Make Your Own Kaleidoscopes

Make your own kaleidoscopes and see the world differently!

This post is sponsored by Sago Sago. All opinions, photos, and spunky children in this post are 100% mine. This post also contains affiliate links.

Sago Mini Toolbox

My youngest is 3 and our only girl. She’s also as determined as can be and wants so badly to be big. She wants to ride bikes with the brothers, help mom in the kitchen, dad in the garage, and for sure get her fair share of iPad time. She sees the boys using it and can’t wait till it is her turn. Screen time is very limited in our house, but I’m going to be honest; My kids play on the iPad. One of our favorite app brands is Sago Sago, their apps are consistently well designed, cute, age appropriate and my kids love them. When they asked if we’d partner with them and their Mini Toolbox App I was all for it.

Sago Mini Toolbox let’s her use all the tools she sees dad use – a hammer, drill, saw, etc. – but that she doesn’t get to touch in the garage. Besides building, it also lets her use an air pump, scissors, and a needle and thread to stitch with!

Meet my mini and her very own toolbox. This is her signature pose whenever she sees a camera. I just don’t know…

Her toolbox contains different items than her dad’s toolbox, but these are very empowering tools to a 3 year old. Washi tape, scissors, glue stick, colored pencils, and a mini tape measure. Washi tape is her absolute favorite, so much that I carry a few rolls and a pair of scissors in my purse. It has saved us at soccer games, while helping in the classroom, at church, and anywhere else she may get bored. I hand her a roll of tape, scissors and a scrap piece of paper and she is occupied for a good 30 minutes.

To Make Your Own Kaleidoscopes You’ll Need These Supplies:

• cardboard tube
• washi tape
• reflective paper
• hot glue
• clear plastic (from fruit packaging)
• beads
• scissors

 

She got right to work decorating her cardboard tube. I found these colored tubes at Michaels, but you could use a toilet paper or paper towel roll if you have one handy.

Build Your Own Kaleidoscope

Besides her toolbox, you’ll need a few tools of your own for this project. A hot glue and pair of scissors. With your [sharp] scissors cut 2 circles out of clear plastic. I used an office supply package that held file tabs, but something like a strawberry carton would work too. Glue one of the circles inside the tube, about a 1/4″ down and add beads.

And then glue the second circle on the outside.

Use a ruler to measure the depth of the tube from the plastic circle up.

Cut a piece of reflective scrapbook paper to that length.

And score the back so it neatly folds into a triangle. I traced around the tube then drew a triangle inside the circle and measured the lengths to figure the size we would need.

Add another piece of tape to help it hold it’s shape and insert it into the tube.

 

 

See the World Differently

The tube on the left has the beads at the end and the tube on the right is open so she can look at any and everything with it.

Here is what a pearler bead creation (that was melted together) looks like through our open ended kaleidoscope.

My little explorer!

We love Sago Mini Toolbox and we are also so excited about Sago Sago’s app Sago Mini Boats that just came out today – which you can check out here! Follow Sago Sago on Twitter and Facebook.

 

Here are some other fun kids craft ideas!

Easy Solar System Craft for Kids

How to Make Kindness Rocks with Kids

Rainbow Kids Snack