Much too long ago, my oldest daughter (Lira) was in a private preschool. I loved the program because it gave her the socialization she needed as a young child with Autism. I needed to push her outside her comfort zone while maintaining some predictability.
The preschool was always hosting events to keep the family actively involved in the classrooms and on one occasion, I was invited to a Mother’s Day Tea Party.
Imagine my surprise when I arrived and was given a lovely paper bonnet, created by my daughter!
The bonnet is actually a paper plate rim attached to a paper bowl and I imagine that the teacher did the cutting and taping required to hold the two together. The entire combination was painted with a brown tempra paint and after allowing it to dry, Lira chose the flower and ribbon to attach.
How to make the Mother’s Day Tea Bonnet
1) Cut the rim from a paper plate, leaving the circle intact and creating a hole large enough to slide over a paper bowl.
2) Place the rim over the bowl and secure on the underside of the “hat” with packaging or masking tape.
3) Have your child paint the hat from a choice of colored tempra paints, mixed according to package directions, and let the hat dry completely.
4) Allow the child to pick flowers for adorning the hat. The artificial flowers should have most of the stem removed, leaving only enough to press through the paper bowl and bend flat on the inside of the “hat.” Secure the stem end with tape.
5) Ask the child to choose coordinating ribbon. Cut the ribbon into two lengths, each about 24 inches long. Tape the ribbon to the inside of the bowl with one ribbon on each side.
6) Watch each mother’s face glow with pride as they were the hat at your special party.
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