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Give your preschool child a head start for school.

Keeping our kids busy can be a full time job and any Mom knows that. Finding things for them to do can also be quite a chore. Making a noodle necklace can keep them occupied for hours and give them a craft they made themselves to show off to everyone.

What You’ll Need

* Macaroni noodles
* Food coloring
* Vinegar
* Styrofoam cups
* Wax paper
* Yarn

Instructions

You will have to color the noodles if your child is young, but they can still watch as you change the noodles in to spectacular colors for them. You will need as many Styrofoam cups as you want colors. Place 1/2 cup of vinegar into each cup. Add food coloring to each. Add as much food coloring as you like to get the desired color.

Drop the uncooked macaroni noodles into the colors and allow them to absorb the color. Remove the macaroni and place it on the wax paper to dry.

Cut a piece of yarn large enough to fit over your child's head. Once tied off they will want to be able to slip it on and off with ease. The best way to do that is over their head but it needs to be large enough so they don’t have to fuss with getting on and off.

Tie off one end of the yarn so the noodles don’t slide off when they are stringing them. Show them how to string the noodles onto the yarn. Keep an eye that they are not getting too close to the end. You want enough yarn left to tie a strong knot in so the necklace doesn’t come apart.

Let them be creative. Any type of noodles will work as long as they have the hole to slide the yarn through. You can also use cereal if you would like to give them a little more to work with. Cereal also works if you don’t have the time to color the noodles. Use it between the noodles for the color.

Once they have the noodles on the yarn you will need to tie the yarn together. Until the one end and then knot the two ends together. Be sure it is a strong knot. You don’t want the necklace to come apart while taking it on and off.

Now your child has a necklace made by their own hands to show off to everyone. They can also make bracelets for their wrists and ankles too. No matter what they decide to make they will be proud of their little creation and you will have had a fun time bonding with them in the process.

Submitted by Nicole