Need some ideas for activities to do during the Thanksgiving and Winter Holiday breaks? I have selected nine activities that will keep your children busy for hours! Most of these items you will easily find in the house without ever heading to the store. Enjoy and happy holidays! :)
Fabric Garden-
Materials:
Scraps of plain and floral fabric
Colored markers
Plain paper
White glue
Poster board
Directions:
First cut out the flowers, leaves, stems, and buds from floral fabric.
Plan fabric can be used to cut out additional petals, leaves, and stems. Use
colored markers to outline the shapes. Glue all the shapes onto the paper to
make them firmer. Let the glue dry completely. Reassemble the shapes on the
poster board to make flowers, plants, and imaginary flora so that the finished
effect is like a flower garden or field of flowers designed by your child.
*Taken from the book “365 Days of Creative Play” by Sheila Ellison and
Judith Gray
Paper Chain People-
Materials:
Pencil
Paper
Scissors
Crayons
Directions:
Fold paper accordion- fashion so that all sections are equal. On the
top section, draw a person whose hands extend the folds of the paper. Carefully
cut around your person. Open out the paper and your child will have a chain of
several people holding hands. Color them in with crayons and take them to the
refrigerator.
*Take from the book “365 Days of Creative Play” by Sheila Ellison and
Judith Gray
Bear Hospital-
Materials:
Old Sheeting
Masking Tape
Band-Aids
Scissors
Directions:
Tear narrow strips of old sheeting to make bandages. Cut out triangular
shapes too. Show your child how to make an arm sling and how to tape down
bandages. Using his or her bears, dolls, and stuffed toys as patients, have
your child pretend that he or she is in the hospital or clinic where the toys
must be treated and repaired. Be careful to handle the toys gently.
*Taken from the book “365 Days of Creative Play” by Sheila Ellison and
Judith Gray
Paper Bag Puppets-
Materials:
Markers
Small brown paper bag
White glue
Yarn
Scissors
Construction paper
Directions:
Draw the puppet’s eyes, nose, and mouth on to the bottom flaps of paper
bag. Glue on yarn for the puppet’s hair. Use scissors to cute things out such
as bow ties and buttons from the construction paper. Glue them onto the bag for
puppet’s costume. Put a hand inside the bag to move the puppet’s mouth.
*Taken from the book “The little Hands Art Book” by Judy Press
Paper Plate Spider-
Materials:
Scissors
Black construction paper
Small white paper plate
Long piece of string
White glue
Black marker
Directions:
Use scissors to cute the black construction paper into eight long
strips. Accordion fold the paper strips back and forth onto themselves for
spider legs. Poke two holes in the center of the paper plate, then thread
string through. Glue spider legs around the edges of the paper plate. Glue two
pop-up eyes on top of the plate, if you want. Use black marker to color the
paper plate for body of spider. Dangle spider from string.
*Taken from the book “The Little Hands Art Book” by Judy Press
Dancing Fingers-
Materials:
Newspaper
Container of Water
Glossy White Paper
Popsicle Stick or Spoon
Finger Paint
Radio or CD player
Directions:
Cover table with newspaper. Sprinkle a few drops of water to dampen
glossy paper. Use Popsicle stick to scoop a glob of paint on paper. Listen to
music while using fingers to spread finger paint around paper.
*Taken from the book “The Little Hands Art Book” by Judy Press
Gak-
Recipe:
1 cup liquid starch
1 cup glue
Food coloring
Directions:
Pour glue and food coloring into bowl. Mix thoroughly. Add starch
slowly, and mix in. Knead. (Feels like rubber and can be reused if stored in an
airtight container)
*Taken from the book “The Cooking Book” by Laura J. Colker
Fabulous Finger Paint I-
Recipe:
½ cup cornstarch
2 cups cold water
2 envelopes of unflavored gelatin
1 cup powdered laundry detergent
Food coloring
Materials:
Medium mixing bowl
Measuring cups
Wooden spoon
Small bowl
Medium Saucepan
Jar with lid
Directions:
Place cornstarch in mixing bowl. Add 1 ½ cups cold water. Mix with
spoon. Pour gelatin into small bowl. Add ½ cup cold water, mix, and let sit for
1-2 minutes. Add gelatin to saucepan. Cook on medium heat until thick and
glossy. Stir in detergent. Add food coloring and mix. Store in an airtight
container.
*Taken from the book “The Cooking Book” by Laura J. Colker
Wake-Up-and-Smell-the-Coffee
Clay-
Recipe:
¼ cup instant coffee
1 ½ cups warm water
4 cups flour
1 cup salt
Materials:
2 mixing boals
Measuring cups
Wooden spoon
Fork
Directions: Place coffee in a bowl. Add water, and stir to dissolve. In
second bowl, mix flour and salt. Use spoon to make a hollow in center of flour
mixture. Pour coffee into hole. Mix dough. Knead until shiny. (after molding,
clay can either be stored in a plastic bag for reuse or be hardened by baking
in 300-degree oven for 1hr.)
*Taken from the book “The Cooking Book”
