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Saturday, November 10, 2012

Chicken-Scratch-Saturday: Guest Post on Screen-Free Activities For Kids

Today I have a guest post for you from Nancy Parker. She has written up a wonderful post on Screen-Free Holiday Crafts for Kids. Take it away, Nancy!


Mess and Screen Free Holiday Crafts for Kids

Having craft time with kids usually means a mess, and during the busy holiday season that is not something you want to spend time cleaning up after. However, it wouldn’t be the holidays without some fun themed crafts to go along with it! For mess and screen free fun with your kids, why not try:




1) Felt Tree – I know kids are always trying to play with the Christmas tree and ornaments, so why not give them their own tree to decorate? Cut out a green tree from felt and add some colorful felt ornaments and presents. Hang the tree up on the wall and let kids decorate, redecorate and have fun with that tree to their heart’s content. Nothing messy or dangerous here, just fun!


 
 



2) Finger Paint in a Bag – Finger painting is usually a messy proposition, but not this method! All you have to do is put a couple globs of paint in a large gallon Ziploc bag, get the air out, and tape down the edges. Taped to a table, kids can have fun mixing colors and painting without the paint drying out or getting all over!



























3)Leaf Wind Catcher – Celebrate the fall with autumn colored leaves! You can use real laves, but that can be messy. Instead, purchase some artificial leaves, a bit of twine, and some beads for color. Have kids string the beads and leaves on the twine and hang for all to see!





























4) Overnight Snowflake – This one is fun for kids to watch, though they do not get to participate as much. All you need is some borax, pipe cleaner and thread to make beautiful crystal snowflakes. Just mix borax and water and pour into a mason jar. Drop in your snowflake shaped pipe cleaner (or any shape you want, snowman would be good) and tie a strong around it for easy retrieval. Let it sit overnight and in the morning you will have a sparkly snowflake!











 



























5) St. Nick’s Station – Give the kids something to focus on besides gifts! Take an empty cardboard box and cut doors and windows in it. The kids can pretend they are helping Santa make the gifts and ‘ship’ in all the parts for the toys with their trucks, cars and trains. They can even set up a reindeer landing strip!


























6) Sensory Bag – This is a fun craft for the very little ones. Fill a gallon bag with hair gel and assorted small toys (no sharp edges please). Seal up the bag with duct tape and let the babies go to town! They love to feel the squishy against the hard and figure out what each shape in the bag is and how it will move. Mess free and will keep them busy!




























These are just a few of the fun, mess and screen free crafts and activities you and your children can do this holiday season. Check online for more great ideas or just come up with your own. There is no limit to the fun you can have!



Author Bio
Nancy Parker was a professional nanny and she loves to write about wide range of subjects like health, parenting, child care, babysitting, nanny, etc.
You can reach her @ nancy.parker015 @ gmail.com.



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In case you didn't know it, I'm like the queen of blog-hoppin' lately. It's kind of like square dancing but without the dated outfits, smelly gym, and elderly caller.

Here's the schedule I keep:
Monday: Homestead Revival's Barn Hop, Natural Living Mamma's Natural Living Mondays, The Chicken Chick's Clever Chicks, A Cat-Like Curiosity's Monday Mantras, Ponder Wonder's Soul Food Monday and @ Home Take 2's Mom's Monday Mingle
Tuesday: Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday, Crafty Garden Mama's Tuesday Greens, and The Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up
Wednesday: My Life and Kids Finding the Funny, Tilly's Nest's Down Home, and Crafty Spices Wordless Wednesday
Thursday: A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop, and Two In Diapers' Mommy Brain Mixer
Friday: Deborah Jean's Dandelion House's Farmgirl Friday, Fresh Eggs Daily's FarmGirl Friday, Little Becky Homecky's Fantabulous Friday, @Home Take 2's Weekend Blog Walk, and Oh So Amelia's Friday Chaos
Saturday: Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop, and Tutus and Tea Parties' Pinteresting Party.


Since today is Saturday, that means I'm linking up tpday's post with Tutus and Tea Parties' Pinteresting Party, and my post "Time to Say Goodbye"
with Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop, and Country Momma Cooks Saturday Link-Up.

Come join the fun!


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Rudeness disclaimer:

I love all your comments,
I read every one!
But I can't hit 'reply',
I've no time for fun.

Please don't judge me,
Please don't hate.
If you have a question that just can't wait,
Send me an email at farmbeachgal@yahoo.com,
And I'll answer right back because I'm, you know, the Mom.



12 comments:

  1. That cardboard box one is one I'll be doing for sure. My younger boy can play with cars all day long, but my older boys needs something to get him to buy in. All those doorways and roads and rails will totally keep his attention.

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  2. I love the felt tree idea! So cute!

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  3. Hi Anne - thanks so much for stopping by my 'place'. I'm so glad I found yours. I love love love the simple toys and decorations you've made with your children. I'm visiting my Granddaughter right now and I know this Christmas she may like the box better than any present. What a great idea! Thanks for sharing your projects.

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  4. I love the leaf wind catcher. Thanks for visiting my blog. I am following you via GFC!

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  5. Howdy! Returning the follow. You've got some great ideas! I would love for you to link some up on my weekly Mom's Library Link-Up each Wednesday! Hope to see you there!
    Julie @ Hey Mommy, Chocolate Milk

    http://heymommychocolatemilk.blogspot.com/

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  6. Fun ideas gonna have to try some of them

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  7. Thanks, people! Wish I could take credit, but all praise goes to my guest poster, Nancy Parker. Great post, Nancy!!!

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  8. Great ideas to keep the kiddo's busy. We have done the car box and my little one loves it! Thanks for linking up to our Pinteresing Party. :)

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  9. Great list, LOVE the St. Nick's Station

    New follower from the blog hop
    http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/

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  10. These are great ideas for younger kids... my older ones still need something to distract!! I love these ideas though!! cute!

    visiting from the blog hop... I've been a follower for awhile now. :)

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  11. I love all these ideas. Especially the sensory bag and leafy wind catcher! Thanks for sharing these at Mom's Library.

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  12. Awesome ideas! I really like this post of yours.
    Thank you so much for sharing the same.
    Air Duct Cleaning West island

    ReplyDelete

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