Simple Spring Crafts to Do with Your Children

As spring approaches, many people desire to get outside and enjoy the beautiful sunshine. While basking in the sun and loving the gorgeous spring flowers and green scenery, parents and children can take part in some wonderful spring crafts together. Crafts are a pleasant way to spend time with those that you love and to create things of beauty as well. Here are a few simple spring craft ideas that you can do with your children and their friends on a warm, spring day.

Fabulous Finger Painting

Finger painting can be a relaxing and enjoyable activity for children of all ages as well as for parents. Select either tempera or another form of non-toxic paint and some recycled paper (you can also use the inside of paper grocery bags), and begin your finger paint masterpiece. Flowers, butterflies, green trees, and other such objects are wonderful to include for a spring scene. Too, if you or your child would like, you can also add stickers and other embellishments to the painting once the paint is completely dry.

Beautiful Beaded Bracelets

Beading can be a therapeutic and calming endeavor for all individuals involved. Purchase a variety of different types of beads (i.e. semi-precious stones, crystal, glass, fimo, etc.), elastic beading cord, and scissors, and you are ready to go. Measure the elastic cord around each person's wrist, and cut off enough cord to encircle the person's wrist plus about 1" more. Tie a double knot in one end of the cord, and begin stringing the beads in whatever pattern that you choose. Once you have completed your beading design, tie the two ends of the cords together into a double knot and pull to make sure that the knot is tight and secure. You and your children can make bracelets for yourselves, or you can make great gifts for those whom you hold dear.

Sensational Stepping Stones

Colorful stepping stones add a wonderful touch to any garden, flower patch, or yard. Your children and you can enjoy decorating and accessorizing your own stepping stones. Simply purchase a few plain round stepping stones from your local hardware store as well as flat glass beads of various colors, acrylic paint, and craft glue from your local arts and crafts store, and you and your children can design and enhance your own personal stepping stones. For older children, you may even want to consider purchasing a mosaic stepping stone kit that can be found at either Wal-Mart or Michael's.

Happy Spring Haiku

Haiku poetry is known for typically being used to describe nature. You and your children can write lovely spring haikus together, place them onto a piece of colorful cardstock, and place them in frames. A haiku poem consists of three lines with five syllables in the first and third lines and seven in the second. Select the color of cardstock for the background of your haiku based on what your haiku describes. For example, if your haiku is about water, choose a lovely ocean or tropical blue color. If it is about plants, trees, or grass, an emerald or sage green might be a better choice. If is about flowers, pick the color that best fits the hue of the flowers about which you are writing.

In selecting the frames for the haikus, choose the ones that you and your children either like the best. After all, the haiku is your work of art and expression, so let your and your children's personalities shine through.

Have a happy spring, and may you and your children have many hours of fun taking part in these crafts. Enjoy!