Blue Tissue Box Piggy Bank

This creative bank lets kids count and create at the same time. Use it to encourage math skills--and money smarts.

Watch Blue's Clues every day on Nick Jr.

Materials

• Newspaper
• Smock or old shirt
• Empty rectangular tissue box
• Light-blue craft paint
• Paintbrushes
• Toilet-paper roll
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• Glue (in a squeeze bottle)
• "Color Blue" Coloring Page
• Crayons or colored markers (dark blue, light blue, and pink)
• Sturdy craft paper or cardboard (preferably blue)
• Dark-blue felt

Directions

1. Step 1

   Help your child cover the work area with newspaper and put on a smock or an old shirt. While your child paints the box light blue, cut the toilet-paper roll into four equal pieces to make Blue's feet. Your child can then paint the feet light blue. Allow the paint to dry completely.

2. Step 2

   While the paint is drying, print the Color Blue coloring page and let your child color in Blue's face with crayons or colored markers. Cut out just Blue's head and use the glue stick to affix it to the sturdy craft paper or cardboard. Cut away the craft paper or cardboard following the outline of Blue's head.

3. Step 3

   When the paint is dry, use the squeeze bottle of glue to affix the feet to the bottom of the box (the side opposite the tissue-paper slit). Allow the glue to dry.

4. Step 4

   Help your child cut out Blue's spots freehand from the dark blue felt. To make Blue's tail, your child can trace your index finger on the craft paper or cardboard. Add an extra half-inch at the bottom of the tail to make a tab that you can fold back and glue to the box. Show your child how to cut out the tail shape.

5. Step 5

   Glue Blue's head to one end of the box and glue on Blue's spots and tail.