I love putting out some goodies for the girls to pounce on when they come home from school and then seeing what they come up with. Last week they had a selection of wool, pine cones, ribbons and feathers – and they decided to make some birds. They used craft glue to stick their materials to the pine cone and here are their creations.
We tied B’s bird to the end of our number line, which happens to hang over the radiator in the kitchen – the perfect place for our cat to sit and make swipes at the pine cone bird. L, ever since she started imaginative play, has always centred it around families so I wasn’t surprised she made a nest full of birds.
I like to see how they both take the same materials but add their own spin to what they make. It’s also great to see that 4 year old L is starting to conceive an idea and is now able, all by herself, to put together the bits and pieces she needs to bring her design to life.
What have you got lying around the house and garden that your children could make with?
And don’t forget it’s the Messy Play Carnival here on Friday – come and link a post!
happily shared with We Play at Childhood 101 and ABCand123 and Upcycled Awesome
I love that you gave them the materials and just let them go for it. So unstructured, yet awesome
Hear Mum Roar – I do sometimes have an outcome in mind when we do some crafting but most often it’s lead by the children and the focus is on experimenting and being creative.
oh they are so cute
Thanks Kelli – I’ll let the girls know you like them 🙂
Very fun – it’s always my goal to strew about craft items more often and see what comes of it, but too frequently we’re on a mission to create something specific after my 4YO’s desires.
Hi Anne, B especially usually has a very clear idea about what she wants to make – but as much as possible I try to take a back seat now and let her make her own thing.
I love your pine cone birds, just so adorable. How fun to come home to a table of creative play. Can I come over?
Any time you like, Chapter Forty 🙂
Love, love, LOVE this. I adore letting my girls just experiment and I love getting more brilliant material ideas from bloggers like you. Pine cones. Genius. Your girls made adorable birds, by the way 🙂
Glad you liked the pinecone idea Becky 🙂
Their creations turned out very cute! I love that the art is open ended too.
Me too Kelly – much more about the process than the product and fun to see what they come up with.
I’ve been collecting pine cones for the past few weeks in hopes I’d see some fun craft ideas or ways to use them. This looks perfect. Thanks!
Glad you liked our idea Jane 🙂
Stopping by from T-Shirt Diaries! Love your pincone art. So very cute! Good job!
Hi Carla, thanks for stopping by – I love the T-shirt diaries!
What a lovely way to relax after a day at school. I like your interesting collection of materials for the girls to discover.
Hi Christie, I find sometimes that the girls need a little prompt to transition from home to school, and you’re right, crafts or sensory play work really well for us to help them unwind and relax.
That awesome pine cone craft, really love the idea.