3 Handprint Father’s Day Cards

Help the little ones in your care create a special keepsake this Father’s Day with adorable handprint cards made just for Dad! Here are three creative, step-by-step ideas you can easily make with the children with craft items they likely already have in their home. 1. “Little Monster” Handprint Card This fun card plays on […]

Sidewalk Paint That Pops!

Looking for a colorful outdoor activity that keeps kids entertained and sparks creativity? Homemade sidewalk chalk paint is a simple, non-toxic craft that turns any driveway or sidewalk into a giant canvas! Kids love watching their bright creations come to life, and you’ll love how easy and inexpensive it is to make with just a […]

Paper Plate Butterflies

Kids love butterflies. This easy, hands-on activity encourages imagination, strengthens fine motor skills, and gives children a colorful creation they’re proud to display. Be sure to read children’s books about butterflies while making this project: “A Butterfly is Patient” by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long; “The Butterfly Alphabet Book” by Jerry Pallotta, Brian Cassie, and […]

Make a Mouse from Shapes After Reading “Mouse Shapes” by Ellen Stoll Walsh

What can you make with one oval, two circles, and eight triangles? Just ask three clever mice. In “Mouse Shapes” by Ellen Stoll Walsh. In the book the mice play with shapes while hiding from a cat. In the end, the mice build a big mice to scare the cat away. After reading the book […]

Dig In and Discover Shapes!

Last month I started teaching the children in my care about shapes by making Shape Finders. This week I continued teaching about shapes with this sensory rice shape finder activity. It’s more than just scooping and swirling — it’s a hands-on adventure in early learning! As little fingers dive into the colorful rice to search […]

Shape Finders

Great lesson plan finding shapes

Coffee Filter Earth Day Sun Catchers

There’s something magical about turning the simplest materials into a tiny version of our big, beautiful planet. This Earth Day (or honestly, any day), try this simple coffee filter Earth sun catcher craft. All you need are coffee filters, blue and green markers, and a water squirt bottle. That’s it. No glitter explosions. No complicated […]

Building a Rainbow Garden and “Planting a Rainbow” by Lois Ehlert

After reading “Planting a Rainbow” by Lois Ehlert, bring the rainbow to life using colored craft sticks and matching paper flowers. Invite children to sort their flowers by color, then attach each one to the coordinating stick. It’s a hands-on way to reinforce color recognition and fine motor skills. The best part? No green thumb […]

Clothespin Easter Eggs

Little ones will love making these Peek-a-boo Clothespin Eggs I found on the One Little Project web site. The kids in my care were excited to see the chick play “peek-a-boo” when the egg opens and closes with a clothespin. It turns a simple craft into an interactive toy, sparking imagination, fine motor skills, and […]

Saint Patrick’s Day Sensory Bin

Kids will absolutely love making, and playing with, a Saint Patrick’s Day sensory tray filled with green rice, gold coins, festive pom poms, and tiny Irish holiday treasures. The bright colors instantly grab their attention, while the different textures of soft rice, shiny coins, fluffy pom poms, will spark curiosity and hands-on exploration. It feels […]