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, […]
Becoming a Chicken Mama
May 8, 2013 by
Raising baby chickens is a rewarding task that leaves us with entertainment, wonderful learning opportunities, and of course, amazing eggs. If you have ever thought about raising your own chickens for eggs now is the time to consider giving your children the rare experience of having their very own backyard flock! My daughter is […]
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 […]
Rainbow Song
April 22, 2013 by
This week we’re exploring weather themes, and here to start off the week is a great video from Angelique teaching a rainbow song! Watching Angelique’s videos always makes me smile! You can watch the video of the rainbow song here: Having trouble viewing the video? Click here to view it on YouTube, and don’t forget to subscribe […]
Planting a Three Sisters Garden
April 16, 2013 by
Short on space but still want a garden? Try planting a Three Sisters Garden with your kids this year! With a few modifications this Native American technique can even be adapted to grow in a pot and you can enjoy all the benefits of these plants that help each other grow in even the smallest […]
5 Simple Experiments with Water
April 11, 2013 by
April is known for it’s rain showers. What better time to try some simple science experiments with water! Today, I’m sharing with you 5 simple experiments that need only a few items and take just a few seconds to set up, yet are fun and explore different properties of water. 1. Bending pencil experiment Materials […]
DIY Button Flower Learning Game for Kids
April 3, 2013 by
Signs of Spring are showing up everywhere! What better way to welcome Spring than with a bouquet of bright, colorful flowers? We made our bouquet with simple buttons and pipe cleaners, but took it a step further and made up a button flower game. It’s quick, easy, and lots of fun! Here is what you’ll need: […]
Developing Handwriting Skills to Boost Reading Skills
March 27, 2013 by
One of the ways to boost your child’s reading skills is by teaching him to write his letters! Handwriting skills and reading skills are very closely interlinked. While reading seems like primarily a mental activity, developing handwriting skills can help kids hurdle many of the ‘normal’ reading pitfalls before they even begin to learn their […]
5 Books to Inspire Creativity
March 22, 2013 by
Children love to draw, paint, and create, and seem inherently creative. To further encourage your children to understand that their artwork is valuable and unique, I’ve created a list of five great story books that inspire artistic creativity! Ish – This is one of my all-time favorite books! Ramon loves to draw, but when […]
Make Your Own Stamps!
March 19, 2013 by
We love to explore different art techniques! Some are common techniques that get used often, such as painting, drawing, and sculpting with clay or play dough. Other techniques we use sporadically, like stamping! Whenever we bring out the stamps we always have a good time. You can try stamping, too. Make your own stamps with […]
Exploring Art and Artists
March 17, 2013 by
Exploring Art and Artists with kids can be a great exercise in creativity, and a wonderful way to introduce a variety of art techniques. Here are a few posts from our wonderful contributing writers — all about Art! Frank Lloyd Wright Inspired Votive Holders on Inner Child Fun Helen Frankenthaler Inspired Abstract Paintings on Dilly-Dali […]
A Visit to the Art Museum
March 13, 2013 by
Several weeks ago, my husband and I decided to take the boys on an outing to the local art museum. An art museum has a completely different culture and set of rules than a children’s discovery museum and I’ll admit, I had concerns about whether or not they would behave appropriately during this new experience. […]
Suminagashi Art for Kids
March 11, 2013 by
Exploring art and artists is a great way to incorporate art into your children’s learning. There are so many fun techniques and interesting artists to learn about! Today we are sharing a fantastic video on exploring the ancient Japanese technique of Suminagashi. Can’t see this video? You can also watch it here. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JBGDKV2pIw] You can […]
5 Ideas for Process Art
March 6, 2013 by
Have you ever heard the phrase “it’s the process not the product?” That perfectly sums up process based art! Instead of focusing on every child making the same cookie cutter craft project, each child is able to manipulate art materials to create what they want. I’m sharing 5 ideas for process art that range from […]
Around the Web: Birds
March 3, 2013 by
This week we shared a fun and creative way to make hanging shape bird feeders as well as the benefits of letting your child use real tools to build a bird feeder. But we don’t want to stop there! Here are even more inspiring links about birds. 1. Go on a frugal field trip and […]
Hanging Shape Bird Feeders
February 28, 2013 by
Spruce up your yard, help the birds, and get your kids involved! This simple project will have you cooking up some fun and creative bird feeders with your kids. Even though winter still has its hold on the temperature, spring has started to show here in the Pacific NW and I am LOVING it! Yesterday […]
