The Many Little Joys

22 creative waiting games you can play with kids to save your sanity

Waiting is NOT easy, especially for kids who are hungry, tired, or really excited for what is coming. These simple waiting games will save your sanity the next time you have some time to kill.

Waiting is NOT easy, especially for kids who are hungry, tired, or really excited for what is coming. These simple, sanity-saving games will make time fly while you wait!

Every parent knows the struggle of trying to keep kids entertained in a public place while waiting for something…

Whether it’s waiting for food to be delivered at a restaurant, standing in line at the post office, or excitedly awaiting your turn to ride the teacups at Disneyland, minutes can feel like hours when your kids are antsy and the timeline is out of your control.

I don’t have a magic wand to make those lines move faster (I wish!), but I do have some tried-and-true waiting games to fill the time.

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20+ fun ways to play & learn with conversation hearts this Valentine’s Day

Whether you use them at home or for school parties, these simple Valentine’s Day activities for kids will get kids laughing and learning in no time. One bag of conversation hearts…so many ways to play and learn!

Whether you use them at home or for school parties, these simple Valentine's Day activities for kids will get kids laughing and learning in no time. One bag of conversation hearts...so many ways to play and learn!

Conversation hearts…whether you love them or hate them, you’ve got to admit they are an iconic part of Valentine’s Day.

Even though I think they taste kind of like chalk, I love that you can do SO many simple and fun activities with them. Whether you want to practice preschool math skills, plan a classroom party, or have a raucous night of family fun, you can do it all with one little bag of colorful hearts.

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Fun printable Valentine’s postcards for kids you can actually send in the mail

Send some love the old-fashioned way with these cute printable Valentine’s postcards that your kids will love!

Child writing on a printable Valentine's postcard. One side has a heart and the words "special delivery" and the other side has lines for writing a personalized message.

Did you know you can make your OWN postcards? It’s true! As long as you meet the post office’s guidelines, you can print your own custom postcards and send them in the mail! Fun, right?!

Inspired by this fun fact, I made some cute printable Valentine’s postcards so we can spread some love through snail mail as part of our Valentine’s Day kindness countdown.

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No-stress Valentine’s Day traditions for families to help spread the love

Make Valentine’s Day special this year for your family without spending a lot of time or money with these simple Valentine’s Day traditions for families. No stress…just lots of love!

Make Valentine's Day special this year for your family without spending a lot of time or money with these simple Valentine's Day traditions for families. No stress...just lots of love!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

Valentine’s Day is coming! Have you thought about how you’re going to celebrate?

Often people focus on romantic love on Valentine’s Day, but I also like to use the holiday as a way to shower a little extra love on my kids…and to encourage them to spread love to those around them.

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Valentine’s Day Kindness Countdown: teach your family to love a little better

Get the whole family involved in spreading love this February with this simple and meaningful tradition…a Valentine’s Day Kindness Countdown for kids!

Get the whole family involved in spreading love this February with this simple and meaningful tradition...a Valentine's Day Kindness Countdown for kids!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to talk to our kids about kindness…and put those words into practice, too!

If your family is like mine (please tell me it is!), reminders to be kind are always welcome…and needed. Despite our best efforts, family life is not ALWAYS peaceful and harmonious. We absolutely love each other, but we’re also very human.

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Simple activities to beat cabin fever that every mom needs in her tool belt

Cabin fever is REAL. If your kids are bouncing off the walls this winter, try these low-prep activities that will get kids moving and playing creatively. They might just save your sanity.

Cabin fever is REAL. If your kids are bouncing off the walls this winter, try these low-prep activities that will get kids moving and playing creatively. They might just save your sanity.

Are your kids bored, cranky, or downright crazy right now? Blame it on cabin fever.

Winter can be tough on kids (and all of us, really). Cold weather and fewer daylight hours means that kids spend more hours confined indoors. This is a problem because being stuck indoors makes it harder to expend all the mental and physical energy building up inside their little bodies.

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“Make Ten” match (addition game for kids)

This simple addition game for kids is a fun way to practice basic math skills by adapting another game you probably already have at home.

This simple addition game for kids is a fun way to practice basic math skills by adapting another game you probably already have at home.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

I’m always looking for more ways to disguise learning time as play at our house (I’m a big fan of play-based learning in general). If your kids are like mine, they’re not thrilled by the idea of doing worksheets every day. The good news? They don’t have to!

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Winter outdoor play ideas for kids: Creative ways to enjoy the snow

Next time your kids are bouncing off the walls on a snowy day, try one of these winter outdoor play ideas to get everyone some fresh air. You CAN enjoy the outdoors, even in cold weather!

Small child on sled enjoying winter outdoor play time.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

When the snow begins to fall, it can be tempting to hunker down and stay inside until spring. And yet, getting outside even during cold weather has huge benefits for kids and adults. Here are just a few…

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8 last-minute, easy New Years Eve ideas for kids

You don’t have to put in a lot of work to make New Year’s fun and festive! Here are 7 New Years Eve ideas for kids to keep the celebration simple and memorable!

You don't have to put in a lot of work to make New Year's fun and festive! Here are # New Years Eve ideas for kids to keep the celebration simple and memorable!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

Most people have plenty of Christmas traditions, but what about New Year’s Eve? How does your family celebrate?

Do you stay up till midnight? I’ll admit, we never do. Starting out the year with cranky, sleep-deprived kids just does NOT work for our family, so we celebrate early and tuck everyone into bed at a semi-reasonable time.

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