How to Make a Lei

Make a lei and bring a touch of the tropical lifestyle into your home! This common Hawaiian decoration can be found at any traditional special event, especially when children are around. Stringing together real or fake flowers in colorful patterns encourages creativity and reinforces color-recognition. Let the luau begin!

What You Need:

• Two dozen flowers
• Cotton string
• Long needle
• Scissors

What You Do:

1. Assemble your flowers, and cut them off their stems. Have your child plan what kind of pattern she'd like to organize the flowers in, considering flower type, color and size.
2. Have your child cut a piece of cotton string about 7 feet long.
3. Fold the string in half. Using a double-stranded string will ensure a sturdy lei.
4. Knot one end of the string so the flowers will not slide off.
5. Thread the other end of the string into the needle.
6. Poke the needle into the center of a flower and slide it down the string gently.
7. Keep stringing flowers on until the string has filled with flowers.
8. Tie the ends of the string in a tight knot, forming a necklace.

Flowers like lilies, lilacs and roses make a marvelous smelling lei!