Let me confess something to you...I used to dislike making gingerbread houses with my kids! They were always falling apart or we spent lots of money to buy the kits at the store. Last year when we bought the kit, a big gingerbread piece was broken and of course we couldn't see that when we bought it! My kids always ask to make gingerbread houses around Christmastime, so I was determined to figure out an easier (and cheaper!) way to create these houses. I am so excited to share the easiest way to … [Read more...]
Candy Cane Ornament
Have you read the book "The Legend of the Candy Cane"? It is such a great Christmas story! This inspiring book reveals what the candy cane is all about! Today I'm sharing a fun candy cane ornament idea to go along with this book. In this story, the little girl learns that the candy cane represents three things: It looks like the letter J, which stands for Jesus. It also looks like a shepherd's staff, and the shepherds were the first people to find out that Jesus had been born. … [Read more...]
Candy Cane Finger Paint
'Tis the season for candy canes! I am eager to share with you a new sensory play activity we came up with for the holiday season! This candy cane finger paint smells minty and is a fun to play with! This activity is ideal for toddlers and preschoolers. The focus of this activity is to enjoy the process of creating and to engage the sense of smell and touch. Here's what you need for candy cane finger paint: 5 tablespoons of crushed candy canes (about 5 large candy canes) 1 cup … [Read more...]
Light Bulb Matching Activity
Christmas is around the corner and I have a fun matching activity for your little ones to try! This light bulb matching activity is a fine motor activity, so children are building hand strength which will help them with handwriting skills. Plus this game practices matching colors! This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure for details. Here's what you need for this matching activity: mini light bulbs or sticker light bulbs (mine are from Hobby Lobby! Make sure to get them … [Read more...]
Holiday Slime Recipe
Are you in the holiday mood yet? Christmas is in less than a month, so you have plenty of time to make this holiday slime recipe! It just a few ingredients and it's easy to make. Love how this turned out! This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure for details. Here's what you need for holiday slime: 1/2 cup clear Elmer's glue 1/2 cup warm water 1/2 cup Sta-Flo liquid starch sequins or glitter bowl spoon I got my sequins in the Target … [Read more...]
Thanks a Latte Printable
School is almost out for Thanksgiving break! Around this time of year, I like to give my kids' teachers a little something to say thank you for all that they do. It's something small, but I like to attach a gift card to this "Thanks a Latte" note to express our gratitude. I've been doing this for a couple years, but realized I never shared this printable on the blog! Hope you enjoy this free printable! I have my kids sign the note and then we tape the coffee gift card to the note. You … [Read more...]
20 Activities for Thanksgiving Day
It's almost Thanksgiving! I know that it can be stressful to keep kids busy on Thanksgiving day, so today I'm sharing with you 20 fun activities for kids! These are low-key activities that don't require very much prep or supervision. Enjoy! Turkey Bowling from Makes and Takes Don't Topple the Teepee from The Inspired Treehouse Turkey Balloon Rockets from Growing a Jeweled Rose Cranberry Sensory Play from Little Bins for Little Hands Apple Turkey Crafts from I Heart Crafty … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving Placemats for Kids
I can't believe we'll be celebrating Thanksgiving one week from today! I love celebrating this holiday with my family. We have lots to be thankful for! Today I'm sharing with you two Thanksgiving placemats for kids. These would be great to have at a kids table to keep them busy! It's hard to keep the little ones busy when you are busy cooking and getting ready for a big meal. This placemat hopefully will give you a little bit of time on the big day. This placemat has several … [Read more...]
50 Kindness Elves Ideas
Have you heard of Kindness Elves? They are similar to Elf on the Shelf, except the elves encourage children to do acts of kindness during the Christmas season. We got our first set of Kindness Elves last year and my boys had a blast doing the activities! We did just the 12 days before Christmas, since we didn't get our elves before then. Anna from The Imagination Tree sells them and last year she sold out very quickly. This year she has more options to choose from and hopefully a larger … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving Sensory Bottle
Here is an easy idea for making a Thanksgiving sensory bottle. This idea is a fun way for children to talk about what they are thankful for. For this activity, children will write down what they are thankful for on pieces of paper. Then they will add it to a sensory bottle with colored rice. When you shake the bottle you'll see the different pieces of paper appear. This bottle is great for children who know how to read, but can also be used with younger children. Here's what you need … [Read more...]