Posted in Crafts, Sewing, Cooking, Etc...

msack posted a comment on my blog asking for craft ideas for preschoolers a while back.  I find most of my ideas online.  Two of my favortie sites for ideas are:

DLTKteach

Preschool Printables

Both of these have enough ideas to keep you going all through the preschool years!

My second suggestion is to have basic craft supplies on hand.  We have a craft cupboard in our schoolroom stocked with paint, glue, glitter, feathers, yarn, fun foam, felt, etc...  It is very handy to have a good supply of materials on hand so when you come across an idea you don't have to make a trip to the store.  Most of my supplies have come from the Dollar Tree or are leftovers from crafts I have done.  I also save a lot of "stuff".  Meat trays, egg cartons, toilet paper & paper towels tubes, cardboard from ceral boxes and such.  A lot of the time my kids will just get out materials from the craft cupboard and make there own crafts. 

Another thing I do is follow my kids lead.  Last schoolyear when my daughter was not quite 4 she wanted to make  doll.  I knew it would have to be simple, so I got online and started searching Google for easy doll patterns.  This is what we ended up making!



Here are the directions to make the doll.

It is basically a big tassle.  She was able to wrap the yarn around large book with my help.  Yes, I did a lot of it, but in her mind she made a doll.  She understood how it was made and did as much as she could.  She is still very proud of that doll and shows it off frequently.  So, I guess what I am saying is they don't have to have enough skills to do the whole thing by themselves.  Let them do what they can and help where you are needed.  This will enable them to build their skills and their confidence.  Before you know it they will be making beautiful things on their own!

Here is a site with tons of free patterns.  (Many of these could be adapted for preschoolers.)

Have fun!!!