Here’s a very quick craft that helps kids develop sewing skills and hand-eye coordination. Recently my daughter has felt compelled to remove her shoelaces and practice lacing as soon as I ask her to put her shoes on to leave the house. Next time we’re running late I’m going to suggest lacing a star instead so we can get out of the house on time, and we can practice lacing shoes when we get home. Only seems fair to offer her a substitution if I plan to ask her to leave her shoelaces in place, right? Even better, maybe I should cut out a cardboard shoe tomorrow so she can practice the criss-crossing pattern.
All you need: cereal boxes or equivalently thin cardboard, paint, permanent marker or pen to draw an outline, cookie cutters or stencils (optional), scissors, hole puncher, string or yarn, tape
Paint your cardboard and let dry completely. Draw shapes using cookie cutters, stencils, or your good old imagination, cut out shapes, and punch holes. Tie one end of the string on to the shape and wrap a small piece of tape around the other end to give the kids something sturdy to hold on to and push through the holes. Voila, you just saved $10 and shared a crafty experience with your child.
Store them on the refrigerator for an activity to occupy the kids while you’re cooking.
My little one really liked stringing the cards together for a makeshift kite, which we proceeded to “fly” in the breeze of our floor fan while singing “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” from Mary Poppins.
Raised from Scratch 