Crafts for Kids

How to make it

1. 1 Assemble the basic robot shape: a large box for the body, a smaller box for the head, tubes for arms, and a small box or tube for each leg.
2. 2 Tape all sections firmly together.
3. 3 Paint the whole robot silver, grey, or any colour chosen. Allow to dry.
4. 4 Add details: draw panels, buttons, and dials. Glue on bottle caps or circular card pieces.
5. 5 Add antennae at the top using pipe cleaners or card strips.
6. 6 Give the robot a name and a brief story.

Display or reuse: Display on a shelf as a room decoration, or use as a prop for imaginative play.

How to make it

1. 1 Fold the paper in half lengthways, then unfold.
2. 2 Fold the top two corners down to meet the centre line — this creates a pointed roof shape.
3. 3 Fold the bottom section up to meet the base of the roof.
4. 4 Turn the shape over.
5. 5 Decorate with windows, a door, and any other details.
6. 6 If desired, an adult cuts a small door that opens.

Display or reuse: Stand upright as a model. Use in a cardboard town. Give as a card or part of a gift decoration.

How to make it

1. 1 Draw a character on the card — a person, animal, or imaginary creature.
2. 2 Colour the character.
3. 3 Cut out the shape (adult helps for younger children).
4. 4 Tape a stick or straw to the back of the figure.
5. 5 Add optional details: fabric clothes, yarn hair.
6. 6 Use the puppet to tell a story.

Display or reuse: Use in a puppet show. Store in a bag with other puppets.

How to make it

1. 1 Thread the warp strings from top to bottom of the board, through each pair of notches.
2. 2 Cut a length of weft — horizontal — yarn.
3. 3 Weave the weft thread over and under each warp string across the board.
4. 4 Push each row gently downward with a finger to keep weaving compact.
5. 5 Begin each new row going in the opposite direction.
6. 6 When finished, slide the weaving off the board and secure the ends.

Display or reuse: Display as a textile artwork. Give as a handmade gift. Use as a small pouch or mat.

How to make it

1. 1 Choose a theme for the booklet: a family holiday, a favourite person, a special event, or the family's year.
2. 2 Each page features one memory or moment.
3. 3 Draw a picture on each page.
4. 4 Write a caption or a short sentence about the drawing — adult assists if needed.
5. 5 Decorate the cover.

Display or reuse: Give as a personal gift. Keep on a bookshelf as a family record.

How to make it

1. 1 Draw or cut out flower shapes in different colours and sizes.
2. 2 Cut green strips for stems.
3. 3 Cut or tear leaf shapes.
4. 4 Glue stems to the base card, starting from a "ground" line at the bottom.
5. 5 Attach flower heads to the tops of the stems.
6. 6 Add leaves along the stems.
7. 7 Add any other garden details — butterflies, bees, clouds.

Display or reuse: Display as wall art. Use as a background for a small model scene.

How to make it

1. 1 Decorate the inside of the box as a scene — a forest, a room, an outdoor landscape.
2. 2 Cut or draw characters on card and attach to sticks.
3. 3 Arrange the scene.
4. 4 Use the characters to tell a story, moving them through the stage.
5. 5 Optionally make fabric curtains and attach at the front opening.

Display or reuse: Use for storytelling. Display as a model scene on a shelf.

How to make it

1. 1 Decorate the paper before folding if desired.
2. 2 Fold the paper in half lengthways.
3. 3 Make a series of parallel cuts from the folded edge toward the open edge, stopping about 2 cm from the open edge.
4. 4 Unfold the paper.
5. 5 Roll the paper into a cylinder and glue or tape the short edges together.
6. 6 Attach a paper strip as a handle across the top.

Display or reuse: Hang as a room decoration. Display in a seasonal arrangement. No flame should ever be placed inside a paper lantern.

How to make it

1. 1 Fill the outline shape with small coloured squares, gluing each piece.
2. 2 Leave a small gap between each square for a grout-like effect.
3. 3 Fill the background with contrasting coloured squares.
4. 4 Allow to dry.

Display or reuse: Display as artwork. Frame as a gift.

How to make it

1. 1 Colour and decorate each weather shape.
2. 2 Punch a hole at the top of each shape.
3. 3 Tie a different length of string to each shape.
4. 4 Tie all strings along the twig or dowel at different positions.
5. 5 Hang the twig from a central string attached at two points.

Display or reuse: Hang near a window or from a ceiling hook in a supervised area.

How to make it

1. 1 Decide on the animal.
2. 2 Colour and decorate the mask surface.
3. 3 Glue on paper ear shapes.
4. 4 Add any other features — whiskers made from strips of card, a paper beak, horns.
5. 5 Adult attaches elastic or a holding stick.

Display or reuse: Wear in imaginative play. Display on a wall.

How to make it

1. 1 Choose the type of vehicle — car, bus, rocket, boat.
2. 2 Assemble the basic shape by taping boxes and tubes together.
3. 3 Attach wheel circles to the sides.
4. 4 Paint or colour the vehicle. Allow to dry.
5. 5 Add small details: headlights, windows, a number plate.

Display or reuse: Use in imaginative play. Display as a model.

How to make it

1. 1 Choose a setting: a forest, a room, a beach, an underground tunnel.
2. 2 Paint or line the inside of the box with paper to create the background.
3. 3 Make small items to fill the scene — trees, furniture, rocks — from folded card.
4. 4 Draw and cut characters on card to stand in the scene.
5. 5 Arrange everything inside the box.

Display or reuse: Display on a shelf. Use as a prop for storytelling.

How to make it

1. 1 For each month, create a page with the month name and a grid of days.
2. 2 Draw a picture at the top of each page representing that month.
3. 3 Fill in the day numbers correctly in the grid.
4. 4 Mark any known family events or special days.
5. 5 Bind the twelve pages together.

Display or reuse: Use as a functional calendar throughout the year.