Why do all kids love toads when all their mothers would rather not think about them?
Toad Houses are pretty simple to make. All you need is a terra cotta pot (I chose the 4 inch size), any color of acrylic paint, and a brush. We painted ours a single color because of the drying time involved, but we had considered adding decoration as a second step.
After the paint is dry, take the toad house to your garden, and find a nice spot for it where the kids can see it, but not trample on your plants. Dig out a little dirt, maybe 1-2 inches deep, and lay the pot on it's side in the hole, so that the pot makes a little shady cave that a toad might fall in love with. Put the extra dirt inside the pot to make a floor, and add a few pieces of bark or sticks or rocks. Hopefully your work will be rewarded by a toad who sets up house. Your kids will probably name the toad (ours is pre-named the Little Green Frog) and you can be thankful that it is eating some of the other creepy-crawly things in your garden.