Calling all Dads!
Topics: Political/Voting/Civic Holidays & Occasions, The Importance of Mothers, more...
Kids generally can’t come up with the cash to buy the bling bling that Mom deserves. Nor should they really. After all, that’s Dad’s domain. And then for Mother’s Day, all Mom really wants is something from the heart. And maybe a little quiet time!
Why not assign the kids an activity that will keep them busy for a few hours and make Mom really happy to boot. Here are a few arts and crafts projects to make for Mom this year, as well as a few creative traditions you may want to spring on her. Who knows, if she likes them, maybe you can do them again next year.
Heart Brooch
Supplies:
1 cup flour
1 cup warm water
1/4 cup salt
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon oil
food coloring
1 package of pin backs (available at any craft store)
watercolor or tempera paint and small paintbrushes
Mix together the flour, water, salt, cream of tartar, oil, and food coloring. Stir over medium heat until smooth. Remove from pan and knead until blended smooth. Place in a plastic sandwich bag or airtight container when cooled. To make the brooch(s), shape the dough into hearts. Before it’s totally dry, press pin backs into the backs of the hearts. When the hearts are totally dry, have the kids paint them with their favorite colors.
Picture-Perfect Placemat
Supplies:
1 piece heavy cardboard (size 8 ½” x 11”)
family pictures and mementos
2 sheets clear contact paper
Decorate the cardboard with your pictures, mementos, and any other drawings, poems, or special messages your kids would like to include. When you are finished, place the decorated cardboard between the sheets of clear contact paper. Use the placemat to serve Mom her Mother's Day breakfast in bed.
Our Family Tree
Supplies:
construction paper (sky blue and green)
crayons, tempera paint, and/or markers
scissors
glue stick
On the sky blue construction paper, draw (or paint) a large tree with many branches. Cut the green construction paper into small leaves. Since each leaf will represent a person in the child’s family, be sure to make enough for parents, siblings, and grandparents (and aunts, uncles, and cousins if desired). Write the name of the family members on their leaves. Glue the leaves to the branches of the tree, with the eldest members of the family at the top. Seeing her whole family represented in such a beautiful way is sure to make Mom glow with pride and joy.
All our Mother’s Days
Supplies:
camera (digital or film)
photo album or scrapbook
crayons or markers
construction paper
Have Dad shoot a whole roll of film (or a lot of digital prints!) of Mom and the kids throughout the entire day. When you are wrapping up your festivities, put the pictures in your photo album or scrapbook. Using their crayons and construction paper, have the kids make a title page for the album. The title can be something like, “Mother’s Day Through the Years” or “All our Mother’s Days.” Year after year, you can chronicle Mom’s special day with the kids by filling up this album.
Sure, mom might appreciate something glittery and shiny that comes in a small leather box with a perfect red bow, but these homemade gifts are just as likely to make her eyes sparkle. On Mother’s Day it doesn’t cost a lot of money to make Mom feel like a million bucks.
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