Growing Up Creative

#03 Recycled egg carton hand-held mask

In the spirit of Purim we have crafted some imaginary birds hand-held masks using recycled egg carton. A great activity appropriate for any age group.
This post is part of an ‘Eco kids craft’ series I feature on my other blog Growing Up Creative. ‘Eco kids craft’ is a series of craft tutorials using recycled materials. My goal with this series is to guide parents and educators through the phases of some easy craft activities that encourage recycling, creativity and making with what you have. I have decided to combine this series in both blogs. I hope you will find it useful.

You will need:
Egg cartons (free range eggs carton is preferred…just kidding)
Scissors
Washable tempera paint and brushes
Feathers
Embellishments: feathers, fabric scraps, paper scraps, glitter etc.
Popsicle stick (craft sticks)
Masking tape
Craft glue
Please note, since I have more egg carton than I can handle and give to preschool, I have I been using them as disposable paint palette, it works great.

How to:

1. Cut a pair of egg carton cups with the “beak” for each mask
   
2. Make holes at the bottom of the egg cups
   
   
3. Paint
   
   
   
4. Embellish
5. set aside to dry
6. Tape or glue craft stick to the side of the mask
   
   
   
    
   
7. play

linked with Craft Schooling Sunday

Enjoy and have a happy Purim

tali

Teach them what you know, learn what you can

Learning how to fly the helicopter
Earlier today I was at my friend’s house. I was keeping her company while she was putting the dishes away, getting ready for dinner. Her son (7) was making his new and shiny helicopter fly. After a few minutes of playing he approached her asking to teach her how to fly the helicopter. I stopped talking and watched her gently put the bowl  on the counter, getting a hold of the remote. My friend was attentively listening to his instructions and actually trying to make that helicopter fly. Well…she crashed it with no damage, but she did try a number of times (I guess she may need a few more lessons). I was truly inspired by how she was listening to her son, willing to stop her hectic evening routine, ignoring my insignificant stories, in order to try and learn something that was of interest to her child. She made him feel his world and interests were as important as hers; and that he had something to offer and something to teach. I am sure her child felt very special at that moment.

The things one can learn at the thrift store
In one of my many visits to NY I went thrift store hopping with my aunt (who is an artist and a stylist) and her daughter who was 12 years old back then (she should be 24 this summer). My aunt was looking for some vintage pieces for her models. I remember vividly how she took the time to explain to her daughter why she was making the selections she was making. She was giving her a non-lesson in styling. I was getting a non-lesson in ‘the parent I want to be’. I remember thinking to my self how lucky this girl is, and how I want to be the same with my kids - teach them everything I know. My cousin now works as an art director for a high profile advertising company in New York.

Keeping the door open
Zoe (6 1/2) is a self learner. She doesn’t like to be taught different skills, but teaches herself through mimicking and self exploration. I think it is an amazing virtue, but sometimes I wish she would accept some more guidance. When I used to offer to teach her different skills, she would get all negative and I would get aggravated.
Oren, on the other hand, would hardly ever propose to teach her music. All he did was keep his door open, and give her enough room to explore and develop interest in playing an instrument. After she sat by his drum set on her own, he slowly put the head phones in her ears, playing the tunes she likes. Gradually he balanced her hand teaching her

While Zoe explored music, I learned how to keep my door open, and be more patient and attentive. I found that when I do that, her negative state of mind turns positive. Today she plays the drums almost every day, letting Oren teach her some basic drumming skills every once in a while. She even asked him for guitar lessons and me for some sewing lessons, doing it her own way (of course)

We have so much to offer, we are all so unique, skilled, knowledgeable and talented in different ways. Many parents will guard their hobbies and the things they love as their getaway and will not share them with their kids, and I can understand that. BUT I also think that sharing what we know with our kids not only broadens their knowledge and makes them smarter and more skilled, but also creates a stronger and tighter relationship between a parent and a child.

Some of the benefits of teaching your kids everything you know (including how to chop a salad):
1. They will know so much more
2. Often save money on afternoon activities
3. Spend precious time together
4. Create priceless memories
5. Build trust and understanding
6. Have a partner to do the things you love and know
7. More help in the kitchen

The disadvantage of teaching them everything you know: (yes, I did find some...)
1. If it is a language you are teaching them; the consequence may be no more secret language to share with your husband
2. If you let them taste all the food you like, they will end up sharing your Clams and Brie (that’s what happened to me)
3. If you teach them crafts you know, you may have to share your tools and they don’t always put them back where they belong.
4. If it is an instrument, you may need to take turns.

Some reasons why you should learn form your child:
1. Your child is very smart
2. He/ she are growing up in a time so different that we as adults have much catching up to do, and learning from your child is a great opportunity to do so.
3. Have a better understanding of your child’s world
4. Builds trust and respect
5. If you expect your child to learn from you, you may want to show him/her how its done
6. Spend precious time together
7. Creating priceless memories

As parents we must protect our children and nurture them with the things they need, our bonus is when we teach them things we know.
I can’t tell you how sorry I am for not learning any Hungarian form my dad, or how to knit and crochet from my mom (I have actually recently asked her to teach me how to knit). I am sure most of you could say the same about a language or a skill you wish you would have learned from your parents.

Don’t let your kids grow up wishing they would have learned something form you that they didn't. Make it part of what your family is about. Don’t forget this is not a one way relationship; be ready to learn as much from them at any age and any time, even if you are right in the middle of putting the dishes away. The dishes can wait, but an opportunity will be missed and most likely will not return.

I would love to hear your thoughts on that topic.
You may do so by adding a comment or emailing me directly.

tali

Dressing up+improvising= great purim party

Yesterday we had a pre-Purim party in my house to get the kids and the moms into the mood. I am sorry you couldn’t make it, but I highly recommend you have your own.

We started with:
a pile of an assortment of fabrics and scarves in the center of the room
6 high energy kids
3 weary moms
A couple of dozen Hamantashen.



We ended up with:
2 gorgeous queen Esters
one fierce yet sensitive tiger
a strong Batman
another very strong Batman/ Zorro
someone that looked like a gypsy
an eclectic dancer
a belly dancer
the cutest baby in the world (really)
the one who couldn’t decide what to be.
And a couple of Hamantashen (Oren ate most of them)



We made very simple outfits by wrapping ourselves with fabrics belts and scarves.
To make the dresses we took a large rectangle peace of fabric, we held it behind our backs with our hands stretched out (imagine when you start to wrap your self with a towel). We brought our hands to the front and crossed our hands around our neck and tied the ends of the fabric in the back behind our necks.
The result is a haltered dress. We tied scarves around the waist, and added a sparkly overcoat (see instructions here and here)

After finishing with the makeup we were ready for the entertainment part of the evening – the show:
We started telling the story of Purim and the kids were improvising as we went along. It was too much fun. Between the 3 moms we almost got the story right. Luckily we had the kids to correct us. If you need a reminder of the story you may open the Torah or read my previous post - a 'once upon a time story' with some new insight

The afternoon was such a success; we all had a great time. I think the key was NOT PLANNING, we kept it open ended and just went with the flow.

for those of you who hesitate, I will send you off with some encouragement: BE BRAVE, and have a dress up party for your kids, I know you can do it.

For more structured guidelines, templates and instructions you may ready my post from last year: “A Purim dress-up party”

I am looking forward to hear the stories from your dress up party.

Tali

A 'once upon a time' story with some new insight.

ong ago, in a far away land there lived a king and his queen. The king was rich and powerful and his queen was beautiful and strong-minded. (are you guessing where this is going?) I will go on just a little more…the king decided to have a big feast to celebrate his new kingdom… after all… ruling over 127 countries cannot be taken lightly…this king was young and a little full of himself, and for 180 days he was doing nothing but celebrating his greatness and wealth. One evening he has decided to ask one of his servants to bring his queen to him wearing nothing but her crown (I think it was the wine talking) he wanted to show off not only his wealth but also his beautiful and rare possession. Well...guess what, he didn’t expect it either… she refused…wouldn’t you?

The king was mad, he was so furious, his strength and pride were shattered into tiny pieces; It was him standing bare in front of his friends instead of his queen, exposed to an entire nation of 127 countries. Of course he banished her from the palace, what else could he do.
It didn’t take him long to find a new wife, after all - he was king. The new queen was very different from his previous queen, not as strong-minded but very brave indeed. She also carried a secret she did not tell her king. 
If you ever relocated, you should know that moving to a new home is not an easy thing to do, even more so when your new home is a bit over-sized - like a palace, and you are all alone not knowing another soul. Fortunately, her uncle who raised her was the sensitive type; he kept on visiting her making sure she is OK. He was soon nominated to be one of the kings advisers. As one, he had the privilege of hanging out with the rest of the kings advisers at the city gate, which was THE place to hang out.
One day, he overheard two of the kings advisers plot to kill the king. Being a loyal and honest as he was, he immediately told the queen his niece who told the king who wrote it in his diary. The two were not banished but hung… OUCH

We could have ended the story right here, but, like every good story the plot must get a little more complicated before the happy ending. Therefore it is time to introduce the really bad guy to the story. He was the kings new right hand, the head of all of the kings advisers, a very powerful man indeed. Being in such position the head adviser has now decided that all the other advisers must kneel when ever he passes by them. I imagine he was always the shortest boy in class and this was his opportunity to feel the tallest. Every one did except for…you guessed it… the queens uncle. He didn’t blame it on his bad knees, but proudly stated it was against his religion (which it actually was).
The head of the advisers was mad, he felt shorter than ever. There was nothing in his powers to make this new adviser obey him but….take actions against his religion.

the next morning he went to the king and convinced him that the Jewish people where different than all the others, they didn’t obey the kings laws but only obey their gods. Therefore they must all be killed. And just so that the king doesn’t even hesitate, he added the extra value of all the money and goods the king could gain by confiscate their properties and wealth.
The king commended all his people to destroy all the Jewish people in his kingdom on the 13th day of the month of Adar  (which is next week)
Well, you already know this did not happen, other wise I wouldn’t be typing up this story in such a late time at night instead of having my beauty sleep. Well, I guess the king himself had his own problems of falling asleep, could that be his conscience???
He was tossing and turning in bed.  And since there was no TV to help him fall asleep, he asked his servant to bring to him his diary.  Reading his diary he remembered the story of the queens uncle who saved his life. Suddenly he realized that he didn’t repay the guy who saved his life. Not being able to sleep he started to ask around his adviser closest to him (that was still awake) what to do with the man who is favored by the king. Suddenly he heard some noise in the garden. He looked out and saw his right hand working out side in the yard in the middle of the night, another one with sleeping problems…. His chief advisor was preparing a rope on the tree so he could punish the queens uncle for disobeying him. The king was happy to find his chief advisor and ask him that same question, what to do with the man who is favored by the king? The chief advisor thought the king was referring to him as the one he wanted to repay. Overjoyed he suggested the king to dress that person in the kings cloth, and have him ride on the kings horse through the streets and call out loud “this is how the king repays the ones he favors.” 
The king loved his idea, and commended him to do just that to the queens uncle who saved his life.
I don’t think Hamman could have felt any shorter than that.
While all this was happening the queen was trying to invite Achashverosh the king and Hamman to a feast. She poured much wine into their glasses. It was only on the second night that she was courageous enough to ask the king her question.

Finally, unveiling her true identity Ester has asked the king to have mercy on her people whom he has ordered to kill. The king surprised at the news has asked Ester who was the dreadful man who commended to kill her people. Without hesitation she pointed at Hamman who was sitting right beside the king. I can see how his chin dropped, can you?

Achashverosh was furious and drunk (again) he saw the tree the Hamman prepared for Mordechai and decided to hang no other than Hamman himself but not so quickly…first he had to walk Mordechai throughout the streets of Shushan sitting on the kings horse dressed in royal clothing and call out: “this is how the king repays the ones he favors.”  

Hamman was hung, Mordechai was nominated to be the chief advisor (what used to be Hamman’s job), and Ester was given her own ‘little’ house within the palace court. The kings orders to kill the Jewish people could not be changed, but the king allowed Mordechai to issue new orders that allowed the Jewish people to defend themselves and kill anyone who threatens their lives. And the city of Shushan was delighted and joyous.

 

A tiger hand puppet - a tutorial for the Chinese New Year

One of the things I like the most about blogging, besides talking to my self hoping thinking someone is listening, is all the new things I learn by doing research prior to writing the different posts. I love the challenge of finding a creative way for passing that information on to my kids and to you my friends.
My latest discoveries, and please don’t think I am an idiot, is the Chinese zodiac. I never took the time in actually reading the great stories that came with choosing the 12 animals by the Jade emperor not to mention knowing who those animals were.

A couple of weeks ago Dawn from moms inspire learning asked me to come up with a creative activity to go along with her book recommendation post for the Chinese New Year. so... I started reading… and... discovered a fabulous new world of legends and myths. You should check out her Chinese New Year book recommendation posts, her lists are wonderful.

My first project in celebrating the year of the tiger is:

how to make a TIGER hand puppet:


you will need:

• a cereal box (you will probably get 2 puppets from one box depending on the box size)
• scissors
• tape or stapler
• glue gun (optional)
• 10”x10” red fabric
• needle and thread or a sewing machine
• orange, white black and red oil pastels or tempera paint
• tiger's head template

This is how:

1. flatten out a cereal box, trace template on to the box
   
   
2. Cut the tigers face (younger kids may need help cutting the cereal box)
3. Make 3 creases as shown on the template, the middle crease should be folded 'in' creating a ZigZag shape
4. Paint the tigers face
   
5. Cut additional strips from the cereal box:
   1 strip 1”x5”
   2 strips 1”x6” 
6. Turn one long strip and one smaller strip into 2 loops by placing one end over the other and stapling or taping them. (These rings will be mounted to the back of the tiger mouth and be used as finger placement to control the tiger’s mouth.)
   
   
   
   
7. Tape/ staple the smaller loop under the lower jaw and the bigger loop above the upper jaw (on the back side of the puppet's head)
8. Attach the other short strip vertically between the upper ring and the tigers head; this will keep the head and the top jaw in a 90˚ position.
   
   
   Makimg the sleeve:
   
9. Fold the fabric on itself and stitch along the open edge creating a sleeve, assist your child according to his/ her capabilities
10. Slip the sleeve onto the back of the tiger over the rings. 
11. Attach sleeve to both rings using glue gun, stapler or some tape what ever works best for you.
12. Slip your hand through the sleeve, place thumb in the lower (smaller ring) and the rest of the fingers in the upper rin
    

Zoe turned her puppet from a fierce tiger into a messenger of LOVE by adding some ‘I love U’ notes inside its mouth; trying to combine 2 great celebrations Valentines and the Chinese New Year both just happen to fall on the same day this year - February 14th.

linked with Craft Schooling Sunday

As for my previous post, we are expecting yet another girl (#3), Anat...i am  still waiting for my strawberry cake.

Enjoy

tali

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