Posted on April 19th, 2010

Eco-lovin’ Craft Time for Kids
Written by Laura Owens

Ahhh springtime, time for the traditional spring-cleaning bug to bite at your house… and man does it ever… well, um… bite. Before you toss those old pots and pans, toaster ovens and out-dated VHS tapes to the curb, think again.

FOUND ART
This year, teach your kids to love the “Big Blue and Green” by turning your undesirables into treasure. Remember mom’s motto; “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.” Anyone can become a planet-friendly Picasso.

Even if you’re on the “craft-challenged” side of the playground, you’ll wow your kids with this super fun, easy-to-be green “My Planet Earth” craft. Using old, broken crayons, it’s designed to be pretty and purposely fragile; making an environmental point. For step by steps, click here.

 

ECO-ART CLASSES & EVENTS
Don’t feel like turning your household heaps into kiddy art? Central Florida offers plenty of eco-art classes for the green-minded parent.

• Spark! Family Enrichment in Winter Springs encourages kids and parents to make cool toys like dollhouses and jewelry in their “Trash to Treasure Eco-Art Class.” Special Earth Day classes will include Eco-Art, organic gardening in recycled cups and organic cooking.
• Amaya Papaya in Casselberry is all about creativity and being earth-friendly. They carry many pre-packaged, earth-friendly crafts for little ones to complete at the center or at home. On April 22, they’ll offer a variety of special eco-friendly crafts and a story time about loving our mother earth. Also, Jennifer Engler of Hot Green Mama discuss “Green Spring Cleaning” at 11 a.m. and will give green cleaning starter kits a few lucky participants as prizes
• This year Earth Day turns the big 4-0h and Central Florida’s gearing up for our own green bash. On April 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Lake Eola Park, families can join a free celebration designed to inspire appreciation for the Earth’s environment. The event will include speakers, environmental education, Kid Zone activities, restaurant booths, live music and entertainment, artist corners and eco-friendly vendors. Also find fun veggie worksheets, recipes and a signup sheet for starting a local Earth Kids playgroup in Orlando. www.cfearthday.org

NOT-SO-INGENUITIVE FOUND ART IDEAS
Are you looking to get rid of some of his old funky shirts? Turn them into craft smocks for the kids. Lone soldier solo socks, well, duh… sock puppets, of course. Paper towel roles make great telescopes for the wanna-be pirates at your house.

So, come on, unearth some crap lying around the house, slap a pair of googly eyes on it and send it to Grandma. (You know she’ll keep it!)