Make Your Own Birthday Banner

Make Your Own Birthday Banner

Every birthday party needs a banner. Just go to any party supply shop, and you'll see all sorts of styles to choose from. But why buy the same banners everyone else is using when you can easily make a unique handmade one?

These birthday banners can showcase your kids' budding artistic ability, or they can be the picture of elegance. It's all up to you.

Supplies

* Different types of paper - construction paper and plain white paper work well, or you could use a patterned scrapbooking paper with a coordinating plain paper.
* Ruler
* Pencil
* Glue stick or other type of glue that works well with paper
* Markers
* Glitter glue, stickers, stick-on gems and other decorative items
* Hole punch or notching tool
* A piece of ribbon that is long enough to run through the banner and be used to hang it

Instructions

* Determine what shape you want to use for each part of your banner. Pennants are often used, but squares look nice too (and they're very easy to cut). You could also use two or three different shapes.
* Cut one type of paper into shapes of the desired size. Cut the other paper into the same shape, but make it an inch or so smaller.
* Draw one letter from the words "Happy Birthday" on each of the smaller squares, or have kids do it. Make sure each letter is large enough and dark enough to see from a distance.
* Glue each letter onto the middle of a corresponding shape. Decorate with glitter glue, stickers, stick-on gems or anything else you like.
* Use the hole punch or notching tool to make holes in the top of each shape, about an inch or so from each end.
* Put the letters in order. Thread the ribbon through each hole. When all of the letters are on the ribbon, center them. Tie knots or use glue to keep the letters on each end in place.
* Hang the banner by tying the ends of the ribbon to something, or by using thumbtacks.

Tips

* Use card stock or construction paper for the larger shapes. They will hold up much better than regular paper.
* For an elegant look, try using a solid piece of card stock for the larger shapes and a coordinating patterned piece of scrapbook paper for the smaller ones.
* If you're not good at making large letters, use a stencil or large foam alphabet stamps.
* If you want to be able to reuse your creation, fold it up so that the letters are stacked on top of one another and store it in a box in a safe place.

101 Kid Summer Activities

Kid Tested Activities to keep them Happy, Engaged, and Entertained

Just take a look at some of the great benefits:

1. 101 separate and distinct activities means that you always have something fun to do with your kids
2. Most activities are based on objects you already have at home
3. Active and engaged children are too busy to look for trouble
4. Inspirational and imaginative activities get the kids off the couch and away from the T.V.
5. Active kids are less likely to have weight problems, develop into more active adults, and learn to lead healthier lives
6. Less time in front of the television lets kids use their imaginations, gives them the capacity to think creatively, and helps them develop better problem solving abilities
7. Simple activities require little, if any, preparation so you can pick an activity and do it on the spur of the moment
8. Activities that easily adjust to virtually any age or ability means you can use this resource for years to come!
9. Instant access -- you can begin using these activities right now!

Go to 101 Kid Summer Activities now, you will not be sorry!

The Importance of Art for Finger and Hand Muscles

The Importance of Art for Finger and Hand Muscles

Kids love art because it gives them opportunities for self-expression and a sense of accomplishment.

Parents love it when their kids create art because it keeps them quietly and productively occupied.

Little thought is usually given to the physical benefits of art, but they are significant.

It’s easy to see how art promotes hand-eye coordination. The simple act of putting crayon or pencil to paper and scribbling requires the hands and eyes to work together. Once that’s mastered, the child can take it a step further to begin to form lines and shapes.

Another important benefit of art involves the development of muscles in the hands and fingers. If you think about it, this makes as much sense as the relationship between art and hand-eye coordination.

Going back to the drawing example, a child must learn to properly hold a crayon in order to successfully use it. Doing so requires him to use specific muscles in the hand that may have previously been rarely utilized. These are the same muscles that he will use later in life to perform everyday tasks such as writing.

Drawing isn’t the only type of art that develops muscles in the hands and fingers. Virtually every type of visual art offers such benefits in one way or another. Finger painting, for instance, requires controlled movement of the fingers. Painting with a paintbrush requires kids to grip in a different manner than that used when drawing or writing. And modeling clay or play dough involves squeezing, mashing and rolling.

Using scissors is another activity that is great for building muscles in the hands. The motions required to open and close the scissors work the hand in ways that few other activities do.

Children can also build important muscles by beading. Using chenille stems and large beads makes it easy enough for small hands without compromising the benefits of the activity.

Even music can help develop hand and finger muscles. The most obvious example is playing the piano. The motions used to strike the keys directly correlate with those used in typing, which is an important skill later in life. Wind instruments also require certain hand motions. Even gripping drumsticks offers unique benefits.

Art in any form provides more benefits for young children than most of us realize. It’s good in a number of ways for cognitive and emotional development. And those simple tasks that we take for granted can help children build a good foundation for skills that they will use in coming years.

From a simple pen and paper drawing to an intricate clay figurine, any art project can provide opportunities for kids to use hand and finger muscles in ways that they may not have used them before.

Now for something that will be invaluable during the summer:

101 Kid Summer Activities

Kid Tested Activities to keep them Happy, Engaged, and Entertained

Just take a look at some of the great benefits:

• 101 separate and distinct activities means that you always have something fun to do with your kids
• Most activities are based on objects you already have at home
• Active and engaged children are too busy to look for trouble
• Inspirational and imaginative activities get the kids off the couch and away from the T.V.
• Active kids are less likely to have weight problems, develop into more active adults, and learn to lead healthier lives
• Less time in front of the television lets kids use their imaginations, gives them the capacity to think creatively, and helps them develop better problem solving abilities
• Simple activities require little, if any, preparation so you can pick an activity and do it on the spur of the moment
• Activities that easily adjust to virtually any age or ability means you can use this resource for years to come!
• Instant access -- you can begin using these activities right now!

Go to 101 Kid Summer Activities now, you will not be sorry!