| With school budgets in trouble almost everywhere, the | | | | pieces that are almost as indestructible as wood, but |
| art classes are usually the first to go. To many people, | | | | much more fun because your own child can help add |
| arts and crafts seem like "extras" that are fun for kids, | | | | the paper and paste and paint the pieces. |
| but don't really add to the child's knowledge. This is | | | | You can also do a simple science experiment with |
| unfortunate, because craft projects can really bring a | | | | paper mache if you're in the mood for baking some |
| school subject to life. | | | | bread. Allow your child to help mix up the bread, and |
| Children as well as adults have an innate desire to | | | | make a point of letting her add the yeast. Watch the |
| make things with their hands. That's why hobby stores | | | | dough rise, and talk about the bubbles that the growing |
| and art supply stores do so much business. Creating | | | | yeast creates inside the dough. Then mix up a batch |
| things makes people feel good, and this is certainly true | | | | of simple paper mache paste, using a bit of white flour |
| for children. | | | | mixed with water. |
| The simple act of creating a paper mache piggy bank, | | | | Note that you're using the same ingredients, except |
| for instance, will also involve the use of knowledge | | | | you're leaving out the yeast. Let your child make |
| they get from other school subjects, even though the | | | | something with the paste and some strips of |
| children may not know it. If you're helping your child | | | | newspaper, and then discuss why the flour paste |
| make one of these perennial crafting favorites, you | | | | glues the paper together so well. You may even try |
| might suggest she use a standard salt container as the | | | | making some paste using whole wheat flour, and talk |
| primary form, tape on toilet paper rolls for the legs, and | | | | about why it doesn't actually work very good to make |
| then add a head made from crumpled paper held | | | | paste, even though it makes delicious bread. |
| together with masking tape. You've just created a | | | | If your child is learning about animals at school, she can |
| real-world example of geometry in action. | | | | make a very nice paper mache animal sculpture at |
| Younger children might like to help you create your | | | | home. Just show her how to crumple up newspaper in |
| own block puzzles out of cardboard covered with | | | | the shape of an animal's body, legs, and head, and then |
| paper mache and then painted. You might copy the | | | | tape them all together firmly with masking tape. Add |
| ideas from a wooden educational toy that looks like | | | | two layers of paper strips and simple paper mache |
| fun but costs too much to buy. Or make a new puzzle | | | | paste, and let the sculpture dry. It can then be painted. |
| using shapes originally designed for a geometric quilt, or | | | | Paper mache is just one of the art forms that can help |
| cut out cardboard in the shape of the 50 states. | | | | children learn. It's messy, but both children and adults |
| If you glue two layers of cardboard together before | | | | enjoy the process and the results - and a paper |
| cutting the shapes, and then cover the cardboard with | | | | mache project can be a great way to make learning |
| one or two layers of paper mache, you will have | | | | other academic subjects more fun. |