As I was gathering materials for some of our St. Patrick’s Day activities, I saw our package of Bendaroos sitting there. I always enjoyed using Bendaroos (and Wikki Sticks) in the classroom. At home we use them to make pictures, form letters, and keep us entertained during long car rides. Seeing all of those colors together, I thought we could have a little fun making some rainbows. And since they stick on their own and are colored on both sides, I thought they might become an awesome rainbow window display.
So began our little task…
If you are working with a new package of Bendaroos I always find it helpful to work with them a bit first. I just bend them, fold them, roll them into balls, etc. This helps them become a little less rigid and a bit more tacky. Otherwise they won’t stay in the shapes you are trying to make, and they won’t stick very well.
After doing that a bit, we tried to put them directly onto the window, and they would not stick. Instead Lovey…
- Put the Bendaroos on a piece of white paper and arranged them in order. At this point they were still spread out.
- Pinched them together to remove any gaps between the Bendaroos and help them stick together.
- Lifted the paper and gently peeled the paper off the rainbow. At this point the rainbow should be rigid and stuck together. If it isn’t, put it back down on the paper and try to press it together more.
- Pressed the rainbow to the window.
That was it! And she loved it so much, that she keeps adding more and more. I’ve left the Bendaroos out, so she can make more from time to time. By St. Patrick’s Day we may not have any more space on our windows! I love that the light shines through them a bit, and they look pretty from both the inside and the outside.
Of course, this could work with any creation your child wants to make with Bendaroos. So have a little fun with it. We did!
Have you ever used Bendaroos or Wikki Sticks?
If you are on Pinterest, you might enjoy some of the ideas on my Rainbows and Colors and St. Patrick’s Day for Kids Boards.
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Explore a rainbow theme with your preschoolers for St. Patrick’s Day or Spring. This pack includes editable lesson plans and hands-on activities for a week full of math, reading, & science learning activities. There are also many color activities included so that preschoolers can learn colors and be introduced to basic color theory. Watch this short video to see just a few examples of the types of activities and printables included in this set:
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More St. Patrick’s Day Fun
Looking for more ideas? Try some of these fun St. Patrick’s Day activities from our archives.
And don’t forget to read some great books for St. Patrick’s Day too!
This post has also been shared at some of these fantastic link parties.
Chrissy @ The Outlaw Mom Blog
This is neat…I never knew that Bendaroos existed! They look super fun. Thanks for linking up to the Rainbow Linky this week! (And for introducing me to something new!!) 🙂
Shaunna
Glad to share something new with you, Chrissy. We like Benaroos…great for car rides and long waits…no mess and lots of possibilities.
Tricia
Great idea!! I have not used Wikki Sticks but I’m sure my girls would love this!! Thanks for the inspiration!
Shaunna
You are welcome! Now that we’ve taken down our rainbows, my oldest daughter has all kinds of plans for new displays. I love that this initial activity sparked some new creativity.
Ashley
These turned out pretty cute! We have only tried bendarooz once, and they drove me nuts because I couldn’t get them to stick, and they ended up all over the house! Maybe we should try again!
Shaunna
I know what you mean. When we first used Bendarooz I felt the same way, but then I realized the more you work with them the better they stick. We haven’t done any of the real elaborate creations, but for simple shapes, letters and structures we seem to be able to do what we need.
MaryLea (pink and green mama)
Adorable!! Thanks so much for linking up!
Warmly,
Pink and Green Mama
MaryLea
Amy
Wow, wonderful idea, I will try this tomorrow 🙂
Shaunna
Awesome! I hope they work well for you. Nice way to brighten a window!
Stephanie
We were just gifted a few boxes of Wikki Sticks by a crafty relative…now I’m inspired to get them out and play! Thanks for sharing!
Shaunna
Yes, definitely give them a try. If they are brand new, don’t forget to work with them a bit first. It can make a big difference in how easy they are for the kids to work with, especially your little ones.