Crafting is one of the best activities that mankind has introduced, as it helps develop creativity, improves fine motor skills, and provides an excellent sense of achievement to kids.
However, one material that often gets ignored but can be used in all sorts of ways is sugar paper. Sugar paper is colorful and hard-wearing paper that is ideal for all kinds of fun activities for children.
Regardless of whether a person wants a fun weekend activity, an after-school craft or a perfect pastime for a rainy day, sugar paper proves to be versatile in the best way possible.
Below, we have discussed 5 fun sugar paper activities that will aid in developing those valuable skills in kids as they have fun.
1. Tissue Paper Collage
One easy and entertaining art project that a young child would enjoy is to make a tissue paper collage. Here, the sugar paper serves as the foundation of this project, while the tissue paper adds the necessary color and texture.
Materials Needed
- Sugar paper
- Tissue papers of different colors
- Scissors (optional)
- Glue
Instructions
- Begin by providing your child with a large sheet of ‘sugar paper’ as the base material.
- Ask them to shred the tissue paper or use scissors to cut them into small pieces.
- Guide them to put and stick the torn pieces of tissue paper in any way they want on the sugar paper, like abstract designs, animals, flowers, or even a landscape.
This activity can be best recommended for young learners as it enhances their coordination and fine motor development while improving their critical thinking skills.
Moreover, since tissue paper can be torn into layers, the final product will have an excellent textured feel and look great.
2. Sugar Paper Lanterns
Children are fascinated with making and lighting up paper lanterns, and this makes the piece of decoration interesting. For this particular project, sugar paper is suitable to use because it is thick and comes in numerous bright colors.
Materials Needed
- A4 sheets of sugar paper in different hues.
- Scissors
- Glue
- String (optional for hanging)
- Battery-powered tealight candles (optional)
Instructions
- Take a sheet of sugar paper and fold it horizontally.
- Make sure you are cutting an equal distance apart on the folded edge with the cuts, but leave the top with 1 inch uncut.
- Open the paper and attach the short ends to each other, creating a cylinder that would make up the lantern.
- If needed, you can add a string handle on top of the lantern.
- To decorate your lantern, you can put a battery-operated tea light to enlighten your sculpture (do not use a natural tea light for safety purposes).
These lighted novelties are ideal for festive occasions, parties, or any other celebration.
3. Sugar Paper Mosaic Art
Mosaics are stunning artwork that introduces children to pattern recognition and spatial awareness. When sugar paper is cut into small squares or shapes, kids can make artwork out of it and create a masterpiece.
Materials Needed
- Sugar paper in a variety of colors.
- Scissors or hole puncher
- Glue
- A blank sheet of sugar paper as the background
Instructions
- Start by tearing the sugar paper into squares, triangles or any other geometrical shape that one desires.
- Ask your child to make a sketch on the blank sugar paper base; this should only be a rough drawing, such as a sun, house or a heart.
- Guide them in completing the outline with the shapes of the sugar paper as they do mosaics.
This activity helps develop problem-solving skills and the ability to teach patience to the children as they place the pieces of their mosaic.
4. Paper Chain Decorations
Another favorite craft every child loves is paper chains, which are still popular. Everybody can make them, and it is not very difficult to make a room look festive for any occasion.
Materials Needed
- Multi-colored sugar paper
- Scissors
- Glue or tape
Instructions
- Take the sugar paper and, using a ruler, roll and cut the paper into long and thin strips that are one inch wide and six inches long.
- Take one strip, make a circle with it, and stick the two ends with glue or tape.
- Next, pass another strip through this loop and fix its two ends by gluing or taping them together.
- Repeat this process by joining more strips to create a longer chain.
This activity is suitable for group activities because the children can combine the chains to make long ones.
5. Sugar Paper Puppets
Craft sugar-paper puppets to bring stories to life. This activity fosters children’s imagination, creativity, and language abilities by letting them design their own characters to perform in a puppet performance.
Materials Needed
- Different colored sugar paper
- Sticks of Popsicles
- Adhesive markers
- Googly eyes (optional)
- Scissors
Instructions
- Create characters by cutting the sugar paper into forms such as humans, animals, or even imaginary animals.
- Use markers to add features like lips, eyes, and clothes. For an exciting touch, attach googly eyes with glue.
- To make a handle, attach each figure with glue on a popsicle stick.
Once the puppets are finished, you can help your kid perform a puppet performance in which they will narrate tales and bring their characters to life.
Bottomline
Kids can have unlimited fun with sugar paper activities since they are inexpensive, easy to do, and very creative.
Not only are they fun diversions, but they also provide possibilities for learning and expression that will be treasured for years to come.
So, keep the activity going, and let your little kids continue their journey of discovery, one super fun activity at a time.