The Preschooler’s Busy Book (17 page)

Glue

Yarn

Buttons

Markers

Use a wooden kitchen spoon to make a spoon person.
Have your child glue yarn onto the top of the spoon to make hair and buttons to make eyes.
Draw a mouth and nose with markers.
Make several of these for a spoon family, and encourage your child to tell a story with these little people.

A quick, clean alternative to “real” painting.

Paper towel

Newspaper

Food coloring or unsweetened Kool-Aid or Jell-O powder

Clean, empty salt shakers (optional)

Lay a piece of paper towel over newspaper and show your child how to drop food coloring onto the paper towel.
Use different colors to make an interesting design.
For variety, wet the paper towel first and lightly shake unsweetened Kool-Aid drink mix or Jell-O powder onto it.
Use a variety of vivid colors and let them dry for a beautiful result.
For younger children who might be tempted to dump the entire package at once, put the drink mix or Jell-O powder in a clean, empty salt shaker before using.

Flowers or leaves

Crayon shavings

Wax paper

Newspaper

Iron

Go out on a walk with your child and pick some pretty spring flowers or fall leaves.
At home, make shavings of brightly colored crayons with a grater or knife.
Place a piece of wax paper, wax side up, on top of several layers of newspaper on your work surface.
Arrange the flowers or leaves on top of the wax paper and sprinkle with crayon shavings.
Cover with another piece of wax paper, wax side down.
Place several layers of newspaper on top and iron thoroughly until the crayons are melted.
Hang to dry.
A smaller version glued to one half of a folded piece of construction paper makes a unique and beautiful greeting card.

This idea may sound a bit ridiculous, but you will be amazed at how much fun a child will have with these!

Two toilet paper rolls, or a paper towel roll cut in half

Tape

Markers, crayons, stickers, and so on

Tape two toilet paper rolls together to make a pair of binoculars for your child.
She can decorate them with markers, stickers, and so on, and use them to spot interesting things as you go for a walk or ride in the car.

Large paper bag

Hole punch

Paper ring reinforcements

Scissors

String

Paint or markers

Stapler or glue

Crepe paper streamers

Punch a hole on each of the four corners of a large paper bag, at least one inch from the edge of the bag.
Place a paper ring reinforcement on each hole.
Cut two three-foot lengths of string and tie each end to a hole to form two loops.
Cut another three-foot length of string and tie it through the two loops to create a handle.
Have your child decorate the bag with paint or markers, and give her crepe paper streamers to glue or staple onto the bag.
When your child holds onto the string and runs, the kite will fill with air and float behind her.

Empty coffee cans

Paintings, drawings, or other artwork your child has made

Scissors

Glue

Clear contact paper

Use your child’s artwork to create some decorative and useful canisters out of empty coffee cans.
Cut the artwork to completely cover the can and glue it on, overlapping the edges.
To protect the artwork, cover the outside of the can with clear contact paper.
These canisters are great for holding crayons, playdough, cookie cutters, or small toys, and they make fun alternatives to gift wrap.

Newspaper

Wax paper

Crayons

Grater or knife

Iron

Place several layers of newspaper on your work surface.
Place a sheet of wax paper on top of the newspaper, wax side up.
Shave, chop finely, or grate crayons onto the wax paper.
Place a second sheet of wax paper, wax side down, on top of the first sheet (so that crayon pieces are in between).
Cover with several layers of newspaper and iron with a hot iron until crayons are melted.
Hang to dry.

Plain or construction paper

Crayons, markers, glitter, stickers, and other decorative items

Scissors

Tape

Paper fastener

Cardboard cut into a small circle

Straw, wooden dowel, or unsharpened pencil

Have your child decorate a square piece of paper with crayons, markers, paint, glitter, stickers, and so on.
Mark the center of the square and cut from each corner into the center, stopping one inch from the center.
Fold every other point into the center and tape; make sure the decorated side of the paper is on the outside.
Push a paper fastener through a small circular piece of cardboard, then through the center of the pinwheel.
Fasten around a straw, wooden dowel, or unsharpened pencil.

Leaves

Newspaper

Wax paper

Iron

On a fall walk with your child, collect a variety of types and colors of leaves.
At home, cover your ironing board with several layers of newspaper, then place a sheet of wax paper on top.
Have your child arrange her leaves on top of the wax paper.
Place a second sheet of wax paper over the leaves.
Cover with a layer of newspaper and place a medium-hot iron on top.
Hold the iron in place for about thirty seconds.
Then move the iron to another section of the wax paper.
Continue until all areas of the wax paper have been heated.
Lift off the paper and remove the leaves.
They should be waxed enough to retain their shape.
Arrange them in a vase or use them in some other artwork.

Pasta in various shapes

Paper plate or piece of cardboard

Glue

Tempera paints

Paintbrush

Glue various shapes of pasta onto a paper plate or a piece of cardboard, and paint the pasta with tempera paints.
If you prefer, dye the pasta ahead of time by mixing half a cup of alcohol with food coloring.
The larger the pasta, the longer it will take to absorb the color.
Dry the pasta on newspaper covered with wax pape.
When the pasta is dry, have your child use it to create a pasta picture.

Construction paper

Crayons, markers, stickers, and other decorative items

Tape or stapler

Scissors

Elastic thread or ribbon

Let your child decorate a piece of construction paper with crayons, markers, stickers, and so on.
Fold the paper into a cone shape, tape or staple the overlapping edges together, and cut the bottom edge so it is even.
Staple a length of elastic thread or ribbon to each side for hat straps.

Macaroni noodles

String

Tempera paints

Paintbrush

Make a noodle necklace by threading macaroni noodles on a string.
Knot the ends together and paint the noodles with tempera paints.
Let the necklace dry thoroughly before letting your child wear her creation.

Piece of cardboard or paper plate

Glue or paste

Small household items (cereal, buttons, macaroni, sequins, cut-up straws, plastic jug lids, and so on)

Give your child a strong piece of cardboard or a paper plate, some glue, and small items of different sizes, shapes, and textures: cereal, buttons, macaroni, sequins, cut-up straws, plastic juice jug lids, and so on.
Let your child create her own version of modern art.

Cardboard egg carton

Scissors

Tempera paints

Paintbrush

Pipe cleaners

Construction paper

Markers

Stapler

Cut an egg carton in half lengthwise, then cut one of the halves in half again, lengthwise.
Turn one of the halves upside down and paint with tempera paint.
Attach pipe cleaners to the head for feelers.
Cut wings from construction paper and decorate with paint or markers; staple to the side of the carton.
Use your imagination to make variations; for example, use one cup of the carton to make a turtle or a ladybug, use three cups to make a bumblebee, or use a full half carton to make a caterpillar.

Large brown paper bag

Scissors

Paint