In this BLOG post I will teach you how to make an apple-themed suncatcher, the materials necessary and ways to extend your learning and play.
When I taught kindergarten and first grade, suncatchers were one of our favorite crafts to do together. Each season we would make new ones and line the windows with beautiful, handmade art that brought us SO much joy.
They use simple materials; they are easy to differentiate, and they are fun for a variety of ages. PLUS, they are pretty mess-free if you are searching for a craft that won't take longer to clean up then it does to complete!!
Materials:
Contact paper
Tissue paper
Construction paper
Scissors
Tape
Step 1: Decide on what kind of sun catcher you want to make. If you are sticking with the apple theme, cut out the outline of an apple from construction paper.
Step 2: Cut a piece of contact paper the size of your outline and removed the backing. With the sticky side up, adhere the outline onto it.
Step 3: You can cut the tissue paper into squares or have the child rip it for extra fine motor work! Take the tissue paper and stick it to the contact paper. Fill in all of the spaces so there are no holes.
Step 4: Once the outline is full, cut off the remaining contact paper. If you want, you can add an additional piece of contact paper to the back to keep the tissue paper pieces from fading, but it is not necessary.
Step 5: Hang it up in your window or wall and enjoy your beautiful artwork!
Not only are suncatchers fun and engaging, but they are a great way to strengthen fine motor skills. As the child pulls and pushes the tissue paper onto the contact paper, they are working the important muscles in their fingers and hands. Those are the same muscles that are responsible for feeding yourself, zippering your coat and writing your name!
Crafts like this can also be calming and serve as a mindfulness activity, helping the child to focus, relax and strengthen their self-regulation skills.
Mindfulness activities are helpful for children (and adults) because they support:
Self-control
Confidence
Sleep habits
Problem solving skills
Kindness and compassion
Empathy
You can also use this opportunity to incorporate early childhood academic skills into your crafting time. You can ask questions such as:
What color are you using?
What happens when you layer red and yellow together?
How many pieces have you used so far?
Which color did you use the most?
Which color did you use the least?
The BEST part is, there is no wrong way to craft. Each one is unique and beautiful and perfectly perfect!
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