photos via Play at Home Mom Are you guys familiar with children's light boxes? I recently ran across two different blogs (Play at Home Mom and Teach Preschool) that are having all kinds of fun with them and I'm kinda in love. These blogs have shown me so many cool things you can do with a light box that I'm pretty sure it won't be long until I decide we absolutely have to have one. Seriously, I think these could be right up there with our beloved sensory box. From … [Read more...]
DIY Scavenger Hunts and I Spy Games
Scavenger hunts (whether outdoors, in the car, or just in the living room) are a perfect kid activity. Along with being a fun way to pass some time, they also provide children with opportunities to practice skills like observing, sorting, and classifying. Today I've rounded up 9 creative posts to help you get in on the fun. Click through for the goods. First up is this super simple nature scavenger hunt from Curly Birds. Head over for the easy instructions and free printable. You … [Read more...]
More Homemade Fun
You all seemed to really enjoy the DIY Toys that are Totally Worth the Effort post a few weeks back. So today I've got another collection of DIY toys and games that are so easy to make, even the kids can get in on the fun. What can I say, I'm a pleaser! (My real life friends are shaking their heads right now - I'm so not.) Read on for all the goodies. Sock Monkey Puppets at Mom Inc. Daily. Shapes and Colors Memory Game at dandee. Vacation Crafts: Rubber Band Balls at Creative Jewish … [Read more...]
Simple Play: Cardboard
I've had cardboard boxes on the brain ever since I included this amazing birthday party in one of my Weekend Look Books. Luckily, so has everyone else! Which means lots of good stuff for me to peruse and now share with you. Today I've got a great roundup of cardboard box activities and even a few products to enhance the fun. Yes, I know this is my 3rd consecutive round up post. I think all the Easter projects as well as the subsequent Veggie Garden Sensory Box, Teacher Appreciation Kit, … [Read more...]
DIY Veggie Garden Sensory Box
If you've been here since the beginning, then you'll remember the "diggers and dumpers" sensory box I made for my son as a Christmas present. It was a big hit and he still enjoys it but I've been feeling like it's time to change it up. So a few weeks ago I exchanged the pinto beans for black beans (to imitate soil) and put together this vegetable garden sensory box. I found a lot of my supplies at Target. (The gloves, trowel, and watering can were in the dollar section. The yellow tub was … [Read more...]
Every Baby Should Have a Treasure Basket – Here’s How to Make One
photo via The Imagination Tree Remember the sensory box? Well, say hello to his little brother, the treasure basket - a super simple sensory box for babies. The concept is easy - just fill a container with objects of varying texture, weight, shape, etc. and let baby go at it.According to Anna, an early education and art specialist from The Imagination Tree, treasure baskets benefit babies age 6-18 months by: encouraging them to use their senses to discover, explore, … [Read more...]
A Simple Handmade Toy For Baby’s Easter Basket
What would you get if you combined Made by Joel's latest super simple toy and Craft Jr.'s free Easter printables? Click through to find out. It's the perfect handmade toy for baby's first Easter Basket! I'm putting an MPMK twist on S and C's Easter baskets this year and this is your sneak peek at what's to come. For this project (which I also refer to as the "Which Came First?" toy), I simply printed out Craft Jr.'s Easter chick and egg graphics in a small, medium … [Read more...]
Five Fun Ways to Play with Marshmallows
Over at momtastic, I'm all about toothpicks and marshmallows for impromptu structure building and color mixing fun (see above for the "finished" product). Head over for all the details, then click through here for lots more inspiring marshmallow activities. photo via Say Yes to Hoboken Typically when thinking of building with marshmallows and toothpicks, structures like this one at Say Yes to Hoboken come to mind (although the rainbow toothpicks are a fresh addition). If … [Read more...]
Entertain Your Kids (and Get Stuff Done) with a Sensory Box
If you've ever stepped foot inside a preschool classroom, you're probably familiar with the mysterious attention-holding sensory box. Its ability to keep a young child's attention is so life changing that you need to have one in your own home - trust me! Not only will it keep them occupied for unheard of amounts of time, it also comes with all these developmental benefits. A sensory box is simply a container (preferably with a lid for storage) filled with tactile materials for kids to … [Read more...]