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Truly, creativity is a wonderful thing for both adults and children to explore. Childrens arts and crafts can keep your child busy and stimulate their mind. The important thing is that you choose crafts for your child that are age appropriate and interesting for them. Even very young children can enjoy creating artistic works. If your child is five or under, stock up on the basics like fingerpaint, large poster boards, safety scissors, crayons, washable markers, non-toxic school glue and of course, modeling dough. Before you give your little artist free reign, however, there are a few preparations you’ll need to take.

Dress your child in old clothes, even if the paint or markers are washable. An old button up shirt of Mom or Dad’s makes the perfect smock. Cover the art area with newspaper or an old sheet. In nice weather, the outdoors makes a perfect studio for your child. Have plenty of paper towels and wet wipes on hand to take care of any messes or spills. Let your child explore the materials you’ve set out for him or her without offering too much guidance. When your child creates something, offer lots of encouragement and praise.

Older children enjoy more structured arts and crafts. For them, kits are ideal. A creative kit teaches a child to follow directions while being creative at the same time. There are embroidery kits, paint by number kits, pottery kits, model car and boat kits, jewelry making kits, and more. No matter what your child is interested in, there’s probably a kit out there to accommodate them. If your older child shows interest or aptitude in a particular area of art, encourage them to further develop and challenge their abilities.

There are likely childrens arts and crafts classes in your area that may be a great idea for your child. Not only will your child learn artistic techniques and skills, he or she will get the benefit of social interaction with other children. When your child creates a piece of artwork they are proud of, display it in your home. Even colorful fingerpaint on posterboard can be matted and framed to make a beautiful accent to any room. Designate a special area of your home to display your child’s art work. This is great for their self-esteem and will encourage them to keep creating.

Copyright 2008 by M. Attendorn - All Rights Reserved

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Children’s art paintings are fun to look at. They bring me good feelings. I have had a lot of jobs the last couple of years buying children’s art to hang in various places. I have enjoyed every single job.

I bought two children’s art posters for the children’s hospital to hang in one of their waiting area. They were both from Maurice Sendak’s book Where the Wild Things Are. I loved that book when I was a kid and this art brought back some good memories.

I found a Jim Daly children’s art print to frame and put in the physical therapy lounge at a local rehabilitation center. They wanted to put together a friendly feeling place that would help keep kids entertained. I put the painting where parents can read.

I was asked to hang children’s art along a long hallway in a home I was decorating. I thought that this was an odd request because there weren’t any kids living there and the home had a very stark and cold feel to it. It was definitely the minimalist style this homeowner had that left me puzzled.

The children’s art paintings that I ended up choosing for the hallway were all from the same artist. The artist specialized in mini paintings and they were all so simple and beautiful. They actually fit with the owner’s style. I had each painting put into a simple frame with no matting and hung them all along the long hallway.

I actually liked this artist so much that I purchased twice as many children’s art paintings than I needed to complete the hallway job. I plan to give these paintings as gifts to people that I know with either a child or a whimsical spirit. I even liked the artist’s name, Lollipop Art.

I was asked to add some decorations to a family’s daughter’s room. The family was extremely active and bicycling seemed to be the primary family exercise. I thought it would be fun to find some children’s art painting that depicting cycling in a fun way. I found an acrylic signed by the artist of a woman on a bike with a child and a yellow balloon.

I had a client call me asking about buying a children’s art painting by artist Stephanie Bauer. The painting was called Dragonfly. I did find the painting and also found that it was not for sale. Fortunately, there is a fine art print made from this painting. My client was more than happy to purchase the print and have it framed in an extremely nice frame. It hangs in her daughter’s room now. She loves it because it is pink!

I was hired to find a painting for the waiting room at a local dance studio. I found that all of the classes were for children, so I looked for a children’s art painting to hang there. I found one called Little Girl Ballerinas. It was very colorful and whimsical. The owner of the studio loved it.

I was hired to redecorate three girls’ bedroom. The family had three daughters that all wanted children’s art paintings on their walls. Each had a distinct personality and interests that didn’t overlap with the other two. The first girl received an acrylic painting called Sports Girls. This sister is the one that is very athletic.

The next sister is very interested in entomology. She is very shy and quiet. I found a children’s art painting for her that she really liked. I could buy the actual watercolor from Pily Torres, so I bought a reproduction that looked great after it was framed.

The third sister was completely immersed into dancing. I found a gorgeous children’s art painting of a folk art ballerina that had several different pinks in it. It looked great without a frame and she was really happy with it.

The most recent job I had wanted something really unique. They wanted a children’s art painting, but they were more interested in an extremely large mural. I found one that the family really liked that depicted a fantasy scene. It looks like there is a castle in the background and a unicorn in the foreground is leaping. I liked what it added to the room, it was the perfect choice.

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Baby Shower for Moms who just wanna have fun! This type of baby shower is not the only type of shower given today. Traditionally, baby showers have been thrown for mommy-to-be and the guest list was strictly women.

These days, many families choose to have different types of showers, including back-yard barbecues to include the men. These
are a nice idea since they remember that Daddy is a part of the new baby’s life, too.

But there is something to be said for a Sunday afternoon gathering of women to ooh and aah over Mommy’s belly without disparaging looks from the men. One reason to plan a baby shower for mom only.

When you have only women at the shower, you have the opportunity to really “girl it up”, so to speak, at your baby shower for
Mom. You can do really girlie things and not have to worry about the men being bored or embarrassed.

Here are a few suggestions for making a shower extra-girlish: Have Tea and Cake. Find a few really pretty tea sets and order little delectables like petit fours, tea cakes or maybe bring a cookie basket. Drink your tea like ladies, with pinky finger sticking up!

See if you can find pretty lace doilies for napkins. Pick up some baby shower party favors to go along with your ladies only party. You might even want to fake a British accent, dahling!

At your baby shower for mom and the ladies only, let them all be pregnant. Maybe purchase some baby shower decorations to match the pregnant theme. The guys definitely wouldn’t go for this!

Ask each guest to come with a pillow or other make shift stuffing to pretend that she is pregnant, too. Give a prize to the most authentic pregnant lady (excluding the guest of honor, of course) at your baby shower for Mom. You can pick up the prizes at any local party favor store or online party favor supply site.

Have everyone tell a story from their childbirth experience, or, if they have never had any children, let them rehash the stories their mothers told them (”I was in labor for 72 hours with you…”). Be sure there is a mixture of funny, touching, and
gruesome stories to round it out.

Decorate with extra-large maternity bras and undies (or get them in mom-to-be’s size so she can actually keep them after the
party).

Play baby shower games for your baby shower for mom. There is no way you would get away with this at a couples shower! But at a baby shower for mom and the ladies, you can play Guess the mom-to-be’s weight (go easy on her - guess low).

Paint her belly, do crafts like paint matching tees and onesies for Mom and baby, or play a game like baby bottle bowling. Ask guests to come up with other baby shower party ideas or baby shower party themes

Don’t Husband Bash. But you can tell funny or touching stories about other new Dads or dads-to-be. You don’t want to scare the mom-to-be. But she should be aware that some Dads will try to stop for coffee on the way to the hospital. Even though Mom’s contractions are 3 minutes apart.

Drink Girlie Drinks at the baby shower for Mom. Well, except for the mom-to-be. She can have non-alcoholic versions of girlie
drinks, though. Try Strawberry Daiquiris, Cosmopolitans and other fruity drinks.

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Randy is owner of http://www.planning-a-baby-shower.com where you will find further tips on baby showers at http://www.planning-a-baby-shower.com/planning-the-baby-shower.html and baby shower games at http://www.planning-a-baby-shower.com/Baby-Shower-Games.html

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