In My Mom Era

Glue sticks, recycled paper rolls, glitter explosions, and the eternal question: how do we encourage creativity without completely losing our minds? 😂 As a mom of five, I was thrilled to speak with Kim McLeod, creator of The Best Ideas for Kids, about raising creative kids, screen-free activities, inexpensive supplies, crafting across different ages, and making memories without making a massive production out of it.

You may remember a few of Kim’s tips from our recent Halloween craft feature. But her advice goes far beyond one holiday. We talked about how her creative community began, what kids gain from making things with their hands, embracing the inevitable mess, and how even the least crafty parent can get started. Here’s our complete 12-question conversation — including a few seasonal ideas you can save for next October.

Photo credit: All photos in this interview, including the featured image, come from The Best Ideas for Kids, Kim McLeod’s website.

In the Interview Room: My Full Conversation with Kim McLeod

Kelly: First, I’d love to hear how The Best Ideas for Kids began! Was there a particular moment when you realized your creative projects could become something much bigger than a fun activity at home?

Kim: I started The Best Ideas for Kids by sharing easy activities I was doing with my son when he was just a toddler. A few of those crafts went viral on Pinterest, and that got me thinking, maybe this could be something more. This was over 10 years ago, so Pinterest was very different back then, but after a few crafts went viral, I realized I might have a knack for creating crafts and activities that people enjoy. And the community blossomed from there. Seeing families and teachers create and share their own versions of my crafts has been the most rewarding part of creating this platform.

Kelly: You’ve built an incredible community around crafting with children. What do you think it is about creating something together that resonates so strongly with parents and kids?

Kim: I think kids love to be creative, and parents love when kids are engaged in screen-free activities – crafting hits both of those targets, which makes it such a great activity for kids.

Kelly: Halloween is such a fun time to get creative! What are three Halloween crafts you’d recommend for families who want something adorable but don’t have a ton of time or supplies?

Kim: Recycled material crafts are my favorite crafts to make because they’re something everyone can create with. Here are some simple recycled crafts you can do for Halloween:

Kim: • Paint a mason jar and turn it into a lantern with a mini battery-powered tea light. You can also Mod Podge tissue paper on the mason jar. Then add a pumpkin face with felt or foam paper.
• Use a paper roll to stamp pumpkins. Fold a paper roll into the shape of a pumpkin and stamp! Add a bunch together to make your own pumpkin patch.
• Make mummies with paper rolls – cut strips of toilet paper roll and wrap them around a paper roll cardboard tube. Add some googly eyes or paper eyes tucked in a little behind the wrapped toilet paper, and you have a cute little mummy craft!

Kelly: I’m a mom of five, with children ranging from toddlers to elementary schoolers. Do you have a favorite Halloween craft that can be adapted for different ages so everyone can participate together?

Kim: I love making oobleck during the Halloween season, and kids of all ages love to play with it, too! You just have to mix two parts cornstarch with one part water. I like to add a little bit of green food coloring to it and then mix it up in a plastic witch’s brew for pretend play.

Kelly: Let’s talk about the mess. 😂 Are there any tricks you’ve learned for keeping craft time manageable, especially when little hands, glue, paint, and glitter are involved?

Kim: If you’d like to avoid the mess, stick with paper crafts and glue sticks. Any time you incorporate white glue, paint, or glitter, things are sure to get a little more messy. If you’re okay to embrace the mess, get some good smocks and table coverings. I like to use butcher paper and place it down on the table, or you can also use silicone painting mats, which make clean-up a lot easier.

Kelly: What are some inexpensive household items that parents should hang onto because they make fantastic crafting supplies?

Kim: I find parents always tell me having the right supplies on hand can be a struggle, that’s why I love using recycled materials. You can use paper rolls for stamping or turning into characters, bubble wrap for painting, or turn cardboard into anything you can imagine. If you start to collect these materials, you’ll be amazed at what kids can turn them into. Some other great recycled materials are scrap paper, egg cartons, popsicle sticks, and clothespins.

Kelly: Have you ever started a project expecting one result, only to have it go hilariously wrong? I’d love to hear about a memorable crafting disaster!

Kim: I’ve had to abandon a few projects over the years, but one that sticks out is a dande-lion (a lion with dandelions for the mane) that I did that people thought the face didn’t look like a lion. I’ll be revising the face before I share it again next time. It’s always funny to see what others see when you put it out on the internet for everyone to comment on.

Kelly: Some children absolutely LOVE crafts, while others lose interest after approximately 47 seconds. How do you encourage creativity without making an activity feel like another chore?

Kim: Sometimes having the supplies out and available makes it easier. I learned this by making an art cart for my kids. I put basic supplies on the cart and left it out for them to use whenever they wanted. Just the simple act of having it out and accessible made them want to pick up the supplies and make something with it. So don’t be afraid to just buy supplies and put them out. You’ll be surprised what your kids will do with them!

Kelly: Your books have brought your ideas beyond social media and into families’ homes. What inspired you to create them, and what do you hope families take away from using them?

Kim: I love having something physical that doesn’t require you to use a tablet or screen for instructions. As someone who enjoys unplugging every day, having a physical book is a great way to get creative with no screens required. I hope families and kids have fun making something from the book!

Kim’s book: Fun and Easy Crafting with Recycled Materials by Kimberly McLeod — discover creative projects made with everyday materials.

Kim’s book: Cut & Color Crafts for Kids by Kimberly McLeod.

Kelly: With so many projects and ideas out there, how do you continue finding fresh inspiration? Do your own children, followers, or everyday experiences help spark new creations?

Kim: Definitely! I usually see what types of projects resonate with my followers and make more of those. I’ve done a lot of recycled projects, handprint crafts, and easy printable crafts because they’ve done well with the community.

Kelly: If a parent has absolutely no crafting experience and wants to start making holiday memories with their kids, what would you tell them?

Kim: Look for printable crafts. A lot of crafters (including myself) have printable templates that just require you to print, color, and create. It’s easy to start with if you feel you’re not a big crafter, and it gives kids an opportunity to practice scissor skills, coloring, and gluing.

Kelly: Finally, what’s one Halloween project you think every family should try at least once—and what makes it so special?

Kim: We love doing a Halloween scavenger hunt every year. It’s a fun way to get the kids reading clues that lead to a candy stash when they are done. You can find printable cards for free on my site, or you can make your own clues that lead them around the house. Add a candy with each clue or have a final prize at the end for them to find. It’s always fun, and the kids ask to do it every year!

Kelly’s note: I am absolutely putting that green witch’s brew oobleck idea on our list for next Halloween. 😂 In the meantime, I’m eyeing the recycled-material crafts and printable projects for year-round fun. Supervise little ones closely, and keep small craft pieces and battery-powered lights out of reach of toddlers.

A Little Creativity Goes a Long Way

What I love about Kim’s approach is that the supplies don’t have to be fancy and the results don’t have to be perfect. Paper rolls, recycled cardboard, some glue, and a little imagination can become a memorable afternoon. And if your house looks like a craft store exploded afterward? Well, at least you made memories. 🤣❤️

A huge thank-you to Kim McLeod for sharing her ideas and to Caitlin at Anderson Group PR for helping coordinate our conversation. You can find more family crafts and free printables at The Best Ideas for Kids.

If you missed our first introduction to Kim, check out Halloween Fun Without the Fuss, where we shared a few of her seasonal ideas alongside the Gegg family’s Crispy Green taste test.

Warmly,
Kelly
In My Mom Era