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How to Play with Your Baby (Hint: Involve the Senses!)

May 13 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

Sometimes parents wonder how to connect with newborn babies - here are 8 fun things to try!

Did you know that newborns like sensory play every bit as much as preschoolers?  Of course, I'm not talking rice box or play dough sensory play but activities that engage baby using the senses (especially sight, sound and touch) are wonderfully engaging to young babies. Recently eHow's Mom Channel asked me to write a couple of posts on babies and sensory play and today I'm sharing them with you. I had a great time writing them and reminding myself of all the easy things I can do with baby M … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Creating & Engaging Tagged With: baby play ideas, how to play with baby, how to play with your baby, newborn baby play, sensory baby play, sensory baby toys. best baby toys, sensory play, sensory play for baby

Win a Surface Tablet & Protect Your Kids Online with Ad-Free Search

May 8 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

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...]

Filed Under: Learning & Engaging Tagged With: ad free search, ad free web search, Bing in the classroom, kid friendly web search, protecting kids online

Best Play Dough, Slime & Other Sensory Activities for Kids

May 6 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

So many great playtime activities here - my kids will engage in them all for unheard of amounts of time!

It's no secret we love DIY play dough, slime, and other sensory activities around here.  Hands-on play not only leads to increased creativity and fine-motor development (which is important for things like writing), it's also a fabulous boredom buster. Play dough and sensory boxes are some of our go-to activities when the weather is bad or mom needs some time to pay bills, do laundry, etc. Recently the folks over at eHow's Mom Channel asked me to roundup some of my favorite playtime posts … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Creating & Engaging Tagged With: children's crafts, children's play ideas, DIY slime, gak recipe, homemade gak, homemade play dough, homemade slime, kid art projects, kid crafts, play dough, play dough recipe, playtime activities, rice boxes for kids, sensory activities for kids, sensory boxes, sensory play ideas

Build a “Play Dough Tool Kit”

May 4 by Alli

Build your own inexpensive play dough kit to keep the kids busy for hours!

Top Image Credit (cropped, text and other photos added below): © Nicola | 04.09.11 | CC by 2.0 My son LOVES play dough. I mean, really. It's almost an obsession. And you know what? I don't blame him. I remember loving play dough as a kid, myself. There's just something magical about it. It's a blank slate of 3D creativity. Besides, I can't think of a better obsession for a pre-schooler. We all know that children (and adults, for that matter) learn best when their senses are engaged. Think … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alli, Art + Kid Crafts, Creating & Engaging, The Make & Play Vault Tagged With: how to play with play dough, play doh, play dough, play dough activities, play dough tools, playdough

Make it: Mother’s Day Trinket Dish

April 28 by Alli

These DIY trinket dishes are super cheap and easy to make and look just like the expensive Anthropologie versions - perfect for Mom's Day!

I don't know about you, but my baubles always end up all over the place. Probably because I am constantly trying to keep up with a toddler and an 8 month-old.  But even on my dresser, where most of my jewelry accumulates, I have no place to collect it all the stray pieces. Enter: the Trinket Dish. I saw something similar at Anthropologie and thought it would make the perfect Mother's Day gift (I know I'd want one). Plus, it's so easy to make. First I scoured our local dollar store for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alli, Creating & Engaging, Seasonal Fun

Chalkboard Flower Pots for Mom, Teacher, or Your Own Windowsill

April 27 by Janssen

Mason jar planters with chalkboard paint - great DIY for Mother's Day or Teacher Appreciation Day.

It's Teacher Appreciation week next week - do you have something special picked out for the educators in your kids' lives? If not we've totally got you covered with an easy DIY you can use to appreciate a teacher, for Mother's Day, or even as a hostess thank-you gift.  Here's Janssen with the full details... One of the things that makes me happiest in the spring is live plants. They look so vibrant and remind me that winter really is winding down. Whether you're looking for a simple Mother's … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Art + Kid Crafts, Creating & Engaging, Janssen, Seasonal Fun Tagged With: chalk board paint, chalk mason jar planters, DIY Mother's Day gift, DIY teacher appreciation gift, Earth Day activities, Earth Day activities for kids, mason jar craft, mason jars, teacher appreciation gift

DIY Mother’s Day Watercolor Card and Vintage Glassware Set

April 16 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

So cheerful and easy to do!

Mother's Day is just a little over 3 weeks away, which means that if you're looking to go handmade then now is the time to get planning. Here are two of my favorite DIY projects from last year, both of which I put together for eHow's Mom Channel: Watercolor Mother's Day Cards Stenciled Vintage Glassware Set Both activities are perfectly suited for the kids to help, or for you to tackle on your own once they're in bed - enjoy! P.S. Did you know that facebook has recently … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Creating & Engaging, Holiday Projects, The Make & Play Vault Tagged With: DIY Mother's Day gifts, Mother's Day activities, Mother's Day cards, Mother's Day crafts, Mother's Day crafts for kids, Mother's Day gifts, Mother's Day ideas for kids, watercolor art

Ultimate Play Dough Play Resources – All in One Spot

April 14 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

The ultimate round-up of play dough recipes, activities, tools and more.

Image Credit (cropped & text added): © Chris Parfitt | 05.11.08 | CC by 2.0 You know we can't get enough of play dough play around here.  Today Amanda of Not Just Cute is back with everything we need to maximize the kids' interest in play dough play as well as ideas on how to maximize the learning benefits of this fabulous art material. Read on for the ultimate round-up of play dough recipes and activities! Play dough is a staple of childhood. Like story time and hide and seek, it's an … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Art + Kid Crafts, Creating & Engaging, Sensory & Interactive Play, The Make & Play Vault Tagged With: benefits of play dough play, diy play dough, home made playdough, homemade play doh, homemade play dough, homemade playdough, jello playdough, play doh, play doh recipe, play dough activities, playdough recipe

How to Set Up an Invitation to Create for Your Child

April 8 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

Love this simple concept of setting up invitations to create for raising innovative thinkers - lots of good examples on how to do it here.

Need some great kid art and creativity ideas? Look no further. I'm super excited to introduce you guys to Rachelle today.  Her blog, TinkerLab, is an AMAZING resource for growing creative, innovative, critical thinking kids.   What I love most about Rachelle is that despite her impressively intimidating credentials (has a Masters in Arts Education from Harvard, oversaw school programs at the San Jose Museum of Art, lectures on Visual Thinking Strategies at Stanford University, and worked on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Art + Kid Crafts, Creating & Engaging, The Make & Play Vault Tagged With: art activities for kids, invitations to create, kid crafts, open-ended art activities, open-ended play, teaching kids about art

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