We’ve been having a spell of rain here lately, but that didn’t stop us from having a FUN family beach-themed movie night! If we couldn’t get to the beach, we decided we could find a few ways to bring the beach to us. The kids had SO much FUN with this and it was really […]
5 Must Follow Pinterest Boards for Summer Learning
July 2, 2013 by
Are you on Pinterest? Looking for some inspiring boards to follow for plenty of Summer learning activity ideas? Here are five of our all-time favorite Pinterest boards you’ll want to add to your “must follow” list to help foster your child’s love of learning throughout the Summer months and beyond! 1. Inner Child Learning — Educational crafts […]
Passport to Imagination
June 28, 2013 by
Early last week, I took the kids to visit Michael’s craft store for their Passport to Imagination program. It was a big hit!! Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from now until August 2nd 10am-noon, Michael’s is hosting 2 kid-friendly craft projects inspired by countries around the world for just $2 per child per visit. It’s […]
10 Ways to Stay Cool with Water Play
June 27, 2013 by
If you find yourself stuck in a heat wave this Summer, it may be a good time to try some water play ideas to stay cool, and keep the kids entertained without the use of batteries or screens! Some tips to keep in mind — Avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day, […]
Bubble Science
June 26, 2013 by
Every kid has a fascination with bubbles. There’s just something enticing about them. We recently spent an afternoon playing with a bottle of bubbles, which led to lots of discovery about the science behind bubbles. Here’s a few of the fun concepts we learned as we explored bubbles. Does wand shape effect the bubble? […]
Around the Web: Sidewalk Chalk
June 23, 2013 by
There are so many ways to learn and play with sidewalk chalk. It’s great for play prompts, open-ended play, and educational activities. This makes it a must-have in the summer, and we know you’ve been stocking up! Are you looking for creative ways to use your stash? If so, you’ll want to stockpile these 10 […]
5 Tips for a Great Sandbox All Summer Long
June 20, 2013 by
One of my kids’ favorite summer activities is to play in the sandbox. Even my nine-year-old can spend long periods of time playing in the sand. In fact, recently, when I added some new sand to the box, my 4 yr old exclaimed, “It’s just what I always wanted!”. I love how something so simple […]
The BEST Outdoor Summer Toys for 2013
June 18, 2013 by
Summer time means lots of active outdoor play time fun! Here are ten of our favorite outdoor toys for Summer to keep the kids entertained for long periods of time without the use of batteries or screens. Yay for creative outdoor play!! 1. Zing Air Huntress Z Bow (shown above) — New for 2013! Emily […]
Sponge Bombs for Summer Fun and Learning
June 17, 2013 by
The days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer, and that can mean even more time spent outdoors. Wouldn’t it be great if you could find a way to sneak in some learning and beat the heat? I think so too! So I’m excited to share this simple craft that can accomplish both of those […]
Let’s Build a Fairy Garden Table!
June 10, 2013 by
This fairy garden table is a never-ending project for the kids this Summer! I love that this space provides: 1. plenty of inspiration for imaginative playtime fun, 2. learning opportunities about various plants, and 3. fresh herbs for our Summer recipes! Oh, and it is absolutely adorable!! We started with a simple elevated garden bed […]
Summer Reading Resource Share
June 10, 2013 by
Last week, I shared a video with tips for making summer reading fun for your kids, and this week we’ll explore the topic even further. Recently, Amy from Teach Mama and the community managers from the We Teach forum got together and hosted a Google+ hangout all about summer reading. But don’t worry if you […]
2013 Unplugged Summer Pact
June 9, 2013 by
I’m so excited to share that I have just signed the Unplugged Summer Pact, sponsored by our friends at Michael’s®. What I love about this pact is that instead of going completely screen-free, the pact calls for 2 hours of dedicated screen-free time every day this Summer, and 2 hours a day is definitely do-able! […]
101 Free (or Low Cost) Things to Do with Kids this Summer
May 22, 2013 by
Not sure what to do with the kids this Summer? Are you putting together a Summer bucket list? Need some fun activity ideas to do with the kids that are free or low cost? Here’s a list of over 100 FREE or cheap activity ideas to help inspire you to make the most of your […]
20 Favorite Must-Do Activities for Summer
May 10, 2013 by
Are you looking forward to Summer? Need some inexpensive activities for the kids to do to help celebrate the season?? Here are 20 of our family’s favorite Summer activities that have become special traditions — without breaking the bank. 1. Kick Ball Croquet — Repurpose some old pool noodles to make your own kickball croquet […]
Spring Baskets from a Paper Plate
May 2, 2013 by
These Spring baskets are a quick and easy craft project the kids can make and they are quite useful for snacking or gift giving! A BIG thank you to our friends at Melissa & Doug for sponsoring today’s creative craft project! Psst — did you see we recently teamed up with Melissa & Doug and […]
Insect Lab Nature Investigation
May 1, 2013 by
Spring brings flowers, warm air, green grass . . . and insects. Many, many insects! Due to mild weather and their natural instinct to hunt for food after winter hibernation, insects are abundant in the spring. Many spring insects are young; they have recently hatched out of an egg case or matured from pupae to […]
How to Make a Simple Kite
April 29, 2013 by
The breezy days of spring are perfect for picnics and kite flying, so today we’re sharing a super easy kite tutorial that you can make with your kids. You can watch the kite tutorial video here: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-6yjy1-ymc] Having trouble viewing this video? You can click here to watch it on YouTube. Be sure to subscribe […]
“April Showers Bring May Flowers” Handprint Art
April 24, 2013 by
Have you ever gazed at your child and wondered to yourself, “How did he get so big?” or, “Did she grow in her sleep last night?” Colin had just come home from preschool and was excitedly sharing what he had learned that day from his teachers. As he yapped on and on, it became one […]
