Hey there, I just signed up for the forums, and thought I'd post an introduction, and ask a few questions!

My name is Julie, I'm a SAHM in MD & I have two children - 26 month old son, and 16 month old daughter. I was just wondering does anyone have any ideas for crafts that we could do together at home? I spent two hours wandering around last night at Michaels Craft store trying to decide what to buy for a box that I could put together that only gets brought out now and then (thereby, seeming new and exciting to my kids)...

I unfortunately don't think I'm very creative in the crafts dept, and while looking at things like felt sheets, foam mailboxes, pipe cleaners, sparkley glue, beads and wot not, I couldn't come up with one thing that I could use them for. My poor kids should feel jipped. I also felt a bit overwhelmed wondering where I'd put the stuff I was going to buy!! Like is it more clutter??

I did come across these wooden chalk board slates that sorta looked like a picture frame, and some wooden type animals (fairly flat) that I thought we could glue to the frame, and perhaps jazz up with some kind of paint, or stickers. So I bought a few of the slates, with trains, airplanes and barnyard animals.

I also found playdoh - (which I've never given them before) but it's not like they can make much with that at their age, so I guess it will just be a tactile experience for them. It did come in a set with rollers and cookie cutter type equipment.

I also found these foam "wands", sorta like a foam star attached to the end of a stick, that I figured we could cut out ribbon and tie it on there, and then put some sparkles and glitter on the foam -- woo hoo. (I only got that idea because while we were at the Ren. Faire this past summer, my daughter danced until I bought her a "princess" wand).... I perhaps should not have quit my day job to be a stay at home mom...

My other question is, after my husband saw me putting together the box, he said that his mom had several boxes that she would rotate on a daily basis with him when he was a kid - our kids currently have access to all of their toys, all of the time, and I guess that's why nothing holds their attention for more than 10 seconds. Does anyone else put together toy boxes & if so, what kinda things do you come up with as far as activities go? What about organization methods for all their stuff?

Had I been smart, I would have put half of their Xmas presents into the closet, instead of letting them have everything at once.

Is there a less expensive option that I should be pursuing rather than Michaels, for all these fun things?

Can you please, please, please give me some ideas. I blew $60, and wouldn't mind that so much, if I had even an inkling of what I'm going to do with the stuff I brought home!!

Also, are there other types of lists, sites or yahoo groups for this kind of chatter? I kind of need a refresher course on "imaginative" play, just for using all the stuff they currently have.

My son is quite into "the little people", and we have the barn, the garage, the firestation, and a construction site - how do other people contain this stuff, store it, or play with it? My daughter is really into her shopping cart, fake food, and play kitchen, but again, the stuff is everywhere!! How do you keep it all organized, and together?

Thanks for any and all suggestions!! Desperate to amuse my children for even 3 minutes at a time!



Julie...

Welcome to the board!!

I have toy boxes that I rotate, but it's not activities so much as it is just their toys....they are in 3 boxes and the kids get one box at a time. I change the boxes about every 2-3 weeks. So some boxes sit almost 2 months without being seen and the stuff is "brand new" when it's out. YAY!

For their craft goodies, I have rubbermaid type storage containers. There's one with 3 drawers on wheels that's handy for coloring books, crayons, markers, glue, etc. Crayons are in a pencil box, markers in another box, etc so that it stays organized. I use the web to help me plan out activities (sometimes this "planning" occurs with my 4 year old standing next to me going "what are we gonna make, mom??" and then 2 minutes later we are doing it.) DLTK has good projects, Enchanted Learning has good stuff. Perpetual Preschool is a site that Christy_K_ told me about and is wonderful also. But, the rubbermaid was the magic ticket for me to keep things organized. HTH!!

Sorry to sound so stupid... I don't know what that stands for..
Thanks for the ideas!

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Julie
Maryland SAHM to 2 Toddlers - 26 months & 16 months old!

When my girls were little I really liked the ideas in the Parents magazine and I would think they would have some ideas on their website too. A lot of thins could usually be made out of recycable items. I miss the days of making crafts with the girls and have fun.

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Karen

Don't feel stupid - I don't know either. It's the website name. They have craft ideas for kids such as these kids craft.

The only other place that I find handy and inexpensive to find great craft supplies, and projects is any of the $1 type stores. Though Joann's and Michaels have great deals, you can find just as much at the $1 store.

BTW - Welcome to the board. I am a SAHM to 4 girls ages (2,3,5,9) from MN. We are inside ALL winter long so we tend to do a lot of crafts and learning activites during the winter.

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Another place with inexpensive craft supplies is Oriental Trading.

For craft and recipe ideas I like Family fun magazine or their website has alot too. They always have good seasonal ideas.

Ideas for boxes for rainy days:
puzzles
watercolor or finger paints
dollar store sells cheap movies( put a couple back so they have something new to watch)
rubber stamps
stuff for decorating cookies or cupcakes
small games like jacks, pickup sticks, barrel of monkeys, slinky etc.
bubbles
puff paint to decorate tshirts or a hat maybe
paper dolls for little girls


Let me think on it some more.....

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~AMY~

My blogs:
http://mylifeoneblogatatime.blogspot.com/

http://thesaltandpepperdiva.blogspot.com/

I was going to say the same thing. Oriental trading has tons of crafts at pretty reasonable prices.

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