Bedroom Decor: Allowing your child to customize their bedroom decor

Children's bedrooms are often the one place they can feel free to just be themselves. Allowing them to customize this space with personalized craft projects empowers them to express themselves. Customized wall art, such as collages or paintings are a craft project option. As are door hangers, personalized or handmade picture frames, decorated waste paper projects and more. If they have furniture that you do not mind being decorated, consider allowing them to decoupage a nightstand, headboard or lampshade with magazine clippings or personal photos. For the more advanced crafter, sewing curtains, pillowcases or throw pillows are projects children might enjoy.

Great resources for purchasing supplies:

1. Artmart  http://www.artmartstl.com S. Hanley Rd.
2. Michael's Craft Store (multi-locations throughout STL) http://www.michaels.com/
3. Hobby Lobby (multi-locations throughout STL) http://hobbylobby.com/

 

Thanksgiving Hat craft

Step-by-Step Thanksgiving Hat Instructions

What You’ll Need

 • White paper plate
• Scissors
• Assorted paint colors
• Cotton swabs
• Paper: dark brown, light brown, black, orange, red
• Glue stick
• Brown crafts foam
• Stapler

 1. Cut a white paper plate in half. You will need one half of the plate per hat.

2. Paint each groove on the plate edge with assorted paint colors using a separate cotton swab for each color.

3. Cut a 6-inch-diameter circle from brown paper and cut it in half. Glue one of the halves to the plate. Cut out a 3-inch-diameter circle from light brown paper for the turkey’s head, two small circles from black paper for the eyes, a small diamond from orange paper for the beak and fold in half. , and a comma shape from red paper for the wattle. Glue all the pieces to the plate as shown.

4. When the paint is dry, punch a hole on each end of the brim. Tie a piece of raffia through the holes for a chin strap.

5. Cut two 2x11-inch strips from brown crafts foam for the headband. Staple one end of each piece together. Glue the stapled seam to the center back of the turkey with the staple ends facing the turkey; let dry. Complete the hat by fitting the bands around the child’s head and stapling it closed to fit.

A great Thanksgiving book to pair with the Thanksgiving Hat activity is, "Franklin's Thanksgiving." For ages 2.5-6

From Parents Magazine, adapted by Amber Thomas