Guest blogger Toni Gallagher offers step-by-step instructions for this creative flag art project:

Materials: White paper, blue paper, children's scissors, red and white poster paint, a paper plate, glue stick, potatoes, and a sharp knife (which should be used only by an adult).

First, find a space outside to set up all the materials. This project may get a little messy, and red paint on your coffee table is never good.

	1. Have your kids cut (with safe scissors) the blue paper into random shapes. Left-over scraps will always do. Place them in a plastic cup as they're being cut to keep them from blowing away.
	2. Cut the potato in half with a sharp knife. Carefully cut a star on one half of the potato and a rectangle on the other half.
	3. On the white piece of paper in the top left hand corner, draw a box. This is so your child can fill in the square/rectangle with the blue cut pieces of paper, sticking them down with a glue sick. This does not have to be neat, layering is good.
	4. Put the red paint in a tray, or on a paper plate. Then take the rectangular-shaped potato and dip it in the paint. This will be used to make the red stripes on your flag.
	5. Put the white paint in a tray and dip the star-shaped potato into it. Let your child print as many stars as they'd like in the blue box. This is a representation of the American flag and does not need to be totally realistic.

When I stepped back and stopped guiding my 5-year-old, it unleashed a whole new layer of creativity. She carried on with this picture and added glitter and some magazine cuttings. I love doing arts and crafts with children. I find they are far less structured in their approach and come up with some really inspiring creations. Remember there is no right or wrong; just have fun.