Fun Activities for Kids Archives - Look! We're Learning!

DIY Kinetic Sand Recipe for Kids

April 2, 2020 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Sensory play has always been a big hit in our family.

As soon as our kids were old enough to stand up, they loved playing with sand, mud, and playdough – like most other toddlers.

We’ve made edible playdough, moon sand, slime, and lots of other sensory materials at home.

And that’s why I wanted to share this DIY kinetic sand recipe too!

If you have kids who love sensory play and building, this kinetic sand is perfect.

It’s soft enough to mold, but also firm enough to hold its shape. Great for little builders!

Get the full kinetic sand recipe instructions below.

And, for more fun with sensory input, check out our scented Apple Pie Playdough too!

This easy DIY kinetic sand is such a fun way to play indoors with little ones! Perfect for sensory input too!

DIY Kinetic Sand Recipe for Kids

To make this DIY kinetic sand recipe, you’ll need:

Sand
Baby oil
Cornstarch

This sensory recipe is so easy that the kids can help you make it.

Once you’ve measured out the right amount of each ingredient, just mix them all together.

It actually works best if you mix it with your hands.

So the kids can get some sensory play before they even start playing with the kinetic sand!

After you’re done mixing, toss a few sand molds and building toys into the sand.

The little ones can play as long as they like!

NOTE: This DIY kinetic sand is NOT edible. Please use caution with toddlers and very young children.

Scroll down to get the printable DIY kinetic sand recipe!

Check out other sensory play ideas!

Mix up some sensory fun with these edible playdough recipes for kids! These are so fun for little ones who love to play with dough!

This fun and easy snowman slime is so fun for sensory play during winter! Mix up a few jars and hand them out as gifts for little ones!

DIY Kinetic Sand

This DIY kinetic sand is a simple sensory play idea for young ones!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

2.5 cups sand
1 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup baby oil

Instructions

Pour the sand into a mixing bowl or loaf pan.
Add the cornstarch and mix well with your hands.
Pour in the baby oil and mix well.

Recipe Notes

If the mixture is too dry, add a few drops more baby oil until you reach the right consistency.
If the kinetic sand doesn’t hold its shape, add a bit more cornstarch.

Make a batch of this simple DIY kinetic sand for a quick sensory play activity at home!

Scavenger Search! Indoor Scavenger Hunt for Kids

March 31, 2020 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Having fun indoors can be a bit of a challenge for a family.

After all, little ones have a TON of energy. And keeping them entertained within four walls can be difficult.

So indoor scavenger hunts have become extremely popular with families these days.

It’s like playing “Hide and Seek” without having to actually find a place to hide. Which can pose its own set of challenges if you live in a small space like we do.

This printable indoor scavenger hunt for kids can make inside play a piece of cake!

Fun Printable Indoor Scavenger Hunt for Kids

This would be a great activity to burn off energy and let the little ones play for a while any day.

Read on to get your copy – free!

And, if you want to take an indoor scavenger search to the next level, pick up our Family Night Scavenger Hunt Cards for a fun family game night activity!

Pick up this free printable indoor scavenger hunt for a fun indoor play activity to share with the kids!

Scavenger Search! Indoor Scavenger Hunt for Kids

To use this printable indoor scavenger hunt for kids, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Printer (with ink)
Printer Paper
Laminator (optional)
Dry erase markers (optional)

This one-page scavenger hunt features twenty different items for kids to find and mark off.

If you have more than one child, you can print the page twice.

Then split the kids up into teams and see which team can find all the items first.

Printable Indoor Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Or you could assign each child one column of items to find and see who gets them all the fastest.

Want to reuse this for later? Laminate it and let the kids mark off each found item with dry erase markers!

Be sure to have a special treat ready for everyone once the scavenger hunt is over!

I suggest these simple Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cake Mix Cookies. Just don’t eat them all while the kids are hunting.

Scroll down to get your printable indoor scavenger hunt for kids!

Need more ways to play and learn inside?

Use this printable Space Color by Sight Word Activity to help early readers practice literacy skills and have an art activity too!

Try some of these simple 15 minute science experiments for a quick at-home science lesson with kids!

Make the most of time at home with these easy boredom busters for kids! Great for school breaks, summer vacation, and more!

To get your copy of our Scavenger Search! Indoor Play Activity, just click the image or the link below to download it to your computer!

>>> Indoor Scavenger Hunt for Kids <<<

20 Fun and Easy Indoor Activities for Kids

March 4, 2020 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

When you’re at home with the kids, it’s easy for a day to just “get away” from you.

Especially if your children are fans of screen time.

But when they’re on break from school or stuck inside because of bad weather, we don’t want them to run right for their devices.

So – here’s a list of 20 fun and easy indoor activities for kids to help you fill your days at home with quality time!

These are also great for class art projects, sensory play ideas, and games. They’d also make great activity choices for kids’ parties!

Read below to see the full list.

And for more ways to keep kids engaged and entertained, don’t miss our list of 50 cabin fever activity ideas!

20 Fun and Easy Indoor Activities for Kids

If you try any of these yourself, I’d love to know which were your favorites!

1. These printable Farm Paper Bag Puppets are perfect for spring or fall!

2. Make this Beach Shoebox Diorama with an old shoebox in just a few minutes!

3. Share this easy DIY Flubber for some quick sensory fun!

4. Practice recognizing money values with this fun Dollars and Cents Game!

5. You don’t need cold weather to play in the snow with this easy Snowman Slime!

6. Pick up these printable Family Night Indoor Scavenger Hunt cards for an indoor family night game!

7. This low-prep Farm Five In A Row Game is a great way to extend a farm unit any time of year!

8. Running low on craft supplies? You only need the basics for this Paper Tube Butterfly Craft!

9. Practice recognizing colors with little learners with this Color Matching Birds Activity!

10. This Coffee Filter Crab Craft only takes a few minutes to make!

11. Interested in learning sign language? These ASL Alphabet Matching Puzzles are a simple start!

12. Have a race to see who can complete this Finish the Emoji Drawing Activity first!

13. Work on times tables with this fun basketball-themed Shoot and Score Multiplication Game!

14. Make this Floating Spider Craft and let the kids practice flying them around the living room!

15. This printable Snowball Emoji Board Game is so fun for building emotional vocabulary!

16. Make your own DIY Moon Sand for moldable play!

17. Let kids make this Paper Bag Fox Craft and use it for storytelling!

18. This Edible Solar System Playdough is both fun to play with and safe to eat!

19. Blast off with this easy Paper Roll Rocket Craft!

20. This low-prep Mail Color Sorting Activity makes a wonderful busy bag go-to for little ones!

Want to see more fun ways to learn with kids? Try these ideas!

These Spanish color playdough mats are a wonderful hands on resource for early learners, Spanish language learners, and ESL students!

These fun weather STEM activities for kids are excellent for simple spring science experiments! Simple enough for home or the classroom!

This fun Spanish color word activity is perfect for helping kids learn how to read and write Spanish color vocabulary words!

If your kids are stuck at home, they will love this list of 20 easy boredom busters for kids! Great for school breaks, rainy days, and more!

Printable Indoor Family Night Scavenger Hunt Cards

December 30, 2019 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

Family night is a wonderful way to spend quality time with the kids, especially after everyone’s had a busy week.

If you’re not careful, though, family night can end up being a movie and a snack….every single time.

How can you keep family time fun, even when the kids are little? An indoor scavenger hunt!

This is a perfect activity for burning off energy, particularly when the weather isn’t awesome.

And that’s why these printable indoor family night scavenger hunt cards are so great!

These scavenger hunt cards make it easy to organize an indoor hunt without too much work.

Plus, they feature adorable little rhymes that the kids can use to find each clue and eventually win the prize!

Read on to see how to get your set free! And for more ways to spend family night, don’t miss this roundup of fun family night ideas to try!

Printable Indoor Family Night Scavenger Hunt Cards

To use these family night scavenger hunt cards, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Printer (with ink)
Printer Paper
Scissors
Laminator (optional)

This set includes 16 cards in all.

Each card contains a short clue written in rhyme form, so they’ll be easy for the kids to remember as they search.

All you’ll need to do is to read each clue, tape or hide the next clue in location described, and let the kids have at it!

To start the game, just read off the very first card.

From there, the kids can find each clue that follows by reading the directions. (Of course, if your kids are very young, you might want to give them a hand.)

If you feel the hunt is a little too long for your little ones, just shorten it by removing some of the cards in the middle and saving them for another day.

Once they find the YAY! card, they’re done! Then they can get a fun prize. Goodie bag prizes are great for this, by the way.

Scroll down to get your copy of our printable indoor family night scavenger hunt cards!

Don’t miss these other indoor play ideas for kids!

To get your copy of our printable indoor family night scavenger hunt cards, click the image or the link below to download them to your computer!

>>> Family Night Indoor Scavenger Hunt Cards <<<

Easy Scrapbook Paper Pumpkin Craft

October 29, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Have you ever gone on a craft supply shopping spree? And then realized that you have way too much of something?

I have.

When we first moved into our present house, I learned about a simple way to add color to your bedroom walls – scrapbook paper!

Naturally, I bought tons of it.

Which left me with packs and packs of scrapbook paper to do…something with.

Enter this easy scrapbook paper pumpkin craft!

If you’re looking for a simple way to add easy fall decor to your home or classroom, these scrapbook paper pumpkins are perfect!

And they’re simple enough that kids can help you make them!

Get the full project instructions below!

And for more pumpkin-themed activities, take a look at our Pumpkin Size Sorting Game and our Pumpkin Pie Fraction Clip Cards!

Easy Scrapbook Paper Pumpkin Craft

What I love about this simple paper pumpkin craft is that you probably already have everything you need to make it.

But if you’re not a craft supply hoarder (like…ahem…someone I know), here’s a list of what you’ll need to make a paper pumpkin craft.

To make this scrapbook paper pumpkin craft, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

2-3 sheets of autumn-themed scrapbook paper or patterned cardstock in complimentary colors/patterns
Brass paper fasteners
Hole punch
Scissors or a paper cutter
Ruler or yardstick
Pen or pencil
Leaf template (I made this free download) or you can buy these leaf tags on Amazon
Ribbon in complimentary colors/patterns
Beads, buttons, or other decorative accessories

Using a ruler or yardstick and pen or pencil, measure and mark 1-inch increments across a piece of scrapbook paper, about two inches from the edge.

Repeat about 3/4 of the way above the first set of marks. Connect the lines and cut.

If you have a paper cutter, you can use this instead.

Approximately 1/4” from the end of the strip, punch a hole in each end of the strip.

Repeat until all strips have holes in both ends.

Place the cut pieces of paper in the order of pattern/color you want. Line up the holes and place a brass paper fastener in one end.

Place a brass paper fastener in the other end. Fan out the pieces to fashion it after a pumpkin.

Print out the template and cut out the leaves. Trace the leaf outlines onto a piece of scrapbook paper and cut them out.

Tape or glue the paper leaves to the top of the pumpkin. Add ribbons, buttons or any other decorations you’d like.

Ta-da! We’re all done!

Make your scrapbook paper pumpkins in several colors and place them everywhere: on the mantle, on a coffee table, or even hang them over a window!

In a classroom, you might want to tape a few around the whiteboard or on the corner of your desk.

Let the kids make one and place them on their desks too!

Don’t miss these other fall themed crafts!

See more ways to make the most of autumn on my Fall Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

Easy Scented Pumpkin Pie Playdough Recipe for Kids

October 24, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Confession time: I didn’t really eat pumpkin pie as a child.

I’m from the Deep South and, down here, we tend to eat more sweet potato pie than pumpkin. At least in my family. (I honestly don’t have enough space here to write about the wonders of sweet potato pie.)

After I became an adult, though, a good friend of mine made a pumpkin pie and I finally had a taste.

It was delicious.

So since we enjoyed making apple pie playdough earlier this fall, I thought this easy scented pumpkin pie playdough recipe would be a nice addition to our fall sensory activities!

This playdough feels and smells incredible, so it’s a simple way to give the kids some sensory play while adding a nice fall scent to your home or classroom.

If you’re studying pumpkins or harvest this year, this scented playdough is a wonderful play activity for your unit!

Get the full instructions and the printable recipe below!

And for more ways to have fun with playdough, stop by to read our roundup of edible playdough recipes you can make at home!

How to Make Easy Pumpkin Pie Playdough

To make this easy pumpkin pie playdough recipe, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see my Disclosure Policy.)

flour
salt
pumpkin pie spice
cream of tartar
coconut oil
food coloring
pumpkin essence
Playdough tools (optional)
My Cinnamon Playdough Recipe

What I love about this playdough recipe is that it’s a reliable go-to activity. Once you make it, you’ll have a quick sensory activity you can whip up for the kids in just a few minutes.

Start by pouring warm water into a pot.

Then add a few drops of orange food coloring, coconut oil, and pumpkin essence.

In a separate bowl, mix together flour, salt, pumpkin pie spice, and cream of tartar.

Gradually add the flour mixture to the pot and stir well.

Heat the mixture on low and stir continuously, until the mixture starts to firm up.

When it pulls away from the sides of the pot, you’re done.

Knead the dough back and forth between your hands until it forms a smooth ball. (Little hands are great at doing this step!)

If you want to make the “piecrust”, whip up a batch of cinnamon playdough to use as the base.

It’s play time!

Give the kids a few playdough tools to flatten, cut, and shape their dough into a pie.

They’ll play with this for hours and get some sensory practice too!

Scroll down to get your printable Pumpkin Pie Playdough Recipe!

Take a look at these other fun fall play ideas!

And follow my Fall Activities for Kids board on Pinterest for more ways to have fun during autumn!

Printable DIY Pumpkin Pie Playdough Recipe

Read the full pumpkin pie playdough recipe right here! You can also print it to use offline.

Pumpkin Pie Playdough Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups flour
3/4 cup salt
4 tsp cream of tartar
2 cups warm water
2 tbsp coconut oil
food coloring
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp pumpkin essence

Instructions

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, pumpkin pie spice, and cream of tartar.
Mix the warm water, coconut oil, pumpkin essence, and a few drops of orange food coloring in a pot.
Gradually add the flour mixture to the pot, stirring well.
Heat the mixture over low heat, stirring continuously until it firms and pulls away from the sides of the pot.
Remove the dough from the heat and let cool until safe to touch.
Knead the dough until it forms a smooth ball. Store in an airtight container.

Easy Fall Preschool Color Matching Activity

September 12, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Fall is one of the best times of year to explore with preschoolers. The weather is cooler, the animals are moving around and storing up food for winter, and the colors are gorgeous.

If you live in a part of the world where you see fall foliage, autumn is a wonderful time to talk about colors with little ones.

But, even if you don’t, you can use this simple fall preschool color matching activity to reinforce that concept with early learners!

This is such a simple and fun hands-on activity for toddlers and preschoolers. And it only takes a few minutes to set it up.

Get the full instructions below! And be sure to check out our Apple Pie Playdough for more fall preschool sensory fun!

Easy Fall Preschool Color Matching Activity

To make this fall preschool coloring matching activity, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Fall-themed paint sample cards
Scissors
Fall leaf foam glitter stickers

To get started, simply use the scissors to cut the paint sample strips apart. You’ll want to have one color on each strip.

If your preschoolers are working on scissor skills, hand them a pair of child-safe scissors and let them help with this part.

Be sure to use fall-themed colors, so you’re looking for deep reds, muted greens, and bright yellows.

Pour out several fall leaf foam stickers onto the table. I love the glittery foam stickers, but you could also use felt or paper stickers if you prefer.

Since the glitter sticks up a bit, working with them makes a nice sensory activity for little hands.

Let the kids try to match up the color stickers with the colored paint strips.

You can work with one color family at a time, especially when you’re first beginning to talk about colors, or you can combine them all and see how quickly the kids can match up the leaves and paint strips.

This would also make a great on-the-go busy bag for active toddlers and preschoolers!

Books about Fall Leaf Colors for Kids

If you’d like to tie this activity into a lesson about why leaves change color during the fall, these books about fall leaf colors would be wonderful for read-aloud time!

Why Do Leaves Change Color?

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn

We’re Going On A Leaf Hunt

I Love Fall! A Touch-and-Feel Board Book

Did you like this fall preschool color matching activity? Take a look at these other early learning ideas for kids!

$These printable apple counting puzzles are perfect for early math lessons! Use them at fall math centers or for an interactive apple lesson for little ones!$

And follow my Fall Activities for Kids for even more autumn learning inspiration!

Finish the Emoji Drawing Activity for Kids

July 1, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Does anyone have kids who love to draw? My kids love to sketch and color and draw anything they can.

Unfortunately, my artistic skills are somewhat…lacking.

I didn’t draw much as a kid and, now that I’m an adult, I have what I call “artistic cowardice”. You know, that feeling when you think your drawing will be awful so you never have the courage to try? That.

What I’ve discovered, though, is that lots of kids also feel that way. And that’s sad. If you don’t think you can draw when you’re young, it might not get any better later in life.

And I wanted to encourage my kids to keep making art of their own, so I thought I’d dip my toes into drawing too with this fun Emoji Drawing Activity!

Since these are faces that are already half designed, all kids have to do is finish the other half. It’s easy enough for an art coward like me to do!

Read on to see how to grab your copy free! And, for more fun with Emoji faces, try our simple Coffee Filter Emoji Crafts too!

Finish the Emoji Drawing Activity for Kids

To use this finish the Emoji drawing activity, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

There are 12 different faces in this printable Emoji drawing activity, including the laughing Emoji, the smiling Emoji, the scared Emoji, the crying Emoji, and, everyone’s favorite, the heart eyes Emoji.

All we did was print out each page and then use colored pencils to complete the other half of each face.

Since the goal here is to complete the missing half exactly as the completed half, this is also an excellent way to learn about symmetry with kids!

Scroll down to get your copy of this Finish the Emoji Drawing Activity free!

Check out these other fun activities for kids while you’re here!

And see more ways to spend time with the kids on my Indoor Play Pinterest board!

To get your copy of this Finish the Emoji Drawing Activity, click the image or the link below to score it from my Teachers Pay Teachers Store for free!

>>> Finish the Emoji Drawing Activity <<<

50 Awesome Slime Recipes for Kids

January 21, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Do your kids like to play with slime? Mine do. We’ve been making slime and DIY playdough with our kids for years and there are a ton of slime recipes for kids available online these days.

A lot of them, though, are the same basic recipe with just a few changes. So I thought it would be cool to gather up 50 unique and totally awesome slime ideas that kids can make and play with!

If your little ones have already started shouting “I’m bored!”, this list will definitely come in handy. Many of the DIY slime recipes below feature themes, so they’d be a perfect addition to a learning unit for early grades!

Read on to see all the fun slime ideas listed below. And for more fun, check out our colorful moon sand that’s great for outdoor play!

50 Awesome Slime Recipes for Kids

1. Flubber Slime – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Liquid Starch Slime – Little Bins for Little Hands

3. Neon Slime – The Crafting Chicks

4. Bath Soap Slime – Beauty Crafter

5. Root Beer Float Slime – Homeschool Hideout

6. Rainbow Slime – Sugar Spice and Glitter

7. Superhero Glitter Slime – Natural Beach Living

8. Starbucks Frappucino Slime – Midget Momma

9. Ocean Slime – Schooling a Monkey

10. Magnetic Slime – Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

11. Super Stretchy Edible Slime – Lemon Lime Adventures

12. Princess Slime – The Best Ideas for Kids

13. Jungle Slime – Buggy and Buddy

14. Geology Gemstone Slime – Steam Powered Family

15. Peeps Slime – Schooling a Monkey

16. Silver and Gold Slime – Fun-A-Day

17. Fizzy Scented Slime – Look! We’re Learning!

18. Lemon Scented Slime – Little Bins for Little Hands

19. Edible Pudding Slime – The Soccer Mom Blog

20. Sour Patch Kids Slime – Teach Beside Me

21. Fluffy Oobleck Slime – Fantastic Fun and Learning

22. Slushie Slime – Mess for Less

23. Model Magic Slime – Buggy and Buddy

24. Floam Slime – Childhood 101

25. Glittery Unicorn Slime – Happy Hooligans

See even more fun slime recipes for kids on the next page!

Pages: 1 2

20 Easy and Fun Shark Crafts for Kids

July 5, 2018 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Kids are just totally fascinated with sharks. (I can’t lie. Many of us adults are too.)

They’re incredible sea creatures and they’re near the top of the food chain, so they’re basically the bosses of the ocean. Unless an orca whale comes along, that is.

Every year, Shark Week is a big event for lots of kids and that’s why I wanted to share some fun and easy shark crafts for kids that will be a great way to spend the week learning about all things shark!

Take a look at the 20 different shark activities for kids listed below to find some science fun to share this summer!

And for more about sharks, don’t miss our cool shark food chain file folder game for kids to play!

20 Easy and Fun Shark Crafts for Kids

1. This Juice Box Shark Craft from Natural Beach Living is perfect for a shark-themed afternoon.

2. Here is a fun Shark Sensory Bottle from Sarah Halstead.

3. Have some Shark Science Fun with this buoyancy activity from Little Bins for Little Hands.

4. These fun DIY Shark Cups from Mom Endeavors are perfect for an afternoon snack attack.

5. Here is a really cool DIY Shark Slime from A Night Owl Blog.

6. This Toilet Paper Shark Craft from Glue Sticks & Gum Drops is a quick and easy idea.

7. Your kids will love playing with these DIY Felt Shark Finger Puppets from Repeat Crafter Me.

8. These Shark Fin Bookmarks from Simplistically Living are perfect for Summer reading!

9. This Shark Fin Soap is a fun kid-friendly DIY from Totally The Bomb.

10. Your shark tooth lovers will love this Paper Plate Shark Jaw Craft from Dollar Store Crafts.

11. This Pool Noodle Shark Craft from JDaniel4’s Mom will look awesome floating in your pool!

12. These DIY Shark Suckers from Natural Beach Living will make a fun addition to your sharky fun.

13. Get learning with this S is for Shark Craft from Artsy Craftsy Mom.

14. Next, whip up these fun Shark Masks from B-Inspired Mama.

15. Here’s an inexpensive Newspaper Shark Craft from I Heart Crafty Things.

16. You’ll have lots of fun with this Paper Plate Shark Puppet Craft from Kids Craft Room.

17. This Shark Cootie Catcher Craft from Easy Peasy and Fun comes with a free template to make your own origami!

18. These DIY Shark Mittens from A Night Owl Blog are so cute & creative.

19. Make a cool DIY LEGO Shark with the instructions from Frugal Fun 4 Boys!

20. Finally, your little ones will enjoy making and eating this Shark Sushi from Momma Lew.

Check out these other fun learning activities for summer!

See more fun summer educational ideas on my Summer Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

21 Easy Nature Crafts for Kids

June 28, 2018 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

With the weather warming up, it’s the perfect time of year to head outside with the kids! Now that we’re sharing more simple crafts with our little ones, we’ve found that natural materials make the perfect art medium.

There are so many ways to use nature to create art. After all, nature is already a kind of art in itself.

If you’d like to try some natural arts and crafts with your kids over the summer, take a look at these 21 nature crafts for kids!

There are so many cute ideas here for taking flowers, pinecones, rocks, and more and repurposing them for adorable craft projects and games. These are perfect for lazy summer afternoons or early fall evening play!

Thinking of getting outside for a hike? Try these tips for exploring a nature trail with kids!

21 Easy Nature Crafts for Kids

1. Leaf Painting – Look! We’re Learning!

2. How to Make a DIY Pool Noodle Hobby Horse – Molly Moo Crafts

3. Ladybugs Vs. Tadpoles Outdoor Tic Tac Toe Game – Atta Girl Says

4. Painted Rock Art – Typically Simple

5. Rock Garden Caterpillar – Nellie Bellie

6. Nature Craft: Making a Journey Stick – Growing Family

7. Outdoor Spray Painting – The Country Chic Cottage

8. Birdseed Ornaments – One Little Project At A Time

9. Kids Craft: Ice Chalk – We Know Stuff

10. Bug Village – Crafts by Amanda

11. Nature Paintbrushes – Messy Little Monster

12. Nature Craft: Making Leaf Prints – Growing Family

13. Pet Rock Necklace – Crafts by Amanda

14. DIY Bird Feeder Craft – Mommy’s Bundle

15. Happy Camper Garden Planter – ABCs and Garden Peas

16. Toddler Outdoor Canvas Painting Project – Arts and Crackers

17. Butterfly Handprint Garden Pot – Happily Ever Mom

18. Easy Paper May Basket – ABCs and Garden Peas

19. Soda Bottle Fairy Garden House – My Pinterventures

20. Pinecone Owls – Crafts by Amanda

21. Flower Suncatcher – Messy Little Monster

Want to try more nature crafts and activities? Don’t miss these posts!

See more ways to get outside on my Outdoor Play Ideas Pinterest board!

60 Awesome Fun in the Sun Ideas for Kids

June 25, 2018 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

Summer. It’s the most wonderful time of the year for playing outside.

We live in the South and it. gets. hot. But that’s never stopped our kids from wanting to be outside playing every game imaginable.

After a while, though, the same old games just don’t do it for them anymore. And that’s why I wanted to find some awesome fun in the sun ideas for outdoor play in summer.

Below, you’ll find 60, count’em, SIXTY different summer outdoor play ideas for kids. And they are awesome! They can make their own bubble wands, create slime that fizzes, build mud kitchens, and much more!

If you try one of these, come back and tell me how the kids liked it! And if you need more ways to make summer fun, check out our list of 40 simple summer crafts kids can make!

60 Awesome Outdoor Play Ideas for Summer

1. DIY Fizzy Slime – Look! We’re Learning!

2. How to Make a Kite – Red Ted Art

3. Driveway Shape Maze – Creative Family Fun

4. Backyard Olympics – Kid World Citizen

5. DIY Rockets for Kids – Frogmom

6. Wet Chalk Color Mixing – School Time Snippets

7. Catapult Splat Painting – There’s Just One Mommy

8. Squirt Gun Painting – Fireflies and Mudpies

9. DIY Mud Kitchen – Megan Zeni

10. Sidewalk Paint Rockets – Gluesticks

11. Recycled Chalk Paint – Rhythms of Play

12. Splash the Alphabet – Days with Grey

13. Ocean Sensory Bin – Frogs and Fairies

14. DIY Obstacle Course for Kids – Buggy and Buddy

15. Outdoor Rainbow Weaving – Where Imagination Grows

16. Summer Paint Sensory Play – Mama Smiles

17. How to Make DIY Bubble Wands and Homemade Bubbles – Natural Beach Living

18. Rainbow Windsock Craft – Kids Craft Room

19. Pool Noodle Boat Racing Game – See Vanessa Craft

20. Bouncy Ball Process Art Painting – School Time Snippets

See more fun in the sun ideas on page 2!

Pages: 1 2 3

40 Fun Learning Activities for Summer

June 21, 2018 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

I just love summer. It’s basically what makes life worth living. To me, anyway.

The sun is out, you can walk around in flip-flops all day, no one cares if you eat ice cream for breakfast – it’s a good time of year.

The kids and I tend to take a more relaxed approach to learning over the summer, but I still like to keep them learning as much as possible. So we found a bunch of learning activities for summer that are super fun and great for helping them explore science, math, STEM, literacy, and more!

There are 40 different summer learning ideas below, so you can try as many as you like during summer break! If you decide to do some of these, be sure to come back and tell us how you liked them!

Want to spend summer boosting your children’s literacy skills? Take a look at this list of 50 summer books you can share with them!

40 Learning Activities for Summer

1. Beach Number Playdough Mats – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Exploring Solar Heat – STEAM Powered Family

3. Summer Reading Challenge Log – KC Edventures

4. Exploring Ramps and Friction on a Slide – Buggy and Buddy

5. Human Sundial Shadow Science Experiment – Rhythms of Play

6. Paint Gun Parts of Speech Game – 123 Homeschool 4 Me

7. Ice-Pop Match Game – Dabbling Momma

8. Ocean Letter Tracing Sheets – Red Ted Art

9. Graphing Ocean Animals With LEGO – J Daniel 4’s Mom

10. Build a Nerf War Battlefield – STEAM Powered Family

11. Summer Number Names Match Printable – Wise Owl Factory

12. Tide Pool Science Experiment for Kids – Buggy and Buddy

13. Watermelon Seed Matching Game – The Mama Workshop

14. Build a Solar Oven – Mosswood Connections

15. DIY Heat Wave Crayons – Mama Smiles

16. Ice Cream Shape Sorting Activity – Look! We’re Learning!

17. How to Compost Kitchen Scraps – Kid World Citizen

18. Learn About Forces at the Water Park – From Engineer to SAHM

19. Pedal to the Numbers – Dabbling Momma

20. How to Make Ice Cream in a Bag With Recording Sheet – Buggy and Buddy

See more fun learning activities for summer on page 2!

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25 Summer Bucket List Activities for Kids

June 4, 2018 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Can you believe summer is almost here? Before you know it, your kids will be out of school and looking for ways to pass their summer days.

We don’t usually take an actual “summer break” in our homeschool, but we do slow down drastically during the summer months. We’re still working on some of our concepts, but we try to include plenty of hands-on fun and unstructured play. Which is why I wanted to come up with a summer bucket list for kids that would be perfect for those lazy summer afternoons.

To make sure your kids (and mine) never get bored, try some of these summer bucket list activities! From crafts to outdoor play, activities, and even indoor activities, there are 25 different crafts and projects to make below.

Looking to add more reading to your child’s summer? Don’t miss our list of 50 summer books for kids to read!

25 Summer Bucket List Activities for Kids

1. Make Solar System Edible Playdough

2. Make a Cupcake Liner Crab Craft

3. Make DIY Sidewalk Foam Paint

4. Build a Mini Mason Jar Aquariums

5. Make A Sand Handprint Keepsake

6. Go On a Color Scavenger Hunt

7. Make Ice Cream in a Bag

8. Craft Bubble Snakes

9. Put Together a Squirt Gun Race Obstacle Course

10. Try Outdoor Cardboard Painting

11. Mix Up Fluffy Slime

12. Try Frozen Dinosaur Eggs Sensory Play

13. Make A Cupcake Liner Octopus Ocean Craft

14. Craft Suncatcher Mosaics

15. Paint With Ice

16. Play Car Wash

17. Make a Pop Bottle Firefly

18. Make Edible Candy Slime

19. Try a Rainbow Walking Water Science Experiment

20. Make Pineapple Thumbprint Art

21. Craft A Round Suncatcher

22. Make DIY Flubber

23. Dye Seashells

24. Create a Suncatcher Jellyfish

25. Build A Stick Raft

Want to add even more to your summer bucket list for kids? Take a look at these other fun activities for summer break!

Plus, follow our Summer Activities for Kids board on Pinterest for more fun ways to learn during the warmer months!

DIY Solar System Edible Playdough

May 21, 2018 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Have you ever tried making your own playdough? We’ve done it several times and it’s always a big hit with our kids.

But, if you really want to take it to the next level, edible playdough is where it’s at. Remember always thinking that playdough looked good and then being disappointed when you tried to taste it (whenever your mom wasn’t looking, that is)? Edible playdough actually does taste amazing.

So for a fun astronomy sensory play activity, I thought my kids would love some DIY Solar System Edible Playdough! This is so simple and fun to make! And it’s a sweet treat for the kids to enjoy too. (Just don’t let them eat too much or they’ll be bouncing off the ceiling.) Read on to get the recipe for yourself!

Want more fun sensory play? Don’t miss our simple DIY flubber kids can make!

Solar System Edible Playdough

Basically, you’re going to make colored sugar frosting. Which is why the kids shouldn’t eat too much, you know?

You can use any color of frosting you like, but the Funfetti brand has some awesome brightly colored versions that will give you a lovely color for each planet.

To make Earth and moon playdough, we went with blue frosting (for Earth) and yellow frosting (for the moon).

Mix the two together to get the right consistency. You want it squishy, but still kind of firm.

Turn your mixture onto a wooden surface.

Let the kids mix it up with their little fingers!

This is great gross motor skill practice, by the way.

All you need now are two empty jars with lids (baby food jars are perfect), colored ribbon, and some cute solar system stickers!

Fill each jar with one color of the playdough.

And add the lids!

These particular stickers came from a brick-and-mortar store, but if you want to get something solar system-themed online, try these solar system planet stickers. I actually think those are even better, because you can choose from specific planets with the planet names.

And with the different frosting colors, you could make a batch for every planet in the solar system!

These would make awesome party favors, but your kids will also love making up their own solar system edible playdough to play with (and taste!).

Click over to page 2 for the full recipe!

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10 Moon Sand Recipe Ideas + Ways to Play!

April 30, 2018 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Have you ever tried moon sand with your little ones? My four love playing with it! It’s soft, squishy, and moldable, which makes it a wonderful sensory play activity for kids. But once you’ve made one moon sand recipe, you’ve made them all, right?

Nope!

There are plenty of awesome moon sand recipe ideas that you can make at home! Take a look at these fun ways to make moon sand and be sure to check out the different ways to play with your moon sand too!

For more sensory fun, don’t miss this super easy DIY flubber!

10 Moon Sand Recipe Ideas to Make at Home

These moon sand recipes are really easy to make. Most of them only require a couple of common ingredients!

1. DIY Colored Moon Sand – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Moldable Moon Sand – Laughing Kids Learn

3. Taste Safe Moon Sand – Parenting Chaos

4. 2 Ingredient Moon Sand – Happy Hooligans

5. Glitter Moon Sand – The Imagination Tree

6. Snow Themed Moon Sand – Powerful Mothering

7. Chocolate Moon Sand – Parenting Chaos

8. DIY Play Beach Sand – Look! We’re Learning!

9. Fizzy Moon Sand – Powerful Mothering

10. Pumpkin-Scented Moon Sand – Parenting Chaos

Check out 10 ways to play with moon sand – up next!

10 Ways to Play with Moon Sand:

Once you’ve chosen one of the moon sand recipe ideas above, try one of these super cool ways to play with it!

1. Moon Sand Construction Bin Play – Happiness is Homemade

2. Moon Sand Absorption Experiment – Lemon Lime Adventures

3. Moon Sand Space Sensory Play – Little Bins for Little Hands

4. Moon Sand Syllable Smash Game – Still Playing School

5. Moon Excavation Sensory Bin – Parenting Chaos

6. Moon Sand Castle Play – Delightful Learning

7. Dinosaur Moon Sand Sensory Bin – Little Bins for Little Hands

8. Moon Sand Desert Small World – Crayon Box Chronicles

9. Moon Sand Space Writing Tray – Gift of Curiosity

10. Moon Sand Beach Small World – Fun-A-Day

Need more simple play ideas to share with your kids? Check out these fun activities!

See more ways to play inside on my Indoor Play Pinterest board!

20 Simple Rainy Day Activities for Kids

March 6, 2018 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

There’s nothing our kids love more than being able to run around and play outside. My kids just love spending the afternoon out in the yard, exploring nature, playing basketball, or even drawing on the sidewalk. However, there’s always one thing that can ruin a day of outdoor play, and that’s rain. It never fails that with the first raindrop we start hearing the complaints of “I’m bored.”

But, there are plenty of fun and entertaining ways to spend a day indoors for kids, and you can even do these activities with them! Here are 20 fun rainy day activities to do with your kids that are both simple and educational!

Need even more ways to have fun indoors? Check out this list of 50 ways to beat cabin fever with your kids!

20 Simple Rainy Day Activities for Kids

1. Raincloud Adding to Make Ten Activity – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Make a Ball Maze – Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls

3. Draw with Your Feet – Art Bar

4. LEGO Sensory Soup – And Next Comes L

5. Coin Sorting Activity – Rhythms of Play

6. Paper Plate Targets – All for the Boys

7. Escape the Volcano Shape Game – Toddler Approved

8. Indoor Scavenger Hunt – The Mother Chic

9. DIY Angry Birds Game – Make Great

10. Indoor Classic Golf – For Your Family

11. Coffee Filter Flower Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

12. Make an Activity Cube – My Mini Adventurer

13. Indoor Hopscotch – Happy Hooligans

14. Sticky Spider Web Game – Hands On as We Grow

15. Puzzle Hunt – No Time for Flashcards

16. Make a Rain Cloud In a Jar – Homeschool Preschool

17. Write Bio Poetry – Proud to be Primary

18. Rainwater Harvesting Experiment – Teach Beside Me

19. Rainbow Rainy Day Art Project – Rhythms of Play

20. Taste-Safe Window Gel Clings – Science Kiddo

Share these other fun learning activities with your little ones!

Get more fun indoor activity ideas on my Indoor Play Pinterest board!

Want to get fun activity ideas in your inbox? Sign up for our email newsletter to get parenting tips and exclusive printables!

Easy Fizzy Scented Slime for Kids

February 23, 2018 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

Slime recipes are all over the place these days. You can find them in all different kinds, colors, and textures. But to add a little bit of science to our sensory fun, we decided to make some fizzy scented slime and our kids had a blast playing with it!

It’s hard to grasp what exactly makes slime so popular with kids, but I know my little ones enjoy playing with it. I suspect that it’s because it’s goopy and stretchy, so they get the feeling of making a mess without actually making a mess. Win!

If your kids enjoy sensory play as much as mine do, be sure to check out this DIY Flubber recipe! It’s awesome for squishy sensory fun!

Easy Fizzy Scented Slime for Kids

To make this fizzy scented slime recipe, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are provided in this post. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

At first, I didn’t plan on using the gelatin, but I found it during a pantry sweep and I thought, “Why not?” It turned out to be a great idea.

We started with 2 cups of flour.

We added about 1/4 cup of cornstarch and about 1/4 cup of baking soda.

Then we poured in the strawberry gelatin powder, which made the mixture smell wonderful, by the way.

We added in water until we reached the right consistency. It ended up being about 1 cup of water.

Now – to make it fizzy!

I scooped out some dough for each child. Then I poured 1/4 cup of vinegar into a measuring cup and used a tablespoon to pour some into each batch.

Voila! Fizzy scented slime!

The kids were a little unsure about touching it at first. I mean, the slime was fizzing, so I totally understand their apprehension.

But after a few minutes, they really got into it! Tigger, our sensory seeker, especially loved it! Then we spent a few minutes talking about the scientific reaction we were witnessing as the vinegar and baking soda interacted. That’s what makes the fizz!

This slime recipe isn’t made with glue, so you will need to actually use soap and water to clean it up. I suggest letting the kids play with it on a hard surface that you can easily wipe afterward. Just a heads-up.

Want to try more fun activities with your kids? Try some of these!

You can get exclusive learning printables and activities in your inbox when you sign up for our email newsletter!

And you can get more fun and easy activities for kids on my Indoor Play Pinterest board!

100 Fun Rainbow Activities for Kids

February 15, 2018 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

Is there anything on earth better than a rainbow? They’re scientific marvels, they’re a sign of spring, and they’re just gorgeous to look at! They are all that is right with the world.

I love making rainbow crafts and projects with the kids. They brighten up any gloomy day. And springtime is a wonderful time of year to learn about rainbows, no matter how old your kids might be.

So I thought I’d share a mega list of 100 rainbow activities for kids! There are so many beautiful crafts and activities here, including easy rainbow crafts, yummy rainbow snacks, and even printable rainbow learning activities!

Take a look to find some awesome rainbow fun for your little ones!

And if you’d like to learn more about how rainbows form with the kids, don’t miss this easy rainbow unit study!

100 Rainbow Activities for Kids:

1. Coffee Filter Rainbow Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Crystal Rainbow Science Experiment – Little Bins for Little Hands

3. Rainbows and Unicorns Playdough Activity – The Art Kit Blog

4. Rainbow Cake – Six Dollar Family

5. Rainbow Lacing Busy Bag – Coffee Cups and Crayons

6. Rainbow Letter Sensory Bin – Growing Book by Book

7. Washi Tape Rainbow Wreaths – 3 Dinosaurs

8. ABC Rainbow Puzzle Busy Bag – School Time Snippets

9. Rainbow Tie Dye Friendship Bracelet – Fancy Shanty

10. Rainbow Waffles – The Frugal Navy Wife

11. DIY Painted Rainbow – Mama Papa Bubba

12. Rainbow Color Wheel Collage – The Educators’ Spin On It

13. Rainbow Cooperation Game – Mosswood Connections

14. Planting a Rainbow STEM Activity – Preschool STEAM

15. Paper Plate Rainbow Weaving Art – Temecula Blogs

16. My Color Is a Rainbow Story Basket – Little Worlds Big Adventures

17. Rainbow Handprint Art – Crystal and Co.

18. Rainbow Perler Bead Keychain – Teach Me Mommy

19. DIY Rainbow Friendship Shirt – House of Faucis

20. Racing Rainbow Painting Activity – Fantastic Fun and Learning

21. Paper Plate Rainbow Suncatcher – Messy Little Monster

22. Stained Glass Rainbow Collage – Where Imagination Grows

23. Rainbow Q-Tip Art – Fun with Mama

24. Paper Shapes Rainbow Craft – The Moments at Home

25. DIY Rainbow Corner Bookmark – Red Ted Art

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50 Fun Cabin Fever Activities for Kids

January 30, 2018 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Does bad weather have you and your kids climbing the walls? We’ve been dealing with unusually cold weather down here in the South and staying inside with all four children has been…a challenge. So I started looking around for some awesome cabin fever activities for kids we could try.

We’ve already shared some of these with the kids and they are loving them all! We’re going to see how many we can actually use this year. And if the weather keeps being cruddy, we’ll probably end up needing them all!

I hope these help you and your little ones make it through until spring! But these would also be good for sick days or days when you’re stuck at home with no transportation. (We’ve been there too.)

Want to share more fun activities with the kids? Don’t miss this list of super easy preschool crafts you can make in just ten minutes!