Continue reading »]]> Big Willy is a giant desert turtle loved and cared for by my grandchildren. To celebrate this special friend, we are assembling a cute, nutrient packed turtle snack. Children will have fun creating their very own Big Willy after school or even from their lunch pack at school.

Ingredients:

• ½ peach (or apple)
• ½ strawberry
• 2 blue berries
• Dried cranberries
• Banana-cut in two inch strips (or star fruit, sliced)
• Nut butter (peanut, almond, hazelnut)
• Baby spinach leaves

Lay the spinach leaves on a large plate. This is “grass” for Willy. Center the half peach onto the spinach forming Willy’s back. Make a small pastry bag from a plastic lunch bag by cutting a slit in one corner. Place 2 T. of nut butter into a small plastic sandwich bag. Twist the top and force the nut butter from the tip to “glue” pieces to Willy. Glue the strawberry onto one end of the peach, lying on the spinach leaves. Place the blueberries for eyes on the strawberry head. The banana strips or star fruit are legs and tail. Decorate Willy’s shell with the dried cranberries using the nut butter to attach.

Big Willy Fruit Snack Dipping Sauce
Combine 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt with ½ c. drained crushed pineapple. Season with ginger and cinnamon, if desired. This is a healthy dip for the fruit and spinach.

For a special surprise, place the needed fruit pieces in a zip lock bag in your child’s lunch box. Add a picture of how to assemble Big Willy. Your child will be the envy of all his friends as he creates Big Willy at school! There is so much nutrition in this snack that it qualifies as a full lunch entrée.

Continue reading »]]>

Bubble Fun on Arizona Midday

From giant orbs to piles of “snow bubbles,” you can ignite the fun with a few simple items found around the house. Because this is both economical and engaging, you can’t go wrong with this homemade bubble juice and imaginative blowers.

Bubble Juice

What you’ll need:

• 1 cup water
• 2 T. light corn syrup
• 4 T. Baby shampoo

Pour the water into a shallow container. I used a clean meat tray. Dribble the measured corn syrup across the top and, likewise, the shampoo. Dish soap can substitute the shampoo, but I like the baby shampoo for little ones.
Gently stir the shampoo and corn syrup into the water. Don’t add too much air or your bubbles will not work well.

Blowers

What you’ll need:

• Any open cylinders such as: cookie cutters; canning jar rings; biscuit cutters
• Empty sewing spool
• Tiny wire whisks
• Snow Maker

For gobs of bubble snow, assemble:

• 1 small plastic water bottle
• 5 inch by 5 inch square of terry cloth fabric (old kitchen or bath towel)
• Rubber bands

Cut off the bottom of the water bottle, leaving the drinking end intact. Fit the square of toweling over the bottom of the bottle and secure with the rubber band.

Dip the towel end into the bubble juice. Lift out and blow through the drinking spout to create mounds of “bubble snow!”

Bubble Blowers

Continue reading »]]> What’s more American than macaroni? This macaroni does not have cheese because we are leaving it uncooked and turning it into a couple of fun activities for your young children. Join me for the fun!

Miss the show?  It’s not too late!  View this segment on Arizona Midday’s website HERE right now!

Click the image to watch "Red, White and Blue Macaroni Fun" segment on Arizona Midday NOW!

Macaroni Necklace

Macaroni Jewelry

What you’ll need:

• Long tube-like noodles any sizes
• Food color (red and blue)
• Plastic bags
• String or yarn
• Scotch Tape

Place 1-2 T. of water in a plastic bag. Fill with the desired amount of noodles. You can use any shape or size that can be laced onto a string. Drop 10-20 drips of red food color into the bag. Seal and shake. Continue to shake and massage the bags until the noodles are covered with color. Add more color if desired. Repeat with blue food color.

Shake the noodles onto wax paper to dry. This may take up to an hour, so have a snack with the kids or turn a hair dryer on and blow the noodles dry.

Place a small piece of tape on the end of a yarn or string to aide in lacing. Children will enjoy making patterns with the plain noodles and the red and blue ones.  Wear your red, white and blue jewelry with pride!

Star Box

Star Box

What you’ll need:

• Purchased wood star jewelry box
• Red/White/Blue washable paint
• Glue
• Colored Macaroni
• Stickers (opt)

Pre-paint the wood star box using red, white, or blue paint or a combination. Be creative. When it is dry, glue the colored macaroni on to further decorate the box. Star stickers can be added for extra pizzazz. Store your macaroni jewelry in the box.

Happy July 4th!

*This activity aired on Arizona Midday on June 26th, 2012.  Please leave a comment below if you have any questions or comments for Sharen regarding this activity.  Miss the show?  View this activity on Arizona Midday’s website here!

Continue reading »]]> 1.  Sort colored plastic eggs into an empty egg carton. Find matching craft pom poms and sort them into the eggs. Toddlers love to find the “little chicks”

2.  Wrapping paper with dots can become a great game board. If you don’t have wrapping paper, draw colored circles the size of Easter eggs on a large sheet of paper.  Match colored Easter egg halves to the colored dots.  Two children can have a race getting their eggs onto the dots.

• Add craft pom poms of the same color. Toss the pom poms on the game board and quickly sort them to their matching dots.
• Play “catch the bunnies”. Toss the poms on the board and then catch them in matching halves of the Easter eggs and quickly find their matching dots. Race to catch the bunnies.
• Match colored jelly beans or chocolate kisses onto the colored circles. Use them as a “checker board” to play Easter checkers. When a checker is captured, player can eat it.

3.  Make a quick and easy Easter basket by cutting the top from a “Spring” patterned square tissue box. Punch a hole in two sides and string a ribbon handle onto the box. Opt.-run a length of colored electrical tape along the top edge.

Continue reading »]]> Christmas is over, but that doesn’t have to end the fun. Grab that left over ribbon and wrapping paper and join in the fun!

Wrapping Paper

Match Game/Memory Game: Pick a printed paper with characters or figures you can cut out. If possible, cut them into squares, but you can also glue characters onto index cards or a 4×4 paper.

Memory Game

Place the “cards” upside down on a table and turn over two at a time to “match”. If they don’t match, turn back and the next person takes a turn. You can play this “solitaire” also, by just continuing to turn over and match.

Match Game

Cut the printed characters or objects from the paper. Match them to an uncut section of the wrapping paper. Mix them up and begin again. Race to get faster at matching.

Go Fish and Old Santa (Old Maid)

Using a wrapping paper design that has at least two of each character/object, cut the objects out and glue onto index cards or other paper to make your “deck”. Pass out the cards and play Go Fish or Old Maid as per game rules for each.

Collage

Using scraps of the wrapping paper, glue pieces over lapping onto a large construction paper or card stock. This makes an interesting art project and wall hanging!

Glue wrapping paper pieces around a nut or coffee can to make a fun pencil/crayon holder. Make your glue from flour and water to add to the fun. Overlap layers of tissue paper to make a stained glass look.

Ribbons and Bows

Twist a pipe cleaner (chenille wire) around one loop of a package bow. Continue with three or four more to make a bouquet. Place in a recycled and decorated container for a nice decoration.

Attach bows to a simple head band for a decorative hair piece. Twist colored ribbon around a hair band to decorate and change the color.

Continue reading »]]> Juice Bottle Toy Soldier

Christmas decoration activities for young children should be quick, easy, and engaging. This little Toy Soldier is just the thing! Get that empty juice bottle out of the trash, wash it and start transforming.

What you’ll need:

• 1 empty “Simply Juice” plastic container or similar bottle
• Sticky felt in the colors of red or green, blue, white, or black (construction paper works too)
• Marker

Directions:

1. Cut a simple shirt pattern that fit’s the top half of the bottle. Do the same with pants.

2. Cut the clothes from sticky felt. I suggest red or green for the shirt and blue for the pants.

3. Using the black felt, cut half circle boots for the end of the pants and cuffs for the shirt.

4. Cut two small rectangles as straps that cross on the shirt. An oval of white felt makes a nice face. Draw a face on the white oval with permanent marker. Stick on all the pieces to “dress” your toy soldier.

5. Optional play: When finished, allow your child to fill the bottle with jingle bells; confetti; small toys; small Christmas balls or whatever you can come up with together.

Note: If the Soldier is weighted with beans or rice inside you can play “bowling” with it.

Real Mini Christmas Wreath

Young children love to find nature items around the yard. Use branches from an evergreen tree in your yard or cuts from your Christmas tree to make this little wreath to hang on the tree. Add small pine cones, nuts or berries that you find outside to decorate.

What you’ll need:

• 1 sheet of card stock weight paper (red or green if possible)
• Small boughs of pine from a live Christmas tree
• Christmas ribbon
• Berries or small pine cones

Directions:

1. Trace a 4-6 inch circle on the cardstock paper and cut it out. Trace a smaller circle in the middle of this one and cut it out to form a wreath shape.

2. Using a length of ribbon about 24 inches long, tie it to the wreath to secure and then begin wrapping the wreath with wraps about ½ to 1 inch apart. Secure again when you get to the end. Cut extra length away.

3. Begin threading 4-6 inch lengths of pine branches under the ribbon wraps. Overlay them around the circle of the wreath until all of the cardstock is covered. Pull some of the needles loose from the ribbon to help fill in the wreath. Lace small branches with berries into the ribbon in about four places or glue small nuts or pinecones on for decoration.

4. Tie a ribbon at the top and loop it for a hanger. Sweet!

Continue reading »]]> As old as time itself, stacking blocks is part of every child’s early years. Intrigued by the sheer size of each tower built, your toddler will stack and tumble, stack and tumble with great perseverance.

With a tight budget, toys are quickly becoming discretionary items; so breathe easy. These blocks are found treasures in your home. Easy, durable, but light weight, they provide hours of fun including the time making them. Join me!

Collect and clean several of these cartons from around your home:

• Milk/cream cardboard cartons all sizes (pint, quart, ½ gal.)
• Cereal boxes
• Rice/soy/almond milk cartons
• Tissue Boxes
• Other miscellaneous sturdy boxes

Cut the pour spout ends off of the milk cartons and the “tissue” pull top of the facial tissue boxes. Matching the sizes, push one box into the other so that the bottom of each form a closed box. This “doubling” makes the blocks much more sturdy.

You are ready to build, unless you would like to also make them into a craft project and decorate.

To decorate:

• Cover with cute shelf paper
• Cover with construction paper or wrapping paper
• Add stickers, colored dot stickers, shapes cut from stick foam or felt
• Draw numbers or letters on them

Continue reading »]]> Little ones in the home can be overwhelmed by the tasks of holiday preparation. To ease everyone’s stress level, try a couple of these easy, crowd pleasing kids crafts for the table. Your children will contribute to the day and enjoy the holiday more. Just a few supplies collected from around the house and you are ready to go!

Coloring Mats

What you’ll need:

• Construction Paper
• Scissors
• Washable Markers
• Flour/Water Paste
• Clear Contact Paper

Directions: Search for free, printable coloring pages on line that are Thanksgiving themes. Print several. Mix a simple flour and water paste and use this to glue the pictures onto construction paper. Cover with clear contact paper.
*Children can color these with wipe off or washable markers over and over.  Perfect for a pre-dinner activity. They make great place mats.

Woven Mat

What you’ll need:

• Construction Paper
• Scissors

Directions: Fold in half a piece of construction paper. Starting at the folded edge, cut to within 2 inches of the edges. Make cuts two inches wide all the way across the paper. Remember not to cut all the way through the opposite side. Cut strips 1 ½-2 inches wide from a complimentary color of paper.

Beginning at one end, weave the strips in and out of the cuts on the first page. Continue until the entire page is woven. Remember to alternate “over and under” on each weave. Paste the edges to secure. These can be used again and again if you cover them with clear contact paper.
*Decorate if desired with stickers, markers, handprints etc.

Turkey Decoration

What you’ll need:

• Round Coffee Filters
• Powdered Drink Mix/Jello or Food Coloring
• Small Cups or Bowls
• Cardboard T.P. or Towel Tube
• Flower/Water Paste
• Clothes Pins
• Construction Paper

Directions: Mix 2 T. water and 1 tsp of drink mix in small cups (each a different color) or use a drop of food color. Tie Dye several coffee filters by dipping sections into the colors. Allow to dry on paper toweling.

Start your Turkey by cutting two ovals about 2 inches in diameter from construction paper. Cut a T.P. roll in half to make a short ring. Paste one oval just over the top edge and one below to form a head and tummy of a turkey. Color in eyes, nose, mouth etc. Use two dry, tie dyed coffee filters folded in half for the tail. Attach by clipping to the back of the T.P. roll with clothes pins. The pins now form “turkey legs”. Cute for the table and can be used as place cards.

Indian Corn Napkin Ring

What you’ll need:

• T.P. Tubes
• Flower/Water Paste
• Tissue Paper (Indian corn colors)
• Scissors

Directions: Cut small 2 inch squares from the tissue paper. Colors of Thanksgiving are best: yellow; green; red; orange; brown.

Mix a simple flour/water paste in a small cup. Use about 2 T. flour and enough water to form a thick paste (or use white glue).  Dip the center of the tissue paper square into the paste and then paste onto a ½ (short) TP cardboard. Cover the front half of the tube with all the little tissue paper squares. Fluff them so they are 3D or press them into small balls for an Indian corn look. Place a napkin in the ring and lay on the table at each place.

Continue reading »]]> Toddlers don’t know very much about Halloween, but they do enjoy pumpkins. Pumpkins feel nice to baby hands and look like mis-shapen orange balls. These easy, no-stress activities will keep baby busy while you answer the door to all those older “trick-or-treaters.”

Let’s Play Pumpkin Ball

What you need:

• Large bowl or basket
• Small pumpkins and/or gourds
• Empty tissue box
• Empty oatmeal box

Enjoy the pumpkins together by rolling them back and forth. Allow your Toddler to “fill and dump” pumpkins and gourds into the boxes and baskets. Baby is the boss here, so take your cues from him.

Pumpkin Painting

What you’ll need:

• Empty egg carton
• Q-tips
• Pudding or pudding mousse snack pack in colors
• Baby fruit snacks
• Halloween colored cake/cookie sprinkles
• Paper towel or wash cloth
• Newspaper

Place the newspaper on the floor or table in front of baby. In the egg carton spoon tablespoons of colored pudding into two or three sections. Shake cake sprinkles into another section. This is your paint tray.

Show your baby the pumpkin and tell him you are going to paint the pumpkin. Dip a Q-tip into a bit of pudding and paint it onto the pumpkin. Your Toddler will copy you.

Don’t be alarmed if he eats the paint, that’s why you are painting with pudding.

Refill the sections with more paint as needed. Don’t give your Tot the whole pudding cup unless you want the whole cup dumped onto the pumpkin. Help him sprinkle cake decorations onto the areas that have been painted. Stick fruit snack pieces on with the pudding. Don’t try to be literal with a Jack-0-lantern face. This is baby’s project.

For a spicy twist, sprinkle pie spices over the pudding, too!

To decorate:

* Cover with cute shelf paper
* Cover with construction paper or wrapping paper
* Add stickers, colored dot stickers, shapes cut from stick foam or felt
* Draw numbers or letters on them.

Continue reading »]]> When does bath time go from a chore to playtime? These recipes for bubbly fun will help transport your child’s bath time from mundane to insane, fun that is!

Parents often sell bath time short in the line up of family activity, but bath time is actually a very important time to bond, earn trust and enjoy being together. Toddlers need constant supervision during this ritual and I’m they are delighted with the focused attention that they receive. What other part of their day are you truly engaged in every movement your child takes and every word he speaks? No TV in the bathroom and I hope you don’t bring the cell phone. Warm water, loads of fun suds relax child and parent alike. So escape to a world of bubbles and enjoy. You may never want to leave the bathroom.

Bath Paints

• 1/3 c. baby shampoo
• 1 T. corn starch
• Food color
• Essential oil (opt)

In a measuring cup, combine the shampoo and cornstarch. Pour small amounts into sections of an empty, clean ice tray. Allow your child to help drop food dye into each cup and stir with a Q-tip or toothpick. Use as finger paints in the bath or add in a small brush.

*Note: For “Spray paint”. Mix the ingredients into a small spray bottle. Add 1/3 c. water and shake. Spray the paint in the tub on the shower wall or bath tub. Make several colors.

Foaming Bath Jelly

• 1 pkg. unflavored gelatin powder
• 3/4 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup baby shampoo
• Essential oil (opt)

Place the gelatin from 1 package into a bowl. Slowly add boiling water while stirring. Continue until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Very gently and slowly, add the shampoo. When slightly cooled, pour into small plastic containers (I use baby food containers). Add a few drops of food dye to each little cup and stir the color in.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. To use in tub: Scoop a small amount out of the container and hold under running bath water. This wiggly jelly is fun to touch and fun to transform in to luxurious bubbles.

Shaving Cream Color Foam

• 1 Can unscented shave cream
• Food colors

Let your toddler make this right in the tub. Float a muffin tin in the tub. Place recycled plastic containers or cups (I use fruit snack cups) into the muffin sections. Help your Toddler fill each cup with shaving cream. Drop food color into the shave cream and gently stir with fingers or a cotton swab. Mounds of floaty color in the water!!

Bath Bombs

• 1/4 c. citric acid (or “fruit fresh”)
• 1/4 c. baking soda
• 1/3 c. sugar
• 1/2 c. cornstarch
• 1/3 c. Epsom salts
• 5 T. light oil (jojoba; sunflower or olive)
• Food color

Measure the dry ingredients into a bowl and blend very well.

Add the oil and blend with hands. Divide into three or four parts and add a few drops of food color to each. Work color into the dough with your hands. Press the mixture into any kind of candy mold; butter mold or even plastic easter egg cups. Anything to shape your “bomb”. Make the bombs any size up to ¼ c. Larger than that will not leave too much oil in the bath water. Pop out of the molds and allow to dry for 72 hours on wax paper.

To use: Pop a “bomb” into the bath water and watch it fizz and pop as it dissolves.