I have spent some time thinking and researching some activities we can do in conjunction with the winter themed books I listed here. If you don't homeschool, don't let that discourage you from reading this post. These are things you can do on those cold "cooped up" winter weekend days or snowed-in days.
As for me, I am praying for at least one good snow here in our southern town so that we can enjoy a snow day or two. Yes, snow is rare here, but I know the Snow Maker personally and I have put in my request!
Here is what I came up with:
Felt mittens-- I will cut them out and punch holes on the edge so they "sew" them together, glue a number to them, then count that many "snowflakes" to go with it. This is modified from an idea that I found here. From that same blog, I also like this idea, and this one. Oh, and this one too!
Make notecards using snowflake stickers and pretty paper. (I already have the blank notecards to use, bought in a package at Michael's years ago and never used. For great ideas, check out Kelli's blog. This was my inspiration.)
Make beaded snowflakes. I saw several ideas along these lines for Christmas ornaments, but I think these could just as easily be done and hung up for winter decorations. Pretty! Go here for a short "how to." I like the idea of using silver pipe cleaners and blue and white beads. This link also has a pretty simple explanation. (I only do simple crafts-- get too complicated and you've lost me!)
Cut out snowflakes the old fashioned way. I found a couple of videos on how to do this here and here. (I would much rather watch someone do something before I attempt it myself instead of merely reading directions. Plus my kids like watching with me.) We might just use coffee filters because the concensus of what I read is this is easier.
Be sure and leave a comment if you have any great ideas to add to this list! I welcome the help!
8 comments:
Thanks for these great links. I too love easy crafts for the kids. I am not very crafty myself, so I need all the help I can get. Easy crafts keep them busy and out of trouble in the afternoons.
go to Steve spangler science. You can make your own snow. It is great for villages at Christmas time. It is amazing to see the snow being made, and the kids will have a blast. He has tons of stuff on his website that is science related fun! Do a search for the site, but I think it listed as the name www.stevespangler.com. They usually send the mentos geyser experiment also, which is another fun one for kids...
But definitely get the snow. They usually ship within a day or two!
HTH
Shannon
SNOW?! I live in Phoenix so that is something that my kids have seen on TV! LOL They often tell me that they wished it would snow here...
You made me giggle with finding activities for inside the house because it is too cold to go out. THIS is the time of year my children would spend from morning to night out in the yard. I need to start thinking about activities for them in the middle of summer, when it is too stinkin' hot to even THINK about going out! LOL
I made the glitter glue snowflakes that you can find in the December Family Fun mag or at their website. I used iridescent glitter and put them on my back door. They change colors with the changing light outside. Pretty and pretty cool!
Loved today's Encouragement for Today - My copy of Personality Plus is shredded because I have read it so many times and then so believed in is premise that I attended Florence's training to become a certified personality trainer. Great stuff, great book. Evey home should have a copY! About snow -several years ago I made "snowmen and snow princesses" out of children's white socks. Stuff them with pillow stuffing, tie in the middle with "scarf". Twist the open top part around and "back" it over the "head" to make a little cap. Use markers to paint the face. Older girls might like sewing snowflake beads or sequins on the cap or body. They are cuddly, sweet, and you can make a whole snow person family for hours of indoor play - cheap too! Let me know how it goes. If you want personal training I'll come over and give private snow man making lessons! It's so cold here it is too cold for snow!
Last January we had a snow party and made snowmen from Ivory Snow laundry detergent (Family Fun idea). They were very cute!
Praying for snow too.
Love your snow ideas! Have you ever made edible snowflakes with your children?
You will need flour tortillas and oil or butter for a basic snowflake.
Microwave the tortilla to soften it. Fold gently, not completely creasing so that it breaks. Use clean scissors to cut just like you would a paper snowflake.
Fry the "snowflake" in hot oil or butter and then sprinkle with powdered sugar, eat and enjoy!
Optional toppings are cinnamon and sugar or colored sugar, either the kind you buy to put on cookies or make your own with a little granulated sugar and a few drops of food coloring.
Have fun!
P. S. I just remembered a couple of other fun things ~ Breakfast Snowmen:
Refrigerated Biscuits ~ 3 biscuits per snowman
Raisins or Chocolate Chips
Pretzel Sticks
Cookie Sheet
Vanilla Frosting (Optional ~ see note below)
Optional:
Powdered Sugar
Milk
Colored Sugar
Clean Paint brush or basting brush
Mixture of cinnamon and sugar
Spray butter
Powdered Sugar
Spray Butter
Assembly:
Lay three biscuit vertically on a cookie sheet with each one touching.
For a Plain Snowman:
Add raisins as eyes, nose, mouth, and buttons. Add pretzel arms. Bake as directed on the biscuit can.
For a Dirty Snowman:
Lay three biscuits vertically on a cookie sheet with each on touching. Spritz snowman with spray butter. Sprinkle on cinnamon and sugar, add raisin eyes, nose, mouth, and buttons. Add pretzel arms and bake as directed on the biscuit can.
For a Powdered Snowman:
Lay three biscuits vertically on a cookie sheet with each one touching. Add pretzel arms, raisin eyes, nose, mouth, and buttons and bake according to biscuit can.
Spritz with spray butter and dust with powdered sugar.
For Frosty the Snowman:
Lay three biscuits vertically on a cookie sheet with each one touching. Add pretzel arms and bake according to biscuit can directions.
Mix together powdered sugar and milk to make an icing. Have children paint the icing on the snowman. Add raisin or chocolate chip eyes, nose, mouth, and buttons. Sprinkle with colored sugar if desired. Enjoy!
Popcorn Snowmen
INGREDIENTS:
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 bag marshmallows
Popped popcorn
Chocolate Chips or Raisins, M&M's, Sprinkles, etc. to decorate snowmen
DIRECTIONS:
Melt 1/4 cup butter and marshmallows in a large pot, remove from heat, add just enough popped popcorn so that the popcorn is well covered in goo. Let cool enough to handle. Shape three balls, large, medium, and small and put together to form snowman, placing on wax paper covered cookie sheet. Use candies to decorate. Chill in refrigerator one hour to set and then eat!
These snowballs are sure to melt in your mouth and are a crunchy frosty treat!
Crunchy Snowballs
INGREDIENTS:
6 cups rice crispy cereal
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 10oz. pkg marshmallows
powdered sugar
DIRECTIONS:
Melt butter and marshmallows in a large pot, remove from heat, add cereal and stir to coat well. Allow mixture to cool but not harden. Mold into snowballs then shake in a bag of powdered sugar. Enjoy!
And then you can wash these goodies down with some snowman soup!
Soup Ingredients:
*1 single serving of instant hot cocoa mix
*Mini Marshmallows
*1 Candy Cane
*2 to 3 Chocolates
Empty contents of hot cocoa mix into a mug, add one or two chocolates, add boiling water, stir with peppermint candy cane to mix and flavor the snowman soup. Sip and enjoy!
Post a Comment