How to Make a Magic Mirror

"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?" If you have a preschooler, you're probably reading lots of fairy tales or watching them on television. The magic mirror pops up in several fairy tales, and is a fun thing to re-create with young kids. A magic mirror is made to be held by the child and decorated to look glittery and magical. The sturdiest magic mirror is made from an old paddle-ball paddle (with the string and ball removed), but kids will love them made out of sturdy cardboard or poster board cut into a paddle shape. Here's how to get your kids gazing into their own magic mirrors at home.

Things You'll Need

• Old paddle-ball paddle, cardboard or poster board Pencil Scissors Markers or crayons Tin foil Glue Beads, fake jewels Glitter

Instructions

1. Remove the string and ball from a paddle-ball paddle. If you don't have one, then draw the shape of a handheld mirror on your cardboard or poster board. Think ping-pong paddle when drawing the basic shape: oval mirror top, rectangle handle bottom.The mirror should be about 10 to 12 inches long total, with the mirror face about 5 to 6 inches across. The handle of the mirror should be about 2 to 3 inches wide, big enough for your child to grasp.

2. Cut out your mirror shape. Have your child help cut--this is the fun part.

3. Color the mirror. Have your child draw on the mirror with crayons or markers.

4. Trace an oval in the tin foil that will fit inside your mirror head. Cut the oval. Have your child glue the oval onto the mirror, with the shiny side facing out. This is the "mirror" face of your mirror.

5. Use a variety of beads and fake jewelry to decorate the mirror. Have your child add spots of glue all over the outside of the mirror and let her add the decorations. Finish with a sprinkle of glitter.

6. Allow to dry. Your mirror is complete. Let the magic begin!