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photo credit: L. Marie

Want to have a Halloween accessory that would surely add color and fun in this Trick or Treat season?  Let the kids go from neighbor to neighbor getting their candy treats or doing their creepy tricks while carrying an umbrella jazzed up for the Halloween occasion.

All you will need is an old umbrella but also make sure that it is still in good condition. Once this activity is done, that umbrella you kept in the store room to gather dust will be transformed into a creepy Halloween accessory that you can use for your child’s trick or treat activities.

Supplies:

• Old umbrella
• Black and white t-shirt paint (or any paint)
• White yarn
• Plastic spiders (you can buy these in toy section of groceries or department stores)
• Glue

Steps:

1. Open your old umbrella. Apply black paint all over it to hide the prints or jolly faded colors. The kids can enjoy helping a lot in this painting activity.  Then apply white paint on the umbrella handle.
2. Let the paint dry for a while. This may take 2 to three hours, depending on the thickness of the coating and the type of paint that you bought.  It is advisable to use a water-based paint and non-lead type of paint.
3. After the paint has dried, draw two big ovals using the white paint on the umbrella. Just coat it thinly and let it dry for about an hour or so.
4. Draw a circle using the black paint inside the white ovals to form the eyes of the umbrella.
5. Get the yarn and cut it into the same length, about 6 inches.
6. Glue the plastic spiders on one end of the yarn. Let it dry,
7. After the spiders are now firmly attached on the yarns, get one yarn and tie one end to the umbrella’s pointed edges. Do this on every pointed edge of the umbrella.

Now, you are ready to use your spooky Halloween umbrella.  With big eyes and dangling spiders, this will surely be the umbrella that will do the trick and treat this Halloween season.

photo credit: Liz (perspicacious.org)

Kids love decorating the Christmas tree during the Yuletide season. One of the most popular decors used is a Christmas ball that comes in many different colors.

Now, with your big help and encouragement, kids can also decorate cards with these colorful balls. In turn they can give these cards to other people to spread the Christmas spirit.

Supplies:

• Green paper board
• Colored construction papers
• Shiny paper
• Black yarn
• Glue
• Glitter or glitter glue
• Tape
• Scissors
• Markers

Steps:

1. Get the green paper board and cut a rectangle shape for the card base. (You may use plain paper board and paste green colored paper on it if green paper board is not available).
2. Fold it into half.
3. Fold the front portion into four crosswise folds and cut away three parts (3/4) of the paper fold, with one fold remaining at the top portion of the card.
4. Make balls by making and cutting circle shapes in different sizes using the different colored papers.
5. Make the kids design their own Christmas balls by using colored markers and glitters, or lining then with glitter glue.
6. Cut the yarn into short pieces. Glue one end into the back part of the remaining paper fold of the front portion of the card and attach the Christmas balls to the other end. Yarn lengths need not be equal.
7. Write “Merry Christmas!” on the remaining top portion of the front fold of the card.
8. Write your message on the inner back fold of the card. You can add some designs into that portion too.

Bond with the kids in making the hanging Christmas balls card and teach them the value of sharing by letting the children create and give cards to friends and loved ones.

photo credit: katekillet

Toddlers always enjoy making sounds, be it by just tapping objects or anything they can get their hands on. Teach your kids early to develop their love for music.

One simple musical instrument that you can do with your toddlers is a musical shaker made of ordinary things or recycled materials. Surely, it will be enjoyable for the kids to make, and play with!  To make their shaker colorful, the kids can add decorations on it.

Supplies:

• Two pieces of used plastic cups
• Dried lentils or beans
• Tape
• Colored construction paper (optional)
• Crayons or markers
• Glue
• Pair of scissors

Steps:

1. Clean up the cups very thoroughly.
2. Ask your child to take the dried lentils or beans and place them inside the cup.
3. Take the other cup and place it on top of the cup with dried lentils or beans.
4. Attach them with a tape (make it tight, so it doesn’t break open)
5. Take out your colored construction paper and wrap it around the shaker.
6. Assist your child in decorating the shaker with crayons or markers.
7. Ask your kids to shake it up and down, and side to side to make sounds.

Now, play the CD of your kids’ favorite songs and sing with them while demonstrating how you enhance the rhythm of the music using the musical shakers that you all crafted.  Add some fun dancing and surely the whole family would find great time and bonding.

photo credit: ktylerconk

Christmas is the most colorful and most anticipated celebration of the year all over the world. It is a special holiday characterized by twinkling lights, tinsel display all over town, glittering decors in the homes and stores. Children, especially love Christmas, and are always excited to celebrate Christmas every year.

You can make it doubly exciting for your kids by engaging them in creative activities in preparation for the season. One of these is making Christmas décor, like a Christmas glitter globe. Definitely, kids will love making their own home decor that they can display during the Christmas holidays.

What you will need:

• A glass jar with tight-fitting lid depends on the size of the globe you want to make)
• A Christmas figurine or figurines, depends on how many can fit in (e.g., Santa Claus with reindeers, Manger scene, or an angel)
• Waterproof glue
• Glitter (color depends on your preference)
• Water

How to make it:

1. Clean the jar and its lid. Take off labels and any residue of its former contents.
2. On the inside portion of the lid, glue your Christmas figurine with waterproof glue or glue gun. Stick the figurine well to prevent it from falling off.
3. Set aside until dry.
4. Fill the glass jar with cold water, about ¾ full only.
5. Sprinkle one tablespoon of glitter into the jar.
6. Check the jar lid to see if your figurine is completely dry. If it is, screw on lid and check water level. Add water, or spill out some of it if necessary.
7. Tighten the lid securely. Shake your glitter globe and watch your Christmas figurine sparkle inside.
8. You can use your Christmas glitter globe as a table décor, or as paper weight.