Three Easy Craft Ideas for Dad's and Toddlers

I like simple crafts my boy can help with. Even better when I already have the stuff!  Making cool stuff together is a great way to build the relationship.  Your boy will love you and remember forever.

3D Cardboard Tower

Nothing sparks the imagination more than tower building! Even little kids can do all the steps:

1. cut off the broad side of a cereal box (keep some of the thin side as a tab)
2. fold three times to form a square tube
3. sketch and cut four triangles along the top to form a pyramid
4. tape it
5. decorate! Draw bells, clocks, bricks, windows, spiders and cobwebs, bells, knights, you name it.

Lavaboy Mask and Shadow Figure

This one only requires pen, paper and scissors, but is a lot of fun.  I don't know who Lavaboy is, but this is what we ended up with, based on a 'police sketch'!  He sure looks like a mean dude!

1. Start with an A4 sheet - doesn't matter if it's lined
2. Cut two corners off the bottom to make a tough jawline
3. Cut big spikes on the top for hair or horns or helmet? Spikes!
4. Cut some eye holes in the dead-center  Hint: Eyes are only one eye width apart!  So the eye holes should probably be closer together than you expect. Cut a slit through one eye hole for a scar!
5. Cut some spiky teeth for a mouth
6. Add scars and shaded cheekbones and furrowed brows for more meanness

This mask is just for holding and running around growling.  No headband required.  You can also use it to make scary shadows by shining a torch or lamp at it in a dark room.  That should get your imaginations going!  What other shadow figures can you make?

Lavagun

Join two small timbers with a single screw.  Then you can fold the handle, which Dan thought was an amazing feature - I got a special thank you!  A couple of additional screws in the business end served as 'bullets'.  It doesn't have to make sense... I used a screw hook as a trigger, and finally a carboard tube as the 'lava barrel'. Better yet, use a funky-looking fizzy bottle, like fanta or mountain dew. None of it makes any sense, but it sure was a winner!

Celestial Projections

For this one you really need a laminator.  If you have one it's totally worth it - the effect is awesome.

Cut celestial shapes from some coloured cellophane.  Then arrange them in a lamination sheet and run through the laminator.  That looks alright... but the real party starts after dark!  Pull the curtains, bring out the torch and project it onto the ceiling.

General tips

When doing crafts together, the goal is not to produce the most amazing thing that looks like it was built by an adult.  Don't criticize or get frustrated.  Let them try and fail - they will learn faster and won't even mind.  Whenever you're doing something for them, talk about what you're doing and why. This will help them relax and maintain interest.  Keep it simple, fun and let them lead!  The craft doesn't need to make sense either, so let your imaginations run wild.