Helping kids stay creative can be fun and easy by giving them some simple items commonly found around the home and the freedom to experiment. Crafts don’t have to be difficult or involved and the less direction about the ‘right’ way to make something the better. Creative activities can also be great boredom busters for those rainy afternoons when they have run out of things to do. Here are 4 examples of some easy crafts that can be done at home. [I:http://www.mocds.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/DawnMarcotte0.jpg]

Recycled Robot

Everyone has heard about the importance of recycling items. One way to recycle is to re-purpose items that have already been used. This activity will require some scissors, duct tape, glue, markers and a bunch of used items from around the home. Examples include empty cereal boxes, toilet paper rolls, empty tin cans or plastic bottles and wire ties from bread bags. Lay everything out on the table and tell the kids to make a robot from the items. Let them figure out how to make a body, arms, legs and a head. They may want to use other items such as tin foil, wax paper or construction paper to add details and additional elements. Once they have made their robot the kids may well spend the rest of the afternoon playing with it.

Food Art

Kids often hear, “Don’t play with your food!” when they are at the dinner table. This is one activity where they are encouraged to play with some food to create edible art. Kids who enjoy playing with clay will love to make a sculpture from bread dough. Follow the package directions to thaw the bread dough and allow it to rise the first time. Divide the risen dough into equal amounts for each child and encourage them to make a sculpture. Let the dough rise again before baking for 20 minutes in an oven set at 350 degrees. When finished allow to cool before eating.

Kids who like to build with blocks or legos will enjoy building with marshmallows and toothpicks. Insert toothpicks into small marshmallows and use the resulting beam to build bridges, buildings or whatever the kids can imagine. Use both large and small marshmallows for building. Don’t forget to take a picture of the finished masterpiece before eating the marshmallows.

Group Art

This is fun art activity for a group, large or small. Everyone needs a large blank piece of white paper and a marker or crayon. Instruct everyone to make a single straight line somewhere on the paper, then pass the paper to the person on their left. Next ask them to draw a triangle on the paper in front of them and pass it to the left. Add more shapes in the same fashion, passing the paper each time a new shape is added. Other possible shapes include curved lines, circle, square, heart, octagon or star. Once everyone has added to the paper take a look at the completed art.

These activities are fun and will encourage kids to think creatively. They are also great boredom busters for a rainy afternoon.

For more ideas on fun creative craft ideas for kids check out www.creativekids.thingstodowithkidsmn.com