Monday, September 29, 2014

3-D Art Project: Fun for All Ages



3-D Art Project: Fun for All Ages


Would you like to keep your kids busy as they create a fun craft project they’ll be proud of? This is a fun and easy project for kids of all ages – in fact, mom and dad will like it too.

If you have a craft box then you already have everything you need for this. Even if you don’t have a craft box, you can pull together enough items from around your house to make this a fun and interesting time.

Getting Started

Begin with a piece of blue poster board or construction paper. The blue will be used for the base or foundation of your 3-D art project – it will actually be the sky. The creative part of the project will begin with the next step. You can decide if you will make the project very simple and just glue on a rectangular sheet of green paper to fit the bottom half of your poster board --- or --- you can tear the green paper into small pieces and add those shreds of paper as they fit in. 

Be Creative

Your 3-D art project should include a creative touch – it should not just be a blue sky and grass. You can add tree trunks made out of brown paper and leaves can be made from small shreds of gold, orange, red and green paper. 

But don’t stop there! You can add a flower garden to the scene. These can be made with paper or if you want to get real creative you can use small buttons or beads for flowers.

Don’t leave your sky empty. You can add some clouds – made from cotton balls. Just pull a small piece of cotton from the ball and stretch it to make the cloud into an interesting shape, then glue it into place.

Pipe cleaners can be twisted into shapes that look like hooks for birdfeeders. Then you can add a bird feeder and some birds. Or, how about adding a pond or a dog or cat in the yard? Small bits of fabric can make an object seem to have fur or blue plastic could give the illusion of water. There isn’t a right or wrong way to do this – it’s a project that can be very, very simple or it can turn into a true masterpiece that you will cherish for years to come. Use your imagination and try to come up with some ideas of your own.

Keep reading this Package From Santa blog for more great ideas about craft projects, home décor, holiday savings and more!

Saturday, September 20, 2014

The Importance of a Positive Attitude



Teaching Kids the Importance of a Positive Attitude


As an adult you know that a positive attitude (and positive thinking in general) can make life a happier and better place to be. But most of us learn that the hard way. We go through difficult times and eventually we get better at coping with issues that cause us frustration, disappointment, or other negative emotions. The good news is, a positive attitude helps make those times easier to deal with. So it only makes sense that we want to share the idea of positive thinking with kids.
The problem is, how to do that?

If this is something you’re interested in, we think you will like this post. We’ve pulled together some information that we think will be helpful.  

Gratitude

There seems to be an agreement that giving gratitude is a great way to develop positive thinking. And no matter where you are at in life, we all have something we can be grateful for. This may be related to our health, our family and friends, or it could be about a number of these and other things.
Talking to kids about the things they have that matter to them is a great way to start the flow of positive thinking. You can even play simple games that force kids to think about the good things in their lives. For example, during your evening meal you can ask that each family member tell the others about the best thing they saw, did, or thought about during the day.

Put the Focus on Them

While it is good to think about the positive things in our lives, you might also want to encourage your kids to think about the positive things in them – for instance, they may be especially well-mannered, or they may be good at running or at playing an instrument. Focus on the positive things about your kids.

This is a great way to show your kids that although each and every person is unique and different, each person is also perfect and offers value. This can help children learn that we should value ourselves (and others) for the traits and qualities we bring to this life.
 Santa and the team at Package From Santa - always working
  to keep things positive!

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Comforting Your Children When They Are Sick



Comforting Your Children When They Are Sick

 

Every parent’s heart breaks when their child comes down with a cold or the flu. You feel helpless watching your little one suffer through the fever and congestion.  While there is no magic wand that will completely put an end to the cold or flu there are things you can do to help both you and your child cope.  In the following article I will share tips and ideas for things you can do to help give your child some relief.

Simple Relief

Sometimes the simple things you do can make a big difference. For instance, if your child is running a fever or just feels warm to the touch an easy way to comfort them is a cool wet wash cloth. If your child is sleeping simply place the wash cloth folded across their forehead or neck. Please note, this is not recommended for very young children or babies. For a child who is awake allow them to place the wash cloth where it will bring them the most relief. Continue getting the wash cloth wet as it warms to your child’s body temperature. 

Put It Within Reach

Have an area set up for your kid so that everything they might need is within arm’s reach. This might be in their bedroom or maybe a spot on the couch. Place a small waste basket where they can easily reach it in case they feel sick and cannot make it to the bathroom or they may need to throw away used tissues from a runny nose. A box of tissues is always handy when you have a sick kid on your hands.  

Be sure that you keep a drink available; it is easy for children to become dehydrated when they are sick.  If your child is very young make sure that they have their favorite blankets and stuffed animal with them.


Entertainment Concerns

Find things to keep your child entertained while they are recovering. Gather a stack of books that you can read to your children or books your child enjoys reading, or a couple of puzzle books. If your little one likes to color have crayons, colored pencils, and coloring books out for when the they feel up to it. Since they will be laying around a lot while they are sick why not turn on a movie that you can watch together?

I hope that you found advice in this article that will make it easier the next time your child becomes sick. The truth is, in addition to following doctor’s orders, it is important to be there to offer your love and support. Keeping your child as comfortable as possible will make both of you feel better!

This Package From Santa blog offers tips and advice about various issues related to kids, parenting, and lifestyle in general.