Corn Kernel Necklaces

Looking for a fun seasonal activity to do with your child? Make corn kernel necklaces this Fall and help build your child's hand-eye coordination along with her fine motor skills. This easy to make fall craft is the perfect project to do indoors with your child on a brisk autumn day. Maybe even along with a cup of hot cocoa!

What You Need:

• Indian corn kernels
• Large bowl filled with water
• Long strands of heavy thread (button-hose twist or embroidery floss)
• Heavy duty sewing needles
• metal thimble
• Masking tape and pen
• Towel

What to Do:

1. Soak a large quantity of the corn kernels in a bowl of water overnight. You and your child can set this up the day before you plan to string the necklaces. If you plan to grind the corn, save several cups of kernels for that; they will grind more easily if they haven’t been soaked first.
2. In the morning, pour off the water and bring the bowl of corn to your work surface. Let your child feel some of the corn that has soaked over night. How has it changed from before it soaked in water?
3. Give your child a needle threaded with 24 inches of doubled thread. Tie a knot about 2 inches from the end. Using doubled thread will keep the thread from slipping off the needles. Note: Be sure to show your child how to use a needle properly. Supervise closely.
4. Let your child choose the kernels she wants to make her necklace. Help your child push the needle through the center of each kernel (be careful of little fingers here!) and slide each kernel down to the knot at the end of the string. It’s helpful to start with the kernel resting on the table, rather than holding it, and just push the needle down through the center of the kernel. This is great practice for hand eye coordination and will help your child build her fine motor skills which are especially important for writing.
5. Have your child thread as many (or as few) kernels as she wants, leaving about two inches of thread at the other end of the string. Keep any unused corn kernels moist by covering them with a damp towel and refrigerating them so they don’t get moldy. This way, your child can do this project over several days if she likes.
6. When her necklace is finished, tie the open ends of the string together in a bow around your child’s neck. Wear with pride!

Note: Some of the corn may begin to sprout, and this can be the perfect opportunity to grow some corn indoors, which can eventually be transplanted to your garden in the spring. Then you and your child can harvest your own Indian corn next fall!