Reindeer Mask

Creative Wednesdays I found this cute reindeer mask on Shutterfly. I recommend using heavyweight paper but if you only have regular printer paper go ahead and use it like I did. I printed the reindeer templates on regular printer paper then just pasted it to another piece is regular printer paper. You Will Need: Paper […]

Paper Plate Hanukkah Menorah

My Nanny Kids loved making this paper plate menorah for Hanukkah. Let the kids paint the paper plate, candles, and flames themselves. Older children can cut out their own candles and flames. But you can cut the shapes for little kids and allow them to paste the candles to the back of the paper plate […]

Holiday Cardboard Picture Frames

Creative Wednesdays I typically buy a wooden frame for the children to decorate and put a photo in for a winter holiday gift for their parents. But this year I wanted to try to make the frames myself by recycling cardboard boxes from deliveries. If you care for older siblings this is a great project […]

Thanksgiving Wreath

Creative Wednesday With Thanksgiving tomorrow there’s no better time to help kids appreciate all they have. Each year I have my Nanny Kids make a Thankful Wreath. When I first ask children about what they are thankful for they often just rattle off a list of all the toy. Being thankful for material possessions is a […]

“Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister and Project

Weekly Trip to the Library The Rainbow Fish is an international best-seller and a modern classic children’s book. The Rainbow Fish is vain and thinks he’s better than the other fish because he is so beautiful. He is lonely and without admirers until a wise female octopus advises him to give away his scales. The […]

Hot Glue Rubbings

Creative Wednesdays Use this activity to hide lower case and upper case letters or messages on pieces of construction paper with a hot glue gun. Have the kids put a piece of paper over the hot glue messages and rub them just as they would when making leaf rubbings to uncover their message. Using a […]

“Stellaluna” by Janell Cannon and Stick Puppet

Weekly Trip to the Library Bats don’t have to be scary as they are often portrayed for Halloween. The endearing book, “Stellaluna” helps children see fruit bats as harmless and beloved creatures. Stellaluna, is a young fruit bat who gets lost and can’t find her mother. Not knowing how to get home, Stellaluna is befriended by […]

Swirling Paper Plate Ghost

Creative Wednesdays I found this super easy and inexpensive Halloween craft at easypeasyandfun. Depending on the age of the child they can make the project by themselves or you can help them where needed. But let them draw the expressions on the ghosts. Make a bunch of swirling ghosts and hang them on a porch, […]

“Bats at the Library” by Brain Lies and Bat Paper Airplane

Weekly Trip to the Library “Bats at the Library” pays homage to the pleasures to be found within libraries and books. The bats are bored, but an antidote is announced: someone left a window open in the library. The golden glow from spotlights on the side of the building and an Arts and Crafts-style reading […]

Craft Stick Halloween Characters

Creative Wednesdays It’s October so time to start preparing for my Nanny Kid’s favorite holiday — Halloween. They look forward to dressing up and pretending to be spooky characters. Here’s an easy craft to start the silly holiday season off with your nanny kids. We made a Frankenstein, Mummy, Jack-O-Lantern, Ghost, and Black Cat. You […]