Gift Guide 
What You’ll Need
- Tissue box
- Cardstock
- 4 short cardboard tubes
- Scissors
- Craft gems
- Tape
- Velcro dots
What to Do
- For the body, cover a tissue box with cardstock, leaving half of the tissue opening uncovered. (This will be the back.)
- For arms and legs, cover four short cardboard tubes with cardstock. Cut holes in the body for the arms and legs, and a coin slot in the top of the robot. Insert the tubes in the body.
- From cardstock, cut out hands, feet, a face, buttons, and a belly. Glue them on. Add craft gems for eyes.
- Cut out a cardstock flap to cover the opening in the back. Tape the top edge to the robot. Add Velcro dots to hold the bottom edge closed.
- Insert coins and bills in the top slot. To get money out, open the flap in the back.
Extend the Fun
For younger kids: Talk with your child about determination, persistence, and achieving goals. What’s worth saving for—a trip to the ice-cream store? A new basketball? A book? Mark today’s date on the bottom of the bank. See how long it takes to achieve the goal. Literary assist: read and discuss the fable of the tortoise and the hare.
For older kids: Instead of a bank, turn your robot into a gift box, and fill it with inspiring notes to make someone’s day: “You’re great!” “Have a happy day!” “Do something nice for yourself today.” Or start a thankfulness bank: Write down good things that happen and insert those notes into the bank. Open the bank at the end of the week, month, or year and notice what a good time you’ve had.
Craft by Elle Vee; text by Mary Sears
