Taking your children to a berry a patch can be a great experience. There is so much to learn.

What learning can be had by picking strawberries or other fruit and vegetables?

Welcome to the Small Hands Creating Hope project! I am very pleased to be a part of this exciting fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. This project is a team effort of an incredibly talented group of bloggers who produce and write about fun, . . . → Read More: Small Hands Creating Hope]]>

Welcome to the Small Hands Creating Hope project! I am very pleased to be a part of this exciting fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. This project is a team effort of an incredibly talented group of bloggers who produce and write about fun, creative, and educational activities for kids! Each of us has worked with our children or students to create a craft that could be made by or for someone facing cancer. The projects in this book are stunning, and several include tutorials so that you can recreate them with your own children or students.

All of this wonderful ideas have been compiled into a beautiful ebook. For a minimum donation of $15 to the American Cancer society, you can receive this wonderful resource.  An email with the download link, as well as a second link that allows you to purchase a hard copy of the book at production cost will be sent once we receive your donation. This button will take you directly to the American Cancer Society’s donation page:

If you donate but do not receive this email for any reason, or if you have trouble with the download, email smallhandsproject (at) gmail (dot) com.

MaryAnne at Mama Smiles compiled this book as a way of celebrating thirty years of cancer survivorship! She was diagnosed when she was just two years old. We are so thankful for her life! We are hoping to raise $3000 by July 4th. We are running a blog hop from May 14th until July 4th to celebrate and raise funds so that, in the future, thirty years of cancer survivorship will be the norm, not the exception! Learn about each of the bloggers who participated in the book by visiting each blog on their assigned dates – a few bloggers will be running celebratory giveaways, too!

14 May Mama Smiles

15 May Artsy Craftsy Mom and Rainbows Within Reach

16 May B. Inspired, Mama!

17 May Rainy Day Mum and Imagination Soup

18 May Inspiration Laboratories

19 May Experimenting Mom

20 May Outlaw Mom

21 May NurtureStore

22 May Living Montessori Now

23 May Mess for Less

24 May Having Fun at Home and CraftoArt

25 May Mama Mia’s Heart2Heart

26 May Angelique Felix and Sense of Wonder

27 May Sun Hats & Wellie Boots

28 May Duck Duck Octopus

29 May Smiling like Sunshine

30 May Mommy with Selective Memory

31 May One Perfect Day

1 June The Educators’ Spin On It

2 June Kids Stuff World

3 June Rainy Day Mum

4 June Teach Preschool

5 June Dirt and Boogers

6 June Creative Connections for Kids and The Golden Gleam

7 June Montessori Tidbits

8 June Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas

9 June The Iowa Farmer’s Wife

10 June Scribble Doodle and Draw

11 June Learn with Play

12 June Kitchen Counter Chronicles

13 June CRAYON Freckles

14 June Glittering Muffins

15 June Wise Owl Factory

16 June Crafty Maa

18 June Lessons Learnt Journal

20 June Growing a Jeweled Rose

21 June Growing Play

23 June JDaniel4′s Mom

We would love for you to post the button in your sidebar for this event, in order to get as much publicity for this event as possible.

Thank you for your support!

When I was growing up I accidentally broke my Barbie’s leg off when she was doing the splits. I tearfully took the doll to my dad hoping he could work a miracle.  He didn’t disappoint! He duct taped . . . → Read More: Duct Tape for Kids]]> Duct Tape is an essential tool in our household.

When I was growing up I accidentally broke my Barbie’s leg off when she was doing the splits. I tearfully took the doll to my dad hoping he could work a miracle.  He didn’t disappoint! He duct taped the leg back on. My Barbie had a permanent silver skirt and I was happy.

The great thing about duct tape today is all of the colors. You don’t have to settle for a simple silver skirt! It is a great tool for preschool activities too.

It can act as a book binding. I staple pieces of paper together, then run a strip of duct tape along the ‘spine’ to secure the pages and to act as a protectant against the pointy ends of the staples. It strengthens the child’s ‘book’ so they can carry it around a bit longer too:

It can reinforce the sides of a plastic bag for paint-in-a bag:

When I make home-made shape sorters  I use duct tape to reinforce and soften the edges of the opening. This is a plastic coffee can made for kids to put cubes into. It’s a very basic introduction to a shape sorter.  This one has been well used, and it is always a hit.

I use it to seal containers that become learning tools. This is a Parents as Teachers activity for very young babies. You place rice or beans in the container for stability, place a high contrast, black and white picture on the side, and place it next to new baby. It provides visual stimulation for the baby. I use the duct tape to seal the container:

Duct tape just isn’t for dads and kids. It’s for mom’s too!

When I have it on my desk it becomes a cup holder:

It also can  be a quick fix hem for jeans. I can’t believe I’m confessing this to you, but it really works!

These are just a few ways that I use duct tape at school and at home. If you have unique ways that you use this great product please share it in the comments below!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Connect with Creative Connections for Kids on Facebook!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We are tickled pink to be linked to these great sites!

The Sunday Showcase