Open Minds & Messy Hands
Here are 10 elf on the shelf printables to use this holiday season. From playing cards, letters, mini activity sheets, and more! The Elf on the Shelf is a fun holiday tradition that has gone far beyond having one of Santa’s little helpers pop up in various spots around the
Here are 12 fun elf on the shelf ideas to add to your list. From a kissing booth, a minecraft elf and more, there is an idea for everyone. Children love having an elf on the shelf in their home. It can make for a really fun countdown to Christmas
Check out how to turn muffin tins into a DIY Advent Calendar! Grab the free printable Acts of Kindness calendar to do with the family for the month of December. Now that my kids are a little older, I have been trying to talk about how we can help others and
These 8 Christmas carols for kids include religious carols, Santa carols, and festive songs that kids will love to learn and sing with the family. Although there are still some small communities that allow for families to go door to door caroling, the majority of people have never actually had
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
Sensory play is my favorite way to engage kids in learning. By engaging all of the senses, we process and remember information better. There are many Christmas sensory play ideas for kids, but often sensory play can be messy or contain small parts not suitable for babies and toddlers. But,
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
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
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,
Gift wrapping pretend play is such a fun activity to do with kids around the holidays, and perfect for building fine motor skills. Cutting, measuring, taping and decorating all incorporate math, art, and motor practice through PLAY. We have been collecting recyclables such as cardboard boxes, toilet paper rolls and milk