In keeping with the theme of Spring I did an Umbrella Painting project with Hailey yesterday.

What you’ll need:

• -paper plate cut in the shape of an umbrella
• -card stock in the shape of a J for the handle
• -finger paint
• -smock
• -a place set up to put the project to dry when you’re done

Let’s get started!

Hailey had never finger painted before, so she was a little unsure of touching it at first.

Soon she was enjoying herself.

Finally she really got into it and got both hands covered in paint.

While Hailey was painting I kept a little dialog going with her.  I started out with some simple questions like, “What are we making,” “What color is this” etc.  And then I moved on to some more open ended questions.  Open ended questions are important because they enhance your child’s language.  Rather than a simple answer they have to think about their response.  Some good open ended questions to ask might include “What does it feel like,” “Why do you think the red and yellow turned orange” and ”What do you see.”  With a toddler you aren’t going to expect complex answers but you are still helping to expand their vocabulary and thinking skills.

Hanging the pieces up to dry.

The finished umbrella.

I saw this very simple craft for making a turtle in one of my Mailbox magazines.

What you’ll need:

• paper plate
• construction paper- green, yellow, brown
• glue
• marker
• scissors

Directions:

• Have child tear apart the construction paper into little pieces.  (This is an excellent way to help strengthen their hands)
• Glue pieces of torn paper onto paper plate.
• Depending on the age of the child- you can have them cut out the pieces for the head and legs.  I would probably start doing this around age 3.
• Again- depending on the age of the child- they can draw the eyes and mouth onto face.

Hailey wouldn’t have anything to do with tearing up the paper, so she just watched me do it.

Gluing, on the hand, Hailey loves to do.  If I tried to help her she said, “No, no, no.  I do.”

Gluing the torn pieces onto the paper plate.

The finished turtle.

Cute and easy.