We love it when kids get crafty to make something special for Mom on Mother’s Day, and you can find some great Mother’s Day craft ideas here.
BUT, we also realize that unless a teacher or caregiver has a Mother’s Day craft plan for the kids, they might have difficulty getting started without a lot of help from Mom, which can be tricky when the whole point is to make something for Mom!
If you’re pretty sure the Mother’s Day crafts just aren’t going to happen unless you do them yourself, here are Five Things To Ask For on Mother’s Day:
A Letter from Each of Your Children:
Everyone loves getting letters, so imagine how wonderful it would be to amass a whole collection from your kids as the years go by. Turn this into an annual tradition and not only will you have a yearly record of their growth and your Mother-child relationship, but you’ll also be training them to write a letter at least once a year when they’re grown and out of the house!
Prewriting kids can draw a picture, trace their hand, or make a comic strip (with a little help captioning). You can also ask them to write a letter, give them pencil and paper, and see what they come up with. There are always stories behind early scribbles, so make sure you ask what the letter says or shows, and write it down as a caption at the bottom of the page.
Mom or other caregiver can encourage the kids with story starter phrases that can be drawn or written. Examples might include: I love my mommy because…., This is mommy and me when….., my favourite day with mommy, etc
High Tea at Home
The kids will need to enlist the help of Dad or other caregiver for this one, but the good news is that it qualifies for last minute Mother’s Day fun even if you don’t have a reservation! Make High Tea an event at your house and get dressed up, preferably with an awesome hat, to make it extra fancy.
Set out a tiered tray so that kids can make little sandwiches or wraps for the bottom tier (peanut butter and jam, ham and cheese, or cucumber are a few easy ones!), an assortment of fruit, veggies, and cheese for the middle tier, and a few treats for the top tier (such as scones, cookies or mini cupcakes). The kids can also put a teabag into a pot for Dad or caregiver to fill, and they can use another container for a fun kid-friendly drink like chocolate milk, spritzer, or juice.
If you don’t have a tiered tray, a big platter or dainty plates would work just as well. If it’s a beautiful day, find a picnic blanket and a spot of sun and take your tea outside!
A Picture of Mom with the Kids
This is another idea that we think should be an annual tradition, especially because Mommy is usually the one behind the camera! Ask your partner to take a picture of you with the ones who turned you into a Mother! Get serious or silly and strike a pose with the kids so that you have an annual photo with your little sweethearts. When you get around to downloading your photos, send your Mother’s Day photo to a printer and make copies for you and your kids. Put the photos into a scrapbook or picture frame – an easy way to smile every time you walk by.
Reading Time for Mommy
It’s likely that you spend a lot of time reading stories out loud to your child, so Mother’s Day is the perfect time to change up story time! Choose a book, newspaper or magazine article, or other reading material for your child to read aloud to you (ensuring that the content is rated ‘G’ of course!). If your child can’t read yet and is into picture books, pick one of their books for them to narrate in their own words or ask them to tell you a story about a subject that interests both of you.
Mommy’s Choice Craft Time
We know that little ones get a lot out of the experience of making or doing something, and it’s important for adults to remember to play too, so Mother’s Day is the perfect day to make or do something with your child. Mother’s Day means mommy’s choice, so choose your favourite activity and get the kids involved. Have your child work along side you on their own projects, or deem them your special helpers. Scrapbooking, knitting, going on a bike ride, or gardening are just a few examples.
