Open Minds & Messy Hands
While from a purely kids’ experience standpoint, I really value and prefer process art. But, handprint and footprint art have a special place in my heart for selfish reasons. They make such adorable DIY keepsakes and gifts, especially for the holidays! These Christmas canvas art wall hangings are perfect for
Making a DIY Christmas ornament is such a fun way to celebrate the holidays with kids, and they love to contribute to the decor on the tree. Bonus, these smell really good! Cinnamon sticks equal the holidays for me, as the smell always brings back images of our wood stove
Engaging the senses is one of the best ways for kids to learn. Holidays are a time of family fun, and crafting, playing and creating are all awesome ways to learn about and celebrate the holidays. But, it can be difficult to find sensory activities for babies and toddlers, as
There is always so much leftover wrapping paper after the holidays or birthday parties. It’s a shame to just quickly toss it in the trash without re-using it somehow. There are many great ideas for using up this paper (and some of it is SO pretty!). Check out how we like
My favorite family Christmas tradition as a child was going on a drive to look at Christmas lights. We would pile into the car, put on the Christmas tunes and go for a nice drive. My siblings and I always liked to point out the most decorated houses and spot
These nativity puppets are very easy to make and are perfect for dramatic play at home. Help kids learn and understand the The Nativity Story through play. Hands-on experiences help kids make connections are learn quickly. Check out how we pair these with our Gift of the Magi Play Dough
Process art gives kids the ability to worry less about the finish product, and focus more on the experience of creating the art. Learning occurs through play, giving kids the opportunity to engage in hands-on experiences opens doors to creativity and imagination. This jingle bells process art activity engages many senses,
One of my favorite traditions, and my kids’ new favorites, is making ornaments for the Christmas tree. There are so many totally adorable ones out there, we tend to go more the route of kid-made and simple that we can keep and look back on for years to come. These
One of my favorite parts of the holidays is the smells. When I was little, my mom would put a pot of water on the wood stove with cinnamon sticks and cloves in it. The house always smelled so lovely. When it comes to holiday baking, the smells are almost as
I write often about the power of play on my site. It is how kids learn best, by engaging their senses and exploring open-ended, creative and dramatic play. There are many ways in which kids can play without toys, however, we all know how much kids love to play with toys,