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Nadine Silverthorne’s love of journaling began in Grade One with the entry, “I am the greatest dancer!” Two babies (and countless diaper changes) later, she has found her home away from home as editor of SweetMama. Don’t miss her humorous bi-weekly accounts of the joys and pains of working while raising them fabulous.
Craft: Flash Card Mob
silver spoons canada
(Mar.08.10)
I've been thinking about a simple educational craft my girlfriend Lisa did with her twin girls (you can read Lisa's great article about raising twins on Today's Parent). Her girls are in Senior Kindergarten and were having some trouble with high number recognition. So Lisa cut out 50 squares of paper and drew numbers 1-50 on each, then had the girls colour them in. She then posted them up along the wainscotting/chair rail of her hallway walls, creating a flash card gallery at the girls' eye level. The result? A sensory learning experience on the way to the bathroom or bedroom.
What you'll need for this craft activity: (Best suited for ages 5 and up)
13-15 sheets of white letter-size (8.5 x 11) paper
Kid-friendly scissors
A black marker for drawing number outlines
Assorted crayons and markers for decorating numbers
Tape (I prefer Scotch double-sided as it's usually low tack and less likely to damage walls)
A blank wall
1. Fold paper in half down the middle, then repeat to make 4 sections. Have the kids help you to cut out the squares (they won't be perfect squares, but let it go)
2. Choose one family member (preferably someone with good penmanship) to draw out all the numbers (1-50, one number per sheet of paper) in block letter style, keeping the centre clear for colouring.
3. As you go, hand off completed number sheets to your kids to decorate as they please.
4. When finished, stick to wall with tape in numerical order.
5. Mess with your kids by doing spot checks/pop quizzes each time you pass. Point to a random number and have them identify it in a flash.
Of course Lisa would want you to know that her girls can easily count to 50 thanks to her craftastic mothering skills.
Got a craft idea to share? Let me know in the comments below!
PS: As you are reading this, I'm seeing the magic through my kids' eyes at Walt Disney World. I've been once before, but never with my kids. I'm writing all about it next week -- and sharing the love with a Disney Prize Pack contest -- so be sure to come see me here next Monday, March 15 for details of the trip and the giveaway.