Journaling the Summer
Usually, the first few days of summer are a blur for us. It seems like there’s so much to do and so many places we need to go. But eventually the schedules do slow down. And, as with many families, they always slow down to the point where my children are saying, “What can I do? I’m bored!” “Journaling” can help them get started in
Getting Creative With Puppets
There’s just something about a puppet show. Even though you know someone is making the puppets move and talk, it’s easy to suspend disbelief for a while and just enjoy the puppets’ antics. What you might not have realized, however, is how much fun kids can have creating a puppet show themselves. And although the children might not recognize it, they will be learning a lot in
The Flat Stanley Project
Do you remember the book by Jeff Brown called Flat Stanley? It was a childhood staple when I was little, but for the past 15 years or so, the story has taken on a whole new role. Flat Stanley is not only a picture book, but it can also be a creative and fun way for learning geography, math, writing, science, cultures – the list
Make a Stop Motion Video
A few weeks ago, our local library offered a class for 8-12 year olds. The topic: How to Make a Stop Motion Video with Legos. My son went to the class with a friend, and he’s still making movies! I didn’t know it at the time, but Lego has a free app for iPads, iPods, and iPhones. Download the app, and your child can
The Sound Game – What Do You Hear?
This is a fun sound game you can play with just one child or with a group. It takes a little time to prepare, but it will get the kids listening! Before You Start Find a recording device, such as a tape recorder or a voice recorder on your phone. Go through your home and record familiar sounds. They might include: A squeaky door
Create a Grandparent’s Book
My niece has been working on a special project for my mother that I’m sure she’s going to love. It’s a Grandparent’s Book, but not the kind a grandparent fills full of memories. In this book, the grandchildren do. We have a rather large family with thirty grandchildren and ten (or more — I’ve lost count!) great-grandchildren. While this may seem like it would
Create It With Sculpey!
Sometimes our days are so busy, it seems like there’s not enough time to get everything done. But then other days have a slower pace. While I welcome those kinds of days, it usually leaves my son saying, “What can I do?” Fortunately, we’ve found a creative answer to that question – modeling with Sculpey! Sculpey is a type of polymer clay that you
A Wall Mural For the Birds
Create a Bird Wall Mural Want to get your child more connected with nature? Create a bird wall mural that you can add to all year long! We made a mural like this one spring, and it was so much fun. But you can make it any time of the year and keep it up as long as you like! Your “mural” can be
Celebrating with Fall Crafts
We live near the mountains, so it’s no wonder fall is such a special time of the year. I love everything about it: bundling up in the cooler weather (but not too cold), seeing the brilliant colors on the trees, taking trips to go apple picking, drinking warm cider, and watching the vegetable stands fill up with the fall harvest. There are lots of
How to Create an Activity Board
This summer, we have been on the go almost every day. With summer classes and activities, errands, and visiting with friends and family, each day seems so full. So when we had a rainy day and nowhere we had to go, it was a welcome change. For me, anyway. How to Create an Activity Board But my children got bored. They did a few
