The TinkerLab Journal: Creative Picks of the Week

Dear John,

This week has been full of twists and turns with emerging virus news, and my intention has been to move through it with patience and dexterity. I have to say, it has not been easy!

You may remember that our family lives next to a college dorm where we're resident fellows. This week, the university closed all in-person classes, essentially moving school and finals online through the rest of the quarter and into next quarter, and many students are returing home early for an unknown period of time.

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With so many big plans and personal goals in the works for these kids, there's a fair amount of grief and anxiety around this. Of course they're not alone, and many of us are experiencing similar kinds of sadness and confusion, with questions of what's to come.

One of my girls had a home study day this week when her school closed to review pandemic protocols, and we spent the day on homework and various craft projects. So, today I thought I'd share a few favorite home study art and creativity projects that could help if you also find yourself home-bound.

Before moving on to that, I send you much love and healthy thoughts. Take good care of yourself and drop a line in this Facebook thread to let me know how you're doing, or if I can help you find a creative project to pass the time.

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30+ Arts and Crafts for Kids. This master list is organized by season with all-season arts and crafts, fall, winter, and spring/summer. Make paper flowers. Seven different techniques. All ages! What I love about these projects is that you can source materials you likely already have at home. Marbleize Paper. Make Japanese style suminagashi, meaning spilled ink. Good for all ages, even grownups. You'll need to invest in a $12 kit for this, available online, but it last forever and your child will be mesmerized by the process. Totally worth the investment, and great for all ages. Cookie Sheet Monoprints. Again, an easy one to do with what you likely already have at home. Good for preschool and early elementary. These monoprints use paint (washable tempera recommended) so a slightly messier project, but kids really love it and can stick with it for a long while. The results are also beautiful and can be repurposed as cards to loved ones. Colorful Sun Catcher. A Good one for preschoolers. If you have clear contact paper, attach it to a window and offer your child tissue paper to stick to the surface. Another fun way to use contact paper with kids, which is more play than art, is to tape it to the ground for a sticky walk. Read the post to see both ideas. March Art Challenge. If you want to add some calm to your morning or afternoon, you can always join this month's art challenge via TinkerLab for creative making inspired by a daily word. TinkerLab March Art Challenge​

Wishes for good health,

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Rachelle Doorley

Founder, TinkerLab

Read my books: TinkerLab: A Hands-on Guide for Little Inventors + Creative Adventures in Cursive​

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