Associated Press

This isn't Grandma's Easter hat. And you won't find it at church on Easter Sunday (let's hope).

However, this Easter basket hat is a blast to make, and even more fun to wear. What's more, it can help burn off some of your children's Easter morning anticipation.

If you're a crafting junkie with a monster stash of supplies, then these are easy enough. Otherwise, it's a quick dash to the crafting store for a few, inexpensive parts.

The rewards are many: For parents, it's an hour or so when children are focused, busy and working creatively. For kids, it's the chance to create without parental interference, with any luck.

This is the tricky part. Parents like to get involved, and we particularly like to make things "perfect" -- whatever that means. Avoid this naughty behavior and allow your child the freedom to create with abandon. One way to accomplish this is to make your own hat, which is what this adult did while working with six kids.

This is an easy craft for 7-year-olds on up. It's a little more difficult for the younger set, because it involves wielding the almighty stapler, but with an adult's help, they'll enjoy using that alluring device.

Also, if you want to avoid a big mess, eschew the glue and make it a stapler-only project.

The neighborhood children who helped me with this project came up with some clever ways to personalize their hats. Even better were their smiles.

Supplies

One sheet of 12-inch-by-18-inch foam for each hat

A stapler and plenty of staples

A ruler

Glue that actually works, such as Elmer's or Aleene's Tacky Glue

Colored markers