Making pretend stained glass can be done any time of the year. That’s one of the biggest reasons I love this concept of creating stained glass. The child’s art can be hung & displayed, which is great for building their confidence. We have hung them in Izzy’s bedroom & our living room.

In each activity I’m also sharing how these activities can be educational and support your child’s development. Have fun!

Love You To Pieces, Stained Glass Heart

The hearts are great fun when creating Valentines this year. For longevity you can even laminate the hearts.

What You Need: Tissue Paper, Scissors, Elmers Glue, Water, Small Cup, Paint Brush, Parchment Paper, Construction or Poster Paper

The Activity: Cut out tissue paper with your child. For older children, try having them cut out shapes with you. Prep the glue and water mixture in a cup. You only need a small ratio of water to glue. Cut out a piece of parchment paper to fit inside the poster paper heart outline. Paint the parchment paper with the glue mixture. Start sticking the tissue paper shapes on the parchment paper. Paint on more glue mixture as needed to keep the pieces down and seal it.

How is this educational? How does this support my child’s development?

Math: Discuss the tissue paper shapes as you cut them out and glue them on. Have the child help you sort the colors into groups. Request the child hands you a specific shape, or name a shape as you hand it to your child. Make patterns with the tissue paper pieces. Fit shapes together (such as two triangles making a square).

Science: Ask the child what they think may happen to the tissue paper once it is wet with the glue/water mixture. Explore & discuss what happens when sticking the tissue paper down. Discuss how the creation stays transparent & hold it up to the window allowing light to shine through.

Literacy: Introducing/discussing words such as: transparent, circle, triangle, heart, square, sticky, wet

Gross/Fine Motor: Have the child help tear by hand or cut the tissue paper with scissors. Have the child pick up and place the small pieces on the parchment paper. Have the child use the paintbrush on the parchment paper.

Stained Glass Snowman

What You Need: Tissue Paper, Scissors, Elmers Glue, Water, Small Cup, Paint Brush, Parchment Paper, Googly Eyes

tip: We ended up putting our snowman on plastic wrap so it didn’t stick to the table. You may want to try that or a plastic/silicone mat.

The Activity: Grab the parchment paper and sisters. Cut out 3 circles (small, medium and large) for the snowman. For older children, try having them cut out the circles. You can trace circles onto the parchment paper first, if needed. Glue the snowman circles together. Now cut out pieces of tissue paper. We used white glitter tissue paper, black, blue and orange. Cut orange triangles for the carrot nose. I also cut out squares, rectangles and circles with the black and blue for potential hats, buttons or scarfs. Prep the glue and water mixture in a cup. You only need a small ratio of water to glue. Paint the parchment paper with the glue mixture. Start sticking the tissue paper shapes on the parchment paper. Paint on more glue mixture as needed to keep the pieces down and seal it.

How is this educational? How does this support my child’s development?

Math: Discuss the tissue paper shapes as you cut them out and glue them on. Have the child help you sort the colors into groups. Request the child hands you a specific shape, or name a shape as you hand it to your child. Make patterns with the tissue paper pieces. Fit shapes together (such as two triangles making a square).

Science: Ask the child what they think may happen to the tissue paper once it is wet with the glue/water mixture. Explore & discuss what happens when sticking the tissue paper down. Discuss how the creation stays transparent & hold it up to the window allowing light to shine through.

Literacy: Introduce/discuss words such as: transparent, circle, triangle, rectangle, square, sticky, wet

Gross/Fine Motor: Have the child help tear by hand or cut the tissue paper with scissors. Have the child pick up and place the small pieces on the parchment paper. Have the child use the paintbrush on the parchment paper.

Stained Glass Letters

What You Need: Tissue Paper, Scissors, Elmers Glue, Water, Small Cup, Paint Brush, Parchment Paper

tip: We ended up putting our letter “I” on plastic wrap so it didn’t stick to the table. You may want to try that or a plastic/silicone mat.

The Activity: Grab the parchment paper and sisters. Now choose which letter you are going to work with. We went with letter “I” for Izzy. Cut out the first letter of the child’s name. For older children, try having them cut out their letter. You can write out the letter first if need. Now cut out pieces of tissue paper. Prep the glue and water mixture in a cup. You only need a small ratio of water to glue. Paint the parchment paper with the glue mixture. Start sticking the tissue paper shapes on the parchment paper. Paint on more glue mixture as needed to keep the pieces down and seal it.

How is this educational? How does this support my child’s development?

Math: Discuss the tissue paper shapes as you cut them out and glue them on. Have the child help you sort the colors into groups. Request the child hands you a specific shape, or name a shape as you hand it to your child. Make patterns with the tissue paper pieces. Fit shapes together (such as two triangles making a square).

Science: Ask the child what they think may happen to the tissue paper once it is wet with the glue/water mixture. Explore & discuss what happens when sticking the tissue paper down. Discuss how the creation stays transparent & hold it up to the window allowing light to shine through.

Literacy: Discuss, the letter and the letter sound(s). Introduce/discuss words such as: transparent, circle, triangle, rectangle, square, sticky, wet

Gross/Fine Motor: Have the child help tear by hand or cut the tissue paper with scissors. Have the child pick up and place the small pieces on the parchment paper. Have the child use the paintbrush on the parchment paper.

Have a blast with these!

XO Eryka