Kindergarden Reading List

The Woodbridge library of New Jersey has put together a list of 100 books you should read to your kindergartener. The list is organized into different categories including topics such as silly, animals, flying and friends and family

Get the booklist here:
http://www.woodbridge.lib.nj.us/100books.htm

Free Children's Book Downloads

wegivebooks.org offers more than 500,000 free children's books online. You can browse by age range, author or topic. Ages range from 0 to teens. They also have a section for new releases, popular and classic books.

Folk Art Pens

Paper crafts for children has the most adorable idea for making colorful, folk art inspired pens using paper mache. Their painting is pretty sophisticated. But either way it makes a nice functional craft.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.papercraftsforchildren.com/2010/07/25/papier-mache-pens/

QTIp Fire Works

Busy bee kids crafts has an easy craft idea for the Fourth of July making fireworks out of the tops of qtips.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Q-Tip-Fireworks.html

Rocketship Confetti

Celebrate the Fourth of July by making these fun confetti filled rockets out of an empty paper roll.

Alphamom has a great craft for the 4th of July making rocket ship confetti poppers using a toilet paper roll, scrapbooking paper, ribbon, confetti and twine. Making the confetti itself will keep the kids busy for quite a while.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://alphamom.com/family-fun/holidays/make-your-own-fourth-of-july-confetti-popper-rockets/

Disney's family fun has a similar confetti launcher.

Get the instructions here:
http://familyfun.go.com/4th-of-july/4th-of-july-crafts/confetti-launcher-890192/

Moda bake shop shares how to make a confetti cracker and is an easier craft for younger kids.  She uses candy instead of confetti for a favor, but kids will still get the confetti effect and have fun throwing it themselves.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.modabakeshop.com/2011/06/firecracker-favors.html 

Martha Stewart puts candy in her version making rocket ship favors.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.marthastewart.com/353633/rocket-favor-packaging

The 36th avenue fills them with candy as well.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.the36thavenue.com/2013/06/4th-of-july-firecracker-treat-pops.html 

Sugar and cloth uses lighter colors and glittery gold paper to make rocket party surprise poppers.

Get the instructions here:
http://sugarandcloth.com/2013/07/diy-surprise-party-poppers/

International Paper Dolls

Education.com has free paper doll printables from several countries including this one from France. Each template includes information about the country so kids can learn about the local life.

Get the templates here:
http://www.education.com/slideshow/exploring-cultures-paper-dolls-world/paper-dolls-world-europe-VI/

Free July Kids Craft Events

Tuesday July 3

Michael's is having a passport to imagination event featuring a craft inspired by the United States from 1:00 to 4:00.

http://www.michaels.com/Store-Events/store-events,default,pg.html

Thursday July 5

Michael's is having a passport to imagination event featuring a craft inspired by the Kenya from 1:00 to 4:00.

Saturday July 7

The Disney store is hosting a Spiderman cartoon drawing workshop at 10:30, 11:30 and 12:30 for kids age 3 and up. 

http://www.disneystore.com/in-store-special-events/mn/1001271/

The Home Depot is having a build a truck event from 9:00 to 12:00.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/ContentView?pn=HT_WS_KidsWorkshops

Michael's is having a passport to imagination event featuring a craft inspired by the North Pole from 1:00 to 4:00. 

Saturday July 14

Lowe's has a kit for kids to create a spinning kung fu panda at 10:00 a.m.  Kids need to be registered to partake in the event.

https://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/pages/default.aspx

Sunday July 15

Lowes is hosting the event again at 2:00 p.m.

Saturday July 28

Lowes has a kit for kids to create a staking kung fu panda game at 10:00.

https://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/pages/default.aspx

Sunday July 29

Lowes is hosting the event again at 2:00 p.m.

Letter Treasure Hunt

Crayon freckles has an entertaining way for kids to practice their ABCs and sounds via a sound scavenger hunt. Kids have to find a object around the house that matches each letter.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://crayonfreckles.blogspot.com/2012/02/letter-sounds-scavenger-hunt.html

Glow in the Dark Lanterns

Lindsay and Andrew have a great, easy way to make a glowing lantern using simply mason jars and glow in the dark paint. Great to use for a summer evening out.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://lindsayandandrew.blogspot.com/2011/08/frame-pup-tents_11.html

Fouth of July Side Walk Chalk

Project Alica shows a great way to make star shaped sidewalk chalk.  She uses red white and blue for the fourth of July but you can use any shapes and colors to make these all summer long.  The plaster of paris is the hard to find ingredient but as she mentions your local hardware store should have it.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.projectalicia.com/2010/06/not-so-wordless-wednesday-diy-4th-of.html

Tie Dye Sun Catchers

Wendolonia has a really easy sun catcher idea using paper towels and water color paints.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://wendolonia.com/blog/2010/01/26/tie-dye-window-decorations/

Dancing Fruit Science Experiment

Mom to two posh little divas has another fun science experiment involving raisins and carbonated soda demonstrating the reaction and density.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.momto2poshlildivas.com/2012/01/dancing-raisins-experiment.html

Felt Ball Bracelet

Lil blue boo demonstrates a really easy method for making felt balls and how to turn them into a bracelet.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.lilblueboo.com/2012/02/how-to-make-felt-balls-wet-felting-101.html

Origami Stories

Rachel Katz has a new twist on origami. With each new fold she unfolds a story. She currently has seven origami animals and stories on her site.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://origamiwithrachelkatz.com/stories/stories.asp

Ice Cube Water Experiment

E is for explore has a science experiment showing kids the difference in creating ice cubes using regular tap water and boiled water.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://eisforexplore.blogspot.com/2012/01/crystal-clear-cube-experiment.html

Historical Paper Dolls

Mostly paper dolls has dolls from various time periods throughout history including the one above of Josephine, the Empress of France.

Get the template here:
http://mostlypaperdolls.blogspot.com/2012/01/josephine-empress-of-french-1899.html

Ocean Excavation Project

Two steps behind six little hands has a fun outdoor activity for the summer -- an ocean excavation project. Using a large plastic bin hide ocean objects in blue tinted water and freeze. Then give your kids different tools to carve them out such as a spray bottle, meat mallet, basting brush. It should entertain them for a good while and keep them cool.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://twostepsbehindsixlittlehands.blogspot.com/2011/09/great-babysitter-ocean-excavation.html