Mother's Day Craft: Hand-print Flower

Materials:

• finger paints
• large finger paint paper
• 2 paper plates
• green construction paper
• white glue
• large print-outs from the computer of the words "I" "LOVE" "YOU" and "MOMMY"
• Black Sharpie

Preparation:

1. Cut out a 'stem' from the green construction paper. It should be roughly 1/4 inch wide and 6 inches long.
2. Draw and cut out 2 leaf shapes from the green construction paper.
3. Cut out each word of  "I LOVE YOU MOMMY", so that they are all separate. (Don't worry about cutting right around the borders of the letters. Cutting a square or rectangle around each word is fine, and makes the words easier for the tots to manage when gluing, as well.)
4. Put stem, leaf and word cut-outs aside for now.

Activity:

1. Ask the child what colour flower he would like to make for his mommy.
2. Pour a generous amount onto a paper plate and smooth it out, so that the paint will cover the child's hand when she presses it onto the plate.
3. Help the child to press his flat hand firmly onto the plate. Then help the child press his hand onto the top of the finger paint paper, with his fingers nearly at the top of the page. Keeping the palm of the hand at the centre of the flower, continue to stamp the hand, while rotating the paper, until you have completed the circle.
4. Put the painting aside and let it dry. (Give the child some paper so that he can now freely paint!)
5. When the paint has dried, use a pencil to draw a line from the bottom of the flower to the bottom of the page.
6. Pour some glue onto a paper plate, and show child how to dip their finger in glue, and spread it along the 'stem' (line). Help them to stick the green stem onto the line.
7. Spread some glue directly beside the stem. Give the child one leaf to stick onto the glue. Repeat with the other leaf, on the other side of the stem. 
8. Turn the paper over. Cover the back of each of the four word printouts with glue, and have the child place them one under the other. It should read "I love you mommy/nana/grandma/oma" vertically.
9. Turn the paper back over. Using hand-over-hand, help the child sign his name.

*Note: These instructions are geared toward children 2-3. For older children, decrease assistance as needed.