Mother's
Day Activities & Crafts
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History
of Mother's Day
The
most contemporary version of Mother's Day began in the 1600s in
England. Mothering Sunday was celebrated on the fourth Sunday
of Lent. Small gifts were given, and a special dessert cake was
served.
In
the United States, Mother's Day was first suggested in 1872 by
Julia Ward Howe who was famous for writing the words to the "Battle
Hymn of the Republic". Ironically however, it was a woman
who was never a mother herself who led the campaign for the national
recognition of Mother's Day.
Anna
Jarvis held a ceremony in 1907 in Grafton, West Virginia, to honor
her mother, who had died two years earlier. Jarvis' mother had
tried to establish Mother's Friendship Day, as a way of dealing
with the aftermath of the Civil War. Anna Jarvis began a campaign
to create a national holiday honoring mothers. She and her supporters
wrote to ministers, businessmen and politicians, and they were
successful in their efforts.
In 1910, West Virginia became the first state to recognize the
new holiday, and the nation followed in 1914 when President Wilson
declared the second Sunday in May to be Mother's Day. Jarvis used
white carnations as a symbol for mothers, because carnations represented
sweetness, purity and the endurance of mother love. (Today, white
carnations represent a mother who has died, while red carnations
represent a living mother.) Unfortunately, Jarvis became bitter
over the commercialization of the holiday and she filed a lawsuit
to stop a 1923 Mother's Day event. Jarvis never married, never
had children and she died in 1948.
Mother's
Day continues to be a very commercial holiday in the United States
and Canada. Flowers, chocolates and cards are popular gift items,
and phone traffic is especially high on this special Sunday in
May.
Handful
of Flowers
Age:
3 and Up
Mess: Medium
Material:
Construction paper, popsicles sticks, green paint, glue or tape,
paper cup, playdoh, a small picture of your child and scissors.
Instructions: Have your child trace their hand
onto a piece of paper and then cut it out. Take the picture of
the child to place in the middle of the hand with glue. Have the
child paint a popsicle stick green and when the paint on the stick
is dry, glue or tape the hand shape on the stick to make hand
shaped flowers. Next have the child decorate the paper cup and
place a little bit of playdoh in the bottom of the cup. Stick
the flower in the cup and your have a beautiful flower for mom.
Fun
Frames
Age: 4 and up
Mess: High
Material: 6 popsicle sticks, glue, decorations
(buttons, macaroni, glitter and whatever else you might think
of), two small magnets, construction paper and a picture of the
child.
Instructions: Make a square with four popsicle
sticks on the table. Have the side sticks on top of the top and
bottom sticks. Next put the remaining two sticks on the top and
bottom. Glue all the ends together. Now you should have the two
side sticks sandwiched between the top and bottom sticks. When
the glue is dry have the children decorate these sticks with paint,
glue and glitter, macaroni, string, and so on. While that is drying
cut a piece of paper to fit the back of the frame and then glue
that on. Then glue the magnets to the top and bottom of the back
of the frame, then cut the picture to fit in the frame, and insert
the picture.
Foot
Prints of Love
Age: 3 and Up
Mess: High
Material: Non toxic paint, paper, crayons or markers.
Instructions: This is a kid favorite. Paint the
child's hands and feet with a paint brush and non toxic paint.
Did I mention this is High on the Mess Factor. Press onto a piece
of paper. Then for younger ones write a cute poem or saying at
the bottom such as "Roses are Red". Have the child decorate
the paper as well and write Happy Mothers Day or I Love You.
Necklace for Mom
Ages: 3 and Up
Mess: Medium
Material: Yarn or string, beads, hole punch,
paint, red construction paper, macaroni and scissors.
Instructions: Have your child paint different
pieces of macaroni (with holes in it) and let them dry. On the
red construction paper cut out a a heart shape that will be the
charm for the necklace. One the heart have the child (if old enough)
write "Best mommy in the World". Use the hole punch
and put a hole in the heart to attach to the necklace. Have the
child string the beads and painted macaroni on the yarn. Then
cut a separate piece of yarn 6" in length. When the necklace
is decorate tie the loop the small string through the hole on
the heart and through the middle of the necklace. (This is a good
way to get even for the paper tie dad had to wear on Father's
Day ;)
Growing a Baby
Age: 3 and Up
Mess: Medium
Material: Small clay pots, flower seeds, soil,
paint
Instructions: Have your child decorate the clay
pot with the non toxic paint. When it is dry add the soil and
seeds. Explain to your child how they have to take care of this
seed like Mommy takes care of them. They need to make sure it
is warm, gets water and is safe so it can grow to a big plant.
A
Real Family Tree
Age: 5 and Up
Mess: High
Materials: Large sheet of construction paper,
glue, branches and crayons or markers.
Instructions: Have your child make a family tree
with branches and glue. Have them try to get branches with Y shapes.
This is a great opportunity to explain the child's family and
how they are related to everyone. You do not need to go very deep,
try going to the great grandparents. If they show an interest
to pursue it further then go for it. Have the child write the
names and decorate the page.
Animal
Mommies
Age: 3 and Up
Mess: Low
Materials: Books on animals
Instructions: Take your little one to the library
and show them different books on animal families. Talk about what
different animal babies are called and the different roles mothers
play in animal families.
Baby Bath Time
Age: 3 and Up
Mess: Medium
Materials: Baby doll, sink, small towel for diaper
with cloths pins and soapy water
Instructions: Allow your child to give their
baby doll a bath in the kitchen sink. Show them how to careful
bath the baby, put baby powder on it and then put it in a diaper.
