Pressed Flower Jar Lanterns

Turn empty glass bottles or jars into beautiful little lanterns! This simple craft is a fun way for kids to use pressed and dried flowers while creating a pretty decoration for their room or play space. Battery-operated tea lights make these lanterns a fun and kid-friendly alternative to candles. The children in my care and […]

Real Flower Brushes

Skip traditional paint brushes and head outside! Real flowers make wonderful, natural stamps and paint brushes to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind artwork that kids will love. Choose sturdy flowers with strong stems, such as daisies. Try different flowers, colors, and amounts of paint to see how each one creates a unique design.  Don’t forget to read […]

Painted Flowers with Cardboard Roll Stamps

The children in my care adore flowers so I have been making flower themed activities and lesson plans all summer. See how I had them paint flowers with stamps made from cardboard rolls. It’s messy! Use craft mats and have paper towels close by! See other activities I have done with the children including: pressed […]

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