Fun, Easy Art Project For Grandkids

My criteria:

1. Give the boys something fun to do.

2. Get them outside.

3. Make it something they could do independently.

4. Give us some one-on-one Chi-Chi time. (Pop excels at wrestling and Legos, so he gets more than his fair share of one-on-one time.)

I came up with the “Big Brother Adventure Backpack!” It’s a fun, easy art project for grandkids! And it came together with a stroll down a few aisles of Hobby Lobby.

I started with this inexpensive canvas backpack.

You can find it here…

You could also use these totes. In addition to this natural canvas, they’re available in four bright colors, too.

Fill it up!

Then, I had fun filling the backpack with plenty of adventure-enhancing goodies, like this mesh bug and critter catcher. Let ’em go nuts digging up worms or let them stay up until it’s dark and catch fireflies.

And some handy Super Hero bandanas that can keep the sweat out of a guy’s eyes or wipe away any dirt that might find its way onto his face, hands, knees, nose, elbows—pretty much any part of the entire body. Dirt happens when you’re a kid.

I also included some sidewalk chalk, happy face beach balls, water guns and a package of gummy worms—cuz a guy needs nourishment out in the wild. If your kids or you cringe at the thought of extra sugar in your grandkids’ system, dial the sugar dial down with homemade granola, animal crackers, beef jerky, or a clementine.

Be creative naming the food, too. Granola can become “edible gravel” and beef jerky can be “dried dinosaur.” Raisins are another good snack. (You may not be able to tolerate my suggested renaming, but your grandkids will think it’s hilarious, especially if they’re boys.) Call them bunny rabbit poop! Really, any kind of animal dropping will do.

Some other items you might include:

• Binoculars
• Compass
• Treasure Map
• Magnifying glass
• Butterfly net
• Breadcrumbs to mark their trail
• Silly string