If you are looking for free craft projects, lesson plans and educational materials for children 3-7 years, spend some time in the “Can Do” Street Mall checking out the Crafts/Games and Teaching Resources.

Take advantage of the free materials that are there for your use. The materials are the work of parents, grandparents, educators, recreation and crafts personnel.

Each week we add more resources, shared by individuals, organizations and companies with the hope that you will visit their sites and make use of the 1,000s of free materials that they offer.

There is no catch, no hidden costs to using the free materials you find on the sites that list in the mall.

Prior to listing each of the free sites in the mall, the staff of “Can Do” Street check out the content to make sure it is suitable for out audience of parents, teachers and other adults involved in the care of young children .

To list your site in either Crafts and Games or Teaching Resources the content must meet the following criteria:

• Contain free resources suitable, in all or in part, for children 3-7 years

• Resources must be easy to download and use

If you wish to list, please send the following information about your free site to jeanc@candostreet.com:

• A brief description of your site
• A logo, if you have one
• Your URL address so that we may create an active link to your site

We look forward to having you visit the “Can Do” Mall where the resources are free and fun!

The “Can Do” Street Mall Showcase is about sharing! It’s about adults sharing with one another about what young children enjoy and what can boost their enthusiasm for learning.

If you have a program, curriculum, activity, sport, game, software,  camp or resources for children 3-7 years, including children with special needs, now is the time to showcase it in the mall on “Can Do Street.”

There is no fee to showcase.

It is a free feature designed to give parents, teachers and other adults involved in child development the opportunity to see what is available for young children and to replicate what is suitable for their child, school or community. Every submission will credit the person responsible for the submission and include an active link to that person’s website, blog, or social media site.

Eligible showcase  materials include but are not limited to:

Programs: recreation, education, sports,  arts, music, computer, cooking, gardening, martial arts, knitting, sewing, quilting

Curriculum: academics, recreation, the arts, life skills, character and values education

Sports: all age-appropriate sports, intro to sports appropriate for elementary school upper grades

Resources for children with special needs

Showcase formats: Video, UTube, PowerPoint presentation, pictorial display with written narrative,  interactive programs, games, audio/graphic presentations

Submissions to the showcase are reviewed for suitability of content. They will be posted as received and reviewed. We welcome submissions from  individuals, schools and organizations. For more information, or to get your questions answered, please email jeanc@candostreet.com.

The Showcase is about adults sharing what enriches the lives of young children. So…please showcase  and share!

And all the resources are free for your use! Just go to www.candostreet.com click on the awning that says, “Can  Do” Mall and start exploring the resource centers.

We invite you, not only to use the resources in the mall, but be a part of the “Can Do” Mall by contributing a resource that you have to share.You will be credited for the resource and an active link will bring visitors from the mall to your website, blog, Twitter, Facebook or other social media page.

The three resource centers that are  first to open are: Crafts and Games, Teaching Resources and Recipes.

Coming in two weeks…Writing with Wendy offering activities for young children that promote an interest in writing.

Soon after the Digital Arts Studio will  provide the opportunity for online painting of scenes and characters as well as the ability to download images for use on clothing, in quilting and other mediums.

Also planned for a  future opening…Showcases where gamers, artists, teachers, writers, and companies that create products for children can showcase a new creation that visitors to the mall can tryout at no cost.

Be sure to checkout the “What”s New” Flag above the “Can Do” Street Mall whenever you visit, to see the newest additions to “Can Do” Street.

To send a resource for publication:

• Review the guidelines for submission on the Welcome page in the resource center  where you want to contribute
  
• Email your submission along with your name and the URL address that will be activated as a link to your site to jeanc@candostreet.com

Maggy Woodley, from the UK, is mother to Red Ted (3) and Pip Squeak (1) After having Red Ted she decided to become a “stay at home mum” and now runs a Craft Blog Red Ted Art from home.

As Maggy puts it, "Like many stay at home mums, I need just a little something else to keep my mind active. I love being with my children and that I am lucky enough to watch them grow and develop but I also needed a little bit of variety. I started off by selling artwork for children under the Red Ted Art brand. I realized that if I wanted to drive people to my site, I would have to offer something in return – Red Ted Art the Craft Resource was born. It almost happened by accident. I posted a couple of crafty things (Funky Party Bags as well as some Painted Peg Animals) and it took off from there – my love for craft was reawakened and I haven’t looked back since. Especially since my children enjoy it so much too. it is a win- win in my eyes.

I know that crafting is not everyone body’s thing. Many think that they are not creative while others dislike the mess or feel they don’t have the time. So I try and bring a broad mix of crafts – some to inspire (to those that need help with ideas), some that are not messy at all and others that are very quick, but fun. I see how much children get out of crafts and how they can play with the same crafted toys for weeks (see our Boy & Penguin). Crafting is wonderful for bonding, for nurturing and for developing all sorts of skills (amongst others, creativity, imagination, motor skills and confidence). I really do hope that Red Ted Art helps others find their love for crafts and inspires them to have a go. There are no “rubbish” crafters in my eyes!"

Red Ted Art

Bringing Art & Colour to Children's Hearts

info@redtedart.com

www.redtedart.com

www.flickr.com/photos/68327876@N00/

There are lots of wonderful kids all over the world who are making a difference by helping others and the environment. No one knows this better than an organization called Kids Are Heroes^® a non-profit that empowers, encourages and inspires children to become leaders through volunteerism and community involvement. They do this by showcasing and supporting children who are changing the world through their selfless acts of giving.

Kids Are Heroes raises awareness about the causes kids  believe in. This concept works in every corner of the globe. Kids Are Heroes’ success stems from not telling kids what projects they must perform, but helping them to uncover their passions and then supporting them. This keeps them involved for a longer period of time.

Their site is full of stories about children, even young children, making a difference. The stories make for wonderful shared reading and discussions with your child(ren).

Visit at www.kidsareheroes.org. Be sure to check out ” Meet the Heroes” and if your child is interested, explore how he or she can become a part of Kids Are Heroes.