After School Snack Ideas: Weekly Menu Planning

Menu Planning for After School: Try These Snack Ideas

After School Snack Ideas don't have to be just chips or apples. There are a variety of easy to prepare items intended for breakfast that are ideal for after school snacking. Check your local Walmart freezer isle to find snacks kids will like that are easy to prepare and affordable. We're sharing weekly menu ideas that we used in our day care. Scroll down for a Free Weekly Menu Planner Printable.  Enjoy!

After School Snack Ideas: Weekly Menu Planning Free Printable.

Walmart is your place for Back to School prep.

#fuelforschool

When prepping the menus each week, we made sure that the menu included a dairy item, a fruit or vegetable, and a good source of protein. Often times, we combined a craft activity with the snack making edible art. All of the items in our menus are available at Walmart where you get great value for your money.

Sample Weekly Menu Plan

Monday: 
Jimmy Dean Pancake and Sausage on a Stick, Apple Slices, Milk

Tuesday:
Yogurt Ice Cubes, Grapes, Cranberry Apple Juice


Wednesday:
State Fair Corn Dogs, Mozzarella Cheese Sticks, White Grape Juice

The original corn dog of the Texas State Fair.

Thursday:
Rainbow Pudding Graham Sandwiches, Bananas, Milk


Friday:
Jimmy Dean Sausage Egg and Cheese Croissant Sandwiches with Apple Juice

Kids go all day with very little to eat. School lunches don't fill them up, and a lot of kids don't eat them anyway. When you can have a quick filling snack after school, your kids will be happier at homework time. Some kids may eat less at dinner, but you'll know they had a good source of protein after school- so you won't worry as much. A lot of kids are hungrier after a good quality snack, so they'll be ready for a healthy dinner.

Free Printable PDF Weekly Menu Planner

Recommended:


Easy Breakfast Solutions

The Night Before Kindergarten*

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Jimmy Dean®. The opinions and text are all mine.

Cool Things to do with Chicken Nuggets: Make Kid Friendly Appetizers

Kid Friendly Chicken Nugget Appetizers

School is back in session, and after all that hard work, hungry kids need something fun to eat. Our kid friendly chicken nugget appetizers are one of many cool things to do with chicken nuggets! Best of all, when you buy Tyson® Chicken Nuggets, you can help your school! Scroll down to learn more about Tyson Project A+™. Enjoy!

Cool Things to do with Chicken Nuggets: Make Kid Friendly Appetizers.

Tyson® Chicken Nuggets are made with 100% natural ingredients, all-white meat, and they are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Whether you make our kid-friendly appetizers for a party or as an after-school snack, your kids will get a kick out eating nuggets in a surprising, new way. Since they are breaded, you don't need to add more carbs to make mini chicken sandwich sliders- just use the nuggets as the sandwich breading!

We added a pickle and some ketchup to our chicken nugget appetizers,
and they were a huge hit!

To help your school, start collecting Tyson Project A+™ labels from specially marked  packages. Visit Walmart.com/ProjectA+ to nominate your school. Share a compelling story that includes why you are nominating your school through Tyson Project A+™. The school with the most nominations will receive a packet of labels worth $1,000 to help their school get a head start on collecting Tyson Project A+™ labels!

 

 Share on social media using: #WMTProjectAPlus

Though we currently homeschool, we nominated our old school, Robey Elementary. Robey is a fantastic school that nurtures children and offers many opportunities for gifted students.



Even though we were moving from the district, my son was still offered the opportunity to attend the gifted program.

As a preschooler attending their preschool program, they quickly recognized his strengths and often allowed him to work and play at his own pace. In kindergarten, once again his abilities were nurtured. Then, in first and second grade, he was able to study his special interests in more depth. This kept him interested in school, as he was beginning to hate it due to boredom.

"I already know that." And, he did... We're so thankful the school was paying attention.


Recommended:

Easy Grilled Chicken Salad Recipe

Jake's Journey in Art: Mask Making 101

Easy Mini Cheeseburger Sliders Recipe

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Tyson. The opinions and text are all mine.

ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Turkey Apple Treats After-School Snack Activities for Preschool

Turkey Apple Treats After-School Snack Activities for Preschool

Purchase candy and food items for snack activities for preschool at the Dollar Tree for this easy, preschool Thanksgiving Turkey apple craft for kids. Find more theme snack recipes in our Summer Camp Handbook.

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.

Use lots of cookies in various shapes and sizes, candy corn, goldfish crackers, candy sprinkles, and icing. I suggest graham crackers to make it a little less like junk food. Chocolate covered fudge stripe cookies became the turkey's base and orange Halloween icing bought on clearance became the 'glue.'

We have lots of activities for preschool. We teach messy and creative play classes. Here is a fun paper, turkey hat using your foot as a pattern.

Recommended Reading:

After-School Snack Cookbook

Edie's Best After School Snacks: Healthy snacks for kids like me!

9 Owl Back to School Decorations Thematic Unit

Back to School Owl Theme Lesson and Decor 

Whether you homeschool, teach in a brick and mortar school, or operate an after school or day care program, you should decorate the environment to make it inviting and soothing for your students. Back to school decorations are abundant. What fall classroom theme you choose likely depends on the age of your students. We've found nine fun owl ideas and themes to decorate your classroom like a pro. Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links.

A popular fall theme for school is always the wise old owl. If you are planning an owl themed classroom to welcome the kids back to school, here are some great options to decorate your learning spaces and then start learning with owl curriculum.

Owl Classroom Decorations and Themes

• Owl Theme Classroom Decor from Oriental Trading. This "Owl About Me" poster makes a nice icebreaker for those early getting to know you days at the beginning of the school year. At 20" x 17," it is poster size and is great for back to school night display for parents or a fun writing lesson for homeschoolers.

• Another way to decorate with an owl theme, is to create your own owl classroom banner. Have each child make a cute paper owl in several color combinations and then string them up on the walls! Get details here: How to Make Owl Garland Banner.

Paper Owl Banner Craft  for Classroom.

• Birthdays at school can be fun, be sure to let everyone know who's birthday is coming up next with this owl theme birthday bulletin board set from Amazon.

• Pair it with these 6" X 7.88" Owl cut outs buddies from Target.

• While you're at it, you can open with owl them curriculum. Below, we found owl coloring pages, owl unit studies, and more from TeacherSherpa. Check it out!

Owl Coloring Page from Raising Our Kids found at TeacherSherpa.

• This unit about Owls tells about the two owl families and various species of owls. Learn about common features, where they live, and their habitats. Mentioned owls are; elf, great gray, screech, great horned, burrowing, and snowy. Activity worksheets include; word find, word unscramble, criss-cross, spelling. Ideal for second through fifth grade science.

Owl Thematic Unit from SchoolExpress found on TeacherSherpa.

• We have a homeschool Ornithology lesson that teaches all about birds and works for older elementary and middle school students alike. If you are close to Indianapolis, take a field trip to Eagle Creek Park and visit the Earth Discovery Center and Ornithology Center.

• If you run an after school program or daycare or just want to do something extra fun with the class, try some edible art with an owl theme. This edible owl craft is easy to make and the biscuits are cute and yummy too!

• One of our all time most popular posts is this torn paper owl craft for preschoolers and early elementary. Do it with older school age kids as an owl art mosaic lesson. Older kids will enjoy this cupcake liner owl craft.

Watch the paper owl art video.

How's that for an owl classroom thematic unit? You're all set for a  back to school theme and lesson on owls. Hope you have a great year!

Recommended:

Decorate Door with Adorable Owl Wreath Craft

Books about Owls

More Owl Craft Projects for Kids

Owl Decorative Halloween Stickers

Have you seen the owl cough medicine for kids?

Pin it!

Eagle Creek Park Earth Discovery Center and Bird Sanctuary: The Perfect After-School or Summer Camp Activity

Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis has a lot to offer when it comes to Things to do in Indiana

TwitPintGoogle PSeptember 14, 2011

Take a scavenger hunt and find animals hidden in the mural.

One of of my favorite things to do in Indianapolis is to visit Eagle Creek Park. The park is full of fun, free (or nearly free), educational things to do with kids. The activities are spread out, so ask for a map when you enter the gate. I say free, but your car is charged a small fee to get through the gate.

Eagle Creek Park Earth Discovery Center offers educational activities.

We enjoy bird watching at the Bird Sanctuary, Friday Night Frog Watches for Families, Swimming at the Beach, and visiting the Earth Discovery Center which is full of science and nature programs. You can visit the air-conditioned Earth Discovery Center and do a self-guided tour to learn about turtles, frogs, and other creatures that inhabit the park. We especially like the scavenger hunt room. They also offer summer camps and afterschool programs. If you are adventurous and want to spend some money try the Go Ape experience.

Eagle Creek Bird Sanctuary:
The Perfect After-School or Summer Camp Activity

When you visit the largest park in Marion County and one of the largest city parks in the nation, you will discover many treasures hidden among the 3,900 acres of land and 1,400 acre reservoir. The Ornithology Center or Bird Sanctuary is accessed by two main gates, which charge $3 per bicycle, $5 per vehicle, and $50 for a season pass.

Homeschool activities at Eagle Creek Park

Need to unwind after-school? The Eagle Creek Park Ornithology Center is the perfect place. On most Wednesdays and Fridays at 4 p.m. you can take your children to 'Meet a Raptor.' Park Staff will introduce you to a live bird of prey and even let you get up close and personal in an intimate setting. It is a great opportunity to sneak educational programming into an afternoon of fun.

Eagle Creek Ornithology Center: 

Field Trip Info or Homeschool Groups

The Center is nestled between the reservoir and a fun frog pond, which offers many opportunities for bird and frog watching. Check the special events calendar for "Friday Night Frog Watches" where you can learn to identify the various sounds of frogs vs. birds. Also, outside the center, (weather permitting) rescued hawks and owls are exhibited in special cages. A rustic deck, perfect for outdoor picnics, overlooks the reservoir.

Inside, boasts two bird viewing areas complete with binoculars and reference materials. One area overlooks the reservoir. Here, you can challenge your children to a game of eye spy that focuses on the various bird species flying over the water.

On any given day, you will spy a Great Blue Heron, Loon, or one of the two-hundred and sixty other species of Indiana Birds that call Eagle Creek Park home. Kids won't need binoculars to view the circus of squirrels that have taken over the manmade bird sanctuary fighting with Blue Jays and frightening Cardinals.

The indoor exhibit is filled with Indiana wildlife in their natural habitat and interactive computer kiosks with fun facts. The best kept secret is the kiosk which allows you to listen to various bird songs, match them with the appropriate picture, and even compose a little tune of your own. All of this is included with the park's general admission. For an additional fee the park offers after-school programming at the Earth Discovery Center.

Programs and Activity Calendar

Make a day of it in the summer and visit the beach too. Swimming is $3-4 per person, they have lifeguards, and life jackets are available on request. Yes, there is acutally sand on the beach. Enjoy!

Recommended Reading:

Beginning Birdwatching for Kids

Things to do in Indiana

National Geographic Kids Bird Guide of North America: The Best Birding Book for Kids from National Geographic's Bird Experts

Birds, Nests and Eggs (Take Along Guides)

School Lunch Bag Ideas

Fun Ideas for a Cool School Lunch Bag

Pack a lunch for school everyday? What to pack in the school lunch bag is tricky. Will they eat it? Do they need something for bartering? Is a fancy lunch box necessary? Sometimes, like field trip days or summer camp days, you need to pack a sack lunch rather than a lunch box. We're sharing fun ideas for the coolest sack lunch ever. Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.*

Fun School Lunch Bag Ideas with Pepperidge Farm® Goldfish Crackers.

We headed to Walmart for a great value on pack-able lunch items. All good school lunches deserve Pepperidge Farm® Goldfish Crackers! These are always are go to snack for after school snacks. Their back-to-school bins are full of things you'll need from school supplies to fun snacks to hand sanitizers. So, we grabbed some Wet Ones® Individual packs too. They make it easy for kids to clean their hands after messy food, and they kill 99.9% of germs.

Shopping at Walmart for our lunch items.

As a fun surprise, we like to draw games on the lunch bags. This week, we played Fish Tac Toe and Jumping Jellyfish with our Pepperidge Farm® Goldfish Crackers (Cheddar and Pretzel). You can also play with the multi-color crackers, you only need two different colors and a friend. To play Jumping Jellyfish download the free printable instructions, and pop them in your child's lunch bag with their favorite lunch item and Wet Ones® Individuals.

Lunch Bag Ideas: Draw Fish Tac Toe or Jumping Jellyfish on your child's lunch bag.

Print out these instructions for how to play Jumping Jellyfish, and place them in the lunch bag with a fun note.

Go here for the free printable instructions for the game.

We found this fun idea to print images or notes on your lunch bag at Cottage Hill. They even share a fun way to make an egg basket.

Print images or notes on school lunch bags.

You might also like these Peanut-free school lunch ideas or Creative Lunch Ideas for kids.

Quick Breakfast on the way to School:
If you are in need of Fast Food before school, but don't have the time or money to make a run to a restaurant- make your own! If you are running late or heading on a road trip, pack a fast breakfast.

We grabbed a lunch bag and filled it with individual Wet Ones, a banana, fruit snacks, juice pack, and a pancake on a stick (you can also use corn dogs). The corn dog or walking pancake microwaves in less than a minute. Wrap it it a paper towel, and toss it in the lunch bag. The kids can enjoy "breakfast" on the way to school.


Recommended:

Lunch Bag Crafts

Pinkalicious: School Lunch*

Paper Bag President Puppets

The Best Homemade Kids' Lunches on the Planet*



This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Wet Ones® + Pepperidge Farm® . The opinions and text are all mine.

ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Free Printables Calendar Monthly: Wifi Printer HP

Get Ready for Back to School with an HP Wifi Printer and Free Calendar Printables

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CreateWithHP #CollectiveBias

Whether you are a college student, a homeschooler, or busy at a brick mortar high school, you can't escape back to school prep. We've got a free back to school prep to do list and fill-in-the-blank calendar printables to help you get organized. What is the best way to print our free monthly calendar printables? 

With an HP All-in-One Printer with wifi , of course. Wifi printers are the bomb! You can even print from your smart phone. Enjoy!

The Benefits of Extracurricular Activities for Children with Disabilities

Special Needs Children Need to Participate in Extra Curricular Activities too!

A recent report suggests that pediatricians should encourage more children with disabilities to take part in physical activities. It is common for both doctors and parents to be cautious about allowing children with physical impairments to join after school clubs or participate in sports and team games. Children with disabilities and special needs aren't always given the opportunity or encouraged to participate and enjoy the benefits of extra curricular activities.

However, a number of studies show that increased physical activity in children with disabilities can significantly improve general health as well as help to develop mobility, balance, and coordination. At the same time, involvement in team sports and other organized recreational activities offer great opportunities to build social skills, make new friends and boost self-confidence. With the right support, children with physical or learning disabilities are able to enjoy a range of recreational activities, from fun party games at a sleepover to residential camps during the summer.

Photo by Danny Nee on Unsplash.

Taking Part in Accessible Activities

Although it may sometimes be more challenging, many children with disabilities are able to safely take part in physical activities. With more accessible facilities, specialized equipment and personal recommendations, children with a range of different needs and abilities can find an activity that they enjoy. In addition, increased levels of exercise can help them to maintain a healthy weight and improve their cardiovascular fitness. 

While children with spastic cerebral palsy may experience difficulties with balance and movement, they can still enjoy activities such as horse riding or swimming that can allow them to experience greater mobility and independence. Even less physical activities such as drawing or photography are still very useful for refining motor skills and are also calmer activities for children with sensory issues. 

 

Joining After-School Programs

While parents are often more focused on academic achievement or medical therapies, after-school programs for children with special needs offer a great opportunity to try out a range of different activities. Each child has different abilities and requirements so it is important to find a hobby or sport that suits that builds on their strengths and allows them to develop and grow.  As well as having the chance to master a new skill, being part of a club allows children to make new friends and learn essential life skills.

 

Attending Inclusive Summer Camps

Summer camps are also a great place to develop life skills such as team working, resilience and decision-making.  As well as being able to choose a specialist camp designed to support particular conditions such as autism or cerebral palsy, children with additional needs can also take their pick from any camp in the country. The Americans with Disabilities Act ensures that all camps are inclusive to children with disabilities. This means that accommodations such as wheelchair-accessible ramps or additional therapeutic programs, are made to allow children of all abilities to access a range of activities suited to their particular interests and needs. 

With the provision of accessible after school programs and summer camps, children with disabilities and additional special needs can enjoy the physical and social benefits of extracurricular activities.

Recommended:

Summer Camp Activities from Kids Creative Chaos

Special Needs Articles from Kids Creative Chaos

Why I Choose to Homeschool: Homeschooling with Online Classes through Connections Academy (INCA)

Why Homeschool? Should You Homeschool? 

Have you been considering homeschooling? Should you homeschool? Is homeschooling bad or good? Why homeschool? Have you considered free online public school? It's completely free and totally easy! We struggled with the decision whether or not to homeschool. Then, I saw a commercial on television for Connections Academy, so we did that for awhile and then we used what we learned to do homeschool on our own. Enjoy!

With Online Homeschool, there is plenty of time for field trips and extracurricular learning.
We visited an orchard and picked beautiful blue plums off the tree.

Why did I choose to homeschool?  

Why homeschool? There are so many things about public brick and mortar school I detest and dread. I hated the mean-spirited shaming I witnessed from one avid church-goer when my son mentioned he didn't really go/like to go church. It's true, he went sometimes, but I left him home with Daddy a lot (Daddy retired from church). This strikes me as ironic, because stereotypically many people believe "church people" or "religious extremists" homeschool. 

I go to church when the whim strikes me. I'm a bleeding heart, stuck somewhere between hippies and devout Christians. I guess, the remark hurt my feelings too.

I hated the complaints from my daughter of how much she hated recess. "There is nothing to do, no one to play with, and the teachers won't let me sit on the blacktop" Ah... memories. In early elementary, I walked around the edge of the blacktop waiting for the teacher to blow the whistle.

I hated picking my son up nearly every other day after lunch, because he had something with milk or dairy in it. I even had a note from the doctor, apparently, state law requires milk must be placed on EVERY child's tray! I sent in alternative beverages, but "Mommy, I just took a little sip of chocolate milk!" 

He'd have an asthmatic reaction, go to the nurse for his inhaler, and then... And then... poor nurse. Let's just say, it came out both ends.

Number one, the school bus! I hated leaving the safety of my kids to another person- someone I didn't know, no seatbelts on the bus, bullies on the bus, other dangerous drivers, etc. Just pulling into our neighborhood was a deathtrap. Waiting for the bus with the middle schoolers outside was too traumatic for Mommy. Well, it didn't seem right to me; my kids were just newly 5 when they started school.

They begged to ride the bus. I let my son ride a few times. The neighbor child had some problems. He was sort of a bully, but he was also bullied by the older kids. The nice, old man bus driver had him sit up front with my little one. My son came home with lots of amazing new life lessons. 

Then, the kid started causing trouble. The bus driver would pull over and wait it out. So, the bus was often late. No, thank you, we started driving the kids to school permanently once my daughter hit all-day kindergarten. She's a handful. I can't imagine she'd stay in her seat without a seatbelt. I didn't think the sweet, old man needed the added stress. 

I'd pick the kids up from school, have an after-school snack, try to squeeze in a little outdoor playtime, then it was time to make supper, get baths, do homework, and go to bed. 

Impossible.

I hated the homework! We'd be up late finishing projects for first and second grade! 

My son is gifted. We looked forward to a special program at the school, but it didn't start until third grade. In the meantime, he was placed in a class with high ability learners. Even so, the teacher felt there were problems. He understood concepts in ways other second graders couldn't- which led to arguments and frustrations. Since, we were planning to move, the teacher wondered if online school might work for him. This way, he could work at his own pace. I wasn't sold on the idea until...

The second lockdown at school. That's right, second. I shrugged off the first one. The second one was for the same reason, a bank robber near the school grounds and shots fired. I tried to get in the car line to pick up the kids, but the road was blocked by police cars. I called  a friend, Angie, she arrived a few minutes prior to me. She was told to get out of her car and head to them gym for safety. 

Yep, I was a mess.  

BUT... I can't homeschool. I don't have the patience. I'm not disciplined enough. My kids need socialization. I don't want other people to think we're freaks. 

WHATEVER.

It's just not like that anymore. I CAN (of course I can). We actually had LESS busy bookwork than regular school. The kids had online live lessons with their teachers and classmates. The teachers checked in regularly with emails and phone calls. As a learning coach, I was a big part of my kids academic experience, but not the teacher. So, I didn't have to worry about making major mistakes.

Indiana Connections Academy, Free School Online!

We homeschooled through INCA or Indiana Connections Academy. The supplies are completely free! This includes all textbooks, science supplies, art supplies, and companion DVD's and CDRom's for the online classes.

They took required state standardized tests in an university classroom. There are school sponsored field trips and local group gatherings. We met up with a local group of homeschoolers outside of INCA for recreation or SOCIALIZATION.

Yep, next to giving birth... homeschooling is the best idea I've ever had. I have more time to spend with my kids, hone my novel writing skills, and work as a freelancer.  

In case you're wondering, my kids were offered the opportunity to attend regular school year. They both declined with a resounding, "No way!"

Now, that we are experienced homeschoolers, we go it alone! I create online lessons and share them here on the blog. The kids do math with Kahn Academy, and we supplement with Brainpop. We love homeschooling. 

We get up when we want, go to bed when we want, study what we want, and have the freedom to supplement with field trips whenever we want. We are members of several clubs for homeschoolers and meet up with our friends at least once per week.


Recommended Reading:


Homeschooling 101: A Guide to Getting Started.*

The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas*

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ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Cognitive Craft Benefits for Children: Twig Log Cabin Ornament

Twig Ornament Highlights Benefits of Crafting with Children

Crafts aid in child development; it is proven to be true! There are cognitive benefits to crafting with your kids. So, get out your crayons, glue, pom poms, felt, and glitter, and get crafting. Scroll down for details on our fun craft activity for school-age children. Enjoy!

Make a twig log cabin ornament.

If you are a busy working mama don't worry- enroll your child in a local class, take them to a library program, or sign them up at a childcare program like ChildTime.

Many child care programs, often considered as only day care for preschoolers, offer before and after school care, homework help, and summer camp in addition to their preschool classes and care.

At ChildTime, fun and educational mornings and afternoons await your child. The My Best Self! program for school-age students focuses on goal-setting and reflection, and is complemented by homework support, team-building opportunities, and physical activity. The programs give children structure with a mix of independent and organized activities (including crafts), education, and recreational opportunities.

So, what are the cognitive benefits of Crafts?

Crafting can improve coordination between the right and left side of the brain, as well as, hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.

In small children, using crayons, scissors, and glue helps develop muscles in fingers and hands. Think small motor skills.

Adults can build bonds while interacting with children during craft time. The social interaction promotes language skills through face to face engagement. Older children need these bonds to feel a sense of security during all the changes they face in puberty. Learn more about emotional bonding.

As children age and want to spend more time with screens and less and less time creating with their hands, before and after school programs are a great way to encourage human interaction and continue to build skill for following directions and completing projects.

Want to bond and practice the cognitive benefits of crafts at home? You might like this fun craft activity!

Make a twig star and wrap it with your favorite color yarn for a fun, holiday ornament.

How to Make Twig Ornaments

You've probably seen the stars made out of Twigs on Pinterest. We thought we'd try that with the kids. This is not as easy as it looks! I would not try it with preschoolers. After playing around with the twigs, some wire, and wood glue, we came up with little log cabin twig ornaments!

Make fun twig ornaments after a nature hike with children.

This a great activity to bond with your kids of all ages. Preschoolers will especially enjoy the prep required to make them. We headed out for a nature hike. Find a small twig and challenge your children to find straight twigs the same diameter. Collect several in varying lengths. 

After your hike, lay out the twigs in the shape of a house.

Older kids can attach the twigs at each overlapping corner with some small wire, floral tape, or kite string.

Be sure to attach a loop at the top to hang as an ornament.

Next, lay more small twigs across the house so they look like the logs of a log cabin. Attach with wood glue or strong school glue.

Let dry for 10-15 minutes.

To Make a Twig Star:

If you are a skilled twig designer, you can make a star and wire it together at the overlapping corners as seen above. Once complete, cut yarn, and have children wrap the star in their favorite colors. We cut several 6" pieces of yarn and then glued then ends down so that it doesn't unravel.

Imagine all the crafts your kids can make at ChildTime!

Recommended:

Nature Circle Time Activities

Another Twig Craft for Children

Twig Pencils*

Stick Man*


This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Learning Care Group. The opinions and text are all mine.