“How to Catch a Leprechaun” and Make a Leprechaun Trap

Irish folklore describes leprechaun as little fairies. Legend says they keep pots of gold at the ends of rainbows. Every Saint Patrick’s Day my Nanny Kids and I make leprechaun traps along with thousands of kids around the world. “How to Catch a Leprechaun” is a perfect children’s book for four- to ten-year-old kids, by […]

Saint Patrick’s Day Sun Catchers

Creative Wednesdays My six-year-old Nanny Kid loves using Dot Markers to decorate coffee filters. They look so beautiful. So we decided to experiment with different shapes to make some decorations for Saint Patrick’s Day. We cut out shamrock shapes from the center of paper plates and circles from the centers of other plates. We snipped […]

“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” By Eric Carle and Caterpillar Craft

Creative Wednesdays “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle features a caterpillar who eats his way through a wide variety of food before pupating and emerging as a butterfly. The winner of many children’s literature awards and a major graphic design award, it has sold almost 50 million copies worldwide. It has been described as […]

Cardboard Tube Shape Matching

Creative Wednesdays I save toilet paper and paper towel cardboard tubes to make free, quick, and easy projects for my Nanny Kids. This is an easy activity to let older siblings help make for their younger siblings. The shapes pictured might not look perfect because my Nanny Kid’s brother enjoyed drawing the shapes for his […]

“How to Catch a Snowman” and Make a Paper Strip Snowman

Creative Wednesdays This week read How to Catch a Snowman by Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton to the children and make a paper chain snowman I found it at buggyandbuddy.com. How to Catch a Snowman is a picture book that speaks from the perspective of a snowman as children try to catch him. Unlike other […]

Heart Garland

Creative Wednesdays Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14 as a celebration of romantic love. You can help the little ones left in your care make simple cards, write letters, or make inexpensive presents to give to their family and friends. Here is a simple decoration to make with your Nanny Kids to decorate their […]

Love You to Pieces Valentine’s Card

Creative Projects If you have puzzles with pieces missing this is the perfect Valentine’s project to make with your Nanny Kids. Otherwise, you can simply trace a few puzzle pieces onto Valentine’s colored paper and cut them out for this Valentine’s Day Card to make with kids of any age. You Will Need: Heavyweight Paper […]

Paper Woven Heart Hangers

Creative Projects Kids love making Valentine’s Day crafts and sending Valentine’s Day cards. In the United States alone, about 190 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year, not including the hundreds of millions of cards school children exchange. Here is how to make Paper Woven Heart Hangers for your Nanny Kids to hang on […]

Rainbow Heart Pop-Up Valentine’s Card

Creative Nanny Valentine’s Day is coming up in a few weeks. I felt like I’ve made every type of Valentine’s Cards with my nanny kids over the decades I have worked as a nanny until I saw this video showing how to make an easy rainbow heart pop-up Valentine’s card. You Will Need: 1 Piece […]

Coffee Filter Snowflakes

Creative Wednesdays My Nanny Kids have had tons of fun cutting out paper snowflakes this winter. So we tried using coffee filters instead of paper this week and we loved the results. Google for paper snowflakes and coffee filter templates online for good ideas to help make snowflakes. But let the kids just explore cutting […]