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 […]

Penguin Fun: Crafts and Books

Weekly Trip to the Library What child doesn’t like penguins? And now that’s it is cold outside it’s the perfect time to read and doing indoor crafts. This week I borrowed books from the library about penguins and has the kids make some penguins from different shapes cut out from colored construction paper. If you […]

Thanksgiving Day Parade Book and Activities

Balloons Over Broadway The kids I care for are going to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade on Thanksgiving morning so I borrowed “Balloons over Broadway” by Melissa Sweet from the library to prepare them for the fun and festivities. But if your charges aren’t goingto the parade they will still love watching the parade on television […]

Sea Shell Hair Pins

Who doesn’t love summertime and days spent at the beach with the kids? Part of each day spent at the beach my charges scan the shore for sea shell treasures. These nautical hair pins are easy and inexpensive to make but don’t let little kids use the glue. Let your favorite mermaids pick out their favorite shells […]

Lemon Sugar Scrub

Mother’s Day Gift I just love the smell of lemons! That’s one of the reasons this is my absolute favorite, cheapest, and easiest homemade Mother’s Day gift to make and give. Let the kids help make this wonderfully clean smelling, non-toxic, moisturizing scrub for their Mother and Grandmothers. It’s so inexpensive. This lemony scrub makes an […]

“I Love You This Much” Hand Card

Mother’s Day Project For years I’ve been making this card with kids. With Mother’s Days approaching next week, it is an easy card to make with the children for their mother. Of course you can make this card for Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, birthdays, or any special occasion too. It couldn’t be cuter and easier to make. […]

Recycled Rocking Robin Craft

Earth Day Project My youngest charge and I enjoy attending an environmental program for children at a local garden. Following a lesson about birds one day we made this rocking robin craft. Made out of old cardboard cereal boxes, these delightful birds rock back and forth when tapped. The robins look so cute. Be sure […]

“The Tiny Seed” by Eric Carle and What Direction Does a Seed Grow Project

Weekly Trip to the Library “The Tiny Seed” By Eric Carle is the perfect book to read in the Spring. The short board book follows the life of a seed. This mini-book includes a piece of detachable seed-embedded paper housed on the inside front cover. Readers can plant the entire piece of paper and watch as their […]

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, […]