Apr

30

I recently came across a wonderful newsletter for parents and kids called Kids Craft Weekly.  This newsletter, which is written by a stay at home mom from Australia, is extremely well done, and contains a wide variety of projects for kids.  Every week is a different theme, and the directions are easy to follow and include helpful pictures.  Also on the site is a resources page that has more craft ideas and tips. Clicking on the newsletter link from the main site will take you to all 29 past issues, so check it out if you’re looking for a project to make today!


Apr

25

fish

Today we have a new Connect the Dots page to print! Click here to open and print the fish page, and then if you’d like another one, print this duck connect the dots page over at Printables4Kids!


Apr

23

map

Ready to learn some world geography? This educational site has lots of great resources where kids can learn and have fun at the same time! They have free online map puzzles, as well as downloadable puzzles and world features and monuments. Not only do they teach country and state locations, but there are more difficult options where you have to place the correct capital in the correct country/state. Sounds like a challenge!


Apr

21

americangirl

 

For all of you out there who love American Girl dolls, the American Girl web site is full of games and activities that are educational as well as fun!

You can visit the world of the historical dolls like Felicity and Molly, send an e-card to a special friend, whip up some “super snacks”, and even discover your Superpower! Hours of fun for girls at this site- check it out!


Apr

18

It’s Thursday and time for another Thursday Thirteen! There was a great response to the last one- hope you enjoy this one as well. Instead of running out to buy a new toy when the kids get bored with what they have, try out some of these options that are probably already lying around your house:

1. The phone book - who needs a phone book anymore when there’s Google? For scribblers, the phone book offers page after page to scribble on with one of those big fat crayons. My son (21 mo.) loves to sit at the table and flip the pages and write something on each one.

2. A big box - this one is obvious. I’m sure we all know about the entertainment a child of almost any age can get out of playing with a giant box. Speaking of boxes, check out all the things you can make with giant boxes using box rivets by Mr. McGroovy. Isn’t that cool?

3. Used plastic containers - my aunt babysits kids, and she keeps the plastic containers for items she uses regularly (like Nestle Quick for example) and uses them as blocks. The kids she keeps play with those “blocks” more than any other toy she has. They are also great for the little bitty ones if you put a couple of things that will rattle in them, and put the lid on tight. One of my son’s favorite toys was a Mt. Dew bottle with some pennies in it. Boy that was a loud toy!

4. Dried beans - put several bags of dried beans into a tub and let the kids scoop and pour. This only works with kids old enough not to fling the beans around the room, of course.

5. Plastic cups - great for stacking and for use as bath toys.

6. Old magazines and catalogs - for cutting up and pasting

7. Baby Wipes plastic containers - great for stacking and hiding things in.

8. A set of measuring cups - these “nest” so they’re lots of fun to play with while parents are making dinner

9. A colander and uncooked spaghetti - turn the colander over on the floor or table and show them how to poke the spaghetti through the holes and watch it disappear! (I saw this in Parenting magazine the other day)

Here are a couple I found at Play Library:

10. Metal pots and wooden spoons - another loud one!

11. Old computer keyboards

12. Paper towel rolls

13. Ziploc/GladWare containers. Cut a hole in the top, find objects in the house that can slip through the hole. Great object for sorting and such.

Do you have a Thursday Thirteen we can check out? Leave your link in the comments so we can pay you a visit!


Apr

16

Do you have a little one who is interested in bugs? Check out the InsectLore site where they can play and learn at the same time. On the site, there are insect related games and activities that will keep them busy as little bees!


Apr

15

princess

Doesn’t every little girl want to be a princess at some point in her life? Well, maybe all except the tomboys.  Here’s a pretty princess to color- enjoy!

Need another princess or two to color? Check out this free coloring sheet of the Little Mermaid- Princess Ariel and this Cinderella free coloring sheet.  (There are some annoying ads on those- just print the second page)


Apr

13

I know that many of you who visit here are also regular visitors at Printables 4 Kids, so you may have already seen this new Earth Day Word Search.  But, if you haven’t- stop on over and check it out!

Curious about how Earth Day got started?  You can read about it at the US EPA web site.


Apr

12

I recently wrote about the ABC game at the Fisher Price site.  That game is perfect for toddlers (and preschoolers), and I found another ABC teaching site that is great as they move into the preschool years at Starfall.com.  It has different areas for each letter with animation and great sounds.  It includes both uppercase and lowercase as well.  It is really well done- check it out and let me know what your kids think of it.


Apr

10

Earth Day is coming up on April 22! Here’s a free coloring sheet that includes some quick facts about the planet we call home.


Apr

8

butterfly

 

Here’s an easy project that will put you in a Springy mood whether it’s warm at your house yet or not. At Kaboose.com they have a new Spring craft- making butterflies out of coffee filters and water color paints. After you’re finished you can hang them from the ceiling or make a mobile! Happy Spring! (hope it gets warmer here soon!)


Apr

5

treatToday is Thursday that means it’s time for Thursday Thirteen. This is the first T.T. I’ve done on this site- I hope you like it. Rice Krispy Treats are wonderful just made with the old fashioned recipe, but I can never resist dressing them up a bit. Here are some of my favorite ways:

1. Mix in M&M’s

2. Make them with Half Fruity Pebbles half Rice Krispies

3. Mix Chocolate Chips in with the cereal before pouring into the marshmallow mixture

4. Make them with Cocoa Krispies

5. Put food coloring in the marshmallow mixture after you remove it from the heat, before you put in the cereal

6. Make a Peeps nest

7. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters

8. Add in raisins and dried cranberries

9. Make this chocolate/peanut butter 2 layer treat

10. Stir in 1/4 cup of peanut butter with the marshmallows

11. Mix in broken up toffee

12. Mix in broken up candy canes or peppermint candies

13. And, finally, The Ultimate Rice Krispy Candy “Cake” recipe- you’ve got to try this one.

If you want to make the regular recipe, you can visit the little monkey at himonkey.net for some step by step instructions- very cute.

Do you have a Thursday Thirteen we can check out? Leave your link in the comments so we can pay you a visit!


Apr

4

Continuing the Easter theme this week, if you’re looking for an Easter word search, hop on over to Printables4Kids! I hope you have a Happy Easter!


Apr

3

This is a game that some of you may know about if you watch the Noggin channel. Noggin.com has lots of fun stuff for preschoolers, and their game of the month for March is Blue’s Gold Clues Challenge. Kids can visit Alphabet City and help Blue find the gold clues! Though my son loves Blue’s Clues, this game was lost on him (he’s 20 months old), so it’s definitely designed for preschoolers rather than toddlers.


Apr

1

Happy April Fool’s Day!

I know I just posted about mazes, but then I found this site where you can make your own, so I made an Easter maze that you can print out. It’s a hard one for older kids! Click here to open the PDF file.


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