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, […]

Easy Halloween Cupcakes

Creative Projects Wednesday There is no treat better for a Halloween party than homemade cupcakes. Store bought miniature cakes just don’t cut it like the homemade version. Kids love helping mixing, baking, and decorating all Halloween treats. By far the easiest way to make a bunch of Halloween cupcakes, whether it be bats, mummies, witches, or jack-o-lanterns is by using a cupcake […]

Rosh Hashanah Craft

Jewish New Year Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of the Jewish year. Rosh Hashanah begins the ten days of self examination and repentance before Yom Kippur. At the synagogue, the shofar (a trumpet made from a ram’s horn) is blown. Traditional foods are challah, apples dipped in honey to symbolize the coming sweet year, fish […]

How to Encourage Learning at Home

Success In School Requires Support at Home Success in school requires support at home. As nannies we have a unique opportunity to teach children in important ways that cannot be taught in school. It is up to us to make learning experiences in everyday activities. We can even help children too young for school to develop […]

Paper Airplanes

Boredom Buster It only takes about one-minute to make make a paper airplane and it’s a great way to give bored kids something to do. Making paper airplanes teaches kids attention to detail, since the more expertly they fold the paper, the better it flies. Here’s a super simple way to make a quick paper […]

Paper Bag Puppets

Creative Projects to Do With Kids Every pre-school and early elementary school-aged child I have ever cared for loves puppets. Making simple paper bag puppets allows kids to practice coloring, cutting, and pasting. I like cutting out shapes from colored construction paper for young kids to make animals, princesses, and princes but it’s even easier […]

Color Mixing: Making a Chem Lab in the Kitchen

Fun Project to Do With Kids Here’s a quick way to make your employer’s kitchen into a junior chemistry lab. Provide containers of various sizes, bottles of food coloring, and various “lab” implements such as eye droppers, turkey basters, spoons, measuring cups. Before turning the kids loose in Chemistry 101, though, be sure to explain […]

Bell Pepper Shamrock Stamps

St. Patrick’s Day Project St. Patrick’s Day is coming up so there is no better time to start doing green crafts for the popular Irish holiday. The shamrock is known as a symbol of Ireland, with St. Patrick having used it as a metaphor for the Christian Trinity, according to legend. The four-leaf clover is […]

Drawing With Your Toes

Creative Projects to Do With Kids Have the kids hold a crayon or pen between their toes and try to draw or write on a piece of paper. Simply put some paper on the floor and have the kids take off their shoes and socks and stick a crayon between their toes. The artwork will […]

Making Chunky Crayons

Wednesday Projects to Do with Kids Don’t throw out little crayon pieces that are too small for the kids to hold on to. Use them to create big, chunky crayons. We made multi-colored chunky crayons but you can make solid chunky crayons if you prefer. It does get stinky so be sure to use a vent or […]