The Hands On As We Grow® Archives

Pasta Sensory Bin Activity for Free Play Exploration

How to Make Homemade Playdough Super Soft

30 Chinese New Year Crafts for Kids, Lanterns, Dragons, Tigers & More to Celebrate!

The LEGO Blindfold Building Activity for Kids

Learning Math Facts Without the Worksheets

Snowy Owl Pinecone Craft & Fine Motor Toddler Activity

Balloon Pop Countdown of New Year’s Kids Activities! Three, Two, One! POP!

How to Entertain Kids on a Plane (Without Screens)

4 Fun Ball Activities and Games for Kids of Every Age

Christmas Flashlight Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Creative Paper Plate Hat Crafts for Kids to Make

Christmas Wrapping Paper Tree & Presents Matching

15 Christmastime Activities for Kids

Parent-Tested, Kid-Approved Easy DIY Puffy Paint for Toddlers

Jingle Bell Activities for Kids of All Ages (Oh What Fun!)

Pom Pom Balance Tree an Easy Fine Motor Activity

21 Color Activities for Toddlers: Fun Ways to Match, Sort, and Play

Simple Christmas LEGO® Challenge for Kids

Easy Robot Art Project with Magnet Tiles

48 Santa Crafts for Kids & Toddlers that are Festive & Cute

Bouncy Balls Game: Silly Fun Activity for Home to Play

10 Fun Ideas for Playing in the Snow Outside

Toddler Corn Cob Painting is Simple, Fun Fall Art

25 Easy Christmas Tree Crafts & Activities

Easy Tabletop Christmas Tree for Kids (with Printable)

20+ Letter Learning Activities to Start Toddlers with the ABCs

Turn Cards Into Bookmarks: An Easy Gift Kids Can Make

DIY Thanksgiving Leaf Stamp Tablecloth Keepsake for Kids to Make

Quick Games to Play with Stuffed Animals

12 Non-Turkey Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids to Make & Do

30+ Easy Snowflake Crafts for Kids to Make this Winter

38 Things to Do With a Cardboard Box that Are Crafty & Fun!

Magic Letter Learning!

The Classic Christmas Countdown Chain with Festive Kids Activities

Our 5 Simple Family Christmas Traditions + Yours

Kids’ DIY Popsicle Stick Frame Craft for Artwork & Photos

Simple Crawling Obstacle Course for Baby

Leaf Rubbing Art with a Nature Match Up Twist

25 Easy Christmas Crafts for Kids to Make

24 Balancing Activities for Toddlers to Improve Motor Skills

Balloon Rocket Race a Super Simple Science Experiment

Easy Edible Sand Castle with Brown Sugar for Indoor Beach Fun

Balance Beam for Toddlers Super Easy DIY at Home

Toddler Name Tracing Practice to Creative Early Learning

Super-Sized Math + Painting Activity for Kids

10 Benefits of Mud Play & The Magic of Dirt

Homemade Christmas Ornaments for Kids to Make

35+ Button Activities for Preschoolers (Free & Fun!)

10 Animal Activities for Playtime!

3 Simple Science Experiments that are Perfect for the Backyard

7 Tips for How to Keep Toddlers Busy While You’re With the Big Kids

15 Native American Crafts for Kids + 5 Inspiring Books

40 Easy Apple Activities for Kids to Experiment, Create & Learn

14 Birthday Books That Are FUN to Read Aloud

Cute Leaf Man People Fall Craft for Kids

50 Simple & Fun Alphabet Activities for Preschoolers

Playing “Marbles” with Monster Trucks

Simple Thanksgiving Conversation Starters for Kids

Make an Easy Rubber Band Splatter Painting with Your Preschooler

Name Writing Practice with 12 Hands-On Activities

20+ Measurement Activities for Preschoolers to Learn About Weight, Volume, Length & More

Be Grateful with a DIY Thankful Wreath Craft

12 Shape Books for Preschoolers That Are Simply Shape-tastic!

Measuring Activity Made So Simple with Ribbon

Simple Sorting Animals Activity to Create a Zoo to Work on Grouping

Board Games for Kids (Beyond Candyland) That You Love

How to Make Easy Monster Slime for Halloween

Number Line Activity with Place Values

Easy DIY Life Size Board Games To Create & Play with the Kids

12 Interactive Books for Kids to Dive Into & Read, Read, Read!

Easy Cupcake Liner Flowers! Simplified for Toddlers to Practice Threading

Introduce Possible Or Impossible to Preschoolers with Simple Game

Puffy Ghost Craft Made With Shaving Cream Puffy Paint + Bonus Spider Web

30 Teacher Appreciation Gifts Kids Can Make

Make an Ocean Sensory Bottle with a Whale!

Simply Gorgeous Fall Painting Project for Kids

20 Simple Back to School Art Projects for Kids

Fun Rubber Band Passing Fine Motor Game

Here’s the Scoop: 40+ Ice Cream Crafts & Activities

No Prep Gross Motor Indoor Apple Picking Activity

Alphabet Ball Learning Game for Preschoolers

New Birthday Tradition: Make it a ‘Yes’ Day

“Save the Duck!” Water Displacement Experiment to Keep Kids Busy in the Backyard

Torn Paper Autumn Tree Craft for Kids

Letter Scavenger Hunt for Preschoolers to Find & Match (Plus Numbers & Counting!)

5 Beginning Reader Books for Kids JUST Learning to Read

15 ICY Ice Activities for Kids to Be Cool with Ice

42 Stunning Leaf Crafts for Kids to Make

20 Robot Activities & Robot Crafts All Kids Need to Do!

30 Beach Activities for Kids to Do This Summer + Beach Theme Snacks

10 Mazes for Preschoolers to Help Learn to Achieve Their Dreams

The Easiest BABY Crafts & Art Ideas Out There + Tips for Art with Baby!

12 Action Songs for Preschoolers to Get Up and Moving

How to Paint Blot Symmetrical Butterfly Paintings as Beautiful Art Creations

A to Z Alphabet Crafts That Preschoolers Will Love to Learn Their Letters

Super Silly Animal Sounds Activity for Toddler Language Skills

Learn to Count Money Scavenger Hunt for Kids to “Make a Dollar”

40+ Totally Awesome Activities to Do with Toilet Paper Rolls

Simple Sponge Squeezing Activity to Increase Hand Grip Strength (aka Fine Motor Skills)

Hey! I'm Jamie. I have 3 boys that are crazy energetic & we like to have fun!

Hands On As We Grow Newsletter

"It is hard to think of things to keep the 3 year old entertained and engaged while taking care of the baby. Everything we have tried so far from your website, the three year old has loved. Your ideas are so simple and he can do them for hours. HEAVEN!" - Karen I.
I am now one happy Dad!

"You have changed how I spend time with my kid in so many positive ways! I am now one happy dad that no longer wonders what I am going to do with this little guy for the next 12 hours :P Your site was this first time dad life saver!" - Jack C.
Hands On As We Grow Newsletter

"I feel like a new mama having so many fun ideas. I used to dread the afternoon, after naps, as it was so boring doing the same thing day after day but now I look forward to our "play" time!" - Haley S.
Free Activity Challenge

"Thank you so much for these activities. They have proven to me that I CAN be that mom that does cool and creative things with her kids! And those cool and creative things can actually be quite simple! What a revelation. Thank you!!" - Katie M.
Activity Plans eBooks

"This takes down the need to scour the internet for ideas. It's like looking for a recipe on the internet, so many options that often times it is less overwhelming to look in a book on the shelf than stress about too many options." Robyn G
So organized and easy to use.

I have found it impossible to Google ideas from a million different sites, get organized, shop for supplies, etc. This is exactly what I have been searching for! Thanks for making something so organized and easy to use. - Early Years Activity Plans User, Melissa C.
The Activity Room Member

"I absolutely love that this takes all the prep work out of engaging my children. It is so easy to just put up the calendar, and glance at it for inspiration when we are in a funk." - Rachel
Grateful to have activities handed to us...

"There's always something new for us to discover, as well as old favorites. I am so grateful to have activities handed to us... Fun and easy ones that can be put together in a moment's notice! You're awesome Jamie and I appreciate you sharing your activities and ideas!!" - Melissa C.