Green Kid Crafts

I really enjoy educating families on Greener Living but I think the best part is the kids. They get so excited and really have fun with it. Here are a few fun "Green Kid Crafts", If you have others please leave comments and share.

Bird Feeders:
I remember doing this when I was a kid in preschool and I think it is my favorite craft.

You will need:

• Pine cones
• Peanut butter (if you have peanut allergies Honey works also)
• Bird seed
• String

How to do it

1. Tie string on pine cone so it can hang in a tree
2. Spread peanut butter on pine cone
3. Roll peanut buttered pine cone in bird seed
4. Hang on tree and watch the bids enjoy your craft.

Teach your kids
Show your kids that we need to help animals too and teach them how to care for the environment. We need to do our part so we can enjoy this beautiful gift of mother nature. Let them watch the birds and see how amazing they are.

Recycled artwork containers
I remember always in art classes at school making office supply holders for my parents growing up and how proud I was of them

What you need

• Recycled cans or bottles
• Markers, crayons or paint
• Scissors
• Tape or glue
• Construction paper or newspaper
  

How to do it

1. Cut newspaper to go around bottle or can
2. Lay the cut piece flat and allow the kids to fill it with there best art work
3. Tape or Glue the paper onto the bottle or can
4. Display with pride.

This is great for holding office supplies, kitchen utensils, flowers or put some holes in the bottom use it to plant seeds.

Teach you Kids
This helps show kids that everything does not need to be thrown away. There are tons of way to reuse things, we just need to be creative. Ask them to think of something to reuse for another creative way. I am sure you will be surprise with what kids think up.

Sprout a Sponge Garden
I took this from the EcoMom's Alliance of the Leigh Valley Message Board. I thought this was such a amazing idea

What you need:

• natural sponge (or a short stack of paper towels)
• 1 tablespoon of birdseed
• 1 cup of water

What you do:

1. Soak the birdseed overnight in the cup of water.
   
2. Dampen the sponge or short stack of paper towels, and sprinkle seeds on it. Be sure to push the seeds into all the little holes on top of the sponge. If you're using paper towels, place the towels on a plate before dampening them and sprinkling them with seeds.
   
3. Next, place the sponge or towels in a warm, dark place for a few days until you see sprouts.
   
4. Now move your budding garden to a sunny window. Be sure to keep the sponge/towels damp. When your sprouts get big, plant them in some soil.

Teach you kids
How seeds grow and how important it is to care for there plants. And how something so small can turn into something so amazing. Last year we grew a pepper plant and the kids were amazed from a little seed grew into a big plant and made something that they could eat. They were so proud to eat there pepper.

Source: Greenhour.org