6 Fantastic Benefits of Arts and Crafts for Kids

In this day and age, many parents resort to technology in order to keep their kids entertained and occupied, completely forgetting the benefits of arts and crafts. True, technology is very useful, and kids should be introduced to it, but it should never come at the expense of them playing and making things with their own hands. There are many benefits of arts and crafts that go beyond simply allowing your kids to express themselves in a more creative way, and here are some of them.

It improves their coordination and fine motor skills.

Arts and crafts usually require kids to use both hands in a certain manner, which can help them develop fine motor skills and bilateral coordination. For example, drawing dots and lines, cutting with scissors, and even simply tearing a piece of paper are all quite demanding tasks in terms of dexterity – and kids enjoy doing them. This can help them develop faster and become more skilled in other daily activities such as tying their shoes, dressing, using kitchenware, etc.

It helps them express themselves.

Kids tend to be very visual about everything that happens around them, and they generally absorb a lot of information every day. However, there will always be kids who are naturally shyer and not that comfortable with expressing themselves in words. Those kids may look for different, more visual ways to express their emotions and thoughts – and arts and crafts can give them what they need. It is a safe environment that they can control and shape in any way they want by using any materials they like. This is why parents might get a better insight into how their child is feeling or what they are thinking by encouraging them to participate in arts and crafts activities.

It makes them more creative and productive.

There are no limits to children’s imagination, and arts and crafts are a great way for them to turn that endless imagination into something more productive. There are many materials, colors, shapes, and activities they can choose, which allows children to explore different options and pick those that they find the most enjoyable. And who knows, they might even discover a fun hobby, like drawing, that can later become a lucrative career, like graphic design.

It helps them develop other skills.

Young kids usually begin using pens by scribbling random things. However, the thing is, the more they scribble, the better they will be at controlling the pen and their movements across the paper. So, as they learn to control their own movements, they will also learn how to create different shapes, which will eventually lead to creating letters. In other words, the more they scribble, the faster they’ll master everything they need in order to write clearly. Also, you can encourage scribbling by giving them colorful gel pens—scribbling with such fun pens will make them want to do it all the time!

It inspires them to think critically.

Art comes with endless possibilities and choices—will their house have a red roof or black? Will they draw a dog or a cat? How will they draw the clouds and the birds? All these choices inspire kids to think critically, decide, and evaluate their own decisions so they can repeat them or change them the next time. This way, they will become more comfortable with thinking about different possibilities and more confident about making their choices. Plus, it will also make them more likely to try different combinations and come up with their own ideas, which is an extremely useful skill at all ages.

It helps them socialize.

Arts and crafts create a common ground for all the kids who may have different interests or simply haven’t met yet, because most of them will love creating things with their hands—and see what other kids have created. When it comes to creativity, it doesn’t matter how old they are or what race they are – the only thing that matters is what they can make. And since children are naturally curious, they will gladly approach another child if they like what that kid has drawn, built with Lego blocks, or colored.

There are many benefits of arts and crafts for kids, from helping them socialize and express themselves to helping them develop other skills and think more critically. So, if you want your child to have fun and experience all these benefits, encourage them to take part in such activities – they are both fun and useful, and your kid will definitely enjoy exploring their own imagination.

The 16 Best Outdoor Toys for Kids, According to Experts

Convincing kids to ditch their screens for the great outdoors is no easy task. But thanks to our list of the best outdoor toys, hand-picked by Boerue, they won’t even want to watch Paw Patrol. These toys can withstand being left in the backyard, are tons of fun for kids, and are easy for parents to set up and supervise.

But which one to choose? If you’re creative enough, you can take any kid’s favorite indoor activity and move it to the backyard. Are they artsy? Give them a sidewalk-chalk upgrade that’ll keep them drawing for hours (and keep their fingers clean, too). Into STEM? Try out a stomp rocket, and see if you can find the variables that make it fly higher and higher — or test out what makes a solar-powered car go faster or slower. What about gym? Try a glow-in-the-dark football and keep playing past dusk. And when your learning activities are done, be sure to stock up on the usual summertime staples, like bubbles, scooters, and kiddie pools, which they’ll keep returning to year after year. With these, you can just slather them up in sunscreen and keep them in the backyard all day.

Stand-Up Sidewalk Chalk Holder

Invented by parents, this sidewalk chalk holder means you no longer have to bend down to draw your next game of hopscotch. Genius! Ages 3+

Nabi Compete

The Nabi Compete introduces kids to the idea of fitness trackers. They can challenge each other to walk equivalent distances of the path around famous landmarks (like the Brooklyn Bridge in New York or the National Mall in D.C.), or see how quickly they can burn off the calories in a slice of pizza. Ages 6+

NERF Fortnite HC-E Mega Dart Blaster

Take the fun of Fortnite off of screens and into the backyard with this powerful Nerf dart blaster, which is designed to look like the weapons in the game. The blaster comes with three darts. Ages 8+

Gazillion Bubbles Incredibubble Wand

This easy-to-use wand creates big bubbles that don’t pop right away. It comes with 16 ounces of solution that’ll keep kids busy for up to two hours of constant play. Ages 3+

Stomp Rocket Ultra Rocket

With this game, kids “stomp” on the included pump to send rockets flying up to 20 stories high. Setup is super fast and easy, so you can start having fun right away. Ages 6+

Sunny Patch Pretty Petals Sprinkler Toy

How does your garden grow? With lots of water, of course! For families that don’t have a lot of space to set up a kiddie pool, this is a smaller (and less expensive!) way to cool off in the backyard.

GeoSafari Solar Rover

With this solar-powered car, kids can create a shadow to turn it around or stop the car completely. Then, they’ve gotta move out of the way to gain more power from the sun. Exercise! Ages 8+

Rainbow Arch Spray Pool

Cool off in the backyard with an inflatable pool that, if you hook it up to a garden hose, is also a sprinkler. The rainbow arch also provides some shade. Ages 2+ with adult supervision.

Sling Stix

Once they’re bored of catch, try Sling Stix, which challenges kids to “sling” and catch a super bouncy ball using a suction cup. Once they master it, they’ll feel really accomplished. Ages 6+

Glow in the Dark NightBall

Get the teams in a huddle for a game — at night! This football glows using LEDs, giving new meaning to “Friday Night Lights.” Ages 3+

Flickin’ Chicken

Move over, cornhole and horseshoes! The Flickin’ Chicken game is the best precision-tossing game for kids, because throwing a rubber chicken is just hilarious. Ages 6+

Wooden Indoor/Outdoor Fishing Duel Set

With two wooden rods and 25 magnetic fish, this kit has all the fun of fishing, without the mess. Everything zips up into the included travel case, so it’s easy to bring along when heading to the park. Ages 5+

Fun Zone Fountain Factory Water Table

Kids will flock to this water table once it’s set up in the backyard. They can switch around the pipes and fittings for STEM know-how, and there’s an easy draining plug so it won’t make a mess. Ages 3+

Mega Grave Digger RC

This remote-controlled monster truck won a 2019 Good Housekeeping Toy Award for its ability to roll over a variety of obstacles put in its path. But it’s also surprisingly light, which is good if one of those obstacles turns out to be a foot. Ages 4+

Micro Kickboard 3-in-1 Scooter

If you’re investing in a scooter, get one that will last for years: This one from Micro starts as a ride-on toy, then transitions to a scooter with a short handle, then becomes a full toddler scooter. Ages 1+

Gus Climb-N-Crawl Caterpillar

Get those little bodies moving! Kids can crawl through the caterpillar tunnel, climb on top of it, and peer through the different windows. You can configure the segments in different ways, and even purchase extensions. Ages 3+

13 types of fabric suitable for baby clothes & children’s clothes

Which Fabric is best for making clothes for kids (for babies as well as for older children)? This is a question that gets asked all the time.

Whenever a mom starts to make clothes it will not be for herself – it will always be first for her child. Finding the perfect fabric is one major hurdle she has to pass, especially as it is something that stays so close to her precious gem.

There are so many clothes you can make for kids – Little Girl Dresses, onesies and rompers, Smocked or embroidered Gowns, Bonnets, Blouses, pants, little skirts, shorts – there are so many things to make and you need the best of all fabrics for all these. Check out this post on sewing for children for some tips you can apply when sewing all these.

The first and foremost consideration when selecting fabric for sewing for your kid is that – it is soft and non-irritating. For a newborn an extra consideration is that it should be comfortable against the cut umbilical cord. For older babies and kids, comfort and safety ranks as the prime consideration. You also do not want the fabric to be clingy or slippery or thick – the fabric has to be breathable. The fabric also has to withstand many rounds of washing and also wear and tear from play and tumble, unless it is an occassion wear.

Usually, the first choice for making kids clothes is Cotton. It ticks all the criteria I wrote earlier – like absorbancy, breathability and comfort level. Organically made cotton tops even this, as it is made in a very eco-friendly environment without any of the chemicals used otherwise.

But simply going to the fabric store and asking for ‘Cotton’ is not going to do you any favour. There are so many types of cotton ( about 90 types). An uninitiated person may be tricked into buying some seemingly smooth soft looking fabric which may be terribly unsuitable for kids’ clothing – it may pill heavily after the first wash or turn rough and irritate the kid’s skin or it may be made of synthetic fibers which can make the kid very uncomfortable

Same is the case if you buy synthetic fabrics. They stain easily and pill after even the first wash. Though they look soft at first, this is lost sooner than later.

Note: Whatever be the fabric you choose, never make clothes for kids without prewashing the fabric. Prewashing is done as a ritual by most sewists as a preparation before sewing but when sewing for kids it takes on another meaning. You get to remove most of the chemicals which are most probably sprayed on factory made fabric, this way, at least get an illusion of it.

The following cotton and other fabrics are popularly used to make baby clothes and older children’s clothes (depending on the rules of the land, ofcourse. For eg. in some countries like USA cotton is banned for making commercial kids sleepwear.)

 

1 Lawn Cotton

This lightweight soft 100% cotton fabric with a high thread count, is very much suitable for making kids clothes, especially baby clothes. ; it is somewhat transparent and has a slightly crisp feel but at the same time it is very very soft to touch, as it is made of very fine thread. It is a popularly used fabric for making christening gowns.

Do you know that for small babies you need fabric that can dry fast (ofcourse you do, silly question) – At the rate at which babies change clothes the dresses have to dry fast or you need an infinite wardrobe -which is one of the reasons mothers choose lightweight cotton / cotton blends for making baby clothes. Cotton Lawn fabric is lightweight if nothing else.

2 Voile

Voile is a semi sheer fabric which is almost gauze-like.This is very similar to cotton lawn, but thinner and more see through and somewhat crisp. But it is also free-flowing. It is a very suitable fabric to make little dresses. A swiss voile with dots has the dots woven into the sheer background. You can use this fabric for smocking as the dots aid in pleating and smocking

3 Broadcloth

This fabric, which is lightweight and smooth can be cotton or cotton blend. Choose the cotton for making clothes for babies. The cotton broadcloth has a lustrous surface texture with a fine rib effect. You can make gowns and dresses with this fabric. Small kid tops and dresses in this fabric embellished with fine embroidery can be seen in retail showrooms

4 Handkerchief linen

This is a lovely very soft lightweight semi-sheer linen. The fabric has a slight texture to its surface (slubs) This is a heirloom project staple. As it is linen, expect the elegance of linen but with a soft feel ( a cotton/ linen blend will come without all that wrinkling natural to linen). This fabric is perfect for making christening gowns. As it is lightweight you can sew dresses with gathers, peats, as well as smocking without the unwanted bulk

5 Muslin

This is a cotton fabric available in many different weights – from very thin to somewhat dense, even coarse. The thin muslin is great for making baby clothes as you do not get more breathable fabric than this, it being 100% cotton. Muslin is usually used for making cloth diaper covers, swaddle clothes, burp clothes etc rather than clothes as it is not very glamourous looking. This fabric is very suitable for lining and for making petticoats to wear under dresses

Gauze is a cotton muslin fabric with a slightly wrinkled look. It is open weave, airy and very breathable. Single gauze and double gauze fabrics are available. Depending on its make, gauze can be very soft

6 Batiste

This is a cotton open weave fabric which is very soft. It is not transparent like voile, or lawn fabric. This fabric is very durable compared to other cotton fabric and at the same time very comfortable to wear as it is super soft. The lightweight of the fabric also makes it a winner.Swiss batiste fabric is a favourite fabric for making baby dresses and nightgowns

7 Eyelet cotton or Broderie anglaise fabric

There is nothing more beautiful than embroidery on fabric . Isn’t it great that with eyelet and broderie anglaise fabric you get fabric with embroidery already done on it. They are great for kids dresses, nightgowns. They can be used to make the garment themselves or as trims or accents like yokes, pockets etc.

8 Jersey knit fabric

Cotton jersey knit fabric is a favourite for baby and children’s clothes They are soft and breathable. Another advantage over woven clothes is that jersey knits are stretchy. Knit is very accommodative of constant body movements and growth spurts; you know how kids grow. Other favourite knit fabrics for making children’s clothing include interlock, double knit, cotton spandex. Know more about the 12 different types of knit fabrics here.

9 Fleece

Light fleece fabric is a good choice for kids’ winter clothes. Fleece is used as an alternative to wool. It is moisture-wicking and keeps the body warm, that’s why these are commonly used in making comfortable blankets for sleep. Unlike wool, fleece is easy to maintain as it is machine washable and dries fast. Make swaddle blankets or kid jackets. Learn more about fleece fabric here.

10 Microfiber fabrics

This is a new type of fabric which is very soft and non-allergenic. For kids who have very sensitive skin, this is a great choice

11 Fabric with pile/nap

Terrycloth is such a pile fabric; you can use this highly absorbent fabric to make robes, cloth diapers etc. Others like corduroy, brushed denim, flannel, velveteen, velour are all favourites.

12 Bamboo rayon

Bamboo material is an ultra soft yet durable rayon fiber made from cellulose derived from bamboo plants. It is organically made and is supposed to have non-allergenic properties which make the eco-conscious parents choose this fabric over others. It’s great for sensitive skin and is thermal-regulating, meaning that it will adjust to a child’s body temperature and consequently the body is, less likely to become too hot

13 Waterproof fabrics

If you re looking for fabric for making cloth diapers, diaper covers, blankets, washable bed pads,training pants, wet bags, nursing pads, bibs you may need fabric which will be water proof. For this, you can buy Polyurethane Laminated Polyester ( used on the outside of cloth diapers and diaper covers),Vinyl-backed Terry cloth etc . Ensure that the cloth you buy is breathable or the kid will be uncomfortable.Check out the post on 8 types of waterproof/water resistant materials for more details.

It may be tempting to buy pretty printed fabrics in polyester and nylon or sequins knits as well as add trims like synthetic lace and crinoline petticoats.But before you take out the purse, think about your kid, first.

Remember that a child’s skin is very delicate and she / he does not care that the pretty dress she is wearing is dazzling to others- the kid just wants a comfortable dress in which she can run around, free as a bird. The fabric you select go a long way in making her feel that way. So choose wisely rather than be tempted by the synthetic brigade, pretty nevertheless.

10 Best Homemade Toys for Kids

Kids are always after the latest toys. From action figures to Barbie dolls, there is a huge variety of toys that are available. However, getting all the toys your kids want would be impossible and may even spoil your child. Why not find a way where you can balance this out by encouraging them to make their own toys? This will not only help in improving their brain development but would make them appreciate the toys the already have. Let them learn the new methods and skills with you using these toys. These toys can keep your kids energetic and also let the parents and family interact with the kids more often. There are several games that can be enjoyed with the homemade toys. Let’s see which one is perfect for your little one.

Toys are the perfect friends for kids. Mostly, they get creative about toys and consider the toys their best friend as well. But as far as the social skills are concerned, they cannot break the shell. With this issue, it is essential for you to find time for your kids. The speciality of ‘Do It Yourself’ toys are that they can be made very easily. Thus, your kids can engage in more activities that could improve their brain development and social skills. Hence during the making of each toy, one can easily acquire the skills and technique that may be useful to one in the future. You can literally select each of the material specifically for your kids as well as toddlers. Let’s see how some of the traditional toys are made:

1. Water Balloon Launcher

Balloons are just the perfect choice for fun. The water balloon launcher uses a holder to release the balloon. This helps to add more fun as the balloon is not broken easily, and you can aim more smoothly. Every kid will love to make one of these for themselves. Even the adults can enjoy the water balloon toy which helps to create a family bond as well.

What Tools and Materials You Will Need?

Balloon, elastic wire, balloon holder, handle strip

How to Make?

Take two elastic wire and tie it to a rigid structure.
Other ends of the wire are attached to the balloon holder
A handle is attached to the holder for the grip
Use the balloon in the holder for the action
Let the splashes of the water add more fun to your kid’s fun time. Release the holder by aiming to release the fun.

2. Backyard Rocket Launcher

Kids love the way things fly. A water rocket is just one of the homemade toys which could keep your kids excited. This toy can be made in your backyard with the help of some small stuff. This toy also inspires your kids to learn more about the science behind. Hence, this toy inspires them to learn with the fun.

What Tools and Materials You Will Need?

Soda bottle, a wooden base attached with weights, copper tube, bike pump, duct tape

How to Make?

Take the wooden base and fix it somewhere safe. The weight attachment is important to maintain the balance of the structure.
Fix the copper tube in the base in the vertical direction.
The copper tube connected to the bike pump at the base.
Fix an airtight lid in the soda bottle
Now fix the water filled bottle into the copper tube and pump some air in. This will result in the propulsion of the bottle. You can also add up a few frictions on the bottle to change the projectile.

3. Periscope

The wonders of mirrors are really fascinating. The periscope with the use of the mirror to give the image of some other angle will always keep your kids wonder. The little toy of wonder can be easily made with a rectangular box and the

What Tools and Materials You Will Need?

Foam board, two mirrors, and duct tape

How to Make?

Take the foam board and make a rectangular box
Put a rectangular hole at the top of one side and bottom of opposite side
Insert the mirror and fix it in this hole at an angle 45 degree in both the holes
Mirrors are to be arranged facing the hole and making 45 degree
The wonderful periscope is ready to use. One can colour the outer of the periscope as you wish. Periscope is a toy which uses the image reflection of mirrors perfectly keep the kids in awe.

4. Spinning Disk Toy

Round and round it goes. Kids are always full of energy and boost if you are guiding them the correct way. The spinning disc is one of the toys which can keep your kids in wonder. The small toy uses a string to spin the button which is attached.

What Tools and Materials You Will Need?

String of 2-foot length, buttons, scissors

How to Make?

Take the string and put the buttons inside
Tie the open ends to close the loop of the string
You can just use the strings to be in each hand and the button at the centre. Then extend your hands in and out. This will create a motion in the buttons which will amaze any kid.

5. Rolling Comeback Can

A little magic toy is always lovely. The rolling comeback can is a magical toy which when rolled will come back to us. This magical toy can easily excite your kids. The elastic mechanism used in the toy will amaze the kids and inspire them to learn more.

What Tools and Materials You Will Need?

Barrel-shaped plastic container, two cubic wooden clocks, two 1.5 inch cup hooks, rubber band, drill, non-lead fishing sinker, key ring

How to Make?

Drill the container in the bottom and top
Fix the cup hook in the square blocks and keep them on top and bottom
A fishing sinker is kept inside the container
Attach the rubber inside the container connecting the square blocks
This is one of the classic homemade baby toys. Kids will wonder about the magic container and will have a great time with it. Roll on and watch the wonder in your kid’s eyes when they roll back.

6. Homemade Coloured and Textured Block

Colour and so bright. That’s how they like it. The textured block is coloured and then crafted to add the charm. These are handmade toys for toddlers with its safe size and can be used in many ways as well.

What Tools and Materials You Will Need?

Large wooden blocks, textured scrapbook paper, wooden shapes and letters, scissors, paint, and brushes.

How to Make?

The wooden blocks are collected and coloured as per your liking
Textured scrapbook paper is applied in different shapes
Use brushes to paint the blocks with letters and shapes
Cut out different shapes and glue it as well
Let your toddlers have fun this coloured and textured blocks. The variety of shapes and design helps your kids to engage in a variety of games with the coloured blocks.

7. Homemade Sock Toys

Kids always like things to be cute and pretty. The Sock toys are made from a variety of materials. But it has a perfect charm that your kids adore. Let them make the sock toys to their liking using the variety of the ornamental stuff.

What Tools and Materials You Will Need?

Fluffy sock, Googley eyes, ornamental kinds of stuff, glue

How to Make?

Take the fluffy sock and fill it with soft materials
Stitch the ends with a thread of the same colour
Add the detail like Googley eyes and ornamental attachments as you desire
Stitch or glue each gently such that the softness of the sock is not lost
The sock toys can help your kids learn more about the cute and pretty styles. The toy making includes a variety of materials and skills. This will help your kids learn about things easily.

8. Stones for Play

The stones are used for a variety of games for kids. Thus, colouring these makes it more interesting for them. The colouring is done in a specific order or design that kids will learn to make shapes out of these rocks. These are suggested for kids and not for toddlers as they can easily cause problems.

What Tools and Materials You Will Need?

6 Colours of acrylic paint, brush, 28 flat rocks

How to Make?

Collect all the stones of the non-traditional shapes
Mark the colour till half of each rock
Next colour is painted on the other side and is also used in the next rock
Thus, the colouring will involve specific pattern
These stones can be arranged in the linear order of colours or used in a variety of games. The making of coloured stone will help your kids to learn about the patterns followed. One can also enjoy the painting and collection of the stones in the making process

9. Homemade Toys for Car Loving Kids

Almost all kids love cars and vehicles. They always dream of driving luxurious cars. Here the roads and maps are made for the traffic of the cars in your own house. Kids will have more fun riding in their car in the city they built themselves.

What Tools and Materials You Will Need?

Old clothing, paint, scissors, markers

How to Make?

Take the markers and old clothing
Mark the clothing for the roads, streets, and all major places
Cut out the marked clothing
Paint the clothing to add a real like touch
Stick it all together to make the city
The city made in this way is truly on creative skills. Your kids will gain more of the analytical skill and creative skill from this toy making. The city will grow more with your creativity and will attract more quality time.

10. Toys from The Recycle Bin

Toys should always give your kids some quality time. The toys from the recycle bin include unused things made useful. The ocean made from the wastage plastic bottle and structure made from the cardboard are examples.

What Tools and Materials Will you Need?

Old cardboard, bottles, water, oil, blue coloured flavour

How to Make?

Take the large bottle and clean it
Take water, oil, and blue coloured flavour in the same bottle
Mix them well after closing the bottle
Watch the ocean like blue inside the bottle
Cardboards are torn at the edges
They are joined together to form a structure of your choice

Welcome your kids to the world you used to live in. These homemade toys are perfect for keeping kids away from the tech gadgets. Let them have fun with some homemade games and toys. Always take special care or accompany your kids while they are engaging in toy making activities as they involve scissors. Many of the mentioned toys make use of various mechanisms and technology. This will surely trigger the curiosity of your kids to learn more in the future.

Why you should teach your kids the art of origami

Most of us don’t think much of fancy napkins and pizza boxes. We disregard them just like we do paper bags. However, they all have something special in common. They are direct descendants of an ancient Far-East art form — origami.

 

Although this art form is as old as the Japanese and Chinese cultures themselves — which are pretty much ancient — it has a special place in modern times. Namely, we can use it to teach our kids complex concepts like geometry and fractions.

 

But it’s not just about math. Origami can help develop their thinking and problem-solving skills. Allow us to, therefore, explain the importance of teaching origami to kids by listing a couple of ways that it makes regular subjects more exciting for kids.

Origami Requires Patience

The pros of teaching origami to kids are nothing new. People have been aware of this for a very long time. In the West, we have been using it to entertain our little ones since the 19th century. 

 

One of the main benefits of folding papers and constructing complex figures when it comes to kids is that they learn about being patient. Even creating simple origami figures requires calmness, concentration, and stillness. 

 

As you probably know, most kids lack all three of those qualities. They aren’t interested in any of them, and that’s understandable. But with the prospect of having a toy in their hands by the time they’re done, even Dennis the Menace would be patient and willing to learn.

Kids Develop Mathematical Skills

When you think about elementary school, not many things are as bad as geometry classes. Well, aside from bullies, of course. Either way, geometry is one of the math skills that most American kids have trouble with. Even the National Center for Education Statistics suggests that. Luckily, origami is a great way to help kids overcome it. Folding a piece of paper can help youngsters better understand formulas, labels, and space in geometry.

 

Teaching children to create origami models can also help with fractions. This mathematical concept is pretty scary in the first few grades, but they don’t have to be if it’s fun. And to make it so, many teachers include simple types of origami in their lesson plans.

Problem-Solving Skills Are Tested When Doing Origami

Another benefit of learning origami is developing problem-solving skills. Several studies suggest that kids who understand folding origami papers have it better when it comes to spatial visualization. That means that they are way better at solving problems, comprehending complex forms, and are more observant of their surroundings.

 

Having your kids observe different forms in nature and then trying to reconstruct them step-by-step with paper at home isn’t just playing. It can help ensure they go on and have successful careers as engineers, architects, or scientists. The benefits of origami are improved problem-solving skills that will come in handy regardless of the career path.

 

If you think about it, it seems pretty logical. Each paper fold that leads to a meaningful result requires solving a spatial problem in your mind. And the more kids do it, the more prone they become to overcoming complexities, which they can use in other aspects of their lives. It doesn’t have to be just math and the school curriculum.

Origami Improves Kids’ Creativity

When talking about origami, most articles focus on math and engineering. And that’s okay because there’s a lot of that going on while folding paper. Still, fine motor skills like these can be used for other, more artistic expressions just as well. By learning origami, kids can encourage and develop their creativity in a big way.

 

In the beginning, kids doing origami shouldn’t be overly complex. They should, instead, focus on creating simple forms like various kinds of flowers. However, once they figure out the basics, parents should encourage them to start recreating objects they see in nature. From trees and bushes to animals and people, they can explore anything they wish.

 

 

Aside from making them happy by doing anything they want, focusing on non-typical origami will influence their creativity. But this broadening of their views won’t stop at paper cranes, swans, and other majestic birds. It will translate into burgeoning creativity in other art forms as well, including drawing, painting, and much more.

Kids Test Their Mental Coordination

When someone mentions origami, the last thing that you’d think about is physical and mental exercise. Most imagine models of birds and other animals, or fancy napkins in expensive restaurants. However, we must disappoint you. Origami art is one of the finest examples of exercise there is. It helps kids with coordination, stimulating their hands and brains.

 

To create even the simplest of forms, one must have great skills and nimble fingers. But the engine behind the tips of your thumbs is the brain. Without its proper functioning, we wouldn’t be able to hold a cup of water, let alone create origami. Therefore, challenging kids in their early years will boost their development by connecting their brain and hand activity.

 

On the other hand, there’s yet another benefit to origami — it’s a perfect way to relax. Sure, kids might not be living under the same stress as adults do, but they do have unique struggles. Fighting your way through school curriculum and the jungle of the schoolyard can be quite frustrating when you’re ten. Yet, origami can serve as a perfect distraction.

Kids’ Activities to Maximize Your/Their DIY Skills

When it comes to raising kids, and as you know, teaching them skills is an important aspect of their upbringing. But, teaching them DIY skills is as important. And you do not even need to get any fancy DIY kits, although they can help. But, just use what you have in the house and have some watching them develop their skills. You can also develop yours at the same time. 

Crayon Push Activity

One of the first arts and crafts we are going to talk about is Crayon Push. This is a fun activity where all you need is a pack of colored crayons. The purpose of this game is that the kids have to put crayons inside the box that correspond to certain words and materials. As in if you say “dog” then they should put into the box the color that they think links to the word. So if you have a black dog, they should put in the black crayon, if you have a brown one, then the brown crayon, etc. 

Stain Glass Window

Another very fun activity for kids is the Stain Glass Window. However, you do not need an embroidery kit for glass to do this. You can use DIY materials you already have in your home such as: 

 

  • Plastic sheet
  • Cardboard
  • Colored pencils or pens
  • Markers
  • Paper 
  • Glue sticks 

The idea is that you take the plastic sheet and you hang it over a window. Then you ask them to make something with cardboard, or paper by using pencils, pens, markers, etc. Then when their little pieces of art are ready they can use the glue sticks to stick them onto the plastic sheet. It is like window painting without the paint. A fun craft for kids to do.  

2-Ingredient Play Dough

A great idea for kids who love to play with play dough is that you make the dough yourself. Many craft kits include play dough but part of the fun is doing it yourself. And, it will save you money. To make play dough you mix for every one part conditioner with two parts cornflour or cornstarch. You can also add food coloring to make them look different. And with that, your child has something to play with while you work from home. 

DIY Laser Maze

If your child wants to play as a spy then you can make a “laser maze” obstacle course for them to get through. You can clear up the living room and make a certain part of it “lava” that they cannot step on, while in another part you can take wool and stick it to the walls with masking tape like a laser field. This is a DIY craft that will take a lot of setting up on your end, but it will be worth it to see how they figure out how to get around and save the people (or their favorite toy, or even you) in the middle or on the side. 

Marble Run

Something that is almost as much an adult craft as it is a kid’s one, is marble run. What you can do is make a maze or download a free printable one using match sticks and glue them onto a cardboard sheet. Make sure you make a board and place a marble inside. The goal is that your kids move the marble around just by moving the box to get it to the end spot that you can make out with a marker. It is a homemade science experiment that you both can make together. 

DIY Ring Toss

If you have a backyard then this would be a great DIY activity you and your children can do together. You can take empty paper towel rolls and place them in the garden. Then you can take a wire and make it into a circle. Do this a few times and cover the ring with tape. This activity aims to throw these rings so that they land over the paper towel rolls. You can place them anywhere, and as many as you would like. You can even decorate them with your kids to add to the fun. As well as to make them feel more involved. 

Tin Can Bowling

Do you like bowling? And if you do, do you want to go bowling with your kids but their hands are too small and the balls are too heavy? Well, you can make them bowl at home. All you would need are cans and either a tennis ball or a stress ball or even a big ball. Line up the cans as if they are the pins in the bowling alley. Plus, you can even stack them on top of each other. Then you and your kids roll the ball towards the triangle of cans and knock them down. Empty cans would be easier to knockdown. 

Paper Plate Tic-Tac-Toe

Tic-Tac-Toe or Noughts-and-Crosses is a fun game you both can play together. And you can make it a big one by using paper plates. Take a bunch of plates and draw in a maker noughts on half of them with crosses on the rest. Then you can take four long sticks to make the nine-squared board by overlaying them. And you play it as you would a smaller game of Tic-Tac-Toe. 

Pillow Sumo

Sumo wrestling can be a lot of fun for kids if they are safe. To make it safe for them to play you should let them do this on a big mattress. You can even put it on the floor in the living room. Then you take all the pillows, couch cushions and lie them on the edge of the mattress. Explain to your kids that if they are out of the pillow line they will lose. And let the match begin under your supervision as the referee. 

DIY Indoor Climbing Wall

Children like to climb so why not make a climbing wall for them at home. You find a blank wall in your home, and place the climbing wall holds, and tightly screw them into the wall. You would have to buy these and the T-nuts since this would be the safest opinion. And make sure that you are there to watch them as they use them. You may have to use a harness or at least place pillows and a mattress at the foot of the wall. 

Remember… 

The whole point of these DIY activities is for both of you to have fun. But, be safe and careful.

Charm Bracelets That Will Change Your Future

Charm bracelets are a creative way to express your personality. There is a reason why each charm has been added to the bracelet and there is a story to tell for each individual charm. That’s why it’s a good idea to wear a charm bracelet at work. It breaks the ice and opens the conversation when someone notices it. An attractive charm bracelet is an opportunity for someone to meet you and get to know you.

Charm bracelets are suitable for almost any workplace, unless you wear a uniform or have restrictions. Be careful to coordinate all the charms with each other. Although it is fun to be eclectic, the sober is always a safe bet.

The best is to order your charms always from the same shop, so you keep a style and harmonies of identical colors. Different websites offer all styles of charms that will bring you the desired personal touch. Charm bracelets in gold, Charm Letter, Charm in Silver, Cheap Charm in Silver, you will find your happiness. The charms for bracelets happen to be perfect here.

Change your charms as the holidays and holidays approach

One of the most fun parts of office life is during the holidays. In most offices that know how to have fun, you’ll see red heart decorations around Valentine’s Day, scary pumpkins and ghosts around Halloween and, of course, Christmas and holiday vacations. If you are looking for a charm bracelet for travelling that goes with your unique costume or dress, visit https://braceletworld.co

Why not reflect the festivities through your charms?

Make sure that gold charms do not conflict with what you wear. Gold can be difficult, so plan accordingly. If your charm bracelet has more gold, red is an excellent complementary color. It’s about making sure your Charm does not conflict with your look.

Charm necklace

Charm necklaces are a fun way to use your charms or expand your charms collection. They bring a beautiful versatility to the creative ways of wearing charm jewelry with the amount of charms you can wear such as a pendant. By adjusting the length of your charm necklaces, you can get a long and short necklace allowing you to wear your charms with any style of clothing. Create a pendant necklace with your favorite charms or wear it in multiple layers. Another fun way to wear your necklace charms is to group them together.

Charms in your hair

Another creative way to wear jewelry is to enhance your favorite headband by adding one of your charms or plaiting a ribbon with your charm while using it to hold your hair in place or as a new hairpin.

Head

Place several charms along a ribbon and attach it carefully to your ponytail or braid. You may find that with a little creativity you can create your own hair clips with your charms. There is no limit, only your imagination will be.

Other possibilities with Charms jewelry

There are different ways to accessorize outfits using bracelets. Aside from accessorizing outfits, many people are into business with bracelets already due to its popularity. Here are some more ways to use charms:

Decoration clothing

See how you can use your charms to decorate your zippers, especially the zippers of your jackets, blouses or sweaters. By using a scarf or a wide ribbon as a belt, you can securely attach charms to your waist.


Bags and shoes

Do you have a Charms bracelet that you do not wear? No problem. Hang the bracelet on your boot and wear it like a new ankle bracelet. It is too big to wear around the ankle, if it can attach easily to your shoes or boots. You’ll understand, whether charm bracelets or necklaces, with collection of charm, you will find the jewel that will stand out and display your personality.

On Which Bracelets And Necklaces Can You Wear Charms?

So that the charms can unfold their full effect and also hold well, you should choose a chain or a bracelet with relatively large chain links, so that the hooks of the pendant can be easily hung. The material is freely selectable and can be completely adapted to the other pieces of jewelry.

Particularly unusual is the wearing version of Charms on a special necklace, which has a small ring in which the pendant can be hung. Apart from that, however, in robust necklaces with large limbs, charms can be hung in the traditional way. So it’s every other chain suitable.

Which Clasp Do Charms Have?

Charms in the traditional sense usually have a simple hook closure. This makes it possible to vary and exchange different charms quickly and easily to suit your mood. Meanwhile, there are also charms that are closed with clip closure.

Charms for Ladies

Ladies are as with most jewelry even when choosing charms no limits. Once you’ve found your perfect bracelet, tune the material and color of the charms to match it. When choosing a theme, you can let your imagination run wild. Of course, it is especially nice to choose supporters who have a very personal meaning for you. Like if you are fond of candies, there are many bracelets with candy charms.

Charms for Men

Charm bracelets have arrived in the men’s jewelry segment as well. Not only because they harmonize perfectly with watches or other accessories for men, but also because of their diverse design options. Popular charms for men are shark teeth, skulls or sabers. The bracelets should be somewhat more robust in style, the material they can choose freely whether gold, silver, leather or stainless steel, there are no limits.

Can Children Wear Charms?

Even with the youngest remains the offer of charms, no wish unfulfilled. In addition to diamonds and rhinestone-studded charms or beautiful simple pendants with hearts, there are also cute animal figures such as dogs, dolphins, owls or bears. No matter which animal your child is raving about, you will find the right pendant for the bracelet. Pendants are also a great way to make a small present for your child on special occasions.

8 Piece Nesting Doll Features That Will Change Your Lifestyle

In the online store you can order the dolls in a variety of styles. This is an original Russian souvenir that everyone likes, because this figure is a symbol of comfort, hospitality and motherhood. Russian nesting dolls are also a developing toy. There are nesting dolls similar to action figures. This is a good gift for children, who know the world, learn to count, speak. With the help of Russian nesting dolls, you can build an emotional-figurative perception of the world and family, come up with stories and play situations based on the concepts of family and love. Many adults collect these dolls, and even one doll will decorate any home. Yes, that’s true! Many people utilize these nesting dolls as decorative pieces for furniture such as tables. It’s not at all necessary to immediately buy a few, let the collection come together gradually.

Russian nesting dolls – the most famous and favorite Russian souvenir

8 piece nesting dolls can be called a formula of a cultural phenomenon that is full of meaning and is remarkable for its uniqueness. Designer painted 8 piece nesting dolls replenished more than one collection of collectors of works of art. 8 piece nesting dolls have enormous potential for transmitting the deep meaning of events unfolded in time and space. Political 8 piece nesting dolls representing modern politicians are very popular.

Where to buy Russian nesting dolls?

On our site are presented both classic dolls and unusual nesting dolls. Many people like kits for creativity, in which you need to paint the nesting doll yourself (paints are attached). You will receive a unique copy! In addition, you can choose a model with the image of the sights of New York, Russian tsars and composers, legends of American pop. There are interesting copies of the New Year and Christmas symbols, which you can buy on our website. As you can see, just like how technological evolution of corsets were made possible, Russian nesting dolls are also evolving. If you want an authentic one, you need to buy in Russia and not just online.

Choose traditional and author’s works, please your friends and relatives with Russian souvenirs

8 piece nesting dolls is the most well-known and beloved Russian souvenir of all, a worldwide phenomenon. The first Russian nesting doll appeared at the end of the XIX century, however, the nested doll immediately gained unprecedented recognition as one of the all-embracing images of Russian. But be careful of what you buy. Make sure you opt to buy wooden nesting dolls for a more traditional sense, rather than suffer the dangers of PVC nesting dolls. For a detailed, colorful and beautifully painted nesting dolls see more at nestingdolls.co

It a symbol of Russian folk art

8 piece nesting dolls is made from such hardwood trees as linden, birch, alder, aspen. The most fertile material is linden. The first Russian 8 piece nesting dolls, carved by VasilyZvezdochkin and painted by Sergey Malyutin, was eight-person. For the main figure, a girl with a black rooster, followed by a boy, then again a girl, and so on. All the figures were different, and the last, the eighth figure represented the swaddled baby. In 1900, the Russian piece nesting dolls was exhibited at the World Exhibition in Paris, where it received a medal and world recognition.

The painting of the nesting dolls absorbs everything bright, fresh, and connected with the renewal of society. This work is both sculptural and picturesque, it is the image and soul of Russian.

Russian nesting doll has become a fashionable souvenir. Buy a Vyatka nested doll, beautifully painted and authentic, it is my duty to every foreigner who wants to have a symbol of Russian, a classic Russian souvenir at his disposal. The doll is not only an object that decorates the interior, it was created as a toy for children. Its pedagogical value can be envied by any modern allowance. With its help, you can teach children to distinguish different qualities of magnitude, to compare objects in height, width, color and volume. It improves hand-eye coordination, develops the perception and thinking of young children.

The style is distinguished by a detailed drawing of the eyes (as a rule, with large dark pupils without a line of the lower eyelid), lush eyelashes, red-brown hair and a obligatory charming smile. Another characteristic feature of local nesting dolls is the absence of small details in the figure, conciseness in design, flat floral or patterned ornament. In the tone of the design of the apron prevails red.

The author’s 8 piece nesting dolls of the direction is a souvenir that can be very different from the classical forms and colors. As an example, you can call the product, consisting of 30 characters, which can serve as illustrations of Russian folk tales.

The recognized symbol of Russian, the 8 piece nesting dolls, first appeared in the open spaces of our country at the end of the XIX century. She was recognized as a prominent representative of folk arts and crafts.

The prototype of the famous Russian nesting dolls was a Japanese wooden craftsmanship, a figure of a Buddhist monk Fukuruma, distinguished by his good-natured character. As our compatriots were surprised at this souvenir, brought from Japan, when inside it turned out to be a few more figures, nested inside one another. Interestingly, the Japanese themselves claim that the first such figure was cut out by a Russian monk who lived on the island of Honshu.

The shape of the Japanese toy was very simple, and the painting was minimal. Russian masters quickly corrected these shortcomings, giving the nested doll a pear-shaped shape and providing it with a pattern that reflected the regional characteristics of the decorative painting.

8 piece nesting dolls 10 places in those days was considered the height of performing skills, because to carve out so many nested blanks, it took a lot of effort, time and filigree work.

By the way, the very name 8 piece nesting dolls still causes fierce disputes regarding its origin. According to the most commonly used and recognized version, in the pre-revolutionary Russian in the villages the name Matryona was one of the most commonly used. It was strongly associated with the image of the mother of a large friendly family, strong, portly and ruddy. After a certain generalized standard of painting collapsible wooden products was formed, providing for a blush and rounded shapes, they were called 8 piece nesting dolls.

Today a set of 10 dolls is considered one of the most popular. He is especially loved by foreign tourists, for whom the 8 piece nesting dolls remain the most common symbol of Russian folk crafts. In Soviet times, the dolls were made in the capital’s workshop “Child Education”. From the beginning of the 90s, the center of their production moved to SergievPosad, which was considered the patrimony of a wooden toy. Now they can be made by any person who has access to a lathe and who has at least the initial skills of artistic painting. At the same time, the figures painted by famous artists have a quite tangible cultural value and are the subject of hunting for collectors of souvenirs of various levels.

Buy a set of dolls of 5, 10 or 15 figures today is not difficult. A large collection of hand-painted wooden souvenirs, which will decorate any collection, is presented in the “Souvenir Yard” online store section. Worldwide popularity and fame came to the Russian8 piece nesting dolls after the World Exhibition in Paris, held at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. There this beautiful and original souvenir won several awards at once.

The Next Level Of Comfort Kigurumi Pajama Has To Offer

Kigurumi is a beautiful pajama imitating various characters from animals to favorite cartoon characters we all love so much. If you want to become the most original at a corporate party, at a costume party with friends or want to surprise loved ones, then kigurumi will help you with this.

Excellent quality of materials, originality of design, good tailoring will pleasantly surprise you. Attractive Kigurumis can also be a great gift for your soul mate or friend, and they will be satisfied for the whole time of use. Please yourself and loved ones with stylized kigurumi, because she will give you unforgettable moments, original photos and become your best friend. Let us see what fabric are onesies made out of.

What is and how does a Kigurumi pajama look like

Original pajama costumes in the form of cartoon characters that adults and children love to look very funny. Kigurumi came to us from Japan and was originally presented in the form of characters from Japanese cartoons. Hence the name, which in Japanese means to wear a soft toy. Over time, the Kigurumi began to sew in the form of various characters, and its culture grew so much that fruit-inspired onesies were even made.

Kigurumi is an onesie made of soft bright fabric of free cut. Most often the hood and volume pockets are added to the product. The costume is decorated with details in the form of ears, nose, eyes, teeth, and tail.

What are?

Mostly kigurumi are classified according to the types of characters and the quality of the material.

Men’s

Onesies of various sizes are available for sale for both men and women. By gender, kigurumi can only be distinguished by a hero. For example, a pink panther is more suitable for a girl than a guy.

Women’s

Women’s kigurumi on characters and types of fabric are practically the same as men’s. The only difference that is very rare is the dimensional grid. These kigurumis are comfortable enough that women can wear corsets during exercise underneath these suits.

Baby

Kigurumi for children will be useful not only for home use. Funny onesies can be put on a matinee in school or kindergarten, as well as to participate in any Halloween onesie party. It looks very cute onesies on a baby.

Views (heroes or animals)

Selection criteria for the appearance of the onesies are very endless. You can find on sale kigurumi in the form of:

  • Various animals: cow, fox, raccoon, elephant, bee, giraffe, koala, zebra, dinosaur and many others.
  • Cartoon characters: unicorn, Pokémon, Spiderman, Batman, Superman, Winnie the Pooh, stitch, Garfield and so on.

You can buy from only high-quality Kigurumi pajamas with delivery all over America, which will serve you for a long time. You can even buy onesies suitable for winter. Branded online Kigurumi is of good quality and low price. Here you can choose cheap Kigurumi pajamas from the variety presented. Colorful, beautiful and charming kigurumi will brighten your everyday days. For a more specific and decorated costume of kigurumi and onesies visit kigurumi.co

Buy Kigurumi in the online store

The online store has been pleasing its customers for the past five years. Throughout this period, they have developed in the kigurumi market and have gained a lot of experience in this field. If you are looking for where to buy a costume or need fast delivery to any city in America, consultants will tell you about the assortment about 1000 Kigurumi, help you make the right choice, advise on payment and delivery.

In the online store, you can cheaply buy only quality kigurumi pajamas at retail or wholesale. And we will send the order to any point of the world convenient for you and will do everything to ensure that you receive it safely and securely. We are always trying to achieve mutual understanding with customers for more comfortable cooperation.

You have already seen people in Kigurumi on the street, in the photo on the Internet and now you are planning for yourself or your loved ones. Now you are looking for an online store in which you will find the design of your pajamas and the best price. In many stores photos are similar, and prices are different, how so?  Everything is very simple, pajamas sold on the American market of very different quality, in this article, we will write, what are the differences.

What is the difference onesies sold?

There are two main types of material named fleece and onesies.

Fleece: perfectly keeps its shape, it is warm, breathable, and pleasant to the body, repels water, and is hypoallergenic. Real Kigurumi is made from fleece and only from fleece. It is very important to know that fleece is of different quality. This is the perfect Kigurumi for exercise because it will still be comfortable.

Often, online stores sell onesie from cheap fleece, which they give out for expensive, using someone else’s photos of onesie with original design. They sell Kigurumi Original design from dense fleece and refer them to the category original.

This material has many commercial names like soft fleece, fluffy fleece, coral fleece. Onesies are much cheaper, and therefore it is cheaper from Kigurumi. Disadvantages Kigurumi from onesies are poorly holds the shape of the hero, has a non-original design both shape and color. 

Advantages: pleasant to the touch.

Pay attention, when buying onesies, the design of the characters can also be different, because there are several variations of the same hero. Kigurumi from onesies can be bought in our store in the category “standard.”

Findings:

  1. Photos on many sites are the same, but the quality is different. Carefully review the seller and product before placing an order. Agree, it’s a shame to buy kigurumi from cheap fleece for the price of an expensive one. Online store has a showroom, and can demonstrate the quality of their pajamas without cheap slogans on the Internet.
  2. Kigurumi “original” with the original design is not cheap.
  3. Kigurumi Standard does not mean cheap or bad, they are just different, and like many, because they are pleasant to the touch. They sell in their store Kigurumi “original” and “standard” quality. the choice is yours.

We hope that this article will allow you to save a little time and the kigurumi that you need.

You can buy kigurumi from online store or you can do it at another store using this article. This is your choice, but we are sure that if you buy kigurumi in our store, you can be sure that you are buying quality goods for a reasonable fee.

Why are Squishies Such a Big Trend?

Squishies have quickly become one of the hottest trends and nobody can deny their popularity. Just try typing “squishy” in your search engine and a vast number of results will appear on your screen; pictures, videos, or articles. After the trend became famous all over the world, many people started asking questions about the popularity of Squishies. A lot of them are wondering why Squishies are such a big trend.

 

Let’s explore a bit and see why Squishies are so popular.

 

They Are Cute

First of all, people love cute things; Squishies definitely fall into this category because they are small and soft. Those qualities allow them to draw a lot of attention. What’s more, they are loved by people of all ages. Both old and young, female and male alike enjoy playing with these adorable toys.

 

They Come in Various Designs

On top of that, design options are countless. Squishies take various forms; they can represent animals, food, cartoon characters, treats, and many more. People can choose whatever they like and show it off to their friends.

 

They Are Great Stress Relievers

Besides being endlessly adorable, Squishies can also be beneficial to your health. They provide relief to their owners by allowing them to “squish” them and thus relax their muscles. They are actually stress toys too, and they are great for relieving stress. You can get rid of your muscle tension once and for all by using these cute toys.

In addition, you can regulate breathing while squeezing your Squishy; that will make you even more relaxed. Pick your favorite one from a wide selection and give yourself the rest you deserve.

 

 

Buy One in a Store or Online

The demand for Squishies is immense; many stores had to step up their game in order to answer the call for these popular toys. Thanks to them, almost anyone can get a Squishy now, anywhere in the world. Moreover, many types of Squishies are available in online stores; those who prefer to shop from the comfort of their home will enjoy this option. Order your favorite design and it will be delivered to your door before you know it!

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