Best Children's Crafts Websites and Resources: Tiny hands must be kept busy. : Buzz Off : Alpha Mom™

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Best Children's Crafts Websites and Resources: Tiny hands must be kept busy.

Published 11.28.2006 | Permanent Link | Comments (3)

You all rolled your eyes at me a few weeks ago when I shared all the personalized gifts and the letters to Santa. "Christmas!?" You yelled at the computer screen in your bathrobe. "Why! We've barely passed Halloween!"

I think you're Jimmy Stewart.

Who's laughing now that you ate a wonderful feast and it's time to start shopping? Do you see how fast it goes? Which got me thinking how every year I want to do some crafty projects during the holidays with my kids and suddenly it's Christmas Eve and I suggest we tear a page out of that Spongebob coloring book and work on that. Big fun.

Maybe you want to make some gifts with your kids to save some money to pay for your plumbing problems (it's like child labor!) or maybe you're just one of those nice parents who enjoys making things with kids. Either one.

Speaking of parents who enjoy making things with their kids, Kiddley is a wonderful site where Claire Roberts of Loobylu creates and collects great crafts and activities for kids. Some will make great easy rainy (snowy) day activities and others nice gifts. Surely someone on your list can use a pinecone hedgehog? It's a great place to collect inspiration.

Kids Craft Weekly is another inspiring site. Australian mother of two, Amber Carvan found crafting to be the best way to keep her and the kids busy and she realized she enjoyed creating new projects to do with her kids. She started her weekly newsletter to help other parents do the same. Each issue outlines a set of activities following a theme and are intended to be low cost, educational and fun. You can browse the newsletters online and browse some great resources. Issue 16 begins with a short tutorial of 'Pretend Play'. At eight-years-old my daughter doesn't really want to play pretend with me anymore but if only I'd found this piece before. You can't imagine the frustration I could have saved my daughter who found me utterly useless at a tea party. I also love this page of 'No Fuss Craft Ideas', it's easy to forget how much kids love the simplest of ideas. You've got paper clips? You have hours of entertainment for a four-year-old.

For older kids I love DIY Kids. Ellen and Julia Lupton are sisters, mothers and designers (among other things) and started DIY Kids to share their love of design for kids with others. My daughter's loved all the projects we've tried, like these door hangers and especially this t-shirt.

Come back tomorrow when I'll show you my favorite crafts your children can make which could be given as heart warming holiday gifts. Get that sweatshop in the basement nice and hot and come back here tomorrow.

Comments (3):

Melanie said:

Ugh, I just spent an hour looking at those craft blogs and feeling utterly inadequate!! Bring on the Sponge Bob coloring pages. I wish I knew how to sew or paint or something so I would be able to start my own craft blog and feel good about myself. LOL

Posted on November 29, 2006 10:09

Michelle said:

Thanks for Kid Craft Weekly, it'll save me from my kids over Christmas break.

Posted on November 29, 2006 21:03

mcewen said:

I love the hedgehogs!
BEst wishes

Posted on December 1, 2006 21:29

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Melissa Summers was one of five Melissa's throughout her schooling, in her everyday life she is the only Melissa who folds laundry. The name Melissa is derived from the Greek word for Honeybee. The Buzz Off is published weekly on Tuesdays. She writes almost nearly everyday at Suburban Bliss.

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