Homemade Kits for Kids

There are so many advantages to homemade kits! You have the opportunity to use bits and pieces of things found here and there... and it's all assembled for the unexpected free moment or need for an unexpected gift.

With sets of materials you can provide your child the opportunity to get exposed to some untried sources of entertainment and learning...like cooking in a kitchen, building in a workshop, or crafting in a sewing corner.

There doesn't HAVE to be a preset 'theme' for your group of items. A set of materials can often become the inspiration for creative ideas. Feel free to experiment as you put kits together and for goodness sakes, let your kids come up with ideas for grouping materials too!

Here's a list for brainstorming with.

sand

straws

pennies

paper and cardboard scraps

dried weeds

old snapshots

ping pong balls

rubber bands

masking tape

gift-wrap tubes

string

glue

boxes

clay

buttons

shells

Choose two or three objects and see what comes up. Pop a few of them in a paper sack you've decorated, tie with a bow, and you have a creative gift kit!

Sometimes a single material can inspire many days worth of pleasure. A great example is a plain old roll of masking tape. Using a counter top may find your little one engaged in laying out a network of tape roads for his tiny cars, or marking off squares for a game of tic tac toe. Older kids could use the tape for more complicated games such as hopscotch or hockey with boundaries taped to the carpeted floor. Over the years when I did childcare we taped the phone's push button grid on the floor and the little ones learned their phone number by dancing on the grid. I wonder how many of my kids, now young adults are still out there tapping out their phone number with their foot?!? ;-)

Here are a few single items that can prompt many inspired possibilities, a paper punch, a piece of clay, straws, beans for counting, bean bags. As you let your imagination soar you'll be amazed what inspires you at garage sales and dollar stores!

Ages 5 and up

SKILLS
1. following directions
2. designing patterns
3. fine motor control

WHEN
1. I-don't-know-what-to-do project
2. a gift to take and do with a friend
3. playgroup, scout, or other group project

HOW
1. Older children will try layered hill and valley effects. Preschoolers will simply layer colors evenly.
2. Older children are better able to mix the colored sugar and prepare the kit for a friend.

MATERIALS
For doing:
food coloring
3-4 small dishes
granulated sugar -- enough to fill the jar of your choice

To color sugar: Divide sugar into dishes. Leave one batch white. Put a few drops of different color food coloring into each of the others. Mix thoroughly. Allow to dry before packaging.

wide-mouthed jar with lid (baby food, peanut butter, jelly)
spoon

For packaging:
plastic sandwich bags
twist ties
box
wrapping
ribbon

For directions: colored paper

ASSEMBLING
1. Package sugar in separate sandwich bags and twist ties
2. Pack sugar, spoon, and jar into box with directions.
3. Gift wrap

DIRECTIONS FOR KITCHEN-MADE SAND ART KIT

1. Pour sugar into small dishes
2. Spoon a layer of colored sugar into jar
3. With the tip of the spoon, poke dents in the sugar in several places right next to the glass
4. Spoon in another layer of sugar in another color.
5. Make some little sugar hills in several places next to the glass. You will see designs beginning to grow!
6. Make more layers and dents and hills to fill the jar, and complete the design.
7. Put on lid to finish. (fill to very top in order to maintain design)

Ages all ages

SKILLS
1. combining materials in an original way
2. manual dexterity
3. artistic expression

WHEN
1. for sick teacher or classmate from the "class family"
2. from a family to a bereaved home
3. gift from scout troop, Sunday school, daycare
4. token for nursing home visit
5. welcome for a new baby

HOW
1. This can be done with a single photo flower tucked in a plant or with a bunch of the flowers arranged in a bouquet.

MATERIALS

For making:

small individual snapshot of person who will make the flower.
colored tissue paper
popsicle stick or coffee stirrer
potted plant or clay in small basket or container
oaktag or 3"x5" index card
glue
*scissors
*stapler

For packaging:

plastic food storage bags
twist 'ems
box or shopping bag

For directions:

colored paper tag decorated with a flower, cut out or drawn

ASSEMBLING
1. Precut and staple for the preschooler (see direction steps 1-4)
2. Put one piece tissue paper, oaktag, one stick, and a photo into each bag and twist 'em. Pack a bag for each participant if you are doing this in a group.
3. Box all materials.

DIRECTIONS for Family Bouquet Kit
1. Fold tissue paper so there are about 4 layers

2. Cut an uneven circle shape through the layers (about 4 1/2" to 5" diameter) These will be flower petals.

3. Staple through the middle of the pile to hold.

4. Cut circle from oaktag or index card (about 2" diameter)

5. Glue picture of yourself into oaktag circle, and then glue circle into center of flower.

6. Fluff up edges of each circle of tissue around the photo.

7. "Plant" your flower in the soil of a potted plant (or clay if you are making a bouquet of tissue paper flowers)

Children feel like magicians with this experiment.

Ages 6 and up

Skills

1. following directions

2. drawing conclusions

3. experimentation

When

1. family sharing

2. two generation activity

3. group project

How

1. Make just one bottle. Children enjoy the idea of experimenting more than drinking the finished product!

2. Grandparents can have fun starting this with young family visitors and then have ready for them to sample on the next visit.

3. Try as a discovery activity for a scout or group meeting. Taste test at the next meeting!

Materials

For making:

root beer extract (purchased at a specialty food shop or at some chain grocery stores)

small packet dry yeast

empty quart soda bottle with screw-on cap

*6 tablespoons sugar

*water

*measuring spoons

For packaging:

brown grocery bag

yarn tie or ribbon

For directions:

gummed label or construction paper

felt pen

clear contact paper or "see through" tape

Assembling

1. Write out recipe on label or paper

2. Stick to empty bottle and cover with clear contact paper or tape.

3. Place bottle and recipe directions in bag with other materials. Mark fragile!

4. Fold top of bag and punch two holes for yarn tie or ribbon.

Directions for Root Beer Making Kit:

1. Place 6 tablespoons of sugar and t teaspoon root beer extract into the empty quart soda bottle.

2. Fill the bottle 3/4 full with lukewarm water

3. Screw on top and shake until sugar has dissolved.

4.Add only a pinch of yeast. Too much will make the drink too fizzy.

5. Fill the bottle with cold water till it is 1/2" from top. Screw cap on tightly.

6. Store root beer on its side on a tray or wrapped in a plastic bag in case of leakage.

7. Do not disturb bottle for 6-7 days. Root beer is then ready to sample!

Ages 3 and up

Skills
1. varied, depending on the activity

When
1. for child who has a new baby at home
2. classroom or day care center spare-time activity
2. playgroup (choose and swap!)
4. birthday gift

How
1. When the new baby comes home, special moments with the first child can be spent enjoying projects from this pre-assembled gift.
2. Plan around the child's main interests and tailor the kit to his level of ability.
3. Add costumes to expand the fun of role playing.

Materials
Choose from one of these lists or spin off an idea of your own! Pick activities from the books that use materials at hand, easily available, inexpensive, discarded.
For making:
For each category choose materials from 2 to 3 activities in the book, bag each activity separately, and label with page number of the activity.

Magician
paperback book on magic, geared to the proper age level
magician's costume from the local novelty store or home-created: top hat made from cylinder of black paper with brim cut to fit and taped on
cape cut from discarded material such as old skirt or sheet with tie-ribbon attached at neck.

Scientist
book of science experiments geared to the appropriate age level
scientist's costume: lab coat made from "recycled" white shirt or blouse.

Artist
arts and crafts activity book
artist's costume: smock from discarded blouse, shirt, or a work apron made from a heavy plastic bag or drop cloth. Staple or sew on neck and waist ties.

Other possible books from which to spin off a similar kit idea:
woodworking, toy making-
Steven Caney's books from Workman Publishing Company
gardening- Indoor and Outdoor Gardening for Young People, by Cynthia and Alvin Koehler, published by Grosset and Dunlap. Add a hoe and farmer's hat for the role.
dramatic play- Small Plays for You and a Friend (excellent), by Sue Alexander, published by Scholastic Book Services. Include costumes and props for one play.

For packaging:
box
wrapping
ribbon

For directions:
Cut an appropriate shape from construction paper. Example: magician's hat for magician's kit.

Assembling
1. Wrap book and activity packages individually.
2. Tuck into the box with costume and direction card. Wrap

Directions for Do-Your-Thing Kit
1. Pick one of the prepackaged sets of materials.
2. Dress up to be the character you are playing.
3. Find the page for the activity in your new book.
4. Do the project, following the directions in the book.

Ages 4 and up

SKILLS
1. labeling
2. eye-hand coordination
3. creating original designs

WHEN
1. birthday or holiday gift
2. bon voyage gift to do in train, plane or car
3. off-to-school kit
4. take-to-the-hospital activity

HOW
1. Preschoolers can do this independently using materials where letters are already to stick and need no cutting.

Materials
For making:

plastic pencil case or book bag
choice of one or two for designing bag -
*peel and stick letters
*small roll of colored tape
*contact paper scraps
*peel and stick address labels colored with *waterproof markers

Optional: pencil case supplies such as - ruler, pencil, eraser, crayons, sharpener, stencils, protractor, scissors

For packaging:
box or bag
wrapping (for back-to-school gift wrap, use back-to-school newspaper ads)
tape

For directions:
file card or special-occasion greeting card

ASSEMBLING
1. If you are using address labels or contact paper, precut for the preschool child or predraw letters for cutting by 6-8 year olds.
2. Wrap the optional pencil case supplies individually for the fun of lots of surprises.
3. Tuck all materials and directions in box or bag. Wrap and tape shut.

Make your Pencil Case or Backpack Kit special by personalizing with name or initials. Add designs around the name on your bag using contact paper or colored tape!