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The current severe economic downturn is affecting people on every level. Rising fuel costs have impacted everything from the price of groceries to the cost of getting to work everyday. Joblessness is up and the discretionary income is down. But some of the most telling signs of the times are the changes in the way people spend their leisure time. We’ve all read media reports about the trend away from vacations and toward “staycations,” where people stay at home instead of traveling. Along the same lines, there’s a significant trend toward finding recreational activities that can substitute for more costly alternatives. What are the emerging trends? Crafts for kids, quilting, and gardening.

It makes sense when you think about it. After all, kids’ activities like gymnastics lessons and karate lessons can take a chunk out of the family budget – both in terms of fees and in terms of the cost of gas to shuttle kids around to their extracurricular activities. For adults, the cost of lattes, nights out at the movies, and going out to dinner really add up. Plus, when times are tough, families tend to stick closer together and look for ways to spend quality time with one another. On every level, crafts fit the bill.

As a result, parents and grandparents are on the lookout for kids’ craft projects that will engage children and keep those little hands busy. Thankfully, there are many inexpensive books that are filled with ideas. For example, you can find books that outline crafts using play dough, how to make flower figures, and even Christmas crafts. In fact, you can even find books that provide ideas for making Christmas gifts that fit in a jar. From crafts for preschool-age children to pastimes for older kids, these idea books provide a wealth of options for engaging children’s imaginations.

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It is a popular custom to present some gift to the children, especially for new newborn babies. All children are happy when they get some gifts. There are plenty of fancy and high priced gifts available in baby shops. But a cherished gift to the babies is a home made baby gift basket. A typical gift basket contains several types of goodies. Also one can present a home made baby shower as a gift on certain special occasions. Usually baby showers are presented at the time of baptisms, christening or first birthday. For home made gifts, what reflects are the emotional attachment, time, and energy taken for making the gift, and certainly not the glamour and fancy of the usual baby gifts. Also, the way one presents such gifts to children is always remembered with fondness and emotion. Usually home made gifts are customized for the child and occasion, with printing the name of the baby and date with a suitable message. While printing or typing the name of the baby, one should always provide the correct spelling. Also, it should be made in such a way so as to reflect the sentiments and tastes of the person who presents the gift.

For home made gifts, especially gift baskets, the container should be attractive and well decorated. The basket can be decorated by silk ribbons and flowers. Diaper bag or laundry basket can be used for making the container. One should always remember that most babies cannot hold big size bags. So, a median size bag is ideal. Generally, home made baskets are made based on a theme. For example, one can present a home made gift basket having several useful goodies for the sleep of the kid. Normally home made gift bucket contains baby detergents, crib sheets, burp cloths, baby bottles, hairbrushes, and baby books. Also home made baby gift can be categorized as for boys and for girls. The gift basket for girls generally contains pink colored items; while the items in gift packet for boys is in blue color. There are plenty of websites that provide online coaching for making baby gifts at home. If you are interested, you can join some of the courses and can parade your craft of making baby gifts at home. If one is skilled in sewing, knitting, or quilting, one can easily make an attractive gift. Some of the gifts that can be made at home with some degree of the above-mentioned skills are diaper pads, baby dolls, baby hat, baby blanket, baby sweater, baby sling, and greeting card. Some other types of gifts that can be made at home with a bit more difficulty are hand painted picture frames and hand painted coat peg.

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Being small (toddlers) gives them the dexterity to just do about anything without the accompanying supervision that much older children have to go through. Typically, these kids are taught pre-school coloring and because a box of crayons is supplied, coloring with crayons not only find its way on paper and other related media but also lands on desktops, walls, floors and even sidewalks.

Coloring with crayons is one pre-school activity that children enjoy the most. Through the use of colors, the capacity to express artistic inclinations is develop at an early age. Given a box of crayons, a child will pick the color that appeals to his/her innate artistic ability and thereafter fuel the urge to create images. So what properties of this art implement would best serve the interest of preschool kids in terms of safety and the aspect of stains?

All natural formula. Crayon sticks are manufactured from a mixture of wax and dye. But wax has to be heated up to around 105 degrees Fahrenheit in order to transform it into liquid form. Once liquid, dye or pigment is added to give crayon its color before pouring it into molds of particular form and shape that appeal to children. Paraffin wax is typically used in the composition of crayon, a natural (organic) waxy substance developed from plants, coal and petroleum.

Non-Toxic. Special pre-school coloring crayon sticks developed for children have ingredients concocted entirely from soybeans grown in the United States. Dyes and pigments are as well made from natural mineral powders that make these crayons non-toxic. These crayons are really devised safe for children. Being natural, crayon sticks do not produce any adverse side effects even if swallowed or eaten by children out of curiosity.

Washable. Just to give parents peace of mind, modern day pre-school coloring crayons are washable. This only means that children can express their curiosity by writing on the floors, walls, ceilings or furniture and what have you – without remorse because markings are washable. Washable crayon markings leave no trace behind as well as stain on affected areas.

Typically, a box of crayons contains 8 sticks of different colors and shaped like elongated small cylinders that children can easily hold on to. Other packs are bundled with 16 sticks because shades of the original 8 are added to make coloring with crayons much more interesting. And since kids are bubbly and curious to try new horizons, pre-school coloring crayons will add more meaning to their experience.

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February is here and with it arrives an array of holidays and fun. This winter, we’ve been hit with lots of snow, particularly up in the northeast. Having so many snow days can lead to parents feeling lost with what to do with the children cooped up all day. Here are some crafts projects for your kiddos and you to create together to remedy the wintertime blues.

Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is approaching quickly and a handmade craft by your little kiddo is the perfect way for them to tell someone they love them. Here are a couple crafts for kids to make to celebrate those they love.

Handprint Heart Magnet (great for the younger kiddos!)

Materials: Red Washable Paint, White Card stock (preferably, or similar thick paper) or White Construction Paper, Paint Brush, Red Crayon, Sticky Back Magnet, Black Sharpie or Permanent Marker

1. Paint child’s hands with red paint, or have them dip their hands in red paint.

2. Make child’s handprints on the white paper. *NOTE: When doing the handprints, make the thumbs and index fingers meet-this forms a heart shape (upside down). It does not need to be a perfect heart shape, just make sure to tilt the hands to make this shape.

3. Allow paint to dry.

4. Put the handprints upside down and highlight the heart shape by drawing an outline of the thumb/index finger heart shape.

5. Write “Always hold on to my heart” within the heart shape or on the handprints with permanent marker

6. Cut around the handprints and stick a magnet on the back.

“Thumb”ody Love You Picture Frame

Materials: Popsicle Sticks, Wood or Hot Glue, Red Ink Pad or Red Paint, Child’s Photo, Foam Heart Stickers or Candy Hearts, Poster Board or Thick Paper.

1. Glue child’s picture on a small square piece of poster board. Please note: The photo needs to be cut down or small enough to fit within a popsicle stick frame (4 popsicle sticks making a square).

2. Have child stick foam heart stickers or candy hearts around their picture. Be sure they don’t stick them on their picture!

3. Glue 4 popsicle sticks together to make a square frame.

4. Press child’s thumb into red ink pad or paint and press onto the 2 vertical (sides) popsicle sticks. Do 5 thumb prints on both popsicle sticks each.

5. On the top (horizontal) popsicle stick, write “”Thumb”ody loves you…”. On the bottom (horizontal) popsicle stick, write “That “thumb”ody is me!”.

6. On the 4 corners of the popsicle stick frame, put heart stickers.

7. Glue popsicle stick frame onto photograph from earlier.

8. On the back of the poster board/photograph, write “Happy Valentine’s Day 2011!”

Black History Month

In school, your child will be learning about significant African Americans that made a difference in our world from Martin Luther King to George Washington Carver. Bring the learning home with these black history crafts for your kiddos!

I Have a Dream

Materials: Construction paper, Black Permanent Marker, Crayons and Coloring Tools

1. Write ” I have a dream that…” on a piece of construction paper.

2. Explain to your child what Martin Luther King meant by dream-his vision for the world. Ask your child what they want to happen in the world. This can be silly answers such as candy houses to something more serious as well.

3. Instruct your child to draw what they told you.

4. For younger kids who are just scribbling, ask the child to identify the things in the picture and label them.

Garret Morgan and the Traffic Light

Materials: Black Construction Paper, Glue, Paint Brush, Red, Yellow and Green M & Ms.

Prior to Craft: Explain who Garret Morgan was, that he invented the traffic light and why it’s important.

1. Cut out a wide rectangle on the black construction paper. (a traffic light shape)

2. Trace 3 equal circles onto the black traffic light.

3. Have child apply glue (a good amount) on the three light circles-one at a time.

4. Have the child glue red m & ms on top, yellow in the middle and green on the bottom and of course let the child snack on some m & ms too!
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