Plan a fun-filled summer for your family with this free printable summer bingo game. Use my version, or customize it with your own bucket list to keep track of all your summer adventures!
Happy summer! Okay, I know that technically summer starts June 20th, but the de facto start of summer is definitely whenever school gets out. So, here we are! Yesterday we started our first “mommy school” theme for the summer–learning all about the sun!…
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How to entertain your child with a business card: meet Chompy!
Next time you’re waiting at the doctor’s office, a restaurant, or the bank, grab a business card off the counter nearby and entertain your child with this simple trick.
When I was a kid, we had a VHS (yep, those were the good ol’ days!) called “101 Things for Kids to Do.” It featured Sheri Lewis and Lamb Chop. Remember that horribly unforgettable song that never ends?…Sorry if it just resurfaced in your mind after being buried for a decade. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, consider yourself lucky and take my advice: DON’T go look it up….
30 awesome popsicle stick crafts and activities for kids
These 30 creative and fun popsicle stick crafts & activities are enough to keep your kiddos busy for a whole month!
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Popsicle sticks have got to be one of the most basic, unassuming craft materials on the planet, but they offer a WORLD of possibilities where kids are concerned….
Best Board Books for Toddlers
Getting a toddler to sit still long enough to read can be a challenge, but when you choose the right books, you can get them on the road to being life-long readers.
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One of the things that I looked forward to most about becoming a mom was being able to share all my favorite books with my kids. I have fond memories of my mom introducing me to so many wonderful stories, and I wanted to share that magic with my own kids as well.
One evening when I was pregnant, I may or may not have bought six children’s books at once during a shopping adventure with my sister, which may or may not have resulted in my husband suggesting that we might need to establish a book budget. Whoops. 🙂 I was just so excited to share the joy of reading with my future son….
Felt Christmas tree for kids (with printable templates)
Do your toddlers have a hard time leaving your Christmas tree alone? Try giving your kids their very own (unbreakable) felt Christmas tree to decorate over and over again this Christmas season!
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My little boys are drawn to the lights on our Christmas tree like moths to a flame. It’s adorable to watch them stare at the twinkling lights, and poke at them gently. The only problem is that the gentle poking often turns into not-so-gentle grabbing of ornaments.
…How to get your toddler to do…ANYTHING
Getting a toddler to do anything can be hard. If you’re struggling with a terrible two-year-old or a threenager, try these seven practical parenting tips to encourage your toddler to obey without a fight.
I have a two-year-old teenager. Last week he didn’t want to wake up from his nap (but I didn’t dare let him sleep longer for fear that he wouldn’t sleep that night), and he just rolled over to face away from me and said, “I’m not ready yet.” Lately, his favorite phrases when he’s upset with me are, “I not happy with you right now!” and “Just leave me alone!” (cue door slam.)
Oh, help. I can’t wait to see what it will be like when he’s fifteen….
Pumpkin Spice Play Dough Recipe
Want to add a little spice to preschool play time? Try making this super easy pumpkin spice play dough recipe with your kids. It’s a perfect fall activity and will leave your hands smelling wonderful!
We’ve been busy around here working our way through our fall family bucket list. Last night we carved pumpkins and made homemade root beer. The boys loved it, and I was cracking up at Little Man’s cackles as he watched the bubbling pot of root beer as the dry ice did its work. We may have ended up with a little spit in our soda from the boys taking turns blowing the “smoke” away, but it was worth it.
Before we got to actually carving pumpkins, though, we did some practice with play dough. I had seen…
Simplified Matching Game for Toddlers
This simplified version of the classic game of “match” (or memory) is a fun activity for young toddlers that will help to develop vocabulary and increase concentration.
Do your little ones love playing board games and card games as much as mine? Thankfully, we’re past the stage where Little Man wanted to play Candy Land 15 times a day (no joke). We’ve introduced some much needed variety into our game-playing repertoire, but the fact remains that my boys love playing games.
Little Brother loves to get in on the gaming action, too, but most of the games are too complex for him to play on his own….
Halloween felt board: “Silly Jack-o-lantern” play set (free templates)
Travel felt boards are a great activity for kids stuck on a plane or waiting in a restaurant. With this “Silly Jack-o-lantern” Halloween felt board, kids can design their own pumpkin face over and over again!
Fall hit us with a vengeance last week here in Utah. I’m sad to say goodbye to summer, but I’m also excited to get out the pumpkin decor (and pumpkin food) and get busy working on Halloween costumes. I figure if it’s going to get cold, I’m going to be festive about it.
With that mindset, last weekend I made up a new pumpkin-themed play set for our beloved travel felt board.
…Toddler Trail Mix (perfect for moms on the go)
For busy families, snacks that can be eaten on the run are a necessity. This toddler trail mix is a great way to get your little ones a healthy, filling snack that will keep them going strong.
I officially became a soccer mom this week. I don’t know the rules of soccer much better than my four-year-old player, but I figure we’ll learn together. The important thing is that he has some awesome cleats and matching shin guards, so at least he looks the part. Plus, when we went to his first practice on Wednesday, he found out that his team is the purple team, which is his favorite color, so he is beyond thrilled about that. I think I’m gonna like this stage of life.
With school starting and soccer season ramping up, I’m realizing that life is going to be a lot busier around here for the next few months. We are going to spend more time driving in the car from one place to another, and I know I need to be prepared with snacks to keep everyone from getting hangry (I love that word…so accurate)….