paint with straws

the return of our pan pipes!

I think the children had more fun cutting the straws and watching them fly, than making their pan pipes. We forgot to plug up the bottoms, though we did pop some play dough in a few (which was super fun to blow out, of course). If you decide to make these, you can find the diy here. I recommend using masking tape as the washi tape peeled off a few hours later.

valentine's day: straw crazy!

With a few supplies, you kidlet can whip up a series of necklaces or garlands, their choice!

Materials:

*twine or yarn
*scissors
*straws (save your straws!)
*glue stick
*paper punch
*scrap paper

scrumdilly-do it!

Hand your wee one a pair of kid friendly scissors and let them go to town cutting up a handful of straws. This is a great project for recycling them straws you've collected out and about! If your wee one is really wee, cut each straw into two or three pieces so that they can lace them safely (with supervision).

Start your tot off by either tying one of of the string to a piece of straw or anchoring a loop between two punched shapes (tape off the end if it is too floopy to easily thread through the straw beads). If you tie off, make sure to leave extra room at the other end so you can knot up the finished fancy-pants piece!

For the punched shapes, make sure the twine is sandwiched between the two with a healthy does of glue stick.

For the lacing, let them go to town. You can talk all sorts of math and science during this as your kidlet creates seriation and patterns in their stringing. Alternate if you like between the shapes and the straw beads.

Package them up in small tins, stitched bags, plastic bags, half a cardboard tube decorated and capped off. there's all sorts of fun ways your wee one can gift these to friend, family & teachers!

Fun with Straws

Another Kitchen Craft idea: Straw Beading

All you need is straws, scissors, masking or packing tape and string. I use the tape to stiffen the ends of the yarn. You can use skinny ribbon, shoelaces, yarn, twine, etc. If your wee ones are too young for scissors, cut up the straws yourself. I got this nifty pack at the dollar store. Have a container of cut straws ready and your kidlets will always have something to do even if only for a minute or two!

String up one strand for a necklace or shake toy for a little brother or sister. String up a series and make a beaded curtain for the doorway or window or maybe even a kitchen table fort. Toss in some pasta, holey cereal and beads and who knows what your kidlets will create.

Have Fun!