Kid's crafts ideas

I used to do make your own paperchains with 4/5 year olds. Cut A4 rainbow craft paper in four strips across width. Help child to cut down the middle of each piece to make two strips. Don't have to be perfect, the idea is to help with cutting skills. You may need to provide some tension to help. Dab of glue stick on one end and a little support to make a ring. Repeat as long as you like! Older children can use the colours to make patterns too. We did for saints days too, red and white or green, white, orange and so on

The RedTed channel on you tube is also a great source of simple ideas.

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MamaCaz

Make pasta necklaces? The dgc can maybe colour the pasta first, either by 'dying' it with food colouring, or by painting individual pieces of pasta.

What is dgc ?

The Happy Puzzle catalog or website is worth a look too

I have a wide range of craft things for the grand kids from the Works and they were all inexpensive. The last time 2 of them came over we traced pictures and they put their own interpretation, in the way of colours to them. Also I have 2 looms and they have all made little scarfs with them. How about odd bits of wool, some stiff cards and get them to cut the bit of wool and make a picture? Glue them together and they have a good picture to take home. It also proves that us grans don't just stick them in front of the TV!!!

Playdough and salt dough are not the same! I have recipes for both somewhere but they would be easy to find on the web.

I have collected children's craft and game ideas from magazines and cereal boxes since mine were small. I am delighted that the DGC are now nearly good enough at reading to be able to rummage through the collection and find things for themselves.

An idea for seasonal projects would be to make candles. You can cut out shapes with biscuit cutters from sheets of coloured wax and stick them onto plain white candles simply by holding them in your hot little hands. Involves some outlay, but makes a nice present for Mummy.

Little girls love glitter. To avoid loose glitter all over the place, try glitter glue.

My GC like to help decorate anything they can find in my craft area.
I've found wood slices to be very versatile for drawing on, painting, decoupaging, making tree or wall ornaments etc.
Not my pic, but we have made snowmen with different sized wood slices and joined them together.

I was trying to think of Baker Ross, ayse - that’s where I found the paper chains for Gdcs a year or two ago.
Lots of things to choose from there.

I like this site: www.apieceofrainbow.com/ and often use the ideas on it for crafting with my granddaughter.

Play dough and crafts that let their imagination run free. I love making Christmas cards with my pre school class. They love having coloured sheets or card and we get a lot of our stuff from one below and of course the works.

Try Baker Ross as well. www.bakerross.co.uk/arts-and-crafts/craft-activities?gclid=Cj0KCQiAsqOMBhDFARIsAFBTN3fWODSCZDRUAaJiEwpaINQvPGE63j06UAj6YRlMVng_rO6_-0q2wXwaAqafEALw_wcB

They have lots of stuff at good prices so you may find some new ideas here.

Glue sticks were a must for my grandchildren as were felt tips, sellotape and scissors. Patterned paper or card were a good buy. I bought a book about paper crafts for young people. We had loads of fun making cardboard vases with paper flowers. I was fully involved as they needed help. We did enjoy doing things together.

They have such great imaginations at this age and will try things out for themselves as long as all the equipment is handy.

We also made volcanoes with vinegar and bicarbonate that went down a storm. Young children tend to like quick results so as others have suggested stickers are an instant hit. You can buy sticker books where the pictures need to be finished with particular stickers.

You can make your own play dough (salt dough) which can be dried in the oven then painted.

Hopefully you’ll have great fun just messing about with your grandchildren.

I discovered balloon printing today on Instagram from @idea_rangli (a video Friday 5 Nov). It looks wonderful.

Look up 5 minute crafts on YouTube. Sheer genius and very addictive to watch.

Not slime?
Disgusting stuff ? I think it's been banned at the DGC's house now

I'm wondering if the cornflour is used for making the slimy/gungy substance that my dgc were playing with a couple of years ago? I'm not sure though ...

Witzend

Calistemon

Just looked on The Works website for something for DGD and got sidetracked by the yarn, Witzend

??

I resisted, Witzend and did buy something for DGD ( but not from The Works)

What do you do with cornflour paste?
I make gravy, Newatthis, not sure what anyone else does. I've heard of flour and water paste to use as glue but not cornflour.

DGDs and I have made collages from autumn leave when they were younger. If the leaves are still falling when you go, it's nice to go for a walk and collect them too.

These are the puppets:
www.bakerross.co.uk/woodland-animal-hand-puppet-sewing-kits?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlKrm6pyJ9AIVjbrtCh22xA2vEAQYASABEgJwhfD_BwE
Other brands available

Sounds fantastic everyone. I can't take anything with me but I know there will be lots of craft shops there. What do you do with cornflour paste?

Calistemon

Just looked on The Works website for something for DGD and got sidetracked by the yarn, Witzend

??

If you have Hobby Craft or The Range, both stores have a wide range of craft materials, not silly prices either

Pom poms,

Don't forget about cardboard boxes.

I gather you are going to be travelling to see the dgd, so might not be able to take any with you, but if the parents start putting aside boxes of different sizes for you now, the possibilities of what you and the dgd will be able to make together are endless,starting from the simplest houses and robots ...

Reading this thread with interest and noting down ideas. My dd and I are dyspraxic so craft didn’t feature much in our lives but dgd inherited her father’s genes and loves making things. I sometimes do it with her and find it surprisingly relaxing but then she’s always amazed that Nana can produce anything at all! I’m a big fan of paper plates, they can be used in so many ways and always have a stock of lolly sticks and pipe cleaners.

If there is time to order them, Toucan Boxes are great. They send craft boxes themed for the time of year, and you can opt for every fortnight or once a month.

I got them for my niece and nephew, and they loved them. They might be a bit too advanced for the 20 month old, but you can check out the website and see.

while for the older one you can get felt kits of differing difficulty to sew an item, e.g. bird, star, perhaps for Christmas decorations.
You can buy puppets with pre-punched holes to sew then they can put on puppet shows for the whole family.
Over and over again ?

Hobbycraft have lots of craft items for children.