Colorful Family Mobiles

by Amy McMahon

Age: Preschool through elementary
Time: 30 minutes or more
Type of activity: Arts and Crafts

Making a mobile of your family is an unusual way for your child to share the people who are important in her life.

Materials needed:
· Construction paper
· Scotch tape
· Glue stick
· Markers
· Yarn or thin cord
· Family photos (duplicates or color Xerox)
· Glitter, buttons, other decorative items (optional)
· Wire coat hanger
· One pencil
· Paper punch

What to do:

Step One: Cut out approximately 6 to 8 shapes (a circle, triangle, square, diamond) from different colors of the construction paper. All should be approximately 4 inches wide.

Step Two: Cut out the photos of each family member. Glue one photo on each shape. Be sure to include your child as a family member, too!

Step Three: Using the markers, your child (or you) can write the names of each family member below his or her photo. Then, write a word that describes each family member (i.e., Grandma/kind) on the back of each shape.

Step Four: Decorate each shape with glitter, markers, and other items.

Step Five: With yarn, tie the pencil to the middle of the long wire of the coat hanger so that it hangs down.

Step Six: Using the paper punch, make a hole in each shape. Be careful not to cut the photo!

Step Seven: Thread a piece of yarn through the hole in each shape. Tie the shapes to the long wire of the coat hanger, arranging them around the hanging pencil. Then attach a shape to the pencil, in the center of the mobile. Now, find a nifty place to hang your child's family mobile!