We here at Inner Child Learning consider ourselves play advocates and fully support learning through play. So it’s no surprise that we also love and support the Playful Learning Ecademy. My family is continuously inspired to focus on playful learning through the amazing eLessons offered. There is truly something for everyone. I thoroughly enjoyed the […]
Ocean Themed Fun
July 26, 2013 by
Interested in teaching your children more about the ocean? Make a day out of it! Here are some ideas for planning a day filled with lots of ocean themed fun. Eat ocean themed food Make an octopus’s garden snack with a bell pepper as the body and 8 legs wallowing in the dip of your […]
Beach Keepsake Craft
July 24, 2013 by
One of our favorite places to go for vacation is the beach. It’s so relaxing and enjoyable, yet at the same time, the kids love to explore, build, and discover on the shoreline. This summer, I decided to use this opportunity to create a beach keepsake using their discoveries. The supplies you need are quite […]
A Day in NYC with Celine’s Dolls — Part 2
July 16, 2013 by
Continuing on with our fun-filled adventure in Williamsburg, Brooklyn NY with the lovely Celine from Celine’s Dolls (to read part 1, click here) and her husband Fabien, we went to the Renegade Craft Fair!! This is held in Brooklyn just two times a year — once in Winter, and again in Summer, and in other […]
How to Make Colored Shadows
July 10, 2013 by
Sometimes summer plans don’t go as we wanted them to, especially if we end up with rainy days! Last week, we ended up being stuck in the house when we really wanted to be enjoying the sunshine. We pulled out a few lamps and created our own shadows. To our surprise, shadows don’t always have […]
Bubble Printing
June 28, 2013 by
It’s summer and that means lots of fun time spent outside playing with bubbles. Want to extend your bubble play? Try these bubble experiments and discover new ways to play with bubbles. When you’re done experimenting, how about trying an art project with bubbles? Bubble printing is so easy and you get beautiful, unique results with […]
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 Ways to Learn with Chalk
June 20, 2013 by
Truth? I have never intentionally planned a “learning activity” for my children using chalk (bad blogger mom Melissa!). To me, chalk is simply an inexpensive medium used to create driveway art or something to occupy the boys’ hands and minds while I page a magazine and chat with an old friend on the phone. However, […]
Exploring Nature with Books
June 12, 2013 by
The best part about summer for me is getting outside with my children! I love watching their eyes light up when they pop a wild berry into their mouths or find a snail along a forest trail. We spend hours and hours outside each day, sometimes doing more formal learning such as species identification and […]
5 Tips for Traveling with Kids by Car
June 5, 2013 by
Colin and Owen were born travelers. Up until several years ago, we lived in Wisconsin and traveled frequently to New York, by car, for holidays and summer vacation. Being that it was a 14-hour drive, I had to have many tricks up my sleeve to keep them content, comfortable, and calm. Here are my best […]
Learning with Ordinary Household Items
May 28, 2013 by
Learning manipulatives (items that are used to engage a child in hands-on learning) are used for problem solving and to help increase understanding of a concept, such as counting. There are literally thousands of incredible learning manipulatives available for purchase through education websites and catalogs; making a choice can be very overwhelming! But did you […]
5 Books to Celebrate Spring
May 25, 2013 by
Spring is finally here! Celebrate the season with your children by reading these beautiful stories outdoors on a warm, sunny day! Little White Rabbit – In this beautifully illustrated springtime story by Kevin Henkes, a little white rabbit uses his big imagination to wonder what it would be like to become something else. My Garden […]
How to Create a Wildlife-Friendly Backyard
May 23, 2013 by
Kids love to look at and examine animals. But we don’t always have a backyard that encourages animals to come to us. So, how can you promote animals in your backyard? First you have to know what kind of animals you are wanting to attract. Are you wanting a variety of birds? What about insects? […]
5 DIY Gift Ideas for Gardeners
May 20, 2013 by
We have been having a fickle Spring this year here on the East Coast. One with freezing temperatures one day and hot and sticky the next! But, I’m not complaining and neither is my garden! My plants are growing more and more everyday and they have been calling me outside to get into the garden! […]
Old MacDonald Had a Farm Song with Props
May 20, 2013 by
We’ll be exploring animals this week, and getting us started is another video from Angelique! Old MacDonald is a classic, and this bilingual video uses props to bring the song alive for children. You can watch the video here: Can’t view this video? You can also watch it on YouTube! You can also subscribe to […]
Using Blocks to Teach Your Child About Tints, Shades, and Mixing Colors
May 15, 2013 by
What I love about simple wooden blocks is their versatility. A child can use blocks to create a zoo . . . a school . . . a road! (Or, a road through a zoo that leads to school!) Blocks deliciously challenge a child’s fine and gross motor skills as they practice balancing and building, […]
5 Tips for Scrapbooking in Small Pockets of Time
May 8, 2013 by
Do you enjoy scrapbooking, but find yourself waiting until you have hours of time to sit and do it? By then, does the pile of photos with no home seem overwhelming to you? I’m back with an update on the Michaels Make Every Moment Count blogger challenge, and I thought I would share some tips […]
