Pressed Dried Flower Sun Catchers

There’s something magical about turning nature into art! Making butterfly and circle sun catchers with pressed dried flowers is a beautiful way for nannies to encourage creativity, fine motor skills, and an appreciation for nature with kids. They are keepsakes they’ll be proud to display long after the craft is finished. Be sure to read […]

Pressed Flower Clay Decorations and Coasters

Looking for a wonderful nature craft for kids this summer? These DIY Dried Pressed Flower Ornaments, Magnets, and Coasters are made with air-dry clay are a fun, hands-on activity that encourages creativity, strengthens fine motor skills, and helps children explore the beauty of nature. Whether you’re a nanny, parent, teacher, or au pair, this simple […]

Cupcake Liner Firework Craft for 4th of July

These cupcake liner fireworks are a simple, kid-friendly craft that lets little hands create their own colorful fireworks display. With a few patriotic cupcake liners, scissors, glue, and black paper, kids can make a festive decoration perfect for celebrating Independence Day. Check out how to make other firework crafts on my blog with paint and […]

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

Groundhog Day Puppets

Today is Groundhog Day. The celebration derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow and sees its shadow, it will retreat to its den and winter will go on for six more weeks. If the groundhog does not see its shadow, spring will arrive early. The kids love making […]

Heart-Shaped Bird Feeders

The children in my care loved making pinecone bird feeders so much this winter that I couldn’t resist finding a heart-shaped bird feeder activity to pair their love of feeding local birds with Valentine’s Day. I discovered this sweet idea on The Purposeful You web site, and it was a perfect fit. Watching winter birds […]

What Snowmen Do at Night Sensory Tray

What do snowmen do after bedtime? “Snowmen at Night” by Caralyn Buehner sparks big imagination in answering this question in little learners. This simple sensory tray brings the story to life. Using white modeling doh or air dough and a snowman building sensory kit from Amazon, toddlers and preschoolers can build and decorate their own […]