There are days that we just need to have open ended creativity. It balances out our academic subjects. Fostering creativity and allowing kids the chance to design and build with different materials just adds to their problem solving abilities. Foil sculptures one item activity is a free form way to give kids time to create with a unique material. Aluminum foil is a fun … [Read more...]
Map Travel Activity for School Age Kids
{Post by Heather Hice-McCray} The minute my kids get in the car on a road trip they tell me they’re bored. I have great memories of road trips in the car with my parents because my mom would always pack these awesome travel games. A map activity travel game is great for school age kids! This year I wanted to make a travel game of my own that was simple, … [Read more...]
One Item Activity: Bubbles
Looking back on this video makes me miss the simple days. As the mom of one, I felt like I was managing life pretty well. Clothes were folded and put away, dinner was made and ready to eat by 5 o'clock, and I had so much one-on-one time to spend with my toddler-my only child. That is the one thing that changes the most...along with the laundry craziness...when you have one … [Read more...]
Cotton Ball Toddler Fine Motor Activity
Kids love cotton balls. They are so versatile as a hands-on fine motor and sensory activity. I grabbed some cotton balls for a cotton ball fine motor activity for my twins. The twins were so little! I can’t believe how fast time really does fly. This activity counts as a one item activity for kids too! I have a whole collection of activities that only need one supply. Kids … [Read more...]
Tissue Paper Toddler Activity
This tissue paper toddler activity is so good for a day when you are stuck inside! It can be used multiple times throughout the day, and my toddlers were so excited to see the tissue paper more than once. Tissue paper is a pretty perfect toddler plaything. It crinkles, it rips, it swings and sways. You can kick it without hurting anything, and you crumple it and toss it too. … [Read more...]
Spell Your Name Hopscotch Game: Active Learning Series
When we combine movement with learning, kids absorb so much. Especially for preschool aged children, when we can get them actively moving their bodies in order to learn new skills, the learning feels like fun. This Spell Your Name Hopscotch Game takes the challenge of spelling and turns it into a fun active learning activity for preschoolers and early elementary-aged … [Read more...]
Shaving Cream Indoor Sensory and Gross Motor Activity
When the weather prevents the kids from playing outside, it can be tricky to figure out what to do indoors. I like trying to play indoor games that get my kids moving so they can burn some energy, but the activities need to be safe so we are not injuring ourselves or breaking things inside! This indoor sensory activity combines shaving cream sensory play with a gross motor … [Read more...]
Fun Discovery for Sidewalk Chalk Art
Do you have a child who LOVES art? I have a 4 year old like this. She lives for creating! She learns best through art projects. (I am so glad I discovered this because we were butting heads, she and I, for a time while trying to do some homeschool preschool lessons.) We both stumbled into this fun discovery for sidewalk chalk. It's a completely free form art activity great … [Read more...]
Fine Motor Activity for Toddlers with Tape
Toddler activities are the most effective when they are simple. Toddlers are very creative-that is why we often find them on top of tables, digging through the cupboards or tasting the water in the water table that may or may not have been in there a little too long...toddlers are little explorers. I think this age group requires the most hands-on and one-on-one time with us … [Read more...]
One Item Activity: Tissue Paper
I love sharing activities that are super easy, really frugal, and perfect for different ages. Many of us have children in different ages and stages, so finding activities that they all can do together-for any length of time-is very helpful. It is so fun watching all four of my kids play together even though they are in very different developmental stages-school age, preschool, … [Read more...]
One Item Activity: Clothespins
Need an a activity for preschoolers and school aged kids that involves no prep? This is one that will work! Jamie at hands on: as we grow inspired me to think up a whole list of one item activities that require zero prep time when she shared a clever fine motor activity using paper clips. It is genius! I decided to give the kids my clothespins to explore. … [Read more...]
Activity for Infants: Beach Towel Sensory Exploration
As a mom, I am amazed at how many options for baby play time there are just using items we all have in our homes. This one is great indoors or out! It helps enhance tummy time for babies and may even extend an infant's interest in spending time on his/her belly. This is a one item, one step activity. This post contains affiliate links. Please see … [Read more...]
Make Your Own Bean Bags
I have been wanting to buy my children bean bags for a while and never got to it. DIY bean bags turned out to fit my budget and they were pretty easy to make. I have a CD of bean bag toss songs that teach following directions that I used with my own preschool classes when I was teaching. It was a great indoor activity in the heat of Summer, rainy days or the cold of … [Read more...]