Make a Pirate Hook!

What You Need:

• 2-liter plastic soda bottle
• Wire hanger
• Wire cutters
• Scissors
• Gold or silver spray paint

What You Do:

1. Remove the label from the soda bottle. With your child's hand in mind, cut off the top of the bottle, about 5-6 inches down from the mouth. This should cover your child's hand. Take off the cap and recycle the rest of the bottle.
2. Using the wire cutters, cut off the bottom part of the wire hanger, so that only the hook and the fork of the hanger remain. Leave enough of the fork so that your child can use it as a handle when he wields his hook.
3. Straightening the hook of the hanger slightly, push it up through the mouth of the bottle so that the hook sticks up out of the bottle top. The fork of the hanger should be inside the dome of the bottle, making an easy grip for your child's hand.
4. Adjust the hook so that it has the right curvature. Use tin foil to plug the rest of the mouth of the bottle so that the hook doesn't wiggle. Can your child hold onto his hook comfortably?
5. Now it's time to apply the paint. An adult should complete this step in a well-ventilated outdoor area. Place the hook on a sheet of newspaper and evenly apply the gold or silver metallic spray paint (you may want to wear a dishwashing glove, hold the hook by the interior handle, and rotate to get an even coat). Let dry.
6. Have your child try the hook on for size and watch him instantly transform into a proud pirate-to-be!