Children’s books these days have crossed every horizon and show every dream that a child can dream of! Not only children but even adults are addicted to reading these storybooks over and over again. I myself am guilty of it! They not only have amazing stories but also so much to learn and see. Like the author’s words, an illustrator’s art is also important and influential. Bringing the words to life and elucidating them through drawings in a way that kids can relate to it and even imagine being a part of it. I’m sure you have come across kids who will want to read one book over and over again. The words and the illustrations have both worked their magic on that child, you see.
How can we not try our hands on our favorite illustrator’s work?
Illustrator Axel Scheffler
One such illustrator is Axel Scheffler. He is a German illustrator and animator based in London. An award winning, internationally acclaimed illustrator with some of the most well-loved children’s books. His books have been published in many languages and his work has been exhibited all around the world. The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s child, Room on the Broom and Superworm are some of his best known work.
Superworm – Illustrated by Axel SchefflerEira’s attempt to Axel Scheffler’s illustration from Superworm. This image belongs to http://www.myworldwitheira.com and reuse is strictly prohibited.
Eira always chooses his illustrations to draw when asked to draw from books. This is one of our favorite activities to unwind at the end of the day.
Charlie Cook’s favourite book – Illustrated by Axel Scheffler. This image belongs to http://www.myworldwitheira.com and reuse is strictly prohibited.Eira’s sketch from The Gruffalo illustrated by Axel Scheffler. This image belongs to http://www.myworldwitheira.com and reuse is strictly prohibited.
All you need is your child’s favourite books and some colors. That’s it!
When planning to do this activity, let your child decide which illustrator, which book and which particular drawing they would like to give a try. You will be surprised by their choices and their drawings. This activity is a great way to enhance their drawing skills, color choices and using them on paper.
Illustrator Rob Biddulph
Another amazing illustrator that we cannot miss to mention but came to know only during lockdown 2020 is Rob Biddulph (also an author). When the pandemic was on the rise, schools were closed and kids were at home and parents were going crazy looking for activities to plan for their kids. Keeping this in mind, Rob Biddulph started a draw-along video series called #Drawwithrob twice a week. These drawings were from his very own books and the videos became very popular garnering millions of views. On 21 May 2020, he broke the Guinness World Record for the largest online art lesson when 45,611 participants drew a whale with him.
When I was thinking about what activity to plan for this letter, Eira said H is for home and then the idea occured to me. I asked Eira what would your holiday home look like? Anything you want can be in that home. Your holiday, your home, your plan!!
She loved the idea and started thinking all that she wanted in her holiday home. She took a couple of days and then gave me a list of things she wanted.
She loves the world under water, so I was not surprised to see it being a part of her holiday home. Let’s see what supplies she asked for.
Supplies Cardboard Crayons Sketchpens Stickers according to the chosen theme Any other material that your child choses.
There are no instructions to adhere to as it is supposed to be your child’s holiday home.
Eira’s holiday home will have a mermaid friend, sea creatures who will play slide and reside in a pool. What a perfect holiday home right!
Ask your child what their holiday home would be like? A pet dinosaur in the garden playing fetch, a spaceship landing on the roof or living underwater in a submarine? Let their imagination run wild…
We have made a quick video of Eira’s holiday home.
This craft is super interesting. Kids usually first draw with a pencil and color the picture but with this piece of art, kids either draw and then outline with glue or even skip using pencil and directly draw with glue. It definitely becomes more interesting to see how it all works out.
Colored chalk or soft pastels are used in this project. They are messy yet blend in so beautifully that I highly recommend having them in your kid’s art supplies.
Supplies Black chart paper Bottle of fevicol Pencil and eraser Colored chalk/soft pastels
Let’s get started
1. Go alongwith your child’s ideas of drawing. We have chosen underwater theme here.
2. Let them draw with a pencil and then squeeze glue to outline the whole drawing.
3. Let the glue dry up. It will take around 45 minutes to an hour depending on the size of your drawing and where you place it. We keep it under the sun and that sped up the drying process. To our surprise, the glue started turning transparent as it dried. Many of us I’m sure didn’t know of this.
4. You have your canvas ready to be filled with colors. 5. Chalk colors create a lot of dust and also need blending with fingertips to even it out. 6. Make sure to cover all.the nooks and crannies inside each section made by the glue to cover the black paper.
Your Glue drawing is ready.
We have created a quick video when Eira created her underwater glue drawing.
A flipbook is an early form of animation that paved the way for many improvements in animation that we see on-screen today. It is a small book of drawings showing a series of pictures in progression form of movement so when the pages are flipped, they animate a scene and create an illusion of movement.
Flipbooks are hand-drawn and also digitally printed. They create the same effect and show a story or a scene. Flipbook animation has been around for over 150 years. Pierre-Hubert Desvignes created a version of the flipbook around 1860, though John Barnes Linnett, a British lithograph printer, was the first to patent the design. Linnett’s flipbook debuted in 1868 and was called the kineograph, which is Latin for “moving picture.”
Usually index cards are used as they provide the stiffness needed for easy flipping but sticky notes can be used as well. If trying to make our of paper, we have tried and tested it and they do not flip that well.
Supplies Sticky notes 20-25 Pencil and eraser Black pen Light source
Let’s get started 1. Light source is a device used by professionals to place their cards and draw as the image progresses. The light reflecting through the paper makes it easy to be seen on the next paper placed over it and draw the next proceeding image. We did not have a light source and neither did I plan to buy it. So we tried a DIY for it too. Under a glass table, we placed a mobile phone with the flashlight turned on which reflects ample of light. Eira was able to see through well as you can see in the video. You can even use your windows and place the sticky notes on them and keep drawing.
2. Using the sticky notes, it becomes easier to start flipping from the bottom so your first image will be on the bottom most sticky note. 3. Rest of the sticky notes will be bent backwards. Now place the next sticky note on top the earlier one. Due to the light source, you can see how the drawing on the earlier note looks like and now draw a little further in your story. 4. Keep repeating this until you finish your story. I have mentioned only 20-25 notes considering kids. Once they master it, they can use the whole sticky notepad. 5. You can add some colors to make it more interesting. 6. Tape around the sticky base of the notes to secure them well.
Your FlipBook is ready. Your child will be super excited to see the story flipping in bits and parts.
We celebrated Easter 2 days ago, but are still trying to get over the scrumptious food, chocolate eggs and cookies. For kids as well as grown-ups, Easter is always associated with bunnies and eggs. Bunnies usually give birth to a group of little kittens and so it symbolizes new life. It is believed that the Easter bunny lays and decorates eggs and then hides them for everyone to find. The eggs also symbolize new life. Today, parents and grandparents follow this tradition and hide chocolate eggs around their home and garden for an Easter egg hunt. Christian families also decorate their homes with different make bunnies and painted eggshells.
So what better than sharing the little DIY decor that we made for Easter.
Supplies Handtowels of any color Rubber bands Colored Satin ribbons Googly eyes Colored pompoms
Let’s get started
1. Place the handtowel inside out with one corner facing towards you.
2. Start rolling from the same corner up to the other side and then fold it to make a U-shape.
For D we have one of the most interesting craft. I remember making it during my school days. We used to color them and decorate our desks and classroom. I asked Eira what would she like to do with her doll chain and she decided to dress up and accessorize them. It turned out to be a very interesting activity.
So let’s see how to make a doll chain.
Supplies White chart paper Colored craft paper for dresses Black/brown craft paper for doll’s hair Sequins, stars, buttons whatever a child would like for accessorizing Crayons Scissors
Let’s get started 1. Use white chart paper to make the doll chain. We have to make a accordion pleats with it. Make sure the breadth is good enough to draw dolls on them. 2. Draw dolls on the side which has cut edge of the folded paper on the right. Now hold the pleats altogether carefully and cut it. Do not cut along the folds. 3. Unfold the cutout and see the wonderful paper doll chain that you’ve made. 4. Design and cut some dresses for the dolls out of colored paper. Add sequins, buttons, stars as you like. 5. Make some hairstyles on brown paper and cut them and add it to your dolls as well. You can even use black paper for hair. 6. Use crayons for making facial features and coloring shoes.
Your Paper Doll Chain is ready. Use them to play or decorate your child’s room. You can design a chain of hearts, flowers, dinosaurs, cars or even spaceships in the same way. Keep the creativity flowing as per your child’s interests.
We have made a quick video while Eira was making her doll chain.
Crayons are an integral part of a child’s life. The first tool they use to apply colors. They learn primary colors, secondary colors and then more. Every child at some point of time mixes colors to see what the outcome turns out to be… Today’s art and craft is revolves around this same idea.
This art starts with making a stencil of any shape of your choice. Eira chose a leaf pattern. Make sure to not to make it tiny as the marking need to be colored later.
Positive & Negative Spaces This concept is very interesting. The leaf or the shape that you choose is positive while the space left around or the background is negative. So the positive shapes are going to be colorful while the negative space is going to black. This gives a nice look of light-dark and colored-black.
Supplies Oil pastels Black marker Papers Scissors
Lets get started 1. Make a shape of your choice like a leaf, heart or a flower. Cut it out to use as a stencil. 2. On another paper, place the stencil and mark around with black marker to create the patterns. The patterns need not be complete and should overlap each other in many areas to make it more interesting. 3. Ask the child to identify the negative spaces first and color them black.
4. Our canvas is now ready to be filled with colors. Choose bright and beautiful colors and start coloring each pattern in different color.
5. Now the fun part, each overlapping pattern will have two colors mixed and form a new color. This can also be used to teach how primary colors mix together and form secondary colors. 6. Once all the patterns are colored, your piece of art is ready.
We have made a quick video to see how Eira created this art.
Give your child a sheet of bubble wrap and they will forget the world around them. You will be able to enjoy your cup of tea/coffee during that time. The squishy, bubbly sheet offers a great texture and the popping sound that comes when it’s pressed is enjoyed even by adults, isn’t it?
Image Courtesy Pexels
It offers great sensory play and Provides hand-eye co-ordination. It can be used in multiple crafts and art for toddlers as well as kids. They also are being used in quiet/busy books made by Moms.
Fun facts about bubble wrap It was designed to be wallpaper fifty years ago but it turned out to be a great packaging material. It was then called Air Cap. According to research, one minute of popping bubble wrap can reduce stress levels by as much as 33%. It is equal to a 33-minute of professional massage. Popping bubble wrap helps relax that muscle tension. It reduces stress and anxiety. In fact, studies have shown that, sometimes, the human brain receives feel-good chemicals like dopamine after popping bubble wrap. So that may be why it feels so satisfying! There is a day dedicated to bubble wrap called Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day which falls on the last Monday of every January. The best fact of all, bubble wrap made it to the National Toy Hall of Fame finals in 2016 against some extraordinary contenders.
So today we are going to make an art project with bubble wrap.
Supplies Bubble wrap sheet Paint colors Paintbrush Old toothbrush Sheet of black chart paper/drawing paper (We chose a maroon one)
Let’s get started 1. Draw and cut different sized circles of bubble wrap. Draw them on the opposite side of the bubble wrap to get the markings clear. You can try different shapes too. 2. Decide the colors you want to use in your art. Eira used combinations of light-dark colors together. for example, Light green and dark green together, red and pink together, yellow and chrome together. 3. Paint one piece of bubble wrap at a time and then place them on the drawing paper. Now I’m sharing a tip here from our experience during the project. Do not dab the paint with the bubble wrap and then rush to rip it off. Place it at the desired position and just leave it there while you work on the remaining. This allows ample time for the paint to shift from the bubble wrap onto the paper with the markings of the bubble wrap. 4. Work onto the other pieces of bubble wrap, paint them and position them. Then slowly start ripping off the bubble wrap, in the exact sequence that you placed them. This allows the later ones to dry out too. 5. Start working on the trunk and branches of the tree with white paint and brush. 6. Once it is all done, dip an old toothbrush in white paint and spray it all over the artwork to give it an extraordinary look. Let it dry for a while.
Saving money is one of the most important aspects for adults for having financial security. But do you think this habit can be learned in a day or two? It is an element that needs to be picked up in childhood and rooted in to ensue willingly. We need to empower our kids by teaching them the importance of saving. But how can we achieve that??
Here are 5 easy yet effective five ways to teach your kids the importance of saving.
Image courtesy Pexels
Help children to set goals through a Piggy Bank or Saving Jars Using a Piggy Bank is a great way to teach your kids the importance of saving. The goal should be to fill it up until there is no room left. I gifted my daughter her first piggy bank when she was less than 2 years old. She didn’t understand the value of it then but knew that whenever she found notes and coins, they had to go into the piggy bank. The money was collected for a full year until Children’s day and then we bought gifts for her from the savings. Starting with these basics, Eira understood that savings are important. Your kid is asking for a specific toy that’s of a higher price, you can help them set goals to make sure to save first and then get the toy. Having multiple jars with pictures of their goals or a gift they want to give their siblings or best friend, will get them excited and keep them on their toes to reach the goal. A saving jar labelled “donation” can imbibe values of contribution towards the needy.
In 2018, when Kerala was in need of relief funds due to floods, I’d explained to Eira that there is a need for donation and that our entire country had risen for the cause. That was a lesson as well as a motivation for her and she also donated a part of her savings through an organization.
Image courtesy Pexels
Provide monthly allowance Once your kids realize that the allowance they receive from you is a fixed amount, the thought of having an extra income will certainly excite them. Once in a while, allow them to do extra chores and provide an incentive. This will motivate them to be more proactive in helping out at home and even lend a hand to relatives and neighbors. Exercise caution with the frequency of offerings and which activities are rewarded. You certainly do not want them thinking that they will get paid every time they help out in the house. A proper reward system will motivate a hard work ethic.
Image courtesy Pexels
Teach them budgeting Get your kids involved when you are creating your monthly budget. Explain to them the difference between what is necessary and what isn’t. This will help them develop smart spending habits. Tell them about, how you set your monthly budgets and keep aside savings to run the household. Instead of numbers, you can talk in percentages, if you are not very comfortable sharing the information.
Lead by example A study by the University of Cambridge found that money habits in children are formed by the time they’re 7 years old. Those little eyes are always around us watching and learning. We parents are their first role models and what we do directly has an impact on them. Kids at a young age might not understand how a bank works. Most of the kids think that a bank is a place where everyone gets as much money as they need. So make sure that you’re saving first. Having a piggy bank placed right next to theirs with one of your goals will make things perceivable for them. Maybe a family holiday that you’re planning for or a gift that you want to buy for yourself or a family member. The more the situation is transparent the more they absorb and learn.
Image courtesy Pexels
Avoid impulse buying “Mom, can I get this toy?” , “Dad, can I get this dress?”. Do not fall for those words especially when it comes to teens. Make sure they know that things cannot be bought in a whiff. Planning your budget, making sure to know how much can be spent in that particular week/month is properly planned. There might be friends who get all the stuff that they demand for right when they ask for it, but you need to make sure your kid understands that contentment starts from the heart. A little can go a long way. The best way to make sure they learn budgeting is to include them in the grocery planning and shopping with you. Moms very well know how much planning goes into keeping their pantry filled within the budget to keep saving yet bringing delicious meals to the table.
Image courtesy Pexels
Learning responsibility about handling savings After a certain age, you can guide your kid to open a savings account in a bank. This is a great way to learn how to operate a bank account as well. Don’t forget to pitch in a portion into their savings when they start a bank account for their motivation. This step will take money management to the next level. But thats not all. Educating kids about finance management is a process and L&T Mutual Fund can help you in just that in the best way possible.
A Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) can be one of the best possible options for it. A SIP investment can help you save from as little as Rs.500 each month, and it can help you to accumulate a sizable amount over time to reach your goals. A perfect way to invest your child’s savings and explain them how their savings are growing over time.
The SIP Calculator can be used to see the monthly SIP amount they’d need to invest in order to achieve a particular goal in a particular time period.
Every child is different but as parents, you have to guide them and help them start their financial journey so they can become adults who manage their finances well. With time, assistance and support your child will learn the skill of savings at a younger age which will ripple impeccably into their adult life.
Disclaimer: This is for general information only and does not regard to the particular needs of any specific person who may receive this information. L&T Investment Management Limited, the asset management company of L&T Mutual Fund or any of its associates; does not guarantee/indicate any returns/and shall not be held liable for any loss, expenses, charges incurred by the recipient. The recipient should consult their legal, tax, and financial advisors before investing. The recipient of this information should understand that statements made herein regarding future prospects may not be realised or achieved.
Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.
What is an Agamograpgh? Yaacov Agam, an Israeli sculptor was well known for his optical and kinetic art. Agamograph was his creation and named after him.
Yaacov Agam, Israeli Sculptor
He used something called”lenticular printing” to create agamographs. The process of lenticular printing is technical and very complicated. When artists and creators wanted to bring Agam’s work into classrooms and inculcate it into art, they interspersed and spliced together two designs to make them one. This makes it easy for kids to just color the designs carefully according to their choices and they have their own agamograph.
Remarkable work of Yaacov Agam
Agamograph involves the splicing and intertwining of two pictures. You can either create two pictures and then attach them together or use the printables, color them properly and then attach them together. Since Eira was trying it out for the first time, I decided not to overwhelm her and use the printables from http://www.easypeasyandfun.com
This agamograph has a cute hedgehog with wild red mushrooms in one picture and falling leaves in another picture. Eira chose to use oil pastels as they bring out beautiful brightness. Also, remember to use contrast colors in the background to make them more appealing.
Lets get started,
As there are two images intertwined together in the print, make sure to number the two pictures as shown in the video so that the child will not be confused and mistakes can be avoided
Color one picture at a time to avoid confusion at shown in the video.
Cut out the unwanted border around the picture.
Now start scoring the picture. Use a ruler or a pointy tip of a toothpick to help mark the crisp folds on the marked lines.
Start doing the accordion fold up to the end of the picture.
Hold it firmly and then pull it apart. Your agamograph is ready.
You can see two different images when placing the picture inclined at an angle on both sides.
We have created a video while making an agamograph to make it easy to follow the instructions.
