We recently did a kid-friendly little project for my Dad's birthday that might also make a great Father's Day gift. That is, if the Dad (or Grandpa) in your life loves fishing even half as much as my Dad does.
So here's the simple how-to:
We took an empty jar with a lid, and cut a piece of burlap to fit around it. The kids had fun pulling off the strings of burlap around the edges to create a fringe. (OT Tip: have a couple of extra pieces of burlap on hand, because the string-pulling part becomes quite addictive, and it's a great fine motor activity.) I then cut a piece of canvas, repurposed from one of the many, many freebie canvas tool belts we get at the lumberyard and paint store. I set up our favorite alphabet stamps to spell out the words "BAIT BUCKS" and Jack and Gracie took turns stamping. We used four eyelets to attach both pieces of fabric together (which my kids loved -- yet another excuse to hammer something!) but you can certainly sew them together as well. Then I used a little hot glue to attach the fabric to the jar at the back seam.
We gave the jar a little pizazz, and some sentimental appeal, by attaching the first fly that Jack and my Dad tied together. You see, there's a reason that fisherman tell so many stories. They're really very sentimental at heart.
Oh, so the story behind BAIT BUCKS is that it's the jar where you keep small bills that you can grab when it's time to go fish. In our town, if you need to buy bait before or after hours (because that's when the best fishing is) you go to the bait vending machine. And some crisp singles really come in handy. By the way, you know you live in a serious fishing town when there is a bait vending machine. Enough said!
Lately, I'm really getting a kick about how much Gracie (our newest fishing fan) is enjoying our projects. And fishing. Both of my kids love to fish, as do I, as does my Dad, and as did his Dad. Not to mention that fishing is another fine activity for developing hand skills. Jack was casting a traditional fishing rod by the time he was three, and Gracie is well on her way. It's actually one of our favorite ways to have some good, old-fashioned, fine-motor family fun.
Would anybody like some tips on kid fishing? I can certainly tell you what works for us in terms of teaching little hands to work a rod and reel. However, I have to warn you, we don't actually catch much. Fish don't really fear us. But we sure have a blast. Let's just say we're hooked!
