Violence, death and major illness are tough for kids (and adults too!) to understand. To help your child process difficult information in a positive way, make these lovely peace doves, accented by awareness ribbons that symbolize the causes that are meaningful to your family.

For more fun, be sure to visit our Christmas crafts, New Year's crafts and Winter crafts for more holiday ideas!

What you'll need:

How to make it:

1. Paint the outside of the yogurt container with white paint. Let dry completely then add a second coat. Set aside to dry.
2. After you have chosen the colors for your causes, cut a thin strip of construction paper, about 8” long, to make the ribbon. Fold at the top into an inverted V shape, use the glue gun to secure the ribbon fold. Trim the ends straight up and down (see photo). Set ribbons aside.
3. Place the paper plate upside down on the table.
4. Hot glue the yogurt container upside down onto the center of the paper plate.
5. Glue the 2 pom poms to the top of the yogurt container.
6. Cut out 2 small triangles from the goldenrod felt scrap. Glue to the pom poms as beaks.
7. Cut out 4 small crescent shapes from the black foam and glue two to each pom pom. These are the dove eyes.
8. Glue white feathers all over the back and sides of the yogurt container, filling gaps as you go.
9. Glue each colored ribbon to the plate brim around the yogurt container. Glue one to the front of the yogurt container.

Tips:

• The crescent shapes may be difficult for kids to cut out. You can either cut them for them or choose an alternative such as wiggle eyes or small foam circles for the eyes.
• Before gluing the ribbons on, you may write the names of your causes or specific children or families that were affected by an event. For example, if your child knows a family affected by the war in Iraq this year, have them write that family name on a yellow ribbon.
• There are many different colors representing several causes supported by ribbon campaigns. For example:
  Light pink Childhood cancer
  Dark blue: Child abuse prevention
  Crime victim rights
  Yellow: Troop support
  Adoptive parent
  White: Adoptee
  Child exploitation and abuse
  Purple: Domestic abuse
  Children with disabilities
  Orange: Cultural diversity
  Hunger awareness
  Green: Missing children
  Childhood depression
  Pink and blue mix Miscarriage, stillbirth or SIDS