Whether you want to admit it or not, children tend to derive the most joy from the holidays during their Christmas present opening feeding frenzy. But if you want to engage them in something other than, well, greed, this holiday season, teach them the joy of crafting by making this origami Santa Claus.
Boomerangs can be dangerous. Oatmeal containers aren't. That's what makes this kids toy the perfect build for school or play. After constructing this "comeback can" toy, you'll have a can or container that you'll roll on the ground or table, and it will always come back to you. You'll need an oatmeal container (or similar can), rubber band, nut, a couple paper clips and a pen.
This is one polar bear we wouldn't be scared to encounter out in the arctic! This teeny little dude even reaches forward to us with his hands outstretched into a big hug.
Broccoli doesn't have to be your kid's death sentence. In fact, with the right tweaks, you can actually get your child to ENJOY eating this cruciferous green vegetable, and we really do mean that. When it comes to veggies, flavoring is key.
Real swords are dangerously sharp. Wooden swords are safer, but can still pack a punch. So what's the safest for children to play with? Balloon swords! This video will show you the steps to shaping a balloon sword for the kids.
In this clip, learn how to get your children ready for a camping trip. Camping can be a fantastic experience for your little ones where they can learn about the environment, animals and basic outdoor activities. Teach your kids outdoor safety and get them involved so that they have a ton of fun.
In this video, learn how to put together a bunch of plastic K'Nex and make a super cool, functioning iPod or iPhone dock. This stand is easy to make and cheap, plus it's always fun to build with this classic kid's toy. So, follow along and build this easy, cheap dock and start listening to music hands free. This dock works in landscape or portrait so whichever you like best, you can use.
This lion may look ferocious, but your kids will love it once they take a bite out of its sweet buttercream mane. Because the only thing better than lions is sugary lions (at least from a kid's perspective).
This video tutorial will teach you how to draw the character Death the kid from the anime and manga series Soul Eater. It features detailed narrated instructions to ease the process of drawing this complicated and particularly well-colored picture.
If I had kids, this is something I would totally use to not only entertain them but give them something fun to look at during dinner. This fun tutorial shows you how to take some simple foam and use glitter, markers, and other items to make cool placemats. Enjoy!
I wish I was still a kid because this was a pretty cool project to perform and a cool placemat I would have used! Most of the ingredients can be obtained from your local arts and crafts store and seems pretty simple, but does require skill. So enjoy this tutorial on how to make a chalk cloth placemat. Enjoy!
Shelley Lovett shows how to teach kids a spin on the "Ten Little Indians" song. that she calls "Ten Little Penguins." She has a simple prop to make the song more fun for young kids. She has a pair of black gloves to which she has glued a little card-stock penguin to each finger. She said you may want to laminate them to make them last longer. As she sings the sings about each penguin, she moves that finger so that the children can count along with the song. You can go to her website at Childc...
Fit for a Feast hosts a kids cardio workout including Salsa steps, sit-ups, jumping jacks and more. This is a great warm-up for kids on their way to sports or dance class; it can also be used for Q.D.F. (Quality Daily Fitness) at school. With a Latin American cd in your stereo and this tutorial, you're child will be working up a sweat in no time! Be sure to stretch before you begin!
Are you a Hairspray fan? Why not learn the routine for, "Nicest Kids in Town" from one of Hairspray actors? Tabitha Lupien, who played Becky in Hairspray gives a dance lesson for a class of youngsters for Fit for a Feast, a children's video site full of kid cooking and kid fitness videos. Incorporating jazz dance, leaps, turns, and kicks, this lesson from Tabitha is sure to get your blood pumping and your body sweating! A great way to get some exercise! this afternoon!
Belinda Gregor, specialty cakes designer at Ettore's European Bakery and Restaurant shows Gwen Schoen how to add and decorate a fondant cake. This is a great skill for pastry chefs, cake decorators and over-achiever moms alike. Make your kids' birthday cakes look more por than wedding cakes with fondant! Check out this video recipe from the Sacramento Bee.
How to pull someone's underwear over their head. This tutorial uses film stills from the movie Casper: A Spirited Beginning to illustrate this classic kids' prank. Pull the underwear up from behind, over the head. It's only an atomic wedgie if it goes over the head! Use this as inspiration for one of your April Fools Day pranks!
Simple steps to make a Hot Wheels USB key with working wheels. Mod this classic hobbyist favorite or kids' collector toy into a high tech portable flash drive carrier. You insert the flash drive or USB key into the body of the toy Hot Wheels race car and voila! A very cool dongle to backup your files. Great for rolling across a conference table!
These days, we truly have a world of knowledge at our fingertips. Trouble is, a large portion of that information is not something you'd want your five-year-old learning about quite yet.
This video will help moms and dads make homemade fruit parfait with kids. This not only teaches kids about cooking, but also help as a parent-bonding session.
Whether if it's to play games or watch Netflix or YouTube, children love using our smartphones and tablets. As an uncle of many, I don't mind my nieces and nephews using my gear, but I do mind them opening apps they have no business being in, like my photo gallery or messaging app.
Best way to bond with kids is to involve them into number of activities, where you can participate with them. Here we are with an activity which involves in making whole wheat cookies. You can involve your kids in this activity too.
Here is a great fun easy idea to let the kids have fun diving for glow sticks at night in the pool.This video will show you what the glow stick look like once they are at the bottom of the swimming pool in the dark.
In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to create a very beautiful unicorn using face paint. You can use this design anywhere on the body, from your arm to your face. This is a great activity to do with your kids.
You can make Christmas ornaments with your children! You will need craft sticks or popsicle sticks, crayons or markers, non toxic craft glue, yarn, tissue paper or pom poms and safety scissors. Now, make your own Christmas tree shaped holiday ornaments.
Whether they're your own children or a niece, godson or grandchild, this gift guide is perfect for figuring out what to give the kids on your gift list. Every gift is innovative, eco-friendly and facilitates talking between children and parents.
Dress up your kids school supplies by helping them decorate their spiral notebooks! This is an easy art project, good for any school age child. All you need is some colored foamy, safety scissors, non toxic glue and some foamy letters. And, of course, the spiral notebook!
Here's a fun craft project you can make with your kids to celebrate autumn! Create a fall themed card, complete with colored leaves. All you will need is some white cardstock, red, yellow and green construction paper, a pair of safety scissors and some non-toxic glue.
Want something that will both keep your children occupied while you're busy cooking Thanksgiving dinner, while still getting them into the spirit of the holiday? Here are some great ideas for art and craft projects you can give your kids, like turkey tags and paper napkin rings.
This crafts idea is a great project to do with your kids - create personalized Thanksgiving placemats for all your dinner guests, and then laminate them to keep them from getting dirty (and so you can use them for next year's Thanksgiving, too!)
Here's a fun and eco-friendly activity that will let you make some clever bubble wands out of recycled wire. All you need is the colored wire (you can use old hanger wire) and a few BBQ sticks. Then bend into the shape you want!
Help your child decorate their room! This tutorial shows you how to use craft foam to construct a curtain of flowers. In addition to the foam, you will also need a glitter pencil, decorative ribbon and a pair of kid safe craft scissors.
Here's a great way to recycle old socks into clever puppets for your kids! This tutorial shows you how to turn an old green sock into a snake pupet using googly eyes, a bit of red felt, some cardboard, fabric glue and scissors (and some yarn if you want your puppet to have hair).
Make a paper carrot and fill it with candy! To make this craft, you'll need green crepe paper, orange construction paper, glue, candies, and a pair of kid-safe scissors. Once you make the paper shell, you can fill it with candy (or anything else you want)!
This video shows you a fun and easy craft - recycle an old glove and, by gluing colored pom poms onto it, turn it into a puppet! You'll need to use a hot glue gun to attach the pom poms, so make sure your children don't burn themselves.
This is an easy and fun craft for your kids which will teach them how to make a small basket out of construction paper. You can use it to hold candies, flowers or any other small children's articles. You just need some brightly colored paper, scissors, glue and a stapler.
Here's another fun recycled craft for you and your kids! Turn an empty egg carton into a colorful caterpillar. You'll need the carton as well as colored paint, a paint brush, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, glue and scissors. Then just follow the instructions to make your own very hungry caterpillar!
Learn how to make a fun educational craft at home with your children with help from this free tutorial. In this short video, learn how to make a simple compass perfect for children ages kindergarten and up. In just a few simple steps, you'll be teaching your children how to use and navigate their own way using the compass as a tool.
Children's minds contain so much potential, it can be a bit tricky to come up with different and fun activities. This tutorial gives a helping hand by showing you how to make a cool looking and easy to create toilet paper roll octupus. Not only can kids be as creative as they want, but it keeps them busy for hours. Enjoy!
Partiers everywhere have played pin the tail on the donkey. Now you can play, too. Just check out the steps and tips in this how-to video and learn how to play this classic kids game. The only supplies you'll need are tape, a paper donkey (or a variation), players, a paper tail for each player, and a blindfold.
This is Magpie Time, a new show dedicated to teaching arts and crafts to children in an accessible and entertaining manner by re-using found everyday objects in creative ways. Think responsible, green craftiness that engages kids in fun arts and craft projects that use things you have around the house rather than new products you have to buy.
