On President’s day our child care company hosted  a training for all staff on CATCH (Coordinated Approach To Child Health). CATCH is designed to promote physical activity and healthy food choices, in elementary school-aged children.Visit the CATCH website HERE to learn more.

One activity from CATCH I was introduced to that I thought was great was Alphabet stretching! It’s pretty simple, can be done indoors, and gets kids moving! Here is how you play: Pick a letter of the alphabet, then move your body in any way your can to make the shape of that letter! Below is a picture I found on Educared called “Acrobatic alphabet”  that had an A-Z diagram on some ideas on how to make a letter with your body. Some take two people and some are nearly impossible, but at least give you some ideas!

I love to browse around in Oriental Trading craft supply magazine and other random supplies ordering catalogs that are often sent to my center. I don’t really give in and buy craft kits or supplies from them, but I get ideas to make my own budget saving version to make with the kids!

Below is a cute and fun Mardi Gras mask that uses a child’s hand print to jazz up the eyes! I’m hoping this will inspire you to create your own version with your kiddos!

This project is a great tribute to our country’s Presidents and getting kids involved in remember those who played a significant part in our history and future to come!

Below the project directions, enter in your site and link back so we can see what President’s Day crafts you made!!

Courtesy of: The Learning Bug

Supplies Needed:

• One sheet of white cardstock or construction paper
• Red paint and sponge or brush, or a red Do-A-Dot marker
• Blue card stock or construction paper
• Small white star die-cuts or star stickers
• Scissors
• Glue Stick

Directions:

1. Have each child cut out a heart from the white paper, or have them trace a template you’ve prepared in advance.
2. Paint the red stripes on the heart, and allow the paint to dry.
3. While the paint dries, cut the top half of the heart from blue paper.
4. Glue the white stars on to the blue paper.
5. Glue the blue paper on to the striped heart.
6. Laminate the heart for durability (optional).

If you have some extra time on your hands and want to spaz up your home or office, you might want to turn your old favorite Scrabble game board into a keyboard! Makezine features their unique keyboard that was made from real Scrabble tiles that were all hand-beveled individually.
This would be a tedious task to precisely make, but it looks great and is truly something special.

This morning I woke up to a few of my favorite things in my favorite color…PINK!
My sweetie Jeff knows me to a T, he surprised me with pink tulips, pink grapefruit Izze soda, and Raspberry Sorbet 3-in-1 shower gel, , and bubble bath from Philosophy. The pink tulips were so gorgeous and delicate, although a little dry so I added some water in within minutes they started to open and bloom right before my eyes!

Happy Valentine’s Day from TwoHeartsTogether! Valentine’s Day all is all what TwoHeartsTogether is all about, sharing your love and passions with others! Take time today to show some extra attention to those you love and make them feel special!

I stumbled upon this cute Valentine’s Day decoration at Out On A Whim. It’s made by using worn red bingo cards, chipboard, and other miscellaneous Valentine themed stickers, papers, and embellishments. I thought this was cute enough for little ones and sophisticated enough for us big girls too. I always love to snag up post Valentine’s day sales and random left overs they have at the craft store, I think this will be great for next year or even for an anniversary present for someone special.

Have fun with any other variations you whip up the next few days in preparation for the lovers holiday!

I just love, love, love these super simple krispy treats from No Fuss Fabulous. This would be a great class party treat or teachers gift that your kiddos can help make too! If you don’t have a heart shaped cookie cutter, just set out a sheet of parchment paper and mold your treats into the shape of a heart with your hands! I had my kids shape what they wanted weather it was a heart, star, or blob and they turned out great.

1. Make a batch of rice krispy treats Click HERE for the original square recipe
2. Use your favorite heart cookie cutter to cut into shapes from inside the pan
3. Insert a Popsicle or candy stick into bottom of shapes
4. Set treats inside the freezer for 5-10 minutes to let cool
5. Melt chocolate of choice for dipping
6. When treats are cool, dip into chocolate halfway or all the way (whatever you prefer)
7. Add sprinkles
8. Finish by wrapping in cellophane bags with ribbon

I have seen a lot of other variations of the Valentine puffy heart, But this one is using clear plastic and stuffing it with sparkly loose Easter grass! The outside is sewn together with yarn, a great activity using those motor skills for your little ones.

Supplies:

• 2 sheets of clear sheet protectors or large ziplock bags
• scissors
• hole punch
• yarn
• Easter decorative grass
• 1 permanent marker

Directions:

1. Cut out 2 hearts out of the clear sheet protectors or ziplock bags.
2. Hole punch around the edges of hearts.
3. Sew yarn around the edges of the hearts.
4. Before the entire heart has been sewn, fill the heart with the decorative grass.
5. Finish sewing around all sides of the heart.
6. Write a sweet saying on the front with permanent marker.

I love the mosaic look with broken glass or tiles. This project gives somewhat of the same look but much safer for children by using paper instead!

Supplies:

• 1 sheet black paper
• 1 piece of chalk or white crayon
• 2 pieces of paper in colors of choice
• 1 glue stick

Directions:

1. On the black piece of paper draw an outline of a heart with chalk or crayon that covers most of the page.
2. Tear up other 2 papers into little pieces about the size of a penny.
3. Have your child glue one of the colors of teared pieces to the center of the heart
4. With other pieces of different color, glue to the outside of the heart.