Got a little one who just doesn't slow down?
Creativity is a brilliant way to channel their curiosity and energy, and can have a really positive impact on their development too.
With the help of Rebecca and Murphy from Monster Makes, why not try giving this bee a go? It's made from just a yoghurt pot and some cupcake cases.
Hi there. I'm Rebecca, and like you, I have a little one of my own.
So I already know some of the things you've been contending with.
Sleepless nights, potty training, and the non-stop adventures that come with raising a little one.
There are loads of things thatyou can do to keep your preschooler's inquisitive mind occupied,and a great way is to encourage them to be creative.
On Monster Makes, the artwork is designed to be super simple for you to try at home, using everyday items that you've already got.
Now you might see this as a card tube ready for the recycling, but your little one's imagination might see this as a… A rocket, or maybe even a - "ahoy, me hearties," a telescope, or possibly a slide.
Have a look at this Monster Make, showing you a step by step guide to make a bee pot using an old yoghurt pot and some of these. No, not the cupcake. The case - a clean one.
Let's get monster making!
For this, we'll need a clean yoghurt pot, two cupcake cases, one pipe cleaner, stickers for eyes, and paint.
Hey hey hey hey!
For the bee's body, paint on yellow and black stripes, just like a bumblebee.
Painty painty, monster painty!
Painting is one of the most beneficial activities for your little one. It looks like playing. And sure, they might get a little bit messy, but don't worry, that's all part of the fun and part of the learning.
Painting is a full sensory adventure. Squishing, swirling, and mixing paint helps little ones explore textures, colours, and movement.
When you've finished painting the stripes, leave it to dry.
Then we can make it a happy buzzy bee by drawing on a smile.
These cupcake cases are going to be the bee's wings.
Fold them in half. Like this. This is a great chance to explain that half just means something split into two equal parts.
Let's stick our cupcake wings to the side of the yoghurt pot like this.
Buzzy, buzzy, buzzy, monster flappy!
Next, take a pipe cleaner and bend it in half. Use your fingers to give the ends a curl.
Now let's stick it onto our bee.
Oh, they make monster-tastic bee antennae, Rebecca!
We also need some stickers to make two beady eyes for our busy, buzzy bee. And if you don't have stickers, you can draw on eyes instead.
There - one yoghurt pot bee. Simple when you know how, and something for you and your little one to try at home.
Best of all, it might even inspire them to get messy with paint.
Or encourage them to try some new foods. Delicious.
Give it a try. And in the meantime, have a look for more simple makes on the CBeebies Parenting website. Or, check out Monster Makes on BBC iPlayer.
You will need
A clean yoghurt pot
2 cupcake cases
Pipecleaner
Yellow and black paint
Circular stickers for eyes (optional)
Glue stick
Black felt-tip pen
Method
1. Paint yellow and black stripes onto the yoghurt pot, and leave it to dry.
2. Using a pen, draw on a smiling face.
3. Fold each cupcake case in half to form the wings.
4. Glue each wing to either side of the yoghurt pot body.
5. Fold your pipecleaner in half and curl the ends to make antennae.
6. Stick your pipecleaner antennae to the back of the bee between the wings.
7. Using white and black circular stickers, create two eyes for the bee. If you don't have stickers, you can draw eyes on instead.
What little ones can learn
This activity involves getting messy with paint and folding things in half.
Painting with your little one is a great source of sensory learning for them, as well as being lots of fun. Getting their hands in and mixing colours helps children learn more about textures, colours and movement.
By folding cupcake cases, you can also teach your little one about halving - they can learn that 'half' simply means one of two equal parts of a whole object.
Fun, creative and educational!
