How to make an EASY and safe Super Hero cape

  Over the past few years there have been a lot of movies about Super Heroes. While I never personally cared for them my preschool children have been fascinated with them. They would bring us doll blankets and want them tied around their neck.  Within a few minutes they were back asking us to tie them again.
 I don't remember where I originally found this idea but I think it is ingenious.

First of all, get a t-shirt a little bit larger than the child who will be wearing it. You want big enough so it will still fit over their head as they grow, but you don't want it too long so that they trip over it as they run and play.

1. Cut off the front of the shirt by cutting up each side up to the arm pit of the sleeve.
2. Cut around the back of the sleeve up just past the shoulder seam.
3. Cut along the seam to neck hole.
4. Cut around the neck hole over to shoulder seam and across to sleeve.
5. Cut around the back of the sleeve as you did on the other side and down the side
6.  You will have the neck hole and back of the shirt left.  The child can slip the neck hole over their head. No tying, buttoning, etc.
7.  The capes can be decorated with fabric paint or glue other embellishments on.
We glued felt lightning bolts and stars on. Then we used spray on glue and sprinkled glitter on the shirts. We re-sprayed the glue to ensure the glitter would stay on.  I don't know how the glitter will stay on if they are washed. Unless our Super Heroes encounter a really messy situation I don't have plans to wash them.

Don't throw away the sleeves!! You can leave the cuff/hem part in tact and cut a part of the sleeve out and you have a mini cape for your child to use for a stuffed animal or doll.  It can be their Side Kick.

Super Hero Sidekicks

Today "P" came in and asked if I could make a super hero cape for her baby (doll).  I said we'd see what we could do at Center Time.  "P"'s mom is my preschool aide so she already had some ideas to help.  Before I had time to start on the project "P" had already fashioned a cape out of paper.

I pulled out the remains of the shirts we had cut for super hero capes, which still had the sleeves attached.  I cut off the sleeves and leaving the cuff/hem in tact cut off a part of it.  Then she could slip the cuff/hem part over the dolls head.  All the while my aide and I were discussing how each child could bring a doll or stuffed to toy to be a Side Kick.  "P" went to hang the cape up on a hook in our Command Center but there weren't enough hooks. It was then that "D" and I decided to make our other bulletin board the Side Kicks Command Center.  I found extra hooks that we put up on the bottom just for their capes.

"P" was proud of her new cape and had all kinds of plans on how they would save the world together.

Of  course the children wanted all the dolls in the House Center to have capes as well.  When it was time to go for a walk they each took a baby wearing a cape and had fun making their Side Kick fly.

I just love when a simple suggestion by one of the children leads to a whole new learning experience.
Thanks "P" for the AWESOME IDEA!!

Calling all Super Heroes!

Our theme this year is "Up, Up and Away with Learning Fun !"  The  preschoolers have been called to action. They are busy decorating their Super Hero capes and choosing their Super names.
We have set up a Command Center where details of our 'missions' can be found.  The capes will be hung below for easy access when we are called to duty.

 

 Mini name tags and hooks are placed below so each Super Heroes cape will be easily found.
What missions we will be called to do are not known yet but it should be an exciting year!!