Boredom Busters: All About Dragons

We are temporarily reviving our Children's Blog to provide some resources for families who are stuck at home during this period of social distancing due to COVID-19. We will put together a variety of activities for you and your families every day at 1:00 pm. See which ones you can do, and if you get the chance, share the results with us on any of our social media platforms, which will be listed at the bottom of this blog.

Today's theme is All About Dragons!

Get Crafty: https://redtri.com/easy-dragon-crafts/

Dragon's eyes, dragon's eggs, dragon masks ... so many crafts!

We love this Fire Breathing Dragon craft! Grab a toilet paper roll, some paint, tissue paper, and puff balls for a truly fierce and fun fire breathing dragon!

Dragon Games: https://www.thespruce.com/dragon-themed-party-games-2104588

Try the Dragon Wing Relay Race: buy or make a couple sets of wings, and participants can wear or hold them against their backs as they run back and forth.

Next hide some Dragon Eggs for the kids to find around the house or yard. You can use plastic eggs from easter, or create your own out of paper mache - just add some dragon scales for decoration!

Finish up the fun with a game of Hold Your Tail! Participants can make their own fabric tail, or just tie on a piece of ribbon (make sure it's tied loosely enough that it will pull free and not tighten when it's tugged! The "dragons" will have to protect their tails while trying to grab as many tails from the other "dragons" as they can. The one with the most tails at the end is crowned the Dragon King/Queen!

Dragon Food: https://www.lifeisaparty.ca/how-to-train-your-dragon-party-the-food/

Would you drink Dragon Drool? Eat Dragon Scales? Ingest a Viking Shield of delicious fruits?

Check out these How to Train Your Dragon themed party snacks, and see what you can create at home! Who wouldn't love to eat Dragon Food (goldfish crackers) or Viking Hat cupcakes with white chocolate horns?

Hopefully these activities help break up the day, and get your family engaged in having fun with dragons!

If your kids loved these activities, feel free to send us feedback or pictures on any of our social media platforms, linked below.

Library staff are available by phone (403-887-2130) or email Monday-Friday, 9:00 am 5:00 pm.

You can access all of our digital materials (eBooks, eAudiobooks, and more) through our website. If your membership is expired, or you need a membership, call us at 403-887-2130 and we can help.  
 
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Boredom Busters: Silly String

We are temporarily reviving our Children's Blog to provide some resources for families who are stuck at home during this period of social distancing due to COVID-19. We will put together a variety of activities for you and your families every day at 1:00 pm. See which ones you can do, and if you get the chance, share the results with us on any of our social media platforms, which will be listed at the bottom of this blog.

Today's theme is Silly String!

Edible Necklaces: http://onehandedcooks.com.au/recipe/the-edible-necklace/

String, cord, yarn, or even pipe cleaners work great for this activity. Follow the recipe above for a healthy and edible necklace/bracelet, or throw in some candies and different kinds of cereals. Get creative with your cording and add some layers for a sophisticated yet tasty look! The possibilities are deliciously endless!

Looking for some more edible fun? Check out Candy Aisle Crafts by Jodi Levine and Martha Stewart on cloudLibrary!

Tin Can Telephone: http://blog.garthandbev.tv/2010/02/how-to-make-a-telephone-with-cans/

An oldie but a goodie! Have fun with this low-tech boredom buster that is as timeless as it is fun! While you're having fun with this project, check out Telephone, by Mac Barnett and Jen Corace on cloudLibrary!

All you need is 2 tin cans, hammer, nail, and string. Construct your tin can phones, then marvel at the way the messages travel along the string and into the cans!

Try your own variabes to see what works the best, then check out this video to see if your experiments worked as well as theirs!

DIY Silly String: https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-make-homemade-silly-string-607813

We can't have a blog titled "silly string" and not show you how to make your own silly string!

For this recipe, you'll need:

- active dry yeast

- 30-40 volume hydrogen peroxide

- plastic bottle with screw-on pointed tip

- food colouring

Make sure you wear safety goggles and gloves and gloves for this project!

String Games: https://icebreakerideas.com/string-games/

Everyone loves Cat's Cradle. Check out even more fun string games, like Cat's Whiskers and Jacob's Ladder. Learn some funky new yo-yo tricks, then challenge the family to a trick competition!

The possibilities - and knots - are endless!

Hopefully these activities help break up the day, and get your family engaged in the joys of silly string!

If your kids loved these activities, feel free to send us feedback or pictures on any of our social media platforms, linked below.

Library staff are available by phone (403-887-2130) or email Monday-Friday, 9:00 am 5:00 pm.

You can access all of our digital materials (eBooks, eAudiobooks, and more) through our website. If your membership is expired, or you need a membership, call us at 403-887-2130 and we can help.  
 
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Boredom Busters: Working With Wood

We are temporarily reviving our Children's Blog to provide some resources for families who are stuck at home during this period of social distancing due to COVID-19. We will put together a variety of activities for you and your families every day at 1:00 pm. See which ones you can do, and if you get the chance, share the results with us on any of our social media platforms, which will be listed at the bottom of this blog.

Today's theme is Working With Wood!

Build a Birdhouse: https://www.skiptomylou.org/diy-birdhouse/

This is a great project for the whole family! Adults can do the cutting, the kids can do the sanding and painting. Work together to piece it together, and you'll not only have a functional birdhouse, but great memories as well!

If you're not as confident in your woodworking skills, or want to experiment with some whimsical designs, try this teapot birdhouse made with an old drawer and a simple teapot!

Build a Better Mousetrap: https://www.instructables.com/id/Craft-Stick-Mouse-Trap/

Grab some wooden craft sticks, or do a true DIY and gather some sticks and twigs to create the best mousetrap you can!

Follow the instructions linked above, then check out this video for how to make a humane *catch and release* mousetrap! Then check out Squeak the Mouse Likes His House, by Pat Schories  or Mice on Ice by Ed & Rebecca Emberley on cloudLibrary!

DIY Crayon Holder: https://jaimecostiglio.com/diy-crayon-holder/

This is such a cute project, and a great way to organize your crayons! You'll need a drill, a clamp (or some heavy books, and wood glue to make this project. Your time will be well spent when it's all done. Jazz it up when you're finished with some paint - maybe your child's name, or a some fabulous decorations - the only limit is your imagination!

DIY Wooden Robot: https://www.adventure-in-a-box.com/diy-wooden-robot-buddy/

How cool is this guy?! For this project, you'll need:

- wooden blocks/scraps of wood

- wood glue/polyurethane glue

- glue

- heavy duty string

- wood burning pen (optional - markers or paint work just as well!)

When you're done constructing your robot, check out House of Robots by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein, and Crazy Case of Robots by Kenneth Oppel on cloudLibrary!

Hopefully these activities help break up the day, and get your family engaged in working with wood!

If your kids loved these activities, feel free to send us feedback or pictures on any of our social media platforms, linked below.

Library staff are available by phone (403-887-2130) or email Monday-Friday, 9:00 am 5:00 pm.

You can access all of our digital materials (eBooks, eAudiobooks, and more) through our website. If your membership is expired, or you need a membership, call us at 403-887-2130 and we can help.  
 
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Boredom Busters: Recycled Crafts

We are temporarily reviving our Children's Blog to provide some resources for families who are stuck at home during this period of social distancing due to COVID-19. We will put together a variety of activities for you and your families every day at 1:00 pm. See which ones you can do, and if you get the chance, share the results with us on any of our social media platforms, which will be listed at the bottom of this blog.

Today's theme is Recycled Crafts!

Bug Hotel: https://www.redtedart.com/simple-bug-hotel-for-kids/

'Tis the season of ants, spiders, beetles, and all things bugs! Kids are usually either fascinated by - or terrified of - bugs. Building them a home out of some easy to find recycled and natural materials is a great way to foster empathy, connect with nature, and learn about bugs - at your own pace and distance!

Grab some empty two litres, some sticks, leaves, pine cones, bark, etc. Make sure to leave gaps or holes - the critters like the nooks and crannies!

After you're done making your mini bug hotels, check out the mini beast mansion!

DIY Hanging Planter: https://inhabitat.com/how-to-make-a-hanging-planter-with-a-recycled-plastic-pop-bottle/

Grab an empty bottle, some tape, scissors, and aluminum foil, and you have the makings of your own hanging planter!

Grow your own herbs and flowers inside the comfort of your own home, or hang them around your deck/yard!

For more DIY recycled projects, check out DIY Wood Pallet Projects, by Karah Bunde on cloudLibrary.

Pop Top Bracelet: https://www.instructables.com/id/Pop-Top-Bracelet/

You will need:

- Ribbon

- Pop Top Tabs

- Scissors

- Hot glue gun

Use two different colours of ribbons to really make this bracelet pop! This is great way to use supplies you have around the house to create something awesome!

Love crafting your own jewellery? Check out Beaded Bracelets, by Claudine McCormack Jalajas on cloudLibrary.

Recycled Crayon Pucks: https://www.instructables.com/id/MINI-MUFFIN-CRAYONS-A-New-Life-for-Broken-Crayo/

We love making new crayons with broken pieces of crayon! Don't throw those little bits out - keep them and then melt them together with other colours to make a fantastic multi-coloured crayon puck!

Mix in lots of bright colours with black and dark purple, create some lush green tones, or just mix them all together and see what colours you get! You can't go wrong with a crayon puck!

For more crayon fun, check out The Day the Crayons Quit, by Oliver Jeffers and Drew Daywalt, or A Day With No Crayons, by Elizabeth Rusch and Chad Cameron.

Hopefully these activities help break up the day, and get your family engaged in creating recycled crafts!

If your kids loved these activities, feel free to send us feedback or pictures on any of our social media platforms, linked below.

Library staff are available by phone (403-887-2130) or email Monday-Friday, 9:00 am 5:00 pm.

You can access all of our digital materials (eBooks, eAudiobooks, and more) through our website. If your membership is expired, or you need a membership, call us at 403-887-2130 and we can help.  
 
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Boredom Busters: Colouring and Drawing!

We are temporarily reviving our Children's Blog to provide some resources for families who are stuck at home during this period of social distancing due to COVID-19. We will put together a variety of activities for you and your families every day at 1:00 pm. Watch for weekend Boredom Busters on Saturday and/or Sunday. See which ones you can do, and if you get the chance, share the results with us on any of our social media platforms, which will be listed at the bottom of this blog.

Today's theme is Coloring and Drawing!  

The amazing thing about coloring and drawing is that it is another way of telling stories, especially for children who are not yet ready to write yet, or for those who want to express themselves in a different way. There is always paper, crayons, pencils around the house, so don't underestimate the power of these magic tools. Here are some ideas to present the art of drawing to children, encouraging coloring as an eternal pastime and help them to flow their imagination:

Learn how to Draw: 

DrawinGeek is a YouTube channel with a wide variety of easy-to-follow tutorial videos for drawing designed especially for children: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKfdhiF29bi_O5yTgK8IbIw/videos 

One of my favorite videos is How to draw a Little Monster Step by Step | Drawings Tutorials, because I think drawing monsters is one of the easiest projects for young children and besides, these can be very cute and fun. 

When our library open to the public, check out this book: Monsters by Mark Bergin for lots more ideas:

                                                        

Drawing Dog Man and Captain Underpants!

Are you a fan of the Dog Man and Captain Underpants book series? Its author, Dav Pilken, publishes on his website a series of teaching videos on how to draw many characters from his books, plus additional activities to watch, read, color and even to create your own comic. Give it a try!

https://kids.scholastic.com/kids/books/dav-pilkey-at-home/

Are you bored of the same old coloring sheets?

Coloring is always a super fun activity for the whole family, each member can have their favorite theme, their special type of crayons or techniques, and you can always learn something new. 

Check these websites for new ideas and printable sheets:

- Lego coloring sheets:
https://www.legoland.com/california/legoland-california/llcbuildingchallenge/1-coloring-sheet/

• - Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin authors of the lovely Click, Clack, Books series, offer in their website a bunch of printable activities, like coloring's sheets, drawing projects, mazes, connect dots and much more. Take a look!  

http://clickclackbooks.com/printable-activities.html

• - Crayola website is a classic and features coloring sheets for Disney characters, plants, animals, special holidays collections, and even you can find printable for adults coloring: 

https://www.crayola.com/featured/free-coloring-pages/#target-item-1

Encouraging Free Drawing: 

Free Drawing will be always the best: Set a time of the day for just draw or coloring, have supplies in hot spots around the house like in front of TV, video games consoles, kitchen counters, playrooms, car, etc., and encourage them to draw wherever they saw on a movie, outside or to make greetings cards for their friends and families, etc. Remember always show appreciation for their creations and celebrate their unique and wonderful pieces of art.  

Drawing Games:

Dave Romans, author of Astronaut Academy is sharing drawing games on a YouTube called Art Club @Yaytime: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0ZLRQF-WX8,  

It is worth to try! 

Pictionary:  

Do you have an old Pictionary board game?  

If you do, dust it off and have a game session tonight. Children won't be disappointed, especially if they haven't played it in a long time or if it is their first time. 

If you don't have the board game, do not worries you can also improvise something at home with the materials you have around you, just check the game’s rules online.

Check those Online:  

Check those amazing resources available in our cloudLibrary:  

Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas: From the Creator of Captain Underpants (Dog Man #5) View book URL https://ebook.yourcloudlibrary.com/library/prl-document_id-rherxz9 

(there are also more titles available) 

Draw Princesses in 4 Easy Steps By: LaBaff, Stephanie; LaBaff, Tom 

View book URL https://ebook.yourcloudlibrary.com/library/prl-document_id-d1dwpz9

Hopefully these activities help break up the day, and get your family engaged in drawing and colouring!

If your kids loved these activities, feel free to send us feedback or pictures on any of our social media platforms, linked below.

Library staff are available by phone (403-887-2130) or email Monday-Friday, 9:00 am 5:00 pm.

You can access all of our digital materials (eBooks, eAudiobooks, and more) through our website. If your membership is expired, or you need a membership, call us at 403-887-2130 and we can help. 

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