How to Make A Native American War Bonnet

This craft is great for both little girls and little boys. Kids all over the world have played cowboys and Indians for years. While assisting your child with their Native American War Bonnet you can offer them a history lesson. It makes the learning experience fun while at the same time it allows your child to express their creativity.

Things You'll Need

• White Cardboard
• Feathers
• Paint
• Hole puncher
• Tape
• Yarn
• Beads
• Ribbon
• Pictures of Native American symbols

Instructions

1. Cut out a piece of white cardboard. You will need the cardboard to be the length of your child's forehead and go slightly higher than their hair. Make the sides and bottom straight, but cut the top in a little arch.

2. Use your hole puncher to punch 2 holes on each side of the cardboard. These are for the string with beads and the ribbon that will go around your child's head so that the bonnet will stay on.

3. Get out your paint and Native Indian symbols. Paint the symbols on your bonnet and then continue to decorate the bonnet with paint the way you would like it.

4. Arrange your feathers on the underside of the cardboard. About 6 is just right. Get some strong tape and tape each feather in place. No one will see the tape because it is in the underside. Hot glue gun's would also work, but regular glue on this step will not be strong enough to hold the feathers in place.

5. Pull a piece of yarn through each of the bottom holes on the sides. Tie a knot at the top end. String your beads on the bottom of the yarn and tie a knot at the end so the beads don't fall off.

6. Pull some ribbon through the hole at the top of one side of the bonnet and tie a knot. Now put the mask up to your child's face and pull the ribbon around the back of your child's head. Pull the ribbon through the whole at the top of the second side and adjust it so that it will stay on your child's forehead. Tie a knot when you get it just right.

Tips & Warnings

• If you can't find any white cardboard you can always use a piece of brown cardboard and give it two full coats of white paint before moving on to step #2.

• If you don't have any books with Native American symbols in it you can always do a quick Internet search and print some out.

• Smaller children would not be suitable for this craft without extra adult supervision. The little beads are choking hazards.