A fun way to get the kids moving and playing outside. You can also add a little basic learning for young kids too! View this kids activity at Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tail! ...
Shared by a Hands on Mom!
Marbles Fine Motor Activity for Toddlers from Buggy and Buddy
Grab an empty canister and some marbles and have fun watching your toddler 'pop' the marbles through the top! Great fine motor practice and entertaining too! View this kids activity at Buggy and Buddy! ...
Simple Back to School DIY Alphabet Activities from Little Bins for Little Hands
Quick and simple budget friendly alphabet activities you can make from around the house that are very hands on and fun! View this kids activity at Little Bins for Little Hands! ...
Easy Fireworks Painting from Princess and the Rock
An easy way for young kids to make fireworks! Try this fireworks painting! View this kids activity at Princess and the Rock! ...
Scented Homemade Edible Fingerpaint from Fun At Home With Kids
Recipe for baby/toddler safe edible (but not tasty) fingerpaints, plus they're scented! View this kids recipe at Fun At Home With Kids! ...
ABC Fireman Spray from Playdough to Plato
Check out this fun-filled way for little firemen in training to practice the names and sounds of letters. View this kids activity at Playdough to Plato! ...
Rainbow ribbon streamers from The Fairy and The Frog
A fun way to encourage dancing with ribbons! View this kids activity at The Fairy and The Frog! ...
Gross Motor Learning Shapes & Letters with Water Balloons from Little Bins for Little Hands
Outdoor fun with water balloons! Movement play while practicing letters and shapes. View this kids activity at Little Bins for Little Hands! ...
The Foot Book Movement Activity from Reading Confetti
It's fun to get moving and learning with The Foot Book by Dr. Suess. This simple activity combines both. View this kids activity at Reading Confetti! ...
The Benefits of Dramatic Play from The Stay At Home Educator
An increasing amount of research continues to support play in early childhood development, and there are five primary forms or types of play in which children engage: locomotive, social, object, language and pretend play. Each type of play has its own benefits for the developing mind of a young child, and while each is important, pretend play (otherwise known as imaginative or ...
I SPY jars: how to make them from Makeovers and Motherhood
Have your kids make I SPY jars... a fun crafting activity for now and an entertaining toy later! View this kids activity at Makeovers and Motherhood! ...
Learn Letters & Letter Sounds from Enchanted Schoolroom
Go on a nature walk, or a smell hunt, or a flower hunt in your neighborhood, raid your pantry and garden, collect everything, and get ready to learn your letters the smelly way! View this kids activity at Enchanted Schoolroom! ...
Is Preschool Worth It? from The Stay-at-Home-Mom Survival Guide
Four factors to consider before deciding to send your child to a preschool program or homeschool them. Included are two free downloads that I used in my classrooms. View them at The Stay-at-Home-Mom Survival Guide! ...
Active Alphabet Activities from Toddler Approved
Playful and active ways to practice learning your alphabet! We love finding ways to get kids learning while moving! View this kids activity at Toddler Approved! ...
A Tape Race to Get Kids Moving from Inspiration Laboratories
This simple tape race practices fine motor skills, colors, counting, and best of all gets kids moving! At the end, there’s potential for a cool piece of art. View this kids activity at Inspiration Laboratories! ...
Flash Card Musical Chairs from True Aim
Do your kids need to get their wiggles out? Put a new twist on an old game. Help your children learn and burn off some energy by playing Flash Card Musical Chairs. This game is so simple, but the kids love it. View this kids activity at True Aim! ...
Free Printable Games for Family Fun from Moms & Munchkins
Loads of free printable games for family fun like charades, scavenger hunts, BINGO, trivia, word searches and more. View this kids activity at Moms & Munchkins! ...
Clothespin Letter Matching from Scribble Doodle and Draw
This is a fun activity where kids learn to match letters (or numbers) and as a bonus they strengthen their fine motors skills as well. View this kids activity at Scribble Doodle and Draw! ...
Baby’s First Sensory Bottle from For The Love of Learning
Here is a simple sensory bottle using a plastic water bottle and sequins. Just shake it up and watch the sequins spin like a tornado! These bottles are inexpensive and very simple to create. View this kids activity at For The Love of Learning! ...
Scented Sand Painting on Foil from Learn ~ Play ~ Imagine
Simple and inexpensive recipe for homemade scented and textured paint for a multisensory art experience for kids. Have kids paint on foil for added texture and shine! View this kids activity at Learn ~ Play ~ Imagine! ...
Marble Play from Little Bins for Little Hands
Using a bag of marbles, golf tees, a recycled jar and spoon to work on fine motor skills and art. Simple but fun! View this kids activity at little bins for little hands! ...
DIY Pool Noodle Pom Pom Shooter from Frogs and snails and Puppy Dog Tail
Are you looking for an activity for both preschooler and toddler? These easy to make pool noodle pom pom shooters are perfect. View this kids activity at Frogs and snails and Puppy Dog Tail! ...
Our Favorite Children’s Books for Back to School from Buggy and Buddy
Here's a roundup of some of excellent books to read to prepare for a new school year! View this kids activity at Buggy and Buddy! ...
A Journey in Sleep Training from My Nearest and Dearest
Getting your baby to sleep through the night is not as easy as the sleep books suggest. Thoughts from a mom who's been there. View this kids activity at My Nearest and Dearest! ...
Sticky Yarn Fine Motor Math from Blog Me Mom
Learn and create with sticky yarn. Great fine motor and pre-writing practice. View this kids activity at Blog Me Mom! ...
DIY: Organize & Store Small Toys from Makeovers and Motherhood
Organizing toys can be a battle! Here is a simple (and inexpensive) DIY storage idea to organize small toys that your kids will love! View this kids activity at Makeovers and Motherhood! ...
3 Games to Play with Water Blasters from Fireflies and Mud Pies
Keep your kids busy and cool this summer with Water Blaster Games! View this kids activity at Fireflies and Mud Pies! ...
Toddler Pictionary from Simple.Home.Blessings.
Engage your pre-writing, pre-drawing toddlers with this fun activity. No artistic ability necessary. View this kids activity at Simple.Home.Blessings.! ...
The Very Hungry Caterpillar from Just Another Mom from East LA
Lots of edible fun learning about caterpillars and butterflies! View this kids activity at Just Another Mom from East LA! ...
Back to School Countdown Calendar Craft from Lalymom
Count down to the first day of school with this fun craft using craft foam and an egg carton. It's an advent calendar so you can fill the 5 doors with small school supplies, stickers or pictures of activities to do with your child the week before school starts! View this kids activity at Lalymom! ...
Alphabet Hands Obstacle Course & Scavenger Hunt from And Next Comes L
Looking for a "hands" on approach to learning the letters of the alphabet? Try this fun activity that combines letter learning with gross motor play. View this kids activity at And Next Comes L! ...
Make Your Own Sidewalk Chalk from Fun at Home with Kids
A recipe for making your own vibrant, custom-shaped chalk! View this kids activity at Fun at Home with Kids! ...
5 Ways to Have Fun WIth Glow Sticks from Rediscovered Families
Children love glow sticks, so grab a package and enjoy these ideas. View this kids activity at Rediscovered Families! ...
The Sentence Fairy from Debra Caffrey
This is a SUPER simple idea, but one that has helped my son's reading tremendously! My son is starting to read full sentences, and I obviously want him to practice when he can, but when we're reading books together, he still prefers that I read them aloud to him. I've been finding that he will opt for reading on his own only when it doesn't feel like a chore. So lately, the ...
Learning words through play in the sun from Just the Way We Want To
For kids that are ready and excited to learn to read! This is a fun activity to do to help them practice new words while still being out and about in the sunshine. View this kids activity at Just the Way We Want To! ...
Smoothie Paint – Recipe for Play from Learn ~ Play ~ Imagine
Smoothie paint! Homemade paint recipe for art and sensory play to stay cool this summer! This recipe calls for three simple ingredients and only takes minutes to prepare. View this kids activity at Learn ~ Play ~ Imagine! ...
Make Your Own Printable Roads from PICKLEBUMS
Playing with cars and trucks on homemade roads! Make your own printable roads! All you need to do is download the pdf, print a few copies of each page and cut out your roads and you are ready to play! View this kids activity at PICKLEBUMS! ...
PVC Pipe Physics for Kids from Fun-A-Day!
Putting PVC pipes in the water table leads to so much learning and hours of fun! View this kids activity at Fun-A-Day!! ...
Paper Plate Memory Frames from The Crafty Doolittle’s
Decorate paper plates with relevant stickers and objects, then stick your vacation photo in the center [or it could be any photo from a birthday party or holiday]. Then frame them in shadow boxes! View this kids craft at The Crafty Doolittle's ! ...
How to Make a Parachute from Inspiration Laboratories
Making a parachute is super easy. Try out different materials, test various designs, experiment, and have fun with your kids! View this kids activity at Inspiration Laboratories! ...
How Children Learn to Read from Stay At Home Educator
The purpose of reading is to construct meaning from written text, to gain information. Reading involves more than simply deciphering words. It includes figuring out the relationship between the approximately forty-four spoken sounds (phonemes) of the English language with the twenty-six letters of the alphabet, and there are over 150 different ways to spell all those ...
Homemade Snow Cone Syrup from Nothing if Not Intentional
Snow cones are a classic summer treat. Make them at home with this three-ingredient snow cone syrup recipe. It's yummy to eat and easy to make! View this kids activity at Nothing if Not Intentional! ...
Sight Words: A Key to Reading Success from Mommy Matters
If the goal is to help our children become successful readers, then sight words are a HUGE key in achieving that goal! Learn why, and then get started with some fun ideas for teaching them! View this kids activity at Mommy Matters! ...
Exploring Fingerprints from Buggy and Buddy
Observed the patterns your fingers using a stamp pad and paper. So much to discover! When you're done turn your fingerprints into art! View this kids activity at Buggy and Buddy! ...
Simple Activity for Preschoolers To Learn About Respect For The Environment from Moments A Day
One day we made a home for a pet toy snake (my son's current favorite animal) and discussed some practical ways for how we can respect the natural habitats of the animals around us. My son loved creating the habitat and role playing in it - and it was a lesson in environmental awareness all at the same time. View this kids activity at Moments A Day! ...
5 Easy and Fun Toilet Paper Roll Activities from Color Made Happy
This list of easy-to-make toilet paper roll activities combines learning with fun. Perfect for keeping the kids happy and busy. View this kids activity at Color Made Happy! ...
Learning About My Bones from Patti
My daughter wanted to learn about bones. What better way than to make them her bones and a visible way to practice. This kids activity was submitted by Patti! ...
Messy Play with Homemade Bath Paints from Just the Way We Want To
Messy play in the house! The bath is the perfect place for messy play! Check out how to make these easy homemade bath paints that are great for doodling on the bath, tiles and on yourself. View this kids activity at Just the Way We Want To! P.S. Also great for practicing writing words. ...
Outdoor Car Ramps from And Next Comes L
Here's a simple outdoor activity that uses toy cars and scrap pieces of wood. It's also a great way to explore some science with your kids. View this kids activity at And Next Comes L! ...
Summer Yoga for Kids from Lazy Lizards Yoga
Looking for something to do with your toddler or Mom's group this summer? Take your kids outside and have them try some fun yoga poses and breathing activities. Check Lazy Lizards Yoga for 5 tips to take the kids outside and practice yoga. ...
Ways to Have Fun with Water Balloons from PreachTeach
Mix learning with fun! A list of activities to do with your young kids and water balloons. View this kids activity at PreachTeach! ...
How to Create Land Art from Rediscovered Families
Have some outdoor fun and spark your children's creativity with this easy activity. All you need is place to explore and your imagination, although you may want to bring along a camera as well. View this kids activity at Rediscovered Families! ...
Fern Prints from My Nearest and Dearest
A beautiful and simple art project for toddlers or preschoolers. View this kids activity at My Nearest and Dearest! ...
Chasing Fireflies from Fireflies and Mud Pies
Chasing fireflies is a classic summertime activity that will live in your child's memory for a lifetime. View this kids activity at Fireflies and Mud Pies! ...
Summer Memory Sheet from The Crafty Doolittle’s
Make a summer holiday memory sheet all you need are fabric markers,cheap sheet and kids every day..Have a great summer.. View this kids activity at The Crafty Doolittle's! ...
Wrecking Ball Block Play from Fantastic Fun and learning
Make a super simple wrecking ball. Then use it to experiment with force and motion, or just have tons of fun knocking block structures over! View this kids activity at Fantastic Fun and learning! ...
The Interrupt Rule from The House of Hendrix
The Interrupt Rule - how to respectfully interrupt your elder. View this kids activity at The House of Hendrix! ...
DIY Water Wall from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails
If you are look for an easy way to keep the kids busy this summer this water wall might work for you too. View this kids activity at Frogs & Snails & Puppy Dog Tails! ...
Baggie and Pencil Magic from Buggy and Buddy
Fill a baggie with water and stick a pencil through it. What do you think will happen? View this kids activity at Buggy and Buddy! ...
Icy, Fizzy Letters from Fun-A-Day!
An incredibly fun way to learn about letters. Literacy, science, sensory play, math, and fine motor skills are woven in to this easy-to-make activity. View this kids activity at Fun-A-Day!! ...
Chilly Ice Cream Goo from Fun At Home With Kids
A fun (cold!) way to play with pretend ice cream this summer! It melts like real ice cream, and is edible (but not tasty) so it's safe for the toddler set. It's even reusable! View this kids activity at Fun At Home With Kids! ...
Easy Water Play Ideas from PICKLEBUMS
Two easy water play ideas and some tips for keeping water play manageable. View this kids activity at PICKLEBUMS! ...
ABC Matching Activity from For the Love of Learning
An easy and inexpensive DIY learning activity that will keep preschoolers busy matching letters into the correct place. View this kids activity at For the Love of Learning! ...
Giant Chalk Keyboard from And Next Comes L
Looking for a hands on way to introduce the piano to your toddler or preschooler? Draw a giant chalk keyboard and invite your child to learn about piano and letters, all while using gross motor skills. View this kids activity at And Next Comes L! ...
Painting with Cars from Just the Way We Want To
Let the little ones make a mess and have fun with a roll of paper, paints, and an assortment of objects for pattern making. Lots of fun and you can use it for homemade wrapping paper that relatives will love! View this kids activity at Just the Way We Want to! ...
Even Better Bubble Dough from Creative Playhouse
Make Bubble Dough. Its fabulous. A better version without borax! View this kids activity at Creative Playhouse! ...
Shape Matching Activity from For the Love of Learning
Shape matching activity Children have the task of making pairs with similar shape and color. once a match is made, they are placed side by side into the ice cube tray. The cost $2 to create! View this kids activity at For the Love of Learning! ...
7 Ways to Make Ice Chalk from Reading Confetti
Ice chalk is frozen sidewalk chalk, so it melts as kids draw with it. This post has seven different variations of it including rainbow ice chalk and fizzy ice chalk. View this kids activity at Reading Confetti! ...
Outdoor Activity Rocks from Edventures with Kids
Do you want to get the kids outside more often? They will love all the creative ways that these activity rocks can be used to encourage active play and fun outdoor time! View this kids activity at Edventures with Kids! ...
4th of July Craft: Patriotic Wands from Buggy and Buddy
With a few simple materials you can make some fun wands for the kids to wave around during parades or firework time during the 4th of July! View this kids activity at Buggy and Buddy! ...
Throw ball painting from Blog Me Mom
Have fun outdoors this summer with a big box and some paint. View this kids activity at Blog Me Mom! ...
5+ Ways to Learn with Painted Bottle Caps from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails
Do you have bottle caps laying around? Kids will love learning and playing with these bottle caps. View this kids activity at Frogs & Snails & Puppy Dog Tails! ...
Fine Motor Fun with Straws & Toothpicks from Fun-A-Day!
Here's a fine motor activity for those straw-obsessed babies and toddlers! They can have fun with the straws . . . without grabbing at your drinks. View this kids activity at Fun-A-Day!! ...
Create Your Own Sensory Box from The Taylor House
A sensory box is a contained area that allows for imagination and exploration, as well as a sensory experience (such as the feeling of sand between the fingers). It is often a quiet activity, whether you state that “rule” to your kidlets or not. Kids get lost in their imaginations, and in the feeling of the sand (grains of rice, water, etc) between their fingers. View this kids ...
Pool Noodle Train Tracks from Play Trains!
Summer fun for kids who love trains! Make pool noodle train tracks, then add a sprinkler "engine wash" to cool off while keeping those minds working in creative ways. View this kids activity at Play Trains!! ...
Golf Ball Drop from Kz and Me
Try this simple and fun fine motor strengthening activity for babies and toddlers! View this kids activity at Kz and Me! ...
Color Sorting Activity from Color Made Happy
This color sorting activity is easy to put together and kids will love it. View this kids activity at Color Made Happy! ...
Learning About Resilience Through Nature from Moments A Day
Would you like your children to be resilient? Here's one way to describe the concept of "resilience" to kids in a way they can easily understand. Just go outside and you will have everything you need. View this kids activity at Moments A Day! ...
Cashew Ice Cream In A Bag from Chic Organic Mama
Have you ever tried making ice cream in a bag? A deliciously, fun activity that the kids can eat the results! This is a dairy, egg, and soy free ice cream recipe. View this kids activity at Chic Organic Mama! ...
Colored Rice Art from Fun At Home With Kids
An art invitation for the littlest artists! View this kids activity at Fun At Home With Kids! ...
Easy Tree Snack Learning Activity from Fantastic Fun and learning
This easy tree snack is fun for kids to make on their own, and you can use it as a great learning activity, too. View this kids snack at Fantastic Fun and learning! ...
Icey Fun! from Picklebums
This takes just a little bit of forethought and then its a super fun way to cool off and explore ice and water! View this kids activity at Picklebums! ...
17 Acrylic Painting Techniques to Try With Kids from Artchoo
Acrylic paints are sometimes forgotten when it comes to kids' art projects. Dig in and discover them with your little buddies, and I guarantee you'll be thrilled at how fun and versatile they are! View this kids activity at Artchoo! ...
Edible Aquarium
I am always looking for ways to make books "come to life" for my son and merge the stories we read with crafts and sensory experiences. A few months ago, we brought home "One Lonely Seahorse" by Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers from the library and loved how the seascape illustrations were actually works of art made out of real fruits and vegetables. I knew we had to bring this ...
Kid Friendly Dyeing: Home Made Play Silks from Rachael Rabbit
Play silks can be used in a multitude of ways in creative play to stimulate a child's imagination. Make your own play silks at home using kid-friendly dyes such as Kool-Aid, Egg Dyes and Tissue Paper! View this kids activity at Rachael Rabbit! ...
Gateway to Connecting: Reading with Your Children from Rediscovered Families
How can we manage to juggle all of our commitments and still find time to connect meaningfully with our children? The secret weapon: Go find a book and read with your child. Tips for reading with children of all ages. View this reading tip at Rediscovered Families! ...
Father’s Day Card – A Monster Hug! from My Little 3 and Me
Super cute “Monster Hug” Father’s Day Cards for the children to make for Daddy. A monster hug from Daddy’s own little monster…it’ll melt his heart! View this kids activity at My Little 3 and Me! ...
Teaching Toddlers: 5 Building Blocks for Your Future Reader from Mommy Matters
You teach your child everything from finding food to sitting, to crawling, walking, talking, and – YES – even reading! Don’t write-off the idea so soon; instead, grab a pen and paper and add these tools to your collection. View this kids activity at Mommy Matters! ...
Homemade Geoboard from And Next Comes L
Using a few simple materials, you can make your very own geoboard for $1! View this kids activity at And Next Comes L! ...
Simple Outside Water Play from Inspiration Laboratories
Head outside with buckets, measuring cups, and funnels. Add some water and have fun! View this kids activity at Inspiration Laboratories! ...
Water, Mirrors, and Reflections: A Physics Investigation for Preschoolers from My Nearest and Dearest
This is a simple and fun exploration of reflections. Give your child exposure to a basic law of physics in an age appropriate way. View this kids activity at My Nearest and Dearest! ...
Indoor Puddle Jumping from The Pleasantest Thing
Indoor puddle jumping is a fun (but controllable!) way to get kids splashing inside. This was an activity for a rainy day that's too cold for actual puddle jumping! View this kids activity at The Pleasantest Thing! ...
Water Bottle Target Practice from Royal Baloo
Use water battles and hula hoops for some water target practice! This is a sure way to cool off on a hot day! View this kids activity at Royal Baloo! ...
Creating a Tide Pool at the Beach from JDaniel4’s Mom
Making your own tide pool at the beach is not only fun, but helps you learn first hand how tide pools work. View this kids activity at JDaniel4's Mom! ...
Kandinsky Jello Art from Lalymom
Explore a great artist and make your own masterpiece using the wiggliest, jiggliest medium there is! Good for toddlers up to big kids because, who doesn't love jello?! View this kids activity at Lalymom! ...
Number Tower from For The Love of Learning
Here is a great idea to teach your child about number recognition and numerical order. Create a number tower with blocks! Simply place number stickers onto blocks and build a tower. Don't forget to count as you build and have fun learning! View this kids activity at For The Love of Learning! ...
Counting Cookies from My Little 3 and Me
Make counting cookies to support number learning! View this kids activity at My Little 3 and Me! ...
Edible “Water” Beads from Blog Me Mom
Do your kids like to play with water beads? Here's a way to play with a water bead look-alike that is SAFE and 100% edible! View this kids activity at Blog Me Mom! ...
Dinosaur sensory play from The Fairy and The Frog
Love dinosaurs? Love messy play? If so, this activity is right up your street. Create a fun dinosaur world from the contents of your kitchen cupboard. View this kids activity at The Fairy and The Frog! ...