Back-to-school time can be full of feelings for younger children! Excitement, nervousness, and curiosity about the unknown are all swirling as the first day of school approaches. This mini unicorn craft is a perfect way for parents and children to open a conversation about what to expect.
When D.W. sees that her friend Emily is having a tough first day of kindergarten, she shares her lucky mini uni so that Emily can make a wish to improve her day. With this mini uni craft, parents can give kids an active role in setting great goals for their first day of school before it even begins. As you’re crafting, talk with your child about a small goal for their first day, and how the mini unicorn can be a reminder of their goal.
Materials
Directions
1
Talk with your child about the first day of school. Can they identify any of their feelings about it? Have they thought about how it might go? Are there any small goals they’d like to set for that first day? Emily’s goal was to make one new friend, but your child’s goal could be anything from learning where the classroom supplies are to trying a new game on the playground.
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2
Cut the cardboard tubes so that you have one piece that is 4” long and another that is 2” long. These will be the body and head of your mini unicorn. Your child can paint these in their desired color. Allow these to dry.
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3
Talk with your child about what color tail and mane the mini uni should have. Lay out loops of embroidery thread in your desired color, making sure the loops are at least 3” long. Tie one end of the loops tightly. Glue the tied end inside one end of your short toilet paper roll. Trim the ends into a mane.
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4
Tie one end of the loops tightly.
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5
Glue the tied end inside one end of your short toilet paper roll. Trim the ends into a mane.
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6
Repeat Steps 3-5 to make a tail. This time, make sure your embroidery thread loops are at least 5” long. Glue this tail inside the longer roll and trim the ends to make the tail.
7
Trim straws to your desired leg height. Glue them onto the sides of the roll with the tail on it, being sure the tail ends up at the top of the roll.
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8
Cut a piece of cardboard into a pointed horn shape, and help your child paint it with their desired color. Bend the base of the horn into an arch to provide a flat surface, and glue the arch onto the head just in front of the mane.
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9
Draw eyes, and paint a nose on the face.
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10
Glue the head onto the body. Place a large dot of low-temp hot glue onto the underside of the head and hold it in place on the body, at an angle, until the glue sets. You can also use school glue or tape.
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11
Celebrate your child’s work as they finish the lucky mini uni! Remind them that completing a craft project like this one is a great accomplishment and that their mini uni can help them remember that they can handle difficult things. Talk again about their first-day-of-school goal, and how exciting it will feel to accomplish it.
