This is a fabulous activity for a construction or arts and crafts party. Little builders love the process and parents love that it’s virtually mess-free…if you skip the paint and markers.

Craft Materials:

• Wood blocks in a variety of sizes
• Wood dowels pieces
• Wood glue
• Foam sanding blocks
• Hammers and nails (optional)
• Kid-safe paint (optional)
• Markers or crayons (optional)

Before the Party:

1. Cut a variety of wood pieces in all shapes and sizes. Do you have a carpenter friend or relative who may have scrap pieces?
2. Pre-sand the wood pieces to remove dangerous splinter edges… little hands will be working with this wood.
3. Gather easy to handle kid-sized or small hammers and craft nails.
4. Fill a muffin tin with the nails.
5. Cut foam sanding sponges in pieces for small hands.
6. Prepare paint, brushes and smocks if desired. A muffin tin or clean , foam meat trays work well for the paint but keep it covered until it’s time for the activity.
7. If you are providing markers or crayons, for decorating, place them in paper plates, pie tins or clean foam meat trays.
8. Protect your work surface or prepare a place on the ground. A garage or cement patio is a great place for this activity.
9. Enlist a parent helper or two for the party.

Party Time:

1. If you are using paint or markers, provide each little builder with a smock.
2. Give each child one larger pieces of wood to start with and set the remaining pieces in a central location for the kids to grab when needed.
3. Give each child a sanding block and access to the glue so they can get to work.
4. Help with hammer and nails.
5. Write the guest’s names on the wood using permanent markers.