pretend play

secrets to a fabulous, at-home fairy princess spa party

March 29, 2012

Cora has spent literally the last six months talking about her March birthday party. She talked about the party every day.  Every. Single. Day. For the last six months.  (Maybe longer.) This was going to be her BIG #5 bash–actually her first really big par-tay–so we were all pretty excited. It morphed from a Barbie [...]

Pin It
StumbleUponShare
Read the full article →

how to make beautiful, no-sew fairy skirts

March 27, 2012

 Cora just turned five, and what better way to ring in this big and exciting year than with a Fairy Princess Spa Party? For months, my tiny one has been talking about this event and planning and changing and adjusting and planning and adjusting and planning some more–so much so that I am just a [...]

Pin It
StumbleUponShare
Read the full article →

quick trick: focus on free play

February 25, 2012

This little Quick Trick isn’t as much a trick as it is a reminder–for parents, caregivers, teachers. .  . for my husband and me. Though I have always known and appreciated the importance of play for my little ones, I have to admit that it’s getting more difficult as they get older to give them [...]

Pin It
StumbleUponShare
Read the full article →

magazines rock: creative, crafty, sneaky-learning fun

December 4, 2011

We are huge magazine fans over here. We love finding them in the mailbox, reading them, playing detective with them, crafting with them, and learning with them.  When they arrive in the day’s mail, it’s like a getting a little gift, just for you.  And when we sit down to read a magazine, it never [...]

StumbleUponShare
Read the full article →

backyard fun: dissecting, examining, and learning about flowers

July 14, 2011

Dissecting flowers–totally pulling them apart–is a little bit funny for some kids. At least it was for mine. We tell them they can’t pick the flowers in our gardens unless they have permission; we teach them to care for and nurture our plants by watering and weeding.  We give flowers to loved ones for gifts [...]

StumbleUponShare
Read the full article →

outside fun: park explorer playkits (me on pbs parents!)

July 11, 2011

Today you can find me on PBS Parents sharing an absolutely awesome, incredibly fun outdoor activity: Park Explorer Playkits. Park Explorer Playkits are earth-friendly and kid-friendly, and Maddy, Owen, and Cora not only loved making these, but they love taking them to the park and doing some exploring with them.  The cool thing about these [...]

StumbleUponShare
Read the full article →

summertime learning eBook: free and filled with fun ideas!

June 2, 2011

I am beyond excited to share the news of a project that’s been consuming my life for the last two weeks (hence, the few blog posts over here. . . ): the we teach summertime learning eBook is hot off the presses! Packed with ideas from over 30 contributors, this eBook is available to all [...]

StumbleUponShare
Read the full article →

fun and easy april fool’s tricks for kids

March 29, 2011

Ha! It’s almost April Fool’s Day–the silliest holiday in the history of holidays. I’ve got something super up my sleeve for the big day this week, but until then, here are a few tricky-trickster ideas that may get everyone in your house smiling. . .   April Fools’ Eggs and Bacon:  If eggs and bacon [...]

StumbleUponShare
Read the full article →

super snow day crafts: sock puppets!

January 30, 2011

Cora has fallen hard for her Laura Joffe Numeroff mini-library that arrived under our Christmas tree this year (and who wouldn’t?). Although we’ve had her books for years now, we’ve never had the mini-versions, and Cora really loves them. In the spirit of If You Give A Moose A Muffin,  she’s been asking me to [...]

StumbleUponShare
Read the full article →

remembering the importance of pretend play

January 10, 2011

The Red Checks Restaurant was up and running over here for the last few days, serving up its famous chicken noodle soup, corn, pizza, sandwiches, eggs, and chicken legs. Wearing brand-new, made-especially-by-Grandma aprons, the servers were polite, prompt, and eager to serve. And sure, they were coughing a little, but everyone was, so it wasn’t [...]

StumbleUponShare
Read the full article →