Hot enough for ya? Here in Florida, it’s hibernation time…we reminisce about being at the playground in the afternoon, taking long walks with our puppy, and not rushing in and out of air conditioned places because we’re afraid of melting or burning too fast. I’ve never gotten over this part of living in South Florida, and for kids with summer birthdays, it means an indoor party for sure.

Craft parties for kids are all the rage right now. Instead of paying a company to come and set everything up, hosting a craft-based birthday party is a welcome change from arcades or other loud, obnoxious venues. Art parties are fun, creative, and always get great reactions from parents and kids!

Fortunately, there are amazing resources to find ideas for birthday party crafts, for any time of year. My favorite kid’s crafty website right now is No Time for Flash Cards. Started by Allison McDonald, a former preschool teacher and now full-time mom to her two-year-old son, No Time for Flash Cards keeps kids busy and educated through thoughtful yet simple hands-on activities. The site is broken up into “Crafts,” “Book Reviews,” “Songs,” “Alphabet Activities,”and “Naptime Creations” (for older kids who don’t always get a chance to use smaller items when little ones are around).

There’s something for every kind of child here - quieter activities for more meticulous kids, and more open-ended crafts for those who like to throw around the color and stickers with reckless abandon. There are many crafts using recycled materials, which is a huge plus in my house. And, we love the book reviews - my girls often ask to go right to the library after I read Allison’s review to them!

Since the Fourth is coming up, my girls have been really into the concept of fireworks. The “Light Up the Sky” craft is a perfect way for kids to imagine their perfect fireworks display. Instead of gluing the “fireworks” onto paper, I’m going to have the girls attach them to paper towel rolls, to bring to the beach when we see them this weekend. It’s a great way to get kids into the spirit of the night!