Craft Stick Games and Activities

My daughter and her friends love jumbo craft sticks. Wal-Mart sells a large box that is guaranteed fun for hours. Her favorite way to play is gluing them into shapes and then painting with watercolor paint. But I needed new ideas, looking something small and easy to fit into a PoKi sling. Here are some of my favorite ideas!


American Indian Stick Game
Craft sticks and a couple of markers are all it takes to put this easy American Indian game together. Simple enough that it could be completed just about anywhere, wouldn't necessarily need to use craft sticks, just something flat that could be decorated on one side and dropped. Click here for American Indian Stick Game instructions.

Decorate two craft sticks with the same design, and the other two different. Leave the back side blank. Use additional sticks for score keeping.

Shape Sticks
 This was a fantastic demo by Vanessa at Tried and True. The only thing I did differently was I shrunk the booklet, intending to laminate before my eldest son's FRC Robotics Event. It did not get finished, but the kids loved them anyway! It was a simple activity to put together. I did use regular hook and loop tape (strips cut into squares); it's what I had and although not quite as nice looking as Vanessa's, worked just as well. Her demo says it all and has a great printable so I will let her describe for you. Click here for Vanessa's Shape Sticks

I already had Velcro in strips so I just cut into squares.

Craft Stick Puzzle

These are everywhere on Pinterest on these days. Take two coloring sheets cut out from a coloring book or activity pad (mine came from the dollar store). Then take eight craft sticks and line them up. You can temporarily attach tape across the sticks on the on one side to keep the sticks from moving. Cut out a coloring sheet to fit and glue down with a glue stick. Flip over, remove tape and repeat with remaining coloring sheet. When glue is dry, use a sharp knife to cut between the sticks. Pack the crayons, so it will be two times the fun!

Cut out picture and glue down to craft sticks. Turn over and repeat. When glue is dry, use a utility knife to carefully cut apart sticks.

God's Eye Yarn Craft
Do these bring back memories? I remember making them at camp. I am sure my little people will enjoy.   It requires little time to put together. No craft sticks? Use a couple of sticks from a tree....or maybe a couple of straws from your local drive thru!
Click here for printable directions. 

Use variegated yarn for added effect!

Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Game

BLT Felt Game - Portable-Kid.com

 When I saw this adorable Peanut Butter and Jelly Game from Family Home and Life, I knew I had to put one together. Pb&J's are a huge hit in our house, so it seemed a no brainer. However, we are on a huge bacon kick, and not for the reasons one might suppose. Sure, bacon is completely awesome, especially when wrapped around another yummy food such as shrimp or pork tenderloin (forgive me vegetarians, we love our meat!). But we are completely obsessed with bacon for a different reason. This past year our eldest began participating in FIRST Robotics, which builds a large robot that has to perform a variety of tasks on a large playing field. Name of son's club? Exploding Bacon. And since building the robot for the competition takes a very intense six weeks, we have been eating, sleeping and dreaming about bacon. So in honor of the above, our PB&J game became BLT's. Same rules, same fun. Simple and easy to create, just takes a few minutes to cut out and begin.
To begin, all is needed is several pieces of felt. I used what I had on hand; tan, red, green, orange and gold. You can cut out freehand or  download template and directions to game.  I cut out enough for 2 players; however the fun of this game is that any number can play.

Cut out enough pieces for each player.

Freehand wiggly lines slightly shorter than the length of your bacon, 2 per piece

Glue wiggly lines to bacon

Cut felt squares slightly smaller than wood block. My block was approx 1"

Time to play!

I'll be honest- I loved Family's Pb&J picnic bag, but it was too big for my purposes. This game I made in preparation of our first completion, a 3 day event. I need to bring lots of ideas to amuse the younger ones without carrying a huge bag. This game fits perfectly into a plastic soapbox; which slides into a pocket in on of my kid slings.

I link at these parties!

Restaurant and waiting Games

It can be difficult to entertain kids during a long ride, and it's equally difficult to entertain in a restaurant. Over time I have put together a list to keep young and old alike busy.

1. Tic Tac Toe: Using straws or knives to create the board, different color sugar packets can be used for playing pieces.

2. I Spy:This is a game we play often. OFTEN! In the car, at the Dr.'s, everywhere. Even some places where I'm not sure why we are playing it; usually down a long road with nothing but green trees and black roads. For whatever reason, the kids don't seem to mind.

3. Dot Squares: I don't think I have this name right, but it can be jotted down just about anywhere: tablecloth (paper of course), paper napkins, back of place-mat. Anywhere you can find a clear spot. You can play multiple children at the same time. Here's a printable sheet from EprintableCalendars.com

4. Pipe Cleaners : Ok, so this isn't really a game, and you do need to bring these in with you. But what a fun way to keep busy! Well worth picking up a pack from the local dollar store. MomsMinivan has some cute ideas to get the creative juices floating!

5. Cootie Catcher: Remember the fun with this one? With a few simple folds, a new game can had with just a simple piece of paper. You can go the traditional route and put in silly fortunes: you will have 6 kids or you first house will be a castle, or maybe some of the ideas on the inside could be an activity to do something while sitting at the table such as make a silly face, say something nice to a sibling, build a building out of five items from table, find something green, etc. The ideas are endless! Forgotten how to make a cootie catcher? Check this one out at WikiHow.

6. Table Top Shop: Looking for something educational? Pull out your coins and mark the items on the table with prices. The younger kids can add up their coins to "purchase" one item at the table, and older kids can add several items together for a final price. Good for counting skills and it entertains all at the same time!

7. Straw worms: Smoosh (technical term!) up the straw wrapper and add a drop or two of water and watch your worm grow!

8. Pictionary: This is always a blast for my kids, as I cannot hardly draw a stick figure and rarely win. We occasionally divide into teams, parents against the kids is always fun.

9.Family Draw: This is also a favorite among my crew. One kid starts drawing and the next adds a little bit more. Even the little one can play as only a line or two needs to be added. Sometimes we add a theme, sometimes it's a free for all!

10.Check with the restaurant: Some restaurants have built in kid fun. Carraba's will bring out dough to play with. Bucca Di Beppo has a "kitchen table" (reserve ahead) that puts you right in the middle of the kitchen action. Uno Pizza lets kids decorate their own pizza. Know about others? Let me know!

Linking up to:
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/

Classic Books audio

http://laptopclipart.com/free-clip-art-reading-children/

 Currently we are driving daily about 45 minutes each way to my eldest son's activity. And as I've posted before, we use audio stories in our van on a regular basis. Generally I use the library; unless of course, I've racked up my normal I love my library fee, and until I pay it down we use classic books from Librivox and Booksshouldbefree.com. Our homeschooling curriculum uses a large assortment of classic books, and although I don't mind reading, sometimes it's just nice to sit back and listen. All books from these sites are in the public domain, and while some of the audio is just so-so, most of the books we have listened to we have enjoyed. And we have recently discovered on the Booksshouldbefree site, some of the books such as Alice in Wonderland use different character voices, making it even more pleasurable to listen. All books can be downloaded and burned to a disc or popped onto a mp3 player. Happy listening!

Car Trash Bin

Why didn't I think of this? One of our largest issues in the van is trash and what to do with it. I don't usually keep a trash bin in the rear seat as small feet inevitably knock it over. Now if a robotic arm could just be installed to grab the trash that lands beside the can! http://www.bhg.com/decorating/storage/projects/organize-your-recycling/?page=14