib Jab elf videos you can make at Christmas time. These little guys are taking over my house. 

It's super simple, it doesn't require a trip to the store for any special materials, and it's a perfect way to use up some of those leftover holiday photo cards or tiny school photos. 

This craft is very forgiving. Use what you have on hand around the house which encourages creativity.

What to gather:

• Stiff paper -- I used a paper plate (it's the perfect size to make a hand held snowman) but you can use cardboard, a piece of a cereal box, a mannila folder, etc.
• Cotton balls
• Headshot photographs
• White liquid glue
• Glue stick
• Scissors
• Something to draw with
• Scraps of ribbon, buttons, sequence, gems, etc. 

 

Step 1: Draw a snowperson shape on the paper plate and cut it out

 

Step 2: Cut out face from photograph and use the glue stick to position it in center of the snowperson's head (use the glue stick and not the white liquid glue or it the photo could get damaged):

 

 

Step 3: Use the white glue to glue cotton balls around the face and all over the snow body

 

 

Step 4: Use the ribbon and other embellishments you've collected to personalize your snowperson. Glue them down with the liquid glue:

 

 

Step 5: Proudly display your snow family. Mine is taking over the top of the piano. I'm running out of room but I just realized I haven't made one for the dog yet! Happy crafting! #craftingwithkids #winterfun

(If you make a snow family of your own send me a pic and I'll start a gallery!)