Tag Archives: kids blogger

Easter tree decoration – homemade clay recipe for kids


easter tree decoration |marmite et ponpon

Hop in Easter mood with us and let’s start the decoration with this beautiful tree. Let your kids DIY the ornaments with a homemade clay recipe, ready in less than 10 minutes and with only 3 ingredients:

  • 1 cup cornstarch (cornflour)
  • 2 cups baking soda
  • 1 1/2 cup water

Mix all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to medium heat. Whisk continually  until it starts to thicken. It will take couple of minutes to look like mashed potato in consistency, remove it immediately from the heat. Place it in a bowl and cover it with damp cloth until it’s cool.

Knead it on a smooth surface, adding cornstarch if it feels a bit sticky, hand it to your kids and let the fun begin!

Cut out eggs and bunnies, using the cookie cutters and let them dry overnight. I am sure not all kids will have this patience, you can dry it in the oven for couple of hours on very low, so your kids can color them in the same day.

Don’t forget to make small holes (with a straw) before they dry, to be able later to insert a thread and hang it on the tree.

easter tree decoration |marmite et ponpon

This year the fun is double, i am crafting with my two boys! Let me be honest and say it’s beautifully insane 🙂 i need to tame my 19 months old boy excitement who is still discovering, exploring and creating that artistic mess, so overwhelmed with colors and beauty, he doesn’t believe rules exist and everything for him is edible! While my 4 years old boy, my charming little artist, who’s been doing this for a quite time, doesn’t fail to show me his passion and innate artistic skills. They both have it actually and i am so happy about it!

Back to our decoration, and while the paint is drying, get some dry branches and fix them in a pot (fill it with sand or pebbles not to fall) to have a tree like shape. And let the kid enjoy hanging up their handmade deco when they are completely dry.

easter tree decoration |marmite et ponpon

By the way, we prepared a lot more ornaments, but before having our final tree up, my little monkey dropped it 3 times and broke some! Well let me tell you this is part of the game, part of the fun and part of the learning. The most important is to be patient, and try to enjoy with them!

Those cracks make it more beautiful and real, and they will tell you later million story and laugh. Crafting with kids is not about the final outcome, the least you care about is working for the end result, let them enjoy the creative process, be patient again and enjoy as much as you can those priceless moments.

easter tree decoration |marmite et ponpon

If those bunnies and chick are striking your attention, they were made last year by my eldest son. You can check the link to that post.

If you like this post give it many likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.

“Mini chef in the kitchen” 4 – delicious brownies with M&M


M&M browniesThis simple and quick recipe is packed with chocolate flavor just as your kid loves it! It’s a basic recipe every mom should share with her mini chefs!

M&M brownies nadyYou will need:

  • 1 1/3 cup flour
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cup cocoa powder sifted
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • M&M for sprinkling on top

Mix all dry ingredients; flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Let your mini chef sift the cocoa powder.

sifting cocoa

In a separate bowl mix eggs, vanilla and oil then add them to the dry ingredients.

mixing the batterMy son loves mixing! It is the best part for him, but don’t over mix, just the time to let all ingredients combined.

whisking the batterYou can’t imagine how beneficial this exercise is, especially on the cognitive and motor skills. Click benefits of cooking with your kids to learn more about it.

Back to our delicious brownies, pour the batter in a greased baking dish (8×12”) and sprinkle the top with M&Ms.

sprinkle M&MPreheat oven (200°C) and bake for 20-25 mins or until skewer comes out clean.

M&M basic browniesYou can add more M&Ms after baking, some might drown in! My mini chef suggestion!. Wait until is set to room temperature and cut. Get ready, by this time you will be asked thousand of times if it’s ready to be cut!

M&M brownies piecesM&M brownies nady2As i always say, the best part is when your kids taste the reward of their efforts. Now it’s time to pack some for the teacher in the nursery, friends and uncle to taste Nady’s chef d’oeuvre. He loves to share being proud of what he did!

M&M brownies - little chefI can assume it’s one of the best brownies i tasted. Crispy edges with chewy inside. Can’t get enough of it. It’s going to be the brownies recipe from now on!

M&M brownies biteTry it also with ice cream or chocolate sauce! Enjoy your time with your kids and have loads of educational fun !

brownies and M&MIf you like this post give it some likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.