If you like these, check out our full article on “Back to School Tips” on The Purple Fig!

(a Canadian Blogazine which contributes to The Huffington Post and Parent Dish.)

http://thepurplefig.com/back-to-school-tips-and-craft-ideas-from-make-it-your-own/

Tips

• Set up a at home work space with supplies at either a desk or at your kitchen table.  Put your supplies in a tool caddy for easy use.

• Label things in your home or classroom for children to easily access them and return things to them.  (See our vintage inspired labels sheet  printable:  labels)

• Have reminders to help your child stay organized (e.g., this helpful chart you can personalize for your door, so they can check that they have everything they need on the way out).  Here is the printable:   do_I_have_my

Materials

• Fabric lamp shade
• Fabric pens
• Fabric paint
• Foam brush
• Containers for paint
• Smock
• Adult help (as painting on a curved surface and holding the shade steady can be tricky!)

Directions

• Don your smock.

• Go with any designs that you may like.  We thought that some blue flowers would match the blue and yellow decor in our daughter’s room. Flowers are something she just discovered making!

• We drew some simple stems with green fabric markers.

•  Put a little bit of fabric paint in containers (we used some lids).

•  We used a foam brush (which would make all sorts of lovely polka dots!) to make the flowers in 2 shades of blue.  Trying out different tools for children can be quite fun.  Dip your brush in the paint, pressing it down a few times to absorb the paint.

•  Carefully apply it to the lamp shade with an adult holding it steady for you.

•  Do this several times, using different shades of colours should you like.

• Allow your shade to dry overnight or as specified in the instructions and have an adult put it on a base for you.
• Enjoy!

Purpose

• Getting excited about setting up your own special work space for home.
• Exploring different tools and types of paint.

Safety Notes

• Be sure to wear a smock to prevent damaging your clothes with fabric paint.
• Ask an adult for help to hold the shade steady for you as a curved surface can be tricky to paint.
• Have an adult put together the lamp components and go over the safety associated with using a lamp in one’s room (not covering the shade, turning it off, not touching the bulb etc.)

Materials

• Smock
• Craft tray
• Balloons (to be blown up by an adult)
• Paint
• Ribbon
• Scissors
• Paper cutter (optional: you could use a ruler and scissors)
• Single hole punch
• Cardstock
• Contact paper or laminating supplies (optional)

Directions

• Don your smock.

• Put your cardstock into your craft tray.

• Have an adult blow up a balloon for you only to a small size (as shown).

•  Dip the end (opposite of the balloon tie) of the balloon into various colours of paint. Apply it to the paper.  (It is quite fun as it sort of bounces off the page a bit!)

• Allow it to dry overnight.

• We used a paper cutter where the blade is not accessible when the ruler portion is put down.  If you feel comfortable with your child using this equipment (based on her/his age and abilities), be sure to review its safe use prior to.

•  Cut out strips of paper approximately 2-3 inches/ 5-7.5 centimetres in width and 10-15 centimetres/4-6 inches in length.

•  Punch a hole in one end.  You can laminate your book mark or sandwich it between 2 pieces of contact paper (sticky sides facing each other).  Re-punch your hole at this point.

•  Cut a length of ribbon and make a loop as shown in the photograph.  Put the ends up through the hole and go through the loop you made on the top.  Pull tight.

•  Enjoy reading with your new bookmark!

•  You can use any artwork to make your bookmark.  Have fun!

Purpose

• Exploring different painting techniques, tools.
• Getting excited about reading.

Safety Notes

• Have an adult use a paper cutter (particularly if it is the style with the large blade that comes down).  If your child uses one similar to the one shown, make sure it is with direct supervision/guidance.
• Balloons should be blown up by an adult as they pose a choking hazard if inhaled.

Materials

• Plastic folder
• Embroidery floss
• Needle (with a larger threading hole)
• Threader (this makes it easier for younger children)
• Scissors

Directions

• Thread your needle.  We find a threader makes it easier for younger children.

•  Tie a knot at the end of your floss.

• Start on the underside.  We did a pattern of simple lines, but be creative.  We used a basic stitch going, “up and down, up and down”. However, be as elaborate as you like!

•  When you are done, tie a knot and trim off any excess floss.

Purpose

• Developing fine motor skills.

Safety Notes

• Be sure to exercise care when using a needle and scissors.

This idea was included on Help! We’ve Got Kids website– a resource for Canadian families.

http://www.helpwevegotkids.com/toronto/articles/education/7-fun-ways-to-celebrate-a-new-school-year

Materials

• Cardstock (we used white)
• Printer
• Pencil Crayons
• Pencil
• Eraser
• Photo of child on the first day of school
• Printout of Photo & Drawing Sheet  drawing_and_photo_of_me
• Photo safe glue, tape or photo corners
• Craft tray

Directions

• Print out the Photo & Drawing Sheet on your cardstock.

• Have your child sketch out a drawing of themselves with pencil and then colour it in.  We used pencil crayons, but you could use other materials as well.

• Attach your photo to the other side.  Add the Grade and the Year in the provided space.

• Put in a keepsake box or punch holes and store in a binder.

• Repeat this each year for a continuum of your child’s growth.

Purpose

• Recording your chid’s growth.

Safety Notes

• Use photo safe adhesive for your project.
• Depending on your child’s age and abilities, you may want to cover the work surface with a table cloth, sheet of paper or put the activity sheet on a craft tray.

Materials

• Felt
• Fabric scissors
• Glue (you could use craft glue, fabric glue and/or a glue gun)
• Ribbon
• Beads, needle, thread, threader (to assist putting the thread through the needle)

Directions

• Use a clean, dry can.  We strongly recommend that you put it into a dishwasher rather than hand washing as the inside can have sharp edges (which will be covered by felt in the finished project).

• Cut your felt to be about 5 cm/ 2 inches taller than the height of the can.  It should also be able to wrapped around with about 5cm/ 2 inches overlap.

• We added ribbon at the top for a bit of interest.

• Cut out your felt pieces.  They can be any design (e.g., geometric).  We chose to do flowers so we hand sewed a few beads to the centre, cut out petals and added a bit of sewing to the edges.

• Glue your embellishments onto your felt and allow them to dry overnight (we sewed the edges on the triangle design below when the glue was dry to firmly affix them and to add detail.).

• Glue your felt piece to your can.  We found that for this portion a glue gun was quite helpful.  Make sure the bottom of the felt is flush with the bottom of the can and wrap the excess of the felt over the top of the can (this will cover any sharp edges.)

• Once it is dry, add your pencil crayons, markers, highlighters etc.

Purpose

• Creating an exciting space for working at home

Safety Notes

•  As mentioned, the interior of cans can be quite sharp, please exercise caution when using them.
• Use fabric scissors with adult guidance/supervision.
• Wear a smock to prevent fabric glue from adhering to your clothes.

Materials

• Wooden ruler
• Fine point permanent markers

Directions

• On the back of your ruler, create your own design, drawing or think of  a creative way to write your name.

• Be sure to avoid getting marker on the front of the marker so as to not to interfere with your ability to read the numbers necessary for calculating measurements.

Purpose

• Adding a personal element to school supplies

Safety Notes

• Be sure to be careful when using permanent markers, not to get them onto your clothes or other surfaces.

A book would make a lovely keepsake for your child.  Write an inscription on the inside and give it to them the week before school starts.  Glue in a photo of them on the first day, should you like.

From Left to Right, Top to Bottom:

• Because You Are My Teacher (by Sheery North, Illustrated by Marcellus Hall) About all the journeys a teacher takes his or her students on.

• Miss Brooks Loves Books! (And I Don’t) (By Barbara Bottner, Illustrated by Michael Emberley)  About how a teacher’s love of literature is contagious.

• There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Books (by Lucille Colandro, Illustrated by Jared Lee) Building on the well-known children’s song with a school theme.

• All the Colours of the Earth (Sheila Hamanaka) A great book to go along with “All About Me” type projects.

• Chrysanthemum (by Kevin Henkes)  A well-loved book about the beauty of one’s name.

• The Huey’s in the New Jumper (by Oliver Jeffers) A fun book about being unique.

• The Big Orange Splot (by Daniel Manus Pinkwater)  A book about how your work is a creative representation of yourself and uniquely yours.

• Wilfred Gorden McDonald Partridge (by Mem Fox, Illustrated by Julie Vivas)  A book about memory and objects that represent us. 

• The Night Before Kindergarten (by Natasha Wong, Illustrated by Julie Durell) Based on the well-known Christmas rhyme, a book for both parents and Kindergarteners, acknowledging that everyone might feel a bit of separation anxiety.

• Kindergarten, Here I Come! (by D. J. Steinberg, Illustrated by Mark Chambers) In a rhyming format, talks about some of the common characteristics one would find at school- Recess, Class Pets, 100 Day etc.

• Kindergarten ABC (by Jacqueline Rogers) Talks about activities one might do in Kindergarten based on the letters of the Alphabet.

• Who Will Go to Kindergarten Today? (by Karl Ruhmann, Illustrated by Miriam Monnier) A child teaches his stuffed animal about Kindergarten.

• Rachel Parker, Kindergarten Show Off (by Ann Martin, Illustrated by Nancy Poydar) A book about a friendship that develops between two classmates.

• The Night Before First Grade (Natasha Wing, Illustrated by Deborah Zemke) Based on the well-known Christmas rhyme, this version emphasizes being brave and a bit independent!

• This School Year Will Be the Best! (by Kay Winters, Illustrated by Renee Andriani) A girl’s hopes for the upcoming school year.

• The Kissing Hand (Audrey Penn, Illustrated by Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak) A well-loved book about a beautiful tradition between and mother and her child going off to school.

• Library Lion (Michelle Knudsen, Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes)  An introduction to the library and a friendship.

• Giraffes Can’t Dance (by Giles Andreae, Guy Parker-Rees)  A book about developing one’s confidence.

• Suki’s Kimono By Stephane Jorisch.  A book about a child who wants to wear her traditional clothing to school and what that inspires. (This one is so well loved someone may have snuck it from the photography pile before the group picture was taken…)

• Swimmy (Not seen…must be hidden away in a certain someone’s room…) by Leo Lionni. A book about teamwork, great for community building.