25 ways to play with puzzles
Get those puzzles out, my friends!
It doesn't matter if your kids are 2 or 12--puzzles are a super way of flexing those brain muscles, practicing …
indoor activities
the rainbow loom: 5 reasons 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. …
homemade tooth fairy boxes
originally published as 'tooth fairy, we're ready!' on October 13, 2009
If you check around the internet, dozens of sites …
math, writing, STEM apps for kids: tabletop surprises
We're close to the finish line here, and my heart is heavy.
Though my own work is piling up by the second, the fun I've had …
independent learning, poetry and play: tabletop surprises
The greatest thing about tabletop surprises is that they afford my kids the opportunity for some seriously fun independent …
3 reasons all kids must see Disney’s Planes
Our Owen was a Cars fan from the time he could crawl.
He toddled around with McQueen and Mater in his chubby little hands, and when he turned …
creative hands-on learning for kids: tabletop surprises
Tabletop Surprises have been a saving grace for us this summer.
Quick and easy learning on my kids’ own time. They’re …
math, literacy, and creative summer learning: tabletop surprises
We’re week three into our tabletop surprises, and this week, we rocked some sneaky math, literacy, and creative thinking.
The kids woke up to some …
learn and play independently: tabletop surprises week 2
One rockin thing about tabletop surprises is that kids can learn and play independently. On their own time, when they're up …
tabletop surprises: simple, summer learning fun
Summer is kicking us hard over here.
Actually, swim and dive are kicking us hard over here, like always. And at five weeks …
foam dough: serious rainy day indoor fun
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 …
our fave programming for 6-9 year olds
We are big into managing our kids' screen time over here, and that's no secret.
Though we truly value all they can learn with the help of …
high school basketball games: why families should go
Totally new-for-us this last month was something that I wish we would have done sooner, but I think our kids are finally at just-the-right age.
Just …
5 cool new ways to play with puzzles
Many families have a handful of puzzles around the house, ranging from knob puzzles to jigsaws. Baby puzzles and …
water bead free play: relaxing, soothing, & so totally worth it
During the school year, my kids are tired.
Their days are long, the nights are short, and quite frankly, they're just tired.
Add an afternoon …
partners: ‘we teach’ and melissa & doug (and the north ‘poll’ news!)
I'm thrilled to announce that as of last month, the we teach forum has partnered with the amazing Melissa & Doug!
What this means is that …
action action 1, 2, 3 get kids moving, writing, thinking
Owen was nutty today.
I honestly think he had enough energy this afternoon to run a marathon. Except that it was raining. Again. And he and Cora …