Hobbies And Interests
Floating Bath Toy
If your child has a favorite doll or figurine that she would like to play with in the bathtub, make a toy that allows the doll or figurine the ability to float. All you need are two empty, plastic soda bottles, colored plastic tape and a craft knife. Begin by removing the soda labels on the bottles, and be sure to get the sticky goo off. Use the colored plastic tape to wrap about both bottles, binding them together side by side. Take the craft knife and cut an opening in the top of each plastic bottle, which is where the doll or figurine will sit. Let your child bring the toy with her into the tub and watch as their dolls or figurines float.
Puppets
Homemade puppets can be constructed out of paper lunch bags or large socks. For this craft, have a generous amount of art supplies available to allow you to decorate your puppet, including craft glue, paint, buttons, pipe cleaners, rhinestones and scraps of fabric. Make a variety of puppets if you have enough materials, so that you can put on a puppet show as a family. You may even want to create a puppet pet, such as a dog, cat or bunny.
DIY Puzzle
A do-it-yourself puzzle is simple and fun. First, take a poster or enlarged image of something your child is interested in, such as a specific cartoon character. Glue the image onto a piece of poster board of equal size. If the sizes do not match exactly, use scissors to cut them to an even length and width. Wait for the glue to dry and begin cutting out puzzle pieces. Try to cut the edges smoothly so that they fit back together easily. Have your child enjoy putting the image back together by matching up the corresponding puzzle pieces. Make puzzles more challenging by cutting smaller pieces.
Papier-Mache Furniture
Make papier mache furniture for your daughter's dolls or your son's figurines. Cut out sturdy cardboard to serve as your mold as you place the papier mache, made of strips of paper dipped in a solution of glue and water, over it. Use a shellac when the papier mache dries and then paint over it with colorful craft paints. You can make miniature beds, sofas, tables and dressers that your child will have fun setting up for the dolls or figurines.