Art Projects to Do to Introduce a New Sibling's Coming Arrival

When my son was getting a sister and we made big brother and little sister shirts for them with his handprints. very cute

Hi V.,

Its a great idea to prepare your grandson for the arrival of a new sibling. To prepare my children, I always talked about the arrival of the new baby very matter-of-factly so that they could understand that the baby was coming and it was just part of life (not something they could choose or change), told them that it was a wonderful occurence and that it would be great for all of us and we would all be involved in the baby's life as it would be in ours. Of course, there is only so much a 3 yr old understands (mine was 2 yrs at the time), but I think they take with them some of the info and the rest is just all in the way you say it... sounding happy, excited and yet soothing, etc.

Anyway, some great projects we did was pictures for the new baby's nursery... for example, I asked my daughter what she thought the new baby would look like if it was a boy, and then a girl (we didn't know what we were having). She drew with colors she thought the baby would like. We took a bunch of baby magazines, talked about baby products and what baby's do, cut out pictures and made a collage. We also had a lot of fun making a mobile for the baby. We shopped for some craft products (styrofoam balls, popsicle sticks, feathers... anything fun) and used a hanger to make a mobile for the baby's room... my daughter loved this project and even made one for her room too.

Good luck!
K.
(Stay-at-home Mom of three blue-eyed beauties: a five yr old daughter, three year old son, and 1 year old daughter)

one thing that I can suggest is decorating picture frames. if you go to your local craft store I am sure that they have foam picture frames. In the ood section of the store they should have little wooded flat figures that you canhave him glue onto the frame to decorate it. the rames are even light enough that hyou can glue magnets to the back and hang it to the refridgerator.
Another thing you can have him do is decorate a toy box for the baby. the craft store should also have wooden boxes or crates, maybe about the size of a milk crate. Let him decorate the box however he wants and you can take him to get a few little toys/stuffed animals for the baby.
For any other suggestions you can just go to your local craft store and someone there should also have tons of ideas for you!! good Luck and have fun!!!

I wrote a book called YOUNG AT ART filled with art ideas and philosophy for children ages 1-5. Keep in mind that 3 year olds do not, and should not, draw pictures of recognizable objects, but should be scribbling. The lines they make when they scribble are the very ones they will need when they learn to draw and to read and write, so by encouraging your 3 year old grandson to scribble you are teaching reading readiness. Some ideas:
1. Buy lots of plain white things, such as shirts, socks, hats etc for the new baby. Have your grandson decorate them with fabric crayons. As he draws, instead of saying things like "very pretty" say things like "Wow! You made a short line and a long line," "look at that, a zig-zag," (a wavy line, loopy line, etc" Use words like "next to, under, over lapping"etc to help him with his visual vocabulary
2.Get a plain, standing picture frame. Have your grandson decorate it with small, geometric, self adhesive foam shapes. Put a photo in the frame of the 3 year old when he was a newborn. Put the finished frame on a table near the newborn's crib to "show" the newborn how his big brother looked when he was born. After the baby is born, your grandson can "show" it to him and tell him stories about when he was the baby.
3. Buy a baby bottle. Have your grandson paint (scribble again!) on the outside with a very small amount of just one color (of his choice) of acrylic paint. Since the paint is permanent, you will want to sit with him while he decorates it to make sure it only goes on the bottle. If the paint is non toxic and made in the USA it is safe to use.
4. Your 3 year old grandson can do some paintings, which you can frame and hang in the baby's room (Again, remember the scribbling part, not having him completing a picture some adult really made!) If there is a color scheme for decorating the baby;s room, then just give your grandson those colors to use.
I have lots of ideas in the book. Maybe your local library has it. YOUNG AT ART by S. Striker (Henry Holt)

Oh, what a good idea! There are so many things he could help "decorate" - plain onesies aren't very expensive, and he could help paint those. He could also help paint disposable diapers (for burp rags) or flannel blankets (sew two pieces of flannel, right sides together (about 1 yard square, or whatever the width of your flannel is), flip that so the right sides are out and then sew up the fourth side.)

Good luck! I wonder - if you got some of those large wooden beads, could he possibly make garlands for the baby's room, to welcome him home? Or cards, also to welcome him home?

V.,
How about Macrame`, I know it sounds crazy, but get a ring, wooden letter blocks that you drill a hole down the center, and macrame` cord (baby color). Cut the cord the desired length, fold it in half and loop it over the ring, then make knots, add blocks to spell out the baby's name or welcome (something cute), then tie it off on the bottom and it can be hung in the baby's room or you two can make two, one for your grandson with his name and another for the baby. He can bring it with him to the hospital to show the baby and his Mommy and Daddy; his gift to his new brother or sister. I have a pattern with pictures if you like I can scan it and send it to you, let me know.
Hugs,
T.

When my daughter was 2, I had her draw a very special picture for her new baby sister. In the bottom corner, I wrote out what it was a picture of. Then, I framed the picture in a nice frame. When the baby was born, she gave the new baby the gift. In return, the baby "gave" her a gift, too. We also had birthday cupcakes and sang happy birthday to the new baby. My 2 year old loved it!

Foam comes in everycolor under the sun and also in peal and stick pieces. Have him make a picture with that or take a picture of him, you, his parents and other members of the family including pets. You can have digital pictures made almost anywhere (I use WalMart) that are cheap. Then put them on foam board (it's more ridgid and can now be found in dollar stores). Glue them on and then have him decorate around them with the foam stickers, glitter glue or whatever your comfortable with. Then use ribbon to make a hanger and hand it in the babies new room or near the babies bed. It will be a treasure of a awesome 3yo and something for baby to look at. Don't forget to put his name, age and date it was made. Everyone will someday look back on it and wonder how old he was. (Hint: it is best to not hang it in the direct sun light if you want to keep it long term!) Have fun and let it be his project, supervise but don't do it for him!!! Congrats on a new baby in the family and enjoy!!! A.

Hello V.,
Here's an idea for you that I got from a friend, my a t-shirt with your grandson that reads "I am the big brother" and he can wear it to the hospital when he meets his new sibling for the first time. You could also make a t-shirt for the baby using a onsies.

Here is an idea that I did with my now 10 year old when we were expecting her sister, she colored a picture for me to take to the hospital with me that I put on the end of the bassinet for the baby to look at!

You amy also want to check with your local hospital to see if they offer any type of sibling class for your grandson to attend before the baby arrives. They talk to the kids about the new baby and the when I took my oldest to she got to tour the hospital where I was going to be. They also read a book about the new baby if I remember correctly.

Children are so wonderful but you already know that because you are a gramma!!!
Good luck and enjoy!

V.,

Congrats on your soon-to-come grandchild! I know it's not really an arts and crafts project but we took my step-son to Build a Bear to make a stuffed animal for himself and then one for his soon-to-come little brother. When he held the heart, he made a wish for his little brother and gave him a blessing. He really loved it.

S.

i wrote a letter to the baby from my older child, introducing her to the family. really more of a keepsake for me about my older child at the time, but it served your purpose as well. for example, i said "our mommy is really cool because" and she answered. "my favorite thing to do with dad is," etc. very cute answers too! have fun!

Hi V.,
When I was pregnant with my second baby I made a book for my older son to explain what was happening, who he was going to stay with when I went into the hospital, what was going to happen when we got home, what big brother's were expected to do...I made little drawings to go along with the story. You could try this and let your grandson color in the pictures or something like that. Hope this helps!
S.

You can make T shirts with hand prints, and then ADD the babys hands afterwards.

Also Wall decoration of hand prints, Animals whatever for the baby's room made by big brother

A welcome home sign for mommy

Big brother BIBS and T shirts
Little brother shirts and bibs

Last I would simply act excited about the arrival of the baby
and act like the baby is a gift you are giving him.

prepare a list of things Big bro can do to help care for the baby--- Like getting diapers, wipes, socks, bottles, toys

put them in an area that makes it easier for him to reach.
Ask him to put dirty diapers in the garbage during changings.

He is the little helper now, He can do quite alot, things the baby can't do.

Hope this helps

M