Friday Activity: Felt Weaving

Each Friday we'll bring you a fun activity to do with your kids!

This week's activity is...

Felt Weaving

2 felt rectangles
scissors
glue

Pick one felt for the base, and another for the weaving stripes. Cut slits in the base felt about 2" apart. Make not to cut all the way to the edges - so be sure to leave a border of about 1/2" at the edges. Cut the other sheet of felt in 1" strips. Now weave the strips through the base one at a time. Make sure to alternate strips over and under as you add new ones. Also, after you finish weaving in a strip - make sure to push it up close to the last strip as to not leave spaces. Finish off the ends that stick up with a little glue and you are done! You can use as a placemat, or as a wall hanging.

Visit The Idea Box for all of our activities for kids

Enter Our Giveaway!

October-November Giveaway!

Sponsored by: FamilyCorner.com  (Congratulations to Barbara Rosen of New Jersey for winning September's giveaway!) Enter to win these wonderful hardcover books, "Dewey: There's a Cat in the Library!" and "Five Minutes Until Bed". Five Minutes Until Bed by Dorthea Deprisco Wang In the tradition of Goodnight Moon, Dorothea DePrisco Wang pens Five Minutes Until Bed, a helpful and charming story that gives parents one more tool to encourage their little ones to catch some shut-eye. Visit families of rabbits, birds, beavers, bears, and foxes to find that life in the forest, at least when it comes to bedtime, doesn't differ that much from our own. There are blankets to retrieve, songs to sing, treats to nibble, and hugs and snuggles to enjoy. With each turn of the page, another critter is off to sleep as the child at home pulls a tab within the book to reveal another gold star in the sky. Bedtime countdown continues until at last there are five golden stars glistening in the night sky and all critters of the forest are soundly snoozing in their cozy beds. Dewey: There's a Cat in the Library! by Vicki Myron The story of Dewey the celebrated library cat is now available for the youngest of readers in this new, fully-illustrated picture book adventure. When Librarian Vicki Myron finds a young kitten abandoned in the Spencer Library return box, she nurses him back to health, deciding then and there that he will be their library cat, and naming him, appropriately, Dewey Readmore Books. Dewey loves his new home, but once he discovers the littlest library visitors-who like to chase him, pull his tail, and squeeze him extra tight-Dewey begins to wonder if he's truly cut out for the demands of his new job. In the end, he is triumphant as he realizes that helping people big and small is what he is meant to do, and that by sharing his special brand of Dewey love, he can be the best library cat of all. To enter this giveaway, fill in your name and valid email address. One entry per day per person. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Must be 18 or older to enter. Entries will be accepted through November 30, 2009, midnight CST.

Thursday Games: Mummy Wrap

Each Thursday we'll bring you a fun game to play with your kids!

This week's game is...

Mummy Wrap

rolls of toilet tissue
children
music

Have children take turns being the "mummy". Place one child in center and have other children start to wrap the child up with the toilet tissue. You can have halloween music playing in the background. When the music stops, the next child goes. Have plenty of trash bags available to collect all the torn tissue!! *have children avoid the head/face area when wrapping, esp. with The younger ones!

Visit The Idea Box for all of our game ideas

Crafty Wednesday: Bat Bells

Each Wednesday we'll bring you a fun craft to make with your kids!

This week's craft is...

Bat Bells

small black paper cup
sheet of black construction paper
string
bell

Punch a small hole in the bottom of the black cup (easily found at party stores in the "over the hill" birthday section). Tie small bell on the end of yarn and string it up through the hole in cup (bell should be on the inside of the cup). Tie knots on both sides of hole so string doesn't slip through. Holding cup upside down, glue two eyes toward the bottom (the rim) of the cup. Cut out two small triangles for the bats fangs and glue or tape to the inside of the cup below the eyes so that they just show below the rim. Fold black construction paper in half and cut out one bat wing. Unfold to get the pair and center on back of cup and staple.

Visit The Idea Box for all of our crafty ideas

Tuesday Recipe: Pumpkin Rice Krispies

Each Tuesday we'll bring you a tasty recipe or craft recipe to make with your kids!

This week's recipe is...

Pumpkin Rice Krispies

Food Coloring
Rice krispies
Brown cake decorating icing
marshmallows
butter

Follow the recipe for making rice krispie treats. Add food coloring to the marshmallows as they melt to create an orange color. Instead of pressing them into a square pan, roll them into balls to create pumpkin shapes. Make a small batch of rice krispies dying them green with the food coloring. Make into small stem shapes and place on top of the orange balls. When cool, make pumpkin faces on the pumpkins with the brown icing. Chill to set the icing and enjoy!

Visit The Idea Box for all of our kid's recipes and craft recipe ideas

Monday Music: Five Little Firefighters

Each Monday we'll bring you a fun song to sing with your kids!

This week's song is...

Five Little Firefighters

Five little firefighters (show five fingers)
Sleeping in a row. (rest cheeks on hands & close eyes)
Ring goes the bell- Down the pole they go. (Pretend to slide down pole)
They jump on the engine (Jump Up)
And put out the fire. (Pretend to squirt with a hose)
Now they're back home- My, but they're tired. (Stretch and yawn.)

Visit The Idea Box for all of our music and song ideas

Friday Activity: Child's Lasting Hand Print

Each Friday we'll bring you a fun activity to do with your kids!

This week's activity is...

Child's Lasting Hand Print

Flour
Salt
Water

Mix equal parts Flour and Salt (example: 1 Cup flour and 1 cup salt) Add enough water to get a firm clay-like mixture. Take out about 1/2 cup of dough and squish into a circular shape on a lightly greased cookie sheet. It must be big enough for child's hand (or foot) to fit onto with fingers (toes) out spread. Push child's hand or foot firmly into dough. Repeat the whole procedure for remaining children. Let dough dry for several weeks or put in oven at 225 degrees for 2-4 hours depending on thickness of dough. You will cherish these prints for the rest of your life!

Visit The Idea Box for all of our activities for kids

Thursday Games: Mr. Pumpkin's Nose

Each Thursday we'll bring you a fun game to play with your kids!

This week's game is...

Mr. Pumpkin's Nose

Cut a large pumpkin shape out of orange bulletin board paper. Draw only the eyes and mouth on the pumpkin, you can add a stem and lines if needed. Laminate the piece. Attach it to the wall at the child's level. Give each child a triangle cut out of black construction paper, and label with the child's name. Attach a piece of rolled up tape to the back. Have each child close his/her eyes and place the nose on the pumpkin. You can give awards such as stickers for the one who was the closest, making sure each child gets a sticker. Optional: You can also make a body and laminate and attach it to the head, making sure that it can be at the child's level.

Visit The Idea Box for all of our game ideas

Crafty Wednesday: Halloween Wind Sock

Each Wednesday we'll bring you a fun craft to make with your kids!

This week's craft is...

Halloween Wind Sock

Halloween Cookie Cutters or Halloween Sponge Shapes
(1) 12"x18" Orange Construction Paper
White Paint
String
Tissue Paper Streamers (Black & Orange)
Stapler
Tape

To Make a wind sock decorate paper with shapes dipped in paint, let dry. Roll paper in a tube and staple. Punch two holes in the top of tube and attach string then attach tissue paper streamers to the bottom. Tie string and hang!

Visit The Idea Box for all of our crafty ideas

Tuesday Recipe: Gooo-Blek

Each Tuesday we'll bring you a tasty recipe or craft recipe to make with your kids!

This week's recipe is...

Gooo-Blek

1 cup of corn starch
1/4 to 1/3 cup of water
bowl

Pour the corn starch into the bowl. Add the water on top. Mix well until a thin mixture occurs. Let it sit until it gets solid. Even though it appears to be solid, the heat of your hand when you pick it up turns it to liquid!

Visit The Idea Box for all of our kid's recipes and craft recipe ideas

Monday Music: Here's a little Candle

Each Monday we'll bring you a fun song to sing with your kids!

This week's song is...

Here's a little Candle
(sung to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot")

Here's a little candle dressed in white,
Wearing a hat of yellow light.
When the night is dark, then you will see
Just how bright this light can be.

Here's a little candle straight and tall,
Shining it's light upon us all.
When the night is dark, then you will see
Just how bright this light can be.

Here's a little candle burning bright.
Keeping us safe all through the night.
When the night is dark, then you will see
Just how bright this light can be!

Visit The Idea Box for all of our music and song ideas

Friday Activity: Cornucopia Countdown

Each Friday we'll bring you a fun activity to do with your kids!

This week's activity is...

Cornucopia Countdown

construction paper
scissors
glue
pen
decorative items (eyes, glitter)

Cut a cornucopia (horn o'plenty) out of brown paper. Cut as many fruits and vegetable shapes out as there are days left until Thanksgiving. Decorate each one with glitter or bobbly eyes, if desired. Leave space on the shape to write what you are thankful for. Then, every day, glue one shape onto the cornucopia. When the shapes are all glued on, it's Thanksgiving and you have a handmade door decoration!

Visit The Idea Box for all of our activities for kids

New giveaway for October and November!

We've uploaded a new giveaway that runs through November 30th. This month we are giving away two adorable books you can read to your kids or give as gifts. This month's giveaway is sponsored by FamilyCorner.com.

To enter this month's giveaway click here. Remember you can enter once per day!

About the prizes:

Five Minutes Until Bed
by Dorthea Deprisco Wang

In the tradition of Goodnight Moon, Dorothea DePrisco Wang pens Five Minutes Until Bed, a helpful and charming story that gives parents one more tool to encourage their little ones to catch some shut-eye.

Visit families of rabbits, birds, beavers, bears, and foxes to find that life in the forest, at least when it comes to bedtime, doesn't differ that much from our own. There are blankets to retrieve, songs to sing, treats to nibble, and hugs and snuggles to enjoy.

With each turn of the page, another critter is off to sleep as the child at home pulls a tab within the book to reveal another gold star in the sky. Bedtime countdown continues until at last there are five golden stars glistening in the night sky and all critters of the forest are soundly snoozing in their cozy beds.

Dewey: There's a Cat in the Library!
by Vicki Myron

The story of Dewey the celebrated library cat is now available for the youngest of readers in this new, fully-illustrated picture book adventure.

When Librarian Vicki Myron finds a young kitten abandoned in the Spencer Library return box, she nurses him back to health, deciding then and there that he will be their library cat, and naming him, appropriately, Dewey Readmore Books. Dewey loves his new home, but once he discovers the littlest library visitors-who like to chase him, pull his tail, and squeeze him extra tight-Dewey begins to wonder if he's truly cut out for the demands of his new job. In the end, he is triumphant as he realizes that helping people big and small is what he is meant to do, and that by sharing his special brand of Dewey love, he can be the best library cat of all.

Thursday Games: Haunted Hangman

Each Thursday we'll bring you a fun game to play with your kids!

This week's game is...

Haunted Hangman

This is a quick and easy game to play at any party. Use the list of words below to play. You write a line for each letter in the word. Write out the alphabet to the side. Each time a child guesses the answer, cross the letter off. You also fill in the blank if the guess a letter correctly, or draw a shape on the hangman (head, arm, leg, etc.) If the hangman gets filled in first, they lose. If the word gets filled in first they win!

Here is a list of words you can use for a Halloween party:

Spiders
Black cat
Bats
Chills
Scarecrow
Haunted house
Hayride
Scary
Cauldron
Witch
Ghost
Black widow
Mummy
Pumpkin
Goblin

Visit The Idea Box for all of our game ideas

Crafty Wednesday: Halloween Lantern

Each Wednesday we'll bring you a fun craft to make with your kids!

This week's craft is...

Halloween Lantern

empty fruit can
nail
hammer
black spray paint
wire for handle
drawings of halloween cat or bat

Using a clean fruit can fill with water and freeze, the ice helps the can hold it's shape. When frozen tape picture onto can, following pattern, lightly pound nail through the can to make holes. Make one hole each on either side of the top for the wire handle. Remove the ice, let dry and spray paint the outside. When dry insert a votive candle.

Visit The Idea Box for all of our crafty ideas

Tuesday Recipe: Banana Boat Snack

Each Tuesday we'll bring you a tasty recipe or craft recipe to make with your kids!

This week's recipe is...

Banana Boat Snack

banana
peanut butter
raisins
wooden skewer or toothpick
construction paper

Slice a small piece off the bottom of a banana and lay it on a plate so that the bottom you cut off is flat and touching the plate and the "ends" of the banana are pointing up. Spread peanut butter on the top of the banana, and then place raisins on the peanut butter. (These are the sailors). Make a small triangular flag from construction paper and write "S.S. ________ (your child's name)" on it, thread it through a wooden skewer or toothpick, and stick the skewer into the banana. Tip: You may also want to pour some chocolate syrup around the "boat" to create "water".

Visit The Idea Box for all of our kid's recipes and craft recipe ideas

Monday Music: Did You Ever See a Lassie?

Each Monday we'll bring you a fun song to sing with your kids!

This week's song is...

Did You Ever See a Lassie?

Did you ever see a lassie, A lassie, a lassie
Did you ever see a lassie Go this way and that?
Go this way and that way, Go this way and that way
Did you ever see a lassie Go this way and that?
Did you ever see a laddie, A laddie, a laddie
Did you ever see a laddie Go this way and that?
Go this way and that way, Go this way and that way
Did you ever see a laddie Go this way and that?

Visit The Idea Box for all of our music and song ideas

Friday Activity: Apple Hunting

Each Friday we'll bring you a fun activity to do with your kids!

This week's activity is...

Apple Hunting

colored tag board
laminating machine
scissors

Make a copy of different sizes of apples (small, medium, large). Color them red, yellow, and green. Laminate the apples to make them sturdier. Hide the apples throughout the classroom. Have the children to go and find the small green apples and so on until all the apples are found. This game will help the children to learn their colors as well as different sizes.

Visit The Idea Box for all of our activities for kids

Thursday Games: Roly Poly

Each Thursday we'll bring you a fun game to play with your kids!

This week's game is...

Roly Poly

Place children in a circle. Teacher calls a child's name and rolls the ball to that child. The child then rolls the ball back to the teacher. This continues until all the children have had a chance to roll the ball. As the children learn each other's names, the game can be changed to have the children call another child's name and roll it to them. This game is great for recognizing each child in the class and letting them know the teacher knows who they are! We use this game in the beginning of the year...but it quickly becomes a favorite among the children. Especially when they can call each others names!

Optional: you can also use this as a learning game. Call out a subject and the child has to call out a related term before they roll the ball. Example: Bugs! Before the child rolls the ball they need to call out a bug (spider, butterfly, ladybug, etc.).

Visit The Idea Box for all of our game ideas