{Play} Twig and Ribbon Princess and Magic Wand

DIY Memory Box Display

We just returned from one of our summer vacations and oh how much we will miss the good times together. To capture our memories, one of the things we do is a bedtime ritual called, “Review the Holiday,” where we recount the highlights of our vacation. A hands-on way to cement our happy memories is with […]

Easy Homemade Play Town

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Top Ten Tips For Disneyland With Preschoolers

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Planning for Disneyland with Preschoolers

Disneyland is truly the happiest place on Earth. I hadn’t visited the park since 1987, so I was excited to take the kids (4 and 5 years old) on their maiden voyage, but I had no idea how absolutely magical the experience would be. Watching the children’s hearts nearly explode with joy was the best part […]

Easy Kitchen Math: Counting By Tens

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5 Creative Ways To Upgrade Your Home Style

We’ve been in our new house for about half a year now, but after unpacking our boxes and getting our 1950’s Rancher fixed up, we haven’t really begun to make the house our home. Part of the reason is that we will be remodeling eventually, so making a big investment on statement pieces or committing […]

Summer Learning Activities for Kids: Top Ten Ways To Keep Kids Thinking

I’m thrilled to be participating in the Second Annual School’s Out! Top 10 Summer Learning Activities series and sharing our Top Ten Ways to Keep Kids Thinking over Summer Break with you. If you’re like me, you want your children to enjoy the beautiful summer weather, play in the dirt, swim in the pool and just […]

{Homemade Valentines} Magic Heart Wands

If you’re like us, you’re scrambling to make one hundred homemade Valentines for your children’s classroom Valentine’s Day Exchange and need something quick, cheap, and fun. Lucky for all you last-minute crafters, we’re sharing our simple Magic Heart Wands that will help your child spread some love this Valentine’s Day. All you need is: A […]

June 3, 2011 in All Posts, Play, Toddler Activities

Jane loves sticks and stones.

When we took a pre-bedtime walk last night to meet Hubby at the train, she picked up a nice little collection of branches as usual. Unfortunately, Hubby was delayed for two hours due to another poor soul’s unfortunate experience and we weren’t able to pick him up from the station. Jane was thoroughly disappointed, so instead of making her throw out her twiggy treasure, I let her take them inside the house and suggested we come up with a project for them after I put Sam to bed.

My first thought was painting with them or on them, but nixed the idea after realizing it would involve another bath. Making a 3-D structure like our toothpick-gumdrop tripods also seemed like a good idea, but I was too tired to do all the intricate tying that would be involved in making a house or boat out of string and twigs. Luckily, I spotted some shiny silver ribbon on the counter and came up with the super fun idea of making a magic wand.

Jane was completely engrossed with the cutting process:

and had a great time pretending to spell out words like Princess Presto with the finished wand:

Here’s how you and your toddler can make this super simple wand:

Materials

a twig or slender branch (try to find a curved one)
ribbon (preferably shiny!)

Step 1

Have your toddler snip lengths of ribbon either with you holding the ribbon taut or on her own.

Step 2

Tie the ribbon pieces to the top portion of the stick and curl each piece with a scissor blade.

Presto!

Also very fun, according to Jane - trying to wrap yourself up as a present:

LEARN! Fine motor skills, scissor cutting, pretend play

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Chrissy – who has written 422 posts on The Outlaw Mom® Blog - Creative Living in a Conventional World.