Operation Get Crafty

It seems that winter has finally decided to grace us with the snow that has been a highly controversial issue amongst Fredericksburgers all season.  While many people were hoping to get through without it, others have looked forward to building snowmen, making snow angels, or perhaps just having a day off from work. Now that it is coming, however, one question keeps bugging me that arises every time the weather turns bad and keeps us housebound :  What will I do to occupy my preschooler ?

If you have a child between the ages of three and five, you know exactly how I am feeling.  Toddlers are easily entertained between playing and sleeping all day, throw in a game and some story time and you've got it made.  Older kids are great about entertaining themselves for longer periods of time, and can participate in activities such as family game night or movie night.  Preschoolers, however, are needy.  They don't do it on purpose, but they are at the age where imagination and creativity are still developing, as is their ability to pay attention.  They need more frequent activity changes and require more attention from parental units, older siblings, etc.

For days when it's not practical to go out of the house, it is good to have a list of things to keep your preschooler occupied in order to cut down on giving in to a marathon session of TV watching, or allowing them to be plagued with electronics-itis (as I call it).  The following list includes crafts that can be done with very little pre-preparation (in other words you could do it on the spur of the moment if you have a few simple items on hand), little-to-no cost, and maximum entertainment value.

Also be sure to browse each website to find hundreds of other fun and crafty ideas.  All you really need to keep your little one going is an imagination as active as their own!

Enjoy some craft time together:

http://www.littleblots.com/BibleCraftsCreationPinwheel.html--Create a pinwheel teaching your child about the Creation story from the Bible.

http://www.shirleys-preschool-activities.com/winter-art-activity.html--A fun snowman activity

http://www.shirleys-preschool-activities.com/magic-drawings.html -- A great art project with easy clean-up!

http://www.familycorner.com/family/kids/crafts/9_musical_instruments.shtml--  Make music fun

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/Eggcarton.shtml -- Have fun making several of these and then use them as puppets to create a fun story

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/box/firetruck/ --Easy to make firetruck

http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Mitten-Lacing.html --Improve fine motor skills with this simple project

http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/fivesenses/art.htm -- involve all 5 senses