Froggy Friends Craft

October is a perfect month for a froggy friend! 

Fall is certainly here, and while there is still time to get kids to playgrounds some days you just need a fun activity that can keep kids engaged indoors. This craft is fantastic, because it not only produces a fun bit of art that can even be used as part of Halloween decor, but it also creates a neat toy that they can play with, use in puppet shows, giving it a lot more “longevity” than your average craft project.

I made my creation into a frog, but change up the colors and add some horns, fur, scales or warts and you could have a very cool monster or dragon, depending on your child’s interests and aesthetic.

Here are the materials you’ll need: 

• colored cardstock (a circle and two strips)
• white cardstock (two small circles for eyes)
• party blower that rolls (the dollar store has party blowers that don’t make noise!)
• scissors, glue, stapler, marker

1. Fold the circle in half.  Staple each side together.  Cut (or hole punch) a small hole in the middle of the half circle on the crease.  

2. Fold a small portion of the small circles and glue that small portion to the top of your froggy so the eyes will stand up. 

3.  Give your frog friend some pupils, and crinkle fold some legs. Younger children might have trouble crinkle folding the legs but that’s okay! Encourage them to fold them however they would like.  

4.  Glue your legs to the bottom of your frog (LET DRY). And insert your froggy “tongue.”  

5.  What can you catch with your frog tongue??

*Bonus: this is a great way for children to practice breathing in through their nose and out through their mouth.  Can they make the tongue move fast?  Can they make it move slow?  

The ability to deliberately control their breathing is a great skill for little kids to cultivate. It can help them regulate their emotions and even make something like a skinned knee not hurt as much. Deep breaths!

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