Bandana Making

This weekend, Uptown and Boogie Healthy Project hosted a bandana-making activity to supplement our micro-gardening instruction at our Kids' Club in Uptown Good Food and Bronx Park East Farmer's Markets. Our interns, Clair Oduwa and Tiffaney Batista, supported the micro-gardening activity by engaging and teaching kids the importance of growing their plants, whether used as a hobby or for cultivating produce. After our participants worked on potting the micro-gardening activity, we gave kids tips on supporting their plants as they grow from seed to seedling and beyond. Specific details about ensuring the plants have adequate water, light, and nutrient sources were key for our kids to understand what to look for when caring for their plants.

At Kids Club, we pride ourselves on being a space that uplifts the youth's voices, encourages creative expression, and nurtures social-emotional development and wellbeing. While designing a bandana may seem like a simple craft, it's also an opportunity for kids to express themselves as fashion designer when curating a look. Through this process, our participants practiced creativity, decision-making, and pride in their work, skills that support personal and professional growth, which will help them throughout their lives. Not only is this activity fun and expressive, but it's also sustainable! The bandanas were made from recycled fabric, giving kids a lesson in sustainability and the value of reusing everyday cloth materials. In 5–10 minutes, each child transformed a scrap of fabric into something uniquely stylish that fit their personalities.
As we continue to grow our activity club, we're committed to bringing meaningful and fun experiences that reflect the interests and potential of youth in our Uptown and Bronx communities. Stay tuned for more creative moments at the market! Suppose you are looking to connect with us on social media. In that case, you can visit us on our IG pages at @uptowngoodfood and @bxepmarket, where we are constantly adding new posts dedicated to bringing nutrition-based education, promoting healthier lifestyles, and community engagement to the public.

Here is a guide on how to replicate this activity yourself.

Supplies:

• Fabric
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Pen

Step-By-Step Instructions:
Using a ruler, mark your fabric 15-20 inches in length with a pen, depending on the size of your child's head. Use that marking to cut out a square, with all sides equal in length. Fold your fabric square in half, creating a triangle shape. Wrap the triangle cloth around your child's head and tie a knot to secure the bandana.

We want to thank all the kids and their parents who participated this weekend in the kids' activity table. This bandana-making activity can be used for all practical purposes, including face coverings, headscarves, handkerchiefs, decorative items, and more. As we advance to bring more support to our team to help you all, we ask that you also engage and support our weekend markets and Kid Club programming so we can hear more of your opinions on the work we put out this summer and beyond. The Uptown Good Food community values the words and feedback of the community, as it helps us grow and improve our efforts.