Create Smart
Create Smart: Pop-Up books
June 6, 2011 in 13+ Teen, 9-12 Tween, Art Smart, Create Smart, Literacy Tips, Tip of the Week
Everyone loves Pop-up books, whether it’s flipping tabs to see what’s hiding under the blanket, or turning the page to find a giant T-Rex ready to chomp on someone’s hand; pop-up books unveil a surprise with every turn of the page. So why not step up the fun by creating some of your own pop-up surprises. Two great sources of How-tos are Joan Irvine’s book titled How to Make Pop-Ups that you can find at a local library and Robert Sabuda’s website of Simple Pop-ups You Can Make. Both sources contain a great variety of ideas for all ages.
Need more inspiration? Check out this list of Pop-up books.
-JilliAnne Jensen. BYU Student, School of Family Life
Older posts
Create Smart: Easy Crafts for Kids
April 18, 2011 in 5-8 Beginning Readers, 9-12 Tween, Art Smart, Create Smart, Literacy Tips, Tip of the Week
Does summer vacation come with the tune “I’m bored” ? Try some easy crafts to keep their hands busy and imaginations active. Make paper masks and have your children act out a play! Paper bag or sock …
Art Smart: Four Easy Ways Encourage Your Child’s Creativity
July 12, 2010 in 0-4 Baby/Toddler, 5-8 Beginning Readers, Art Smart, Create Smart, Literacy, Literacy Tips, Tip of the Week
Buy several frames and hang your child’s artwork in important areas of your home instead of putting it on the refrigerator. Show the work to visitors. Change the pictures every month or so.
Use file folders or portfolios to save your child’s …
Art Smart: Movies and Crafts for Preschoolers and Early Readers
May 3, 2010 in 5-8 Beginning Readers, Art Smart, Book Lists, Create Smart, Literacy, Literacy Tips, Play Smart, Tech Smart, Tip of the Week, Tips of the Week
Parents often use family movie night to build visual and listening skills in their children. Many use family discussion to evaluate children’s understanding of characters, action, and story. Some parents take time to talk about the movie’s themes and family values.…
Art Smart: Crafty Kids
March 22, 2010 in 5-8 Beginning Readers, 9-12 Tween, Art Smart, Create Smart, Literacy, Literacy Tips, Tip of the Week
Among the basic developmental needs of children in middle childhood (ages 6-12) are the needs for creative expression and competency. The drawing and coloring that begins in early childhood feed the child’s need to create.
In middle childhood most kids are enamored …
Write Smart: Create Family Comics
October 12, 2009 in 5-8 Beginning Readers, 9-12 Tween, Create Smart, Literacy, Literacy Tips, Tip of the Week, Write Smart
Most stories are written before they are illustrated. Reverse the process and explore visual literacy and storytelling.
Gather existing comic strips from newspapers and magazines.
Remove the text from the speech bubbles.
Photocopy the strip for each member of the family.
Ask …
Write Smart: Write Your Own Story
October 5, 2009 in 0-4 Baby/Toddler, 5-8 Beginning Readers, Create Smart, Literacy, Literacy Tips, Read Smart, Tip of the Week, Write Smart
What child doesn’t love to hear a story about him/herself? Get creative by helping your children think of a story about something that they:
can do
would like to do
did when they were “little”
Using the idea that you come up with together:
Write …
Parents’ Choice
September 29, 2009 in 0-4 Baby/Toddler, 5-8 Beginning Readers, 9-12 Tween, Art Smart, Create Smart, Drama Smart, Featured Websites, For Adults, Literacy, Literacy Tips, Music Smart, Play Smart, Read Smart, Science Smart, Study Smart, Tech Smart, World Smart, Write Smart
Parents’ Choice offers caregivers “reliable unbiased information about tools to help their children learn, to explore new challenges, to discuss ideas and to pursue dreams.”
This first-rate website lists and reviews the Parents’ Choice Award-winning children’s books, audios, DVDs, television programs, …
Write Smart: Family Journal
September 14, 2009 in 0-4 Baby/Toddler, 13+ Teen, 5-8 Beginning Readers, 9-12 Tween, Create Smart, Literacy, Literacy Tips, Social Smart, Tip of the Week, Write Smart
Start a family journal. Place an inexpensive spiral bound notebook in a central location, such as the dining table or family room. Ask family members to record something about their day using words, pictures, or artifacts. That something can …








