Kids at Play
Beth Dvergsten Stevens is a children’s author whose crafts, articles and stories have been published in national magazines like Family Fun, Highlights for Children, and Crayola Kids. She writes hands-on nonfiction books for kids and teachers and until November, 2006, wrote a weekly column in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier, “Kids At Play.”
The featured projects were low-cost and made use of recyclable materials. They were (and still are!) perfect for school, scout or church groups and families.
Here’s a sample (124kb) of what readers found each week! For more activities, see For Kids on this web site.
Beth’s writing also appears in:
Books
A series of 5 nonfiction books on “how things are made” (especially for grades 3 & 4)
- Textiles: Smooth as Silk, Bumpy as Burlap
- Plastics: Bags, Boats, Bottles, and Brushes
- Paper: From Books to Boxes
- Metal: From Safety Pins to Statues
- Glass: From Beads to Bottles to Windowpanes
A series of 8 nonfiction books on historical toys (especially for grades 2-6)
- Bicycles
- Billions of Balls
- Marvelous Marbles
- Colorful Kites
- Tops (and Other Spinning Toys)
- Wheels!
- Games Galore!
- Toy Fads
A teacher’s resource book, Celebrate Christmas Around the World
Magazines
Games, crafts, activities and stories in a variety of children’s magazines:
- Highlights for Children
- Crayola Kids
- Ladybug
- Cricket
- Spider
- Pack-O-Fun
- American Girl
Features and interviews in a variety of parenting and family life magazines:
- The Lutheran
- Christian Parenting Today
- Family Fun
- Iowa Parent
- Indy’s Child
- All About Kids
Articles, crafts and activities on various family websites, including:
- eToys
- Real Families, Real Fun
Awards
- Better Homes and Gardens Craft Creations Contest winner, 1979
- Highlights for Children “Craft Feature of the Year,” 1995
- National Craft Month, “Family Crafts” Contest winner, 1998
- Children’s Writer award for a “How To” article, 2001
