http://ifnotyouwho.org/productive-play/episode/show-8-gift-giving

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Helping adults prepare children for kindergarten and life.

Show #8: Gift Giving

Photo Puzzle Gift

Materials

  • enlarged (8.5 x11) photo of child with friend
  • decorated contact paper or piece of construction paper, poster board etc..
  • clear contact paper or shipping tape (optional, this helps puzzle last longer)
  • scissors
  • pencil/marker
  • gift bag/box/envelope
  • *Contact paper can be found in housewares section at common hardware stores, Target, Walmart etc….

Directions

  1. Take a photo or find one that has been already taken of your child with their friend, teacher etc… of who they are making this puzzle gift
  2. Enlarge the picture on plain paper or photo paper to 8.5 x 10 (standard printer paper) You can also use whatever photo you already have, you will just need to adjust the number of puzzle pieces accordingly.
  3. Together adhere the back of the picture to the sticky side of a decorated sheet of contact paper
  4. Cover the front of the picture with clear contact paper
  5. Now draw with a marker 5-10 puzzle pieces
  6. Using scissors, cut along the lines drawn to create puzzle pieces
  7. Package up the puzzle and let child give to his friend

Tips

  • Gifts don’t have to be expensive to mean something
  • Plenty of learning happens during art activities. Fine motor development, creativity, language skills and more!
  • Remember, you can make almost any art activity into a teachable moment by conversing and asking questions

Resources

  1. Code Name Mama- a great website full of homemade gift ideas. Enter in the search box “ make your own gifts for toddlers and preschoolers”. Over 25 ideas will come up! Activities may claim they are for adults, but use some creativity and adapt for your child.
  2. “Martha Stewart’s Favorite Crafts for Kids: 175 Projects for Kids of All Ages to Create, Build, Design, Explore and Share” by Martha Stewart
  3. Pinterest! Search “gifts for preschoolers to make” you will get hundreds of great ideas. 

Related Activity

Activity 18   Art   Month 11

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