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holiday party kid activities: 3 secrets to success #mykindofholiday

12 | 10 | 2013

holiday 101 kid activities teachmama for #targetinnercircle

As part of Target’s Inner Circle, a few of us are participating a super-fun holiday party series: Holiday Party 101.

We’re writing about everything from invitations to desserts, hostess gifts to playlists.

I’ve got kids’ activities covered over here today. Woot!

Actually, I’m covering holiday party kid activities and the three secrets to success you’ll want to know so that any time you’re in charge of making the party really rock for kids, you will know exactly what to do.

Every holiday party that involves families with children of mixed ages needs some special kid-happy activities. Otherwise, while the parents are chatting, eating, and sipping their fancy-schmancy holiday drinks, it won’t be all that much fun for the kids.

But because most parties have a wide range of children attending, it’s difficult to plan games or activities that fit every child’s needs. What the best parties follow are three secrets to kid-happy, kid-activity success.

Here’s the skinny. . .

Holiday Party 101 — Kids’ Activities: Party hosts must adhere to the following guidelines in order to make kid activities totally awesome for everyone–from those littles toddling around to the tweens lost without their mobile devices.

The goal is to:

1. Keep it simple. Everyone likes simple.

Consider:

enlisting some of the older kids to ‘take charge’ of the kid activity table;

keeping all the activities in one area, on one or two tables;

putting glue or small objects at one table for older kids and basic crayons, markers, and paper at another so that the little guys stay safe.

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2. Provide options. The ideal is to have a few open-ended activities that each child can take to his or her own level.

Consider:

making some finished projects to display;

start some projects but leave them unfinished on the table so that someone can pick it up and finish;

having some supplies for both open-ended projects along with 1 or 2 projects that are more specific.

Putting the Stretched Canvases out along with the Watercolor Kit is great for open-ended art.

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3. Make it inviting. Creating an ‘invitation to play’ is the goal here. With an inviting spot to sit down and craft, kids of all ages will want to give it a try.

Consider:

setting out supplies in trays or open containers so kids can see what’s available;

I love the Flourescent Pattern Pad, the Double Pointed Crazy Crayons, the Fuzzy Sticks & Beads, the Printed Tape, and the Crayon Gems.

having kid-happy snacks close by so everyone can refuel when necessary;

putting the kids’ activities in a well-lit area of the home and turning on some holiday music;

Last week, I had the chance to visit Todd Oldham’s studio in NYC, and I learned that much of his Kid Made Modern line for Target is absolutely perfect for just about any time but specifically for some holiday party creative crafting for young party-goers.

Check out some of our photos from the event and please look forward to more Kid Made Modern posts in the next few weeks. It’s a really smart line!

What ideas do you have for keeping kids busy during holiday parties? Let us know!

fyi: This post was created as part of my collaboration with Target, the #MyKindofHoliday campaign, and Target Inner Circle. As always, the thoughts and ideas are my own. Like some of these rockstar holiday crafts from Kid Made Modern? (So do I!) Check ‘em out at your local Target store.

Please check out all of the Holiday 101 posts from other Target Inner Circle members below:

k-cup advent calendar: make it a thoughtful, thankful holiday

11 | 28 | 2013

We’re longtime fans of the advent calendar and and longtime fans of coffee.

When we stepped up our game last year and sprung for a Keurig, every day became a little more awesome, starting our day with a rockin’ cuppa java. But those discarded k-cups?

As a longtime lover of recyclables, my guilt at adding to our world’s landfills started to grow exponentially with each tossed k-cup.

So for the past few months, I’ve been racking my brain for ways to use our empty k-cups for crafts and learning. Much like we’ve used recyclables in the past, I knew they would come in handy.

Somehow.

We’ve got a lot of things brewing, but most timely, is of course, our diy k-cup advent calendar.

Super-cute, inexpensive, homemade advent calendar using k-cups. Bam.

We love how it turned out. I’m confident that this sweet calendar will help us to keep this advent season a thoughtful, thankful one for our whole family.

Here’s the skinny. . .

K-Cup Advent Calendar–Make it a Thoughtful, Thankful Holiday:

Though it looks a little involved, you can pull this diy k-cup advent calendar together in a fraction of the time it will take you to gather 24 empty k-cups.

Really.

Each little cup holds 3 things: a kiss, the day’s advent activity, and a little reminder to be thankful.

So start collecting. Brew yourself a cafe mocha or a pumpkin spice coffee, and read on. Then get crafting.

You’ll need:

24 clean, empty k-cups

3 pieces of cardboard

duct tape (I used light blue, dark blue, and green)

tissue paper

number stickers (optional)

hot glue gun

pushpins

ribbon

Hershey’s Kisses (or other small treat)

green cardstock

Once you’ve got your supplies together, you’re ready to go.

1. Clean your k-cups: Cleaning them is a cinch.

For coffee k-cups:

For hot chocolate k-cups:

Let them dry completely.

2. Create your advent activity calendar. We use the same basic one each year–our advent activity calendar. It’s a holiday-time calendar that includes tons of our favorite holiday activities, like cookie-baking, gift-making, and carol-singing while giving us ample opportunities to reflect, give back, and be thankful.

You can download our advent activity calendar 2013 here as a easy, quick printable or as an advent activity calendar 2013 word doc that you can modify and make your own.

Be sure to print out two copies–one that you can keep as a reference and the other that you can cut. Each day of advent will have one square of the calendar tucked inside.

3. Make your tree. Your tree is what your k-cups will rest on, and it needs to be sturdy enough to survive your kids’ handling.

Make your cardboard tree. Each of our sides are 18″, and the bottom is 10″. Our tree trunk is midway between the bottom, and it’s 3 1/2″ long and 2 3/4″ high.

Cut three cardboard trees. Remember, the tree needs to be thick.

Using the duct tape, tape your tree together.

Grab your ribbon and loop it then staple it to the back of the tree.

4. Make your thankful discs. I used my Fiskars medium squeeze punch for my circles, but you could totally use anything. I cut 24 discs out of our cardstock, and then I walked over to our Thankful Graffiti Board and copied exactly what I saw there onto the circles.

I wanted our family to remember what we expressed gratitude for through November into the whirlwind that sometimes is December, and I knew that after the treat was taken out and advent activity taken, we’d have a whole lot of time to stare at empty cups. Here’s to hoping the thankful discs are a pretty, simple reminder of all of the greatness in our lives.

5. Cut tissue paper circle and number them. Trace the open end of a k-cup onto tissue paper and cut it out. Then cut 23 more circles all the same size. Number each circle from 1-24.

Each number represents a day in the month of December.

6. Assemble your diy k-cup advent calendar!

Use a tiny dab of hot glue to secure the thankful disc to the inside of each k-cup.

Using the pushpins, pin each k-cup into the tree. The rows should be: 1 k-cup; 2 k-cups; 3 k-cups; 3 k-cups; 4 k-cups; 4 k-cups; 5 k-cups; 2 k-cups. If you measured your tree the same way I did, your cups should fit tightly together.

Load ‘em up! Put the correct advent activity in each day along with a Hershey’s Kiss into each cup.

Make 5-6 tiny dots of hot glue around the circumference of each k-up and secure the tissue paper on it.

Hang, and you are ready to rock and roll!

And that’s it!

We think it’s pretty cool.

Look forward to other ideas down the road for using k-cups. And feel free to share your own–let’s put those little guys to good use, shall we?

Happy, healthy, peaceful advent season to you!

fyi: affiliate links are used in this post

Want a few more holiday-inspired gift ideas or activities? Check out:

fyi: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Forever and always I recommend only products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” For more information, please see teachmama media, llc. disclosure policy.

best gifts for kids and families 2013: teachmama’s picks

11 | 20 | 2013

kids and family gift guide from teachmama.com

I’m always surprised when the holiday catalogs roll around at how many new toys hit the shelves each year.

It’s a wonder that any of us are able to make decisions when there is so much to choose from.

I am truly thankful, though, that I have the opportunity to try out some of these great toys throughout the year and actually get a insider’s look at some of the cool things on the market. It really helps me make decisions for my own kiddos, and from your feedback, it has helped you make decisions for yours. Yay!

So here’s the official teachmama Gift Guide for Kids & Family 2013. My Maddy is 9, Owen is 8, and Cora is 6 years old.

It’s full of items we love and have used in the past few years as well as items that are on our list for this season.

Here’s the skinny. . .

teachmama’s Gift Guide for Kids & Family 2013: these are just some of our faves and some ideas for more creative and thoughtful gifts this holiday season.

I’ve used affiliate links throughout which means that you’re linking directly to the products I’m talking about and if you choose to buy them using my link, a teeny, tiny little cut will go back to teachmama.com. (Thanks for using them!)

Gift picks for gamey game player: This year we’re still playing many of our faves from last year’s Gift Guide, but we’re loving. . .

Laser Maze: (for ages 8+, by ThinkFun) Think Rush Hour times 100. Laser Maze is a logic game with mirrors, lasers, and mazes. It’s about plowing your way through a series of challenge cards, trying to set the stage for the laser to get from point a to point b. Not easy. But totally fun.

Spot-It: (for ages 7+, by Blue Orange Games) Cora and her buddies who were 5 and up played this game at the pool all. Summer. Long. Actually, all of the kids played this game while waiting for swim meets, on cloudy days, or pretty much any time they needed a break from swimming. This matching game requires sharp eyes and quick reflexes, and up to 8 people can play at a time, so it’s great for groups. Go old school Spot-It, or try Spot-It Junior Animals, Spot-It ABC, Spot-It Major League Baseball, Spot-It Educational Sets, & more.

Yahtzee: (for ages 8+, by Hasbro) We love it. Absolutely love this dice game of luck, computation, and strategy. A real hit of the pool this summer, Owen got this for his birthday in August, and it’s still a fave. Huge thanks to my friend Heather, who got us all hooked.

Connect Four: (for ages 6+, by Hasbro) An oldie but goodie. We have been on a major Connect Four kick over here. We even busted it out for a double family game night a few weeks back, and I’m not lying when I say that Owen almost beat everyone in the house. Go, O!

Chess: (for ages 5+) Chess. Our chess board is old, broken, and missing a pawn, so we’ve been using a mouse from Feed the Kitty. Along with How to Beat Your Dad at Chess, by Murray Chandler and this combo is going to go over big this holiday!

Solitare Chess: (for ages 8+, by ThinkFun) Totally cannot believe I never knew this existed until only recently. Definitely on the list for my up and coming chess players, and hopefully by the end of 2014, we’ll all have some serious chess skeeeelz.

Gift picks for crafty crafters: sticking, twisting, looming, creating

Fashion Fun Stencils (for ages 3+, from Melissa & Doug) Cora has had her eye on this for months now. I think it’s the perfect crafty, unplugged toy for my fashion-forward first grader.

Reusable Sticker Pads or Sticker Collections (for ages 3+, from Melissa & Doug) For ages 3+, but I must note that Maddy and Cora (ages 9 and 6) have spent hour upon hour upon hour playing with these sets, and they still always ask for more. Add the Dress-Up Set, the Fashion Set, the Play House Set, Make a Meal Set (any of them!) along with the Frame Pad, and you have a gift that any kid will love.

Rainbow Loom: (for ages 5+, from Twistz Bandz) I’ve written about how to make Rainbow Loom bracelets without the loom and I’ve written about the 5 reasons kids need it and parents love it. And my kids–Cora, Maddy, and Owen–all of them–still love their looms!

Pulsar Bounce Balls (for ages 6+, from The Orb Factory) These are so cool for kids who love to make things their own. This set allows kids to make their own bouncy balls–some even with lights inside!

Original Spirograph (for ages 8+, from Kahootz) I loved these! I totally remember having these as a kid, and I am 110% positive that Maddy will love them. It’s the same basic toy that we had–drawing loops and designs like never before–but updated and more awesome.

DoodleArt (for ages 5+, from PlaSmartToys) Perfect for long lazy weekends, snow days, or chilling out after school, DoodleArt posters are a family fave. We have the Butterfly DoodleArt, but Cora just may find Fairies or Flowers under her Christmas tree this year.

Gift picks for movers, thinkers, explorers: working those fine motor, gross motor, and thinking skeelz

Goldie Blox and the Spinning Machine (for ages 6-9 years, from Goldie Blox) Definitely top of my list for Cora, these fabulous sets combine reading and engineering and encourage girls to think, predict, and love STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). I am all for it.

Rebelle Heartbreaker Bow & Arrow (for ages 8+, from Nerf) This is on Maddy’s list, along with the refill pack of arrows. Though Maddy hasn’t read The Hunger Games and most likely will not for another few years, I like that she’s asked for a toy that will help her develop a totally new skill–archery.

RingStix (for 6+ years, by RingStix-System Enterprises) A totally new spin on the ole game of catch, this outside game uses sticks and rings and is a lot of fun to play. Owen loves it.

LEGO Friends (for ages 6-12 years, by LEGO) Maddy and Cora love these. So I’m hoping that Santa adds a set to his sleigh for each of them, maybe the pool set or Olivia’s house.

Remote Controlled Helicopter (for ages 8+, from Syma) Out of the blue, Maddy has asked for this. What kid doesn’t love remote-controlled toys? This one is indoor and it’s mini. Very cool.

Nano V2 Helix 180 (for ages 3+, from Innovation First) The O-Man loves his Hex Bugs, and this set takes those little climbing critters to a whole new level.

Rollerblades (for ages 5+, from Roller Derby) Maddy started the roller trend over here last year, when she asked for rollerblades for Christmas. Cora asked for roller skates for her birthday. Owen? He has been begging Maddy and Cora to use theirs all year long. He needs his own, and bam–we’re a roller family.

Air Stream Machine (for ages 8+, from Thames & Kosmos) Maddy and Owen spent an afternoon constructing a hovercraft that actually worked with batteries and sailed around our bathtub. They loved it so much they put another similar set on the top of their wish lists this year. And because of the serious payoff that’s involved in reading, following directions, and learning about physics along the way.

Thinking about the Tub Experiments or Optical Illusion Set for Cora (for ages 5-7 years) and the Fingerprinting Kit, Remote Control Set, or Gyrobot (ages 8+) for Maddy and Owen.

Gift picks for singers, dancers, dreamers: pretend play rocks the house, any day of the year

Homemade, Indoor Stage: Last year, my father-in-law and husband worked for weeks before the holidays to make an actual indoor stage for our kids. They love, love, love it. It has been the spot for shows, dances, recitals, sing-offs, and serious karaoke. Find out more here: an Easy-to-Build Stage for the Performers in Your Family.

Karaoke Machine: If you’re going to do it, invest in a decent one. This karaoke machine by Singing Machine works with CDs, iPods, or the radio which is included on the device. Two microphones and a 7″ screen make this one a keeper.

Cra Z Art Glitter Sparkle Nail Design Studio (for ages 6+, from Cra Z Art) Cora has been asking for this for months. A girl can dream. Either that set or the Blingles Gimmer Studio (for ages 6+, from Blingles) which lets kids create glitter stickers. Both winners.

Outdoor Basketball Hoop & Basketball: Basic, I know, but last year, we shopped around on local listserves and garage sales and forums and finally found a used hoop, in great shape. My kids have played all year long.

Super-cute personalized gifts from my favorite shops: Maddy loves her custom-made ruffly apron from Cookin Cute. Uniquely Ordinary makes adorable sippy cups, cake carriers, waterbottles, tumblers, and more. Last year I rocked some handmade initial necklaces for the kids–that anyone can make and that the kids loved.

Gift picks for tech-savvy digital kids: plug ‘em in and let ‘em play

Kidz Gear Wired Headphones (ages 5+) As the kids get older and want to listen to their own books, music, and shows on our devices, headphones are a must. Along with the Headphone Carry Bag, each kiddo needs his or her own.

Club Penguin Membership (ages 6+, from Club Penguin) You can purchase gift memberships in almost any duration, from one month to twelve months, and the way my kids have jumped into their first online gaming experience is a testament to the fact that time online

Skylanders Swap Force (ages 7+, from Activision) This is Owen’s big ask this year; he’s been a Skylanders fan for quite some time now, and he has already memorized all of the Swap Force guys. He’s ready. Here’s to hoping that they add some new Skylanders books to the mix now, too!

Intel All-in-One PC with Touch Screen (from HP) As part of the Intel AIO Blogger group, I have been so grateful to have the opportunity to use this device. My kids love it. It’s user-friendly, small and sleek with a screen that can fold and hide away in seconds. It’s crazy cool, and if you are looking for a desktop, this is the real deal.

eBooks, eBooks, eBooks! There are several on the market, and it’s best to find one that really works for you and your family’s needs. I’m loving BookBoard which is a monthly subscription service that includes 400+ ‘unlockable’ books for kids and can be given as a gift. Or go with the free Scholastic eBook app, Storia, where you download the app and then buy books separately from the website. Both have great interfaces, fab selection, and serious perks–it’s a matter of preference for what works for your family.

Best gift picks for stocking stuffers: anything small and crafty, anything mini and sweet

Puffy Sticker Playset (for ages 4+, from Melissa & Doug) Puffy stickers? Loved them. Puffy stickers in a playset? So cool. Little chimpunk playset, fairy playset, pirate playset, and more are super stocking stuffers for kids of all ages.

Squinkie Zinkies (ages 4+, from Squinkies) These are so tiny you need a tweezers to play with them. Maddy and Cora? Adore them. And I like them because I can barely see them and they don’t hurt if I step on them.

On the GO! Sets (for ages 3+, from Melissa & Doug) Love these sets because they’re small enough to fit in a purse or diaper bag and they’re full of enough activities to keep kids busy during long, unexpected waits–just about anywhere.

Glitzi Globes (for ages 5+, from Glitzi Globes) Teeny little snow globes that kids first make and then can wear as jewelry. Bam. My girls? Love them.

The Trash Pack (for ages 5+, from Moose Toys) Think: Garbage Pail Kids meets Squinkies. I know. I know. But Owen is so into them. He organizes them, keeps track of them, analyzes them, and laughs at their potty names. Whatever. One or two won’t hurt. Right?

Ruby’s Studio The Safety Show or The Friendship Show (from The Mother Company) Check out what we thought of The Safety Show a while back, and know that these videos are so well done that your kids won’t even realize they’re learning crazy-important skills while they’re watching.

Smarty Pants Sets (for ages 4- 10+, from Melissa & Doug) We love the Smarty Pants Sets. Tons of questions and challenges for every level, from preschool through fifth grade.

Math Dice: or Math Dice, Jr (for ages 8+ or 6+ by ThinkFun) small game, great for on-the-go and super-sneaky math fun.

Even MORE Gift Guide Inspiration:

teachmama’s 2012 Gift Guide

teachmama’s 2010 Gift Guide

best gifts for kids and family pinterest board: always updated with the latest and greatest!

5 must-have toys for baby’s first year: me, for Melissa & Doug

want our best books as gifts recommendations? it’s coming!

fyi: Affiliate links are included in this post.

We did receive some of these products from companies to try, but the large majority were purchased (or will be purchased!) by our family on our own dime. I do work with some of the companies above, but I also work with a ton more that I didn’t mention. As always, my opinions are all my own, influenced only by my experiences as a parent and educator. I’m sharing the best of the best here–our faves.

new ideas for halloween treats: alternatives to candy

10 | 21 | 2013

new ideas for halnew ideas for halloween treatsloween treats teachmama.com

Halloween is traditionally a time for sweets, sweets, and more sweets, but who says kids must eat candy from dawn till dusk just because that’s how it’s always been done?

This year, though my kids will certainly have their fair share of sweets (we are a sweet-tooth family after all), I’m really trying hard to think outside the box a bit as far as Halloween treats are concerned.

Thanks to my friends from Melissa & Doug, I’m stretching the limits of treat-giving and treat receiving, and I’m going for small, hands-on toys that encourage creative play and fun.

As a Room Parent for one of my kids’ classes, I’m not planning on handing each child yet another bag of sweets to shove in their backpacks on the very day they’ll walk the streets of their neighborhood, grabbing more candy than they can hold. Not this year.

Instead, I’m mixing it up. Thinking outside the Halloween treat box. Thinking about some alternatives to candy.

I’m handing the kids a few new Halloween treats: bubbles, stickers, tattoos, crafts, and small toys. These are sure to be items that the kids–and parents–will be happy to see, as they won’t mean more sugar for our kids’ little bodies.

Here’s the skinny. . .

New Ideas for Halloween Treats — Alternatives to Candy:

Some of newish ideas for Halloween treats for home or at school. . .

Scratch Art: I think any of the Scratch Art Classroom Kits would be a great crafty activity for Halloween at home or Halloween class parties.

In particular, the Gold and Silver Scratch Art Trading Cards are super-cool for making Jack O’ Lanterns that look like they really glow!

Or kids could get funky, creating Scratch Art to complement their costumes!

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Tattoos! Kids love, love, love tattoos, and the great thing about these My First Temporary Tattoos sets are that each comes with over 100 tattoos!

We easily tore apart the tattoos on each sheet–jewels, flowers, and more in the Jewelry Set and sports, trucks, animals, and more in the Blue Tattoo Set.

These are super for goodie bags, for handing out to the Trick-Or-Treaters, or as a ‘Tattoo Station’ at a class party.

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Snakes, Bugs, & Lizards: Yes, snakes, bugs, and lizards are super fun additions to Halloween if you ask me. As a family that prefers silly over scary, these little guys are perfect for hiding around the house and seeking for extra Halloween fun or for adding to goodie bags or baskets.

They come in packs of six (Sack of Snakes), ten (Bag of Bugs), and seven (Litter of Lizards), so they totally work as affordable Halloween goodies.

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Bubbles! Kids love bubbles, and they’ll especially love these bubbles with silly animals on top. For the extra-special Trick-Or-Treaters in your life, the Mombo Snake Bubbles would be a great replacement for that larger-sized candy bar or treat!

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Scratch Art Light Catchers: These totally rock.

They really do.

I think they’d be awesome as a Halloween class party activity. No matter the shape, kids will love doing this non-messy activity (and teachers and Room Parents will, too!), and kids have a sweet end product to take home and display.

Melissa & Doug has anything from Flower Light Catchers to Dolphins, or Butterflies to Sailboats, and honestly, kids won’t care what they have. I’m willing they’ll just be excited to grab a stick, grab a sheet, and start scratching!

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That’s just what we’ve got up our sleeve this Halloween season. I’m totally thrilled.

What new ideas for Halloween treats do you have? What are your super-fab alternatives to Halloween candy? Please share!

fyi: I wrote this post as part of the Melissa & Doug Blog Ambassador program. Melissa & Doug has long created rockstar products that nurture creativity and thought in our children, which is why I am so proud to be a part of this program. As always, my opinions and ideas are my own, influenced only by my experience as a parent and educator.

Affiliate links are used in this post.

pulled cotton ghosts: halloween craft for little ones

10 | 18 | 2013

easy cotton ghost: halloween craft for little ones

The following guest post is written by the incredibly busy Theresa of Capri + 3. Theresa is a mom of four toddlers, and her family’s story is an amazing blessing. Her blog chronicles their adventures.

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I am stopping by from Capri + 3 to share a fun and easy Halloween craft, perfect for little hands.

I love the change in the weather, the aroma of cinnamon and pumpkins and festive fall decorations. We have three boys and a girl who will turn three in November and they love to do arts and crafts projects.

Since Halloween is approaching, I thought it would be fun to make fluffy pulled cotton ghosts. We have made pulled cotton ghosts before and glued them onto black paper. This year, I decided to shake things up and make them three dimensional using recycled toilet paper rolls.

That way they can ‘haunt the mantle’ or greet goblins coming to ‘trick or treat’ on Halloween night.

Pulled Cotton Ghosts–Halloween Craft for Little Ones:

You will need:

Cotton balls

One recycled toilet paper roll

White glue

Scotch tape

One sheet of white printer paper

Pen

Scissors

One pair of large google eyes

Black felt or black paper cut into the shape of a mouth

First, set the TP roll on edge and draw a circle larger than the roll and cut it out (or have your older child to this).

Then, cut slits around the circle and tape it on one end so that it blocks the hole in the cardboard tube.

Give your children cotton balls and have them pull them apart to make fluffy cotton. This is a great fine motor activity and can also be very relaxing if you want to get in on the fun!

Then, add glue all around the cardboard tube and on the white paper located on the top. Have your children glue the pulled cotton onto the ghost. The great thing about this project is that the cotton can be layered so that it no longer resembles the shape of the cardboard tube (just add more glue). Then, have your child glue on the eyes and mouth.

Our little ones love to look up and see their pulled cotton ghosts ‘haunting’ the mantle.’

Theresa and Greg struggled with infertility and were fortunate to have a happy outcome to their journey. Theresa started Capri + 3 as a way to share their infertility success story to bring hope to other couples facing challenges in starting their families and to document their children’s childhoods. It has morphed into a blog about parenting multiples, arts and crafts activities for children and so much more. Capri, Grayson, Xayden and Ryder were all born in November of 2010.

Facebook | Google+ | Pinterest | Twitter

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, Theresa, for sharing!

Looking for more activities for ringing in Halloween (and sneaking in a little learning) with your littles?

Stop by and follow these great educational Pinterest boards:

fall | Capri + 3

toddler crafts | Capri + 3

halloween | teachmama

fall | teachmama

Or check out any of teachmama’s Halloween posts!

fyi: affiliate links are used in this post

halloween owl: fun fall craft for kids

10 | 16 | 2013

halloween owl fun and easy craft for kids

The following guest post is written by Ashley Merrick-Rives of Me & Marie Learning. Ashley is a ‘mom-teacher-blogger’ and an in-home childcare provider. Her blog chronicles her adventures.

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In our neck of the woods, fall has arrived. The crisp cool air puts us in the mood for pumpkins, hot cocoa and Halloween! Halloween is my favorite time of year, I love everything about it!

So, to get us in the Halloween spirit and create an adorable decoration, we created a Halloween Owl!

Halloween Owl: Fun Fall Craft for Kids:

Want to make your own Halloween Owl?

Here are the materials you need:

Owl cut-out (very easy to make!)

Halloween themed cupcake liners

Orange paper

Google eyes

Glue

Scissors

Start by cutting out a general owl outline (like a fat oval with pointy ears).

Glue on google eyes. With the orange paper, cut a small beak by folding the paper in half and cutting a V shape.

Glue on the beak below the eyes.

Next, we added a flat cupcake liner to look like a round belly on the owl.

Then, we folded the cupcake liners in half with the printed side out. These folded liners served as the wings.

We used several cupcake liners layered on top of each other to create a full set of wings.

Last, we added legs to our owl using the orange paper.

I love the Halloween spirit this little owl brings to our kitchen, he proudly displayed on the fridge! Plus, it was an easy and fun activities for my daughter and I to do together. Another wonderful fall memory made together!

Ashley is the owner of Me & Marie Learning, a blog all about early learning. She has taken some time off teaching in a traditional setting to be at home with her young children. Ashley is now an in-home childcare provider, teaching her own and other children in her preschool room. Ashley has a degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education with a Master’s Degree in Reading and Literacy.

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, Ashley, for sharing!

Looking for more activities for ringing in Halloween (and sneaking in a little learning) with your littles?

Stop by and follow these great educational Pinterest boards:

Halloween | Ashley Merrick-Rives

Fall Leaves | Ashley Merrick-Rives

Halloween for the Kids | Ashley Merrick-Rives

halloween | teachmama

fall | teachmama

Or check out any of teachmama’s Halloween posts!

fyi: affiliate links are used in this post

the rainbow loom: 5 reasons kids need it and parents love it

09 | 04 | 2013

rainbow loom why kids need it and parents love it

We are loving–and I mean loving–the Rainbow Loom. We’re bracelet-making, ring-wearing, tiny-rubber-band toting fools. And when I say we love the Rainbow Loom, I mean we love it.

Like we want to marry it love it.

Though I could count more than a dozen reasons why your kids need the Rainbow Loom and why parents love this silly little thing, I know we’re all busy.

But more importantly? I know we’ve all got bracelets to make. And even if you don’t have THE Rainbow Loom, you can still make Rainbow Loom bracelets without the loom.

Here’s how: How to Make Rainbow Loom bracelets without the Rainbow Loom.

So why do your kids need the Rainbow Loom?

Why will you, as a parent, love it? Five reasons.

Here’s the skinny. . .

The Rainbow Loom–5 Reasons Kids Need it and Parents Love it:

First of all, what is the Rainbow Loom?

It’s a simple plastic ‘loom’ on which people strategically place tiny rubber bands, connecting them, twisting them, and looping them into bracelets, necklaces, rings–you name it.

Secondly, how do you make Rainbow Loom bracelets? There are an insane number of ways to make bracelets without the loom and on the loom, and the RainbowLoom.com site has a boatload of instructional videos.

The cool thing is that you don’t necessarily need the Rainbow Loom to make Rainbow Loom bracelets. Cora and Owen don’t use the loom quite yet; they are perfectly content creating ‘Rainbow Loom’ bracelets and rings simply by looping and connecting them by hand. Maddy, on the other hand, loves the loom itself and can really rock it out. Why do I say kids actually need the Rainbow Loom and parents will love it? Here’s why: $rainbow loom math skill building teachmama.com$ 1. Math Skill-Building. Serious, hands-on math skill-building with each and every bracelet made. We’re talking pattern-making. Two colors, three colors, whatever the number, it doesn’t matter. Kids will begin to pick up on patterns if they haven’t already. Throw a little: Heeeeey! I love this bracelet you made, Cora. The blue-green ABAB pattern is rockin’! And look at Owen’s mix-up of ABBCABBC. . . into the mix, and your kids will start to see real-life connections to what they’re learning at school. And there’s shape-recognition. My kids lean heavily on the instructional videos on the Rainbow Loom site, so before I knew it, they were talking about making the ‘double rhombus’ or the ‘crossed hexagon’ bracelets. My heart skipped a beat, and I wanted to dance. We haven’t talked shapes like this since way back with our Super Sweet Shape Snacks. Woot. Bring on ‘da math.

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2. Reading Skill-Building. Reading informational text is not only a component of the Common Core–it’s an integral life skill. Whether it’s recipe-reading, map-reading, newspaper reading, or book reading, kids need to be able to read informational texts. The Rainbow Loom Instruction Manual is a super starting point for kids for doing some serious instructional reading because it’s high-interest, it’s hands-on, and it’s clearly written and formatted. Photos. Step-by-step instructions. Great combo. Kids are reading and re-reading to gain understanding. They’re following steps and managing a task. Seriously.

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3. Fine-Motor Skill-Building. Whether your kids are making Rainbow Loom bracelets without the loom (like Cora and Owen do) or with the loom (like Maddy does), it doesn’t matter. It’s all working those teeny little muscles in arms and hands and fingers that help kiddos with all of those super-important skills like mastering the tripod grip (proper grip on pencil). From the organizing of the bands to attaching, looping, and knotting, it’s all working those fine motor skills. And even those kids for whom doing it by hand is difficult, they can still rock out the little Rainbow Loom tool–it all works. It all counts.

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4. Relationship-Building. This weekend, the kids were in small groups all over the pool deck making Rainbow Loom bracelets. Hanging out, teaching each other how to do it, chatting, and enjoying time together. My kids have been helping each other make bracelets. They’re forging bonds with each other and with other people in sharing what they know about making these bracelets and in sharing the bracelets themselves. But all over the pool for the last few weeks, kids have been hanging out together, teaching each other how to make different types of bracelets and really–amazing the adults.

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5. Confidence-Building. Maddy had to start and re-start eleven times before mastering the ‘Triple Single’ bracelet. Eleven. Times. I have yet to master any of the bracelets other than the basic loop that Owen and Cora use. It’s hard. But manageable. And it takes patience. I overheard Maddy’s girlfriends talking one night last week, and one gal said, It feels so great to be able to start and finish something that looks so good, you know? You just feel so proud of yourself after you finish one of these. And she’s right. It’s like the old friendship bracelets of the ’80’s. But with a 21st century twist. Owen sticks with ring-making, but he loves making them. Cora was on cloud nine yesterday because one of the ‘big boys’ at the pool asked her to make one for him. She didn’t, but she was still flattered. This weekend, kids were in groups all around our pool, teaching each other. Helping each other. It’s awesome. And for our little entrepreneurs, who knows what Rainbow Loom bracelets could lead to?

Really. That’s it. This mama digs anything that sneaks a little learning into our every day. And for me, Rainbow Loom is a big win. Five times over. What do you think? Rainbow Loom craze hit your family yet? Ready to get started but don’t have the loom yet? Check out How to Make Rainbow Loom Bracelets Without the Loom! Already loving the Rainbow Loom but want a few cool ideas for bracelet-making? Check out 9 Band Bracelets for Kids to Make from my friends at Kids’ Activities Blog! fyi: Affiliate links are used in this post, which means that if you’re into getting your kids set up with Rainbow Loom bracelets and want to use these links, awesome. We get a itsy-bitsy, teeny, tiny cut and every little bit helps!

homemade tooth fairy boxes

08 | 28 | 2013

originally published as ‘tooth fairy, we’re ready!’ on October 13, 2009

If you check around the internet, dozens of sites exist with perfect, beautiful tooth fairy pillows. If we had more time, I would have ordered one of them for my loose-tooth Maddy. I’m all about out-sourcing when I can.

With her first teeny-tiny baby tooth hanging on by a thread, last week we hit the craft store and bought a little box for Maddy to paint and prepare as a perfect landing spot for her tooth.

Without a sewing machine or the proper sewing skills, this mama needed a tooth fairy pillow back-up plan.

Tooth Fairy Box: Yes, ours is a box. But it’s star-shaped, and now it’s all glittered up, and it’s totally. . . beautiful. Maddy worked her little heart out on it.

It started out as an inexpensive little wooden box.

And with a little paint, it slowly became gooooorgeous.

After a few days of a high fever and feeling completely lousy, finally today Maddy said she wanted to finish decorating her Tooth Fairy Box. We flipped our -at and -an family flip books aside, and we did some old-school free crafting, all in the name of our favorite little fairy and my baby being on the mend.

We haven’t met the Tooth Fairy yet, but we know she loves sparkles.

Owen’s Tooth Fairy Box

Knowing that once Maddy starts losing her pearly whites, Owen won’t be too far behind, while Maddy decorated her box, I made one for Owen, who really wasn’t up for creating one on his own. Painting Tooth Fairy Boxes or playing golf, baseball, and tire swinging out back with Dad? Guess what Owen did. . .

We’ve got Owen feeling lousy today, but once everyone’s back on their feet, we’ll hit the library for some of these Tooth Fairy book titles:

You Think It’s Easy Being the Tooth Fairy? by Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt
What Do the Fairies Do With All These Teeth? by Michael Luppens
Dear Tooth Fairy by Alan Durant
The Night Before the Tooth Fairy by Natasha Wing
Nice Try, Tooth Fairy by Mary W. Olson
Dear Tooth Fairy by Jane O’Connor
Dad, Are You the Tooth Fairy? by Jason Alexander

Some of my favorite Tooth Fairy Pillow spots:

Pink and Green Mama: This art teacher mama had a Tooth Fairy Pillow featured on the Instructables web site. She seriously rocks, and now she’s even got some pillows on her Pink and Green Mama Etsy shop!

One Crafty Place: Although this blog is no longer being updated, Chrissy did an awesome job of assembling some very cool crafts. Check out her Tooth Fairy Pillows from around the web.

soap dough, soap molds, crazy cool fun with soap

07 | 26 | 2013

soap dough soap molds and crazy cool fun with soap

What happens when you put a bar of Ivory soap in the microwave?

Really. Ivory soap. Plain ole sweet-smelling, plain-jane white bar o’ Ivory soap?

In the microwave.

Try it.

Your kids will think you’re a rockstar, and everyone involved will be in awe.

Do it during a playdate, and your kids’ friends will forever tell tales of your awesomeness.

Children will think you’ve lost your mind and then will be starstruck by your science fabulousity.

Your disinterested, challenging kids will begin to respond to your every word, move, and idea.

The whole family will wait with wonder to see what you have up your sleeve next.

Actually, I can’t guarantee all that. But what I can say is that my kids, my husband, and I had a blast playing with soap ‘dough’–what you get when you blast Ivory soap in the microwave.

All you need is this soap, and you’re good to go. Inexpensive soap. That’s it.

Here’s the skinny. . .

Soap Dough, Soap Molds, Crazy Cool Fun With Soap: I’ll be honest. Owen wasn’t digging the soap experiment.

He was over-tired and got frustrated with Cora in the beginning of the whole thing and so he went out front and shot some hoops instead of soapin’ it up with Cora, Maddy, and me. But he did keep coming around, sneaking glances, and trying to play but not really.

So it’s simple, and it’s not perfect, but playing with Ivory soap was something I’ve wanted to do with the kids for a while now, after catching a few fab pins on Pinterest.

It’s been sitting there on our neat-o, FUN, new things for us to try board, and finally, finally? We did it.

After a busy morning and after rest and after a whole lot of free-bird summertime fun, I said, Hey! Remember we had ‘Fun Science Experiment’ on the calendar for today? Who’s up for checking out what I meant?

Maddy, Owen, and Cora found me in the kitchen, and we got rockin’ and rollin’.

I said, So we’re going to do something a little crazy today with this. And I handed them the bar of Ivory soap.

I also got out the only other things we’d need:

Ivory soap

cookie cutters

wax paper

liquid food coloring

I got a lot of Huh? and What? and Why? and Mom?

Maddy opened the bar of soap, and we all held it and smelled it and passed it around. And talked about how it smelled so pretty like Nana’s bathroom. (Because that’s the soap she uses and has used for as long as I can remember.)

Then I placed it on a piece of wax paper, put it on a microwavable plate, and stepped back.

What do you think will happen if we put this puppy in the microwave? I asked.

It might melt?

It will explode?

It will ruin our microwave!

I’m not sure you should do that, Mom.

I told them that I’d only heard about this experiment but never did it myself, so I was a little nervous. I pressed 1:30 on the microwave, and we all stepped back.

What happened was totally crazy and completely strange.

We did it twice, with two bars of soap, and the ‘explosion’ looked completely different each time. It. Was. Nuts.

And though the edges were cool, the insides were HOT. Like hot, hot hot.

But the whole thing was light–like a cloud–when lifted. So the kids took turns holding it after it cooled. It was so totally fun.

After a bit of holding and observing, we took the fun outside.

I had read that you could break the soap apart, mix it, and form a sort of dough. Though I was not willing to throw it in our food processor or blender, I read that you could. We were going to put our kids to work and mix and mold on our own.

We put the big lumps of soap on two trays, each covered with a piece of wax paper.

And then? We just broke it apart. We added a few drops of food coloring to each lump, blue to Maddy’s and green to Cora’s. (By this time, Owen was shooting hoops.)

We found that the warmer parts were more easily molded and moved, but with a bit of warm water, it became this awesome, smooth, soft, fragrant dough.

It did take some work and a bit of muscle to get it into a working ‘dough’ and we had to go really, really light on the warm water. But after we found the right combo, we were able to use the cookie cutters to make fun, brightly colored soap shapes.

The O-Man even came back to get his hands in the dough after a while.

Maddy and Cora loved it. Though Cora set her sights on creating a soap mold princess crown and was disappointed that she couldn’t make it perfectly, Maddy went simple with cookie cutter molds and was better off.

Next time, I’d only bring out basic shape cookie cutters–our soap dough was a little choppy and chunky for detailed molds.

So fun. So much soapy, doughy, moldable fun that we were beside ourselves.

The big question is why does Ivory soap behave this way in the microwave? I had not a clue. But my savvy-science friends do:

Steve Spangler, the oh-so-smart and creative science guy covers it here in Soap Souffle
Physics Central talks microwaving soap with diagrams and a detailed explanation
The Indianapolis Public Library blog also covers it with a few helpful links and references in books

And that’s it. Some sneaky science and fine–motor sensory fun on a cool (thankfully!) summer afternoon.

Do you have any other cool and easy science-experiments for kids? Let me have ‘em!

fyi: affiliate links are included for your convenience

how to make the most of a day trip to museum, farm, or amusement park

07 | 22 | 2013

Now that our swim and dive seasons are officially over, it’s time for a few good family day trips. And our close proximity to Washington, DC, Baltimore, and Annapolis mean that we have a boatload of day trip options at our fingertips.

My friends at Melissa and Doug have been focusing on travel all summer in their Traveling With Kids: Tips & Tricks series. It’s been a riot to follow, but now I’m ready to do some traveling myself!

No matter where you live, there’s bound to be some nearby mini-road trips for your family to enjoy, and there’s no better time than summer to put on your adventure boots. Or flip-flops.

Perhaps it’s a nearby farm, museum, or historic building. Even exploring a new-for-you town or sporting event can be a great day trip. If you’re close to a bigger city, visitors’ centers, newspapers, or local family blogs can give you a good starting point.

When Maddy, Owen, and Cora were tiny, my ‘job’ for our local MOMS Club was to organize tours of local businesses. With only a quick call to the manager or owner, we were given super-fun, behind-the-scenes looks at bakeries, flower shops, recycling centers, farms, ice-cream shops, and more–all within a 5-mile radius!

It was a blast.

Here’s the skinny. . .

How to Make the Most of a Day Trip to the Museum, Farm or Amusement Park: No matter where you choose to go, day trips are ideal for sneaking in some fun learning before, during, and after the adventure.

Before the trip: Before the trip can mean before you even get in the car or it can mean time in the car. Either way, there’s fun learning to be had!

Consider:

Doing pre-event research. Visit the farm, museum, or city website, and find some kid-friendly resources. Many sites have ‘Before You Go’ sections that help to prepare young children for their visit. Print out maps, view photos, and let your child in on the fun! It’s about activating schema–getting brains ready for the learning they’ll be doing by talking about what they already know about a topic. Once they get to the location, children can more easily connect what they know to what they’re learning!

Using travel time. Time in the car (or on the bus, metro, or train) is great time for learning. Try traditional travel games like the License Plate Game, Flip to Win Hangman, or Travel Bingo. Or try The Box Girls Travel Sets like we’ve done in the past.

Checking out these 7 Pre-Trip Educational Adventures by my friend Zina of Let’s Lasso the Moon.

Downloading the Road Trip Mini-Mag from Melissa & Doug and Highlights

During the trip: Sometimes it’s hard not to be overwhelmed by excitement on a day excursion, but taking time to focus on the learning opportunities can help kids to slow down and really appreciate where the adventure!

Consider:

Asking for information. When you arrive, ask for brochures, fliers, maps, or free resources for families. Most often, locations are happy to share what they’ve created, and you can use them as a guide for the day, as well as for follow-up at home.

Attending on-site events. If there are demonstrations, shows, or hands-on events for children, definitely attend them! Allowing kids to experience the location in a multi-sensory way will help them to remember, appreciate, and enjoy the learning.

Finding beauty. Take time to point out beautiful art, buildings, signs, animals, or displays. Though we, as adults, think that kids will naturally notice these things, often they will not unless we bring it to their attention. It’s as simple as: Wow! Look at the feathers on that peacock! The blues, greens, and purples shine in the sunlight! or Can you even believe how huge this building is? It seems to reach the sky!

Incorporating their strengths. If your child loves math, make a point of counting the butterflies you see. If she is a scientist at heart, be sure to make connections between experiments she’s conducted at home and what you see today. Loves geography? Talk about where you are and where you’re going in relation to other places he’s been.

Reading environmental print. Read signs, labels, descriptions. Read posters, pamphlets, and anything printed in and around the area. It all counts, and it all helps build reading skills!

After the trip: Keep the energy going even when you get home. Even if it’s the day after your adventure, taking some time for reflection and follow-up is totally worth your time.

Consider:

Making Day Trip Art. Free time to create art based on the day’s adventure is a fabulous way of allowing kids to wrap up the experience and talk about what they learned. Ask kids to sit down, and together, brainstorm some of the event’s highlights. Talk about what you all loved and didn’t love, and then let them go! With a few stickers (try the Alphabet and Numbers stickers and Pink Sticker Collection) and drawings on the Melissa and Doug Picture Frame Pad every little drawing looks like a masterpiece.

I totally heart the works of art Maddy, Owen, and Cora created after a recent trip to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. We saw bones–big bones!–belonging to some really big animals. And we saw a rockin’ iMax movie on Surfing and Waves. Clearly they were some of my kids’ favorites.

With a little bit of planning and a tiny bit of prep, you can really sneak in learning before, during, and after any day trip–no matter where you choose to go. These few tips will surely help you maximize learning–and fun!–not to mention create memories to last a lifetime!

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foam dough: serious rainy day indoor fun

07 | 11 | 2013

I’m all about trying new and exciting things with my kids, and today’s activity is no different.

Totally strange, completely weird. Absolutely new for us.

I went on a whim and tried something that I pinned a long while back: Foam Dough. Now? It’s all over the party Pinterest place, but the very first spot I saw it was on MomTrusted.

The greatest thing about this little ball o’ fun is that you only need two ingredients to make it work, three ingredients to make it awesome.

Foam Dough was a hit—a really fun way to pass a rainy afternoon—and Maddy, Owen, and Cora are already asking to make it again.

Here’s the skinny. . .

Foam Dough—Fun For a Rainy Day: Head to the grocery store and pick up a cheapo container of shaving cream and a cheapo box of corn starch.

That’s all you need:

Shaving cream

Corn starch

If you want to amp up the fun, add some liquid or gel food coloring. Total fun.

In order to make it, you need to follow a few easy, peasy directions:

1. Mix equal parts of corn starch and shaving cream

2. Add food coloring to reach the color you want, and you’re done.

Use hands to mix it and don’t be afraid to get messy. It’s. . . pretty messy.

The Foam Dough is a strange mix of light and fluffy play dough and soft, sandy mush.

Again, be forewarned: it made a mess.

One big, wild, white, powdery mess.

But we had three super-happy, blissful, powdery kids.

Maybe we made it wrong, maybe that’s what happens when you use cheapo ingredients—I can’t be sure.

But essentially, Maddy, Owen, and Cora mixed, made walls, made balls, made pancakes, and made cookies. They smashed, squished, mushed, and squashed.

For a long, long time.

And that’s it. Just a fun way of passing a rainy afternoon.

A sensory gift for hands and an unusually fragrant, foamy dough.

Fyi: Many thanks to the folks at MomTrusted for introducing us to Foam Dough and creating a rockstar pin to go along with it. And thanks to all the other parents out there who have tried it and shared it; I love the range of cool, easy-to-make kid-friendly doughs on Pinterest. AWEsome.