Planning my kids’ summer camp schedule is one of my least favorite things to do as a working mom. There are so many choices and it’s hard to know whether a camp is the right fit for your child and what to do if it’s not. Luckily we hit the jackpot with Galileo Summer Camp for our […]
In our house there are a few “bad” words that the kids are absolutely and completely forbidden to say, like “I hate,” “I can’t,” and “I’m bored.” But that doesn’t mean they don’t ever say say it - in other creative ways - or feel that way when we don’t have scheduled activities. How do […]
The joke around here is that our house could double as a shipping facility with all the packages continuously coming in and going out. But after heading back to work full-time, the freedom to shop in person just isn’t a luxury I enjoy anymore, so I am completely unapologetic about my dependency on online shopping and […]
If you thought DIY Batik Shirts were difficult to make - like I did before we tried this new activity - you are so wrong! Making Glue Resist Batik T-Shirts is actually super easy, super fun, and super cheap, especially if you already have glue and painting supplies handy. This is the perfect weekend activity you can […]
We just returned from one of our summer vacations and oh how much we will miss the good times together. To capture our memories, one of the things we do is a bedtime ritual called, “Review the Holiday,” where we recount the highlights of our vacation. A hands-on way to cement our happy memories is with […]
Hooray for vacation and stay at home days! Well, except for those days when the weather is too hot or too cold to get outside and run off all the extra energy from being cooped up. Even though we rotate toys - I hide stuffed animals in the attic and store birthday and holiday gifts in […]
Glitter, upcycling, and independent play: these are a few of my favorite things. When we received a box brimming with Glitter Glue, Painters Markers, School Glue and Glue Sticks from Elmer’s last weekend, I knew EXACTLY what we would do - get our craft on and create a homemade play town with items straight from […]
After our maiden voyage to Disneyland was such a magical success, we can’t wait to visit again. Short and sweet, here are our Top Ten Tips for Disneyland With Preschoolers. Don’t forget to check out our detailed post on Planning for Disneyland with Preschoolers, with tips on when to visit the park, what attractions not to […]
Disneyland is truly the happiest place on Earth. I hadn’t visited the park since 1987, so I was excited to take the kids (4 and 5 years old) on their maiden voyage, but I had no idea how absolutely magical the experience would be. Watching the children’s hearts nearly explode with joy was the best part […]
Keeping the kids occupied (meaning, not putting them in front of the TV and making sure they’re safe and not killing one another) while we prep dinner is sometimes challenging for us. A fun way to turn what can be a difficult time into an opportunity for learning is this simple Counting by Tens math […]
{Review} Galileo Summer Camp
Independence Building Boredom Busters
{Review} Amazon Prime Now
Glue Resist Batik T-Shirts
DIY Memory Box Display
DIY Board Games for Kids
Easy Homemade Play Town
Top Ten Tips For Disneyland With Preschoolers
Planning for Disneyland with Preschoolers
Easy Kitchen Math: Counting By Tens
December 22, 2012 in All Posts, Motor & Physical, Preschool
Are your munchkins feeling the stress of the holidays instead of blissing out like they should be during the holidays? Have I got the BEST stress-buster for your kids - and you! Candy Cane Crush Activity Materials Candy canes Ziplog bag Rolling pin or pestle Wooden cutting board How To Fill a bag with candy […]
May 3, 2012 in All Posts, Play, Toddler Activities
Here’s another Screen Free Week activity that will get your kids outdoors, playing with natural objects, and jumping and giggling until they fall down trying to catch their breath: Flower Confetti We have so many fallen wisteria blooms littering our yard that I’ve been meaning to rake up (Read: look at every day and walk […]
March 15, 2012 in All Posts, Play, Toddler Activities
I was packing for my trip in my bedroom with the kids and they broke into my secret stash of Pom Pom Balls. What ensued was pure pom pom bliss in a battle to dodge flying neon fuzzies! For some reason, they formed a team against me. After jumping on the bed, seeking cover behind it, and […]
March 8, 2012 in All Posts, Play, Toddler Activities
The game of hopscotch has been around for ages. We played it as kids, our parents played it, our parents’ parents played it. It’s fun. It’s active. And it’s as much a required childhood activity as jumping rope and patty cake. But what to do when the weather’s wet, windy, or too cold? Here are […]
November 29, 2011 in All Posts, Play, Toddler Activities
We’ve been indoors so much lately and the cabin fever is starting to set in. While it seems like Jane would love to color until the end of time, we seem to reach that point more quickly if that’s all we’re doing. So we grabbed our crayons and turned them into bowling pins! Materials Avocado […]
November 10, 2011 in All Posts, Play, Toddler Activities
If you aren’t already playing along, Jamie at hands on : as we grow and Anna at The Imagination Tree are co-hosting the 30 Days to Hands on Play Challenge: thirty days of hands on play prompts for you and your children. Here’s what we’ve been doing over the last week: Day 1 - Develop A Mission Statement We […]
November 3, 2011 in All Posts, Play, Toddler Activities
The other day Jane looked up at me and said, “Mommy, I want to paint.” “What do you want to paint?” “Something HUMONGOUS!” My first thought was, “Where in the heck did she learn that word?” And my second was, “What humongous paintable thing do I have lying around the house?” Initially, I thought […]
August 25, 2011 in All Posts, Play, Toddler Activities
As Jane and Sam found out after Hubby brought home a custom handmade double guitar stand swaddled in miles of protective plastic, it’s fun to snap bubble wrap! I know plastic is bad. It kills our planet and can kill our babies. But this swath of giant bubble wrap was headed straight for the recycling […]
May 17, 2011 in All Posts, Play, Toddler Activities
Even though April showers are supposed to be over by now, we’re still getting our fair share of dreary, drizzly weather. Not being able to play outside is a bit of a drag, but not if you drag out your paper or plastic party plates from the Rainy Day Construction Paper Octopus project or your Special […]
