Spring/Easter Crafts For Kids

by Jenny Irvine // March 18, 2014 // No Comments

My four little bee’s have been busy crafting away lately. The ground is still snow covered here and with each passing day the cabin fever only seems to worsen. Crafting has been one way to combat some of our cabin fever. After all what kid doesn’t like paint; and, what parent doesn’t love those little stamped hands, and feet?

We made several spring cards to pass out to neighbors and friends. Once the weather breaks we will likely run from house to house out of shear joy. Yes, winter has been that long.

Card 1: Supplies needed 1 sheet of blue paper, white washable paint, pink washable paint, paint brush, wiggle eyes, glue, and permanent marker. Fold the blue paper in half, paint your child’s hand minus the thumb, and place the painted hand strategically on the paper. Let the white paint dry a bit before painting the inner most part of the bunny ear and nose. Place wiggle eyes, draw whiskers, and put a special message. “Some Bunny Loves You” ! I recommend making several cards to keep on hand for all of those “just because” moments.

Card #2: Supplies needed 1 sheet of greet paper, white card stock paper, green washable paint, orange washable paint, black permanent marker. Fold the green paper in half to form the card. Stamp your child’s foot on the white card stock paper. Let it dry. Free hand the carrot greens (I also tried stamping a few fingers to get the same affect) once dry cut carefully around the outer edge of the carrot foot. Glue onto the green “card” and write a special message.

Paper Plate Bunny: Supplies needed 2 paper plates, cotton balls or quilter batting, 2 sheets of card stock paper, pint washable paint, 1 pipe cleaner cut into 4 pieces, wiggle eyes, glue, and hot glue gun, stapler.

First, paint your child’s hands and feet press down on white card stock paper. Set aside and let dry. Next, rub glue on both paper plates, cover completely with “fluff” of choice. Once hands and feet are dry cut along the outside edge forming the ears and feet of your future “Paper Plate Bunny”. After the plates are dry staple the two together forming a body and head, staple the ears and feet on. Hot glue gun the bunny’s nose and eyes. I then proceeded to staple all of my kids bunny’s onto a piece of thin crochet yarn to make a super cute banner which is displayed in our dining room.

6 Ways to Teach Kids How to Pray

by Jenny Irvine // March 17, 2014 // No Comments

Why is it I can teach my kids how to read, write, and do math but it’s so incredibly hard to teach kids how to pray?

Prayer is personal; it is a relationship with you and God therefore. As a result I’ve often felt inadequate in my abilities to teach my children this level of intimacy.

Then, one day while praying for my kids I prayed for God to teach me. “Teach me, how to teach them.”

You were not an accident; you were made for a given purpose, and so are your children. If you have ever laid the events of your life out on a time line the good and the bad chances are you would see God’s hand in all of your life’s experiences.

It was in fact that same realization that helped me see my where my own short comings came from. Did I even know how to pray? Where/ how and from whom did I learn?

The prayers I had frequently said at church were more out of habit, routine, and memorization. They held little meaning to me personally. That was until I began researching and educating myself on the “why’s“. Why do we do what we do?

I want my children to have a faith filled with knowledge, experience, ministry, and application. I want them to understand the “why’s” now, rather than later. And so there it is …

“Teach them” If we model the behaviors ourselves that we want our children to know; they too will follow.

Kids want to be like their parents. Kids want to be like adults. They play “house“, they go to “work“, and “play school“. Children are mini reflection’s of our soul. Where have we done good? Where have we failed? What can we do better?

If we want to teach our children to pray we must pray ourselves, but more importantly pray where it can be seen and heard.

6 Ways to Teach Kids How to Pray and Build Their Relationship with Jesus

Join a Bible study or if you are a mom of little ones I highly recommend seeking out a MOPS group in your area.

Read the Bible in the morning – I am going on my 2nd year doing Hellomornings and it has completely changed the way I parent. When we make something a priority and our kids see that they are more likely to make it a priority too.

Read the Jesus Story Book with your children

Do a yearly family devotion series

Watch Biblical based movies; What’s in the Bible and Veggie Tales are some of our favorites

Print these prayer starter cards on card stock, laminate (I have this one), and store them in a 3×5 index box. These are great for saying prayers out loud together, silently before bed, and writing prayers out to send to others (think care packages and service projects).

15 Easter Candy Alternatives

by Jenny Irvine // March 13, 2014 // No Comments

Since we have so many children with gluten, dairy, and dye issues in our house candy and crunchy snacks are pretty much off limits for all holidays.

Here is a list to help you think outside of the box too;

15 Easter Candy Alternatives

Side walk chalk
Stickers
Glow sticks
Homemade finger paint
Homemade play doh
DIY puppet kit
Crafts supplies
Outside toys – bubbles, bouncy balls, fishing pole/tackle box
Inside toys- match box cars, Lego sets
Books
Nail polish
Hair accessories
Coloring Books and Crayons
Paperdolls
Movies