Fathers make a world of difference. “Daddy loves me”. I think a person’s life is shaped by many things, but it is a very good thing if someone can confidently proclaim that their Father loves them.

 
This Fathers Day Kids Craft is a simple homemade gift for Fathers, that kids, as young as preschoolers, can make to honour Fathers on Fathers Day.

 
It is inspired by {Secret} Message in a Bottle Valentine by My Sister’s Suitcase. The moment I came across it via Pinterest, I was smitten. I didn’t have access to adorable vintage game pieces, so improvised with finds from my local dollar store.

Fathers Day: Kids Craft, A Secret Message

Materials:

• Small craft wooden blocks
• Glass jars / bottles
• Ribbon
• Cardboard
• Markers

Method:

 
1. Write a message for Fathers on the wooden blocks by placing a single letters on single small craft wooden blocks.

 
If your child is too young to write the message for their Father on their own, here are some ways to vary the craft:

• Ask them what they like to do with their Father. Help them compose a message based on their response. (Hint: being concise is key and makes it easier!)
• If they are at the stage where they are beginning to write, and keen to write some letters, model how to write the letters to them first. Allow for some practice writing on large scraps of paper before moving onto the wooden blocks.
• Encourage them to write selected words, perhaps the shorter words, from the message.
• If they know how to write select letters, let them write those select letters from the message.
• As with our rainbow writing, provide little phrases that describe the movement required to write the letter.
• If your child is unable to write, encourage them to draw pictures on the blocks that convey what they like to do with their Fathers. Add to these blocks a written message of thanks.

 
2. To help Fathers decode the secret message, you can write numbers on the other side of the wooden blocks, ordering the letters of the message. If Fathers like a challenge of decoding a message though, leave this part out.

 
3. Place the all the small wooden blocks into the glass jar.

 
4. To pretty up the Fathers Day secret message, provide children with a cardboard tag and ask children to draw a picture of their Father. Add the tag to the jar with some ribbon.

 
I adore emergent writing and drawing. These early words and representations are records of their young voices. My home will always have space for keepsakes like these.

 
To all the wonderful Fathers who are making a world of difference, for the better, in the little things, and the big things, thank you!

The post Fathers Day Kids Craft: Secret Message by Pauline appeared first on Lessons Learnt Journal.

 
We have been bathing in the most glorious sunny Autumn days. Days that make you stop and boggle at fact that these lovely rays of light have travelled a whopping 93 million miles from a gigantic ball of phenomenal heat, so that when it reaches us, it’s just right. Outside has been the place to be and I was after a quick kids art and craft activity.

 
I spotted our tub of chalk, and our kids art and craft activity was set up in less than a minute. When it comes to an easy kids art and craft activity, it seriously does not get any easier than chalk rubbings. Don’t let the ease fool you though, the process is engaging and the results are beautiful.

 
My boys happily scoured our garden for various items with interesting textures; leaves and twigs were favoured items. These items were placed on the table with some jumbo sized coloured chalk and paper.

 
I showed them how to place the paper on top of their items and rub over it gently with the side of the chalk. They were creating their own chalk rubbings in no time.

 
While we had our chalk out, it was great to revisit one of our favourite outdoor plays with chalk:

 
Chalk Hop

 
Got your hands full and after more quick and easy play ideas? Try these quick and easy plays:

 

		← Water game: Waterfall  → Lights Activity Box
		← Balloon Play → Bubbles in a Bowl

More Activities for Preschoolers

Three to Five: Playful Preschool is stuffed to the brim with tried, tested and loved playful learning ideas for preschoolers. There are 25+ ideas for preschoolers, ten printable resources and additional links to over 50 more activities. A great resource for parents. Download your copy here.

The post Kids Arts and Crafts: Chalk Rubbings by Pauline appeared first on Lessons Learnt Journal.