Getting the most play value out of the toys your kids already have doesn’t have to take a lot of time or effort. Here are some easy ways to make old toys seem like new! These tips can help teach kids to appreciate the things they already own, and promote plenty of imaginative playtime fun. […]
Kid Craft — Silly Stick Puppets
April 3, 2013 by
Here’s a quick, low-mess craft for the kids to do. Added bonus — they may be inspired to put on their own puppet shows for plenty of imaginative playtime fun! You might want to keep these in mind for upcoming Screen Free Week later this month! (More ideas for Screen Free Week can be found […]
Free Printable — Spring Flower Matching Game
April 1, 2013 by
Need a quick activity for the kids to do that’s free and easy to set up? Here’s a little printable matching game just for you! The kids and I are so eager for the first flowers of the season to bloom, that we thought it was time to take matters into our own hands. Just […]
Spring Craft – 5 Little Ducks Play Set from Red Ted Art
March 23, 2013 by
Here is a cute Spring craft for the kids to make — a 5 little duck play set as inspired by the upcoming book Red Ted Art: Cute and Easy Crafts for Kids by Maggy Woodley. This book would be a wonderful addition for your family’s bookshelf, or even as a birthday gift for any […]
Kid Craft — Rocket Straws!
March 13, 2013 by
Quite possibly the most fun craft EVER! These rocket straws are a super quick craft project that can lead to hours of active play time fun!! Emily declared this was the “most fun craft project EVER”, and the kids have been playing with them indoors (and out) ever since. Yay for easy projects that keep […]
Toy Fair NY 2013!
February 16, 2013 by
Toy Fair is one of the biggest toy events in the world, and this year they celebrated their 110th birthday at the Javits Center in NYC! Toy Fair is not open to the public — only those directly involved in the toy industry are permitted to attend. Want to see all the latest and greatest […]
Weekend Project: DIY Cardboard Firehouse
December 17, 2012 by
Looking for a handmade gift idea the kids will love? Ever wish to pay tribute to our amazing rescue workers? Need a crafty weekend project?? I made a cardboard firehouse for the kids last weekend, intended as a handmade Christmas gift, but… well… I just could not wait that long! It was a HUGE hit! […]
Quiet Time: Felt Gingerbread Cookies
December 12, 2012 by
I had a few sheets of inexpensive tan felt leftover from a previous project, so I cut them into gingerbread men shapes for the girls to decorate over and over again. It was a big hit around here! A few scraps of felt and some leftover ric-rack kept them happily entertained for a long […]
DIY Cardboard Toy Gingerbread House
November 27, 2012 by
Do your kids enjoy decorating gingerbread houses? Do they wish they could build and decorate gingerbread houses all day long over and over? Do you have an empty cereal box on-hand?? Here’s a little DIY toy project to try! First, you will need to download and print out our free gingerbread house template. Each cereal […]
10 Amazing Toys You Can Make For Your Kids
October 5, 2012 by
It’s no secret that we love making our own toys around here! Many times, these are the toys the kids play with the most, and in some cases the kids have played an active role in helping to make them. Here are ten of our all-time favorite homemade toys for kids to inspire imagination and […]
DIY Doll Lunch Box from a Mint Tin
August 29, 2012 by
Is your doll ready for back-to-school? Does she get hungry at lunch time? Do the other dolls make fun of her lunch box because it’s old or out-dated??? Then this project is for YOU!! To make your own doll lunch box, you will need an empty mint tin and some colored duct tape. Am I […]
DIY Pretend Spy Kit!
August 16, 2012 by
Wondering what to do with the kids? Wish you could go on an exciting adventure? Do you yearn to be a secret agent?? Then this activity is for you! The best part is that most of the components for this Pretend Spy Kit can be found at your local dollar store or you may already […]
DIY Cardboard Construction Play Set
August 10, 2012 by
Do your kids love to play with large cardboard boxes? Do you wish you had more room to store them? Want to create a play set that allows them to build and rebuild imaginative play structures?? Then this project is for you! To make your own cardboard construction play set, you will need a large […]
Make Your Own Sponge Blocks
August 2, 2012 by
Do you have quiet time at your house? Looking for a little activity to keep the kids entertained, but also quiet?? This little activity for the kids is so simple, but my girls enjoyed playing with these sponge blocks for a good part of the day! Added bonus — very quiet! While we were making […]
How to Build a Simple Shadow Puppet Theater
July 28, 2012 by
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
