By Makenzie Knight and Ashley Ryzewski, Bay Path University.
Blooming With Care is a fine motor and social emotional craft for children ages 6 to 12. Each child builds a paper flower, then fills the petals with their own examples of how they show care and kindness. It works at home, in a classroom, or at an after school program.
Materials
- Construction paper
- Paper plates
- Assorted colored tissue paper
- Sequins
- Scissors
- Wet glue and glue sticks
- Crayons and markers
Optional: read a book about kindness before or after the activity, and return to it during the brainstorming step.
Instructions
- Step 1: Give each child a colored piece of construction paper. They cut out a disc shape, a stem, petals, and a leaf or two. For younger children, trace the shapes ahead of time so they only have to cut.
- Step 2: Glue the petals all around the disc, then glue on the stem and leaves.
- Step 3: Let children decorate their flower however they like, but leave space on each petal for the next step.
- Step 4: While the flowers dry, have children brainstorm ways they show care and kindness, on their own, with a partner, or as a group. Then each child writes their own examples on the petals.
The conversation
Talk with the children about why care and kindness matter. Ask how they will keep being kind and what they will do to show their friends, family, pets, the planet, and even their toys that they care.
