I completely underestimated how much the girls would enjoy playing with shadow puppets. Whenever something so simple makes them so happy, I can’t help but smile!! And this was SUPER simple. Added bonus — the perfect entertainment for whenever a power outage occurs. Our little shadow puppet theater was made from an empty cardboard box […]
Connect with Your Kids: Camping …or Camp-In??
July 21, 2012 by
Do your kids crave a camping adventure? Whether you’re planning a trip to the great outdoors, or pitching camp in your own backyard, Joyce from Childhood Beckons and I got together to share some simple camping activities to keep the kids entertained! Tasty Camping Treats Banana Boats — Whip up a tasty campfire treat! Make […]
Summer Fun with Kids — Making Mega Bubbles
July 18, 2012 by
Making mega bubbles is fun for the whole family! We did this little activity many times last Summer (inspired by a now-retired blog), and watching the girls’ reactions always makes me smile. Bubble solution is made with 6 cups distilled water, 2 cups Joy dishwashing detergent, and 3/4 cup light corn syrup. Stir the solution gently and […]
Hot Air Balloon Window Display
July 13, 2012 by
It’s time for a new window display! (If you’re new to our blog, you can see our previous window displays here, here, here, here, and here.) This time we painted up coffee filters with watercolor paint! I love how these painted coffee filters each have a unique look. The filters hold up very well to […]
Sponge Bomb Yo-Yos
July 10, 2012 by
There was renewed interest in the sponge bombs when we made them into yo-yos! This time I held the sponge bombs together with ouchless hair elastics instead, and they worked very well indeed. A piece of elastic attached made them instant yo-yos!! (As with anything else, be sure to supervise the kiddos while playing.) When […]
Water Beads and Glow Sticks
July 6, 2012 by
I had some clear water beads chilling in the fridge, and since we’re in the midst of a heat wave this Summer, I thought now might be a good time to let the kiddos play with them. Note — Water beads are designed for use in floral arrangements, and not as toys. They are non-toxic […]
Outdoor Nature Discovery Lab
July 5, 2012 by
During a recent trip to the dollar store, Emily asked if we could spend an afternoon creating a “nature discovery lab”. I thought that was a great idea, and as it turns out, we were able to use a few inexpensive items from the dollar store to make our nature discovery lab even more educational […]
Easy 4th of July Windsock Craft
July 3, 2012 by
I’m guest posting for my friends at Melissa & Doug with an easy craft for kids as part of Week 5 of Camp Sunny Patch. You can see how we made patriotic windsocks to either display proudly in your home, or if your kids are like mine, run around with them like crazy monkeys! And […]
BIG Play in Small Spaces
June 24, 2012 by
Recently I posted a list of What to Do with the Kids this Summer with 10 simple ideas. A lovely reader (Hi, Judith!) commented to say that she lives in the city and is looking for play ideas that don’t require a lot of space. So I reached out to some of the most creative […]
Recycled Artwork
June 23, 2012 by
I’m guest posting for my friends at Melissa & Doug today. Come see how we recycled wooden bead trays to make beautiful and unique works of art! You can create a mini gallery for display in your home. Be sure to add this to your list of things to do with the kids. Added bonus?? […]
*NEW* Craft Video Tutorials!
June 21, 2012 by
Exciting news! Our YouTube channel has partnered with PBS Digital Studios (I adore PBS!!), to bring you a NEW quick & easy kid craft video tutorial EVERY WEEK. Many of the videos are less than a minute long and can be made with materials you probably already have on-hand. I hope this is helpful for busy parents […]
10 Creative Label Crafts for Kids
June 20, 2012 by
Do you have color-coding labels?? Here are some crafts for the kids to enjoy! Added bonus — no mess! Gumball Machine Birds on a Wire Modern Wall Art Ladybug Cuteness Summer Party Invites Birthday Card Pretty Peacock Pictures Sweets for Your Sweetie Christmas Tree Craft Spooky Spider Suncatchers I love the colorful look of […]
Building Fairy Houses
June 18, 2012 by
Just as I was about to tackle the pile of dirty dishes in the sink, the girls asked if they could do some crafting. Well! They didn’t have to twist my arm!! Those dishes can wait. Instead, I put together a super-quick, CUTE, tiny, fairy house building kit for them. It’s made with some leftover […]
Father’s Day Gift Kids Can Make — BBQ Sauce
June 12, 2012 by
Looking for an easy Father’s Day gift idea that the kids can make?? The girls and I have been hard at work making and canning batches of homemade BBQ sauce for a gift to Mark this Father’s Day! ((Shhhhhhh… it’s a surprise!)) Mark loves to cook on the grill. I’m pretty sure this is because […]
Easy Botanical Prints
June 10, 2012 by
The girls and I made some pretty botanical prints with the help of the Sun, some water, and a Sunprint Kit similar to this one. They were so proud of how nicely their prints turned out! We used natural items we collected from our yard — sticks, flower petals, and leaves. A few things I […]
Sunshine Crafts and Activities for Kids
June 7, 2012 by
Here are some of our favorite crafts and activities for kids that celebrate sunshine — no matter what weather you happen to be experiencing at the moment. Besides, sometimes it’s more fun to make your own sunshine! Sunny Indoor Beach — If the weather is not cooperating, why not make your own sunny beach indoors? […]
Simple Science for Kids — Make a Rainbow
May 31, 2012 by
Here’s another learning activity to add to the list of Things to Do with the Kids this Summer — Make a rainbow with a hose! This is a simple way to demonstrate that when sunlight shines on water droplets at a certain angle, the water refracts the beams of sunlight to separate them into different […]
Cloud Dough Recipe & Ice Cream Shop
May 29, 2012 by
Have you tried playing with cloud dough yet?? It is totally awesome! We made two big batches of it for a cloud dough ice cream shop — LOTS of pretend play FUN! I’m not exaggerating when I say that the girls played with this stuff for hours, and it was another great use for our […]
