Sustainable & Creative Living
Just after Thanksgiving, we start decorating our home for Christmas. We never do it all at once, but instead, take our time and enjoy the process itself. When the big day actually gets closer, we may make some natural or edible decorations for an extra festive feel. These DIY Decorative Apples add just the right amount of sparkle as a holiday centerpiece or [Read more…]
With in-person Santa visits on the decline this year, maybe you’re opting for a phone or video chat instead. This free Printable Letter From Santa is the perfect addition to get your little one in the spirit.
It’s that time of year again- Christmastime! And if you’ve got little ones in your home they’re probably looking forward to their annual visit with good ole St. Nick. It’s the only time of year when they get to get up close and personal with the legendary man himself. The only problem is, [Read more…]
Thanksgiving is all about turkey, pumpkin pie, and family. It’s also the time of year when I like to take the opportunity to teach my little one exactly what being thankful is all about. We spend the whole month of November concentrating on what it means to be thankful and what we are thankful for. I love incorporating everything from the Mayflower voyage in 1620 to the [Read more…]
It’s always fun to do crafty fall decorations, especially at Halloween. Whether it’s spooky goblins and ghouls or creepy black cats and jack-o-lanterns, there’s never enough Halloween décor to fill up my house during the trick-or-treating season. There is always a plethora of awesome kid’s crafts to choose from but what if you have teens in your house or even a full-grown adult with a child-like spirit roaming the halls? These DIY Tie Dye Halloween Ghosts are the perfect little craft for older kids, teens, and even parents!
Things are about to get spooky with this super fun Spooky Halloween Scavenger Hunt for kids. It’s got everything from haunted ghosts and sweet candy corn to scary skeletons and goopy eyeballs. This is a great activity for kids of all ages. Bring it trick or treating, or on your next evening walk through the neighborhood. If you’re skipping the door to door festivities this year, plan a scavenger hunt around your home or outdoors in the yard. The first to finish can collect a treasure box full of [Read more…]
They’re screaming and crying, kicking and hitting, face bright red, and tears streaming down their face. And just like that, you’re in the midst of a full-blown tantrum. This is when I calmly and quietly walk to the Calm Down Basket, take my crazed child “nicely” by any limb I can get a grip on, and [Read more…]
If you’ve got a little one in preschool or kindergarten through second grade, then you know the struggle with teaching sight words. I’m always trying to come up with new and creative ways to try and reduce the repetitiveness of teaching sight words to my very non-interested 5-year-old. Flashcards are great, and in a pinch, I might fall back on them, but I try not to rely on them. I like to incorporate as many hands-on and creative learning when it comes to sight words, which is why this activity, Sight Word Practice with Magnetic Letters, [Read more…]
We’ve been doing a lot of easy science experiments at home, trying to keep the creative mind of an inquisitive 4-year-old active and curious. This Floating Letters Experiment is simple enough for young children and still fun for older kids. What’s great for parents is that it shouldn’t require an extra trip to the store due to the magic of Amazon, and it keeps kids busy for a while doing their best to guess the results. [Read more…]
If you and your little ones are crafty, then this Paper Roll Caterpillar Pencil Holder is an easy craft you can make at home with items you probably already have in your supply. This little craft is one of my favorites for a few reasons. One, I can grab from my stock of saved up toilet paper and paper towel rolls and two, when it’s complete, it doesn’t have to end up in the trash! [Read more…]
With Easter just around the corner, we’ve been doing lots of Easter crafts in my house. This Paper Plate Easter Bunny Craft is one of my favorites. I took an old favorite— the cotton balls on a paper plate idea and added a little flare. Most of these items you should have on hand but if you don’t, [Read more…]
With Earth Day coming on April 22 this year, it’s a fun month to teach young kids about the beauty of the world around us, including all the living things in it. The value of recycling is also a very important concept that, if taught at a young age, can hopefully instill a strong foundation and appreciation for reducing waste. Many of these Earth Day Preschool Activities are simple and fun ideas that can be [Read more…]
If you like to read books and talk with others who’ve read them, then joining a book club may be for you. Because I love to do this, I’m a member of three book clubs! To find a book club in your area, you can definitely go online and/or social media and search “book clubs near me”. You can ask friends and acquaintances if they know of any book clubs. Also, check with your library or other local organizations that may sponsor book clubs. If you don’t find an interesting book club in your area, [Read more…]
Preschool is a fun age for kids to learn about numbers and letters. It’s all cutting and pasting and making animals out of letters. It marks the beginning of many academic milestones to come. My little one recently started VPK a few days a week but still comes to work with me on his off days. I’m always scouring for new ways to [Read more…]
