Pom-Pom Valentine’s Card Box

An older girl in my care is so excited for Valentine’s Day! To help her build anticipation for the holiday I helped her make a Valentine’s card box to hold all the Valentine’s cards she gets from school, friends, and family.  I got the idea from designedimprovised.com. Children will need assistance with cutting out the […]

“Whispers of the Snake” and Split Pin Snake 

It is the start of Chinese New Year (or Lunar New Year) and it is the year of the snake. Read “Whispers of the Snake: A Chinese New Year Book: A Story for Kids to Celebrate the Year of the Snake and Learn about Chinese Traditions” by Chloe E. Gore and then help the children […]

“Martin Luther King the Peaceful Warrior” and Peace Sun Catcher  

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 […]

“The Three Little Pigs” Story and DIY Puppets 

My Nanny Kids love puppets and puppet shows. Puppetry is a great way to promote story telling and to foster language, imagination, communication, and more.  Using construction paper, white and pink paper plates, jumbo or extra large craft sticks, crayons, markers, glue sticks, and hot glue, I made a few quick puppets for the story […]

Gratitude Journal

Start the new year off right by having the children in your care decorate their own Gratitude Journals. The goal is to have the kids keep them on their night stand to start or end each day writing down the things they are grateful for every day in the new year. Don’t forget to make […]

3D Cardboard Menorahs

My Nanny Kids are getting excited to celebrate Hanukkah. I cut out menorah shapes from cardboard from the recycling bin. Then I cut out a little base to slide onto the menorahs so they will stand up. I allowed the children to decorate their menorahs with Sharpie Paint Pens, (which are the best product to […]

3D Paper Snowflake Decorations and Ornaments

  Although a child in my care made this snowflake and used it as an ornament to hang on a Christmas tree, any child of any faith can just make a 3D paper snowflake to use as a winter decoration.  You Will Need: Paper of Choice (Butcher paper is a great choice) Snowflake Templates ScissorsGlue Gun or […]

Paper Woven Placemats

Thanksgiving Project Thanksgiving is celebrated tomorrow in the United States. Families celebrate the holiday around a hearty meal. Therefore, weaving placemats to serve the holiday dinner on makes a perfect Thanksgiving craft. You Will Need: Construction Paper (we chose brown, orange, and yellow) Ruler Marker Safety Scissor Tape or Paste Clear Contact Paper or Self-Adhesive […]

Thankful Wreath

Each year I have my Nanny Kids make a Thankful Wreath to show what they are grateful for as Thanksgiving approaches. Teaching children to be thankful, generous, and kind is a lifelong process, and one that involves many friends and family to help develop. Hang the wreath to proudly display what the child is grateful […]

Turkey Headbands 

This is a quick and easy craft project to do with the kids of any age to prepare for Thanksgiving. I found one turkey headband template for free and another on Amazon and allowed the children in my care to decorate them as they wished.  You Will Need: Heavyweight Paper Turkey Headband Template  Printer Scissors […]