If you’re looking for a way to enjoy Halloween decorating without digging cold, slimy pumpkin guts out from under your fingernails, welcome to the no-carve zone! Trade sharp knives and gooey seeds for paintbrushes and markers and let the kids unleash total creative freedom while you skip the post-craft cleanup headache. You Will Need: Medium […]
“Creepy Sheepy” by Lucy Ruth Cummins & Make a Costume for Your Own Sheepy
Nothing tested a nanny’s patience quite like the annual Halloween costume crisis — until “Creepy Sheepy” came along. In Lucy Ruth Cummins’s hilarious “Creepy Sheepy,” the wooly protagonist is determined not to follow the herd. While every other sheep in the pasture decides to dress up as a classic, generic ghost, Sheepy wants a look […]
Fall Fun That Sticks! DIY Window Clings
Bring the beauty of autumn indoors with these easy DIY leaf window clings! Kids can mix glue, washable paint, and a little dish soap to create colorful, translucent leaves that glow beautifully in the sunlight. After trying several methods, I found the easiest approach is to mix the paint and dish soap directly into small […]
Autumn Leaf Placemat Low-Mess Craft
The rule of autumn nannyhood is if you go for a walk, you will bring back half the forest. This week, I upgraded the kids from ‘leaf collectors’ to ‘interior designers.’ Check out this super simple, autumn leaf placemat craft that preserves their favorite outdoor finds and protects the kitchen table from the inevitable pumpkin […]
Paint, Pattern & Pasta Fun!
Kids love turning ordinary pasta into colorful bracelets and necklaces. This simple craft packs in plenty of learning too! Whether they’re painting with brushes or shaking pasta and paint in a Ziploc bag, children can explore colors, practice fine-motor skills, and create patterns as they string their pasta into one-of-a-kind necklaces. It’s creativity they can […]
Pressed Flower Jar Lanterns
Turn empty glass bottles or jars into beautiful little lanterns! This simple craft is a fun way for kids to use pressed and dried flowers while creating a pretty decoration for their room or play space. Battery-operated tea lights make these lanterns a fun and kid-friendly alternative to candles. The children in my care and […]
Painted Flowers with Cardboard Roll Stamps
The children in my care adore flowers so I have been making flower themed activities and lesson plans all summer. See how I had them paint flowers with stamps made from cardboard rolls. It’s messy! Use craft mats and have paper towels close by! See other activities I have done with the children including: pressed […]
Pressed Dried Flower Sun Catchers
There’s something magical about turning nature into art! Making butterfly and circle sun catchers with pressed dried flowers is a beautiful way for nannies to encourage creativity, fine motor skills, and an appreciation for nature with kids. They are keepsakes they’ll be proud to display long after the craft is finished. Be sure to read […]
Pressed Flower Clay Decorations and Coasters
Looking for a wonderful nature craft for kids this summer? These DIY Dried Pressed Flower Ornaments, Magnets, and Coasters are made with air-dry clay are a fun, hands-on activity that encourages creativity, strengthens fine motor skills, and helps children explore the beauty of nature. Whether you’re a nanny, parent, teacher, or au pair, this simple […]