Turn storytime into a hands-on fall activity! “There Was an Old Lady that Swallowed Some Leaves” by Lucille Colandro is a breezy, whimsical rhyme book paired with vivid illustrations making it a chaotic tribute to autumn and an absolute page-turner for children. It is an excellent book for preschool through early elementary kids to practice […]
“The Crayons Trick or Treat” by Drew Daywalt and Making Costumes for the Crayons
October 10, 2026 Leave a Comment
Last week the kids and I made costumes for the Sheepy in “Creepy Sheepy” and this week we did the same with the crayon protagonists in “The Crayons Trick or Treat” by Drew Daywalt. After reading “The Crayons Trick or Treat” with the children in your care, set up a coloring and drawing station where […]
“Creepy Sheepy” by Lucy Ruth Cummins & Make a Costume for Your Own Sheepy
October 3, 2026 Leave a Comment
Nothing tested a nanny’s patience quite like the annual Halloween costume crisis — until “Creepy Sheepy” came along. In Lucy Ruth Cummins’s hilarious “Creepy Sheepy,” the wooly protagonist is determined not to follow the herd. While every other sheep in the pasture decides to dress up as a classic, generic ghost, Sheepy wants a look […]
Autumn Leaf Placemat Low-Mess Craft
September 16, 2026 Leave a Comment
The rule of autumn nannyhood is if you go for a walk, you will bring back half the forest. This week, I upgraded the kids from ‘leaf collectors’ to ‘interior designers.’ Check out this super simple, autumn leaf placemat craft that preserves their favorite outdoor finds and protects the kitchen table from the inevitable pumpkin […]
Building a Rainbow Garden and “Planting a Rainbow” by Lois Ehlert
April 8, 2026 3 Comments
After reading “Planting a Rainbow” by Lois Ehlert, bring the rainbow to life using colored craft sticks and matching paper flowers. Invite children to sort their flowers by color, then attach each one to the coordinating stick. It’s a hands-on way to reinforce color recognition and fine motor skills. The best part? No green thumb […]
Groundhog Day Puppets
February 2, 2026 Leave a Comment
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 […]
“Martin Luther King the Peaceful Warrior” and Peace Sun Catcher
January 15, 2025 Leave a Comment
To prepare for Martin Luther King Jr. Day read children’s books about the civil rights leader and make a peace sun catcher to recognize Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. In “Martin Luther King the Peaceful Warrior” by Ed Clayton readers follow the inspiring life of Martin Luther King Jr. in a moving, vital, and informative […]
“Winter Dance” by Marion Dane Bauer and Coloring Page
January 17, 2024 Leave a Comment
“Winter Dance” by Marion Dane Bauer is a fun winter book about a fox trying to figure out what to do when winter comes. Snow is coming, and it’s time to get ready! The squirrel gathers nuts, the geese soar south, and the snowshoe hare puts on its new white coat. But what should the […]
