Why Nannies Should Whip Up Homemade Red, White & Blue Play Dough This Labor Day

Making red, white, and blue play dough at home is a quick, budget-friendly activity that sparks sensory play and a chance to chat about the meaning behind the Labor Day holiday. It’s hands-on fun at any age that teaches kids about colors, textures, and even teamwork. Plus, homemade dough is safer and softer than store-bought […]

Yarn and Pom Pom Spaghetti and Meatballs Sensory Bin

Looking for a fun, mess-free way to spark the children’s imagination? Kids will love diving into this spaghetti and meatball sensory bin made with soft white yarn for pasta and squishy red pom poms as meatballs! It’s a playful twist on a classic comfort food that encourages creativity, fine motor skills, and hours of giggles. […]

Outdoor Nature Sorting

Summer learning has never been so fun! Read “Hello Hello: Opposites” by Brendan Wenzel with the children In your care then sort items you find in nature into opposites outside.  “Hello Hello: Opposites” by Brendan Wenzel is a vibrant and engaging picture book that explores the concept of opposites through a wide array of animals. […]

Clay Shell Mosaics

Kids love collecting shells at the beach. There’s something magical about turning a handful of seashells into a little keepsake masterpiece. For children, making shell mosaics on air-dry clay isn’t just an art project, each shell is a tiny treasure, and pressing it into soft clay feels like discovering buried gold. I found this great shell […]

Sink or Float Game

Looking for a simple, engaging game that sparks curiosity and giggles? Try this Sink or Float Game. Why do kids love it? Because it’s science disguised as play. They get to gather random household items, make predictions (“Will this spoon sink?” “What about this crayon?”), and then test their hypotheses in water. It’s hands-on, a […]

Squirt Gun Super Soaker Painting

As a professional snack distributor, argument negotiator, and CEO of Mess Containment (aka, nanny), I’ve seen my fair share of creative chaos. But nothing — nothing — prepared me for Squirt Gun Super Soaker Painting! From the brilliant brain of Louise McMullen in “Fun Painting Projects for Kids,” this fun activity is part Jackson Pollock […]

Patriotic Sensory Tray

Children love sensory trays because they provide a fun and engaging way to explore different textures and sights through hands-on play, stimulating multiple senses at once. I loved creating this 4th of July sensory tray theme for a toddler in my care.  Although I could have easily purchased red, white, and blue colored sensory rice, […]

Hopscotch With a Twist

You can get the kiddos active by drawing a typical foursquare court, an obstacle course, or hop scotch with sidewalk chalk. But we love this idea from JrImagination. Instead of playing a normal hopscotch game, add different activities to boxes.  Use sidewalk chalk on your Nanny Family’s driveway or sidewalk to draw boxes similar to […]

Rainbow Slime

Kids love rainbows and slime. So I combined the love of both and the children in my care and I made 4 colors of slime. To make rainbows you will need to make 6 colors of slime from the recipe I found at thebestideasforkids.com. See how to make slime with laundry detergent by tapping here, […]

Decorating Golf Balls for Father’s Day

If you have a Dad Boss that loves golf as much as mine does he’ll appreciate a gift he can actually use. Even if he doesn’t play often, the golf balls can be kept as keepsakes or desk decorations. Whether they’re toddlers scribbling with markers or older kids making detailed designs, years later, those little doodles […]