Lasso the Moon • Life is a Gift
Help your children understand and feel gratitude through art. Below you’ll find 10 gratitude drawing prompts for your children. This sponsored post was originally published on Melissa & Doug’s Playtime Press. Time and again, studies have shown that cultivating an “attitude of gratitude” can increase one’s hope, happiness, self-esteem, empathy, and optimism. Phew! That’s a hefty list of benefits for something so EASY to do! Or… Read More
Keep your troops entertained with this super-simple stop motion animation tutorial for kids! Thanks to Melissa & Doug for sponsoring today’s post. Stop motion animation is the perfect way to keep kids occupied (and creatively enamored) on a rainy, snowy, or “too hot to handle” must-be-inside day. Stop motion animation is a filming technique in which objects (such as clay models) are photographed in… Read More
Learn how to encourage moments of wonder while traveling with your children. Big thanks to Melissa & Doug for helping families to come together to #TakeBackChildhood. . . . My eyes started to glaze over as I looked at the website. Plan your dream vacation. There’s always something to do on South Padre Island. As I read the suggested vacation itineraries, my shoulders began to tense. Even… Read More
Light up a dull and cold afternoon with this easy winter lantern craft for kids. One thing we love to do in winter here in the Northeast is spend time at our local museums. Museum days keep us busy and refreshed, yet out of the harsh cold weather. Our local art museum in particular has a free family day once a… Read More
These seven creative ideas for book jackets help extend narratives through imaginative play and written expression. Your kids will have so much fun, you’ll never look at a book cover the same way again! I have to admit, I always removed the book jackets/ dust covers from my classroom library. While I see the value of them when they are laminated… Read More
Learn how to make duct tape flower pens in under five-minutes with the video (or photo!) tutorial below. These DIY project were put together for kids by kids. The girls attended a local art festival today and were excited when they learned how to make duct tape flower pens (in minutes!). When we got home, they immediately started working on a video tutorial for you. Check out… Read More
The Art of Writing is a unique educational conference hosted by the Milwaukee Art Museum that brings together the power of writing and art. Every year the Milwaukee Art Museum comes together with local students to host The Art of Writing conference for kids. The children use the art in the museum to inspire their writing pieces. Here’s a little… Read More
As a person loves order, routine, symmetry and purpose, I have had to push myself to do crafts with my kids. I often hear moms comment on how they can’t do glue or paint or glitter because… well, mess! I completely understand. My inner neatnik cringes with every craft time. But I do it (not every day!) because I know the kids… Read More
Have this weaving activity for little hands in your back pocket for those days you want some quiet play. It’ll keep those preschool hands busy for a good long while, and maybe even create a bit of artwork to display in your home! The weaving activity had been on my homeschool schedule for weeks. Somehow I kept postponing it: it’ll… Read More
Working with clay allows one to develop and strengthen hand muscles and express creativity in a three dimensional medium. This activity gives the look of a glazed project without the use of a kiln. Wouldn’t it make a lovely gift for Grandma and Grandpa for Christmas? Materials Air dry clay Rolling pin Knife Circle cookie cutter Dowel or bamboo skewer… Read More
Learn how to carve apples and transform them into irresistibly spooky shrunken heads (right before your eyes) with this DIY Halloween project for tweens. The air is crisp and fall has officially arrived. I’m so excited to celebrate the autumn season with my family, but holiday traditions with tweens can be a delicate balance. They’re at a point where they’ve… Read More
Teach your kids to focus on the good… Get your tween or teen involved in this completely inspiring Words of Gratitude project. A big thank-you to Animoto for sponsoring today’s post; they’re officially one of my favorite Fall Finds—Click here to see why for yourself. Teaching gratitude to little kids is simple. There are literally HUNDREDS of ideas online for children’s gratitude crafts and activities…. Read More
Check out this list of 20 fun fall activities for kids (that adults will love, too!). Caramel apples, cozy sweaters, colorful leaves, crisp evenings, and pumpkin patches… Are YOU ready for all the beauty and fun that fall has to offer? This year take autumn from good to great with these unique, family-friendly fall activities. 20 Fun Fall Activities for Kids… Read More
Did you know that you don’t need needles to knit? (I didn’t!!) I am–at best–an amateur knitter, and I wondered if I could teach my children even the simplest stitch. We have been creating some fantastic projects (much to my surprise) thanks to a great resource. Check out the book called Knitting without Needles written by my friend, Anne Weil…. Read More
This activity builds children’s observational skills and gets them re-imagining lids from the recycling bin and other items as printing tools. Materials Watercolour paper Acrylic paint Liquid watercolours Containers for the paint Large lids or similar shallow container Found objects Water Paint brushes Other items to make lines (e.g., popsicle sticks, building blocks etc.) Camera or camera phone We always… Read More
Get the 411 on how to make a Play-Doh poop emoji in the video tutorial below. Plus, check out these awesome emoji pillows, clothing, trinkets and school items. . . . We’re a bit obsessed with emojis over here and, of course, the poop emoji is the funniest. You can create this adorably-hilarious project in three super simple steps. *Thanks to my daughter for creating… Read More