crafts for kids

Materials

• Very large sheet of newsprint or other paper
• Washable markers, crayons, or coloured pencils
• Stapler and newspaper (optional)
• Childamp;#39;s blunt-tip safety scissors

Instructions

1. Spread the newsprint or paper on the floor and have your child lie on the paper.
2. Trace around her body, then have her stand to see the outline youamp;quot;ve drawn.
3. For a toddler, help her draw features with washable markers, crayons, or coloured pencils. A preschooler will be able to add the features herself.
4. Have her be as detailed as possible: What is her hair like? What colour are her eyes? What clothes is she wearing?
5. When she is finished, hang the poster somewhere she can admire it.

Variations

• If you like, make a three-dimensional tracing by stacking two sheets of paper on the floor and have your child lie on the paper.
• Trace around her body, drawing about an inch or two away from her body.
• Cut out the tracings and staple them together at the sides, leaving the top and bottom open. If your child wants to do the cutting, be sure to give her childamp;#39;s safety scissors.
• Have your child decorate both sides as specified above.
• Stuff the shape with crumpled newspaper, then staple the top and bottom closed.

Safety

Adult participation needed for use of scissors and stapler.