Crafting With Wrapping Paper
By Mary Emma Allen
Recycling used wrapping paper and keeping children busy can be
combined in this craft which my grandchildren and their cousins found
fun. It also gave me time to work at the computer while they were busy
at the kitchen table around me.
So much wrapping paper comes with cute designs these days. My
family is always admonishing me for saving so much. But you never know
when it will come in handy for a craft with the children.
"We're busy, Nanny," 4-year old Alex says with a grin as he looks
up from gluing happy faces to a paper plate.
Happy Faces Wrapping Paper
The wrapping paper that inspired me was some with happy faces
left from Alex's birthday gifts. It's so cute, I thought. There must be
some way the children can use it.
So when my grandneices were visiting, I got out:
Colorful wrapping paper
Blunt scissors for children
Stick glue
Crayons
Inexpensive white paper plates
Then the children cut out the happy faces and glued them to the
plates. If they wanted, they could add designs with their crayons.
Alex and 4-year old Annie made crude designs but they had fun
creating. Kara and Molly, at 8 and 7 years old, planned more elaborate
creations, coloring the middle, gluing the happy faces around the edge,
and then attaching a piece of string so they could hang up their
pictures.
Various Types of Wrapping Paper
With so many different types of wrapping paper nowadays -
flowers, animals, happy faces, geometric designs, movie characters - you
have a multitude of activities your children can create.
(Write and tell me about creative activities and games you use
with your children and grandchildren.)
About the Author
Mary Emma Allen writes for children's and family magazines.
Her book for children, "Tales of Adventure & Discovery," consists of a
number of her children's stories and poems. Check it out on her web
site or e-mail her at me.allen@juno.com.
Another of her books for families is "When We Become the Parent
of Our Parents," about her mother's journey with Alzheimer's disease and
how families can cope.
Article Copyright 2000 Mary Emma Allen
