Nature Crafts
Nature crafts are simple activities that connect children to the natural world. Nature crafts make great seasonal craft activities. Winter is the perfect time to help birds make it through the cold season and easy kids crafts can help.
Putting out a pine cone bird feeder is a fun way to enjoy wild birds while providing a source of protein for them. Pine cone bird feeders are easy kids crafts that even young children can help make.
Visit www.treasureboxkids.com for children’s clothing and ideas. Be sure to look through our archived blog posts for more activities, crafts, tips and birthday party ideas.
Nature Crafts
What you need:
- Pine cone
- String
- Peanut Butter
- Bird Seed
How to make a pine cone bird feeder:
- Tie a piece of string around a pine cone.
- Cover the pine cone in peanut butter.
- Roll the pine cone in the birdseed.
- Hang the bird feeder outside and wait for the birds to come.
Snack Time
After school snack time will give kids more energy in the afternoon to concentrate on homework. Snack time is an important part of each day, giving children more energy to play outside instead of flopping down in front of the television. Skip the prepackaged items and take a few minutes to make easy snacks from scratch. Easy snacks do not have to be equated with junk food. Kids love to turn an eating occasion into an interactive experience.
Take the opportunity to cook together with your child these simple peanut butter granola bars. When you and your child cook together to make their own snacks you will begin to instill an interest in cooking that may help them to make healthy eating choices. Visit www.treasureboxkids.com for children’s clothing and ideas. Be sure to look through our archived blog posts for more activities, fun kids crafts, tips and birthday party ideas.
Snack Time
Ingredients:
1 large egg white
½ cup old-fashioned oats
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup sliced almonds
¼ tsp salt
½ cup peanut butter
½ cup light brown sugar
3 tablespoons oil
½ tsp ground cinnamon
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line an 8” square baking pan with 2 crisscrossed rectangles of parchment paper, leaving a 2” overhang at 2 opposite ends. In a large bowl, combine oats, almonds and cranberries.
- In a small saucepan, whisk together oil, brown sugar, peanut butter, cinnamon, salt and 1 tablespoon of water over low heat until sugar dissolves (about 5 minutes). Let cool slightly; whisk in egg white. Pour over oat mixture; stir until moistened. Spread evenly in bottom of pan; smooth the top of the mixture.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until top is firm. Let cool 10 minutes. Lift out of pan using paper handles. Let cool completely. Cut into bars.
Baby Shower Planning
Successful baby shower planning is so exciting. It brings you closer to the expectant mother. It celebrates the arrival of a new life and honors the mother as she sacrifice to brings her special baby into this world. The baby shower plan is an easy to follow outline to bring the most joy to the mother and her guests during the celebration. Start planning a baby shower early with the following baby shower planning guide.
Baby Shower Planning
- Who will be planning the baby shower? Are there family and friends who are going to help or do you want to plan the baby shower yourself? Who will host the baby shower?
- What kind of baby shower (not the theme yet)? Will this be a large gathering? How long will the party last? Women only or couples?
- When will the baby shower be held? Weekday or weekend? Mid-day or evening? When is convenient for the mother-to-be?
- Set up a budget
- Select the baby shower theme
- Organize the Guest List
- Plan Baby Shower Games and activities
- Plan the menu
- Register the mother-to-be at one or two baby registries
- Send Invitations
- Purchase decorations and party supplies
- Put together gift bags and wrap prizes
Visit www.treasureboxkids.com for adorable baby outfits or onesies. Look through our archived blog posts for more baby shower ideas.
Play Dress Up
Everyday items help kids play dress up. Kids play dress up as an opportunity to role-play and dream; the clothes and accessories are the tools kids need to transform into their fantasy character. It takes little more than a cape, hat, mask, old prom dress, gloves, or shoes to inspire a child’s mind. Kids dress up costumes often come from old items around the house as well as garage sale wigs, hats, bathrobes, purses and jewelry. Add tiaras, wands, sports gear and play swords for a wide variety of ideas.
Make an idea box to hold all the magical elements of the kids dress up costumes. Visit www.treasureboxkids.com for children’s clothing and ideas. Be sure to look through our archived blog posts for more activities, fun kids crafts, tips and birthday party ideas.
Play Dress Up
Dress Up Idea Box Possibilities:
- Boas, Tiaras, Wands
- Hats – straw hats, cowboy hats, etc.
- Shoes or Boots
- Oversized t-shirts
- Belts – to hold swords
- Gloves – Easter gloves, gardening gloves
- Halloween Clearance Items
Baby’s First Birthday
The time for baby’s first birthday has arrived and the celebration is as much for parents as it is for the youngster. Your baby’s first birthday is an event where precious memories can be saved for years to come. Plan the first birthday party as a short event (about an hour to an hour and a half), preferably after naptime. If possible, plan the first birthday party in your home or an environment that your baby is comfortable with.
Baby's First Birthday
Simple themes for the first birthday party, such as a favorite color, storybook or cartoon character can be the main point of focus for your decorations and activities. Keep the baby’s needs in mind when planning for his or her first birthday. Visit www.treasureboxkids.com for adorable baby outfits for your baby to wear at their first birthday. Look through our archived blog posts for more birthday ideas, children’s clothing and kid’s activities.
Decorations
- Decorate with pictures of your baby over the first year of life, including important milestones like crawling and taking the first step.
- Cut out large number ones from brightly colored paper to mount on walls
- Decorate with colorful balloons and streamers
Activities
- Place a colorful blanket on the floor with easy to manipulate toys (busy boxes or play gym) to create a safe baby play area
- Place push toys, foam blocks, or cloth tunnels for toddlers to play with
- Create a cupcake decorating station for older children and adults
