Classic Play Holiday Gift Guide 2016

Shopping for toys for kids on your holiday list? Some of the best toys for encouraging creative and imaginative play are those that use classic play patterns. By engaging in classic play, kids can develop fine-motor skills, social skills, story telling skills, and more! These are some of the most used favorite toys in our household. This […]

Paper Tacos!

These paper tacos are a fun way to encourage lots of imaginative playtime fun! When I first set up this simple invitation to play, I completely underestimated how much fun my kids would have crafting up tacos. By the time they were done with this, they had made 23 paper tacos!! I left the table […]

Play Dough Pumpkin Pie Shop!

After making our own pumpkin spice play dough and a second batch of cinnamon play dough, the kids were ready to make a pretend pumpkin pie shop! Our house smelled like an Autumn café, and this activity kept the kids happily entertained for a long time. I love that they were able to practice some basic […]

Simple Magic Tricks for Kids

With a little help from the NEW Discovery Magic Set by Melissa & Doug, young magicians can perform several tricks! These tricks are perfect for April Fool’s Day fun, or anytime you want to add a little magic to your day. A big thank you to our friends at Melissa & Doug for sponsoring today’s creative […]

How to Make a Paper Airplane (Easy)

Do you remember making paper airplanes when you were a kid? Here is a step by step tutorial for how to make a paper airplane (dart style) with a video to walk you thru the process. It is one of the fastest and simplest paper airplane versions you can make. This is a classic childhood […]

Cabin Fever Boredom Busters

These cabin fever boredom busters are the perfect cure for anytime you may be stuck indoors during the long Winter months! Keeping the kids entertained indoors is not always an easy task, but these activities use common household items and the set ups are simple. I love how many of these activities can inspire lots of learning […]

Elf Bootcamp!

It was the first day of Winter break, and I had a to do list that was a mile long. There were gifts to be wrapped, goodies to bake, and lots of decorating to be done. Inspired by the lovely Katherine Marie, I planned our own version of Elf Bootcamp and the kids were excited […]

Cardboard Crafts — Pretend Cookie Shop

On hot Summer days one of the last things I want to do is turn on the oven to bake cookies. Fortunately, simple cardboard crafts are a great alternative to baking! These pretend cardboard cookies are decorated with pretend icing that is light and fluffy and pretend sprinkles too! These cardboard cookies are all the fun of baking without the […]

Sidewalk Chalk Paint Recipe

This sidewalk chalk paint recipe is made with common household items you probably have on hand! If you don’t already have the materials needed to make this, you may be able to find these at your local dollar store or grocery store. This sidewalk chalk paint recipe features vibrant colors that can easily be washed […]

Cardboard Roll Crafts!

These cardboard roll crafts are fun and easy to make! We save plenty of empty paper towel rolls and wrapping paper rolls to re-use for these crafts. These are perfect for a rainy day or anytime you are in need of some simple crafty fun! Here is one of our favorite cardboard roll crafts — […]

Writing Center Ideas for First Grade

These writing center ideas for first grade are great for inspiring lots of creative writing fun! This pretend poem shop is an imaginative and educational way to spend a rainy day. Not only will your first grader work on developing important writing skills, she can also work on beginning math skills by adding up the cost of […]

Fun Outdoor Activity Idea

Here’s a fun outdoor activity idea that would be great for a sunny afternoon with the kids! This sidewalk suitcase was a HUGE hit with my kids when I surprised them with it after school one afternoon. It is easy and quick to put together, and it doesn’t cost a lot of money. I love how something […]

How to Make a Fairy Door

Ever wondered how to make a fairy door? This simple garden craft is an easy way for kids to add a little whimsy to their outdoor garden space. Making fairy doors with your kids is a great way to foster their imagination! My kids enjoyed crafting their fairy doors and decorating them however they liked. […]

St. Patrick’s Day Activities for Kids

These St. Patrick’s Day activities for kids are a festive way to inspire plenty of imaginative play time fun with leprechauns, rainbows, and more! They all use common household items you probably already have on-hand. We even have a few free printables to make these St. Patrick’s Day activities for kids super EASY to do! Yay […]

St. Patrick’s Day Role Play

This idea for St. Patrick’s Day role play is festive and fun! Added bonus, you can easily sneak in some Math practice too. Welcome to the Clover Café! We serve the luckiest lunches you ever did see. With just a few items from the dollar store and a few of our favorite stuffed animal friends, […]

How to Make a Paper Hat

Want to learn how to make a paper hat? The kids and I had so much fun making these! You will not believe how EASY these paper hats are to make, and you probably have everything you need to make a paper hat in your home right now. The best part is, you can make and decorate […]

Polar Party for Snow Day Fun

These ideas for snow day fun are simple and easy to set up! Most of these use items you probably already have at home. When school is cancelled for a snow (and ice) day, it can upset daily schedules and frigid temperatures can mean lots of time indoors. These activities are great for when you […]

Groundhog Day Craft

This Groundhog Day craft for kids is simple for them to make, and uses supplies you probably already have on-hand. Perfect for some last-minute fun to celebrate Groundhog Day! My kids enjoyed using a flashlight with these brown bag puppets to recreate the scene as Punxutawney saw his shadow to predict 6 more weeks of […]