Weaving Loop Bracelets, Headbands and Pot Holders

Creative Wednesdays One of the easiest bracelets for kids to make only requires fabric loops and fingers — no special tools. Once kids feel confident weaving bracelets and headbands on their fingers they can move to a weaving loom to make pot holders and more. Here’s what to do: Will Need: Fabric Loops Weaving Loom […]

Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree

Creative Wednesdays It’s spring and when you look out the window what do you see? It looks like popcorn is popping on the spring trees. So we made some spring trees indoors on a rainy day with real popcorn. Before, during, and after making the trees teach the kids the song, “Popcorn Popping on the […]

Lace a Mitten Filled with Animals and Read “The Mitten” by Jan Brett

Creative Children’s Book Project There are few books as loved by kids as The Mitten by Jan Brett. Winter is a great time to read this beloved children’s book and do this cute craft with the kids in your care. As you read the book the kids will love when a Ukaranian boy named Nikki loses […]

Pumpkin Pie Play Dough

Nothing is better than the smell of pumpkin in the Autumn. So, this week we made this easy homemade play dough recipe that is scented like pumpkin pie. While playing with play dough, children use the small muscles in their fingers and hands. They use hands, fingers, and tools to pound, push, poke, shape, flatten, roll, cut, […]

Paper Roll Binoculars

Creative Crafts for Kids My youngest charge loves birds. She’s too young to entrust with real binoculars when bird watching. So, it was easy to make these pretend binoculars and they have provided hours of creative fun this summer as we have taken them along on nature hikes to identify birds. If you do not […]

How to Encourage Learning at Home

Success In School Requires Support at Home Success in school requires support at home. As nannies we have a unique opportunity to teach children in important ways that cannot be taught in school. It is up to us to make learning experiences in everyday activities. We can even help children too young for school to develop […]

Paper Bag Puppets

Creative Projects to Do With Kids Every pre-school and early elementary school-aged child I have ever cared for loves puppets. Making simple paper bag puppets allows kids to practice coloring, cutting, and pasting. I like cutting out shapes from colored construction paper for young kids to make animals, princesses, and princes but it’s even easier […]

Charlie and Lola: Snow is My Favorite and My Best by Lauren Child

Weekly Trip to the Library Nothing is sadder for my four-year-old charge then when her snowman starts to melt after a fun day of playing in the snow. Luckily we found a great children’s book discussing the same feelings. One of my favorite children’s books authors is Lauren Child. This week while at the library […]

Puffy Paint

Getting Creative with Kids There is something magical about the three-dimensional appearance of Puffy Paint. Puffy paint is easy to make and you can simply find the ingredients already at home. Allow the kids to use the Puff Paint recipes as finger paint as well — although I don’t like adding color to the puffy […]

Painting with Spoons

Painting is such a great way to express yourself, but sometimes paintbrushes just don’t tell the whole story. I find that this unorthodox method of painting is a great way to help children express their high powered emotions, like anger or excitement. Try it out the next time your little one gets mad and doesn’t […]