Fun Spring Activities for Parents and Kids
ACCORDION & ORGAMI BOOKS
Download directions 
to the Orgami Book. Directions below are for the Accordion Books (pictured; easier)
1) Your accordion book can be made from readily available materials:
- Creative tip: Consider gluing several different kinds of papers together.
- Use a glue stick for smooth joints.
- Re-use gift wrapping paper for the cover, reuse cereal box cardboard
(double layer) for the covers.
2) Decide how large you wish to make your book - choose height and width.
- The example you see here is based on a 4.25" square - that’s the size of the cover. The inside papers are 1/4" smaller than the cover.
3) Cut the paper into strips - in the example, the strips are 4" x 12". Fold the paper back and forth to make pages.
4) Glue the pages onto a cover at the front.
5) Glue the pages onto a cover at the back.Your book can be as long - or short - as you want it to be. Creative tip: plan some fold-out sections in your book that can be vertically folded out. These might contain special quotes, drawings or secret tips you want to remember.
THANK YOU CARDS
- Focus on recycling
- reusing wrapping paper by cutting out shapes and collaging them
- cutting / shaping cards
DREAM BOX or MAGIC BOX
- Helps imaginative and creative growth in the home
- Ongoing
- Where to go in your imagination or in real life?
- Find, cut and shape images to fit in and on the box
- Recycled box (from holiday packages)
TRAVEL JOURNAL
- Use with a travel brochure: where to go, what to see, what to do
- Creative map: label destinations along the way with pictures
- Can be combined with a travel diary, handmade book of recycled papers (like the accordian books above
FOUND-OBJECT STAMPING
- Fun to explore for little ones
- Develops concentration
- Shapes can represent things
- Supports critical thinking - shape combinations
SURFACE-RUBBING EXPLORATION
- Active and moving, yet keeps them focused
- Fun to explore for little ones
- What texture FEELS and LOOKS like
- Builds vocabulary
COLLAGE YOUR DREAM PLACE
- Dreaming time together
- Develops fine motor skills - cutting
- Exploring space and how to organize it; near, middle ground, far
- Exploring overlapping
CARDBOARD CITIES-PLAY ARCHITECT
- Helps children think about space
- Develops sensitivity to point of view
- Supports understanding of multiple math concepts
- Teaches recycling
THANK-YOU CARDS
- Teaches recycling
- Encourages authentic gratitude
- Helps kids be more thoughtful
- Happy way to pass time
