Big Game, Little Tykes...What's a Mother To Do?

Super Saturday KNOWSY Readers, that's right, it is officially Super Bowl Weekend and all you football fans are gearing up for the big day tomorrow between the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks. For true fanatics, all this week has been in preparation for the "party" at whatever location you plan on watching the game. This may include going all out on decorations and food preparation, let alone going to your area sporting goods store to pick up your favorite team's jersey.
Now this leads me to my post today, I am sure there is more than one mother who is also a football fan, but as we all know mothers have many hats to wear, and most importantly as a mother, is to make sure that her little tykes are not left out of the festivities. I actually saw this next piece of information last week and thought about exactly when to post it, hoping that it does not get lost in the multitude of Super Bowl Mania, it is from the site SheKnows.com (no relation to my own blog, but great minds think alike) and it was written by Jennifer Coe.

  

5 Big-game crafts for kids

Jan 18, 2014 9:00 PM by Jennifer Coe

GET CRAFTY FOR THE GAME

Looking for fun craft projects to keep the kids busy during the big game? If you're planning a fun party, don't forget about your littlest fans. These simple craft projects will keep the kids interested in the big game and also thoroughly entertained.

1

Drink jerseys

These drink jerseys fit over most bottled beverages. They're not only a great way to show your team spirit, but they also help identify everyone's drinks. Make each jersey different so everyone knows whose drink is whose.

Supplies:

• Felt
• Scissors
• Glue

Directions:

1. To create a jersey, first cut a 9 x 12-inch sheet of craft felt in half, lengthwise. Fold one of the halves in half so that it measures 4.5 x 6 inches. In the middle of the top fold, cut a half circle approximately 1 inch tall x 1.5 inches wide.
2. Glue each side closed 3.5 inches up from the bottom hem, leaving 1 inch open for the arm openings.
3. Decorate the jerseys as desired, cutting numbers, stripes or team logos from adhesive-backed felt and sticking them into place. Precutting the letters and shapes will make this an easier project for smaller hands.
4. Once your glue dries, get your bottles all geared up for the big game!

2

Rowdy noisemakers

Supplies:

• Dry, empty water bottle
• Plastic beads, small bells, rocks or rice
• Ribbon and/or other decoration

Directions:

1. Fill a dry, empty water bottle with small plastic beads, candy, small bells, pebbles or rice — anything small that is readily available and will easily pass through the bottle opening.
2. Screw on the lid and tie ribbons, bows or other desired decorations around the neck of the bottle.
3. Encourage your youngest fans to whoop it up when their team scores!

3

Football-fan headband

 

Little girls and little guys will love to wear this headband to show their team spirit!

Supplies:

• Headband
• 3 pipe cleaners
• Foam shapes
• Thick, white fun foam
• Thin, brown fun foam
• Foam markers

Directions:

1. First, create the sign. Cut a rectangle measuring 2 x 3 inches from thick, white foam.
2. Using markers specifically made for writing on foam, create your desired message. Attach the back of the sign to the end of a pipe cleaner.
3. Measure 2 inches from the bottom of the sign and wrap the rest of the pipe cleaner around the top/middle of the headband. Tuck in the end of the pipe cleaner, taking care that no sharp edge is sticking out.
4. Next, cut out football shapes from brown foam, as shown. Glue one football each onto your two remaining pipe cleaners and attach, leaving the pipe cleaners extended 5 inches. Tuck in the ends of these pipe cleaners, as well.

4

Table football

 

The kids can re-create the big game on any large tabletop, using these fun goalposts and a paper football!

Supplies:

• Large sheet of extra-thick, white fun foam
• White card stock
• Ruler and marker
• Scissors
• Tape or glue
• Brown construction paper
• Black marker

Directions:

1. Cut a piece of white card stock in half, lengthwise.
2. Roll each piece into a tube shape and tape it to maintain the shape.
3. Cut each of the squared, "U"-shaped goalposts from the large piece of thick fun foam, leaving a 4-inch tail on the middle-bottom that will tuck into the paper tube.
4. Cut 1-inch slits into the bottom of each tube, approximately an inch apart. Using the scraps created from your goalposts, cut 2 rectangles that measure approximately 5 x 6 inches. Cut a hole in the middle of each rectangle that is equal in size to the tubes you created from the card stock.
5. Insert the cut end of each tube into the hole and bend back the paper at each cut to hold. Tape the tubes in place. Insert each of the goalposts into the top of each tube, bending as needed. Tape as needed.

Watch this video to learn how to make a paper football

5

Custom pennant

 

Wave your customized fan flag every time your team scores, or use it to decorate the food table. The easiest way to create these pennants is to purchase a precut pennant and letters, but it is also simple to cut and create your own.

Supplies:

• Precut pennant or yardage of stiffened craft felt
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Adhesive-backed felt in a variety of colors
• Wooden dowel

Directions:

1. The measurements of the triangle are 8.75 x 18.5 x 18.5 inches. Measure and cut.
2. To create the letters, use an erasable marking pen to write your desired message on a sticky-backed felt sheet. Then cut the letters out.
3. Create your layout, and then remove the backing and stick the letters into place.
4. Fold over and glue the edge of the felt triangle to a wooden dowel, as shown.

More football craft ideas

Super Bowl ideas for little kidsDIY Super Bowl cupcake holdersFootball family fun night

Alright KNOWSY Readers and football fans, go forth and gather up all your gear, get it ready for your
"party" and don't forget your little tykes, like any good player, they just want to be part of the team!