Ideas and resources
I am always looking for a great way to get my children to do their chores without me having to ‘communicate’ every step to them the entire time they are doing it. This chore chart/board looks like the perfect way to accomplish my goal, and I think even the 3 year old can understand it! Head on over to Rock it Like June Cleaver for her great post on how she made the chore chart, along with some great tips on how to have a successful chore-loving child! Could it be true?
I love an easy craft that you can have all the kids make and use to decorate the classroom or even make into gifts for the holiday to give their parents. These crafts are mostly process art activities that could be done any time of year with one kiddo or a whole classroom full, but here they have a heart-filled twist.
For example, painting on newspaper and using it as the basis for a project could be done any time of year, but here Art Bar Blog uses painted paper to make heart postcards.
Or kids can decorate cardboard hearts to make this pretty project from Arty Crafty Kids.
Those cardboard hearts can also be the base for fun collages made with random bits from all over the classroom/house, like these from No Time for Flash Cards.
Or use torn paper to make your collage as in the “I Love You to Pieces” project from Taming Little Monsters. This is a great one to have the kids make for their parents.
Weaving with paper is fun any time of year, but doing it in a heart shape for Valentine’s Day adds a fun twist. Get the tutorial from Red Ted Art.
Scrape painting is a fun and easy way to get a different look from paint, and of course you can use it to make heart shapes a little more fun, like in this activity from Taming Little Monsters.
Crayon and watercolor resist art is a classic any time of year, but I love these hearts that were shared on Instagram by Lori Wenger. Have kids draw their own hearts and secret designs, then paint them and display together. So cute!
If you want a project that’s a little more involved, try this three-dimensional heart wreath from Krokotak. Download and print the template, which kids can color, cut and fold to make into a wreath. This one is so impressive looking but not that difficult to make.
Each kid can decorate a heart and put them together to make a classroom caterpillar full of love. Get the instructions and a free template from Craft Corner DIY.
Great chore board!! Colorful and fun. I do something similar, but a bit simpler and smaller. I have two sons. I have four library pockets on the fridge. One pair for each son. Each morning/throughout the day, I place flash cards in their library pockets of things they need to do before they go to bed. Once completed, the cards go into their “completed” pocket. It is their responsibility at the end of the day to bring me their completed cards pocket and we go check out their work together. If they don’t bring the cards to me, they don’t get credit. (Just as if an employee doesn’t punch in or out his/her time card-they may not get paid). If they whine or complain, or don’t do the chore to acceptable (not perfect) standards, they redo the chore and receive no $ for the chore. At the end of the week they get receive their “Commission.” For a job done above and beyond, they can receive a bonus (extra $). They can also earn no money and have to pay “Mom” back with extra chores or lost electronic time if they did a poor job or had a poor attitude.
Just thought I’d share as I know sharing helps others find a plan that works for them. 🙂
That’s another great idea! Thanks for sharing…perhaps that’s a good way to start out since my kids are so young:)