Design a T-shirt

Apr 1, 2020 | Art/Creative

Draw a t-shirt. Design it. Cut it out. Go Easy On YourselfPrint a Shirt I know it’s easy to draw a shirt, but this way, you don’t have to! Print a few of them. Go pick up that book and take some deep breaths while the kids argue about crayons. Print...

Ultimate Clue Path (Quarantine Edition)

Mar 28, 2020 | Game/Play

I have set up a simple version of this game, called Clue Path in the past, but this Ultimate version turned out to be a nice alternative. Fewer clues, but more drawn out, and less of a race. Quite nice for a rainy Saturday morning.  Basically, it’s linked...

Tickets to the Show

Mar 27, 2020 | Game/Play

Perfect Friday activity. A good incentive to the kids to clean their rooms (or whatever task), yields some downtime for you, and–printable included! I have to say that this was my husband’s idea. The build-up and presentation is key. I mean, they were so...

Woodland Critters Bookmarks

Mar 24, 2020 | Art/Creative

I’m not gonna lie, this was a quick Google find today. So many activities out there involving materials I don’t have…or paint. (Are those people crazy?) This one had a few printables, which I printed on a black and white printer and made the kids...

Digital Photo Scavenger Hunt (Indoor)

Mar 23, 2020 | Game/Play

Printable included! Give kids your old point-and-shoot digital cameras a list of items to find. You will have to adapt to your house. Be as specific as your kids can handle. Draw pictures next to words for non-readers. Easily switchable to outdoors. Go Easy On...

Food with Eyes

Mar 23, 2020 | Art/Creative

Draw food. Add eyes. We found a bag of googly eyes, and I’ve also used eye stickers from Michael’s in the past…in a pinch you could just draw eyes with marker and cut them out for the kids to stick on. Eyes make any food look cute.

Cherry Blossom Tree

Mar 22, 2020 | Art/Creative

Paint, draw or print out a tree branch. Glue tissue paper bunches on for the flowers. Go Easy On YourselfThis idea is from Pink Stripey Socks’ website… Check them out! Good job! This find saved you the frustration of hearing your kids complain that they...

Stick Animals

Mar 22, 2020 | Art/Creative

Draw and label as many stick animals as you can think of. They should have stick legs.

Trash Monster

Mar 22, 2020 | Art/Creative

Collect materials (toilet paper tubes, tape, newspaper, cans, bottle caps, corks…) and supplies (tape, glue, scissors, string…) and make a trash monster! Give it a name, write a few sentences about it, and draw its portrait.

Digital Photo Scavenger Hunt (Outdoor)

Mar 22, 2020 | Game/Play

Give kids your old point-and-shoot digital cameras and send them outside with a list of items to find. You will have to adapt to your area. Examples: a tall tree, funny face, shadow, stick, leaf, flower.   Be as specific as your kids can handle. Draw pictures next to...

Homemade Puffy Paint

Mar 21, 2020 | Art/Creative

Mix 1 cup flour, 3 teaspoons baking powder and 1 teaspoon salt. Add water until you have a lump-free batter the consistency of pancake batter. You will need thick paper (we used watercolor paper) that fits in your microwave. With 3 kids, I used 3 cups. There’s...

God’s Eye Turtles

Mar 21, 2020 | Art/Creative

Assemble materials. Body: You will need something for the turtle body. We had pipe cleaners. You could also use Popsicle sticks, straws, twigs. Shell: Yarn Extras: I had some wooden beads we used for the head and feet. Depending on the body material, you could just...

Design a Donut

Mar 21, 2020 | Art/Creative

On a sheet of paper, draw the most delicious donut. Then, top with a little glue, and some real sprinkles.

Build a Boat

Mar 21, 2020 | Art/Creative

Materials: Any/all…  foil, paper, straws, plastic plates, cups, tape, baggies Challenges: See who can build a boat that floats in the baby pool. See whose can hold the most marbles or gravel or...

Make an Oven

Mar 21, 2020 | Art/Creative, Educational

You need a hot, sunny day for this one. The challenge is to make an oven you can set out in the sun. Materials: box/cardboard, tape, foil, you can throw in some plastic wrap, or use those throw-away plastic containers. Lesson: Talk about heat of the sun, reflection,...

Poetry Snack Book

Mar 21, 2020 | Art/Creative, Educational

I really could tack “snack” onto anything and it would boost the appeal with my kids x10. So I do. A few years ago when I did this activity, I stapled paper together and had the kids write poems of different types. Then we shared while eating snacks. More recently, as...

Wash My Car

Mar 21, 2020 | Game/Play

This one was from summer break when it was much warmer. I am not particular about the ol’ minivan. My husband would never allow this, but I set them up in swim suits and a bucket of soapy water and let them have at it. As long as they don’t drop the sponges on the...

Painting Rocks

Mar 21, 2020 | Art/Creative

Prep: Acrylic craft paint in egg cartons, jars with brushes and water. Directions: Put on old clothes. Go outside. Find rocks and paint them. Rules: Paint only rocks. All painted rocks will forever live outside. Success (in terms of hours): This was a very successful...

Write and Illustrate a Story

Mar 21, 2020 | Art/Creative, Educational

Prep: Staple some paper together. Directions: Write and illustrate a story. True Story: Admittedly, this one didn’t really grab them until I said, “and then at 3:00, we will meet in the backyard for ice cream and each person gets a turn to read his/her story and tell...

Clue Path

Mar 21, 2020 | Game/Play

The Rules: How I explain it to the kids: On each card, there is a clue or question. The answer will reveal the location of the next card. Go to that location and get the next card…and you keep going. At the end, there’s a prize/snack. If you see other...