The Many Little Joys

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Preschool

Playdough Color Mixing for Kids

What happens when you mix red and blue? Kids will learn this and more in this creative hands-on color activity that uses a playtime classic: playdough!

What happens when you mix red and blue? Playdough Color Mixing for Kids is a creative hands-on learning activity that teaches color theory and more all through play!

Note: This post contains affiliate links to products that I have used and loved. See my disclosure to learn more.

Kids LOVE color…the more, the brighter, the better!

You know what else my kids love? Playdough. We have made dozens of batches of playdough over the years (using my very favorite playdough recipe), and my kids just don’t get tired of it.

To capitalize on their interests, I combined these two kid-friendly things into a creative hands-on color mixing activity for my three boys.

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Money Bingo: A fun way to teach kids coin values

Teach your kids essential money skills and coin identification with this fun printable money bingo game!

Teach your kids essential money skills and coin identification with this fun printable money bingo game!

Kids LOVE money. The joy that comes from finding a penny on the ground or a nickel in between the couch cushions is immeasurable.

But in order to make sure our kids don’t end up like the mistaken child in Shel Silverstein’s poem “Smart” (Have you read that poem?…I love it!), it’s important to teach them about the values of the various coins.

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Heart Monsters: simple Valentine’s Day craft for kids

This easy Valentine’s Day craft for kids is fun for all ages, and it’s simple enough that even toddlers can do it independently!

This easy Valentine's Day craft for kids is simple enough that even toddlers can do it independently but older kids will have fun with it, too!

Note: This post contains affiliate links to products that I have used and loved. See my disclosure to learn more.

It’s Valentine’s week! Valentine’s Day is a fun one for kids because there are just SO many ways to play and learn with hearts!

Today we’re making HEART MONSTERS!

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Valentine’s Day Secret Code Love Notes for Kids

These printable Valentine’s Day love notes are a perfectly simple way to surprise your kids…or for kids to secretly deliver to their friends!

These printable Valentine's Day love notes are a perfectly simple way to surprise your kids...or for kids to secretly deliver to their friends!

Do your kids love getting mail as much as mine do? If so, you’ll love today’s activity.

I don’t go ALL out on Valentine’s Day, but I do think it’s a great opportunity to send some extra love to the people we love.

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Printable U.S. Presidents Memory Game

This printable U.S. presidents memory game is a fun way to teach kids fun facts about some of America’s most famous presidents.

This printable U.S. presidents memory game is a fun way to teach kids fun facts about some of America's most famous presidents.

Note: This post contains affiliate links to products that I have used and loved. See my disclosure to learn more.

Did you know that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on the same day? Even more amazing: that date was the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence–July 4, 1826.

Crazy, right?

That’s one of the fun facts that you and your kids will learn in this US presidents memory game.

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Free printable shape flashcards + 11 creative ways to use them

These free printable shape flashcards + hands-on learning activities give you everything you need to help your child master basic two- and three-dimensional shapes in fun and creative ways.

Note: This post contains affiliate links to products that I have used and loved. See my disclosure to learn more.

It’s back to school season! I usually love this time of year, with the hubbub and excitement of new teachers, new shoes, new friends, and new things to learn.

This year has been….hard. To say the least. We’re starting the year virtually, and everything feels a little uncertain and uncomfortable.

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How to encourage creative learning at home (without stressing about it)

If you’re looking for simple ways to help your children with learning at home without stressing yourself out, you’ll love this round-up of amazing (and FREE) resources.

If you're looking for simple ways to help your children with learning at home without stressing yourself out, you'll love this round-up of amazing (and FREE) resources.

With schools closing all over the nation, many of us are scrambling to figure out what to do with our kids home all day!

Our school district has dismissed school for at least the next two weeks, and we’re not sure what will happen beyond that time. …

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Creative ways to learn with number flashcards

Want to supercharge your child’s math skills? Here are 18 creative and fun ways to use number flashcards to practice basic numeracy and math skills–for toddlers, preschoolers and elementary-age kids!

Want to supercharge your child's math skills? Here are 18 creative and fun ways to use number flashcards to practice basic numeracy and math skills--for toddlers, preschoolers and elementary-age kids!

Note: This post contains affiliate links to products that I have used and loved. See my disclosure to learn more.

Recently I shared a free printable set of number flashcards here on the blog. If you haven’t had a chance to download them yet, go do it!

If you have downloaded them already, yay you! I hope you’re loving them. However, if you aren’t sure how best to use them to help your child learn, keep reading. I’ve got you covered!

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Free Printable Number Flashcards (+ counting cards)

Learning basic math can be fun with the right tools and a little creativity. This set of number flashcards also includes numbers, math symbols, and counting cards, giving you endless possibilities for interactive math learning.

Learning basic math can be fun with the right tools and a little creativity. This set of number flashcards also includes numbers, math symbols, and counting cards, giving you endless possibilities for interactive math learning.

Note: This post contains affiliate links to products that I have used and loved. See my disclosure to learn more.

Last year, I created a set of printable alphabet flashcards to use in practicing alphabet and pre-reading skills with my preschooler. I shared them with my readers along with 23 unconventional (and fun!) ways to learn with alphabet flashcards.

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How to make classical music fun for kids

Too often kids think that classical music is BORING, but you can change that! With a few creative activities and the ultimate playlist of kid-friendly classical music, your kids will be rocking out to Beethoven in no time!close-up of piano keyboard

NOTE: THIS POST INCLUDES AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS I HAVE USED AND LOVED, BUT AS ALWAYS FEEL FREE TO SHOP AROUND FOR THE BEST DEALS. SEE MY DISCLOSURE TO LEARN MORE.

I love classical music–and it didn’t happen by accident. It was a part of our family’s culture, woven into our weekly routine. You see, every Sunday of my childhood, after we got home from church, we would load up our 5-disc CD player (remember the days before digital music?) with the best of Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky, and Chopin.

For the rest of the afternoon, the sounds of famous orchestral arrangements floated on the air. As I perused the Sunday comics and clipped coupons from the weekly ads (my frugal streak started young), I hummed along to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Tchaikovsky’s Nutcraker Suite.

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