Now that summer is here, it's the perfect time to bring out those bonnets! Here's an activity that'll help your child create her very own colorful bonnet. Use a paper plate, some string, and decorations to make this festive and colorful head-ware. Bonnets make a great accessory and are a wonderful way to liven up any play or skit. They can also be made into a party game: just play some music, let your child and her friends decorate their own hats, and hold a bonnet parade!
What You Need:
- Paper plate
- Hole punch
- String or elastic
- Decorative items such as ribbon, lace, fabric scraps, beads, artificial flowers, bows, felt scraps, streamers, confetti or glitter
- Crayons, felt pens or paints
- Glue
What You Do:
- Punch a hole on each side of the paper plate for your child. Help her tie pieces of string through the holes to make a chin strap to hold the bonnet in place when it is complete. Your child can also choose to use elastic attached to both holes of the bonnet instead of string. In this case, measure the elastic from one side of the bonnet under the child's chin to the other side of the bonnet and tie off the ends.
- Turn the plate upside down on the table.
- Discuss with your child how she wants to decorate her bonnet. She might, for example, use only tissue scraps, doilies and foil for a daintier design. Or she might think of a "theme" for her bonnet and use decorations for that theme such as leaves and flowers for the environment, picture symbols for her favorites items, or animal feathers and parts cut from construction paper for a zoo or jungle theme.
- Begin attaching decorations and collage items to the plate to create a bonnet. Use crayons or pens to further color and decorate the bonnet.
- Keep the underside of the hat plain for easier handling. Note: If your child does want to decorate the underside of the bonnet, however, have your artist do this before decorating the top of the bonnet.
- Dry the bonnet thoroughly.
Now the bonnet is ready to be worn!
By MaryAnn F. Kohl
Adapted with permission from "Preschool Art: It's the Process, Not the Product." Copyright 1994 by MaryAnn F. Kohl. Used by Permission of Gryphon House, Inc., Maryland. All Rights Reserved.
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