Crafts and Activities

Summer Bucket List for Moms Who Want to Engage

May 23, 2013 by Sharla Leave a Comment

(This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosure policy.)

Last year, I pinned many a “Bucket List” to my Summer Pinterest Board. I even printed off some blank ones and had each of the kids fill one out. We actually managed to complete most of the ideas on the bucket lists.

The thing that I noticed about our lists though was that it was geared towards the kids. It may have involved me in terms of preparing activities or taking the kids places, but I’m going to admit honestly that I was not truly engages in the activities.

I have come to some realizations lately due in large part to the fact that my oldest son is now an adult. His 18th Birthday was a bit of a wake-up call for me, an awakening to how fleeting these years are. I still have many younger kids and have the chance to create memories with them.

The way that I have been doing things is to create situations that they may remember but I will likely not.

In being busy and working hard to gather supplies and instructions for those awesome Summer crafts and in taking the time to make the fun, creative snacks and meals, I sometimes miss out on the real moments, the kisses, the hugs, the chasing in the grass, the laughter.

I am creating this printable Bucket List for Moms Who Want to Engage for me and moms like me, those who feel like their kids’ childhoods are slipping away.

I will continue my honesty by stating that some of the things on this list will be a stretch for me. I don’t even like being outside. It will be hard for me to set aside the dishes and the to-do list and get down in the grass with my kids. But I will.

Let’s make this summer about treasuring moments and creating memories that last for our kids as well as for ourselves. Are you in?

Click image below for full printable of 40 ideas…

Filed Under: Crafts and Activities, Mothering Moments, Parenting in the Chaos

Easy to Make Pinwheel

May 18, 2013 by Sharla 2 Comments

(This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosure policy.)

This is such an easy Summer craft! All the supplies you need are:

two pieces of paper in different colours
pencil with an eraser on the end
one or two pony beads
a glasshead pin

First fold each paper down to form a triangle and cut off the excess. This will make the paper square. If you are already using square paper, you can skip this step.

Next, glue the paper together using a glue stick. Now you will have one piece of paper with one colour on one side and another on the back.

Fold the paper the other way to form a triangle again and unfold so that there is now a centre where the previously folded lines cross. Draw a circle around this spot or place a coin there and trace around it.

Cut along the lines just to the drawn circle. Fold every second corner into the centre to create a pinwheel.

Place a glasshead pin through the centre being sure to go through each piece of paper there. (younger children will need help with this step)

Put one or two pony beads through the back of the pin and then insert it through the eraser on a pencil. You can then bend down any bit of the pin that is sticking through the other side or use wire cutters to snip off the end.

I’m linking with Tender Moments with Toddlers and Preschoolers, Show and Share Saturday, After School Link-Up, and Sunday Showcase.

Filed Under: Crafts and Activities

Building a Love of Art with Multiple Ages

May 13, 2013 by Sharla 17 Comments

(This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosure policy.)

I’m excited to introduce you to my friend Tricia who has kindly agreed to share a bit of her expertise with us today about fostering a love of art in our kids.

We should all paint and create some art just for the sheer joy of it now and then. What happiness, what freedom it brings!

Maybe you have a child that loves arts and crafts. Do you struggle with dealing with the mess art surely brings? Your challenge might simply be doing art with so many ages.

When you are first building the love of art, set aside the need to learn something with your art projects. Just enjoy doing. If you practice, and simply do some art, then the learning and the appreciation might naturally grow. Summer is a perfect time to build a love of art – without the pressure of other school subjects.

Our family began a love of art with chalk pastels. If you have a longing to provide your children with some simple art times, here are some encouraging tips:

Pick the time of day best for you and your children: You may need to find what works best for your age range. Normally, we all enjoy a chalk pastel or afternoon art project together at the same time, around the kitchen table. Youngest ones may finish early and scoot down from the table. And that’s ok.

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” ~ Pablo Picasso

Why do we use chalk pastels? There are no age requirements for chalk pastels. Really, a child just has to be able to hold a chalk stick. No special skills are needed. Supplies are simple and inexpensive. Just paper. A set of soft chalk pastels can be found for around $5 to $10. Everyone – all our ages – can use them.

Didn’t we all start with chalk? Maybe a nice, thick piece of chalk helped you make big circles on the driveway. It’s a familiar medium. Chalk pastels spread, they smudge and they stain. But they are beautiful. What’s especially wonderful is how forgiving chalk pastels are. If you make a mark you don’t like, simply smudge it away or layer over it with more color.

Prepare: Part of being free of the fear of the mess of art is to be prepared. In preparation for our chalk pastel art, we place the baby wipes in the center of the kitchen table. I take out a few wipes and place them within reach of our artists. Sometimes I will choose colors and place them near each child’s spot. You can even make nice, little piles of pastel sticks for the children to reach. Sometimes we even use regular printer paper for our art work.

For the very littlest ones: I help sketch out some basic shapes. Children love to fill in and blend. For more ideas, feel free to browse some of our favorite art resources at Hodgepodge.

Congratulate yourself! You are growing a love for art, practicing, building a habit. Let your littlest ones do as much or as little as they enjoy – then praise them for their creations! Young children will notice your love. Let older children completely loose with the supplies. They need that freedom and are wonderful examples for younger siblings.

“If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.” ~Vincent Van Gogh

Freedom.

Permission.

Child-like joy.

You can have a master artist teach your family!

Simple art projects for your days.
100 pages of lessons, waiting for you.
Just add chalk pastels and paper. A simple chalk set is less then $10.
10-15 minute lessons you can teach or give to an older child to do independently.
Enjoy it this summer or look ahead to next school year.

Special code for The Chaos and Clutter readers! Just use code ARTFUN for $5 off A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels ebook bundle through May 18, 2013.

“Life is a great big canvas. Throw all the paint on it you can”. ~ Danny Kaye

I hope some of these easy ways will help you add the joy of art to your days.

Homeschooling for a dozen years now, Tricia faces a daily dose of chaos with five children. She is author of A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels, Sunday Savings and Southern Celebrations. She shares art lessons, recipes and all things practical at Hodgepodge. She and her husband, Steve are also owners and authors at Curriculum Choice and Habits for a Happy Home.