It's September, and the papers are full of ads featuring school supplies in all the new styles.
Some items should be purchased commercially like notebooks, paper, pens, pencils, calculators and Crayons. But when it comes to decorating the inside of their lockers, help your children be creative and express their magnetic personality with individual flair.
Collecting mementos
Start by asking them to collect small items - like favorite movie-star pictures, concert tickets, seashells, photos of friends and family - that express their personality.
Urge them to consider an extra button from a memorable outfit or an image cut from a travel postcard, like the Empire State Building, for their collection. Don't forget short notes from friends or favorite words.
High-school students might want to add a random earring, school ribbon or petite prom favor.
Once your child has amassed a collection that reflects the special person that he or she is, take them to an office-supply store. (The supplies displayed are a little less trend-focused and not as expensive as those at more fashionable shops).
Make a list of needed supplies - for this project, Super Glue and sticky-back magnet cards.
Using a list, by the way, is a great way to teach children to shop effectively, without wasting time wandering around or buying items they really don't need.
Making magnets
Once you've got finished shopping, head home and let the fun begin.
Have your children lay out their small treasures in an open area. Cut the sticky-back magnet cards to match the size of the back of each treasure.
If the item is heavy, the children may need to use Super Glue. If they are young, be sure they are supervised while using the glue. (Safety should always come before creativity).
Using just the sticky-back surface or Super Glue, mount each treasure separately. Let everything rest/dry for at least 24 hours. This project, as a result, is great for a weekend family activity to remember summer fun and individual interests.
Let your children take their personality magnets to school and display them inside their lockers. They can arrange them like a collage, adding to them as the year progresses. Some children I know who have made personality magnets found them so popular they used them for party favors and also made them for friends' lockers.
When the magnets need another home, they can be forwarded to aunts, uncles and grandparents with a personalized note telling how special they are.
So start the school year in a special way that lets each child tell the world who he or she is and why they are so magnetic!
Green Lake's Ana Kinkaid, who converts rummage finds into treasured decorative accents, can be reached at BetterSecondTimeAround@gmail.com.
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