DIY Birthday Banner

What You Need:

• Construction paper
• Scratch paper
• Scissors
• Markers
• Tape
• Hole punch
• String

What You Do:

1. Help your child select bright sheets of construction paper that represent his favorite colors.
2. Show him how to lay the sheets on the ground, end to end.
3. Have him carefully tape each of the sheets together.
4. Tell him to flip the entire banner over.
5. Before he actually draws on his banner, have him practice writing "Happy Birthday" on the scratch paper. (If he's up for a challenge, have him tackle bubble letters with the help of these handy how-to guides.)
6. Once he's done practicing, have your child write "Happy Birthday" on the banner.
7. Next, help him cut out colorful circles from the construction papers, one circle for each letter in the birthday kid's name.
8. Let him write the appropriate letters in each cut-out circle.
9. Help him glue the circles in order on the banner.
10. Carefully show your child how to use the hole punch. At a minimum, the banner will need holea in the upper left and right-hand corners.
11. String the banner up and get ready to surprise a lucky birthday kid!