Homemade Pet Rocks

This is a great craft to make along with your toddler. Some pieces and steps are included which require an adult to complete and look over. Do not leave your young child unattended with this craft. It is designed to be a gift for someone else, made with love by you and your child.








Supplies needed:

1 open topped, small plastic container
1 brown paper bag
2 small rocks
1 paintbrush
4 safety pins
8 small bells
4 google eyes
2 small pom poms

tempura paint
handful of cotton
white glue
colored sand and/or glitter
hot glue gun and glue
paint pens



Directions:

Step 1: Set your child up with some different colors of tempura paint, paint safe clothing, a paint brush, and an opened and flattened brown paper bag. Instruct them to paint whatever they wish all over the brown paper bag on one side.

Step 2: While they are busy painting the paper bag, you can paint a decorative name of your recipient on the front of the container with the paint pens, and the name of your child and date on the back. Add any art or decor you wish to the container.

OPTIONAL Step: Do this if your container has holes on the sides, as shown in the pictures. While their artwork is drying, have your child hand you one bell at a time and attach two bells to each safety pin. You can do this with either small jumprings, or just by stringing them onto the point of the safety pin and then close it. Attach two safety pins to either side of the container through the handles.



Step 3: Have your child place a handful of cotton into the container. Then have them crumple their brown paper bag artwork and arrange it in the container to look like bedding. (Semi flat surface for two rocks to sit on) Depending on the size of your container, you may not need the cotton.

Now that the bed is finished, you can create your rock buddies.

Step 4: Paint white glue all over each rock (or help your child to do so) Roll each one in either sand or glitter and let dry.

Step 5: When they are dry, glue on two eyes and one nose to each pet rock. Their happy faces will help let your child see the progress of their hard work.

Step 6: FOR PARENTS: Use the hot glue gun to glue both rocks into their bed and help keep them from flying around.



Your pet rocks are ready for gifting.



If you are going to allow these to be your child's pets, please make sure to entirely skip the safety pin step.

You may also wish to not glue down the rocks if your child keeps them, so they can be taken out and played with. In that case, make sure the rocks are not small enough to be swallowed.


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Easy Bird Feeder

Simple enough for most preschoolers to do on their own, this bird feeder may attract a few local birds which will have your child entertained with plenty of learning opportunity. A small list of supplies is needed and chances are you may already have them around your home.







Supplies needed:

2-3 paper plates
3 12 inch long pieces of twine, yarn, or sturdy string
4-5 brads (or, in a pinch, staples)
Hole punch
Bird seed



Directions:

Step 1: Layer the 2-3 paper plates together and press the brads through them all, evenly around the rim of the plates. (If you don't have brads, you can staple the plates together)

Step 2: In between the brads, make three evenly spaced holes with the hole punch (Not too close to the edge). Tie one end of a string through one hole, and repeat for other two holes and strings.

Step 3: Gather the loose ends of all three string up at the top and tie together to make a loop for hanging. Be sure to make it strong enough not to fall apart, and also make sure the plates hang flat when held by that loop.

Step 4: Fill the plates with some bird seed and hang out in the yard to attract and feed the birds.



Hint: The weight of the birdseed may cause the plates to droop a little, creating a bowl shape for the seed. It will still work just fine.

Hint: If it's windy weather outside, smear a thin layer of peanut butter on the top of the plate first, then sprinkle a thin layer of bird seed all over it. That way the wind won't flow the food away.


Tip: For a more fun looking feeder, you can paint the plates and/or use colored yarn.



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The Band-Aid Kid

Maybe it was a month ago now that my son got a small cut on his finger. Whoo hoo! I could finally use one of the many cute band-aids I had been collecting over the past year or so, in hopes of using them to cheer up a poor little boy who accidentally got hurt. It worked just as planned too. He cried, I pulled out the band-aid basket, got him all fixed up and watched him smile as the pain turned to happiness over having a Hulk band-aid on his little cut finger. What I didn't realize, was what this event would provoke in him.

Every single bump and bruise now, he wants a band-aid. He knows where they are, and if I give him the go ahead, he will go get himself one. He also offers them to me whenever I say, "ow". Although, he does also offer me a kiss wherever I may hurt. Very cute to have my son kiss my belly when I tell him, "Ouch, the baby is hurting me". All of this isn't so much a problem, but he is doing is too often and we may run out of band-aids for a time when we really need them. I do not always let him go and get one, I tell him to shake it out if it was a bump.

Cheap little band-aids from the dollar store are no big deal, he can play with those. However, lately he has been going for the large size Spongebob ones which I found on clearance at Target. These, we are in shorter supply of, so I cannot let him get his own band-aids anymore, as he will always choose these mega huge ones. Today he told me he cut his toe and needed a band-aid. I said, "Go ahead and go get one". What I come back to find is a little boy with a band-aid so large, wrapped around his toes, that the whole top half of his foot was covered. The worst part... after the band-aid is on for 30 seconds, he says, "I feel better", takes it off, and tosses it in the trash. Ugh.... :)

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