With spring just barely arrived, I think it is fair to say we could all use a few good indoor activities to keep the kids engaged about now. I usually turn to arts and crafts, but lately I have been trying to introduce a little more science to my little ones. Since I don't want to leave the house when the weather is so terrible, I definitely don't want to be running all over town looking for specific materials for our experiments. So I've rounded up 13 kitchen science projects that use … [Read more...]
Stop Cleaning While Your Kids Sleep – ASAP!!
Today Kaley is sharing with us a very clever (and cute) way to get the kids involved in the cleaning. The take home message here is clearly "start getting them involved early!" and I think it would be a great thing to share with your mom friends. How cool would this be as a gift? Kaley's even sourced a few pretty picks to help you get started... How many of you do the cleaning while your kids are asleep? If you do, stop! Kids should not only see what it takes to keep a home, they should … [Read more...]
Getting Ready for Spring: Make a Family Game Basket
When I think of spring I think of two things: spring cleaning and spring showers. So right now seems like a great time to do some organizing and pull together a family game basket for rainy afternoons. Said basket would also come in handy for Family Game Night - a tradition I'd love to get started around here now that the kids are getting old enough to enjoy the fun. We already have a few favorite games of our own but I'm always on the lookout for more to keep all the kids interested as they … [Read more...]
Win a Surface Tablet & Protect Your Kids Online with Ad-Free Search
Listen up parents - I've got some big, important things to share today and I just know you're going to love all of them. First, an awesome giveaway in which, drumroll please... One lucky MPMK reader is going to win a brand new Surface! Bet that got your attention, huh? My husband just bought our family's first Surface about a month ago and we really love it so when I found out I'd be working with Microsoft on their Bing in the Classroom campaign, I had the idea that it might be … [Read more...]
One Week Outdoor Play Challenge
Getting kids outside in the cold and wet weather can be a challenge, we know. But doctors and teachers agree that kids need lots of time outside for a variety of reasons. Playing outside sparks imagination, improves motor skills and balance, provides a setting to learn about the natural world, boosts Vitamin D and promotes a healthy lifestyle that decreases obesity. … [Read more...]
Kid Craft: Make Dr. Seuss’ Oobleck
Who says Halloween crafts and activities have to be scary? I absolutely love this slimey, ooey, gooey activity for helping little ones to get in on the festivities. Here's our contributor Kaley with the detials... It's gooey. It's gummy. It's like glue. It's oobleck! I have a soft spot for activities that correlate with children's books, and this is one of our favorites. After reading about the green sticky goop that falls from the sky in Dr. Seuss's Bartholomew and the Oobleck, amaze your … [Read more...]
Midweek Musing: A Supersonic Skydive to Make Science Cool & the World Limitless
Space, the final frontier, has always been a source of fascination and awe for children. Which is why the death of the US space shuttle program last year was such a loss. The indefinite shut down of the American manned space program could mean the end of little boys and girls playing astronaut in their living room, truly believing in their potential to one day travel to distant planets. And it definitely means the loss of opportunities to talk to our children about science, adventure, and a … [Read more...]
Everything You Need to Know to Start Montessori-ing at Home
Last fall I was absolutely delighted when the lovely Kylie of How We Montessori agreed to write a four part series here on how to get started with Montessori principals at home. We called the series Make Like a Montessori Mama and it was a huge success. With each post Kylie provided detailed instructions on five new at-home activities, each revolving around a theme (food, animals, plants and shapes). It was such a fabulous resource that I felt compelled to link up to the entire series … [Read more...]
Boredom Buster
I love activities that are cheap, easy, and entertaining for more than just a minute. This is one of my favorite "go to" activities to do with bored kids. All you need is a handful of completely random objects and/or toys from around the house and a bag. The objects in the bag can be used in SO many different ways. Lay them all out for your kids to look at and then take one away when they aren't looking. Have them try and remember what you took away. Dump out … [Read more...]