Here are some fun ideas for kids to get involved with and they'll love having something to show off at the end.  As always we've tried to keep your investment to a minimum.  All you may need to buy is some water based craft paint if you don't already have any. 

FIREWORKS PAINTING

Lots of festival occasions incorporate fireworks and here's a great idea to make your own fireworks picture, courtesy of Learning4Kids.

You will need:
​Coloured paint
Large sheets of paper
Cardboard tubes.

Cut the cardboard tubes vertically to form a fringe. Make the cuts different lengths in each of the tubes, as shown in the photo, to create different size firework prints.

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Don't place the cardboard tubes into the paint until you are ready to use them because  the cardboard strips become soft and will break off after they have been in the wet paint for some time.

• When printing the fireworks onto the paper, we used a ‘bounce and twist’ motion as we transferred the paint and fireworks pattern onto the paper.
• Start printing with the largest fireworks cardboard fan first and print over the top with the next size down to the smallest.
• Create a fireworks using the smallest cardboard fan first overlapping the paint with the next biggest until the largest.
• Create single coloured fireworks with no overlapping colours.
• Talk about the different sizes, which one is the largest fireworks and which one is the smallest?
• Add a small amount of glitter to the wet paint to finish off the ‘fireworks’ effect!

HAND AND FOOT ART

It's amazing what you can do with simple handprints and footprints.  The possibilities are endless.  And your grandkids will love the fact that the images were created from their own personal prints, so every one is unique.  Here are some ideas we found to start you off.  You can reproduce these or create your own designs. You might like to put the kids into art smocks or aprons.  An old shirt worn back-to-front makes a great art smock and will keep them from getting paint on their clothes.

You can make mementos of special occasions or birthdays, name plates for bedroom doors, placemats, book covers, an alphabet poster or just have fun with the whole concept.

YOU'LL NEED:

• Poster paint of various colours
• Disposable plastic plates
• Large sheets of card or paper, whatever colours you like
• Crayons, pencils and felt pens to draw in details
• Bits and bobs for decoration where needed
• Basin of water and paper towels to wash off