Read the classic story The Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate the Wash and create your very own boa. Just keep it out of your laundry pile!

What You’ll Need:
*The Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate the Wash by Trinka Hakes Noble
*Construction paper, ½ sheet of 3 different colors per child
*Scissors
*Staples
*Markers

Preparation:
*Talk about patterns with colors. Show your children some examples of patterns such as “blue, red, blue, red, blue, ___” and ask what comes next.

Need a little chill during this heat wave? Your kids will cool off and use their tactile senses with this super-cool idea.

What You’ll Need:
*Small toys that are OK to get wet: plastic figures, erasers, cars, wooden blocks, etc.
*Small plastic containers
*Water
*Large plastic tub, wading pool, or water table

Preparation:
*This activity will need to be done the night before to let everything freeze solid.

Activity:

Do your kids “walk all over” Dad or Grandpa? Create this fun, easy t-shirt to let the world know!

What You’ll Need:
*White shirt
*Fabric paint
*3-D fabric paint (also called “puff paint” or “puffy paint”)
*Fabric markers
*Paintbrush
*Paper shopping bag and newspaper

Preparation:
*Wash and dry the shirt according to the instructions on the label.

Activity:

Create a mess-free “tie-dye” style shirt for Dad this Father’s Day.

What You’ll Need:
*White shirt
*Permanent markers in various colors
*Spray bottle
*Rubbing alcohol
*Paper shopping bag or newspaper

Preparation:
*Wash and dry the shirt according to the instructions on the label.
*Fill the spray bottle with rubbing alcohol.

Activity:
*Place the shopping bag or newspaper inside the shirt so the color won’t bleed from front to back.

 
Create your own picture frame with painted pasta for Dad.

What You’ll Need:
*Pasta, uncooked, of various shapes
*Paint, paintbrush
*Glue
*Wood picture frame

Preparation:
*Optional: You can paint the picture frame a solid color before adding the pasta. Allow to dry thoroughly.
*Determine about how much pasta you’ll need by laying it out on the picture frame.

Activity:
*Have your child paint the pieces of pasta. Allow to dry.

Use old pictures of friends and family to create a memory book for Dad this Father’s Day.

What You’ll Need:
*Heavy cardstock
*Photos
*Glue
*Markers
*Hole Punch
*Yarn or ribbon

Preparation:
*Decide on the photos you would like to use for your book. Consider making color copies of those photos you do not want to cut up or photos you want to reduce or enlarge in size.
*Decide on the number of pages. If you are doing this with younger children, we recommend having at least one "theme" page per child.

Activity:

June 4, 2010 is National Doughnut Day -- what better way to celebrate than with Arnie the Doughnut! Arnie's very excited to meet his doughnut neighbors but even MORE excited to see who he's going home with. When Mr. Bing chooses him from all the other dozens of doughnuts, Arnie gets a big surprise when Mr. Bing tries to eat him! Read Laurie Keller’s Arnie the Doughnut and make your very own doughnut that looks good enough to eat!

What You’ll Need:

A fun party game or just to play out in the yard one afternoon. Great for the whole family, indoors or outside.

What You’ll Need:
*Paper Plates
*Thumbtacks
*Tape
*Balloons

Preparation:
*Blow up the balloons. You’ll need at least one per person playing. For a fun outdoor version, use water balloons.

A nice way to commemorate those who lost their lives and the military who continue to protect and serve our country this Memorial Day. Makes beautiful artwork to frame!

What You’ll Need:
*White construction paper or card stock (one per child)
*Red and blue paint
*Paintbrush
*Rectangular Sponges – about 4 to 5 (it is important that all your sponges are the same thickness)
*Heavy Duty Scissors or utility knife
*Glue
*Cardboard - about 8x10 in size

Preparation:

Show your patriotic side this Memorial Day with this American flag wind sock! (We adapted this idea from one we saw in Family Fun magazine.)

What You’ll Need:
*Tyvek mailing envelope (one per craft – those plastic-coated large white envelopes – you only need the inside, so it doesn’t matter if the outside has been used)
*Red & blue paint
*Paintbrush
*Glue
*Scissors
*Plastic Cup
*Hole punch
*Yarn

Preparation:
*Cut the envelope open and then cut in half.