Articles for Parents About Kids & Holidays, Parties & Special Occasions

Celebrate love with this Valentine's day party for kids! Valentine's party games, decorations, crafts, menu suggestions and party tips from real moms who've hosted dozens of Valentine's Day parties!

Birthday planning party tips, party etiquette and ideas that will help you create a stress-free and memorable kids birthday party! Birthday party tips, party etiquette and ideas that will help you create a fun, stress-free and memorable kid's birthday party!

The month of December is a joyous time of year, full of friends, family, fun, good food, and great gifts. In the midst of all of this holiday cheer, however, many holiday babies get the short end of the peppermint stick. Instead of being thrown separate birthday parties, their celebrations often get lumped together with Christmas parties, Hanukkah dinners, and New Years Eve gatherings.

The good news is that even if your current holiday season lacks special traditions, it's never too late to create one. Select a family activity, do it once or twice and declare it "a new family tradition" !

Preschool birthday party ideas for prechool children and toddlers. When it comes to birthday parties, you'll find that your little ones are easy to please. As a matter of fact, toddlers will be blissfully happy with a simple, short (one- to one and a half hour) party.

Included with the new school routine, are the backpacks, sport bags, flyers, permission slips, lunch bags, book orders ... Take the time over the next few weeks to prepare your house and your lifestyle for a stress free routine using these ideas created by busy moms!

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:

Materials Needed:: 2 Paper Plates; black and white construction paper; black marker; scissors; string; cotton balls or tissue (for stuffing); Elmer's Glue-All

Grades: K-2




Color both paper plates completely black with the marker. If you choose, you can cut two similarly sized circles out of black construction paper instead..
Make eyes out of the white construction paper and glue in place on one of the plates or circles.
Cut 8 strips of black construction paper 1" wide by 12" long. Fold each in an accordion style. These will be the legs.
Glue legs to the bottom of the plate or circle that does NOT have the eyes glued to it.
Lay the top plate or circle on top of the one with the legs and staple them together around the edges leaving an opening on one side to insert the stuffing.
Stuff the "body" of the spider with cotton balls or tissue. Staple the hole closed when finished.
Staple a string to the end of the plate opposite the eyes and you're ready to hang!

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:
This easy-to-make duck is a cute craft that is made from a single paper plate and construction paper.

More animal crafts

Supplies needed: Paper plate
Scissors
Glue
Stapler
A pencil
Yellow and orange construction paper or oak tag
Crayons, paint or markers
Googly eyes (optional)

Trace your hands on yellow construction paper, then cut the hands out. If you don't have yellow construction paper, use stiff white paper, then paint it yellow (or use markers).
Fold a paper plate in half.
Paint it yellow and let it dry


Staple the hands near the fold on one end - these will be the tail feathers.
Using yellow construction paper or oaktag, cut out a circle (about 3 inches across or a little bigger) -- this will be the duck's head.
Using orange construction paper or oaktag, cut out an elongated oval with one end cut off -- this will be the duck's bill. Fold the end of the beak over, making a small tab (this is where you will put the glue).

Glue the bill onto the circle (put the glue on the small tab that will be folded under the bill). Draw eyes above the bill (or glue on small googly eyes).
Staple the head to the paper plate (near the fold line, opposite the tail feathers).

Using orange construction paper or oaktag, cut out the duck's feet - they should be connected by a short strip of paper. To draw each foot, start with an oval, then draw a zigzag on one end.
Fold the paper where the feet meet the strip of paper.

Staple each foot to the bottom of one side of the paper plate, right inside the fold line of the foot.
You now have a cute duckie that will stand up.

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS WILL NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:
Valentine Heart Wreath -
Supplies:

Red and pink construction paper
A paper plate
Scissors
Glue
Optional - glitter

Cut a large hole in the paper plate.
Cut out a lot of hearts from red and pink paper.
Glue the hearts to the paper plate.

Optional: Decorate the hearts with the names of the children. Also, glitter is a nice touch.

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS WILL NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ATIVITY:
Celluclay Eggs -

Celluclay Instant Paper Mache
Styrofoam goose eggs
Watercolors
Acrylic paints
Markers
Gems
Glitter
Ribbon
Paintbrushes
Cup of water
Paper towels
Plastic mixing bowl
Measuring cup
Resealable sandwich bags
Cost of each project will vary depending on materials used.

Due to the seasonal nature of some merchandise, actual availability of some products pictured may vary.






Mix one cup dry paper mache with cup warm water in a sandwich bag. Knead mixture like bread dough until well mixed. If mixture is too dry add a little water; if too wet, add a little dry paper.



Cover mixed paper mache with damp paper towel while working.



Form Celluclay around styrofoam eggs.



Set aside and allow to dry until no longer sticky.



Use watercolors, markers, acrylic paint or even food coloring to decorate eggs. Add gems, glitter, or other embellishments or accessorize with ribbons and bows - you're only limited by your imagination!

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS WILL NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:
Paper Mache Baskets -


Fill these bright baskets with eggs
and other Easter goodies. What You Need:
Balloons
Liquid starch
Old newspapers
Old cake or pie tin
String
Paper or plastic cup
Colored tissue paper
Can of flat white spray paint
Jar of gloss medium and varnish
Paintbrush




Step 1. Instructions:
1. Tear newspapers into 1-inch-wide strips that are 2 to 3 inches long. Blow up the balloon and tie the end with an overhand knot.





Step 2. 2. Pour starch into the pie tin. Cover the balloon with newspaper strips that have been dipped into the starch. After the balloon is covered with this layer, add a second layer. Overlap the strips and completely cover the balloon, except for the knotted end. Tie a string above the knot of the balloon. Hang the balloon in a cool, dry area to dry overnight. Add more strips, if necessary, and let these strips dry.





Step 3. 3. Snip the knotted end from the balloon, let the air escape, and remove the balloon. Let the paper ball dry for a few more hours.

4. Cut 1 inch off the top of the plastic cup to use for the base. Cover the base with paper strips. Fasten the wide end of the base to the wide end of the ball with more strips. Cover the hole where you removed the balloon with strips. Let the ball dry.





Step 5. 5. Draw a zigzag line around the ball's middle to mark the top of the basket, and a pair of parallel lines over the top (the narrow end) to mark the handle. Cut out the enclosed areas to form the basket. Spray-paint the basket white. When completely dry, apply tissue paper.

TIP: Paint small areas of the basket with the gloss medium and varnish. Lay cut strips of tissue paper over the medium. Paint the medium over the top of the tissue paper. Cover all sides of the basket with the tissue paper. Let dry.