Ahhhh...Fall. The leaves turn, the nights grow shorter, and the weather cools. It can all only mean one thing: Carnival season! Candy apples, petting zoos, and midway prizes. Oh my. I love me a Fall carnival. (A little too much, actually.) So I thought it would make the perfect play theme to kick-off fall. And no carnival would be complete without a few carnival games. Am I right? We started things off with this DIY, no-sew target throw. … [Read more...]
Play Theme Cheat Sheet: Space
Even though it's not quite August yet, we just couldn't wait any longer to post our latest Play Theme Cheat Sheet. We just know you're going to love it!... I am so excited about this month's playtime cheat sheet, just because of the theme alone....SPACE! I don't know why, but I was somewhat overly fascinated with space as a child (nerd alert). I simply couldn't get enough of it. I even asked for a toy planetarium for Christmas one year, which I've now passed down to my son. P.S. It still … [Read more...]
Holiday DIY: Kid-Friendly Sparklers
Although the 4th of July is certainly a kid-centric holiday, the younger set can get a little left out. Not only are fireworks too dangerous to be close to, they're also LOUD and usually take place after bedtime. Today Alli is here sharing her favorite project for getting her little man involved in the festivities, while keeping him safe and happy. We have a tradition in our family, of traveling to the family farm to celebrate, eat, and of course... set off fireworks. Now, I married into this … [Read more...]
Playtime Cheat Sheet No. 3: Warm Weather Play
It's June - Hello Summer! This month's playtime cheat sheet is all about playing in warm weather and it's got something for everyone. Without further ado, here's Alli with a fun DIY sprinkler project and 24 more great ideas. I'm so happy to be back sharing some of our favorite ways to play in the warm Summer weather! I love Summer. But then again, who doesn't? Kids do... for obvious reasons. But adults too (because I have a theory that Summer actually brings out the kid in all of us). We … [Read more...]
Playtime Cheat Sheet No. 2: Sports
Another month, another play theme cheat sheet to get you through. Did you guys enjoy trying out all our nature ideas from last month? Alli's back today with another stellar list of activities, books, etc. you can refer to all month long. This time our focus is sports - so grab a ball, get outside, and get those little ones running! May is the perfect month to get outside and get active with your family, which is why it's also the perfect month to focus on sports. When I first started … [Read more...]
Make it: Plant-able Paper Earth
Every once in a while we do a project here on MPMK that I'm over-the-moon excited about. That's how I feel about these plantable earths for Earth Day. They're so cute, I want to send a few to everyone I know. I loved making paper as a kid. I don't know why, maybe it's something about the mess. Or maybe it was the idea that I could make the very same thing I used so often in my daily life, all by myself. (just prettier) Regardless. I loved making paper, and this time was no different. It was … [Read more...]
Ways to Play with Nature (Inside & Out) All Month Long
Ever noticed how much kids love a good theme? A central topic is such a great way to get little ones engaging in all sorts of things - reading, writing, art and (best of all) new types of open-ended play. Plus planning a few weeks of play around the same topic gives the kids time to come up with deeper questions and learn more. Announcing MPMK's latest venture: Play Theme Cheat Sheets! As we said, playing around a theme is a great idea - the only drawback being that it requires a bit of … [Read more...]
Valentine Keepsake: Simple Memory Garland
Last Friday I sent out a quick social media poll on how I should celebrate V-Day with my littles. The winning pick leads me to believe you all appreciate a good, simple project over fancy bells and whistles (my peeps)... With that in mind, I think you're all going to want to jump right into Alli's Valentine's Day project with your own kiddos - like, immediately. Happy Valentine's Day! If you are anything like me, this is one of those holidays that tends to play second fiddle. As much as I … [Read more...]
Kid Activity: Become a Birder for a Day
Today we've got a very sweet playtime activity from our newest contributor, Alli. I love the dramatic play aspect of this idea and I can see it sparking all kinds of curiosity in my littles. As is the case with a lot of activities, spend 20 minutes participating with the kids and you should be able to set them loose on their own while you tackle something for Project Organize Your ENTIRE Life. We do theme months at our house, and right now we're in the middle of Sky Month– learning about … [Read more...]