Looking for an engaging and educational activity that will appeal to a broad range of children? I highly suggest a trip to your neighborhood hardware store. With just a few simple materials you and the kids can quickly create a classic toy that's been sparking children's creativity for over 60 years: the geoboard. To start, pick up a sheet of peg board (the perforated board that's often hung on a garage wall and used to store tools) as well as some nuts and bolts. Peg board … [Read more...]
Top 10 Ways to Keep Kids Active When Stuck Inside
You guys know I'm all about getting outdoors whenever possible! I'll admit, however, that has been a little more challenging this year with the baby in tow - sometimes I'm just too tired to face arming all 3 kids in the layers and layers of outdoor clothes, you know? So I'm over at eHow this week with my top 10, all-time favorite ways to keep the kids active when stuck inside. These are some seriously low key and zero prep ideas that are sure to rescue you when the kids are bouncing off … [Read more...]
Build STEM Skills: Make an “Inventor’s Box”
I'm super excited to share with you a project I put together for eHow's mom channel recently. You guys know how my ears perk up anytime the words "STEM skills" are uttered, right? Well, the good folks over there at eHow asked me to contribute a few easy STEM skill building activities for home and I took it as my chance to finally try a couple things that have been percolating in my head. The first activity had to be building an Inventor's Box. I've been wanting to start one of these for the … [Read more...]
Life-Size Building Blocks
Happy Monday everyone. I'm pretty thrilled to be able to announce today that Allison of All for the Boys will also be joining the MPMK team as a regular contributor. If you've been paying attention, then you already know I'm a fan (featured her here and here). As you'll see from today's post, her ideas are spectacularly fun but also remarkably simple. You really won't be able to resist trying them out at home. It's no secret that we love forts, tents, and hideaways … [Read more...]