kidmade

Self-Portraits

Just a quick reminder that the self-portrait challenges are due tomorrow.  You can email a picture and any descriptions or notes to kidmadeATyahooAtcom. I should have the gallery up by Friday and I have already received some great submissions.  Next months challenge will be posted on Thursday.  (don't worry if you are a few days late, I can still add pictures to the gallery.)

I can't wait to see what all your great work. 

a kidmade go-kart

Along with the monthly creativity challenges I wanted kidmade to be a place where kids could blog about the stuff they make.  I am always amazed by how patient and thoughtful my girls are while they are in the middle of one of their projects.  These are the projects that are self-initiated and usually spontaneous.  I am often around to help out, hold blocks, find materials, or ask questions but these projects are kid-directed.  Sometimes the outcome is stunning and inspiring and sometimes we end up with a big wad of tape and cardboard but the process they have been through is what inspires me.  Documenting these experiences and the child's reflection on the project is always insightful.  So please play along and inspire us by sending your own kid-inspired, kid-directed posts to kidmadeATyahoo.com

Allright, enough mom talk, on to our very first kidmade kid post. (Yep, full nepotism here)

A Lego Go-Kart by Anya, age 5

I was trying to make a go-kart. I used Legos.  First I tried using a lego wheel cart but it would not work.  And then I tried to make a floor but the floor would not stay.  I had to make the floor thicker.  Then I had to make sides for the roof.  Then I decided to make the deck, but the deck kept breaking so I had to take it apart.  Then figure out how to make the wheels.  So I used Tinker Toys.  I added the Tinker Toys on and I had a go-kart.  My favorite part was that Maddie's animals could go inside.

kidmade challenges

On the left sidebar you will see a button to go to the very first kidmade challenge.  Each month kidmade will be offering up a new creativity challenge for kids. The theme for each of these challenges will be pretty general.  Small materials lists may be provided and most of these will be things you can find in your art cabinet or recycling bin.  I have always been inspired by the variety of outcomes a group of kids can come up with using the same materials.  These challenges are really about the process each child goes through and how each child/artist brings their own perspective and experience to the challenge.   

The theme and any guidelines will be announced on the first day of the month and entries will be due on the last day of the month.  I plan to include links to books and websites that might inspire you on the given challenge.  Please leave comments of other books or sites you find that are relevant.

Monthly submissions should include a picture of the given project (or writing if it is a writing challenge)  and a little blurb about what you did and how you did it , along with your first name and age.  I will put together a gallery to display all the entries. 

Send to kidmadeATyahooDOTcom

I was inspired to offer these challenges by all of the monthly mommy craft challenges like Tie One On  and Whiplash.  I thought it would be fun to have challenges and galleries of some kidmade projcets. 

I can't wait to see all of your entries.