Friday, July 27, 2007

Frogwarts School of Dark Arts and Craftiness

Boo and Skibo both attend preschool during the year: this year they are returning to a local Montessori school, where they will be encouraged to learn all sorts of arts and crafts skills. Boo will be in the same class as last year (it goes from 3-5, I believe) and Skibo will be entering either the same class as her, or a parallel level with a different teacher (I suspect we know, but in a CRAFT moment, I've temporarily forgotten).
So, along the way this summer LOML and I have tried to entertain them with our amateur version of the same things. Sort of Frogwarts School of Dark Arts and Craftiness. LOML is great with the glue stick and glitter: I've been needing to knead, and writing out words after words so that Boo can trace them out, spell them out, sound them out (phew, there are a lot of good games she gets to play with just a few hand written words!): I get to draw balloons --- lots of balloons, the only thing that I can credibly say to be able to draw: we've made paper aeroplanes, and I've even had them do some simple origami!
(Word to the wise: if you are going to get children under the age of 8 or 9 to do origami, don't!) But if you really are going to, stick with really simple models, and
(this is the key point) pre-crease all the folds first. That way your sprog just has to emphasize an existing crease, but does get the thrill of folding. Same trick with paper aeroplanes: precrease everything for them: the plane will practically fall into place for them once you do that!

Yours, craftily,
N

12 comments:

Bobkat said...

Sounds fun! I used to get up really early as ak id and make things for my mum. I used to get in a hell of a mess with the gliiter! I used to like making paper aeroplanes too...still do! :)

Michele sent me to say hi!

Anonymous said...

I still make paper boats for kids. And love to fly paper aeroplanes!

Michele would love it too, I think.

Anonymous said...

My kids & I do crafts a lot- they really enjoy using sculpey clay - every Christmas & birthday includes a multi color package for someone or everyone to use. It's especially nice because it doesn't stain little fingers like many cheaper clays do.
Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Shannon akaMonty said...

HAHA! Origami is completely outside my scope of capability.
I wish I was more crafty...*sigh*

I'll have to send my kid to your house. :D

Howdy, Michele sent me today!

BreadBox said...

aka_monty: I have had lots of fun teaching origami over the past few years: I have volunteered at local schools a bit to teach little kids to make simple models. I've done it since I was small, and am reasonably good at it.... and I love teaching fun things to kids:-)

N.

Jean-Luc Picard said...

Paper areoplanes are now considered dangerous by Health & Safety!

Michele sent me.

SzélsőFa said...

Hello, you have NOT visited me after taking part in Michelle's play. I don't know the reason - just being curious here....

BreadBox said...

Sz! I did too:-) Check out the last few comments on your post that mentioned Margaret Atwood! You even replied to the comment!

N.

Anonymous said...

I thought this was another Harry Potter post. Maybe it is, but if so that part is over my head, since I am a non Harry Potter reader. Oh my. I do love glitter and glue stick. Where is michele?

Star said...

Hi. Michele sent me. That's a good tip about pre creasing the project. I'll keep it in mind. I do "pojects" with my grandson who is to. Mostly stickers and markers.

Karen Townsend said...

My son attended Montessori school during the pre-K years and loved it. Lots and lots of glitter was involved, I do remember that!

SzélsőFa said...

Accept my apologies for the rant, Breadbox - let me blame it ony the heat... I'm sorry!
Of course you did and I replied .