Secret Code Wheel

Creative Wednesday Let the kids pretend to be secret agents and uncover messages left in code. It’s easy to make a Secret Code Maker for the kids with circles cut out of poster board or with two small paper plates. Follow the instructions and images below so you and the kids can make secret messages […]

Picture Crossword Puzzle

Creative Wednesday Make a fun crossword puzzle using pictures as clues instead of words. You don’t need to use a computer to make the crossword puzzle. Make the crossword puzzle using graph paper and markers. I found this project in 365 Art and Craft Activities. Depending on the age of your nanny kids include sight […]

Corner Bookmarks

Creative Wednesday I saved some colored envelopes my nanny kid received from birthday cards and thank you cards this year. We recycled them to make some easy corner bookmarks. I found the idea in the book 365 Art and Craft Activities. Let the kids be creative and decorate bookmarks into any animals or creatures they […]

Clover Necklaces, Bracelets and Tiaras

My Nanny Family’s yard is full of blooming clover. So I taught my nanny kids how to make clover chains. We picked blooming clovers with long stems to make jewelry. One of my nanny kids even made up her own way to make clover chains. Be sure to watch her video instructions below. Braid Chain […]

Fourth of July Crafts

Independence Day Fun In the United States is America the 4th of July is filled with parades, barbecues, and fireworks to celebrate the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Here are some easy crafts I made with my nanny kids  to bring with them to their local holiday parade. The finished projects may look […]

Cardboard Box and Roll Maze

This is a very easy project to make with recyclable products that promote creativity and helps develop motor skills. We made a simple maze that preschoolers will enjoy. But you can easily make it harder for older kids by adding numbers to the tubes in the order the ball needs to go through the tubes. […]

Melted Crayon Easter Eggs

Creative Wednesdays I thought I had tried making all kinds of eggs working as a nanny for the past 25-years until I heard about melting crayons on hot boiled eggs. First, I let the kids sprinkle crayons shavings onto eggs. Then they used crayons to draw on hot eggs. Drawing on hot eggs works much […]

St. Patrick’s Day Counting Fun

Creative Learning Saint Patrick’s Day is coming up making it the perfect time to make this easy counting game. A common symbol of the Irish holiday is the pot of gold protected by leprechauns at the end of rainbows. So we made this simple counting game of putting paper coins on a paper pot. You […]

Saint Patrick’s Day Necklace

Creative Projects Saint Patrick’s Day is March 17. In Irish mythology, a pot of gold is hidden at the end of a rainbow by a small member of the fairy family called the leprechaun. This is an easy rainbow colored necklace to make with the kids with a pot of gold at the center of […]

The Hat by Jan Brett and 6 Learning Activities

Weekly Trip to the Library Read Jan Brett’s fun book The Hat then do some fun corresponding activities with the kids. In The Hat: Oversized Board Book Lisa’s woolen stocking flies off the clothesline, Hedgie finds it and pokes his nose in. He tries to pull it out, the stocking gets stuck on his prickles […]