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Crafts & Activities

How to get kids to read this summer + Free printable summer reading charts

Need a simple way to keep track of your kids’ reading during the summer? Download these free printable summer reading charts to keep kids motivated all summer long!

printable summer reading charts to keep kids reading all summer long.

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.

Ahh summer. The season of ice-cold popsicles, crackling campfires, sunny days…and sopping wet beach towels left on the bathroom floor (#truth).

Whether you have a bucket list full of adventures or prefer to be more spontaneous and enjoy whatever comes your way, part of the joy of summer is kicking back, letting go of strict school schedules, and having fun!

Still, we want our kids to keep their minds sharp over the summer, and one of the best ways to do that is by encouraging our kids to READ!

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Our favorite summer workbooks for kids to stop the “summer slide”

If you’re looking for a simple, affordable solution to keep your kids excited about learning this summer, you’ll love our favorite summer workbooks for kids!

If you're looking for a simple, affordable solution to keep your kids excited about learning this summer, you'll love our favorite summer workbook 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.

Summer’s almost upon us, and I’m looking forward to lots of trips to the park, days at the pool, and long hours listening to the clatter of Legos being shuffled around as my kids let their imaginations go wild.

But as much as I want my kids to have a carefree and fun-filled summer, I also want to make sure they keep learning while they’re out of school.

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Preschool math activity: How many spots does the ladybug have?

Practice core math skills with your child like counting, one-to-one correspondence, simple addition, and more–all in a simple play-based preschool math activity.

Practice core math skills with your child like counting, one-to-one correspondence, simple addition, and more--all in a simple play-based preschool math activity.

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.

Did you know that one ladybug can eat up to 5,000 insects in its lifetime?! That’s a lot of food for one little critter!

When I’m creating activities for my preschooler, I love to use the things they are interested in at the time. For us right now that means…BUGS!

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Earth Day activities for kids: simple ways to celebrate the planet

Help your kids appreciate the beauty of our planet (and teach them to take care of it) with these simple earth day activities for families.

Child planting a red flower in a garden. Help your kids appreciate the beauty of our planet (and teach them to take care of it) with these simple earth day activities for families.

Fun fact: In its lifetime, one reusable bag can prevent the use of 600 plastic bags. (source)

April 22 is Earth Day! It’s a great time to teach kids about the wonders and beauty of our planet…and what we can do to take care of it.

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Free Printable Easter Activity Pack…4 games in 1!

This free printable Easter activity pack will give your kids hours of entertainment and learning as they wait for the Easter bunny to arrive. Print it once…and play four fun Easter-themed games!

This free printable Easter activity pack will give your kids hours of entertainment and learning. Print it once...and play four fun games!

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.

Easter is just a few weeks away! Around our house, that means it’s time to pull out the Easter egg activities!

Let’s be clear, though. I have no time (or patience) for elaborate activities. If you’ve been here long, you know I’m all about simple kids activities that can be ready to go in less than five minutes.

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“What’s hidden in the grass?”: Easter cutting activity for preschoolers

Encourage your preschooler’s fine motor skills as they “cut the grass” to reveal a festive surprise in this simple Easter cutting activity. Free printable included!

Encourage your preschooler's fine motor skills as they "cut the grass" to reveal a festive surprise in this simple Easter cutting activity. Free printable included!

It’s springtime! If you’re not quite ready to break out the plastic Easter eggs yet (I always end up finding them in random places around my house for months after Easter), try playing with paper ones instead!

Preschoolers will love this simple, Easter-themed cutting activity (and you’ll love how easy it is). It’s a great way to develop fine-motor skills and scissor-skills, a core skill if your kiddo (like mine) is heading to kindergarten in the fall!

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Green Scavenger Hunt for Kids

This no-prep green scavenger hunt is a perfect St. Patrick’s Day activity for kids. Super simple, full of learning, and fun to play!

It’s almost St. Patrick’s Day, which is kind of a random holiday, but I’m game for celebrating just about anything by this point in winter. I’m just aching for spring, and thinking about all things GREEN gives me hope!

This green scavenger hunt is the perfect no-prep activity to do with your toddler or preschooler. If you have older kids, it’s an equally great way to connect after school!

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Easy homemade puzzle craft for kids (made from an upcycled cereal box)

Next time you finish a box of cereal, don’t throw it out! Instead, encourage your kids to get creative and upcycle it into their very own homemade puzzle craft!

Raise your hand if you love a good trash-to-treasure project! If so, you’re going to love today’s homemade puzzle craft for kids.

There’s something great about giving new life to something that was bound for the trash. Using recycled materials for crafting with kids is awesome because it’s budget-friendly, environmentally-friendly, and doesn’t require running to the store for specialty supplies. Because if you’ve been around here for long, you know we’re all about keeping things simple!

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Free printable Play Doh valentines for kids

These funny (or at lest punny) printable valentines are a simple way to help your kids spread some love this Valentine’s Day. Just print and attach to your favorite Play Doh!

Funny printable valentines for kids that attach to play doh.

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.

Let’s get one thing clear from the start: I am not usually a fancy, cutesy valentine giver. In fact, in nine years of motherhood, I have NEVER made homemade valentines. I am usually perfectly content to buy a box at the grocery store and keep things super simple. Maybe I buy a bag of lollipops if I’m feeling really ambitious. Maybe.

So if you’re in that phase of motherhood right now, that’s totally okay. You don’t need to do fancy. Feel free to skip this post and add valentines to your grocery shopping list instead.

But if, like me, you’re feeling inspired to do something a little special this year, I’ve got a fun (and still really simple) idea to share with you today!

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Essential kids’ craft supplies for creative kids: What’s in our “art cart”

You don’t need a lot of fancy supplies to make a creative home, but a having a few versatile basics on hand opens up a world of possibilities. Take a look inside my “art cart” to see the kids’ craft supplies I can’t live without.

home, but a having a few versatile basics on hand opens up a world of possibilities. Take a look inside my "art cart" to see the kids' craft supplies I can't live without.

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.

One of the keys of having a creative home is giving kids lots of opportunities to create! Our role as parents isn’t to come up with elaborate ideas and projects. We just need to provide the tools. When we give our kids access to materials that inspire their imaginations, we give them permission to explore and enable them to bring their ideas to life.

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