Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality: Fun Activity Ideas

Decorate smooth stones with positive messages and unique designs. This activity promotes kindness and creativity and allows you to spread positivity in your community.

Instructions:

1. Wash and thoroughly dry your rocks.

2. Brainstorm ideas for your rocks. You can paint jungle animals, abstract patterns, or write kind words like 'Be You,' 'You're Awesome,' or 'Smile.'

3. Use paint pens or small brushes to decorate your rocks. Make each one different and special.

4. Let the rocks dry completely. If you plan to place them outside, an adult can apply a clear sealant to protect the paint.

5. Place your rocks in your garden to create a 'Kindness Garden' or leave them in a local park for others to find and enjoy.

You will need:

• Smooth, flat river rocks

• Acrylic paint pens or outdoor acrylic paint

• Clear sealant spray (optional, for outdoor use)

Discover and create a portrait of a 'spirit animal' that represents your child's unique personality and strengths, inspired by the animal characters in the book.

Instructions:

1. Talk with your child about their personality. Are they brave like a lion? Playful like a monkey? Wise like an owl?

2. Help them choose an animal that they feel represents their best qualities.

3. On a piece of art paper, have them draw or paint their chosen spirit animal.

4. Encourage them to add special details. If they are funny, maybe their animal is wearing a silly hat. If they are a fast runner, maybe their animal has rocket shoes!

5. At the bottom of the portrait, help them write 'My Spirit Animal is a [Animal Name] because I am [Personality Trait].

You will need:

• White art paper or cardstock

• Watercolors, crayons, or markers

• Pencils

Build a vibrant jungle scene in a shoebox, where every animal and plant is uniquely decorated. This hands-on craft allows children to express their creativity and visualize the book's theme.

Instructions:

1. Turn a shoebox on its side to create your stage.

2. Use blue construction paper for the sky and green for the jungle floor. Glue them inside the box.

3. Create trees, vines, and flowers out of construction paper and pipe cleaners and glue them into your scene.

4. Take small plastic animal toys and give them unique quirks! Glue on mismatched googly eyes, a pom-pom nose, or pipe cleaner wings.

5. Arrange your unique animals inside the diorama to create your own 'Jungle of Individuality'.

You will need:

• Empty shoebox

• Construction paper

• Small plastic animal toys

• Craft glue and child-safe scissors

• Pipe cleaners, pom-poms, and googly eyes

Create a special jar to celebrate the unique and wonderful quirks of each family member. This activity helps build self-esteem and appreciation for individuality within the family.

Instructions:

1. Find a clean, empty jar.

2. Decorate the outside of the jar together using paint or markers. You can label it 'Our Family Quirk Jar' or 'What Makes Us Special'.

3. Cut up colorful paper into small slips.

4. Over the next week, have each family member secretly or openly write down a unique and positive quirk they notice about someone else. (e.g., 'Dad's silly dance when his favorite song comes on,' 'Lily's loud giggle,' 'Mom's talent for finding lost toys').

5. At the end of the week, sit together, pull the slips out one by one, and read them aloud. Celebrate what makes each of you special!

You will need:

• Glass or plastic jar

• Acrylic paint or permanent markers

• Small slips of colorful paper

• Pens or pencils

Create a personalized puzzle from a self-portrait or drawing that celebrates individuality. This activity combines art with problem-solving and reinforces the message that every piece is essential to the whole picture.

Instructions:

1. On a piece of cardstock, have your child draw a picture of themselves in a jungle setting, surrounded by things they love.

2. Encourage them to fill the entire page with color and detail, highlighting their favorite clothes, hairstyles, and hobbies.

3. Once the drawing is complete, flip it over. Using a pencil, an adult should draw puzzle-piece lines on the back. Make the pieces larger for younger children and smaller for older children.

4. Carefully cut along the lines to create your personalized puzzle.

5. Mix up the pieces and have fun putting the unique picture of you back together!

You will need:

• Sturdy cardstock or a thin cardboard sheet

• Markers, crayons, or colored pencils

• Pencil

• Scissors