Popsicle Stick Pumpkin Frame

Fall is the perfect time for crafting with kids. What is cuter than scarecrows and pumpkins? Today, I'm sharing a simple craft children (and their parents) will love... a popsicle stick pumpkin frame.

To make this adorable frame:

1) Paint 4 craft sticks with orange craft paint.
2) Glue the popsicles into a frame.
3) Cut a stem from brown paper and glue to the top of the pumpkin.
4) Glue a piece of curling ribbon to the bottom of the stem.

This little frame is perfect for a picture taken in a pumpkin patch. It would be adorable for a Halloween snapshot too!

I put magnets on the back of mine to attach it to the fridge, but you could hang it from a ribbon too. Cute, right?!?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Simple Beauty and the Beast Afternoon Tea Party

I have always loved the story of Beauty and the Beast, and I have wanted to host a Beauty and the Beast themed tea party for many years. A few months ago, I decided to do it with a group of Preschoolers. I decorated, and we ate cupcakes and tea sandwiches, drank tea (juice) and made a few crafts. It was easy, inexpensive, and lots of fun... and today I am sharing all the wonderful DIY details of my simple Beauty and the Beast tea party.

Like any party, a good tea party needs simple and festive decorations.

I made a doily banner using paper doilies from the dollar store. I basically just used glue to attach folded doilies over a piece of twine. Then, I embellished the banner with flower clothespins and letters that spelled out "tea". 

I also used an old book to make a book page table runner. Such a simple idea... but it turned out really cute and added some visual interest to the table.

In keeping with the "book" theme, I used some colourful hardcover books to display an "enchanted rose" centrepiece that I made using more dollar store supplies. You can find the full tutorial for this dollar store Beauty and the Beast centrepiece here.

And to complete the decor, I designed this "Be Our Guest" sign. You can download it for FREE by clicking on the photo below, right-clicking, saving it to your computer, and printing it like a regular 8x10 photo.

To keep everyone entertained, we did a variety of Beauty and the Beast themed crafts.

The tea party guests made paper crowns that they decorated with jewel stickers.

The kids also made paper flowers with their pictures in the centre. Cute, right?

Everyone also made enchanted mirrors from tin foil, paper plates, craft sticks and jewels.

And the kids created their own enchanted rose artwork by gluing a picture of a rose and dollar store rose petals to a piece of cardstock.

To download the picture of the rose: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.

Finally, the party guests crafted their own rocking teapots on paper plates folded in half. 

For food, I kept things simple. We had tea (apple juice) in tiny real glass teacups, cupcakes with sprinkles, and tea sandwiches.

The kids loved the peanut butter sandwiches cut out with flower-shaped cookie cutters.

This was a really simple party theme, but it was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

A Beauty and the Beast tea party would be great for a birthday party, a special afternoon, or a movie night. Do you have little ones that would enjoy these treats and crafts?

             

Simple Dr.Seuss Crafts and Activities for Preschoolers

Dr. Seuss has always been a favourite author in our house. We love the silly stories, lyrical language and rhymes. So, in celebration of Dr. Seuss's birthday (which is March 2), today I am sharing a few of our favourite Dr. Seuss crafts and activities. They are perfect for Preschoolers, but older children will like them too!

The Cat in the Hat is a fun story with lots of simple rhyming words. It's one of the first stories my beginner readers enjoyed reading on their own. This cat craft uses a paper plate and a paper hat full of stripes containing words ending in "at". Cute, right?

And this fun craft involves kids gluing strips of paper and a bow tie onto a simple, hand-drawn picture of the Cat in the Hat.

You can also make your own hat using the tutorial you can find here.

And is there anything cuter than incorporating a child's photo into a craft. With some simple shapes, and a picture of the child, it is easy to make a Thing 1 craft that kids will love. Scrunch up some 1 inch squares of tissue paper to make the hair.

The Lorax is another one of our favourites. You can't beat a story that focusses on being kind to the environment. Celebrate this story by going for a nature walk and sticking a newly broken branch in water and watching it bloom.

And you can't talk about Dr. Seuss without talking about "Green, Eggs, and Ham". This was always one of my favourite books to read to my boys. Find out how to make an adorable green eggs snack here.

And finally, check out these wonderful "One fish two fish" snacks and activities. It's simple to make "fish" sandwiches using fish-shaped cookie cutters... and don't forget to add a side of goldfish. 

You can also pretend to fish using a clothespin on a stick, paper fish, and gummy worms. My boys LOVED this!

You can also trace the child's hands to make this adorable "One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish" craft.

These Dr. Seuss crafts and activities are wonderful for celebrating Dr. Seuss's birthday... but they are fun any time. Grab your favourite book, and follow it up with one of these fun crafts or activities. Your kids will love it!

♥  

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

50+ Preschool Themes (with crafts and activities)

I have been teaching Preschool craft classes for many years (with a focus on play-based learning), and I have explored many Preschool themes with my students. I have a ton of wonderful and creative ideas, and I thought it would be helpful to organize them for you (all in one place). So, today I am sharing links to my collection of over 50 Preschool themes (and over 100 crafts and activities). Each link (below) contains several fantastic ideas for engaging crafts and activities, so make sure you "click" on them all.

1) Monsters - These monster crafts and activities are more cute than scary. You can find all the details here.

2) Colours - Preschoolers will love these bright and cheerful "colour" crafts and activities. You can find all the details here.

3) Shapes - Kids will have fun sorting shapes and making fun "shape" crafts. You can find all the details here. 

4) Fall - Nothing says Fall like scarecrows and the colours of changing leaves. Making bird-feeders is also a fun way for Preschoolers to work on fine motor skills and to welcome the season. You can find the details here.

5) Teddy Bear Clinic - Playing "pretend" is always popular with kids, so it is no surprise that this theme is super-popular with Preschoolers. You can find the details here. 

6) Bugs and Insects - Preschoolers will love making these adorable bugs and insect crafts. The bumblebee with moving wings and worm made from Cheerios are too cute! You can find the details here and here.

7) Farm Animals - Preschoolers will love exploring farm life with some cute and cuddling farm animal crafts and activities. You can find the details here.

8) Music - Preschoolers love making noise, and these wonderful music crafts and activities are sure to delight them. You can find the details here and here. 

9) Circus - This theme is always a popular one with Preschoolers. Kids love the elephant and clown puppets... and the clown collar is always a hit. You can find the details here. 

10) Spring - April showers bring May flowers... but these "Spring" crafts and activities are perfect for any time of year. The Spring wreath is great for honing fine motor skills, and the kids will love making it. You can find the details here.

11) Under the Sea - Preschoolers will adore these sweet "under the sea" crafts and activities. The paper bag fish is always a hit with little ones. You can find the details here.

12) Olympics - The Olympics come every four years, but these crafts and activities are perfect any time of year. Kids will love crafting their own Olympic torches and medals. You can find the details here. 

13) Camping - Explore the great outdoors, or get creative inside, with these simple and interactive camping crafts. You can find the details here. 

14) Dr. Seuss - Reading and crafting with Dr. Seuss is always fun. You'll have no problem getting your Preschooler to try these green eggs and ham! You can find the details here. 

15) Princess Tea Party - Tea party are a lot of fun... and they are even better when you make your own crown and accessories. You can find the details here. 

16) Summer - Summer crafts are a great way to bring the sunshine indoors. The painted rocks are simple adorable, and the free paper fan template is fantastic. You can find the details here. 

17) All About Me - Preschoolers love to learning about themselves, and it helps them to build their confidence. These "All About Me" crafts and activities are perfect for little ones who want to explore their personal identities. You can find the details here.

18-27) Numbers - I have 10 full lesson plans for exploring the numbers 1-10. Each number has it's own crafts and activities that kids will love. You can find the details here. 

28-52) Letters - I have 26 full lesson plans for exploring every letter of the alphabet. Each letter has it's own crafts and activities that kids will love. You can find the details here. 

I also have some fun ideas for holiday crafts and activities for Preschoolers.

53) Valentine's Day - These simple Valentine's Day crafts are a perfect way for kids to create their own Valentine's Day gifts and decor. The "love bug" is guaranteed to delight Preschoolers. You can find the details here.

54) St.Patrick's Day - You don't have to be Irish to have fun making St.Patrick's Day crafts. The rainbow necklace is a great way for Preschoolers to practice fine motor skills, and the leprechaun puppet and shamrock hat are both adorable and fun. You can find the details here.

55) Easter - Everyone loves the sweet egg and bunny crafts that kids can make at Easter time. I have a lot of fun options, but I think the free bunny mask template is my favourite. You can find the details here.

56) Canada Day - Creating some patriotic and festive crafts is a wonderful way for Preschoolers to celebrate July 1st. I have several fun Canada Day crafts and activities on my blog, but I love the beaver puppet the most! You can find the details here.

57) Halloween - Preschoolers will be thrilled by (not scared of) these super-cute Halloween crafts. Tearing up paper for the pumpkin craft is a fantastic way for Preschoolers to work on fine motor skills, and the result is adorable! You can find the details here. 

58) Thanksgiving - Preschoolers will be thankful for these adorable Thanksgiving crafts. How cute is the tissue paper turkey??? You can find the details here.

59) Christmas - Creating Christmas crafts is a lot of fun for kids, and it's a great way to celebrate the season. The simple holiday crafts on my blog are simple to make and are perfect for Preschoolers. You can find the details here. 

60) Beauty and the Beast tea party - This is such a special theme. Snacks can be tailored, decor can be added, and the kids can keep busy with some fantastic simple tea party crafts. I love the rocking tea pot, but you can find all the details here.

Being creative is a fun way for kids to learn and gain confidence. I hope you enjoy exploring all my crafts and activities with your children or Preschool class. 

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You may also like these alphabet crafts and activities.