Click here to read Cherry Blossom Spring Tree Craft that is Popping with Fun on Hands On As We Grow®
Toddlers and preschoolers will love to get sensory with this super simple cherry blossom spring tree craft that Shaydee, an Activity Room Member of the Month, shares with us. Bonus, enjoy a little snack too while you get creative!
Shaydee is a Californian veteran and military wife living in Italy. She has 3 children, ages 12, 3 and 2.
Shaydee was sporadic with trying out activities with her kids. “Millions of ideas found on Pinterest. Lots of ambition and no follow through.”
She stumbled on a Facebook ad for one of The Activity Room®️ FREE-7-Day-Challenges.
“I was like, Cool. I like free! Someone’s gonna GIVE me this all laid out for me? Let’s try it out. And, I did it. And I liked how I got the emails to remind me. Like, Alright, this is the activity today, share what you did? How did it go for you? So it was motivating me to keep pushing?”
Most of all Shaydee loved seeing how much her kids were enjoying it. She tells us she knew The Activity Room was for them and joined up after the 7 days.
“After the seven day trial, I knew right off the bat! There was no ifs, ands, or buts. I knew I wanted to do it. Because I saw how much my daughter enjoyed it, I saw how much it helped us get through the day. I was like, I’m doing this, we’re gonna try it out. And if it doesn’t work out, then it doesn’t work out. But we have nothing to lose with the activities already planned for me.”
Make sure to check out the Cherry Blossom Spring Tree Craft that Shaydee shares with us at the end of this post!
And if you like that then be sure to check out some more of our spring crafts here.
The Answers She was Looking For
Having Solid Plans
You see Shaydee’s biggest struggle before Room was having things planned and organized. And The Activity Room did all that for her. Having her supply list and schedule laid out for her was the answer she was looking for.
“The problem I was looking to solve is not having to worry about what we were going to do. Which was solved because it was already on the schedule. I already had an idea of what I was gonna do. And I didn’t have to think about it. Because it was there for me.”
“I thought it was awesome. I saw a full month’s worth of activities already planned for me. And I didn’t have to follow it as it was. I can pick and choose what I wanted to do. But everything was there for it for me: what supplies I needed, how to do the activity. Not only was it written but there was illustrations. So it was super helpful. And, I didn’t have to print it out. I had access to it on my computer and on my phone. It was easily accessible. Huge, very huge.”
Finding A Support System
“One of my biggest struggles before joining The Activity Room was following through. Like, in my mind, I knew I needed to do something with my kids, and I wanted to. But just having that push, the motivation, and the encouragement, it lacked.”
Shaydee tells us that she really needed someone to share her activity wins and fails with. She was hesitant to share these on her social media as other parents can feel discouraged by it if they are still struggling like she was before ROOM. “Sometimes it’s hard to talk to other parents because they think you’re showing off. Like, “Oh, you think you’re better than us? Oh, you get to do that. And I don’t do it?” And then they start comparing things. But it’s not even about comparing.”
The Members only Facebook group changed all that! She now has a place to share as much as she wants involving activities without any worry of causing other parents to feel discouraged. “Now I have the group, and everyone embraces what you do! No one feels like you’re trying to better yourself. Because we’re all trying to better ourselves as parents.”
“Sharing on the group is probably my favorite part, and getting the feedback. Because there’s always a guarantee that someone’s gonna say something. Even if it’s just one person, they’re gonna. And that motivates me.”
Why Do We Do Activities?
“The Activity Room has helped me be a better mother. I’m more attentive to my children, because I know that they look forward to the activities. And I look forward to seeing how they’re going to respond to the activities.”
Shaydee has always wanted to do activities with her kids. She has always pictured that as being part of the mother she wanted to be.
“The biggest reason I want to do activities with my kids is to create memories. That’s so huge for me. And not only that, I like to watch them develop. Watching where you start from and to see how far they’ve come is huge. It’s really big.”
You can start too with Shaydee’s super simple and interactive cherry blossom spring tree craft at the end of this post.
“Doing activities gets me through my day. And I noticed if I don’t do an activity, I’m a little more on edge. And the day drags. So not having a schedule or the group to motivate you to want to do it. I don’t know, I’d probably have a little more anxiety and be more stressed out to be honest.”
“Their interest levels may not be there in the beginning. Like with my daughter for example. But once we start activities, especially if we have a good weekend, or when we’re in a challenge. And I’m like, “Yes, lots of activities!” She starts asking for more! Like, “let’s do another activity, what activity will we do today, or can we do an activity please?” So I love that. It’s such a big change just from joining The Activity Room.”
Shaydee’s Tips for Other Parents Out There of 2 Littles
“Keep in mind their age difference. One might do well with it and the other might struggle. So you have to be able to, to adjust it to their needs and be open to them not wanting to do it.”
“For example, today, our fingerprint heart painting, my son did not want to touch the paint. But he wanted to do the activity. My daughter had no problems doing it with your fingers. So I gave them options: pom pom and cotton ball. I put the cotton ball in a clothespin and he spent the entire time doing the activity. He spent a good 15-20 minutes doing it. But he didn’t want it at first. He just didn’t want to touch it with his fingers. I can’t blame him for that.”
Shaydee shares with us how even though both her kids are little that they grow and change so quickly. This progress makes them often in two different categories for activities. But not so much so that they can’t enjoy the same activity together. They just need different levels of difficulty and sometimes different themes. When her preschooler may be working on matching letters or numbers, her toddler could be finding and naming stickers or colors.
“You think, they’re 18 months apart? And you would think oh, It’s not a big difference. But it is. it’s a really big difference. Even a couple months can be a big difference. So you have to take that into consideration.”
In the cherry blossom spring tree craft below Shaydee gives more examples of how an older kid may do things a bit differently than the younger. But they can both enjoy the activity equally and both be proud of their creations!
“I’m just grateful for The Activity Room. I’m grateful for the Facebook group.”
Let’s Meet Shaydee
How many kids do you have and how old are they?
3 Kids – 12, 4, & 2
Why do you love doing activities with your kids?
I love creating memories with my children, watching them learn and progress in their learning. I love seeing their ideas, their imagination play out and their creativity.
How long have you been in The Activity Room?
May 1, 2019
What is your favorite activity you’ve done in The Activity Room?
I have many favorites! But if I have to choose one it’s the nature collage.
What’s your favorite thing to do with your kids when you get a few moments?
Activities or a trip to the park!
What’s your best tip for doing activities with your kids?
Lower your expectations, be patient and just roll with it. It may not go as planned, but you’re creating memories either way. Never expect perfection. Lastly, it’s their creation, not yours so let them do it regardless how it turns out.
If you were to tell a friend about The Activity Room, what would you say to them?
When I share The Activity Room I always start with, they plan everything to include supplies. The Activity has helped and motivated me to create memories with my children. Before The Activity Room our activities never made it past Pinterest. I had lots of ambition but no follow through. Now with The Activity Room I have encouragement, motivation and I’m able to help other with sharing what we do.
Share your favorite quote
Today’s moments are tomorrow’s memories
Cherry Blossom Spring Tree Craft
This cherry blossom tree craft is so fun.
From making the tree with a handprint to painting popcorn your little ones will have a blast!
For this Cherry Blossom Spring Tree Craft You’ll Need:
- art paper or cardstock
- brown and pink paint
- paint brushes thick and thin (a q-tip will work),
- glue
- popcorn.
Create the Tree Trunk for The Cherry Blossom Craft
First we made the cherry blossom tree trunk using handprints!
Paint the hand and arm of your child with brown paint and press onto paper or card stock to make the tree trunk and branches.
If the child only wants their hand painted that is fine.
The trunk can be painted with a brush instead.
If you kids don’t like getting paint on their skin try tracing their hand and arm with a pencil and then filling that in with paint instead.
Add additional branches to the cherry blossom tree craft with the paint brush if desired.
Older kids love adding branches to their spring tree and it will give them more room for adding cherry blossoms to their craft.
For younger kids you may want to just leave it as their finger prints if they don’t usually stick with activities for a long time.
You can let the paint dry before moving on to the next part but it’s not necessary.
Pop in the Cherry Blossoms to Your Spring Tree Craft
Now to add some cherry blossoms to your spring tree craft.
Add drops of glue to the branches or finger prints and stick popcorn to the glue.
Using the thin paint brush or q-tip, add a pink dot to each piece of popcorn.
Let it dry and there you have it!
Your very own handprint cherry blossom spring tree craft!
“I love seeing the positive responses I get when I share our activities. I enjoy seeing others activities, trying them and seeing others try ours. And, I LOVE the challenges!! That motivates me the most!”
0 Commentaires