Books and Giggles
Kids crafts
Just like in the children’s book Stellaluna, this little hanging bat craft holds on best by its feet, all wrapped up in its wings. It’s almost October, and I’ve been thinking again about bats! You’ll already find a chalk art bat craft and a leaf bat craft here on the blog. I’ve also been working…
Inside: You’ll find sun crafts for every kid in this huge organized list. Get your summer crafts started with your favorites. Sun Crafts Summer is heating up, and it’s time to get the kids making some fun sun crafts! I’ve rounded up 25 of my favorites for you here, so that you can pick the…
Last week I posted a cool sensory play sun suncatcher craft, but I still had preschool sun crafts on the brain here! While the suncatchers were more about playing with them once they’re finished, this one is all about the process of creating. No, this isn’t quite process art – that has its own important…
Inside: This sun suncatcher craft for kids has an element of sensory play to it. Plus, it looks bright and pretty in your window! These cute sun crafts are sure to add a little sunshine to your windows. Even better, children can continue to play with them even after they’re on display. To make your…
Inside: this preschool rain craft sneaks in some fine motor work and hand strengthening with a hole punch, plus it looks super cute when you add photos of your kids holding an umbrella. If you’re looking for a fun spring craft that has an element of process art, or just a rainy day craft, look…
Preschoolers can practice their scissors skills with this fun cotton ball sheep craft. They can even help the sheep “grow” new wool so that they can shear it again! If you’re teaching a farm unit or or setting up a farm animals theme in your classroom, you’re surely want to include sheep. This cotton ball…
Inside: This Valentine’s Day bee craft made with popsicle sticks wants you to “bee mine”! It’s starting to look like we’re going to have a whole collection of craft stick animals! Today I’m sharing this fun, friendly bee craft with you. He’s ready to show you some love… Valentine’s Day Bee Craft There are lots…
Inside: this months of the year craft helps you teach preschoolers and kindergartners about what happens each month. It will work really well as a collaborative class craft, but families could also make and display a version at home. I’ve been wanting to add a craft to go with my printable paper plate months of…
Inside: this printable penguin craft for kids features a dad hiding a baby chick in his brood pouch. Kids can cut out and color this fun interactive winter craft. There’s a scene I love in every penguin documentary and movie I’ve ever watched. It’s where a father penguin stands up to reveal a baby chick…
Inside: This preschool snowman craft is made with a surprising ingredient that gives it a fun texture and helps it look extra snowy! We almost never get snow here, but when we do, practically the first thing my kids want to do is build a snowman. It might be my fault. A few years ago,…
Inside: how to make popsicle stick arctic animal crafts. Make a cute arctic fox, polar bear, or snowy owl using the free printable template. We’ve finally been having some winter weather here, and it makes me want to break out the wintertime crafts! Arctic Animal Crafts Today I have a brand new set of arctic…
Inside: This penguin mitten craft is simple enough for preschoolers and includes a template to make prep super easy for you too. We painted a mitten and turned it into a penguin for this cute paper craft. The thumb makes it look like he’s waving his flipper! This mitten craft would be a sweet choice…
Inside: This painted popsicle stick dinosaur craft is fun for kids of all ages to make. Use the free printable template to make it extra easy! Dinosaur Craft I’ve wanted to get a kids’ dinosaur craft up here for a long time, and today I have an adorable idea for you! Well, actually, two! The…
Last year we made a cute chalk art bat craft for preschoolers, and I thought I could check bat crafts off my list here. But sometimes inspiration strikes! These are completely different though… They’re also probably a little faster to make. So if you’re looking for a quick bat craft, this one could be it…
Inside: This solar system craft for kids is educational and fun! It includes an asteroid belt, and it actually spins. Use it to reinforce the concept that the earth and planets revolve around the sun. Solar System Craft for Kids We live near Houston, home of Johnson Space Center, and learning about space, rockets, and…
Inside: This chicken craft for preschool makes fun scissors practice and goes along with the much-loved book Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton. Barnyard Dance! by Sandra Boynton is a charming board book that you won’t mind reading over and over. (And you will read it over and over because toddlers and preschoolers LOVE it!) You…
Inside: This letter O craft features crayon-resist watercolor and a ready-to-go template. Easy peasy! Can you almost hear the crashing waves in this ocean themed craft? Can you just about feel a sea breeze on your face and smell the salt air? We haven’t made it to the beach yet this year – I keep…
Inside: You’re sure to find a new favorite among this roundup of preschool caterpillar crafts. I am so amazed with the wide variety of preschool caterpillar crafts out there. Whether you’re just wanting a cute spring craft, or something to go along with a life cycle of a butterfly unit, I’ve got you covered. You’ll…
I know I just posted a caterpillar craft last week, but this adorable idea for a caterpillar suncatcher craft hit me yesterday, and I just had to share it here! Like our button caterpillar craft, this one is based on Eric Carle’s book The Very Hungry Caterpillar. It’s a suncatcher made with a plastic strawberry…
Inside: This monarch caterpillar craft is fun and easy for preschool and up. A spring thunderstorm knocked out our power this morning, and suddenly it looked like we were done with distance learning for the day. It was a great excuse to get crafting. We pulled out the watercolors and created a fun tape resist…
Inside: The Mitten activities to go with the picture book by Jan Brett. Includes crafts, printable resources, games and more for preschool, kindergarten, and elementary students. Raise your hand if you love Jan Brett! Her now-classic version of The Mitten is a favorite classroom read aloud every winter. This cozy picture book is perfect for…
Inside: 25 pumpkin crafts for preschoolers, categorized by type of material used. I love that look of utmost concentration preschoolers get when they’re busy crafting. They’re working those fine motor muscles so hard! And as little scientists, they’re fascinated with the results. All they need to get started is a little bit of inspiration, plus…
Inside: This apple tree craft is easy enough for preschoolers to do in the fall or when they’re learning about Johnny Appleseed. I’ve been posting seasonal crafts in this space for five years now, and somehow never created our own apple craft! I even wrote a huge roundup of apple crafts but didn’t have my…
These cute Halloween puppets are a fun way to support oral language development and story retelling. You can have the children paint the craft stick bases, and then help them add the unique features to each puppet. If you’re looking for Halloween craft ideas that are inexpensive and have some play value, these craft stick…