Advent calendars have become such a HUGE part of Christmas these days – have you noticed? We’ve tried several variations over the years from our DIY Freezer Paper Stencil Advent Calendar and our Family Activities Advent Calendar to LEGO Advent and our Reading Advent Calendar. This year, though, with three kids including a feisty 1 1/2-year-old, I’m once again opting to go the super simple route.Our free printable Christmas Joke countdown (created last year by our contributor … [Read more...]
Handmade Halloween: Make Spider Sack Decor with the Kids
I'm so excited about this Halloween project, it turned out even better than I'd envisioned. It's the quintessential MPMK project - easy enough for kids of all ages to get in on the action and the finished product is a decidedly stylish take on traditional Halloween decor. And did I mention how inexpensive it is? … [Read more...]
Free Printable: Thanksgiving Gratitude Conversation Starters
Gratitude isn't a new concept for us. We've talked before about regularly expressing gratitude toward our kids and putting our gratitude into writing.Do a simple search for gratitude on the blog and you'll see many ideas for crafts and thoughts about giving thanks.The benefits of being a grateful person range from being more optimistic, less materialistic and self-centered, to increasing our self-esteem and actually making us healthier. This is something we should be working on … [Read more...]
Summer Learning: How to Build Reading Skills at Home with Reggio Activities
Reading is perhaps one of the most important skills for a child to learn. During the school year, teachers guide and encourage their students to read, and they open them up to the magical worlds that only reading can lead to.So it's important to continue to flex those skills, and keep kids open to those worlds over the summer too. There are countless traditional ways to promote literacy, from reading groups and worksheets, to e-books and other electronic activities but the summer provides an … [Read more...]
Homemade Face Paints for the 4th of July
Happy almost 4th of July guys. Got big plans for the holiday? We're spending the day at a neighborhood BBQ. This will be the first year we're going to let all three of the kiddos stay up late enough to see the fireworks and we're excited to see what the 3-year-old thinks. We'll also be breaking out some homemade patriotic face paints. Check out my post over at eHow's Mom channel for the full tutorial and have a happy and safe holiday! P.S. If you're looking for more good 4th of July ideas, … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Get Your Kids Off Their Screens and Playing Outside
Despite living in rain city USA, I believe strongly in getting the kids outside as much as possible (also, the summers in Seattle are gorgeous).So today I've asked Lea to stop by with her top 5 tips for getting your kids away from a screen and outside to play. (And added a few photos of my family because I just couldn't resist.) Playtime is serious business.Just ask the American Council on Pediatrics. In their concerns about the effect of media on young minds, they encourage … [Read more...]
Free Printable: No More “Mom, I’m Bored!”
I absolutely adore the idea of hanging something on the wall that I can direct my kids to whenever boredom strikes- so I've got a present for you!It's a free printable and our contributor MJ included some cute icons next to each item so even my pre-readers can use it. Get your copy today and get prepped for a summer of fun. School is barely out and I’m already anticipating the inevitable, “Mommy, I’m bored!” This summer we’re fixing that complaint with this creative checklist that I … [Read more...]
Natural Play Spaces: Children’s Veggie Gardens
You guys! It has been the rainiest season in Seattle in the history of ever (literally) but the sun is out today. And - of course - it's making me want to plant all the things. If you're feeling me, here's a post we did a few summers ago on one of the coolest kinds of gardens out there; the kids' garden. Enjoy and happy planting!Now that the bark has been laid, we've made one more major addition to our backyard natural play space. But don't get too excited - I haven't had a chance … [Read more...]
St. Patrick’s Day Treat: Rainbow Drinks
I love celebrating the holidays with my kids - they have such a knack for getting excited about each and every one. But that doesn't mean I want to stay up all night frosting cupcakes!Simple but special treats that take under 5 minutes to prepare are much more up my alley. Here's Janssen with a great one... Last year, I made some of that rainbow jello that's floating around on the Internet to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. It looked great, but it took hours to make (because it had to set … [Read more...]