recycled

Toilet Roll Binoculars

This month momstown moms and kids are going exploring.  Two pieces of equipment that every explorer needs is a compass and a great pair of binoculars!

 

We love the different ways that you can make simple or even elaborate binoculars, depending on the age of your child.  The best part is that it uses recycled items that you have around the house. 

 toilet roll binoculars

  

Materials:

2 toilet paper rolls

Elastic Bands

Single Hole Punch

Glue

String, Yarn, pipe cleaners, embroidery string, plastic cord, or ribbon to make the strap

Embellishments- strapbooking paper, construction paper, wrapping paper (jungle print or camoflague is fun), stickers, sequins, jewels, etc.

 

Directions:

1.  Wrap your toliet rolls in wrapping paper or construction paper and glue it in place.  Little kids might just want to keep rolls plain and decorate with crayons or stickers.

 

2.  Take one elastic (or two) and put it around both toliet rolls to hold them together.  You can also use decorative paper or foam to then make strips from one roll to the other (just like REAL binoculars) or even wrap both rolls together (see images for ideas!).

 

3.  Decorate the rolls with additional embellishments if you like.

 

4.  Make holes on the outside end of each of the rolls, to attach the string or yarn for the neck strap.

 

Take some time to read about exploring and be sure to feed your hungry explorer with these great snacks for on-the-go.

 

 If you want to see a great step by step video- check this out from Simple Kids Crafts.

Posted by momstown team on 03/29/2013 - 11:44
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DIY Kaleidoscope for Kids

Exploring the world around us can be fun for kids at any age.  Creating a craft where objects are moved and changed to appear different is even more fun!

 

Kaleidoscopes are really cool, but did you know how they work?  Light travels in a straight line through empty space, but when it bumps into an object, it changes direction. Some shiny surfaces, like the plastic report cover, wax paper or a mirror, send or reflect light back to you.  The sides of the plastic tube inside the kaleidoscope reflect the beads, sequins, and confetti. The reflections then bounce around the sides to create multiple images!  Turn the kaleidoscope, and when the pieces move, you have created another image!

 

make your own kaleidoscope

 

 

Materials:
•Paper towel tube cut eight inches (20 centimeters) long
•Clear plastic report cover
•Ruler
•Pen or marker
•Utility knife (be careful!)
•Four-inch (ten-centimeter) squares (one each) of black construction paper, plastic wrap, and waxed paper
•Scissors
•Rubber band
•Clear tape
•Colored transparent beads, small sequins, and shiny confetti
•Stickers and wrapping paper

 

Directions:

•Draw approximately (depends on the size of the roll) an 8-by-4-inch (20-by-10-centimeter) rectangle on the report cover. Cut it out. Draw three lines across the rectangle.

•Fold the plastic along the lines to form a triangular shape. Tape the strip along the edge so it stays closed.  Slide the plastic triangle into the paper towel roll.

•Turn the paper towel tube on one end. Trace a circle around it on the construction paper. Poke a hole through the center of the circle and tape it over one end of the tube.

•Place a square of plastic wrap on the other end of the tube. Press down to create a pouch in the end of the plastic triangle. Put some beads, sequins, and confetti in the pouch.

•Place a square of waxed paper over the pouch. Stretch the rubber band over both the waxed paper and the plastic wrap. Make sure it is tight or sequins and beads will fall out!  Trim the corners of the squares.

•Decorate the outside of the paper towel roll with space stickers, more sequins, marker or even wrapping paper.

•Hold the tube up to one eye and look through it.

 

Have fun exploring new ways to create a light show!


Submitted by momstown Burlington and adapted from National Geographics Kids

Posted by momstown team on 03/21/2013 - 16:58
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Arctic Animal Craft: Water Bottle Penguin

penguin bottle craft

 

Waddle Waddle! A Penguin was the first animal that my daughter’s said when I asked her to name a polar animal. So a penguin craft was born!

You probably have these craft supplies at home already:

  • Empty water bottles with caps
  • Cotton balls
  • Black construction paper
  • Googly eyes
  • Black and orange felt
  • White glue, scissors,

 

Your child will have fun filling the water bottle with as many cotton balls as possible. This is great fine motor practise for little guys and could be a fun counting game as each cotton ball goes into the bottle.


Cut a 2 inch strip of black construction paper to wrap around the water bottle cap, make it a little taller than the cap. Glue it on for the penguin head. Help your child glue on the googly eyes and a triangle felt shape for a beak.


Next your penguin needs a tuxedo! We used black felt for the wings but construction paper could work too. We liked the sensory element of felt and cut two large ovals for wings. Glue these directly onto the water bottle, white glue works best.


To stabilize your penguin, he needs some feet! Cut a large circle and then shape it like a heart to show 2 waddle-waddle feet. Glue it to the bottom of the water bottle.


Once dry now you’re ready to play! Waddle Waddle like a penguin!


Other fun penguin themed ideas:


Penguin mosaic Craft - rip & glue by colour coded areas

Soda Bottle Penguin - this painted little guy could be a friend to your water bottle version

Footprint Penguin Art - such a super creative idea for babies to explore with art

Great Books about Polar Animals

Posted by momstown mama on 01/26/2013 - 23:49
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Silly Finger Monsters and Clothes Pin People

momstown moms and kids love to get silly with tons of crafts and snack ideas, so we were so excited to use these two ideas to put on finger puppet plays! 

 

Silly Finger Monsters

 

silly finger puppets

 

Materials:


Two Styrofoam Balls
Pipe cleaners of different colors
Googly eyes

 
Just insert a pipe cleaner cut to your child's hand size into the bottom of two Styrofoam balls.

Glue googly eyes and hair or antennae with pipe cleaners, and you have a very silly and fun finger puppet!

 

 

 

Silly Clothes Pin People

 

clothes pin people

 

 

Materials:


Clothes Pin(s)
Pipe Cleaners
Feather(s)
Markers
Embellishments - we used glitter glue

 

Cut a piece of pipe cleaner for the arms, insert and make the arms hands by bending the pipe cleaner.

Insert a feather into the top for hair, use a marker or other embellishments to make a face and outfit for your person

 

 

Submitted by momstown Central Alberta

Posted by momstown team on 01/21/2013 - 15:30
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Playing Peek-a-Boo and Pop Goes the Weasel! DIY Jack-in-the-Box Craft

momstown Kitchener-Waterloo moms and babies made their own Jack-in-the-Box crafts at Baby Basics!  When a baby is starting to understand the idea that something still exists even when it can't be seen, any game where things appear and disappear are always a hit! Peek-a-Boo, Where's Baby, and so many more fun games can be played at this stage of development.

 

Here are two easy Jack-in-the-Box activities using household recycled items! For more fun with boxes check out these ideas!

 

Jack-in-the-Cup

DIY jack-in-the-box craft

 

 

1.  Find a container for the "box"= plastic cups, but old formula cans, coffee cans, yogurt cartons, etc.

 

2.  Punch a hole in the bottom of the container using a chopstick, pencil, popsicle stick, or shish kabob stick.

 

3.  Glue or tape a fun "Jack" at the end of the stick! You can print off fun circus characters or tv show characters online and colored them. You could even use finger puppets, small stuffed animals or even a plastic figurine!

 

4.  Have fun with your safe jack-in-the-box that you can operate yourself. Simply pull the stick down so the toy has "disappeared", then quickly push it up when you want "Jack" to greet your baby. You can even add a "Pop" sound or "Boo" as you push the character up!

 

Kid-in-a-Box

 fun with boxes

 

1.  Use a carton or even a plastic bucket or bin that you have around the house or use an old diaper box.  Older kids can decorate the outside of their box and you can turn it into a cool ride!

 

2.  Put baby sitting down, inside or let your toddler climb in and hide.

 

3.  Sing this song as you pretend to crank the handle.... be sure to "POP" baby out or tell your child to "POP" out when you reach that part in the song! (warning, older children will LOVE this so much you will be doing it for hours!)

 

 

All around the mulberry bush
 The monkey chased the weasel.
 The monkey thought 'twas all in fun.
 Pop! goes the weasel.

A penny for a spool of thread,
 A penny for a needle.
 That's the way the money goes.
 Pop! goes the weasel.

Up and down the City Road,
 In and out of the Eagle,
 That's the way the money goes.
 Pop! goes the weasel.

Half a pound of tuppenney rice,
 Half a pound of treacle,
 Mix it up and make it nice,
 Pop! goes the weasel.

Posted by momstown team on 01/14/2013 - 11:48
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Cheap and Easy Silly Spoon Craft for Kids

Let's create some silly characters with wooden spoons!

 

This craft is a "pull-out-all-of-your-supplies-and-use-them-up" craft!  The best part is that we all have feather, googly eyes, construction paper, pom poms and a little glitter, if not, your local dollar store has plenty! 

 

We are all about being silly at momstown, and this craft is just a perfect way to giggle and laugh as we make our spoons act in a play,  sing a song or do a dance!

 

silly spoon craft

 

 

Materials:

Wooden spoon from a dollar store

Wood or all purpose kraft glue

feather, googly eyes, paper, pom poms, glitter glue, sequins, rhinestones, markers, stickers, fabric- get as creative as you like!

 

 

Instructions:

1. Clean your new wooden spoon.  Cut down the one of the handles for a baby silly spoon, if you want to make a family of spoons!

2. Add glue where you want to decorate your spoon and be creative when you add the decorations!  Maybe he only has ONE giant eye or even 10 eyes!  Glue eyes, pompom, construction paper, feathers, clothes and sequins to spoon to create facial features.

3. You can cut out construction paper arms or use pipe cleaners.  You can even make clothes out of old pieces of fabric!

4. Give your new spoon friend a name and act out a play or let them dance to your favourite song!

 

photo credit: I love to create

Posted by momstown team on 01/12/2013 - 13:56
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