Frugal Fun For Boys and Girls

Bean Money! First and Second Grade Math Activity

Sarah — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 22:12:00 +0000

Bean Money Number Sense Math Activity Here’s a fun math activity that you can set up in a flash! This is like counting money, but with a creative twist… use dried beans as “coins”, and make the denominations things that are different from the normal coin values. Instead of counting by 5’s and 10’s, you […]

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20% off LEGO Sets on Amazon

Sarah — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 23:46:26 +0000

Deal alert! Here’s a round-up of LEGO sets that are 20% off (or more) on Amazon! We love LEGO sets, but we definitely don’t love paying full price. Thankfully you don’t have to with these amazing sale prices! As always, I have compared Amazon’s sale prices with the LEGO list price to make sure that […]

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Square Bubbles Science Activity

Sarah — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 03:30:53 +0000

Make SQUARE BUBBLES with this awesome science activity! This bubble science experiment is fun for elementary aged kids up through middle school. Honestly, I had a blast with this as an adult! We’re going to do something different and start with the SCIENCE EXPLANATION on this one. How Soap Bubbles Form: A soap bubble is […]

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LEGO Mini Castle and Dragon Building Ideas

Sarah — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 19:10:00 +0000

Build your own LEGO castle on a mini scale! Then construct a dragon to go with it. We’ll show you how to build both! It’s definitely fun to build big impressive LEGO castles, but it’s also fun to design a mini LEGO castle. There are so many options and a mini castle is a great […]

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Make a Rainstick – Musical Instrument Craft

Sarah — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 02:21:00 +0000

Make your own rainstick craft! This mailing tube rainstick is easy to make, and the sound is so satisfying. A rainstick makes a great musical instrument! Or make one as part of a rainforest unit. Traditional rainsticks originated in Chile and Argentina, although similar instruments also originated in parts of Africa. Rainsticks in Chile were […]

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LEGO Wall Building Ideas and Printable Building Cards

Sarah — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 02:10:00 +0000

LEGO Mural Building Ideas – Fun ideas for your LEGO Wall! We’ve done several LEGO® mosaic ideas, and now we’re building mosaics on a larger scale. These 5 brick mural ideas are PERFECT for a LEGO® wall, although I’m going to show you how to use them even if you DON’T have a LEGO® wall. […]

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100+ Awesome Dad Jokes to Make You Laugh (And Groan!)

Sarah — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 01:03:00 +0000

Here’s a collection of the best (worst?) funny Dad Jokes that will make you smile, groan, and laugh out loud! Wondering what a dad joke is? Dad jokes are those corny jokes, usually based on puns, that dads love to tell. You know, the ones that make you groan and say, “Oh, Dad!” but secretly […]

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Multiplication Games with Dice

Sarah — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 13:21:00 +0000

When you’re introducing the concept of multiplication to kids, it helps so much to get their attention with an engaging hands-on game! Explore the concept of multiplication by grouping objects. The recording sheet is available to print at the bottom of the post. We love playing all kinds of multiplication games – you’ll also want […]

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LEGO Deals and Easter Basket Ideas on Amazon!

Sarah — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 03:30:48 +0000

Don’t miss these awesome LEGO deals on Amazon! These sets are perfect for tucking in an Easter basket, and we’ll also show you our top recommendations for Easter basket gifts for kids. Lots of fun stuff! This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to […]

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LEGO Botany Project Ideas

Sarah — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 03:21:56 +0000

Use your LEGO bricks to do some science! We’ve been building all kinds of LEGO life science projects this year, and here’s a new one. Use your LEGO bricks to build super cool botany projects. LEGO is great for building models. When students build a model of what they’re studying, it helps them understand the […]

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Build a LEGO Resurrection Garden

Sarah — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 20:03:00 +0000

Here’s a fun Easter activity for kids – build a LEGO® Resurrection Garden! I love the beautiful Resurrection Garden ideas online that use real rocks and grass to create a table centerpiece with a scene of the cross and the empty tomb. This isn’t quite the same, but I was honestly surprised at how pretty […]

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Toilet Paper Roll Chick Craft

Sarah — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 15:05:27 +0000

Well, a few weeks ago we made some toilet paper roll chickens, and with Easter coming up, we had to get the toilet paper rolls out again and make some chicks to go with them! I love how these turned out. Super cute. This chick craft is perfect for Easter or anytime you’re doing a […]

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Ideas for a LEGO Easter Egg Hunt

Sarah — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 22:02:00 +0000

Here are 7 ideas for creating your own LEGO Easter Egg Hunt! LEGO® makes any egg hunt more fun! Some of these ideas involve new LEGO® sets or figures, and others involve making use of bricks and pieces you already have. Either way, these are great ideas for eliminating (or reducing) the amount of candy at […]

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Planting Flowers Sensory Bin

Sarah — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 16:03:00 +0000

Plant flowers over and over again! This simple spring sensory bin has been a HUGE hit! We have gotten way more mileage out of this tub than I ever thought we would. We’ve even had it out twice when friends came over. Yes, it’s a little bit of work to clean up the beans […]

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20+ Simple and Fun LEGO Building Ideas

Sarah — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 20:34:00 +0000

Here are 20+ ideas for kids to make with the LEGO bricks you have on hand! If you’ve followed this website for very long, you know that we love coming up with new building ideas with LEGO® bricks! Here’s a collection of ideas for creating vehicles, musical instruments, animals, and more. These building ideas are […]

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Toilet Paper Roll Chicken Craft

Sarah — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 21:45:08 +0000

Here’s an ADORABLE chicken craft that kids can make out of a toilet paper roll! This chicken craft is perfect for a farm unit, an art class, or a rainy day at home. Our family keeps chickens for the eggs, so we had a great time making this craft! We made our chickens to match […]

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March 2026 LEGO New Releases

Sarah — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 20:10:59 +0000

March 1st brought some awesome new LEGO releases!! I’m excited about new sets in the IDEAS theme, Star Wars (with the new Smart Play interactive bricks!) and more. This post does not contain every one of the March releases (because we really aren’t into BrickHeads haha) but these are our top picks! This post contains […]

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How to Build a LEGO Collection and Encourage Creativity

Sarah — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:43:00 +0000

Do you want your kids to be more creative with LEGO® bricks? Do you want them to go beyond just building a set and letting it sit there? Here are our top tips for building a LEGO collection with plenty of loose bricks, and for encouraging creativity! It’s no secret that LEGO® is a regular […]

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Plant a Garden for Imaginative Play

Sarah — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:23:00 +0000

Plant a garden in a tub for the perfect place to play pretend! This is a fabulous activity for spring, or any time of the year. Real plants and dirt make the perfect scenery for all sorts of pretend play adventures! Gresham (6 years old) loves to play with realistic toy animals. We have a […]

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How to Play Target Number {A Math Dice Game!}

Sarah — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 04:38:54 +0000

Learn how to play Target Number! This is a fabulous math game that works for third grade all the way up through 6th. Wait… how does a math game work for ALL those levels? You can choose the complexity of the game by choosing how many dice to use. This game is perfect for developing […]

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LEGO Deals on Amazon – February 20, 2026

Sarah — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 19:39:46 +0000

Well, prices might be high on SO many things right now, but there are some great deals on LEGO sets on Amazon! As I always say, we love LEGO sets, but we don’t love paying full price. It’s so awesome when you can catch a good sale. Be aware with Amazon’s “sale” prices though – […]

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Blow Out a Candle with SOUND {Science Experiment}

Sarah — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 22:08:05 +0000

Did you know that you can blow out a candle with SOUND WAVES? This is the coolest science experiment, and it goes great with a unit on sound. I’m going to show you how to perform this easy science experiment, and I’ll also explain the science behind it and how you can prove to students […]

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Winter Games Activity Pack

Sarah — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 15:39:14 +0000

Follow along with the 2026 winter games in Milan and Cortina, Italy with this FREE printable activity pack! Keep track of the medal counts for different countries, research your favorite athlete, do a crossword puzzle, learn Olympic trivia, and more! I don’t know about you, but we LOVE watching the Olympic Games. My two middle […]

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Spinning Tops LEGO Building Idea

Sarah — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 15:10:00 +0000

Here’s a fun LEGO® challenge – use your bricks to build spinning tops! This is one of our favorite LEGO building challenges because there are so many ways to build a spinning top, and they spin REALLY WELL. You don’t have to have a lot of special pieces – I can almost guarantee that everyone […]

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LEGO Botanicals! Give LEGO Flowers

Sarah — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 18:30:59 +0000

Valentine’s Day is coming up in only a week, and what better way to celebrate than to give some LEGO flowers? They don’t need watering, they won’t wilt, and the person you love can enjoy them forever. These sets are also great to display all spring! Colorful flowers really brighten up a desk, a shelf, […]

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Tissue Paper Heart Candle Jar

Sarah — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 21:12:26 +0000

Make an adorable tissue paper heart candle jar! This is a sweet Valentine’s Day Craft that kids of any age can make. Cut out the hearts ahead of time, and even preschoolers can make this one. Older kids and teens will enjoy making this craft on their own. My 11 year old daughter and I […]

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Paper Plate Marble Maze

Sarah — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 03:23:48 +0000

Here are three creative ways to make a paper plate marble maze! This is a fantastic STEM challenge for kids, and the materials are so simple. Use this paper plate marble maze activity for a rainy day at home, or set it up for your STEM class, club, or library program. The process of constructing […]

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How to Make Easy Straw Rockets

Sarah — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 01:44:00 +0000

Make straw rockets that really shoot up into the air! Blow into the straw, and watch your rocket go zooming. This is a great boredom buster for a rainy day, and also a fun way to learn about scientific forces. This kids craft is so simple, and if you don’t have all the supplies on […]

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Awesome LEGO Deals on Amazon {January 22, 2026}

Sarah — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 18:41:11 +0000

Save on super cool LEGO sets on Amazon! Here are the best deals that I compiled on January 22, 2026. This is a great time to grab a fun set to do on a snow day, or as a Valentine’s Day treat for someone you love. As always, I have compared prices with Lego.com to […]

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Build a LEGO Human Heart Model

Sarah — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 20:30:20 +0000

We’re back with more LEGO life science! Challenge kids to use their LEGO bricks to build a model of the human heart. I really love using LEGO bricks to create models. One huge benefit is that you don’t have to purchase any materials. Just use the bricks you have! This saves on the monetary cost […]

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LEGO Snowflakes Building Challenge

Sarah — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 02:49:00 +0000

Build your own LEGO snowflakes! This is such a fun winter LEGO building challenge for kids. How many different snowflakes can you create with LEGO® bricks? (It’s more than you’d think!) This post was originally published in January 2019 and updated in January 2026. Before getting started, gather your white bricks. Look for white plates […]

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Properties of Matter Science Experiments

Sarah — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 22:56:36 +0000

Do you need science experiments for kids? With instructions, simple supplies, and a list of what you need? Would you like a science experiment to do with a group of kids that requires very little prep work on your part, and that teaches a clear science concept? Would you like to feel confident teaching even […]

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Snowman Drawing Game

Sarah — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 22:32:21 +0000

Here’s a fun winter activity for kids! Grab some paper and something to draw with and play this super fun snowman drawing game. It’s always great when you find a boredom buster that’s a lot of fun and also doesn’t require a trip to the craft store. If you’ve ever played the Cootie game, this […]

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Paper Plate Snowflake Craft

Sarah — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 17:08:51 +0000

Grab some scissors and make this paper plate snowflake craft! We love making all sorts of snowflake crafts. Designing snowflakes is a creative activity and perfect for decorating in the winter. We’ve made awesome paper snowflakes, and we’ve even made snowflakes with LEGO bricks. These paper plate snowflakes provide a nice variation on the classic […]

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January 2026 LEGO New Releases

Sarah — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 02:41:05 +0000

LEGO fans, here are the January 1, 2026 LEGO new releases! The January release is always a big one, and there are tons of fun sets in Creator, City, Speed Champions, Harry Potter, Marvel, Star Wars, Disney, Friends, and more. Here are my top picks from the January 1st releases! There’s really something for everyone […]

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New Year’s Eve Activities for Kids

Sarah — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 20:02:00 +0000

Here are some fun ideas for celebrating New Year’s Eve with the whole family! New Year’s Eve activities for kids do not need to be complex. Keep the night simple! Celebrate with a few easy-to-fix foods and fun games or activities. First, let’s start with remembering the past year. Take a look back on the […]

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LEGO Storage and Organization for More Efficient Building

Sarah — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 21:43:00 +0000

This post was originally written in December 2016 and updated December 2025. One question that I get asked regularly since writing my LEGO book is how do we organize our LEGO® bricks? How do we avoid spending hours (on our hands and knees) hunting for one specific brick? Well, Christmas is over and kids everywhere […]

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Hilarious Christmas Jokes for Kids

Sarah — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 19:25:00 +0000

Here are some hilarious Christmas jokes that will make your kids laugh like Santa and his belly like a bowl full of jelly! Okay, maybe some of them are a little cheesy, but I will say – we did a LOT of searching to find these jokes and narrowed it down to the ones that […]

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Christmas LEGO Mosaics

Sarah — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 16:15:05 +0000

These Christmas LEGO Mosaics are an open-ended building challenge that kids (and adults!) will enjoy. I have four mosaics to show you, but really there are so many possibilities for designs. Hopefully these ideas will inspire LEGO fans to create many more! Supplies Needed: I built these Christmas LEGO mosaics on 32 x 32 baseplates, […]

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Christmas Lights Printable Scavenger Hunt

Sarah — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 16:10:00 +0000

Print this Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt – the kids can check things off while you drive around looking at lights! This is a simple, no-prep activity that the whole family will enjoy. Looking at Christmas lights is one of my favorite parts of the holiday season, and my kids love it too. Last year, some […]

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Paper Plate Christmas Tree Craft

Sarah — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 17:06:58 +0000

Make some paper plate Christmas trees! This craft is so fun for kids, and the supplies are SO simple. Who knew that you can make such elegant Christmas trees out of paper plates and toilet paper rolls! Ha! Then decorate them with whatever craft supplies you have on hand. I really love the fact that […]

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Jingle Bell Nerf Games

Sarah — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 15:12:00 +0000

These Jingle Bell Nerf games are so fun for a party, a family gathering, or just a snow day at home! I don’t know about you, but the weeks leading up to Christmas have always been pretty wild in our home with five kids (four of them boys). These Nerf games are so easy to […]

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Amazon Black Friday Deals for Moms

Sarah — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 21:31:50 +0000

Black Friday deals are perfect for getting your Christmas shopping done, but it’s also a great time to buy some things that YOU need, or just things you want! Here’s my top list of Black Friday deals for busy moms. Save on laptops, bluetooth speakers, journals, kitchen appliances, and more! This post contains Amazon affiliate […]

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Top LEGO Deals on Amazon’s Black Friday Sale 2025

Sarah — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 14:01:00 +0000

Amazon’s 2025 Black Friday Sale is here!! There are tons of LEGO sets on sale, so chances are, if it’s on your shopping list you can probably find a great deal. So many good options to put under the tree!! Not all of these sets are specifically part of the Black Friday sale, but some […]

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Amazon Black Friday Deals on Toys

Sarah — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 17:04:49 +0000

Save on Melissa and Doug, Green Toys, MagnaTiles, LEGO, Playmobil Nerf, Nintendo, and more! Amazon has rolled out their Black Friday sale early, and there are some fabulous deals on gifts to put under the tree. If you’re relying on bargains this year to stay in your budget, now is the time! I’ve organized the […]

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Christmas Ornaments for Kids to Make

Sarah — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 16:00:00 +0000

Here’s a collection of the best Christmas ornaments for kids to make! Kids will enjoy creating these ornaments, and then displaying them on the tree for years to come. Christmas crafts are just the best. We are not one of those families that has a matchy Christmas tree. Ours does not have a theme with […]

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Pipe Cleaner Christmas Ornaments

Sarah — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 20:37:48 +0000

Make some adorable Christmas ornaments out of pipe cleaners! We love pipe cleaners because they are cheap and colorful and kids love crafting with them. We also love handmade Christmas ornaments, so be sure to check out our collection of Christmas Ornaments for Kids to Make. This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Supplies Needed for […]

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LEGO Turkey Mosaic

Sarah — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 22:17:08 +0000

Here’s a quick LEGO turkey building idea for Thanksgiving! Create your own LEGO turkey mosaic with a base plate and some basic bricks. Mosaics are fun to build and display. It’s like drawing or painting, but with LEGO bricks! If you’re looking for a LEGO turkey to build (as in a 3D animal and not […]

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Amazing LEGO Deals on Amazon {November 15, 2025}

Sarah — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 14:43:22 +0000

Browse the BEST LEGO deals on Amazon – November 15, 2025 The Christmas shopping season is here, and there are tons of amazing LEGO deals on Amazon right now! Save on City, Creator 3-in-1, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Disney, and more. It’s so nice when you can find a great price, get your shopping done, […]

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Adorable Twig Christmas Tree Ornaments

Sarah — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 02:28:21 +0000

Make some adorable twig Christmas tree ornaments! You probably have everything on hand that you need for this project, except maybe the jingle bells. But even if you don’t, the supplies are so simple to get! Earlier this fall, we had two large dead trees removed from our backyard. It was very sad because they […]

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Easy No-Sew Felt Play Food Pies

Sarah — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 02:40:00 +0000

Make your own felt play food pies! The best part is that you can actually pretend to “cook” and assemble the pie since the crust and filling are separate pieces. We made pumpkin, apple, and blueberry pies, and they are soooo simple to make. Janie and I have been having a blast lately creating felt […]

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Adorable Paper Roll Turkey Craft

Sarah — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 01:38:00 +0000

Here’s a fun Thanksgiving turkey craft for kids, and you probably already have the materials you need! Turn paper towel rolls or toilet paper rolls into adorable turkeys that will make great decorations this Thanksgiving. This post was originally published in November 2016 and updated in November 2025. Homeschooling has kind of felt like a […]

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How to Build a Lego Candy Dispenser

Sarah — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 01:28:00 +0000

Build a working candy machine out of LEGO® bricks! Here are some building instructions to make a LEGO candy dispenser with the bricks you already have. Got M&M’s? Or Skittles? Even if you don’t do trick-or-treating, it seems like there is always plenty of candy floating around during this time of the year… Add a […]

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Printable Family Gratitude Devotions

Sarah — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:33:00 +0000

These printable Family Gratitude Devotions will make it easy to help your family focus on thankfulness during the month of November. Get your family reading the Bible and having meaningful discussions together as well. November is one of my favorite months of the year. In Texas, November is the month where the leaves on the […]

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Silly Monster Craft for Kids

Sarah — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 18:04:00 +0000

Raid the recycling bin and make this silly monster craft for kids! Challenge your kids to design some silly monsters with crazy faces, spiky hair, tentacles, and more. I love the fact that this is a fun Halloween craft that is not gory or spooky. This post was originally published in October 2019 and updated […]

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Build LEGO City Buildings to Scale

Sarah — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 02:02:27 +0000

Here’s a fun LEGO building challenge that is also a MATH ACTIVITY! Build famous buildings to scale with LEGO bricks. This is a fabulous activity for using proportions in real life. You can do this LEGO challenge at home, but I also think it’s a wonderful activity for a math class. Assign each student to […]

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Fall Leaf Bookmarks {Kid Craft!}

Sarah — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 15:56:06 +0000

Make beautiful fall leaf bookmarks with Sharpie markers and watercolor paints! This fall craft for kids is super simple and the results are stunning. I would recommend this craft for age 7 and up. As long as kids can doodle leaves, they can do this craft! And it’s fun for teens and adults as well. […]

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LEGO Sets Under $20 on Amazon

Sarah — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 15:02:00 +0000

Now is a great time to start your holiday shopping because Amazon has tons of LEGO sets on sale for $20 or less! We love LEGO sets, but we also love getting a fantastic deal. And in today’s economy, finding a sale is really helpful for being able to afford the things you need. I […]

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Build a LEGO Skeleton Model

Sarah — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 16:31:46 +0000

Here’s a fun life science activity with LEGO bricks! Challenge kids to use their bricks to build a human skeleton model. Doing something hands-on with the information kids are learning, such as building a model, helps kids put this information into their long-term memory. If you’re studying the skeletal system, this is the perfect activity. […]

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Amazon Big Deal Days October 2025 – Deals on Toys and Games

Sarah — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 16:53:53 +0000

It’s Big Deal Days on Amazon! October 7 – 8, 2025. This is a great time to save tons of money while getting started on your holiday shopping. I posted all the Big Deal Days LEGO Deals in a separate post, but now I’m back with all the best deals on toys, card games, and […]

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The BEST LEGO Deals – Amazon Big Deal Days October 7 – 8, 2025

Sarah — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 12:37:10 +0000

It’s Amazon Big Deal Days! Amazon is offering huge deals on October 7 – 8, 2025. Here are the best deals on LEGO sets. I’ve combed through the absolute best deals on LEGO sets. Some of the LEGO deals I’m sharing are not official Big Deal Days items, but I’m sharing them because they are […]

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Build LEGO Military Vehicles

Sarah — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 19:59:04 +0000

Here are some fun LEGO military vehicles to build! Create your own Hummer, jeep, and fighter plane. My boys enjoy designing little military vehicles that are smaller than minifigure scale. They’re fun to build and are perfect to display! These vehicles won’t hold a passenger, but kids also modify the designs if they want to […]

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Candy Corn Math Activities

Sarah — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 19:34:45 +0000

Here’s a collection of super fun candy corn math activities for grades 1 – 3 (ages 6 – 8). Nothing says fall like CANDY CORN! It’s iconic, it’s everywhere, and it tastes gross, haha. We were not very tempted to actually eat the candy corn while working on these activities, but if you have kids […]

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LEGO Advent Calendars 2025

Sarah — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 15:42:06 +0000

The new 2025 LEGO Advent Calendars are here, and they are already on sale on Amazon! It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I do think this is one of LEGO’s better years with Advent Calendars. The LEGO City Advent Calendar is on sale for $25.00, marked down from $34.99. I really like the minifigures […]

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How to Build LEGO Farm Animals

Sarah — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 20:50:57 +0000

Build your own LEGO Farm Animals! We’ve got building instructions for horses, chickens, sheep, and more. Kids will have so much fun with this, and there are so many creative things they can add. Encourage them to design a barn, a silo, a vegetable garden, or a pond. So much fun! We actually have four […]

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Do Heavy Objects Fall Faster? {Science Experiment}

Sarah — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 03:46:50 +0000

Do heavy objects fall faster than light objects? Here’s a fun science experiment that kids can conduct to find out! This is such a fun experiment because kids will be surprised and impressed with the results. I would recommend this science experiment for 1st grade through middle school. Young kids are more likely to be […]

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LEGO Model of a Cell {Life Science Activity}

Sarah — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 13:10:14 +0000

Build a LEGO Model of a Cell! Why make a model of a cell out of candy, play dough, or other messy materials when you can use LEGO bricks?! This is such a fun life science activity for upper elementary and middle school students. It’s also the perfect project for when your child tells you […]

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How to Make Amazing Homemade Applesauce

Sarah — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 22:02:00 +0000

Today we’re going to show you how to make the most delicious homemade applesauce you’ve ever tasted! And the best part is that this is VERY EASY. This applesauce recipe is a family tradition. My mom makes it every year for Thanksgiving dinner, and we often make it at other times during the fall to […]

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LEGO Deals on Amazon and September 2025 New Releases

Sarah — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 16:59:26 +0000

Here are all the best LEGO deals on Amazon for September 1, 2025. We’ll also talk about the September new releases! It’s Labor Day, and holidays always seem to be a great time to find sales. We LOVE LEGO sets, but we also love a good deal. Why pay full price if you don’t have […]

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LEGO Gear Robot {Mechanical Project!}

Sarah — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 20:52:41 +0000

Here’s a super cool LEGO project with gears! Build a robot that turns its head and moves its arms when you push it. This robot is SO much fun to build, and the perfect project for kids who love to tinker and invent things. I had originally build this robot with wheels, but they were […]

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Build LEGO Sight Words Activity

Sarah — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 01:12:00 +0000

Build words out of LEGO bricks! This is a fun hands-on activity for early readers. All you’ll need for this simple literacy activity is some basic LEGO bricks, a baseplate, and the printable cards in this post. Or, make your own cards with whatever words your child is currently working on. It’s easy to grab […]

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Guess the Number {Number Logic Game}

Sarah — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 21:25:10 +0000

Challenge kids to use logic to figure out the digits in a six-digit number. All you need is paper and some markers! A couple weeks ago, Janie and I figured out how to play a number game using the same rules as Wordle. We decided to do a 6 digit number instead of a 5 […]

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Place Value Activities with Graph Paper

Sarah — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 19:38:32 +0000

Do some fun and effective hands-on place value activities with graph paper! Why buy expensive math manipulatives when you can do so many things with supplies you already have? We love learning math with LEGO bricks, dice, playing cards, and other things from around the house. These math activities have the added benefit of offering […]

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LEGO New Releases August 2025

Sarah — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 16:11:00 +0000

August 2025 has been a big month for LEGO new releases! Unfortunately, I don’t have time to list out every single one, but here are our top picks from the new sets. This was a big release for Creator 3-in-1, Marvel, and City. There are also several fun sets aimed at adults, including some gorgeous […]

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How to Build LEGO Horses

Sarah — Sun, 10 Aug 2025 23:47:50 +0000

A couple weeks ago we shared building instructions for LEGO chickens, and now we’re back with some adorable LEGO horses to build! These little horses are so much fun, and they don’t require a lot of bricks. Kids can build their LEGO horses in whatever colors they choose. We also have a LEGO Unicorn project […]

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Pepper and Soap Science Experiment

Sarah — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 19:41:16 +0000

This classic pepper and soap science experiment feels more like a magic trick! It’s SO fun to do, and kids will be so impressed. However, the science behind this experiment is quite simple. This is all about surface tension! This science goes well with a study on the properties of matter, especially if you are […]

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HOT LEGO Deals on Amazon {July 25, 2025}

Sarah — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 12:35:25 +0000

There are tons of hot LEGO deals on Amazon right now – July 25, 2025! We’ll start with a whole list of sets under $10. Now is a great time to grab a few sets to have on hand for birthday party gifts. We love LEGO sets, but they are even better when you get […]

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How to Build LEGO Chickens

Sarah — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 22:57:22 +0000

Use your LEGO bricks to build adorable chickens and even a chicken coop to go with them! Whether you want to make a LEGO version of your backyard chickens or you just think farm life is cool, this is a great LEGO building idea. My 11 year old daughter is the one who takes care […]

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Fun Outings for Kids + Activities to go With Them!

Sarah — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 01:30:44 +0000

Go on an outing with your kids, and then do an activity to go with it! Here’s a list of ways to have fun with your kids (or grandkids or nieces and nephews or neighbors)! Go on an outing and then come home and do an activity that fits the theme of your outing. How […]

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Hilarious Sports Jokes for Kids

Sarah — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 02:30:00 +0000

Make your sports fans laugh with these hilarious sports jokes for kids! Well, you know we love jokes around here! We’ve compiled collections of funny jokes and knock-knock jokes, and even Star Wars jokes. So I decided it was time for some sports jokes! These jokes are all hilarious and appropriate for kids. This article […]

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Use ChatGPT to Make Custom Coloring Pages

Sarah — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 01:21:25 +0000

Use ChatGPT to make custom coloring pages by turning your own photos into coloring sheets! This is a super fun activity for kids and even teens or adults haha. It’s so fun to color your own pets, a picture of your home, vacation memories, and even family members. I’ll show you how we made our […]

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My Amazon Prime Days Shopping List for Active (and Frugal!) Moms 2025

Sarah — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 17:42:45 +0000

It’s day 2 of the 2025 Amazon Prime Days, and I’m back with a shopping list for active and frugal moms. What do I mean by that? Here are some must-have deals for moms who are busy taking kids to activities and appointments, who are keeping their households running but who don’t have time to […]

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The BEST Amazon Prime Day Deals on LEGO, Learning Toys, and More! {2025}

Sarah — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 12:42:09 +0000

It’s Amazon Prime Day 2025! There are amazing deals for Prime members from July 8 – 11, 2025. Navigating the Prime Day deals can be overwhelming, so I’ve waded through all the deals to find the best picks in LEGO, learning toys, and games. There are some great deals this year! Save on magnetic tiles, […]

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How to Eat Out for Cheap {with a family!}

Sarah — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 01:59:47 +0000

Okay, I’ll admit that cooking is not my favorite. I do cook at home most days, but with busy kids, teens, and young adults in our home, there are times when we’re on the go too much to cook. In an ideal world, I would pull made-from-scratch burritos from the freezer, but this isn’t an […]

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Pink Rubber Eraser Stamps {Art for Kids!}

Sarah — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 13:15:48 +0000

How to Make Rubber Eraser Stamps Y’all, rubber eraser stamps are the COOLEST art project for tweens and teens! Turn basic pink erasers into artistic stamps that you can use with a stamp pad. This is a fun and simple twist on printmaking, and a great way for kids to get started using carving tools. […]

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Build Your Own LEGO Chain Reactions

Sarah — Sat, 21 Jun 2025 19:29:15 +0000

Oh wow, we had so much fun with these LEGO chain reactions, and I can’t wait to share them with you! This is a fabulous open-ended building challenge that will appeal to a wide range of ages. Did you know that you can use LEGO bricks to build your own dominoes? It’s so simple. Make […]

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Top LEGO Deals on Amazon June 16, 2025 {And June New Releases}

Sarah — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 12:24:46 +0000

Save big on LEGO sets on Amazon! I’ve listed out all the best deals for you. Plus, there are some really awesome new sets that just released on June 1, 2025. As always, I’ve compared Amazon’s sale prices with Lego.com to make sure that Amazon’s sale price is a true sale. I always recommend watching […]

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Awesome Summer LEGO Projects to Build

Sarah — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 15:20:00 +0000

Build awesome summer LEGO projects! It’s always fun to build things that go with the season, and these ideas are perfect for summertime. Construct a lighthouse, a swimming pool, a shark, a cactus garden, a beach scene, a watermelon slice, miniature airplanes, and an adorable little pirate ship. If you’ve followed this page for very […]

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Fish Tessellation Art

Sarah — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 04:02:17 +0000

Make fish tessellation art with kids! If you’ve followed this site for very long, you know that we love tessellations. A tessellation is a shape that can be repeated over and over in a pattern, like tiles on your floor. Every tile is the same size and shape, and there are no spaces or gaps […]

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LEGO Building Challenge for Kids: Brain Puzzles

Sarah — Sat, 31 May 2025 16:01:00 +0000

Use your bricks to design and build LEGO Brain Teaser Puzzles! This open-ended LEGO® building challenge is perfect for a LEGO® club, class, or group. Or even a family game night! This post was originally published in August 2015 and updated in May 2025. LEGO Bricks Needed for Brain Teaser Puzzles: Basic bricks and […]

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Teaching Mathematical Patterns and Combinations with Ice Cream Flavors

Sarah — Thu, 29 May 2025 02:40:00 +0000

Teach patterns, combinations, and permutations with ice cream flavors! Let’s do some ice cream math! This hands-on math activity is interesting for kids and really leads to some great thinking and discussions. Our ice cream math problem came from the book About Teaching Mathematics by Marilyn Burns. (This book is geared toward classroom teachers – […]

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LEGO Deals on Amazon {May 24, 2025}

Sarah — Sat, 24 May 2025 13:39:00 +0000

Here are the best LEGO deals on Amazon for May 23, 2025. It’s Memorial Day weekend, which is a great time for sales and a great time for LEGO deals on Amazon! Save on City, Creator 3-in-1, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and more. As always, I have compared prices with Lego.com to make sure that […]

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Paper Airplane Test Lab

Sarah — Fri, 23 May 2025 01:31:00 +0000

Set up your own Paper Airplane Test Lab and challenge kids to create a plane that flies the farthest! This is an excellent STEM challenge (and the materials are SO affordable!), but it’s also just a fun activity for a rainy day. Folding and flying planes will keep kids busy for a long time! And […]

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Quilt Craft for Kids

Sarah — Thu, 22 May 2025 03:42:47 +0000

You don’t have to be able to sew to make this fun quilt craft for kids! This craft goes so well with a unit on frontier life, a study of textiles, and so much more. Even young kids can design their own quilt with this simple craft. We made this quilt craft at our ranch […]

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Air Dry Clay Mosaics

Sarah — Sat, 10 May 2025 22:48:38 +0000

Need a fun art project for kids? Make some air dry clay mosaics! This is such a simple and classic craft, and the finished mosaics look amazing. We used dried beans for our mosaics. I bought a bag of bean soup at Walmart, and I really love the variety of colors we ended up with! […]

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Sidewalk Chalk Word Games

Sarah — Tue, 06 May 2025 13:28:32 +0000

Sidewalk Chalk Word Games for Elementary School Get outside and try these sidewalk chalk word games! These activities are so much fun and truly feel more like play than learning. Kids, however, will be working on reading, vocabulary, parts of speech, and more. These word games are appropriate for kids in 1st – 5th grade. […]

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STEM Challenge with Play Dough, Popsicle Sticks, and Pipe Cleaners

Sarah — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 18:41:53 +0000

Here’s a fun STEM challenge with play dough, popsicle sticks, and pipe cleaners! What can you build with these materials? All kinds of things! Use play dough, popsicle sticks, and pipe cleaners to set up an engaging building activity that works well for a wide range of ages. This is great for preschoolers and middle […]

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Printable Star Wars Writing Prompts

Sarah — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 03:30:00 +0000

Print these Star Wars writing prompts! There are 16 cards to print. Writing is much easier to do when you get the chance to write about something you’re interested in. Even reluctant writers will enjoy writing about their favorite Star Wars movies and characters! Use these Star Wars writing prompts as part of your ELA […]

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HUGE LEGO Book Sale on Amazon

Sarah — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 21:38:35 +0000

Amazon is currently running a big book sale, and I am so here for it!!! Our LEGO project books are on sale for amazing prices. This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Our newest book, the expanded and updated edition of Awesome […]

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LEGO DNA Activity

Sarah — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 13:10:00 +0000

Here’s a super fun DNA activity for middle school that uses one of our favorite materials… LEGO bricks! You can actually use this activity for kids in 5th grade up through high school biology. Anytime you are teaching DNA in a life science unit or biology course, this would be appropriate. Building a model of […]

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SUPER Low LEGO Prices

Sarah — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 16:27:56 +0000

SUPER Low LEGO Prices for April 14, 2025 Hello! I’m finding some amazing low prices on LEGO sets on Amazon this morning, and there is still plenty of time to order for Easter baskets! I’ll share a list of the best deals I found in Creator 3-in-1, City, Star Wars, Minecraft, Harry Potter, and more. […]

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Crazy Egg Tricks {Wacky Center of Gravity Science}

Sarah — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 03:07:20 +0000

Here’s a super cool science experiment to do with plastic Easter eggs! By adding modeling clay to plastic eggs in strategic places, you can make your eggs do all sorts of amazing tricks. They can balance in unexpected ways, pop back up when you knock them down, or spin for a really long time. I […]

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Inertia Science Experiments with LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 19:54:36 +0000

Kids will love these inertia science experiments with LEGO bricks! These activities are a great way to learn about Newton’s first law of motion, which states that an object in motion stays in motion unless acted on by a force and an object at rest stays at rest unless acted on by a force. Inertia […]

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Magic Math! (And more ideas for addition fact practice)

Sarah — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 19:45:00 +0000

Let’s do some magic math! This is an idea for a FUN way to spice up addition practice. And it actually works for any math facts practice including subtraction, multiplication, and division. What is magic math, you ask? Magic math combines addition practice with crayon and watercolor resist to create a fun way to “magically” […]

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What Can You Do in One Minute?

Sarah — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 02:14:17 +0000

What can you do in one minute? How long is a minute anyway? This is a fun telling time activity that is perfect for kindergarten and first grade. We are always telling kids, “just a minute,” but kids don’t naturally have a concept of how long a minute is. They may know it’s 60 seconds, […]

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Top Deals for Kids and Teens from Amazon’s Big Spring Sale

Sarah — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 22:57:11 +0000

Amazon is running their Big Spring Sale from March 25 – 31, 2025! So far, the deals have not seemed spectacular. Tons of off-brands from overseas. However, they do have some great deals on seasonal items for spring! If you’re looking for outdoor toys, lawn items, etc., you’ll be excited. Here are the best deals […]

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LEGO Spring Mini Builds, Part 2

Sarah — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 03:34:44 +0000

Spring is here, and it’s time for some new LEGO spring mini builds! Build a tiny bird with a nest and eggs, a mini LEGO farm, a green spring leaf, and more. We love building mini LEGO creations. They’re so much fun, they don’t require a lot of bricks, and they’re great to display. Last […]

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Super LEGO Deals on Amazon – March 21, 2025

Sarah — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 12:19:50 +0000

Here are the best LEGO deals on Amazon for March 21, 2025. We love LEGO sets, but we don’t love paying full price. Right now there are tons of LEGO Classic sets on sale, plus deals on City, Creator, Star Wars, and more. Then at the bottom of the post I have the BEST LEGO […]

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Growing Seeds Activities for Kids

Sarah — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 13:49:23 +0000

Spring is the perfect time to learn about how plants grow from seeds! Here are some fabulous growing seeds activities for young kids. These activities are appropriate for preschoolers up through the early elementary grades. As many of you know, we moved to a horse ranch this past fall. Soon after we signed the contract […]

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Elementary Math Games with Dice

Sarah — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 03:35:00 +0000

Here’s a collection of the best elementary math games with dice! Math is WAY more fun when it’s a game. Games add an element of play and competition to whatever math skill you are working on, which increases motivation and focus by a LOT. These math games with dice are appropriate for kids in grades […]

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Sick Day Menu {Fun Sick Day Hack for Kids}

Sarah — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 20:20:32 +0000

Here’s a fun idea to cheer up a kid on a sick day! Make a sick day menu. I randomly thought of this idea one day last year when Janie was sick. Janie seems to catch a lot of viruses (although this has gotten better as she has gotten older). She is not always the […]

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The Reality of Life with Five Teens and Young Adults

Sarah — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 06:08:44 +0000

Ten and a half years ago, in the midst of a crazy time in our life, I wrote a post called “The Reality of Life with Five Kids.” We were living on a tight budget, and the tile in our kitchen had literally started popping off the floor. We had a crawling baby, so we […]

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75+ Hilarious Knock, Knock Jokes for Kids

Sarah — Sun, 02 Mar 2025 19:01:00 +0000

Here are 75+ of the best knock, knock jokes that kids are sure to love! We’re picky about knock, knock jokes. They have to actually be funny! And to be funny, they need a good play on words. Some knock, knock jokes just seem really random, but our whole family has been on the search […]

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LEGO Deals on Amazon {February 22, 2025}

Sarah — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 23:04:38 +0000

Looking for super good deals on LEGO sets? Here are the best LEGO deals on Amazon! These were compiled on February 22, 2025. Save on Star Wars, Harry Potter, City, Creator 3-in-1, and more. As always, I have compared Amazon’s prices with Lego.com to make sure that Amazon’s discount is actually a good deal. They […]

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LEGO Ideas with Marbles

Sarah — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:59:22 +0000

Here are some super cool LEGO ideas with marbles! LEGO bricks and marbles are always a winning combination. You can make a LEGO marble maze, all kinds of marble runs and tracks, and so much more. Everyone has marbles on hand, and kids love to play with them and design little games for them. So […]

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Blow up a Balloon with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Sarah — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 03:26:00 +0000

Learn how to blow up a balloon with baking soda and vinegar! Kids will love this classic science experiment. This acid/base chemical reaction is fun to watch as it bubbles, but it’s even more impressive when you harness the CO2 produced by the reaction to blow up a balloon. Recommended Ages: 1st grade through high […]

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Awesome DIY Roads, Ramps and Garages for Toy Cars

Sarah — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 02:06:00 +0000

Build your own roads, ramps, and garages for toy cars! These projects will show you how to turn cardboard boxes and other simple craft supplies into awesome homemade toys. If your house is like ours, you probably have a generous collection of Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars lying around! I feel like I am constantly […]

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Pipe Cleaner Beaded Hearts

Sarah — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 22:39:03 +0000

These pipe cleaner beaded hearts are a fabulous Valentine’s Day craft for kids of all ages! Tweens and teens will love this craft, but even preschoolers can make these pipe cleaner hearts. Threading the beads onto the pipe cleaners is great fine motor practice for kids ages 4+, although younger kids will need a bit […]

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Folding Surprise Drawing Valentines

Sarah — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 18:51:35 +0000

Grab some paper and markers and make these folding surprise drawing Valentines! My 10 year old daughter came up with the idea for these folding surprise drawing Valentine’s Day cards. Every year, she makes some kind of Valentine card for her friends. She has handed out Cat Valentines and Horse Valentines and even Hidden Message […]

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LEGO Pictionary Word Cards

Sarah — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 03:44:53 +0000

Here’s a fun LEGO game to play at a birthday party or as part of your next family game night! Use LEGO bricks to “draw” or “act out” words, similar to charades or the Pictionary game. This game works great with your tub of random LEGO bricks. The goal of the game is to get […]

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Super Cool LEGO Sets Under $20

Sarah — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 20:50:47 +0000

Here’s a collection of the best LEGO sets under $20! Whether you’re looking for a birthday gift or a little treat for Valentine’s Day, there are some great deals on LEGO sets on Amazon right now. Save on City, Star Wars, Creator 3-in-1, Harry Potter, and more. This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means […]

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Refraction of Light Science Experiments

Sarah — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 17:45:02 +0000

Here are some super cool refraction of light science experiments! These experiments are so easy to do with materials that you have around your home or classroom. I would recommend these experiments for kids in the upper elementary grades through middle school and even high school. Kids will be impressed and can understand that bending […]

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IKEA Frame LEGO Minifigure Display and Storage

Sarah — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 02:19:00 +0000

Turn an IKEA shadow box frame into an amazing LEGO minifigure display! Got LEGO® minifigures? We do. And I’m not going to tell you how many because it would be very, very embarrassing. Actually, I’m not sure that we could even come up with an accurate count. It’s definitely in the hundreds. This post was […]

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LEGO Deals on Amazon {and New Releases!}

Sarah — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:23:16 +0000

There are some awesome deals on LEGO sets on Amazon right now! This is a great time to grab a couple birthday gifts to have on hand when a party invitation arrives. Or, buy a set or two for a bad weather day! We have definitely used LEGO to keep kids busy during a winter […]

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10+ Totally Awesome LEGO Party Games

Sarah — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 00:15:00 +0000

Here are more than 10 LEGO® party games that kids will go crazy for! Throwing a LEGO® birthday party? Planning a meeting for your LEGO® club? Or just need to keep a bunch of kids busy? These games are simple ideas with very little prep time, but kids will love them. In fact, my favorite […]

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Bouncy Ball Science Experiment {Science Fair Idea}

Sarah — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 21:27:00 +0000

Does the temperature of a bouncy ball affect its bounce? Will a cold ball bounce higher or lower than one at room temperature? What about a hot bouncy ball? This is a fantastic science experiment that kids can perform on their own. It also makes a great science fair project. The materials aren’t expensive, it […]

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LEGO Shadow Box Scenes

Sarah — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 02:40:28 +0000

A couple weeks ago, I found these cool wood shadow boxes at Hobby Lobby. Their wood items were on sale for 40% off, which they often are, so they were only $4.80 apiece. We’ve been having so much fun building little shadow box scenes! There are so many possibilities with this. In fact, this LEGO […]

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Perimeter and Area Math Activity {with LEGO bricks!}

Sarah — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 21:52:53 +0000

Do your students have trouble remembering the difference between perimeter and area? Here’s a great way to reinforce these concepts with a LEGO math activity! One of my sons had a particularly hard time remembering the difference between perimeter and area. Both are easy to calculate. It was easy to learn about perimeter and then […]

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Pipe Cleaner Snowflakes

Sarah — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 18:44:00 +0000

Make beautiful pipe cleaner snowflakes! This is a fun winter craft that works well for all ages. Add beads to your snowflakes for a splash of color, or just use pipe cleaners. It’s up to you! I love snowflake design crafts, and we have several on this website. At the bottom of the page, I’ll […]

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Make an ADORABLE Sock Snowman

Sarah — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 21:28:25 +0000

This sock snowman craft is the cutest thing ever. And, it doesn’t require any sewing. This is the perfect winter craft for a snowy day! You’ll need plain white socks, but other than that, you can make use of things you have on hand. We made our sock snowmen when we had a dear friend […]

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Build a LEGO Christmas Tree Lantern

Sarah — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 15:41:52 +0000

Here’s a fun Christmas LEGO project! Use your green and translucent bricks to make a lovely and festive Christmas tree lantern. Grab a battery powered tea light to make it glow! Last year I built a LEGO stained glass Christmas tree ornament, and I decided to make a larger version this year that is lit […]

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Amazing LEGO Deals on Amazon

Sarah — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 18:35:18 +0000

Well, if you haven’t done your Christmas shopping yet, you are in luck! Amazon has some GREAT deals on LEGO sets even though we are getting close to Christmas Day. Today I’m rounding up a few of the best deals that make great gifts. As always, I’ve compared prices with Lego.com to make sure that […]

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Christmas Tree Prime Factorization Activity

Sarah — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 21:17:13 +0000

Teach and practice prime factorization with this super cool Christmas math activity! My 10 year old and I tried this out yesterday, and it was a WIN. We’ve drawn plenty of factor trees, so why not make them Christmas trees?! Cutting out Christmas trees and using stickers is WAY more fun than completing a worksheet […]

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LEGO Nativity Set Instructions

Sarah — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 01:25:00 +0000

Build your own LEGO nativity set! This sweet LEGO project makes a fabulous Christmas decoration, and the design is simple enough that kids should be able to pull this off with the bricks they have. Swap out colors if needed! This LEGO® nativity is part of our Five (More!) LEGO Christmas Projects to Build, but […]

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20 Card Games that are Perfect for Your Next Family Game Night

Sarah — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 23:05:00 +0000

Here’s a collection of more than 20 fun family card games! These are games to play with a deck of cards that kids can learn and families can play together. These card games are perfect for family gatherings, camping trips, holidays, and more. One thing to keep in mind about card games is that many […]

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LEGO Black Friday Deals on Amazon

Sarah — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 17:54:00 +0000

Amazon has some amazing Black Friday deals on LEGO sets! I’m excited about them because several of the sets are newer items with new markdowns. Woo hoo! If you haven’t started Christmas shopping yet, now is the time for the best deals. As always, I have compared prices with Lego.com to make sure that Amazon’s […]

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Count Down to Christmas with a DIY LEGO Advent Calendar

Sarah — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 04:11:00 +0000

It’s so much fun to count down to Christmas with a DIY LEGO Advent Calendar that you built yourself! Here are five awesome ways to use the bricks you have to make a super cool advent calendar. These ideas are meant to be a launching point for kids to create their own cool countdown! Please […]

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Easy Thumbprint Christmas Ornaments

Sarah — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 02:44:47 +0000

How to Make Easy Thumbprint Christmas Ornaments Here’s a sweet Christmas craft for kids and teens! These ornaments make great gifts, or you can even use them as gift tags. I also think they would be the perfect item to sell at a craft fair. We used wood for these ornaments since we had several […]

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Printable Alphabet Letter Search and Find Pages

Sarah — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 03:00:00 +0000

Printable Alphabet Letter Search and Find Pages Here’s an alphabet activity that preschoolers and kindergartners will love! Color the pictures, then search for the letters and circle them. There’s a page for every letter of the alphabet, and there are also capital and lowercase options. These printable alphabet pages were inspired by my preschool girl […]

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LEGO Rubber Band Catapult

Sarah — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 14:30:08 +0000

How to Build a LEGO Rubber Band Catapult This powerful LEGO catapult is tons of fun to build and play with! We have another LEGO catapult on this website already, and it uses rubber bands as well, but this new one is definitely an upgrade in power. It’s SO cool. The design for this catapult […]

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Super Good LEGO Deals on Amazon {November 2, 2024}

Sarah — Sat, 02 Nov 2024 22:11:32 +0000

The Christmas shopping season has begun, and there are LOTS of great LEGO deals on Amazon right now! We love LEGO sets, but we don’t love paying full price. It’s much better to shop a good sale! I would 100% recommend shopping early for the holidays. The closer we get to Christmas, the lower the […]

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Fall STEM Activities that are Engaging and Fun!

Sarah — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 20:10:00 +0000

It’s time for fall STEM activities! Let’s do some fall science experiments and engineering challenges! Fall is such a great time of the year with the leaves changing colors, the cooler weather, and pumpkins everywhere. It’s always fun to do learning activities that are special for the current season. (Here in Texas, we are still […]

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Dancing Corn Science Experiment

Sarah — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 18:40:04 +0000

Dancing Corn Science Experiment Make corn “dance” up and down in a jar of water! This is a fun science experiment to do with baking soda, vinegar, water, and unpopped popcorn. I’m not sure why we are just now trying this classic experiment. It’s been around for years, but this was our first time to […]

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Writing Task Cards for 4th – 6th Grade

Sarah — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 21:39:56 +0000

Printable Writing Task Cards for 4th – 6th Grade Are you wanting to help your child or your students improve their writing skills? Would you like to see them writing more complex sentences with vivid descriptions and strong verbs? I designed these writing task cards for my 5th and 7th graders. Writing is not a […]

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Christmas Gift Ideas for a Clutter-Free Christmas

Sarah — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 19:43:00 +0000

Looking for Christmas gift ideas for kids that will actually get played with? Things that will be put to good use rather than adding more toy clutter for you to have to nag your kids about? This post is full of inspiration for Christmas gifts that will be fun, meaningful, and will not contribute more […]

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Halloween Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone!

Sarah — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 16:46:00 +0000

Here are some Halloween jokes for kids that are sure to tickle their funny bones! These jokes are family friendly, and not particularly scary or gory. But they are definitely hilarious! Use these for a joke of the day during the month of October, or keep kids busy while you wait for it to get […]

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Pumpkin Life Cycle Activity {Printable}

Sarah — Sun, 13 Oct 2024 01:03:12 +0000

Print this pumpkin life cycle activity! It’s the perfect thing to go with a book about how pumpkins grow for an easy science lesson for young kids. I put this printable activity together for our Ranch School. This month, I started offering Ranch School at our hobby farm! It’s a class for 4 – 6 […]

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10+ of the BEST Nerf Target Games

Sarah — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 16:14:00 +0000

Make your own Nerf Target Games for a birthday party or just an afternoon at home! Planning a Nerf birthday party? Or just need something for the kids to do? We’ve got you covered! At our house, we have lots of boys who love Nerf guns. But with four of them running around, it can […]

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STEM and Learning Toy Deals {Amazon Prime Big Deal Days}

Sarah — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 17:07:17 +0000

Save on Melissa and Doug, marble runs, Snap Circuits, magnetic tiles, and more! These deals are October 8th and 9th only, and may sell out before the end of the day. I’m back with more Amazon Prime Big Deal Days deals! If you’re looking for LEGO deals, you can head over here. This post contains […]

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LEGO Deals on Amazon Prime Big Deal Days

Sarah — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 13:21:21 +0000

Today and tomorrow, October 8 – 9, 2024, are Amazon Prime Big Deal Days! Here are the best deals on LEGO sets and toys. This event is the perfect way to kickstart your holiday shopping with some amazing prices! In today’s crazy economy, shopping sales and deals is a must. I’ve found some GREAT deals […]

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Fall Leaf Treat Bags

Sarah — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 16:57:39 +0000

Looking for a fun fall craft idea? These fall leaf treat bags are adorable, and they’re perfect to use for gifts. Fill them with sugar cookies, homemade Chex mix, or your favorite fall treat. The secret to these treat bags is colored cellophane. It’s easy to work with and such a fun crafting material. Parents […]

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Awesome LEGO Creations with Bricks You Already Have {Updated Edition}

Sarah — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 22:02:09 +0000

The updated and expanded edition of Awesome LEGO Creations with Bricks You Already Have is now available! I am SO excited for you to get your hands on this book. It’s perfect for giving kids something to do on a rainy day, and it also make a great birthday or Christmas gift for any LEGO […]

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Straw House STEM Challenge

Sarah — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 21:56:01 +0000

Kids of all ages will enjoy this Straw House STEM Challenge! I really love open-ended building activities for kids, and it’s even better when the materials are inexpensive and readily available. For this project, all you need is straws, pipe cleaners, and scissors! Recommended Age: 8 and up Kids as young as 8 (and maybe […]

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Conversation Starters for Kids that Encourage Positivity and Gratefulness

Sarah — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 03:15:00 +0000

Print a set of positive conversation starters that will encourage joy and gratefulness! We often find that in our home, the natural conversations don’t always head in a great direction. Our kids end up talking about video games (ok in moderation, but ugh), disagreeing over ridiculous things, or discussing dumb things that other people did. […]

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LEGO Math Investigation {Printable Page}

Sarah — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 22:11:07 +0000

Here’s a fun and engaging LEGO math activity that you can set up in 5 minutes or less! Print this free LEGO math investigation page and then just grab some LEGO bricks. Recommended Age: 2nd and 3rd grade, or ages 7-8. This may also be a great activity for gifted 1st graders. I designed this […]

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Build LEGO Fall Leaves

Sarah — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 15:26:29 +0000

Here’s a fun fall LEGO project! Build some colorful LEGO fall leaves. These LEGO leaves are a mosaic style, and they even look great as part of your fall decor – ha. Texas summers are so awful that we are always thrilled when fall arrives. So we have lots of LEGO building ideas for fall! […]

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LEGO Advent Calendars and Deals

Sarah — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 14:10:00 +0000

The new September LEGO releases are out, and these include the 2024 Advent calendars! There are also some great LEGO deals on Amazon. As always, I have compared prices with Lego.com to make sure that Amazon’s sale prices are a true sale. This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that I earn from qualifying […]

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Hands-On Activities for Fractional Parts of a Number

Sarah — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 04:00:53 +0000

Hands-on Activities for Teaching Fractional Parts of a Number Understanding fractions is usually fairly easy for kids to grasp. They can easily draw lines dividing a rectangle into halves or fourths. They can understand cutting a pizza into eighths. Equivalent fractions and adding fractions with unlike denominators gets a little more difficult… and then there […]

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The BEST Family Games

Sarah — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 18:00:36 +0000

Here’s a collection of our favorite family games! I’m including both board games and card games in this list. Overall, I’m not a “game person.” I don’t love games that involve a lot of waiting for your turn haha. So the games in this post are (mostly) fast-moving and fun for the whole family! Lots […]

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Tiny LEGO Projects Part 3

Sarah — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 23:58:49 +0000

We’re back with more LEGO mini builds! These tiny LEGO projects are perfect to create and display. We love building things on a small scale because the projects are adorable and they don’t take long to make. Our past mini LEGO projects posts have included a lot of animals and vehicles, so this time it’s […]

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5 Engineering Challenges for Kids (Cups, Craft Sticks, and Cubes!)

Sarah — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 02:37:00 +0000

Inspire kids with these 5 Engineering Challenges with Cups, Craft Sticks, and Wood Cubes! Such simple materials, and yet we have been having a blast building all kinds of amazing structures with them. This open-ended activity has been proven to be fun and engaging for a wide range of ages. This post was originally published […]

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LOWEST Prices on LEGO Sets on Amazon

Sarah — Sat, 24 Aug 2024 15:32:15 +0000

Wow, Amazon has some super low prices on LEGO sets at the moment. I usually sort my deal posts by theme, but this time I’m just focusing on low prices. There are some deals in here that you don’t want to miss! As always, I have checked prices against Lego.com to make sure that Amazon’s […]

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Simple Name Activities for Preschoolers

Sarah — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 20:35:00 +0000

Here are some simple and hands-on activities to help preschoolers learn their names. Owen had an easy time learning his name. Before he even hit age four, he could spell it and (mostly) write it. But poor Jonathan… his name has twice as many letters! He really likes for me to write his name on […]

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Build a LEGO Desk Organizer with Working Drawers

Sarah — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 02:18:00 +0000

Build your own LEGO desk organizer with the bricks you have! This is a super fun building challenge for back-to-school time (or anytime!). It’s also an open-ended project that truly works with whatever bricks kids have on hand. They can use whatever colors they want and customize the design however they choose. This post was […]

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LEGO Deals and New Releases on Amazon – August 12, 2024

Sarah — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 01:43:35 +0000

LEGO Deals on Amazon – August 12, 2024 It’s time for our monthly round-up of LEGO deals! We LOVE LEGO sets, but we also love getting an awesome deal. This month there are also some fabulous new releases that I’m excited to tell you about. Plus, we’re less than two months away from release of […]

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LEGO Stamping: It’s Art with Bricks!

Sarah — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 22:06:00 +0000

LEGO Stamping Art Activity for Kids I have been wanting to try stamping with LEGO® bricks ever since I saw the idea on Filth Wizardry. Well, I’m glad we finally tried it because it was a huge hit! I would highly recommend this art activity for kids of all ages. My 4, 6, 9, and […]

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Ridiculous Handwriting Practice

Sarah — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 18:35:54 +0000

Ridiculous Handwriting Practice Pages One question I’ve often asked myself is, “Why does schoolwork need to be so dry?” Kids are natural learners. They want to know why everything happens in the world. They want to watch what a squirrel does with the nut he is carrying. They want to master a video game or […]

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Cool Science Experiments for Kids

Sarah — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 22:01:00 +0000

Science Experiments for Elementary and Middle School This post was updated in July 2024. Here’s a collection of cool science experiments that kids will love! I’ve chosen experiments that use simple materials and that teach important cornerstone science concepts. These science experiments work well in the classroom or at home. All of these science experiments […]

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Build the LEGO Summer Olympic Games!

Sarah — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 13:20:00 +0000

Build events from the summer games out of LEGO bricks! This is such a fun LEGO challenge for kids of all ages, even teens and adults. No matter what bricks kids have one hand, they can find a way to build some of the olympic sports! We’ll show you how we built gymnastics, diving, track, […]

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Summer Games Activity Pack

Sarah — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 02:16:00 +0000

Here’s a super cool printable Summer Games Activity Pack for kids! Follow along with the Paris Summer Olympic Games with this fun printable activity pack! This free pack will help kids keep their own medal count, learn about the world’s nations, try their own athletic training, and more. We are so excited about the summer […]

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Emoji Perler Bead Patterns for Keychains

Sarah — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 12:45:00 +0000

Emoji Perler Bead Patterns Use Perler beads to make these fun emojis, and then turn them into keychains to use with your keys or as a zipper pull on your backpack. This is such a fun craft for kids of all ages! Another idea is to use the emojis for coasters, or you can add […]

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Amazon Prime Day Toys and Games – 2024 Day 2

Sarah — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 12:52:34 +0000

The Best Amazon Prime Day Deals on Toys and Games – July 17, 2024 It’s the second (and final) day of Amazon Prime Day, and I’m back with some deals on Green Toys, family games, LEGO books, and more. Prime Day Deals on Melissa and Doug There are still plenty of deals on Melissa and […]

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Amazon Prime Day 2024 – LEGO, Melissa and Doug, and More

Sarah — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 12:47:15 +0000

Here are the best LEGO deals, learning toys, games, and more for Amazon Prime Day 2024! Amazon Prime Day is always a way to score some amazing prices on things you’re looking for anyway. (And of course there are always things you didn’t know we needed until you saw them, haha!) One thing I’m noticing […]

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Teach Geometry with LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 15:49:49 +0000

How to Teach Geometry with LEGO Bricks Here’s a fun LEGO math lesson that kids will love! Janie (5th grade) and I have been working on geometry in her math book, and I started building some LEGO triangles. Janie started exploring with different LEGO shapes, and we came up with several ideas for teaching geometry […]

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125+ Hilarious Jokes for Kids

Sarah — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 17:24:00 +0000

125+ Hilarious Jokes for Kids Here are 125 hilarious jokes that are clean and family friendly! Whether you’re looking for material for a joke of the day, entertainment for a road trip, or just wanting to make kids laugh, these jokes are the best! Telling silly jokes is such a childhood rite of passage. My […]

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Barnes & Noble Preorder Sale

Sarah — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 13:50:43 +0000

Barnes & Noble is doing a Sale for the Pages right now, and preorders are 25% off for members through July 17th. What a deal! Head over to order your copy of Awesome LEGO Creations with Bricks You Already Have (the updated and expanded edition) and you’ll receive it on the release date of October […]

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Fantastic Pipe Cleaner Crafts for Kids

Sarah — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 22:01:46 +0000

Kids of all ages will love these fantastic pipe cleaner crafts! We love crafting with pipe cleaners because they are so inexpensive. They are also easy to store and so versatile for creating cool crafts. You’ll be amazed at what you can make with pipe cleaners! These crafts work well for a wide range of […]

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SALE on LEGO Project Books

Sarah — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 20:36:42 +0000

Our LEGO project books are on sale on Amazon right now for about 50% off! Summer break is a great time to grab one (or two or three!) of our LEGO books because they will keep kids busy for hours by providing new inspiration for their big tub of random LEGO bricks and taken-apart sets. […]

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Easy Lawn Tic-Tac-Toe Game

Sarah — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 21:13:58 +0000

How to Make a Lawn Tic-Tac-Toe Game Kids will LOVE this lawn tic-tac-toe game, and it’s so easy to make. An added bonus is that you can take this game on the go since it all fits in a zippered bag! We made these lawn tic-tac-toe games with kids ages 6 – 10 at a […]

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Plastic Cup Popping Fireworks!

Sarah — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 19:43:22 +0000

Here’s a super cool fireworks craft that is also a fun toy. Design colorful fireworks that really shoot up into the air! All you need is two plastic cups and a few other supplies from around the house. This craft uses rubber bands to make a plastic cup launch into the air. The mechanism has […]

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AWESOME LEGO Deals on Amazon – June 29, 2024

Sarah — Sat, 29 Jun 2024 20:19:45 +0000

Awesome LEGO Deals on Amazon – June 29, 2024 I know many of you (like us!) are trying to save money wherever you can as the cost of living increases. I’ve got a whole collection of sets under $10 that you’ll want to check out. As always, I have compared prices with Lego.com to make […]

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More LEGO Animals to Build

Sarah — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 15:27:28 +0000

A couple years ago, we added a collection of LEGO animals to this website. And now we’re back with MORE animals to build! These animal projects are not LEGO sets. Kids can build them with the bricks they have on hand. Encourage kids to make substitutions if they don’t have the exact bricks we used. […]

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How to Play Blitz (Thirty One)

Sarah — Sat, 22 Jun 2024 21:51:00 +0000

We love family card games, and today we’re going to teach you how to play Blitz! Blitz, also called Thirty One, works well for players of all ages as long as they are able to add up the value of their cards. Players will need to make decisions about the value of their hand as […]

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The BEST Giant Bubble Recipe

Sarah — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 01:49:00 +0000

This giant bubble recipe is so simple, and the results are amazing! Kids will be so impressed with how huge these bubbles are. We made some fun bubble wands with supplies from around the house to go with our bubble solution, and they worked so well. And who says bubbles are just for toddlers? […]

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Water Filter Science Experiment

Sarah — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 22:37:55 +0000

This water filter science experiment is the perfect addition to any earth science unit! It’s easy to do, and students of all ages will enjoy this science activity. I would recommend this experiment for students ages 10+ to do mostly on their own. It would be perfect for middle school. However, younger kids from first […]

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Paper Plate Marble Track

Sarah — Fri, 31 May 2024 23:12:00 +0000

Build your own paper plate marble roller coaster with supplies from around the house! Here’s an engineering challenge for kids that is SOOO much fun to build and play with. Kids will be learning so much as they design and construct their marble roller coaster, but it feels like play! This project is perfect for […]

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LEGO Deals on Amazon – May 27, 2024

Sarah — Mon, 27 May 2024 05:33:08 +0000

Come see all the LEGO Deals on Amazon! May 27, 2024 It’s Memorial Day, and there are TONS of great sets on sale. Save on Creator 3-in-1 sets, Star Wars, City, Harry Potter, Speed Champions sets, and more. As always, I have compared Amazon’s prices with Lego.com to make sure that Amazon’s sale price is […]

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LEGO Minions Building Instructions

Sarah — Sat, 18 May 2024 22:21:00 +0000

Build your own hilarious minions out of the LEGO bricks you already have! We’ll show you how to build minions with one eye or two, and then the design is easy to customize further from there. This post was originally published in February 2015. We updated this project with better instructions in May 2024. There’s […]

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Multiplication Facts Games {Simple and Fun!}

Sarah — Sat, 18 May 2024 03:41:26 +0000

Here are some fun games for memorizing the multiplication facts! These is perfect for kids who understand the concept of multiplication, but need to practice the facts. Add in dice and a dry erase marker, and this is WAY more fun than worksheets. We’ve got a whole collection of Hands-On Multiplication Activities for learning the […]

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Simple Flower Crafts for Kids

Sarah — Sat, 04 May 2024 03:45:48 +0000

Here’s a collection of simple and beautiful flower crafts for kids! These flower crafts are perfect for spring and summer, and most of these projects use craft supplies that you probably already have on hand. We love crafting with felt, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, and things from the recycling bin. There’s even a flower project […]

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Toilet Paper Roll Bird Craft

Sarah — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 20:20:46 +0000

This toilet paper roll bird craft is perfect for spring or really anytime that you need an animal craft! Make creative and colorful birds, or paint them to look like the color patterns of real birds as part of a nature study. Either way, this craft is simple and so much fun! I know some […]

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LEGO Deals on Amazon – April 29, 2024

Sarah — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 04:03:22 +0000

LEGO Deals on Amazon – April 29, 2024 There are some super discounts on LEGO sets on Amazon right now! I am excited that many of these sets are newer sets that are now on sale. We love LEGO sets, but we also love a good deal! Don’t pay full price if you can get […]

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Star Wars Crafts and Activities for Kids

Sarah — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 20:42:00 +0000

Here’s a collection of awesome Star Wars crafts and activities that kids will love! Make Star Wars Nerf Targets, painted rocks, tin can lanterns, Star Wars paper crafts, LEGO projects, and more. One of our absolute favorites is the garden-in-a-tub for Star Wars pretend play. This post was originally posted in September 2015 and updated […]

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LEGO Maps Building Challenge

Sarah — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 02:33:45 +0000

Build LEGO Maps! This is a unique building challenge that kids will love. Creating LEGO maps is a fun activity for a rainy day, but it also makes a great learning activity. You might want to combine this challenge with our LEGO Famous Landmarks Activity for a fabulous geography lesson! Bricks Needed: If you need […]

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Pipe Cleaner Flowers

Sarah — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 22:14:49 +0000

Make beautiful pipe cleaner flowers that are perfect for spring! We love pipe cleaner crafts because they work well for kids of all ages, and because pipe cleaners are a very affordable craft material. We always have pipe cleaners in our craft stash! Be sure to check out our pipe cleaner animals also. Kids can […]

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Caterpillar Crafts and Activities

Sarah — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 20:11:43 +0000

Here are some adorable caterpillar crafts and activities that preschoolers and kindergartners will love! Spring is the perfect time to learn about caterpillars. Add a book or two about butterfly metamorphosis, and you’ve got a science lesson! Pom Pom Caterpillars: These are so simple to make and so adorable. Kids will love playing with these […]

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LEGO Deals on Amazon – April 5, 2024

Sarah — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 18:48:43 +0000

Hello! It’s a GREAT day for LEGO deals on Amazon, especially if you just want loose bricks for building. I found some amazing deals on several LEGO classic sets, including some new ones. Exciting! As always, I have compared prices with Lego.com to make sure that Amazon’s sale price is a true sale. Also keep […]

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Build a LEGO Golf Cart

Sarah — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 16:59:28 +0000

Build your own LEGO golf cart for your minifigures to drive! This is a super fun and simple LEGO project designed by my 14 year old. Owen loves building LEGO vehicles. He designed several of the vehicles in our newest LEGO book, The Big Book of Amazing LEGO Creations. Kids can build this golf cart […]

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Make an Easy and Safe Pinhole Eclipse Viewer

Sarah — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 00:01:00 +0000

Make a pinhole eclipse viewer, and see the solar eclipse… without looking at the sun! On April 8, 2024, a solar eclipse will occur all across the United States, and we live in the area of totality! So exciting! …except that our weather forecast involves significant cloud cover. I am extremely sad, but I’m also […]

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Flower Garden Multiplication Activity

Sarah — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 13:38:53 +0000

Has spring fever set in? Not to worry! This flower garden multiplication activity feels more like play (and art) than work. Put those worksheets aside and grab some dice, paper, and markers. This activity is perfect for second graders who are learning the concept of multiplication (or grouping) here at the end of the year, […]

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75 Riddles and Brain Teasers for Kids – Free Printable!

Sarah — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 17:15:00 +0000

Here are 75 Riddles and Brain Teasers for Kids! These riddles and brain teasers for kids are perfect for an icebreaker at the beginning of a class, for keeping kids busy on a road trip, or trying to stump each other at a family game night! Plus, solving riddles is good for developing thinking skills, […]

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LEGO Deals on Amazon – March 12, 2024

Sarah — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 14:55:43 +0000

It’s time for LEGO Deals on Amazon! After a few months without a lot of discounts, there are a LOT of LEGO sets on sale right now! Grab some great deals in time for Easter baskets! There are plenty of low-priced sets to choose from. These sets would be perfect to use with our LEGO […]

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LEGO Animal Instructions {Spring Mini Builds}

Sarah — Sat, 09 Mar 2024 04:28:18 +0000

Build adorable mini LEGO animals for spring! We’ve got building instructions for a duckling, turtle, caterpillar, lamb, and frog. I also have a separate post that has a LEGO bunny, chick, and butterfly. So many fun spring ideas! There are so many possibilities for things you can do with these LEGO spring animals. They’re super […]

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How to Make Tie Dye Easter Eggs with Sharpies

Sarah — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 20:24:00 +0000

Here’s a fun and super colorful way to dye Easter eggs! Young kids will be able to make these Tie Dye Easter Eggs with minimal help, and teens will enjoy the process too. I had fun making them as well! We’ll show you how to make swirls of color with Sharpie markers and rubbing alcohol. […]

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Build the Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle with LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 04:15:00 +0000

Build the 4 stages of the Monarch butterfly life cycle – with LEGO® bricks! A few years ago, we were able to watch two Monarch butterflies emerge from their chrysalides. It was pretty amazing. The boys have always loved animals and nature, especially Gresham, so we love learning about wildlife wherever we can. When kids […]

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LEGO New Releases March 1, 2024

Sarah — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 17:13:01 +0000

Come check out the March 1, 2024 LEGO New Releases! Today is a BIG day for LEGO new releases. There are some super fun sets, especially for Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Speed Champions. I’m SUPER excited about the new Medieval Town Square! Wow. This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that I earn […]

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Build a LEGO Balance

Sarah — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 04:13:00 +0000

Here is a fun LEGO® math activity – build a balance out of LEGO® bricks and compare the weights of different objects. This math activity works well for kids in the early elementary grades. I’d recommend it for kindergarten up through third grade. Kindergartners will enjoy exploring this LEGO balance, while older kids can really […]

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How to Build a LEGO Pickup Truck

Sarah — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 20:26:21 +0000

Let’s learn how to build a LEGO pickup truck with the bricks you have! We have been wanting to create a good classic pickup truck for a long time. Owen, our 14 year old, loves to design LEGO vehicles, and he’s quite good at it. This little pickup truck took some work to get the […]

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Make a Worm Observation Jar

Sarah — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 21:05:00 +0000

Make a Worm Observation Jar! This simple life science experiment is perfect for spring. Spring always feels like a great time to get outside and dig in the dirt. It’s also a great time to learn about animals! Did you know that every animal has a job to do? In the study of ecology, the […]

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Toothpick Twirlers Science Experiment

Sarah — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 19:20:00 +0000

Make some Toothpick Twirlers! This is a fun science experiment for kids, and all you need is paper, scissors, tape, and some toothpicks. This post was updated February 9, 2024. The twirlers spin as they fall to the ground, which is super fun to watch. This activity also lends itself well to testing scientific variables. […]

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LEGO Deals on Amazon – February 7, 2024

Sarah — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 02:16:40 +0000

There are some great LEGO deals on Amazon at the moment! Lots of Creator sets and more. We love LEGO sets, but we don’t love paying full price. It’s always fun to snag deals when you can! I’ll also share several low-priced sets that are not on sale (because they’re new) but that would make […]

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Make a LEGO Mechanical Puzzle

Sarah — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 23:02:00 +0000

Use your LEGO bricks to construct a three piece mechanical puzzle! My kids were really impressed with this! It’s such a fun project for kids who like to tinker. When you first pick up the puzzle, it’s not immediately obvious how to solve it. Kids will enjoy learning the trick to putting it together and […]

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How to Build LEGO Gadgets and Machines

Sarah — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 19:01:23 +0000

Learn how to build super cool LEGO gadgets and machines with the bricks you have! This is a collection of LEGO building ideas for kids who love making creations with moving parts. Some of these projects require gears and Technic elements, but most use fairly common pieces. Also, a common misconception is that Technic elements […]

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Easy Cardboard Valentine Heart Boxes

Sarah — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 20:20:48 +0000

Use cardboard to make adorable heart shaped boxes for Valentine’s Day! These Valentine heart boxes are so fun for holding candy, treats, or other small treasures, and kids will be amazed at how easy these heart boxes are to make! Decorate them with paint, stickers, or whatever supplies you have on hand. Use your finished […]

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Printable Horse Valentines

Sarah — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 20:28:12 +0000

Horse-loving kids will go crazy for these printable horse Valentines! These cards are perfect for a school Valentine’s Day party or for handing out to friends in the neighborhood. They are also non-mushy and boys will hopefully approve of them, ha! I designed two of the cards to especially be a little more boy-friendly. This […]

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How Strong is Paper {STEM Challenge}

Sarah — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 15:07:58 +0000

How strong is paper? Let’s find out with two simple science experiments! Testing material strength is such a fun engineering activity for kids. We’ve tested to see how strong spaghetti is. And now we’re going to test the strength of a sheet of paper. You can use materials from around your house or classroom to […]

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Build LEGO Gym Equipment

Sarah — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 15:09:59 +0000

Build your own LEGO gym equipment! It’s fun to set up a workout area for your minifigures. We created a fitness gym with a treadmill, rowing machine, stationary bike, and weights. We even built TV screens for the minifigures to watch while working out! January is a great time for this LEGO challenge. You know, […]

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Spectacular Snowflake Crafts for Kids

Sarah — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 22:01:00 +0000

Here’s a collection spectacular snowflake crafts and activities for kids! Even though we live in Texas where we rarely have snow, I love snowflakes and snow activities! Maybe it’s because I was born in the northeast (PA). In Texas we mostly get ice if we get any winter weather at all. But snowflakes are […]

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Borax Crystal Snowflake Science Experiment

Sarah — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 14:08:00 +0000

Kids will love growing these beautiful borax crystal snowflakes! This science experiment is so easy to do, and it quickly yields gorgeous results. If you’re worried about getting this science experiment to work out, then do not fear! These borax crystal snowflakes are foolproof. Let me walk you through the simple steps for completing this […]

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January 1, 2024 LEGO New Releases

Sarah — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 04:30:09 +0000

We’ve compiled our favorites from the January 1st LEGO New Releases! This is a large release, although the sets seem to be focused on mainly City, Classic, and Creator. The next release (March 1st) will have a lot of Harry Potter and other themes. This post contains Amazon affiliate links which means that I earn […]

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LEGO Stamping Snowflakes

Sarah — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 01:33:35 +0000

Use bricks to make LEGO stamped snowflakes! I absolutely love snowflake art. There are so many ways to design a snowflake! We’ve made snowflakes with toothpicks and marshmallows and Perler bead snowflakes. We’ve also made LEGO snowflakes, which are lots of fun to build. Today we have an awesome new twist on LEGO snowflake art! […]

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The Best Nativity Crafts for Kids to Make

Sarah — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 03:24:00 +0000

Here’s a collection of the sweetest nativity crafts for kids to make this Christmas! Explore the story of Jesus’ birth in a hands-on way with these simple and adorable crafts and activities. First, here are some printable Advent Tree Devotions to do with kids. Study the story of Jesus from creation to His birth with […]

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An Advent Playlist: Favorite Songs for the Christmas Season

Sarah — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 16:46:00 +0000

I love advent. I love celebrating the birth of our Savior with my children. I love the opportunity to contemplate God in the flesh – that He would take the form of a bondservant and be found in appearance as a man, humbling Himself to the point of death – even death on a cross! […]

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Make a Craft Stick Nativity Scene

Sarah — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 19:55:11 +0000

Make your own craft stick nativity scene! Kids will love making this craft stick nativity scene, and it looks adorable hanging on a doorknob or on the wall or refrigerator. We love Christmas crafts that kids can make with supplies you already have on hand! Plus, this just makes great decor. This craft is perfect […]

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Build LEGO Christmas Ornaments

Sarah — Sat, 25 Nov 2023 14:46:22 +0000

Here are building instructions for four festive LEGO Christmas ornaments! I’ve been having so much fun creating new LEGO ornament designs this year. Build a classic red truck, a snowman, a gingerbread house, and a stained glass Christmas tree ornament. These ornaments are intended to be built with the bricks kids already have. If they […]

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Black Friday LEGO Deals on Amazon 2023

Sarah — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 02:39:08 +0000

Here are ALL the 2023 Black Friday LEGO Deals on Amazon! After a couple years of supply chain issues and prices all over the price (mostly higher), I am definitely seeing better sales this year. I’m definitely excited about that! It took awhile to wade through all the fake LEGO sets (ugh), but here are […]

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Christmas STEM Activities for Kindergarten and First Grade

Sarah — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 03:34:13 +0000

Here’s a collection of engaging Christmas STEM activities that kindergartners and first graders will love! Work on science, engineering, and math simple supplies, and a festive holiday theme. These activities are perfect for kids ages 5 – 7, and several of them can be modified for older kids as well. However, I do have a […]

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Black Friday Deals on Green Toys, Melissa and Doug, and MORE on Amazon

Sarah — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 15:18:22 +0000

Early Black Friday deals are here, and there are some AMAZING deals on Amazon right now! I found some fabulous prices on Green Toys, Melissa and Doug, and more. This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that I earn from qualifying purchases. Melissa and Doug The Melissa and Doug Metal Toy Shopping Cart is […]

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Easy Thanksgiving Games for Kids

Sarah — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 21:18:54 +0000

Here are some easy Thanksgiving games for kids that are perfect for your family gathering! Make the day more fun for everyone with some simple games that will keep the kids busy and happy. There is very little prep required for these games, and they use items you probably already have! If you’re looking for […]

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How to Buy Individual LEGO Bricks and Elements on BrickLink

Sarah — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 19:32:00 +0000

Did you know that it’s quite easy (and fairly inexpensive) to order individual LEGO® bricks? We often hear from readers who want to build one of our projects but don’t have all of the pieces needed. Or maybe your kids are wanting to order more lightsabers, some Technic elements like gears, or a bunch of […]

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Printable Gratitude Journal for Kids

Sarah — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 13:29:00 +0000

Are you looking for a way to encourage gratitude and thankfulness this Thanksgiving? Here’s a printable interactive journal for kids that will help you do just that! I was trying to decide what to do with my own kids this year, and I decided to adapt my family gratitude devotions into a journal that would […]

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How Big is that Turkey? {Thanksgiving STEM Activity}

Sarah — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 00:55:19 +0000

Here’s a Thanksgiving STEM activity that kids are going to love! In this activity, kids will be weighing and measuring turkeys to find out which is the biggest bird. This Thanksgiving math activity starts with a basic paper bag turkey craft. In fact, the craft is fun on its own and would look great on […]

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CRAZY Deals on LEGO Sets on Amazon {November 4, 2023}

Sarah — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 02:24:31 +0000

There are some incredible deals on LEGO sets on Amazon right now! Yes, I know that I just did a round-up of LEGO deals on Amazon a week ago, but I am just amazed at some of the prices right now! This would be a great time to put away some things for Christmas, especially […]

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Candy Math! Probability Activity

Sarah — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 17:16:20 +0000

Probability Activity with CANDY! This is a great math activity to do after Halloween, or really anytime. I would recommend this probability math activity for kids in 4th grade (age 9/10) up through middle school. My 6th grader loved it. In this activity, we’re going to investigate the probability of getting a certain color when […]

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LEGO Deals on Amazon – October 25, 2023

Sarah — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 20:45:43 +0000

Who’s ready to start Christmas shopping? There are generous deals on LEGO sets on Amazon right now, so it’s a great time to get started! We love LEGO sets, but we don’t love paying full price. Unless you’re looking for brand new releases, there’s a good chance that what you want is on sale. As […]

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Build LEGO Jack O’Lanterns

Sarah — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 02:09:56 +0000

Build your own LEGO Jack O’Lanterns with the bricks you have! This is a fun and creative LEGO challenge that kids will love. Last night, I decide to see how many pumpkin faces I could build with orange LEGO bricks. We have quite a supply of orange bricks because of the bricks I ordered for […]

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Woodland Animals Felt Decorated Pumpkins

Sarah — Sat, 07 Oct 2023 13:12:00 +0000

Decorate for fall with woodland animal pumpkins – an owl (my favorite!), deer, and raccoon! This fall pumpkin craft is fun for either kids or moms. Use felt to make the faces, and since you aren’t carving the pumpkins they will last all season long! We had so much fun making these fall animal pumpkins! […]

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Elementary Math Activities with M&M’s

Sarah — Sat, 07 Oct 2023 04:03:40 +0000

Grab a pack of your favorite M&M’s candy and do some fun elementary math activities! We LOVE M&M’s over here. Lining up the colors, the chocolatey taste… And since we always seem to have a kid or two (or three) in orthodontics, this is a candy we can eat that isn’t sticky. M&M’s also make […]

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Pumpkin Pendulums {Fall Science Activity}

Sarah — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 02:11:37 +0000

Here’s a fun pumpkin STEM activity! Experiment with your own pumpkin pendulums. This science experiment is so easy to do with supplies you have around your home or classroom, and kids will think it’s lots of fun. An added benefit is that you won’t be harming the pumpkins at all, so you can use them […]

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Build a LEGO Car Race

Sarah — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 01:07:27 +0000

Here’s a fun LEGO building idea for kids who love to tinker and pretend! Build a LEGO car race that releases two cars at the same time. The simple gate mechanism is so fun to build and play with. This LEGO car race can lead to all kinds of imaginative play. Build a whole scene […]

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LEGO Deals on Amazon – September 27, 2023

Sarah — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 00:11:00 +0000

As we get ready to head into the holiday season, there are some great LEGO deals on Amazon! These are mostly sale prices on sets that have been for awhile, but if you’re wanting to grow your collection of bricks and don’t care about purchasing only new releases, there are definitely some amazing deals right […]

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Candy Corn Catapults! {Fall STEM Challenge}

Sarah — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 18:58:00 +0000

Launch candy corn in this super fun catapult STEM challenge! Kids will have a blast with this engineering activity! They’ll also be exploring physics concepts, testing variables, practicing measurement, and more. Here’s the Challenge: Use simple supplies to build a catapult that launches a piece of candy corn the farthest. Side note… do you like […]

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3D Fall Tree Collage Art

Sarah — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 16:22:47 +0000

Celebrate fall with beautiful 3D fall tree collage art! Here’s a fun fall tree art project for kids that you can make with supplies you probably already have! The process involved in making this fall tree collage is so much fun. We love how our trees turned out, and my kids have requested that we […]

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Awesome LEGO Video Game Projects

Sarah — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 03:36:47 +0000

We love using our bricks to make super cool LEGO video game creations! It’s so fun to build characters and scenes from your favorite video game. You might even want to build the game console itself! (And hey, it’s also a great break from screens!) Below, we’ll share LEGO Mario mosaics to build (with printable […]

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Leaf Tessellation Collaborative STEM Art Project

Sarah — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 16:12:00 +0000

Celebrate the colors of fall with this leaf tessellation art project! I think that tessellating shapes are fascinating, and such a fun mix of math and art. A tessellation is defined as a geometric shape that can be arranged in a repeating pattern with no gaps between the tiles and no overlapping. In […]

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LEGO Deals on Amazon {Labor Day 2023}

Sarah — Sat, 02 Sep 2023 01:48:54 +0000

It’s time for LEGO deals on Amazon! It’s Labor Day weekend, so enjoy one last summer cookout and save on awesome LEGO sets. This time of year always seems to be a good one for discounts on LEGO sets, and that is definitely the case right now. My theory is that they are clearing room […]

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Making Ten with SNAKES {Printable Math Activity}

Sarah — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 14:48:25 +0000

Here’s a fun making ten math activity that is perfect for kindergarten and first grade! Let’s build SNAKES that are made out of numbers that add up to 10. It’s so true that kids need to memorize the addition facts. Knowing all the addition facts gives kids speed and confidence in higher level math. But […]

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Three Ways to Build a LEGO Self Portrait

Sarah — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 17:09:51 +0000

If you’re looking for a building challenge for your LEGO club or just something fun to do on a rainy day, creating LEGO self portraits is just the thing! It’s so fun to make yourself in brick form. We’ll show you three ways to build a LEGO self portrait. This is another one of those […]

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NEW LEGO Sets August and September 2023

Sarah — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 15:36:00 +0000

Let’s take a look at what’s new in the LEGO world! Our family enjoys keeping tabs on what new sets are coming up. The LEGO website shows upcoming sets several weeks in advance, but it can be hard to find them. They have a category for new sets, but it’s always a mix of new, […]

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Build a Craft Stick Chain Reaction!

Sarah — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 18:10:00 +0000

Build an exploding chain reaction by weaving together craft sticks! Creating a chain reaction is a SUPER fun boredom buster, and it’s also a great science lesson. You’ll be using tension to create elastic potential energy as you bend the sticks and weave them together. As you create this chain, you’ll be holding down the […]

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Build a LEGO Table Saw and Wood Shop

Sarah — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 19:25:52 +0000

Here’s a fun LEGO idea! Create your own wood shop with a working LEGO table saw. Okay, it doesn’t actually cut anything (which is probably a good thing!). But it’s an adorable table saw with a “blade” that really turns! This mechanical LEGO project is a lot of fun, and it only requires a couple […]

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Build a Working LEGO Windmill

Sarah — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 23:24:25 +0000

Build a working LEGO windmill with an adorable cottage to go with it! This clever windmill uses gears to make it turn, but you can also create a no-gear version. It would be fun to make a farm to go with your windmill! Or build a whole village. This LEGO project was built by some […]

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Bluey and Bingo Perler Bead Patterns

Sarah — Sun, 06 Aug 2023 21:42:42 +0000

Make Bluey and Bingo characters! Kids will enjoy following these easy Bluey and Bingo Perler bead patterns. Perler beads are one of our favorite activities for kids. If you’re not familiar with Perler beads (also called melty beads, fuse beads, or Hama beads), they are small plastic beads that kids use to make designs. When […]

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LEGO Math Activities for Elementary Kids

Sarah — Sun, 06 Aug 2023 19:42:00 +0000

Here’s a collection of LEGO math activities that kids will love! These activities are perfect for kids in the elementary grades, or ages 5 – 10. We love using LEGO® bricks for hands-on math learning. There are so many math concepts that you can explore – addition, subtraction, measurement, estimation, fractions, multiplication, division, and more. […]

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Build Your Own LEGO Carnival

Sarah — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 23:08:38 +0000

Here’s a super fun LEGO challenge that leads to all kinds of imaginative play! Challenge kids to design their own carnival with LEGO bumper cars, a Ferris wheel, and more. Add a concession stand, and then you may want to design midway games or additional rides. This project is so easy to customize with the […]

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Awesome LEGO Deals on Amazon – August 1, 2023

Sarah — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 20:35:00 +0000

There are some super great deals on LEGO sets on Amazon right now! My guess is that they are clearing room for new sets that will arrive for the fall and holiday seasons. As you check out the deals, keep in mind that Amazon can change their prices at any time. If the set you’re […]

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Rubber Band Potential Energy Science Experiment

Sarah — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 14:51:56 +0000

This science experiment just feels like fun (I mean, we get to shoot rubber bands!), but it’s such an effective way to teach kids about potential energy and kinetic energy. Elementary students will love this experiment and will understand the concept, but middle schoolers can take it a step further by creating graphs with their […]

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Ocean LEGO Projects to Build (Sea Turtle, Crab, Otter, and Fish!)

Sarah — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 14:26:00 +0000

Use the bricks you have to build Ocean LEGO® Projects – Sea Turtle, Fish, Otter, and Crab! These LEGO ocean animals are fun to build to go with a unit study on ocean life or a visit to an aquarium. They are also just fun for summer break or anytime! The animals in this post […]

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50+ Unplugged Activities for Tween Age Boys

Sarah — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 15:32:00 +0000

Are you trying to get your kid off screens? Tired of hearing, “I’m bored!” Tired of being told there is “nothing” to do? Looking for things for your tween boy to be engaged in? We’ve got you covered! This post is full of activities, hobbies, jobs, and more that tweens will enjoy. The “tween” years […]

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Easy Kids Activities with Supplies You Already Have

Sarah — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 20:26:48 +0000

Looking for simple activities to keep kids busy? They will LOVE these awesome boredom busters, and you probably have these supplies on hand already! Whether it’s a rainy day, a sick day, or just a day where you need to get things done in peace, these activities will fit the bill. All of these kids […]

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Build a LEGO WWII Mustang Plane

Sarah — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 01:04:15 +0000

Use your LEGO bricks to make an awesome WWII era plane! Our friend Jacob built this cool Mustang replica and gave us permission to share it with you all. I love his plane because it’s simple to build and has that classic WWII look. Customize your Mustang plane with the bricks you have. You may […]

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2023 Amazon Prime Day Deals on LEGO and Toys

Sarah — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 14:03:05 +0000

It’s Amazon Prime Day, and I am seeing some great deals on LEGO sets, Melissa and Doug, Bluey toys, Star Wars, building toys, and more. Prime Day can be a good day to put things away for an upcoming birthday or even Christmas. As always, I have checked Amazon’s sale prices against the LEGO website […]

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Weekly Brick Ideas {Building Fun for LEGO Fans}

Sarah — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 21:00:10 +0000

Calling all LEGO fans! It’s time to join Weekly Brick Ideas! We’re starting something new here at Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls. For years, we’ve shared LEGO building projects with you on this website. It kind of all got started when our LEGO candy dispenser went crazy viral back in 2014. Our entire family […]

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Scrap Wood City Skyline {Kids Art}

Sarah — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 20:55:28 +0000

Turn scraps of wood into city skylines! This activity is part woodworking project and part art project, and it’s SO MUCH FUN! You can decide how much woodworking you want the kids to do with this project. You can pre-cut all the wood and then let the kids sand the blocks, paint the buildings, and […]

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The Best Bluey Episodes for Parents (and Kids!)

Sarah — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 18:13:54 +0000

So I have to admit that it took us awhile to get into Bluey because we don’t have little kids. But then a friend recommended it, and we tried a few episodes and were hooked, haha! This may be a preschool show, but it has so many funny things and even touching moments that parents […]

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Patriotic Flag Cupcakes for the 4th of July

Sarah — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 18:03:00 +0000

Here’s a fun July 4th dessert that kids can help make! These patriotic flag cupcakes will look awesome at your family’s fourth of July cookout, and they taste delicious too. They’re also perfect for Memorial Day or Flag Day as well. I love keeping July 4th simple! It should be about easy food, spending […]

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Paper Bowl Sea Turtle Craft

Sarah — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 16:08:31 +0000

Make an adorable paper bowl sea turtle craft! If you’re looking for a fun ocean craft, these paper bowl sea turtles are just the thing. They’re so easy to make with supplies you already have on hand, and the finished sea turtles are adorable. This sea turtle is a fun craft for summer break, and […]

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LEGO DUPLO Building Ideas {With Printable Cards!}

Sarah — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 04:07:28 +0000

Let’s build with LEGO DUPLO! Here are 14 super fun DUPLO building ideas to inspire kids (and parents too)! When our kids were small, our DUPLO bricks saw almost constant use. I loved having a building toy that was fun for my bigger kids (up through ages 6-7 or so) and also safe for babies […]

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Science Experiments with the SUN!

Sarah — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 04:03:03 +0000

Here are two science experiments about the sun! No, we won’t be LOOKING at the sun, but there are all kinds of cool (hot?) ways for kids to learn about the sun’s powerful rays. These science experiments are fun to do in the summer, but they truly work any time of the year. All you […]

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40+ of the Best Summer Activities for Kids

Sarah — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 21:30:00 +0000

Here are 40+ summer activities for kids! Summer crafts, outdoor games, water games, popsicle recipes, and more. Are you planning your summer bucket list? After the hectic pace of the school year, summer is always the perfect time get outside, play in the pool, play games, and make some great family memories. Here’s a collection […]

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How to Make a Pool Noodle Rocket Flinger

Sarah — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 21:30:00 +0000

Pool Noodle Rocket Flingers – Turn a pool noodle into a fun DIY toy! One night, the boys found a fun flinger toy at the park. I wouldn’t let them bring it home because it looked like the type of thing that someone might come back for. After we got home, I did some thinking […]

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LEGO Deals on Amazon – June 3, 2023

Sarah — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 04:25:02 +0000

There are some fabulous deals on LEGO sets on Amazon right now! If you are needing basic bricks, there are some especially good deals on LEGO Classic sets. We love LEGO sets, but it’s SO much more fun when you don’t have to pay full price. As always, I’ve compared Amazon’s prices with Lego.com to […]

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Building Boats from Recycled Materials

Sarah — Wed, 31 May 2023 02:17:00 +0000

Summer is the perfect time for kids to build their own boats out of recycled materials! This is a fun STEM challenge that also leads to all kinds of pretend play. Perfect for a summer afternoon! Float your boats in a kiddie pool/paddling pool in the yard, or float them in a pond or creek. […]

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Road Trip Games and Activities for Kids

Sarah — Tue, 30 May 2023 17:10:41 +0000

Make your next vacation fun for everyone with these awesome road trip games and activities! A little prep can help so much in making even a long trek a fun family memory. This post is full of simple ideas that don’t require a lot of money or time to prepare. Rotate in some of these […]

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Summer Writing Ideas for Kids

Sarah — Sat, 27 May 2023 16:50:00 +0000

Make summer learning easy with these summer writing ideas for kids! Summer is a great time to do some creative writing, and kids will love these writing ideas because they feel more like play than learning. Along the way, they’ll have the opportunity to practice spelling, capitalization, punctuation (including quotation marks!), and using good vocabulary. […]

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LEGO Mario Building Cards

Sarah — Tue, 23 May 2023 15:56:44 +0000

We’re back with more LEGO mosaics, and this time we have some LEGO Mario building cards to share! These designs are based on the original NES Super Mario Brothers game from 1985. So classic! If you grew up in the 1980’s, you will not be able to resist having the video game music running through […]

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Hilarious Summer Jokes that Kids Will Love

Sarah — Tue, 23 May 2023 13:05:00 +0000

Here’s a collection of clean and hilarious summer jokes for kids! There are jokes about vacations, road trips, the beach, and more. Use these to add a laugh to an afternoon at home or read them in the car to pass time on a road trip. If you have a joke to add, leave a […]

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Summer Science Experiments and Activities for Kids!

Sarah — Sat, 20 May 2023 19:45:00 +0000

Take advantage of the warm (hot?) summer weather to get outside and do some science! Kids of all ages will love these projects and experiments. Most of these activities are perfect for elementary and middle school students, or you can do them with preschoolers and just provide extra help. For example, preschoolers will love watching […]

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Star Wars Perler Beads Patterns

Sarah — Thu, 11 May 2023 22:27:00 +0000

Make cool Star Wars designs with Perler beads! Here are patterns for making Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Boba Fett, R2-D2, and more of your favorite characters. If you’re not familiar with Perler beads (also called Hama beads or melty beads), they are a fabulous craft for kids of all ages, both boys and […]

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Western Crafts and Activities for Kids

Sarah — Fri, 05 May 2023 17:36:44 +0000

Kids will love these western crafts and activities, yessiree! We’ve got crafts with horses, bandanas, panning for gold, making your own butter, and a whole heap more. These western activities are perfect for pairing with our Cowboys and Cowgirls Math and Language Arts Pack (for 3rd – 5th grade). Or if you’re planning a western […]

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Amazon Deals on LEGO Sets and Star Wars Toys

Sarah — Thu, 04 May 2023 16:26:17 +0000

It’s Star Wars Day! You know, May the 4th be with you! I had been making a list of LEGO deals on Amazon to share with you all, and now Star Wars toy are on sale today also. I also have some fun LEGO New Releases to tell you about! As always, I have compared […]

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Hilarious Star Wars Jokes for Kids

Sarah — Wed, 03 May 2023 18:53:00 +0000

Star Wars fans will love these hilarious Star Wars jokes! They will be sure to get your little Jedis laughing! Read jokes about Luke, Darth Vader, Chewy, and all your favorite Star Wars characters. These jokes are all clean and appropriate for kids. If you’re looking for jokes to share at school or to put […]

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Top Clean Country Songs

Sarah — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 15:38:27 +0000

Here’s a playlist of the top clean country songs! These are upbeat country songs with appropriate, family-friendly lyrics that you won’t mind your kids singing along to. This idea for this post started back at Christmas time… my college son was home for the holiday break, and I enlisted his help in finding appropriate country […]

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Tin Can & Rope Utensil Holders {Party Idea!}

Sarah — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 16:45:05 +0000

Make these tin can and rope utensil holders for a western themed party or a backyard BBQ! They’re so cute and SO easy. This is truly a 10 minute craft that yields fabulous results. My 11 year old had a great time making these. I’d recommend this craft for ages 8 and up. Younger kids […]

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Tote Bag Bandana Craft

Sarah — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 01:27:54 +0000

This DIY tote bag bandana craft is so much fun for a summer camp activity, a craft night, or a western themed party! We love using our tote bags as library bags. They would also work well for carrying sunscreen and a towel to the pool, or bringing a few books and toys to Grandma’s […]

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Clothespin Horse Craft {Printable Template}

Sarah — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 19:05:58 +0000

This adorable clothespin horse craft is super cute and tons of fun! The horse even stands up on its own with clothespin legs. Choose the colors for your horse, and add some yarn for the mane and tail. So fun for a western unit or just a rainy day. Just print the horse template and […]

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Kitchen Skills To Teach Your Kids

Sarah — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 01:07:00 +0000

Let’s talk about kitchen skills for kids! Today’s post is a guest post from my real-life friend, Niki. A former home economics teacher, she is an expert in all things related to food, cooking, and hosting events. If you’ve been wanting to help your kids become more proficient in the kitchen, this post is for […]

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How to Build Cool LEGO Robots

Sarah — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 17:02:11 +0000

Here are 4 cool LEGO robots to build – with instructions! Grab that big bin of LEGO bricks and taken-apart sets, and challenge the kids to build some robots. This is such a great LEGO challenge because kids can truly use whatever bricks they have. There are many ways to build a LEGO robot! For […]

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Painted Easter Eggs {Brown Eggs + White Paint}

Sarah — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 04:10:42 +0000

Here’s an Easter egg decorating idea that is so simple and sweet! We usually dye white eggs, but I felt like trying something different this year. I am loving how these brown eggs came together with a little white paint! We used real brown eggs for this project, and painted them with white acrylic paint […]

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Why Do Rivers Curve? {Geology Science Experiment}

Sarah — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 21:20:31 +0000

Why do rivers curve? Have you ever wondered that? If you’ve ever paid attention, you’ve probably noticed that rivers are rarely straight, and many have significant u-shaped curves. Some rivers curve around rocks, hills, and other natural landforms. But even a fairly straight river without interference from landforms will tend to form curves called meanders. […]

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Printable Easter Perler Bead Patterns

Sarah — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 18:46:06 +0000

Kids will love these Easter Perler bead patterns! Make adorable bunnies, chicks, Easter eggs, baskets, and more. You can print the Easter Perler bead pattern cards at the bottom of this post. If you’re not familiar with Perler beads, they are small plastic beads that fuse together when you heat them with an iron. You […]

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Easter Basket Stuffers for Kids and Teens

Sarah — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 21:21:33 +0000

Easter is coming soon on April 9, 2023! It feels early this year, although I know it isn’t. Maybe it’s because it was later last year. If you’re looking for Easter basket ideas for kids, we’ve got some fun ideas! To start, I should explain that I am a huge fan of keeping Easter baskets […]

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How Do Thunderstorms Form? {Science Experiment}

Sarah — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 02:41:35 +0000

Here’s a fun weather science experiment that demonstrates how thunderstorms form! Kids will be able to actually see how cold air pushes warm air up, which creates those tall clouds known as thunderheads. Here in Texas, we know a lot about thunderstorms! We can have thunderstorms during any part of the year, but our spring […]

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Weather Science Experiments for Kids

Sarah — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 03:43:57 +0000

Let’s do some awesome weather science experiments! Kids love learning about the weather, and for kids who are afraid of storms, exploring the science behind them can make storms less scary. This is a collection of science experiments, science demonstrations, and observation activities on all kinds of weather topics. These projects use simple supplies that […]

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Make an Anemometer to Observe Wind Speed

Sarah — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 02:49:00 +0000

Use paper cups and straws to make your own anemometer! Kids will love observing the wind speed with these simple weather device. An anemometer is a device that meteorologists use to measure the wind speed and direction. Like our homemade anemometer, a real anemometer has 3 or 4 cups attached to arms. When the wind […]

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Build LEGO Flowers

Sarah — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 03:28:43 +0000

Celebrate spring and summer by building your own LEGO flowers! Use your bricks to create your own colorful LEGO garden. This is such a fun building challenge because kids can use whatever pieces they have to create unique flower designs. It would be fun to do this LEGO building activity with a group and see […]

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The Best DIY Backyard Playgrounds for Your Outdoor Play Space

Sarah — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 15:30:00 +0000

Looking for backyard playground ideas? Whether your yard is large or small, there are so many amazing DIY projects that anyone can do. This is a collection of the best DIY outdoor toys, climbing structures, and play spaces to make for kids. My personal favorites are the skateboard swing and the PVC sand and water […]

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Pony Beads Place Value Activity

Sarah — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 03:36:08 +0000

I’m excited to show you this place value activity because it’s a great way for kids to visualize and work with three digit numbers. Teach the concept of place value in a hands-on way, and then expand it to add and subtract with carrying and borrowing. This place value activity is helpful for kids who […]

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Why is the Sky Blue? {Science Experiment}

Sarah — Sun, 05 Mar 2023 22:22:26 +0000

See WHY the sky is blue with this simple science experiment! You can also observe an orange sunset with the same activity. And all you need are some basic supplies from around the house! We did this why is the sky blue science experiment as part of a chapter on light with my 8th/9th grade […]

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LEGO Deals on Amazon and Exciting New Releases {March 3, 2023}

Sarah — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 16:23:53 +0000

There are some great deals on LEGO sets on Amazon right now! Also, LEGO released some awesome stuff on March 1st. Our family thought the January 1st release was a little boring, but this release definitely have some cool sets. As always, I have checked sale prices against Lego.com to make sure that Amazon’s sale […]

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Toilet Paper Roll Cat Craft

Sarah — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 03:30:34 +0000

Cat lovers of all ages will have a blast with this toilet paper roll cat craft! Create adorable cats that are fun to play with. Kids can make one that matches their pet cat, or make any color they want. These toilet paper roll cats go well with our toilet paper roll dog craft! Also, […]

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Dancing Rainbow Science Experiment

Sarah — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 04:35:25 +0000

Use a water and a mirror to make a DANCING RAINBOW! This is such a fun rainbow science experiment that goes well with a science unit on light or the electromagnetic spectrum. It’s also a fun activity to do for St. Patrick’s Day! We did this science experiment with my middle school science class last […]

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Teach the Distributive Property with LEGO Bricks!

Sarah — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 03:36:47 +0000

Have you ever wished that algebra was more concrete and even hands-on? Maybe we can make it that way! Here’s an easy way to teach the distributive property with LEGO bricks. This math lesson is part of our Hands-On Algebra Series. I’ve been working on ways to teach pre-algebra and algebra concepts with manipulatives (LEGO […]

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Math Activities with Square Root and Exponents

Sarah — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 16:39:36 +0000

Here’s a fun way to teach square roots and exponents in a hands-on way with LEGO bricks! Lately, I’ve been working on hands-on math activities for pre-algebra and algebra 1. If you’ve taught these levels, you’ve probably realized that the concepts quickly become more difficult in a different way than elementary math. Algebra requires symbolic […]

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Heart Collage Art {Valentine’s Day Craft}

Sarah — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 21:05:35 +0000

Here’s a super creative Valentine’s Day craft and art project! This is so fun to make and display. Kids will use a simple heart template to create collage hearts. The possibilities for this are endless! Use items from the craft store or from around your home or classroom. My boys would never have gone for […]

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Printable Multiplication Tables Memory Game

Sarah — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 22:44:51 +0000

Play the multiplication tables memory game! If you’re looking for an easy (and fun!) way to help kids memorize their multiplication tables, we’ve got just the game for you. This printable multiplication facts game is based off the classic memory matching game. Kids will match multiplication facts with the correct answer. Learning is always more […]

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Pipe Cleaner Princess Craft

Sarah — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 04:40:32 +0000

This pipe cleaner princess craft is so much fun! These princesses are a total win because the materials are so simple (your probably have most of them on hand), and the completed princesses are posable and perfect for playing with. This princess craft was actually a reader request! I received a message on Instagram from […]

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The Best Marble Runs for Kids

Sarah — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 17:13:00 +0000

Marble runs make great engineering challenges for kids! If you have followed us for very long, you know that marble runs of all types are some of our favorite things to build. Here is a collection of the BEST marble runs for kids. I’ve included several DIY marble run project ideas, and then […]

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Chilly Chemical Reactions! {Endothermic Reactions}

Sarah — Sun, 22 Jan 2023 22:39:32 +0000

Let’s explore endothermic reactions! Most people have tried doing a baking soda and vinegar chemical reaction, but did you know that this reaction is actually COLD? I had no idea until we studied endothermic and exothermic reactions in my son’s 8th grade science book and learned that baking soda and vinegar is an endothermic reaction […]

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Watercolor and White Crayon Snowflakes

Sarah — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 04:30:39 +0000

When it comes to winter art projects, snowflake art is my absolute favorite! This simple watercolor and white crayon snowflake art is such a fun process, and the results are beautiful. And the great part is that you probably have all the supplies on hand. That makes this a great boredom buster for a snow […]

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Lego Snowman (With Building Instructions!)

Sarah — Sun, 15 Jan 2023 04:00:00 +0000

How to Build a LEGO® Snowman Here’s a fun winter LEGO challenge that kids will love! Build some adorable snowmen out of the bricks you have. We’ve got instructions for building two different LEGO snowmen, and then we’ll show you a third version that is easy to figure out from the photo. This LEGO snowman […]

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Build a Rocket Powered LEGO Car

Sarah — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 16:15:00 +0000

Use baking soda and vinegar to make a rocket powered LEGO car! Kids will love this fun engineering challenge, and there’s so much to learn. This science project is a fabulous example of Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. There are several factors […]

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Winter Fill-in-the-Blank Stories

Sarah — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 04:31:08 +0000

Do your kids love Mad Libs? My kids think they are hilarious! These stories start out as a paragraph with a bunch of blanks. One player asks the other players, who haven’t read the story, to supply nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc. to fill in the blanks. The resulting story is hilarious because it generally makes […]

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Hands on Math Activities for Elementary

Sarah — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 15:01:00 +0000

Make Learning FUN with 50+ Hands-On Math Activities! Do you love math? I’m guessing that like many people, your answer is probably no! Math can be frustrating to kids if the concepts are hard to understand. Also, math requires a significant amount of memorization, and a lack of recall on the basic math facts can […]

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Math Art: Make Pattern Block Snowflakes

Sarah — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 03:03:00 +0000

Pattern block snowflakes are a fun winter craft that combines math and art! Use geometric shaped pattern blocks to create beautiful snowflakes! There are so many possibilities, and a whole class can create them with no two alike. Young kids will enjoy this, but don’t underestimate the value of doing this project with teens […]

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Build Your Own LEGO Pinball Machine

Sarah — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 04:44:05 +0000

Use your bricks to build a LEGO pinball machine that really works! This is such a fun LEGO project because you get to build, and then also play. We love building LEGO contraptions and projects that really do something! This LEGO pinball machine is also easy to customize with the bricks you have. You can […]

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Popsicle Stick Star Christmas Ornaments

Sarah — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 13:08:00 +0000

Make popsicle stick star Christmas ornaments! These ornaments are a fabulous Christmas craft for kids. The supplies could not be more simple, and yet the ornaments are fun to make and look great on the tree. They would also make great gift tags or embellishments for a gift bag or package. Add glitter and sparkles, or […]

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Amazing Christmas Science and STEM Activities

Sarah — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 15:27:40 +0000

Here are some festive Christmas science and STEM activities that kids will love! These activities are perfect for the elementary grades up through middle school. Do some science with density, design tessellating Christmas trees, build geoboard snowflakes, and much more. We love creating learning activities that fit the season. It’s much more motivating to learn […]

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Is Mint Actually Cold?

Sarah — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 18:05:49 +0000

Have you ever wondered if mint is actually cold? Here’s a simple science experiment that will show you the answer to that question! When you suck on a mint, it makes your mouth feel nice and cool. But is it really reducing the temperature of your mouth? Is mint cold? We investigated this in the […]

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Christmas Rube Goldberg STEM Challenge

Sarah — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 15:25:39 +0000

Little elves with have a blast with this Christmas Rube Goldberg STEM Challenge! Young engineers will make a jingle bell land in a red paper cup through a series of chain reactions. You can set this up with building toys and materials you already have. The supplies don’t need to be complicated! What is a […]

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Black Friday Deals on Educational Toys

Sarah — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 20:41:33 +0000

Here are some of the best Black Friday deals on quality educational toys for kids! I found big savings on Melissa and Doug and so much more. Skip the plastic, light-up, battery-powered junky toys that will break in a week. It’s worth it to own less toys that are open-ended, high quality, and will lead […]

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Black Friday LEGO Deals on Amazon

Sarah — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 18:07:12 +0000

Ready for some Black Friday LEGO deals on Amazon? It’s always awesome to shop from the comfort of the couch! After the supply chain issues from last year, my observations so far (which are admittedly limited) are that this year’s sales and deals are much more plentiful. However, a deal is only a deal if […]

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Christmas Density Tower Science Experiment

Sarah — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 19:54:25 +0000

Earlier this year, we made a fall density tower, and we enjoyed it so much that we decided to make a Christmas version! If you’ve never tried this simple science experiment, you really should. It’s like a grown-up version of sink and float, and it’s fascinating for kids in elementary school up through high school. […]

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How to Build Cool LEGO Mini Vehicles

Sarah — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 21:47:50 +0000

Here’s a collection of super cool mini LEGO vehicles to build! Learn how to make a mini LEGO school bus, mail truck, fire truck, ambulance, cement truck, UPS truck, pickup truck, recycling truck, and a military airplane. We love building tiny LEGO projects, and we’ve got more than just vehicles on this site if you’re […]

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Candy Science! Cool Experiments for Kids

Sarah — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 03:48:53 +0000

Here are some cool candy science experiments that kids will love! If you’ve followed this site for any length of time, you know that we love simple science experiments. I love finding science experiments that are meaningful and that address skills kids will need for high school science. These candy science experiments will help kids […]

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Polarity of Water Science Experiments

Sarah — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 15:33:35 +0000

We all interact with water every day, but water is still an amazing (and surprising!) substance to explore. Because of its polarity, water can do some really cool things. Here’s a collection of awesome science experiments that demonstrate how water’s polarity affects its behavior. The polarity of water creates forces of cohesion and adhesion. We’ll […]

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Pumpkin Patch Dot Game

Sarah — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 18:11:33 +0000

Use craft sticks and fall candy to make a fun pumpkin patch version of the dot game! This would be fun for a fall party, Halloween party, or class activity. It’s also fun to just do at home with family! Have you ever played the dot game? This classic pencil and paper game is great […]

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How to Build a LEGO Night Light

Sarah — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 03:17:00 +0000

Here’s a fun LEGO building idea! Challenge kids to design their own working LEGO night light. It’s always fun when you can build a LEGO gadget that really works! This is fun for a rainy day at home, or as a building challenge for a LEGO club. You can build a LEGO night light with […]

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Cool Science Activities with BATS!

Sarah — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 04:04:03 +0000

Do you love bats, or think they’re creepy? I’ll admit that they aren’t my favorite animals… but my kids think they’re great. And bats are super helpful in keeping the insect population under control! Here are some hands-on bat science and math activities that kids will love. These are fun for anytime, but they’re also […]

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11+ Crazy Fun Fall LEGO Projects

Sarah — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 14:11:00 +0000

Here’s a collection of fall and Halloween projects to build with LEGO® bricks! Construct a working candy machine, some upside-down hanging bats, a pumpkin catapult, silly monsters, and more. These projects make great LEGO challenges for a LEGO club or class because kids do not have to build them exactly the same. They can put […]

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Cowboy and Old West Learning Pack

Sarah — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 20:26:40 +0000

If you’re looking for Western learning activities to go with cowboys and cowgirls, westward expansion, and cattle drives, you have come to the right place! Here’s a learning pack that kids will love. This printable pack is full of math and language arts activities for kids in 3rd – 5th grades, or ages 8 to […]

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Fall Density Tower Science Experiment

Sarah — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 19:47:34 +0000

Here’s another super cool fall science experiment to try! Make a density tower (also called a density jar) with a fun fall twist. Kids (and teens) will be amazed at how the different liquids sit on top of each other without mixing. It’s also fun and kind of mind-blowing to drop in solid objects and […]

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Pumpkin Rube Goldberg Machine Challenge

Sarah — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 01:46:39 +0000

Here’s an engaging STEM challenge that is just perfect for the fall season! Challenge kids to build a Rube Goldberg machine that gets a candy pumpkin into a basket. Kids will have so much fun tinkering with this, and you can use supplies from around your house or classroom. It doesn’t need to be complex! […]

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Toilet Paper Roll Owls

Sarah — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 04:49:36 +0000

Save those toilet paper rolls! Here’s an adorable owl craft that kids will love making. You can make the owls any colors you want, and cupcake liners work so well for making the owl’s wings. If you’ve followed our site for any length of time, you probably know that we love owls. We even have […]

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LEGO Deals on Amazon – Labor Day

Sarah — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 03:33:01 +0000

It’s Labor Day weekend and there are some great deals on LEGO sets from Amazon! Also, LEGO has released the 2022 Advent Calendars, and there are some good ones. Woo hoo! If you’ve followed this site for very long, you know that we love LEGO sets! But we also love getting a good deal on […]

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Hands-On Fractions Activities

Sarah — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 16:47:29 +0000

Even for kids who love math, fractions can be a challenge! Make fractions easier with these fun hands-on math activities. These activities cover partitioning (dividing a shape into equal parts), equivalent fractions, and discovering how many items are in a fractional part of a whole. I would recommend these fractions activities for kids age 7 […]

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LEGO Arrays Multiplication Game

Sarah — Sat, 27 Aug 2022 19:47:55 +0000

Here’s a cool multiplication game that kids will love! Use LEGO bricks to build arrays. The first one to cover their baseplate wins! This math activity is part of our LEGO Math Series. We’ve got all kinds of ideas for learning addition, subtraction, multiplication, measurement, graphing, and more with LEGO bricks. Supplies Needed: This post […]

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Review of the LEGO Lion Knights Castle

Sarah — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 20:28:46 +0000

So, I don’t normally write reviews of LEGO sets. It’s not that we don’t buy any… haha. If you’ve followed this site for very long, you know that we are huge LEGO fans! However, on this site I prefer to post original LEGO creations and educational activities using LEGO bricks. This time I’m doing a […]

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Funny LEGO Jokes for Kids

Sarah — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 21:21:00 +0000

We’ve been wanting to do a post of LEGO jokes for awhile because, well, we love funny kids jokes and we love LEGO®! And honestly, there are not a lot of LEGO® jokes out there. If you search for LEGO® jokes, you’ll mostly find memes, and unfortunately way too many of them are off-color and […]

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LEGO Pendulum Science Experiment

Sarah — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 14:53:40 +0000

Here’s a cool way to do a classic pendulum science experiment. Build your pendulum out of LEGO bricks! You won’t need complicated pieces, and it’s easy to change both the mass and length of the pendulum. This project is part of our LEGO STEM Projects series. We’ve got all kinds of engineering projects to explore […]

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Make a Cloud in a Jar {Cool Science!}

Sarah — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 01:32:45 +0000

Have you ever made a cloud in a jar? This is a cool weather science experiment that kids of all ages will enjoy. Preschoolers will totally enjoy watching the cloud form, but I’m here to tell you that my middle school science class also loved this experiment! I had read about making a cloud in […]

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How to Play Texas Twister {Card Game}

Sarah — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 03:31:24 +0000

Learn how to play Texas Twister! This is a SUPER fun card game that everyone in the family will enjoy. We have shared a lot of family card games on our website, and this one is one of my favorites. It’s interesting and fast-moving. Kids (maybe age 8 and up) can easily learn this game, […]

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Activities for Teaching Fractions with LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 03:28:00 +0000

Let’s do some LEGO fractions activities! This is such a fun and hands on way to teach kids about fractions. In this post, we’ll show you how to use LEGO bricks to look at fractions from a variety of angles. These activities are perfect for kids in the early elementary grades, or ages 7 – […]

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Candy Sudoku Printable Game Boards

Sarah — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 20:13:57 +0000

Have you ever played Sudoku? Sudoku is a number puzzle that involves a player using logic to figure out the placement of numbers. Each row, column, and box of 9 squares on the game board must have one each of the digits 1 through 9. Here’s a really cool way to play Sudoku using M&M’s […]

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Awesome LEGO Display Shelf Ideas

Sarah — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 16:53:50 +0000

These LEGO display shelf ideas are perfect for serious fans! Got a big LEGO collection? Do you have sets and minifigures to display? Here’s a collection of amazing ideas for creating awesome LEGO display shelves at home. This post is all about super cool display ideas. We have a separate article on LEGO Storage and […]

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Cardboard Roads and Parking Lot for Toy Cars

Sarah — Sun, 10 Jul 2022 21:50:24 +0000

Make cardboard roads and a parking lot for Hot Wheels cars! This is a fun DIY toy that you can recycle when you’re done. Have you noticed that the toy aisle at most stores is full of cheaply made, easily broken, lose-interest-quickly plastic toys? I highly recommend investing in a few quality toys and then […]

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Fireworks Art for Kids with Glue, Salt, and Watercolors

Sarah — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 19:31:00 +0000

Make some salt and glue fireworks! Kids will love this simple 4th of July activity. It’s such a fun art process and would actually be great for anytime. New Year’s Eve is another fun time to do art with fireworks. I will say that the finished product is not as pretty when it dries as […]

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Painted Vans Shoes – Flag Design

Sarah — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 17:06:39 +0000

Paint your own flag shoes for the 4th of July, flag day, or just anytime! These painted Vans shoes are just so much fun. My teenage son (he’s 15) is quite an artist, and he has gotten into painting Vans shoes. Well, I say that like he has done tons of pairs, and he really […]

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Popsicle Stick Flag Craft

Sarah — Sat, 25 Jun 2022 03:03:00 +0000

Here’s a fun 4th of July craft for kids! Grab some popsicle sticks and make adorable flags. Add ribbon to your completed flags, and you’ll be able to hang them on a doorknob or on a hook. Super simple and super cute! This post was updated in June 2022. This post contains Amazon affiliate links. […]

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Patriotic Tin Can Lanterns

Sarah — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 03:28:08 +0000

Grab some tin cans and make the cutest patriotic lanterns! This is a super fun 4th of July craft that kids will have a blast creating. And the finished lanterns look fabulous. They are perfect for decor at a July 4th cookout or picnic. We decorated our lanterns with stars and painted them with patriotic […]

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How to Build Awesome LEGO Animals

Sarah — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 04:38:00 +0000

Use your LEGO bricks to build awesome animals! Create your own zoo full of LEGO animals, or just build a few favorites. Our family loves animals, and we love designing LEGO versions. We’ve got building instructions for a monkey, parrot, shark, lion, zebra, and more. None of the animals in this post are LEGO sets. […]

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Make a Memory Jar Gift

Sarah — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 04:35:14 +0000

Last month, my mom turned 75, and it was hard to figure out what gift to give her. She doesn’t want or need more things to sit around the house, and she honestly wasn’t all that excited about turning 75. I knew she wouldn’t be thrilled about a big party… and the normal gift ideas […]

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Water Fountain Science Experiment

Sarah — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 02:38:38 +0000

Let’s do some science with WATER! In this experiment, we’re going to make a working water fountain with a 2 liter soda bottle and some simple supplies from around the house. This water fountain works by using air pressure to make the water flow. It’s such a fun project, and you can make it work […]

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Build a LEGO Tiny Neighborhood

Sarah — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 03:48:28 +0000

Here’s a LEGO building idea that is so much fun! Use your bricks to build a tiny neighborhood. I built this one without the kids, and I had so much fun picking out the colors for each house and creating the designs. These houses are smaller than minifigure scale. No one can actually fit in […]

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Printable Summer Checklist for Kids

Sarah — Sat, 28 May 2022 22:03:00 +0000

Summer is HERE! And it is time for a break! Make summer break EASIER with these printable checklists for essential tasks that must be done. I don’t know about you, but we are totally ready for a break from school and a more relaxed schedule after two of the weirdest school years in recent history. […]

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Ocean Math Activities for Elementary Students

Sarah — Fri, 27 May 2022 21:23:15 +0000

Do awesome elementary math activities with an ocean theme! Whether you’re planning a trip to the beach or doing an ocean unit, these hands-on activities will make math time more fun. There are so many ways to add a fun ocean theme to any math concept you need to work on. If these activities don’t […]

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Baking Soda and Vinegar Powered Boat

Sarah — Wed, 25 May 2022 04:35:07 +0000

Here’s a cool science experiment that kids will love! Make a baking soda and vinegar powered boat. This fun STEM challenge is perfect for summer time when it’s warm outside, but I’ll show you how you can also sail your boat indoors at any time of the year. In this science experiment, kids will be […]

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12 Awesome Electricity Science Experiments for Kids

Sarah — Sat, 21 May 2022 03:05:00 +0000

Whether you’re a parent of a teacher, you’ll enjoy this collection of awesome electricity science projects and experiments that introduce kids to the power of electricity! Kids will learn about how static electricity works, how current electricity flows, and what is actually happening when they flip a switch. Science is so cool! Many of these […]

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Easy LEGO Display Shelves

Sarah — Thu, 19 May 2022 02:56:06 +0000

Looking for ways to display your LEGO sets and minifigures? Here’s an easy IKEA hack to make some cool looking shelves that can be used to display small sets and minifigures. I added LEGO plates (flat bricks) to attach the minifigures to, and the whole process took me about 20 minutes. So simple! We are […]

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Build Your Own LEGO Mini Star Wars Ships

Sarah — Fri, 13 May 2022 15:49:00 +0000

Use your bricks to build Star Wars LEGO® ships – on a mini scale! The boys and I have been busy designing these little Star Wars ships, and I think they are adorable! We’ve built mini LEGO projects before, and they are so much fun. Sometimes it’s fun to build on a tiny scale. It’s […]

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Five Awesome Dinosaur Coloring Pages

Sarah — Wed, 11 May 2022 23:53:29 +0000

Dinosaur fans will love these fun printable dinosaur coloring pages! Color a Tyrannosaurus rex, spinosaurus, triceratops, brachiosaurus, and some velociraptors. We have shared dinosaur coloring pages with you all before, and you’ll want to print them too. Those were drawn by my son Gresham when he was 11. Now he’s 15, and he has made […]

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LEGO Pets! Building Instructions for Dogs, Cats, Guinea Pigs, and More!

Sarah — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 00:02:00 +0000

Animal fans will love these fun LEGO® projects! Build adorable pets out of LEGO bricks. We’ve got building instructions for cats, dogs, guinea pigs, parakeets (budgies), lizards, and more. The fun thing about LEGO pets is that they don’t need to be fed and they don’t make a mess! Ha! Plus, they are just so cute. […]

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Free Vet Pretend Play Printables

Sarah — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 22:27:09 +0000

Take your pretend play vet clinic up a notch with these fun printable sign-in sheets and doctor’s exam notes pages! This is such an easy way to add some writing practice to a favorite pretend play activity. Plus, kids will be so pleased to have forms to fill out just like real medical offices. We […]

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Amazing Ocean Science Experiments

Sarah — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 02:12:13 +0000

Here’s a collection of amazing ocean science experiments that kids will love! These are fun, hands-on learning activities about different aspects of marine science. And the best part is that you probably already have the supplies on hand! In these ocean science experiments, kids will explore: Ocean currents Water pressure The motion of waves How […]

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LEGO City Building Ideas

Sarah — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 16:25:16 +0000

Here are some cool LEGO builds that you can add to your city or town! You don’t have to have a large LEGO city in order to use these ideas, though. They’re the perfect addition to a city set or two, or you can play with them on their own. The inspiration for this collection […]

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Awesome Ideas with LEGO Gears

Sarah — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 03:27:06 +0000

Are your kids into building and tinkering? Do they love constructing gadgets and things that really work? It’s so fun to build cool LEGO creations that do something. Young inventors will love these awesome LEGO ideas with gears. In this post, I’m going to do something that I don’t usually do, but that many of […]

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Printable Dad Jokes Greeting Cards

Sarah — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 02:54:06 +0000

Is your dad’s birthday coming up? Thinking about Father’s Day? Or just need a card for a quick note? Well, these free printable Dad Jokes cards are just the thing! What are Dad Jokes, you ask? Well, they are cheesy jokes often featuring terrible puns that make you groan and say, “Da-a-a-a-ad!” But then you […]

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Paper Cup Flower Craft

Sarah — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 00:42:04 +0000

Here’s a beautiful paper cup flower craft that is perfect for spring, or really anytime! There are two things that I especially love about this craft. First, the materials are very simple. And second, this craft is very open ended. Kids can choose the design and colors for their flower. Cut the petals in any […]

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Make an Electromagnet

Sarah — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 00:56:00 +0000

Here’s a fun science experiment for kids! Make an electromagnet out of a few simple supplies. This is a great way to explore not only electrical circuits, but also the connection between electricity and magnetism. In this experiment, kids will take an ordinary nail and make it magnetic. This is a magnet that you can […]

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Plastic Egg Hatching Chick Craft

Sarah — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 21:15:52 +0000

Here’s an adorable spring craft that uses supplies you may already have on hand! Grab an empty egg carton and some plastic eggs and make some adorable hatching chicks. This is a perfect craft for young kids (with a bit of help), and my almost 8-year-old loved them too. They’re just so sweet! There are […]

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Spring LEGO Building Cards

Sarah — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 22:08:07 +0000

Set up a spring LEGO building station with these fun printable pattern cards! The kids and I had so much fun putting together 8 different spring-themed mosaics for kids to build with basic LEGO bricks. We have several sets of these cards available on this site, like our Animal Building Cards and Superhero Building Cards. […]

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Laser Puzzle Boxes {Cool STEM Challenge}

Sarah — Sun, 20 Feb 2022 21:14:00 +0000

I am SO excited to show you this new STEM activity! Lasers are always a big hit with kids. But these laser puzzle boxes also require kids to think logically about angles and build a precise setup while getting to play with lasers. It’s so much learning and fun at the same time! I’m really […]

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Build a Marble Run with Straws

Sarah — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 03:49:00 +0000

If you’re looking for a fun engineering challenge for kids, this marble run is just the thing! At our house, it seems like we are always experimenting with marble runs. I especially love it when we can make a fun marble run with materials from around the house. Here’s a marble run to make with […]

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Make Your Own Shrinky Dinks {Awesome Craft!}

Sarah — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 21:13:06 +0000

Anyone else grow up in the 80’s? It was a fabulous time to be a kid. We had Care Bears, Smurfs, Cabbage Patch dolls, and this cool craft called Shrinky Dinks. You could buy sets of Shrinky Dinks with various characters and designs which came as sheets of plastic with pictures printed on them. You […]

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Build Winter Sports with LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Sun, 06 Feb 2022 22:28:49 +0000

We’re excited about the winter Olympic Games, and we had a great time building some of the winter sports with LEGO bricks! This is a fun LEGO challenge that kids will love, and there are so many ways to build winter events with the bricks you have. It would be awesome to try building LEGO […]

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Build a Heart STEM Challenge

Sarah — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 16:31:55 +0000

Here’s a fun STEM challenge that is perfect for Valentine’s Day. Challenge kids to use building toys from around the house to build a heart! We had fun exploring how many different ways we could build a heart with the things we had at home. Grab LEGO bricks, MagnaTiles (or similar), toothpicks, etc. We even […]

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Build a Mechanical LEGO Valentine Box

Sarah — Sun, 30 Jan 2022 22:16:11 +0000

Is your child tossing around Valentine box ideas, trying to decide how to decorate their box? Well, how about just building a Valentine box out of LEGO bricks? SO FUN! In fact, this is a mechanical LEGO Valentines Box, which means that it has moving parts. Turn a gear on the side of the box, […]

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Four Activities for Coin Counting Practice

Sarah — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 16:30:00 +0000

Here are four (well, actually five) hands-on math activities for coin counting practice! Use items from around the house for these simple coin counting games. Counting coins can be kind of an abstract concept – especially since a dime is smaller than a penny! There are several skills involved with coin counting. Kids have to […]

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Live Bird Cams to Watch

Sarah — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 02:25:00 +0000

Here are some live bird cams that animal fans will love. It’s the perfect time of year to follow along as the eggs hatch and the chicks grow! Watch eagles, hawks, owls, and more. My boys have become avid bird watchers, and they especially love birds of prey such as hawks, falcons, kestrels, and owls. […]

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Ping Pong Ball Shooters

Sarah — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 15:24:00 +0000

Grab the kids and make some Paper Cup Ping Pong Ball Shooters! This easy activity is perfect for fun on a rainy day. It also makes a great learning activity with science and math concepts. I’ll explain more at the bottom of the post! My kids have been playing with their ping pong ball shooters […]

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Easy Static Electricity Science Experiments

Sarah — Sat, 15 Jan 2022 22:02:00 +0000

Demonstrate the power of electricity with these easy static electricity science experiments! There are two activities to try with items from around the house: a fun salt and pepper static electricity experiment and a bending water static electricity experiment. Our weather has been so cold and dry lately – not my idea of perfect weather. […]

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Winter STEM Activities for Kids

Sarah — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 21:20:17 +0000

Here’s a collection of winter STEM activities that kids will love! These activities center around science, technology, engineering, and math, and all have a fun winter theme. Whether you are looking for activities to do with a class, an after school program, or at home, I hope you’ll find something that works for you. I’ve […]

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Marshmallow Snowflakes {Winter STEM Activity}

Sarah — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 05:19:40 +0000

If you’re looking for winter STEM activities, this marshmallow snowflakes activity might be my new favorite! Of course, that’s hard to say because I love science and engineering, and I do have a lot of favorites… What are STEM activities? It’s been awhile since I’ve talked about what STEM stands for. The letters represent science, […]

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Toilet Paper Roll Snowman Craft

Sarah — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 21:18:49 +0000

Looking for a winter craft idea? Make this toilet paper roll snowman craft with supplies you have on hand! These are adorable and easy for kids to make. I’ll be honest… winter is not my favorite season. Once Christmas is over, we are just left with cold, dreary weather and lots of colds and viruses. […]

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Craft Stick Doodle Snowflakes

Sarah — Tue, 28 Dec 2021 14:04:34 +0000

We love a good snowflake craft in the winter time! Because snowflakes have such varied designs and are so unique, it’s fun to challenge kids to design their own snowflakes. We’ve made LEGO snowflakes and Perler bead snowflakes, and of course paper snowflakes. These craft stick doodle snowflakes are definitely a new favorite! Build snowflakes […]

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Easy Wood Candle Holders {Kid Made!}

Sarah — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 23:04:20 +0000

These Christmas wood candle holders are simple, beautiful, and make great gifts! This is a fabulous project for older kids to do, with a little adult help. A couple weeks ago, we participated in a Christmas craft sale. My 9 year old son (turning 10 in two weeks) was so enthusiastic about making things to […]

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Christmas Eve Traditions {To Create Memories!}

Sarah — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 02:25:14 +0000

What are the best Christmas Eve traditions? What makes the night special and creates the best memories? Here’s a big list of ideas for a meaningful Christmas Eve that everyone in the family will enjoy and remember! Often, the best memories are the simple ones. Christmas Eve traditions do not need to be complicated, extravagant, […]

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Build Your Own LEGO Gingerbread House

Sarah — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 15:52:42 +0000

Use your LEGO bricks to build your own adorable Gingerbread House! We love Christmas building ideas, and this is definitely one of my new favorites, along with our LEGO Nutcracker. The great part about this project is that kids can customize it with whatever bricks they have. The gingerbread house doesn’t need to be solid […]

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Paper Christmas Tree Craft

Sarah — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 04:31:14 +0000

Make this adorable Christmas tree craft with just paper, scissors, and glue! This is a fun project for a snowy (or rainy) day, and they look fabulous on display. I would recommend this Christmas craft for upper elementary aged kids through teens. So, age 9 and up or so. It will depend on the child […]

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Make a Cardboard Gingerbread Dollhouse

Sarah — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 00:19:55 +0000

Make an adorable gingerbread dollhouse for dolls! A few years ago, we made a pumpkin dollhouse for Janie’s Calico Critters. Since then I have been wanting to make the Calico Critters a gingerbread house, and this year we finally got it done! We are so happy with how it turned out. And don’t be intimidated. […]

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Build a LEGO Nutcracker

Sarah — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 23:02:00 +0000

If you’ve followed our site for very long, you know that we love Christmas LEGO projects! We’ve built all kinds of things over the years… ornaments, a nativity set, Christmas mosaics, and more. I decided this year I would attempt a LEGO nutcracker. I wanted it to be a working nutcracker too. Well, it doesn’t […]

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LEGO Turkey Building Instructions

Sarah — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 16:44:00 +0000

These cute little LEGO® turkeys are perfect for decorating the table this Thanksgiving! I’ve included instructions for building them. This is a great project for builders of all ages. This project was originally posted in November 2016, but we’ve just updated it in November 2021 with a second turkey! I can’t decide which one I […]

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How to Make Butter in a Jar

Sarah — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 05:13:10 +0000

Have you ever made butter in a jar? It’s so easy to do! This simple science activity is perfect for a unit on farming, frontier living, or westward expansion. Or, just make some butter for Thanksgiving or another holiday dinner! It takes just a few minutes and tastes so good. Kids of any age can […]

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Flying Turkey Nerf Targets

Sarah — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 21:45:00 +0000

Here’s a fun Thanksgiving activity for energetic kids! Use up some of that holiday excitement with this fun Nerf Turkey Targets game. The turkey targets are available to print at the bottom of the post. We originally made up this silly game several years ago when my older kids were small. Holiday weeks always seem […]

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Fun and Meaningful Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids

Sarah — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 17:03:00 +0000

Do you remember Thanksgiving as a kid? We always made some kind of fun Thanksgiving craft at my elementary school. My mom still has the pine cone turkey that I made in third grade! I love Thanksgiving because it’s a great time to slow down, spend time with family, and remember all the things that […]

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Play Dough Turkeys

Sarah — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 03:14:00 +0000

Play dough turkeys are the perfect activity for preschoolers! Or really, for anyone who is old enough to not put things in their mouth. After creating our paper bag turkey puppets, we had a LOT of feathers left over. I decided to set out the feathers along with play dough, googly eyes, and craft foam […]

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Paper Cup Turkey Craft

Sarah — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 17:44:20 +0000

Here’s a fun Thanksgiving craft for kids! Grab some paper cups and make this adorable turkey craft. You can make these cute turkeys with construction paper feathers, or you can use real feathers from the craft store. Either way is super cute! Paper cups are great for crafting! You’ll want to check out our Paper […]

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How to Play Crazy Eights Countdown

Sarah — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 22:42:50 +0000

Have you ever played Crazy Eights Countdown? This is a fun family card game to try, and it works well for all ages. There are so many games you can play with just a deck of cards! It’s nice to have a variety of options for family game nights. Crazy Eights Countdown is a fun […]

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LEGO Advent Calendars – 20% Off!

Sarah — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 13:18:41 +0000

If you’ve been thinking about grabbing one of the LEGO Advent Calendars, now is a great time to do so! Right now, all five of the LEGO Advent Calendars are 20% off on Amazon. Each calendar has a small build or a minifigure to open each day in December through the 24th. This post contains […]

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Printable Gratitude Cards {Kids Thanksgiving Activity}

Sarah — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 04:05:14 +0000

In November, we naturally focus on giving thanks and appreciating the things we have as we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. This is a great time to work on habits of gratitude that last all year long! Over the past few years, it seems like our world has become a REALLY rude place. When social media […]

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Build Your Own LEGO Ferris Wheel

Sarah — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 16:54:44 +0000

Use your LEGO bricks to build a real working Ferris wheel! We love building all kinds of mechanical toys. You can truly build just about anything out of LEGO bricks! Turn the handle on this LEGO Ferris wheel, and the cars go for a spin. In this post, we’ll show you how to build it […]

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Silly Monster Play Dough Activity

Sarah — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 17:11:02 +0000

Play dough is so much fun for kids, and it’s great for developing hand strength and fine motor coordination. We love adding things to play dough like googly eyes, buttons, straws, etc. There are so many fun themed play dough activities you can do to extend the fun! Here’s a fun silly monsters play dough […]

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LEGO Challenge Ideas {Printable Cards}

Sarah — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 21:50:49 +0000

These LEGO Challenge Ideas will make it easy to hold your own master building competition! Are your kids aspiring master builders? Do they REALLY love LEGO bricks? If you’ve got kids that love amazing builds, they will have a blast competing in their own LEGO challenges. There are lots of printable LEGO challenge ideas out […]

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Candle and Rising Water Science Experiment

Sarah — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 18:07:38 +0000

Demonstrate the power of air pressure with this cool candle and rising water science experiment! This is one of those experiments that will make kids say “oooooooh!” and “wow!” I always love that. This year, I’m teaching a middle school science class at our local co-op, and this experiment was in our textbook. The kids […]

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Place Value Activities for Second Grade

Sarah — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 21:03:39 +0000

How do you teach place value in a way that kids will understand? Place value can be a tricky concept, but these simple hands-on activities will definitely help! Use playing cards, base 10 blocks, and other simple materials to teach kids the concept of place value. These place value activities are perfect for second grade, […]

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15+ Adorable Owl Crafts to Make with Kids

Sarah — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 14:08:00 +0000

Whoooo loves owls? Here are almost 20 adorable owl crafts that kids will love! We have always liked owls, but this spring we went to a nature preserve to watch a pair of barred owls and their little owlets – such a cool experience! And now we’re totally hooked on anything with owls. Here’s a […]

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Five LEGO Dinosaurs to Build

Sarah — Sat, 25 Sep 2021 15:08:00 +0000

Got dinosaur fans? Here are five LEGO® dinosaurs to build! (Actually, now it’s SIX! This post was originally posted in April 2015 and updated with new dinos in September 2021.) My kids love the dinosaurs from the Jurassic World sets, but they also love constructing their own dinosaurs. You really can build anything out of […]

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The Big Book of Amazing LEGO Creations

Sarah — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 19:31:31 +0000

Do you have LEGO bricks at your house? We recently asked this question to families who stopped by our booth at a large educational convention, and the answer was almost universally, “YES! We have TONS AND TONS of them!” I mean, who can resist them? LEGO is basically the perfect toy. People of all ages […]

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Fall Kids Craft – Bean Mosaics

Sarah — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 03:43:37 +0000

Celebrate the colors of fall with this fun craft for kids! Use dried beans of all types to create beautiful mosaics with fall leaves, acorns, pumpkins, and more. This is an enjoyable art project, and also really great for fine motor skills and focus. This is perfect for a rainy day, or any time that […]

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Adorable Paper Cup Owl Craft

Sarah — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 16:44:09 +0000

It all started in the craft department at Walmart. I don’t usually do my best craft shopping at Walmart. Hobby Lobby is more my thing… but we were looking for something, and I got distracted by all the pretty colors of burlap! They have rolls of burlap in so many lovely fall colors. So then […]

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Cardboard Carnival Games {Challenge for Kids}

Sarah — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 04:20:57 +0000

Here’s a fun craft and engineering challenge that is SO fun for kids! Challenge kids to design and build their own cardboard carnival games that really work. This is fun to do on a rainy day at home, and it would also be fun to try with a group or class. Kids will have a […]

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Build Donkey Kong with LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 15:32:47 +0000

Build your own adorable (and posable!) Donkey Kong character out of LEGO bricks! We have created a few Nintendo Mario LEGO projects for this site before, and we had a blast designing this Donkey Kong to add to our collection. Once your Donkey Kong is assembled, build your own jungle plants and create a scene […]

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Play Dough Snakes

Sarah — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 20:29:39 +0000

Y’all. This is a sensory play activity that you’ve got to try! These play dough snakes are fabulous for developing fine motor skills, and they’ll keep kids happily busy for a long time. We’ve done several variations of play dough snakes over the years, but I created this particular version for our preschool class at […]

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Build Link and Zelda with LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Sun, 15 Aug 2021 19:54:02 +0000

Are your kids into Breath of the Wild? It’s one of the Legends of Zelda games. And that’s about all I know, because I don’t keep up with this kind of stuff. (Well, I know enough to know whether the games are appropriate or not… we’re picky about video game content!) I didn’t realize until […]

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Amazing DIY Hot Wheels Car Display Shelf

Sarah — Sat, 14 Aug 2021 14:56:47 +0000

Got a large Hot Wheels car collection? Here’s an awesome DIY Hot Wheels car display case that holds a TON of cars! As pictured, this display shelf can hold about 65 cars, and we’ll tell you how to customize it to hold even more if your collection is really big. If you’ve been following this […]

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Make a Fish Swim with Soap

Sarah — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 17:37:23 +0000

This simple science experiment will make kids smile and say, “Wow!” It’s so easy and so cool! Make foam fish that “magically” swim across the water. One of the barriers to doing science experiments with your kids can be that experiments fail or don’t turn out like the book said. I totally get that, as […]

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Take Charge of Your Child’s Learning in 10 Minutes a Day

Sarah — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 03:48:47 +0000

Back-to-school time always feels like a fresh, new start! Except that this year it kind of feels like a mess. And a little overwhelming, discouraging, and confusing. What adjective would you use? I think it’s safe to say that last year was not the best. And for some of you, that’s putting it mildly! Life […]

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Build World Flags with LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 21:53:27 +0000

Here’s a fun LEGO building challenge that is also a GEOGRAPHY challenge! Learn about the countries of the world by building LEGO flags. Kids will remember the designs of the flags so much better by building them than by just looking at a picture. This activity is a great addition to a geography class or […]

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How to Play “Play or Pay” {Family Card Game}

Sarah — Sat, 17 Jul 2021 03:22:48 +0000

Family card games are so much fun, especially when you find one that works well for players of all ages. Play or Pay is definitely one of those games! And all you need to play is a deck of cards and an object to “pay” with. Poker chips work well, or you can use pieces […]

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Animal Photo Cards {Drawing or Building Activity}

Sarah — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 03:53:11 +0000

When it comes to drawing, building with LEGO bricks, or other creative pursuits, sometimes kids just need a little inspiration to get their brains and hands going. These printable animal photo cards are just the thing to provide that creative spark! There are so many ways to use this set of animal cards! I’ll show […]

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Crazy Balancing Craft Sticks STEM Challenge

Sarah — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 22:48:43 +0000

Learn about balance and center of gravity with a simple engineering challenge! Simple building and engineering challenges are so much fun for kids! If you’ve been following this website for very long, you know that we love open-ended STEM challenges with simple materials. They’re a great way for kids to build fine motor skills, learn […]

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Fabulous July 4th Activities for Kids

Sarah — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 14:00:00 +0000

Here’s a fun collection of July 4th activities to do with the kids! I love the fourth of July – all the swimming, cookouts, and fireworks! It’s fun to make things festive, and some of these activities will be perfect for amusing the kids while you wait for the fireworks to start. This post contains […]

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Bubble Pop Math Games

Sarah — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 04:51:37 +0000

Have you seen those fun bubble popping fidget toys? We keep seeing them all over the place. They’re made out of silicone, and they have rows of “bubbles” that you can pop from one side to the other, and they’re quite fun to play with. Well guess what, this simple little toy also makes a […]

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Felt Ocean Animals Beginning Sewing

Sarah — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 04:12:11 +0000

Do some beginning sewing with these adorable felt ocean animals! We love working with felt because the texture makes it easy to stitch on and it doesn’t unravel. Felt is great for simple stuffed animals that kids can make. With this project, kids can do a basic running stitch with embroidery thread. There’s no need […]

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Cupcake Liner Butterfly Craft

Sarah — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 04:04:53 +0000

Here’s an adorable butterfly craft that kids will love! Use cupcake liners and a few other simple craft supplies to make bright and colorful butterflies. This is a perfect spring or summer craft! You can even add magnets to the back of your butterflies and stick them on the fridge. I would recommend this craft […]

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How to Build LEGO Parakeets

Sarah — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 04:03:46 +0000

Build your own adorable LEGO parakeets! This is a fun building idea for anyone who loves these beautiful birds. My second son (age 14) has been saving up his money to buy a parakeet and all the equipment for it, and while he waits to get his real bird, he decided to build a couple […]

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40 Printable Writing Prompts for 3rd, 4th, and 5th Graders

Sarah — Sun, 30 May 2021 20:11:00 +0000

Inspire kids to write with these 40 writing prompts! Half the problem with writing is that kids have trouble deciding what to write about. These printable writing prompt cards will eliminate that issue and help kids move on to actually writing. This post was originally published in June 2013 and updated with new ideas and […]

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Shoebox LEGO Forts

Sarah — Tue, 11 May 2021 12:49:33 +0000

Here’s a LEGO craft that kids will go bonkers for! Upcycle a shoebox into a fort that you can furnish with things you build out of your LEGO bricks. All you need for this project is items from around the house. A shoe box, paint, glue, popsicle sticks, etc. Use what you have on hand. […]

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Build a LEGO Slingshot Car

Sarah — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 02:21:16 +0000

Here’s a fun new LEGO building idea that kids will absolutely love! Construct LEGO cars that race across the room. This is a great STEM challenge, too. The mechanism for this car is a little different than the one in our LEGO Rubber Band Powered Car. With the rubber band powered car, you wind up […]

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Weather Coloring Pages

Sarah — Wed, 28 Apr 2021 04:20:14 +0000

We’re back with more printable coloring pages, and this time they have a weather theme! Spring is a great time to study weather because the weather is usually very active this time of year. Here in Texas, spring is the time of year when you can have a little of everything. Cold days, warm days, […]

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The BEST Cardboard Crafts, Toys, and Art

Sarah — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 04:42:39 +0000

Here’s a collection of the best cardboard crafts for kids to make! We love crafting with cardboard because we always have shipping boxes, cereal boxes, and toilet paper rolls on hand. And there are so many things you can make with these simple supplies! These cardboard craft projects are very open ended, such as the […]

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Build LEGO Star Wars Mini Characters

Sarah — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 14:19:15 +0000

Here’s a fun new LEGO building idea! Build your favorite Star Wars characters out of LEGO bricks. This is not a set, but a project for you to build with the bricks you have. I’ll also include links to order some of the key pieces on Brick Link in case there are things you need. […]

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Drops of Water on a Penny {Awesome Science!}

Sarah — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 23:27:38 +0000

How many drops of water fit on a penny? Here’s a quick and easy science experiment that kids will love because the results are impressive! This science experiment teaches kids about the concept of surface tension. They’ll also be exploring how soap destroys surface tension by pushing the water molecules apart from each other. When […]

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Build a LEGO Ball Contraption

Sarah — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 03:48:45 +0000

Are you familiar with LEGO Great Ball Contraptions? We love watching videos of Great Ball Contraptions on YouTube. A Great Ball Contraption (GBC) is built from various LEGO modules that work together to create a huge marble run. But the balls don’t just run under the power of gravity… GBC modules use motors to lift […]

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Spring Coloring Pages

Sarah — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 17:17:25 +0000

Here are 8 sweet spring coloring pages to print! There are both Easter and spring designs included. Choose from spring animals (turtle, bunny, ducks, butterfly, caterpillar), an Easter basket, spring flowers, and eggs to decorate, or print them all! You can find the link to print at the bottom of this post. I am just […]

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LEGO Egg Car Race

Sarah — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 04:29:15 +0000

Here’s a fun LEGO building challenge and a great STEM activity for spring! Design cars that can transport an egg down a ramp. Challenge kids to build a car that will roll the farthest off the end of the ramp! This is a great LEGO challenge to do at home, or with a STEM class […]

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Doodle Egg People {Egg Decorating Ideas}

Sarah — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 03:57:47 +0000

Here’s a really fun egg decorating idea! Use markers to make adorable doodle egg people! This is a great spring craft for both kids and adults, and the finished eggs are so much fun to display. Display your egg people in an empty egg carton, or arrange them in a basket with some Easter grass. […]

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Cardboard Flower Collage

Sarah — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 03:45:48 +0000

Here’s a fun flower craft that kids will love! It’s also a recycled craft which is a huge plus. Gather up cardboard boxes, egg cartons, and toilet paper rolls, and turn them into beautiful flower collages. This is a fun and creative project that kids can make any way they like! This is such a […]

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Paper Roll Dragon Craft

Sarah — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 02:42:12 +0000

Make an adorable fire-breathing dragon out of a toilet paper roll! This is a fun craft for kids that uses recycled materials and a few simple supplies from your craft stash. It’s a great dragon craft to go with a study of knights and castles, a fairytale story, or just a fun art project for […]

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Index Card Castles {STEM Challenge}

Sarah — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 20:30:45 +0000

Here’s a fun STEM challenge that works well with all ages, and the supplies are CHEAP! Grab a pack of index cards and a roll of tape, and set the kids to work building and designing castles. As it turns out, index cards are a great material for this! I would recommend this project for […]

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The BEST Addition Activities {Simple Materials}

Sarah — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 03:21:12 +0000

If you’re a kindergarten or first grade teacher, or the parent of a kindergartner or first grader, you know that you need IDEAS. All the ideas! Kids this age have a short attention span, and they need a LOT of practice on the same concepts. So here’s a collection of the best easy addition activities! […]

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Baking Show Drawing Challenge

Sarah — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 00:51:43 +0000

Oh boy, I am excited to show you today’s kids activity! This baking show drawing challenge is part game, part art activity, and part oral presentation. And it’s also a great boredom buster! I happened upon this activity idea when I was keeping a friend’s three kids for the morning. I had three of mine, […]

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File Folder Paper Airplane Launcher

Sarah — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 02:33:35 +0000

Here’s a fun toy for kids to make! Use a file folder, a piece of paper, and a rubber band to make the coolest paper airplane launcher. It’s so fun to send paper planes soaring across the room! Our easy wooden paper airplane launcher has more power, so if you’re going for maximum distance, you’ll […]

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Felt Hearts Valentine Craft for Kids

Sarah — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 23:26:32 +0000

Here’s a fun Valentine’s Day craft for kids! Use felt and googly eyes to make hearts with adorable faces on them. Then turn the hearts into either posable heart people with pipe cleaner legs or heart necklaces. Either craft is super fun! They make great gifts too. We love crafting with felt! Sometimes cutting felt […]

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Hidden Message DIY Valentine Cards

Sarah — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 22:06:46 +0000

Kids will love these fun printable Valentines because they have a cool hidden message! Write your message in white crayon, and then the recipient can reveal the message with watercolor paints. So fun! We packaged up the Valentine cards in little bags with an inexpensive paintbrush and two little watercolor disks. Such a fun idea […]

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How to Build LEGO Superhero Mini Characters

Sarah — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 04:26:19 +0000

Use your LEGO bricks to build superhero characters! These simple figures just make me smile. They’re cute and simple to build, and a fun building challenge for kids. This building project was created by my 11 year old son. He just came downstairs one day last week with three of these characters built. Then he […]

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Adorable Clothespin Airplane Valentines

Sarah — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 20:15:47 +0000

Kids will have a blast making these clothespin airplane valentines and giving them out to friends! The airplanes are such a cute craft idea on their own, and adding the Valentine message just makes it extra fun. This is a great idea for kids who don’t like “mushy stuff” at Valentine’s Day! You can make […]

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Melting Ice Science Experiments {Fun!}

Sarah — Sat, 23 Jan 2021 15:55:20 +0000

Here are two ice science experiments that are perfect for winter or for any time that you are studying states of matter. Both of these experiments use simple supplies from the kitchen, so they’ll be easy to set up. First we’ll explore the volume of ice compared to the volume of water. Then we’ll answer […]

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Build a Mechanical LEGO Turtle

Sarah — Sat, 16 Jan 2021 00:45:27 +0000

Wondering what you can build with LEGO gears? Here’s a fun mechanical LEGO project that will make you smile! This cute turtle pokes his head out of his shell when you turn a knob. How cool is that? LEGO projects with moving parts are just extra fun. Besides this LEGO turtle, you’ll want to check […]

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Snowstorm in a Jar Winter Science

Sarah — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 03:20:01 +0000

Here’s an awesome winter science experiment that is a blast to watch! Use simple ingredients to create a snowstorm in a jar. The really fun part is that once you have created your snowstorm in a jar, you can make it “snow” over and over without replacing the contents of the jar. This science experiment […]

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Build an Awesome LEGO Crossbow

Sarah — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 17:14:48 +0000

Challenge kids to use their LEGO bricks to build an awesome LEGO crossbow! This neat little contraption shoots a LEGO “arrow” with satisfying speed, and it’s not difficult to build. Perfect for kids who like to tinker! The idea for this LEGO crossbow was sent to us by readers Ewan and Dan. Thanks so much, […]

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LEGO Tensegrity Structures

Sarah — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 03:11:29 +0000

Build some amazing LEGO tensegrity structures! This is a really fun LEGO STEM challenge that teaches kids about forces and center of gravity. It’s kind of amazing to see how these structures seem to defy gravity, but they are surprisingly simple to build. How do tensegrity structures work? The word “tensegrity” is a combination of […]

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Easy (and Cute!) Wood Bead Ornaments

Sarah — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 17:39:16 +0000

Have you noticed that wood bead ornaments have been all the rage lately? And also wood bead garland, but we’re making ornaments today! These adorable wood bead wreath ornaments are so easy to make, and they come out looking fabulous. I’ve seen so many wood bead ornaments with completely unfinished beads, but I really like […]

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Printable Christmas Coloring Pages

Sarah — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 02:57:11 +0000

Turn on a Christmas movie, turn the lights on the tree, and settle in for a fun family evening with these adorable Christmas Coloring Pages! There are 7 free pages to print. Another fun idea – make these a gift! Print the pages, roll them up and tie them with a red ribbon, and give […]

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Penguin Can Treat Holder

Sarah — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 03:50:17 +0000

Here’s a homemade Christmas gift that friends and family are sure to love! Turn a tin can into an adorable penguin that holds candy, treats, or other small gifts. My 14 year old designed this craft – the same son that also created these Among Us LEGO Projects. He’s been on a roll lately! I […]

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Among Us LEGO Building Challenge

Sarah — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 23:12:47 +0000

Here’s a fun LEGO building challenge! Create characters and scenes from the popular game Among Us! Have your kids gotten into playing Among Us yet? My 14 year old son recently discovered this game after friends invited him to play. We are not big gamers at all… we’ve really limited video game playing and electronics […]

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Craft Stick Gingerbread Man Ornament

Sarah — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 22:14:21 +0000

This Craft Stick Gingerbread Man ornament is such a fun Christmas craft for kids! They don’t take long to make, and they look so cute on the tree. In addition to hanging these ornaments on the tree, kids could also give these as gifts or use them as gift tags. Raid your craft closet for […]

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How to Make Adorable Wooden Gingerbread Houses

Sarah — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 02:20:45 +0000

Use a simple 2 x 4 pine board to make some of the most adorable wooden gingerbread houses! This Christmas craft is probably more for adults and older kids, but your younger kids are going to love playing with the completed gingerbread houses. They’ll have fun using them to set up a little Christmas village! […]

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How to Fold and Cut Gingerbread Men Snowflakes

Sarah — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 03:36:40 +0000

Here’s a fun snowflake variation that is ADORABLE and surprisingly easy to make! Use brown construction paper to make gingerbread men snowflakes. Your completed snowflake will have 6 cute gingerbread men, and their legs create a star shape in the center. Supplies To make these, all you need is brown construction paper, scissors, a pencil, […]

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Christmas Catalog Scavenger Hunt

Sarah — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 14:06:24 +0000

Turn your junk mail into a family game – HA! This Christmas catalog scavenger hunt will get everyone laughing. Every year, we end up with an onslaught of holiday catalogs from every store imaginable. We purchased our home two years ago from an older couple who obviously received a lot of junk mail! The amount […]

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Printable Thanksgiving Coloring Pages

Sarah — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 22:17:44 +0000

Print five Thanksgiving coloring pages that kids will love! (Hey, and maybe grownups will enjoy them too!) This is the perfect activity for kids to do while waiting for the Thanksgiving dinner to be ready. Or pull them out for a rainy day at home or for kids in class who finish their work early. […]

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LEGO Advent Calendar {Building Challenges}

Sarah — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 04:38:19 +0000

Here’s a LEGO Advent Calendar you can build! Count down to Christmas with 24 LEGO building challenges. These printable cards will give kids a LEGO idea to build every day in December while waiting for Christmas to arrive. While it’s probably impossible to top our LEGO Advent Calendar with Doors and Candy, the kids and […]

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Adorable Pine Cone Turkeys

Sarah — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 03:27:34 +0000

Kids will have a blast decorating for Thanksgiving with these adorable Pine Cone Turkeys! There are so many ways to make this classic Thanksgiving craft. I’ve seen pine cone turkeys with construction paper feathers, felt feathers, and even real feathers from the craft store. For our version of the pine cone turkey, we decided to […]

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Doodle Art Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

Sarah — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 19:10:24 +0000

We’ve been all about pumpkin decorating ideas this year! The difficulty of 2020 is just making the changing seasons and the upcoming holidays seem that much more special. Last week, I posed these fun cat, spider, and owl pumpkin decorating ideas, and now I’ve got another idea for decorating pumpkins with markers and designs. This […]

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Lego Fall Leaf Shadow Box

Sarah — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 14:33:46 +0000

Use your LEGO® bricks to build a a fall tree with colorful fall leaves! We’ve been decorating for fall with… LEGO®! Who knew that LEGO® could look good with home decor? This project was originally posted in September 2014 and updated in October 2020. This simple project is made from a wooden shadow box frame […]

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Clothespin Bat Craft

Sarah — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 02:00:50 +0000

Kids will enjoy this clothespin bat craft! Grab some simple supplies from your craft stash and make this fun craft that doubles as a toy. This clothespin bat craft was originally posted in October 2014 and updated in October 2020. This bat craft is great for either Halloween, or for a unit on bats. Honestly, […]

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Easy Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

Sarah — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 01:16:52 +0000

Turn pumpkins into adorable cats, cute little owls, and spiders with lots of eyes! These pumpkin decorating ideas are easy and fun. They also don’t involve cutting into the pumpkin, so these decorated pumpkins will last a long time. Fun craft to do with kids! I guess these are technically gourds and not pumpkins, but […]

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Pandemic Pumpkins Porch Decoration

Sarah — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 19:30:31 +0000

Here’s the PERFECT Halloween porch decoration for 2020! These pandemic pumpkins are just the comic relief everyone needs, am I right?! If I had seen these pumpkins a year ago, I would have thought, “What in the world…?” Why are we wearing masks and clutching rolls of toilet paper??? Well, welcome to 2020! HA! It’s […]

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Jack O’Lantern Lava Lamp

Sarah — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 13:04:46 +0000

Here’s a fun Halloween twist on a classic science experiment for kids! Make your own Jack O’Lantern Lava Lamp. This is not a true lava lamp, but rather a chemical reaction. The bubbles given off by the reaction create a really cool lava lamp effect! Turn your lava lamp into a Jack O’Lantern for a […]

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Easy Felt Pumpkin Coasters

Sarah — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 13:15:32 +0000

Make some felt pumpkin coasters! This is a cute pumpkin craft that you’ll enjoy using all during the fall. Adults and kids will both enjoy this craft. These felt pumpkin coasters are also the perfect beginning sewing project for kids. Our good friend and babysitter had the idea for this craft, and she helped Janie […]

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Printable Division Task Cards

Sarah — Sun, 27 Sep 2020 22:26:54 +0000

Teach division in a hands-on way with these printable division task cards! This elementary math activity is perfect for kids who are just learning the concept of division. There are 18 cards to print. Each card has a word problem that requires division. These will help kids understand that division involves breaking a large number […]

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Fabulous Fall Crafts for Kids and Tweens

Sarah — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 15:08:02 +0000

There is just so much to love about fall, and these fall crafts for kids just make the season special! Celebrate crisp cool days, pumpkins, and colorful leaves with these beautiful crafts that kids will want to make and display. These crafts are recommended for elementary age kids up through tweens and teens. I do […]

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Paper Roll Pumpkin Craft

Sarah — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 22:10:43 +0000

Upcycle toilet paper rolls into adorable pumpkins with cute jack o’lantern faces! This easy fall craft will make kids smile, and you can make these with supplies you have on hand. I love to find crafts that kids can put their own spin on. This project is fun because kids can draw their pumpkin’s face […]

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First Grade Math Games {Addition Card Games}

Sarah — Sun, 20 Sep 2020 22:59:32 +0000

Here are some awesome first grade math games that you can play with decks of cards! All of these games are addition math games. Two of the games use regular playing cards, and the other uses Uno cards. My first grader REALLY enjoyed all of these games! It’s awesome when they can play a game […]

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Apple Basket Craft

Sarah — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 18:17:18 +0000

Decorating for fall is one of our favorite things, and I’m planning to add this apple basket craft to our fall tiered tray! It’s so adorable. When I get the tray completed, I’ll post a picture. The materials needed for this apple basket craft are so simple, and it’s quite easy to make. The apples […]

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Cool Science! Anti-Gravity Beads

Sarah — Sat, 12 Sep 2020 22:37:37 +0000

Here’s a simple science experiment that is sure to get a WOW! This is one of those cool tricks that you really don’t expect, so it’s super fun to watch. These beads are called anti-gravity beads or inertia beads, and basically, they are just a chain of small plastic beads. We bought this Sick Science […]

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Fall Leaf Borax Crystal Science

Sarah — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 15:15:58 +0000

Have you ever tried growing borax crystals? This lovely fall activity combines borax crystal science with art, and the results are beautiful. Plus, the process is simple and the crystals grow quickly. Not a lot of waiting involved with these crystals, and kids will say WOW! Borax Crystal Science Borax (sodium tetraborate) is a naturally-occurring […]

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Make a Cat Pencil Organizer

Sarah — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 01:35:52 +0000

Here’s a fun craft for kids that is perfect for back-to-school time! Use an empty can and some felt to make this adorable cat pencil organizer. My daughter LOVES little containers for storing treasures. She was very happy to use this cat pencil can for her gel pen collection! She spends a lot of time […]

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Build a LEGO Number Line

Sarah — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 01:59:45 +0000

Use bricks to make a LEGO® number line! These number line activities will feel more like play than learning, which is always a win for math time. Using a number line is so helpful in cementing math concepts for young children. Seeing what is happening on the number line when adding and subtracting is so […]

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Cardboard City Skyline Collage

Sarah — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 03:51:48 +0000

Make a cardboard city skyline collage! This is another fun art project for kids that can be made from from the cardboard in your recycling bin. We love crafting with cardboard because we always have boxes around. You can customize this project with the materials you have on hand! I really love how these city […]

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Printable Birthday Trivia Game

Sarah — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 21:12:02 +0000

Here’s a fun birthday trivia game that can be used for ANY birthday! This is not a “how much do you know this person” type of game. Rather, it’s a trivia game about birthdays in general. Cool and wacky facts that are interesting to know! We made this game for a friend whom we could […]

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Make Your Own LEGO Sudoku Game

Sarah — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 13:51:24 +0000

Use your bricks to create your own LEGO® Sudoku game! This is a fun LEGO game that kids will love, and it’s easy to set up with bricks you have on hand. If you’re not familiar with Sudoku, it’s a number puzzle. It consists of a grid of nine squares. Each of those squares is […]

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Nerf Gun Science Experiments

Sarah — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 02:35:02 +0000

These Nerf science experiments are so much fun! Test how wind and weight affect the distance that a Nerf dart travels. I love these science experiments because kids will enjoy the process, and it’s not hard to get a clear result. Supplies Needed: A Nerf gun and dart – we used the Nerf N-Strike NanoFire, […]

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Make a Paper Tumbling Toy

Sarah — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 03:40:08 +0000

Oh goodness, this paper tumbling toy is a very fun project that kids are going to love! It’s also quite easy to make from items that you probably have around the house. This paper tumbling toy is similar to our walking paper horse in that gravity causes it to demonstrate some really unique motion. The […]

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Adorable (and easy!) Gone Fishing Cupcakes

Sarah — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 13:59:59 +0000

These Gone Fishing Cupcakes are perfect for any outdoor fan’s birthday! Serve them at a fishing or camping birthday party, or make them just for fun. They are super cute, easy to make, and make use of very basic supplies. A few weeks ago, I shared some LEGO cupcakes that my friend Niki made for […]

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Make a Pool Noodle Lightsaber

Sarah — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 02:48:00 +0000

Make some pool noodle lightsabers! This project is very easy to do, and your little Jedis will be so happy. These pool noodle lightsabers are perfect for lightsaber duels because they are lightweight and won’t hurt anyone. Depending on your space, they can be a good option for indoor play! Make these for fun at […]

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Crushing Cans Science Experiment

Sarah — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 02:25:04 +0000

If you want an impressive way to demonstrate air pressure, this crushing cans science experiment is the way to go! Make soda cans collapse in an instant under the power of air pressure due to rapidly changing temperature. This experiment requires adult help because of the use of heat, but kids of all ages will […]

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The Cutest EASY LEGO Cupcakes

Sarah — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 00:07:23 +0000

Planning a LEGO birthday party? These LEGO cupcakes are adorable and delicious! And they are very EASY to make! For those of you who have followed this blog for a long time, you may remember that I once made the ugliest LEGO cake ever. So when I wanted some cute LEGO cupcakes, I asked my […]

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Getting Started Homeschooling: Where to Begin!

Sarah — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 13:30:56 +0000

This post is part 2 in our series on getting started with homeschooling. In the first post, we looked at making the decision to homeschool, but this time I want to talk about how to actually get started once you’ve made the decision to homeschool. Here’s what we’ll cover: Pulling your child out of school […]

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Getting Started Homeschooling: Making the Decision

Sarah — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 12:54:41 +0000

Homeschooling is a fabulous way to educate your children and create a lifelong love of learning. Homeschoolers have a reputation for being hard-working, curious, passionate, and intelligent, and there is a good reason for this! Learning at home lends itself to kids valuing education and really learning how to learn. However, homeschooling definitely takes time […]

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Popsicle Stick Star Wands

Sarah — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 15:58:32 +0000

Here’s a fun kids craft for the Fourth of July! These popsicle stick star wands are so fun and festive to make for a family picnic, fireworks display, or parade. This year, most festivities will be at home. I wanted to find some fun things that are easy to do with kids to make the […]

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MORE Teeny Tiny Mini LEGO Projects

Sarah — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 03:01:56 +0000

We’re back with more teeny tiny mini LEGO® projects to build! It’s really fun to create all kinds of little LEGO® creations with just a few bricks. The post is the second collection of tiny ideas that we’ve done. You can see our other post here: Teeny Tiny Mini LEGO® Projects Part 1. My kids […]

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DIY Wood LEGO Minifigure Display Stand

Sarah — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 14:15:46 +0000

Make your own LEGO minifigure display stand! This display stand looks awesome, and it’s easy to switch out the figures being displayed. It’s also a great beginning woodworking project for kids. You can make this project with only 3 cuts! I’ll explain what to purchase below, but it’s a super simple project thanks to some […]

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How to Build a Silly LEGO Monkey

Sarah — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 01:36:18 +0000

Build an adorable little monkey out of LEGO bricks! We’ve got building instructions below. Monkeys have always been some of my favorite animals! This LEGO® monkey is fun because you can make him climb trees with his posable arms. This LEGO® monkey also has a posable tail that attaches to the back of his body. […]

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Free LEGO World Landmark Building Cards

Sarah — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 03:48:54 +0000

We’ve got a new LEGO® challenge for you, and I’m SO excited about this one! These free printable LEGO World Landmark Building Cards make it so easy to set up a geography themed building challenge. Have kids choose a landmark to build, and then look up information about it. Help them locate their landmark on […]

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Sand Volcano Science Experiment

Sarah — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 14:00:14 +0000

Kids will LOVE this sand volcano science experiment! Believe it or not, we have never made a baking soda and vinegar volcano! I know, right?! So we decided that we needed to try this classic childhood activity. However, as I started to think through it, I wasn’t sure what to use to build the volcano. […]

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Static Electricity Science Experiments with Balloons

Sarah — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 21:33:05 +0000

Here are two static electricity science experiments that kids will love! Build an electroscope, and use balloons to show how static electricity causes forces of attraction and repulsion. Parents and teachers will love the fact that these experiments make use of simple materials from around the house. Both of these experiments are fun and provide […]

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Spy and Secret Code Activities for Kids

Sarah — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 13:19:08 +0000

Create your own SPY WEEK with these spy and secret code activities for kids! Below, you’ll find activities, crafts, and games with a fun spy theme. This is also a great resource if you’re planning a spy themed camp or birthday party. SECRET CODE ACTIVITIES It’s so fun to send and receive messages in a […]

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Build a LEGO Spy Safe + LEGO Puzzle Boxes

Sarah — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 01:34:30 +0000

Here’s a fun LEGO contraption that kids will love! We built this locking LEGO safe as part of our spy theme. It’s perfect for storing spy gear! We’re also going to talk about LEGO puzzle boxes in this post. They’re a lot of fun! One thing that I love about puzzle boxes is that they […]

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Code Activity for Kids: Printable Spy Decoder Wheel

Sarah — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 20:45:27 +0000

Make your own printable spy decoder wheel! In just a few steps, you’ll be sending and receiving coded messages with the help of this clever device. The fun part about this decoder is that it provides 27 different codes, making it difficult for someone to crack. If you make two decoders, siblings or friends can […]

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Make an Indoor Spy Obstacle Course

Sarah — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 01:57:00 +0000

We’ve been working on all kinds of spy themed activities for kids, and I’m so excited to show you this obstacle course! This spy obstacle course is fun to set up at home with your family (maybe as a rainy day activity), and it would also be super fun to do as part of a […]

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Detective Science: Fingerprinting

Sarah — Sun, 31 May 2020 02:05:00 +0000

Use a pencil and some clear tape to make fingerprints! This is such a fun detective science activity because the fingerprints come out so clear and detailed. I did this activity with the older boys when they were younger, but we haven’t tried it in a long time. The younger three kids have been interested in […]

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How to Make Glowing Bubbles

Sarah — Fri, 29 May 2020 03:23:56 +0000

Did you know that you can make your own GLOWING bubbles? SO COOL! This special bubble solution is easy to mix up with a few simple ingredients, and a black light (we’ll show you where to get one) will make the bubbles glow. Glowing bubbles are so awesome and fun to watch! Plus, our bubble […]

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Superhero Week! Crafts, Activities, and Learning Activities

Sarah — Mon, 25 May 2020 16:54:28 +0000

Here’s everything you need for an awesome superhero week! Plan crafts, learning activities, games, books, and more, all centered around a superhero theme. Some of these activities use Marvel and DC characters, while others just involve generic superheroes. As I’m writing this post, parents and kids around the world are gearing up for a different […]

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Build LEGO Galloping Horses

Sarah — Fri, 22 May 2020 22:32:02 +0000

Learn about gears and pistons with this fun mechanical LEGO project! Turn the handle on the base of the machine, and the LEGO horses gallop through the forest. It’s so fun to create animated scenes with knights, cowboys, or any LEGO minifigures. Machines and projects with moving parts are some of our favorite things to […]

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Superhero Painted Rocks

Sarah — Thu, 21 May 2020 02:44:04 +0000

We’ve been sharing lots of superhero activities lately, and we’ve got one more fun craft to show you. Make some superhero painted rocks! We patterned our painted rocks after our favorite Marvel and DC superheroes. Rock painting is definitely one of our favorite crafts because it’s fun and relaxing for both kids and adults. There […]

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Craft Stick Superhero Craft

Sarah — Thu, 14 May 2020 17:38:58 +0000

Here’s a superhero craft that uses simple materials, and it’s SO fun to make! These craft stick superheroes are guaranteed to be a hit. Craft sticks are one of our favorite crafting materials. It’s amazing how many different things you can make with them! After we made our craft stick ballerinas, we had to do […]

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Printable Superhero Writing Starters

Sarah — Wed, 13 May 2020 03:41:21 +0000

These superhero writing worksheets are the perfect way to provide extra writing practice for first and second graders! Fun and exciting story prompts make it easy for kids to think of what to write. As I’m writing this post, kids around the world have been out of school for an unprecedented amount of time. I […]

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Craft Stick Ballerina Craft

Sarah — Tue, 12 May 2020 03:18:35 +0000

This ballerina craft is lots of fun, and the supplies are so simple! Use craft sticks, popsicle sticks, cupcake liners, and a few other basic supplies from your craft stash to make some adorable ballerinas. My 6 year old daughter absolutely loved this project, and she was able to do quite a bit of it […]

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Sidewalk Chalk Math Games

Sarah — Wed, 06 May 2020 04:10:01 +0000

When the weather is nice and no one feels like working, take learning OUTSIDE with these fun sidewalk chalk math games! Practice number sequence, skip counting, addition and subtraction, multiplication, fractions, and more. These math games are perfect for ages 5-8, and I hope that you’ll be able to customize any of the ideas for […]

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Salt Dough Snake Craft

Sarah — Mon, 04 May 2020 01:36:00 +0000

Here’s a fun snake craft that kids of all ages will enjoy! Make snakes from salt dough, and then paint them. Kids can pattern them after real snakes, or they can just paint them fun colors! I don’t know about you, but we are ALL ready for the end of the school year around here! […]

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Build a Mickey and Minnie Mouse out of LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 21:54:10 +0000

Today we’re going to show you how to build your own adorable Mickey and Minnie Mouse characters out of LEGO bricks! These iconic mice are so fun to construct and display, and you just might be inspired to create more characters in the Disney line-up! We worked to keep this project do-able for kids, and […]

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Cardboard Robot Collage

Sarah — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 15:36:42 +0000

Lately, we’ve been making all kinds of crafts with materials from around the house. This cardboard robot collage is guaranteed to be a hit! I love this kid’s craft because it works well for all ages, and you can customize it with literally anything you have on hand. This is a fun project to do […]

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How to Make LEGO Necklaces

Sarah — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 02:13:00 +0000

Here’s a fun LEGO craft for kids of all ages! Use your LEGO bricks to design and construct LEGO necklaces. These fun necklace charms can be built and then rebuilt over and over. At any point, you can remove the necklace string and put the pieces back in your LEGO collection. I think this would […]

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Adorable Dragonfly Craft

Sarah — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 04:01:13 +0000

Here’s a fun dragonfly craft to make with items from your craft stash! These adorable dragonflies are made out of popsicle sticks, pom poms, buttons, and a couple other basic supplies. Make your dragonfly craft into a magnet for the refrigerator by putting some peel-and-stick magnet tape on the back, or glue on a small […]

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Make a Craft Stick Rubber Band Gun

Sarah — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 16:37:17 +0000

Oooh, this is a fun project! Grab some craft sticks and other basic supplies, and we’ll show you how to make a cool rubber band gun that really works. This is a fun boredom buster and would also be a great project to do with a class, birthday party, or scouting group. You’ll need to […]

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Build a Mini Razor Crest with LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 04:21:15 +0000

My kids have really enjoyed the new Mandalorian series on Disney Plus. In fact, we’ve already built a LEGO Baby Yoda (the Child), which you’ll definitely want to check out. My 13 year old decided that we needed to design a mini Razor Crest, which is the ship that the Mandalorian flies. I thought it […]

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50+ Awesome Rock Painting Ideas

Sarah — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 13:06:00 +0000

Do your kids love painted rocks? Rock painting seems to be a hot trend right now, and I can see why! It’s fun and relaxing, and a great craft for all ages, toddler to adult. There’s no wrong way to paint a rock! Since so many communities are doing hidden painted rock projects, etc., I […]

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Parents, there is no need to fear. Your gifted child can FLOURISH at home!

Sarah — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 03:45:52 +0000

During this time of social distancing, I have been working to bring you extra content – activities for kids and encouragement for parents. Today’s post is a guest post from my good friend Sarah Ramos. She is currently finishing up a graduate degree in educational psychology, with an emphasis in gifted education. I asked Sarah […]

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Printable Math Scavenger Hunts for Early Elementary

Sarah — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 17:06:52 +0000

Make learning time fun with these printable math scavenger hunts! These math activities are perfect for early elementary school, or ages 5-7. Walking around with a clipboard and a pencil is so much fun! There are three scavenger hunts to print: one for measurement, one for shapes, and one for making comparisons. My kindergartner and […]

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LEGO Scavenger Hunt with Printable Clue Cards

Sarah — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 02:35:12 +0000

Let’s go on a LEGO SCAVENGER HUNT! This is such a fun activity for a rainy day, a family game night, or just a boredom buster. It would also make a great birthday party activity. In this scavenger hunt, kids will be hunting for LEGO® minifigures. Use the ones you already have because any figures […]

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Teeny Tiny Mini LEGO Projects to Build

Sarah — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 20:19:10 +0000

Build some teeny tiny LEGO® projects like tiny vehicles, tiny animals, little bitty robots, and more! Once you get started with these, you’ll think of all kinds of ideas! The kids and I really had fun with this one. If you’ve followed this site for very long, you may know that we sort our LEGO® […]

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Build a LEGO Air Hockey Table

Sarah — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 13:36:52 +0000

I’m so excited to show you our latest LEGO® building idea! Construct your own air hockey table. Two players can actually play this air hockey game! We’ve been putting extra effort into new projects lately with everyone (around the world!) facing extended time at home. I’m excited about this project because kids can make it […]

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Easter Egg Story Hunt Literacy Activity

Sarah — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 15:50:45 +0000

Here’s a SUPER simple Easter literacy activity that I did with my kindergartner this week. In this Easter egg hunt, kids will be hunting for a STORY! This activity kept my kids busy for a long time. They used the same story to do at least 3 egg hunts (while I got a few things […]

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Make a Paper Horse that WALKS!

Sarah — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 16:04:23 +0000

Here’s a fun STEM project – make a paper horse that walks on its own! A few months ago, I saw this really interesting project on Pinterest where you can make a horse out of paper that really walks on its own down an incline, and I’ve been wanting to try it. Well, our mandatory […]

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Creating a Homeschool Routine

Sarah — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 13:29:11 +0000

As I’m writing this post, millions (billions?) of people around the world are facing having their children suddenly at home while schools are closed due to health concerns. So I’m writing this post with you in mind! My goal is for this article to be helpful for homeschooling families, families that have found themselves suddenly […]

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Make Spinning Tops with Cardboard and Marbles

Sarah — Sat, 21 Mar 2020 04:20:38 +0000

Here’s a fun spinning top toy that can be made with items from around the house! These tops are well-balanced and spin for a really long time. Kids will have fun coloring patterns on their tops and then playing with them. The kids and I had fun testing out different materials and designs to come […]

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How to Make Felt Bluebonnets

Sarah — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 21:08:08 +0000

It’s spring crafting time! Use felt and bamboo skewers to make some Texas bluebonnets. This lovely spring craft has a particular connection to Texas, where I live. Every March, fields and grassy areas along the highways come alive with beautiful blue flowers called bluebonnets. These flowers are associated with Texas just as much as longhorn […]

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Baby Yoda and Mandalorian Painted Eggs

Sarah — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 03:16:53 +0000

Well, I didn’t have to think long to decide what characters to make as this year’s contribution to my Star Wars Easter eggs! It had to be The Mandalorian and Baby Yoda (the Child) of course! Side note: You may be wondering what Star Wars has to do with Easter. The answer is absolutely nothing! […]

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Activities for Kids to Learn at Home with Materials You Have

Sarah — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 02:49:53 +0000

Work on math, language, science, and geography skills at home with simple, everyday activities that kids will love! There are currently millions of families around the world who are coping with schools being closed due to public health. What’s a parent to do with the sudden onset of DAYS stuck at home? Will everyone go […]

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How to Fold Paper Ninja Stars

Sarah — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 03:13:00 +0000

The other week, Owen learned how to fold these paper ninja stars from a friend at church, and he has been making tons of them! Great project for a rainy day. All you need is some paper, and you’re ready to go. We added Sharpies too for decorating the ninja stars with fun designs. We […]

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Build Colorful LEGO Easter Eggs

Sarah — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 00:10:41 +0000

Here’s a fun building challenge for your LEGO® fans! Build some Easter eggs out of LEGO® bricks! These colorful eggs look so fun displayed in a basket or on the Easter table. They are also easy for younger kids to build. My 5 year old loved this project! To make these LEGO® eggs, you’ll need […]

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Cardboard Box Magnetic Pac-Man Game

Sarah — Sat, 07 Mar 2020 23:16:17 +0000

Here’s a fun craft for kids – build a classic Pac-Man game out of a cardboard box! This game has a cool magnetic twist – kids can “play” the game by moving the game pieces with a magnet wand. This project uses materials from around the house, and it’s a great boredom buster for an […]

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Adorable Pipe Cleaner Animals Craft for Kids

Sarah — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 04:42:29 +0000

Get out the pipe cleaners and the googly eyes, because kids will have a blast making these adorable pipe cleaner animals! This craft is perfect for a rainy day. Encourage kids to make a whole zoo! I’d recommend this project for kids ages 8 and up, especially tweens (ages 10-12). Younger kids will enjoy making […]

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Hands-On Multiplication Activities

Sarah — Sun, 23 Feb 2020 03:54:25 +0000

Get ready to have FUN with math, because this post is full of ALL the most awesome hands-on multiplication activities! Kids will be delighted to see dice, markers, coins, LEGO bricks, and more at math time instead of simply worksheets or textbooks. I actually do not have a problem with worksheets. We use them in […]

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Felt and Pipe Cleaner Frog Craft

Sarah — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 14:20:00 +0000

Here’s an adorable frog craft that can be made with felt, pipe cleaners, and a couple more simple materials from your crafting stash! Kids will have a blast playing with the finished frogs. We made a simple felt pond for ours, and they’re just so cute “swimming” in it! Frog crafts are perfect for spring […]

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LEGO Weightlessness Training Machine

Sarah — Sun, 16 Feb 2020 03:36:14 +0000

This neat little LEGO® space contraption is so much fun to build and play with! Remember the weightlessness training machine that was a part of NASA space camp in the 80’s? We patterned this fun LEGO® machine after the real NASA multi-axis trainer that spins an astronaut-in-training on more than one plane. You can find […]

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Valentine’s Day Tiered Tray Decor

Sarah — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 18:07:46 +0000

So, this is not the type of thing that I usually post, but I’m really excited to show you my new wooden tiered tray! This may be a fun idea for those of you who, like me, are not particularly good at home decor. I can do all kinds of kids’ crafts, but home decor […]

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How to Play Help Your Neighbor – A Fun Family Card Game

Sarah — Sun, 09 Feb 2020 03:57:13 +0000

We’re going to show you how to play Help Your Neighbor! This is a card game (well, really a card and dice game) that is perfect to teach kids. It can be hard to find games that are equally fun for young kids as well as older kids and teens, and this one really fits […]

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LEGO Star Wars Mosaic Building Cards

Sarah — Sat, 08 Feb 2020 02:09:31 +0000

We’re back with some new LEGO® mosaic building cards, and this time they have a Star Wars theme! These were so fun to create, and I hope that your kids enjoy building their favorite characters. There are 10 LEGO® mosaic building cards to print at the bottom of this post. Pull the building cards out […]

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LEGO Prime Numbers Math Lesson

Sarah — Sun, 02 Feb 2020 03:30:06 +0000

If you’ve followed this site for any length of time, you probably know that we are totally into LEGO®, and we love using LEGO® bricks for learning! This math lesson will allow kids to determine which whole numbers are prime numbers using LEGO® bricks. This math activity is perfect for visual or kinesthetic learners because […]

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Adorable Felt Heart Purse

Sarah — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 18:40:29 +0000

This simple felt craft is so sweet! Make a little heart shaped purse out of felt and a ribbon for a shoulder strap. It even has a little heart shaped pocket on the front! This purse is very similar to our No-Sew Felt Cat and Owl purses. We chose to sew this one because the […]

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Paper Roll Dog Craft

Sarah — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 03:54:17 +0000

Here’s a fun and adorable toilet paper roll craft for kids! Make the cutest dogs out of toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, or anything similar. You can even purchase cardboard tubes at Hobby Lobby if you prefer to do that. Beyond the cardboard tubes, you’ll just need a few basic craft supplies that you […]

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Valentine’s Day Paper Flowers Craft

Sarah — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 19:49:30 +0000

Some simple Valentine’s Day decor makes the middle of winter seem so much more cheerful! Here’s a fun Valentine’s Day craft that will brighten things right up. Use colorful scrapbook paper to make beautiful hearts and flowers that can be displayed in a simple glass vase! This craft is fun for a wide variety of […]

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Baby Yoda and Mandalorian Perler Bead Patterns

Sarah — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 04:04:52 +0000

Make your own adorable Baby Yoda out of Perler Beads! This is a fun craft for any Star Wars fan. We’ve also got a Mandalorian helmet pattern to make. Who is Baby Yoda? If you’re not familiar with this super cute character, he is referred to as “The Child” on the new The Mandalorian TV […]

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LEGO Baby Yoda Building Instructions

Sarah — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 15:20:00 +0000

Here’s a fun new LEGO® building challenge that kids will love – build Baby Yoda! Who else thinks Baby Yoda is just totally adorable? Baby Yoda, or “The Child” from the new The Mandalorian TV series is just TOO CUTE. So let’s build one out of LEGO® bricks! I designed this LEGO® version to be […]

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Addition and Subtraction Tic-Tac-Toe Math Game

Sarah — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 19:02:05 +0000

Practice addition and subtraction facts with this fun printable math game! It’s a file folder game too, meaning that the game and its pieces can be stored in a file folder. The only thing that won’t fit in the file folder is a 12-sided math dice, or two regular dice. Kids can set up the […]

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Adorable Pine Cone Snowy Owl Craft for Kids

Sarah — Sat, 04 Jan 2020 20:30:43 +0000

Turn a pine cone into an adorable snowy owl craft! This project is great for kids because the process is a lot of fun and the final product is so cute. Combine this owl craft with a book about snowy owls, and you’ve got a great science lesson for winter! Owls are definitely one of […]

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Winter Rock Painting Ideas

Sarah — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 17:53:57 +0000

Here’s a collection of awesome rock painting ideas for winter! Rock painting is one of our favorite hobbies. It’s just so relaxing, and there are so many creative things to do with rocks! Once the Christmas decorations are down, there’s a lot of winter left before spring arrives. Brighten up a winter day with these […]

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How to Build Spinning LEGO Nerf Targets

Sarah — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 16:21:48 +0000

We’re combining two of our favorite things in this fun activity! Challenge kids to use their LEGO® bricks to build their own spinning Nerf targets. This Nerf gun game is perfect for a birthday party or an afternoon at home. Great boredom buster! A few years ago, we made some fun LEGO® Nerf Targets that […]

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Cereal Box Trees Christmas Craft for Kids

Sarah — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 04:12:51 +0000

We’re back with another fun and simple Christmas craft for kids! Grab a few cereal boxes from the recycling bin and make these colorful Christmas trees. This craft is fun for all ages! My 5, 7, 10, and 13 year olds all happily participated, and the trees in this post are all ones that they […]

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Gift Ideas for 10 to 13 Year Old Boys

Sarah — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 23:31:55 +0000

This post is the Ultimate Gift Guide for 10 to 13 year old boys! We’ve got more than 35 gift ideas to help you get your shopping done. If you have a boy in your life in the 10 to 13 year old age group, you probably know that they are not the easiest people […]

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Clothespin Toy Soldier Ornament Christmas Craft for Kids

Sarah — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 17:43:43 +0000

Here’s some more crafty Christmas fun for kids! This time, we’ll show you how to make an adorable toy solider ornament out of a wooden clothespin. Get the kids together and make a whole battalion of cute soldiers to hang on the tree! Then you’ll want to check out our cardboard reindeer ornament. So cute […]

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Cardboard Reindeer Ornament Christmas Craft for Kids

Sarah — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 21:46:56 +0000

Christmas crafting mode is in full swing over here, and we’ve been making all kinds of ornaments! You’ve already seen our classic felt Christmas ornaments and our Perler bead ornaments. Now it’s time to make an adorable reindeer ornament out of cardboard and other simple craft supplies. I would recommend this Christmas craft for kids […]

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Science Experiment: How Snowshoes Work

Sarah — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 03:49:47 +0000

This fun simple science experiment that is perfect for winter time! This experiment demonstrates how snowshoes keep people from sinking into the snow, and why animals that live in snowy regions have large paws. The other day, we were reading about lynxes in our science book – Exploring Creation with Zoology 3: Land Animals of the […]

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2019 Black Friday Deals on Toys, STEM, and Games

Sarah — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 15:41:42 +0000

It’s Black Friday, and one of the best ways to enjoy it is to stay home, eat leftovers, and shop online! Here are some of the best Amazon deals on toys, STEM sets, and games. I’m seeing lots of good stuff! Keep in mind that prices on Amazon can change at any time, and they […]

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Gravitrax Review: Starter Set

Sarah — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 15:13:26 +0000

If you’ve followed this site for very long, you know that we love building marble runs. We’ve done LEGO marble runs and cardboard box marble runs. We own the Q-Ba Maze marble run, and we really like it, but when I saw the Gravitrax set at a local store, my first impression was that it […]

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Printable Christmas Perler Bead Patterns

Sarah — Thu, 28 Nov 2019 03:40:09 +0000

Crafting fans will love these printable Christmas Perler bead patterns! These are great for kids of all ages, as long as they are old enough to manipulate the tiny beads. Turn them into ornaments, and hang them on the tree! Perler beads are one of our favorite crafts, especially for a rainy day. If you’re […]

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Adorable Felt Christmas Ornaments (with Patterns)

Sarah — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 16:13:59 +0000

Well, it’s time for one of my FAVORITE things – Christmas crafting! Woo hoo! I love Christmas ornaments, especially homemade ones. In this post, we’re going to show you how to make adorable classic felt Christmas ornaments, and you can print patterns for the gingerbread house ornament, snowman ornament, and reindeer ornament at the bottom […]

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Printable LEGO Christmas Building Cards

Sarah — Sun, 17 Nov 2019 05:01:12 +0000

Here’s a Christmas activity that your LEGO® fans will love! Challenge kids to build Christmas mosaics with LEGO® bricks. There are 8 different designs to build: a Santa, a Christmas tree, a gingerbread house, a snowman, an elf, a reindeer, a snowflake, and a stocking. We have been having so much fun creating LEGO® mosaics. […]

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Wood Slice Turkey Craft for Thanksgiving

Sarah — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 01:05:17 +0000

Here’s a cute little turkey craft that will look adorable on the Thanksgiving table, and they are so simple to make! Kids will enjoy creating these wood slice turkeys. Add some floral wire, and they become place card holders or photo holders! A few years ago, we made wood slice owls, and we had a […]

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Make a Simple and Beautiful Thankful Tree

Sarah — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 11:45:53 +0000

Here’s a way to create a beautiful Thankful Tree using a photo frame and a few other supplies from the craft store. So easy to make, and the results are stunning! Creating a Thankful Tree is such a meaningful Thanksgiving activity. I love this tradition because it’s a great way to help kids slow down […]

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A Peek Inside Incredible LEGO Creations from Space

Sarah — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 00:09:13 +0000

This year was the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing, and our LEGO project book this year is all about SPACE! Incredible LEGO® Creations from Space with Bricks You Already Have will give kids the inspiration and instructions they need to create all kinds of spaceships, rovers, aliens, and more. There are some NASA […]

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How to Build a Mechanical LEGO Piano Player

Sarah — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 14:58:12 +0000

Last year, when we wrote Genius LEGO® Inventions, we really fell in love with building machines! Oh, we love all kinds of LEGO® building ideas, but there’s just something fun and satisfying about building a project that can really DO something… like our LEGO® Candy Dispenser and our LEGO® Safes (with a working lock and […]

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Paper Plate Turkey Craft for Kids

Sarah — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 12:25:32 +0000

Get ready for Thanksgiving with this adorable paper plate turkey craft! Paper plate are such a versatile (and affordable) craft material. Add some paint and paper, and you’re ready to make these cute turkeys! Add some ribbon if you want so that you can hang them up, like our paper plate owl craft. This paper […]

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Ideas for Celebrating a Birthday Right Around the Holidays

Sarah — Sat, 26 Oct 2019 01:53:37 +0000

Does someone in your house have an awkward birthday? You know, a birthday that lands right near the holidays? It can be hard to figure out how to celebrate when a child’s birthday lands on Thanksgiving Day or December 20th or December 26th or January 2nd. I even know a couple of people whose birthday […]

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10 LEGO STEM Projects that Every Kid Should Try!

Sarah — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 03:09:31 +0000

These LEGO STEM projects are going to make any LEGO inventor jump for joy! LEGO® and STEM education just go hand-in-hand! I’m of the opinion that LEGO® building is such a valuable engineering activity. Kids are learning problem solving, mathematical relationships, mechanical engineering, and more, all while developing their creativity as they simply play. Here’s […]

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Monster Doodles Drawing Ideas for Kids

Sarah — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 04:01:45 +0000

Here are some fun drawing ideas for kids who like to doodle! Encourage kids to create silly monster doodles! We’ve created a printable page full of crazy monster inspiration. Kids will have fun drawing these monsters, or using them as a springboard to create their own designs. All of the monsters on this printable page […]

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How to Make 3D Paper Pumpkins

Sarah — Sun, 06 Oct 2019 03:29:18 +0000

I am SO excited to share this fall kids craft idea with you because these 3D paper pumpkins are so easy to make, and they look adorable as a table centerpiece, tucked on a shelf, on the kitchen windowsill, or anywhere you want to put them! Use construction paper, or dress them up by using […]

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Friction Science Experiment with Marbles and a Cake Pan

Sarah — Sun, 29 Sep 2019 16:43:27 +0000

Demonstrate the concept of friction with this cool science experiment! You can set this up in minutes with items from around the house. All you’ll need is a round cake pan, a marble or two, and a variety of surfaces to compare. This post contains Amazon affiliate links. We did this friction science experiment recently […]

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Fall Leaf Mason Jar Craft for Kids

Sarah — Sat, 28 Sep 2019 14:41:34 +0000

Who loves mason jar crafts? We do! Here’s a fun mason jar craft that kids can make, and it’s perfect for the fall season. The leaves are made out of coffee filters, and they are so simple to make! They give the jar a stained glass look when you put a battery powered tea light […]

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Fall LEGO Mosaic Ideas with Printable Building Cards

Sarah — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 19:59:11 +0000

We’re back with more LEGO® mosaic ideas to build! This time we’ve got a fun FALL theme for you with a jack o’lantern, football, ghost, scarecrow, and more. These fall LEGO® mosaic ideas are perfect for building on a LEGO® wall, or kids can just grab a baseplate and get started! Print the cards (there […]

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“Your Little Pumpkin” Handprint Card for Kids to Make

Sarah — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 15:10:37 +0000

Little Pumpkin Kid’s Handprint Fall Cards Here’s an easy fall craft to make with kids and give to someone you love! Or keep it for yourself! (Or make several – they turn out so cute.) If you love cute crafts with simple materials, you’ll also want to check out our Paper Plate Owls! This post […]

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Felt Craft Patterns for an Adorable No-Sew Purse

Sarah — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 03:27:40 +0000

Fire up the glue gun and grab your felt and your scissors, because we’ve got an adorable felt craft for you today! These sweet little purses are a perfect craft for either kids or adults. There’s no sewing required, although you can stitch them together if you prefer. Print the patterns at the bottom of […]

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100+ Lego Building Projects for Kids

Sarah — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 03:05:27 +0000

Here’s a collection of awesome LEGO building ideas that will inspire any LEGO® fan! This post is full of 100+ brick building challenges and instructions. Build characters, animals, machines, and more. We love LEGO® bricks because of the open-ended fun and imagination they inspire! There are so many benefits to LEGO® building such as hand-eye […]

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Paper Plate Owl Craft for Kids

Sarah — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 03:06:10 +0000

Here’s a fun kids craft idea – turn a paper plate into an adorable owl craft! We made ours into door hangers, but you can do whatever you like with them. Try adding a magnet to the back and displaying your owls on the refrigerator! If you’ve followed us for any length of time, you […]

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Pumpkin Patch Addition and Subtraction Games

Sarah — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 02:00:00 +0000

Print these fun addition and subtraction games! The fun pumpkin patch theme makes this math activity perfect for fall. Kids will be excited to practice their addition and subtraction facts! Some days, it’s hard to get excited about making kids do their math. Can you relate? We have totally gotten in a rut here lately, […]

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LEGO Superhero Building Cards

Sarah — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 03:46:36 +0000

We are back with more LEGO® mosaic building cards, and this time they have a superhero theme! Last month I posted animal building cards, and immediately thought of all kinds of ideas for more. Mosaics are really fun to build! Just like the animal mosaics, kids can either build these superhero patterns from the photos […]

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Engineering Challenges with Domino Chain Reactions (Printable Cards!)

Sarah — Mon, 02 Sep 2019 03:05:58 +0000

You know what’s awesome? Good engineering challenges, especially things like chain reactions and opportunities to build with simple materials! Everyone knows about building basic domino chains, but we’ve been working on some fun domino challenge cards that will help kids take their skills to a new level. These challenges will inspire hours of creative domino […]

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Find the Difference Face Off! A Fun Subtraction Game

Sarah — Sat, 31 Aug 2019 01:57:53 +0000

Here’s a subtraction game that kids will love, and it involves very little prep work. This hands-on math game is perfect for first graders who are learning subtraction and second graders who need some review. It’s so much more fun to learn with an activity than a worksheet, am I right? This subtraction game is […]

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How to Build a Rubber Band Powered LEGO Car

Sarah — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 01:40:18 +0000

Here’s a fun contraption to build out of LEGO® bricks – make a fun little car that is powered by a rubber band! This rubber band powered LEGO® car will zoom across the floor for 20 feet or more. Building this car is a great engineering project that demonstrates the power of potential and kinetic […]

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LEGO Animal Mosaic Building Cards

Sarah — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 03:27:06 +0000

Kids will love following the patterns on these LEGO Animal Building Cards. There are 8 different animals to build, and the ideas will also inspire kids to create their own designs! Kids can either build the animals from the photos in this post, or you can print a set of building cards at the bottom […]

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Printable Beginning Sounds Phonics Worksheets

Sarah — Sat, 10 Aug 2019 23:03:54 +0000

This printable pack is perfect for kids who are learning early phonics skills and beginning to identify the letter sounds at the beginning of words. My youngest child is entering kindergarten this year (Sob! No more preschoolers!), and I’ve been working on resources to use with her this year since she LOOOOOVES to do school! […]

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Five Things Not to Stress About this School Year… And What to do Instead!

Sarah — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 17:19:53 +0000

Summer is drawing to a close, and a new school year is beginning. I don’t know about you, but a sense of pressure can accompany the start of a new school year, especially if the summer wasn’t exactly the relaxing break you were planning on and you are tired going into it. (I’m raising my […]

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Physics Science Experiments for Elementary Aged Kids

Sarah — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 21:29:49 +0000

Need physics science experiments? These hands-on science projects have been tested and approved! Whether you’re a science teacher or a parent who loves to do science with your kids at home, I think you’ll find these experiments to be FUN and successful. (Because no one likes a science fail, am I right?) Science is pretty […]

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Easy Inertia Science Experiments with Pennies

Sarah — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 18:50:32 +0000

Here are a couple of fun inertia science experiments for kids that go perfectly with a unit on force and motion, and you probably have all the supplies on hand that you’ll need for them! Both of these science experiments demonstrate inertia. Inertia is summed up in Newton’s First Law of Motion, and is an […]

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How to Make Painted LEGO Jars

Sarah — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 22:25:51 +0000

Make some adorable LEGO® jars that look just like your favorite LEGO® minifigures! These painted jars are easy to make, and they are perfect for birthday party decorations, organizing school supplies, or for decorating a LEGO® themed bedroom. I did a lot of research for this project, and I tried a couple of methods. So […]

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Duct Tape Craft! How to Make Velcro Arm Bands

Sarah — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 01:58:46 +0000

Duct tape (or duck tape) is so fun to craft with! Here’s a fun craft idea for kids – make velcro duct tape arm bands. This craft is perfect for a summer camp activity, or just for a rainy day! They’re fun for a wide range of ages, and with the velcro, they are easy […]

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The Best Toy Deals and Educational Deals – Prime Day 2019

Sarah — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 19:33:32 +0000

It’s Amazon Prime day! Today and tomorrow, Amazon is offering a ton of special deals for Prime members. We’ve had Prime for a few years and have found the fee to be worth it for the free shipping. I combed through the site to find the best toy deals and educational deals! Keep in mind […]

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How to Make Ninja Stress Balls

Sarah — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 02:11:51 +0000

Here’s a fun ninja craft for kids to make! Use balloons to create squishy stress balls that look like ninjas. Use yellow balloons if you want your ninjas to look like the LEGO® Ninjago characters. These would make great birthday party favors! The secret to a good stress ball is a good filling! I’ve got […]

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How to Make Pipe Cleaner Superheroes

Sarah — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 13:40:25 +0000

If you’ve got superhero fans, you will not want to miss this adorable kids’ craft! Kids will have a blast creating their own jointed and posable superheroes out of very simple materials. Pipe cleaners, straws, beads… You probably have most (if not all) of the supplies on hand! It’s amazing how much personality you can […]

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Awesome DIY LEGO Crafts and Room Decor Projects

Sarah — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 02:32:14 +0000

Here’s a collection of LEGO® crafts that look awesome as home decor! Whether you’re decorating a play room, a child’s bedroom, or a classroom LEGO® building space, there are so many ideas here that your LEGO® fans will LOVE. If you’re new to this blog, you’ll also want to check out our original LEGO® building […]

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Perler Bead Ideas: Necklace Craft

Sarah — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 20:11:46 +0000

Need some Perler bead ideas? There are so many fun things to make with Perler beads! If you’re not familiar with them, Perler beads are tiny plastic beads that melt and fuse together when you iron them. You can make all kinds of cool things with them. Janie and I had SO MUCH FUN creating […]

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How to Build LEGO Safes with Lock & Key

Sarah — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 16:00:41 +0000

We have a fun LEGO® project idea for you! Build a LEGO® safe with a working lock and key. In this post, we’ll show you more than one way that kids can approach this project. After learning some basic techniques, kids can design their own. Such a fun STEM building challenge! LEGO® machines are so […]

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LEGO Cats! Building Instructions

Sarah — Thu, 27 Jun 2019 02:32:49 +0000

Use the LEGO® bricks in your collection to build some adorable CATS! This is such a fun building idea, and we’ve got step-by-step instructions in this post to make it easy to build your own super cute cats. We love creating all kinds of cute LEGO® pets! You can also find instructions for LEGO® dogs […]

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How to Make Awesome Paper Airplanes! 4 Designs

Sarah — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 18:11:28 +0000

Go beyond the classic dart and learn how to make some awesome paper airplane designs. These look amazing and fly really well! In this post, we will show you how to fold 4 different paper airplanes. These paper airplanes are easy for kids to make on their own, they look cool, and they actually fly […]

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Printable Comic Strip Templates with Story Starters

Sarah — Wed, 19 Jun 2019 03:58:43 +0000

Use these comic strip templates to challenge kids to write and draw their own comic strip! This fun activity makes a fabulous boredom buster, and can also be a valuable writing lesson. Kids who don’t love to write may really enjoy creating their own comic strip! Print the templates from this post. It will be […]

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Build a Card Stock Marble Run

Sarah — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 14:51:43 +0000

Marble runs are so good for building hand-eye coordination, problem solving skills, engineering skills, and more! Here’s a fun way to build a marble run using some really cheap materials. We built this marble run with about 4 sheets of card stock, scotch tape, and some sticky magnetic tape. That’s it! We’ve made a lot […]

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The Best Sand Slime Recipe

Sarah — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:05:12 +0000

Mix up some 3 ingredient SAND SLIME! We’ll show you how to make it! This is a fun slime vacation for summer, although it’s fun anytime. We love making slime, and we love Safari Toob animals. Recently we combined the two with a simple sand slime recipe. It’s perfect for playing with desert animal toys, […]

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Easy DIY LEGO Building Zone Sign

Sarah — Fri, 31 May 2019 04:22:46 +0000

I’m so excited to share this project with you, because this DIY LEGO® sign is so easy to make, and it looks so good! The sign looks like it came from a boutique store, but costs so much less. If you’re going to have LEGO® bricks in the house, your kids’ building area might as […]

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Doodle Rocks! A Fun Way to do Painted Rocks.

Sarah — Mon, 27 May 2019 22:45:02 +0000

Rock painting is such a fun kids craft! Well, it’s honestly fun for adults too, making it a great family activity. Here’s a fun way to do rock painting – use paint markers to create adorable DOODLE ROCKS. This post is loaded with fun ideas, and we’ll show you where to find great inspiration for […]

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Make Duct Tape LEGO Capes

Sarah — Tue, 21 May 2019 01:31:55 +0000

Here’s a fun LEGO® craft that kids will LOVE – make duct tape capes for your minifigures! This is a fun way to dress up minifigures that didn’t come with a cape, or replace a lost cape. Duct tape comes in so many awesome colors and prints, which makes it a fabulous crafting material. After […]

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Make Your Own LEGO Brick Travel Case

Sarah — Sun, 19 May 2019 20:59:33 +0000

Make your own LEGO travel case that actually LOOKS like a LEGO® brick! This LEGO® craft is SO much fun! Kids can definitely handle this project on their own, but it would also be fun to make this as a gift for a child. Fill it with bricks and maybe a few minifigures for a […]

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How to Train Your Dragon Craft – Felt and Pipe Cleaner Dragons

Sarah — Sun, 19 May 2019 19:55:34 +0000

A couple weeks ago, I was up against a book deadline (LEGO Space Projects! Coming November 2019!), and the kids had a week of needing to entertain themselves with things that didn’t involve bickering while I finished up. My 12 year old asked me if he thought it would work to make the How to […]

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Addition with Regrouping with LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Fri, 17 May 2019 04:12:06 +0000

Addition with Regrouping – Printable LEGO® Math Activity! If you’re like me, teaching addition with regrouping (and subtraction with borrowing) is not on the list of favorite things to do! It can be a hard concept for kids to understand. I highly recommend starting with a firm understanding of place value and then introducing the […]

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LEGO Craft! Make a Changeable LEGO Photo Frame

Sarah — Fri, 10 May 2019 17:23:15 +0000

Here’s a fun LEGO® craft that kids will LOVE! Make a picture frame that can display a photo and a brick message. Kids can change what the message says by building new words! This craft is perfect for a camp or LEGO® club. It’s easy to make with a wooden frame from the craft store […]

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30+ Awesome STEM Challenges for Kids (with Inexpensive or Recycled Materials!)

Sarah — Sun, 28 Apr 2019 16:26:21 +0000

Looking for STEM projects and challenges for kids? Building and engineering projects are valuable for developing thinking skills and encouraging the ability to design and create. The tough part, though, is that teachers often have to purchase the materials at their own expense. At home, we don’t need to supply enough materials for a […]

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How to Make Magnetic Slime

Sarah — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 00:00:17 +0000

Did you know that it’s possible to make slime that is magnetic? Magnetic slime has iron in it and is attracted to a strong magnet. It is super stretchy and so much fun. When you hold a magnet near the slime, it oozes toward it, and the slime will “swallow” up a magnet if you […]

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Flower Tessellation Activity for Kids (with a Printable Template)

Sarah — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 03:19:33 +0000

This flower tessellation activity is a math activity and an art activity all in one! A tessellation is defined as a geometric shape that can be arranged in a repeating pattern with no space between the shapes and no overlapping. I think they are fascinating! We have shared other tessellation activities – fall leaf tessellations […]

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Felt, Button, and Popsicle Stick Flower Craft

Sarah — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 04:22:02 +0000

A flower craft is perfect for spring, and these sweet flowers are made with simple supplies from your craft closet! Grab some felt, buttons, and popsicle sticks, and you’re ready to go. Well, and glue. And scissors. And a little green paint. But that’s it! This flower craft would be perfect for kids to make […]

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How to Burn Steel Wool with a 9 Volt Battery

Sarah — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 03:14:38 +0000

Here’s a fun science experiment that has a lot of WOW factor! We all know that wood will burn in a fire, but did you know that metals can burn? Well, they can if you get them hot enough! In fact, fireworks are made from burning metals. In this science experiment, we’re going to make […]

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How to Make the Cutest Bunny and Chick Painted Easter Eggs

Sarah — Sun, 31 Mar 2019 23:28:07 +0000

We have been having so much fun making new spring crafts! Here’s an idea that kids will love – make adorable painted bunny eggs and chick eggs. I recommend using wooden craft eggs and painting them with acrylic paint. They will make an adorable keepsake that you can use year after year! Just grab a […]

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This EPIC Bottle Rocket Flew Higher Than our Two Story House!

Sarah — Sun, 24 Mar 2019 22:02:56 +0000

Warmer weather means its time to do some science experiments outside! Kids will love making a soda bottle rocket with simple household materials. This fun science demonstration is easy to do and will definitely impress your kids. Our rocket flew higher than our two story house! This post was originally published in April 2016 and […]

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Spring Craft for Kids: Paper Plate Magnetic Duck Pond

Sarah — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 20:32:30 +0000

This spring craft for kids is so simple and fun! Make your own paper plate duck pond. The ducks really swim around the pond when you move a magnet under the plate! Spring is here, and we are so happy about it! Spring is a great time to learn about pond life, ducks, frogs, and […]

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Paper Crafts for Kids: 30 Fun Projects You’ll Want to Try

Sarah — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 13:08:05 +0000

Rainy day? Bored kids? Try making some paper crafts! If you need a craft idea to make with kids, paper is such a great way to go. It’s cheap, and you probably always have paper around! Here are 20 fun crafts to make with this simple, budget-friendly material. You may need to add a little […]

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Spring Builds! How to Make Chicks, Bunnies, and Butterflies with LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 03:25:57 +0000

Spring is finally here, and we’ve got some new LEGO® building ideas to go with the new season! Build some adorable bunnies, the cutest chicks, and colorful butterflies. Then find somewhere fun to display them! I’m trying something new this time and offering both video and pictorial instructions. My son worked really hard to help […]

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Funny Questions to Ask Siri with Kids that are Hilarious and Family Friendly

Sarah — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 17:30:22 +0000

Siri can be useful for finding the nearest gas station, but she can also have some super hilarious conversations with you! Here are 20 funny questions to ask Siri that are appropriate and family friendly. (Yeah, not all her jokes are clean…) My boys love to ask Siri funny things, but you never know quite […]

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The Best Funny Math Jokes for Kids

Sarah — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 16:24:52 +0000

This collection of funny math jokes will crack up your students and kids! Some are best for elementary school, although I’ve included jokes that will be funny for algebra and geometry students too. Some of the high school jokes are the best because kids have to have some knowledge in order to get them – […]

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Muffin Tin Letter Sounds Activity

Sarah — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 04:47:13 +0000

Here’s a fun letter sounds activity that you can set up in just a few minutes with a muffin pan, paper cupcake liners, and small objects from around the house! We’ve been loving using muffin tins for learning lately. Last week, we did a muffin tin coin counting activity, and while I was setting that […]

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Hands-On Place Value Math Activity with LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 04:17:24 +0000

Well, if you’ve been around here for any length of time, you know that we love to use LEGO® bricks for all kinds of hands-on math activities. I mean, why buy more manipulatives when you can just use what kids love anyway? Here’s a great way to really drive home the concept of place value […]

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How to Build a LEGO Disc Launcher: A fun brick contraption!

Sarah — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 01:53:09 +0000

Use your LEGO® bricks to construct a fun contraption that shoots discs REALLY far! Kids will love this fun LEGO® building idea. This is different from our LEGO® catapult because it pushes the projectile straight forward with a lot of force, rather than flinging it into the air. Both projects are really cool for learning […]

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The Best Pets for Kids – Choose the best pet for your child!

Sarah — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 16:27:47 +0000

Thinking of getting a pet? Or maybe your kids are begging for one, but you’re worried about the mess, the expense, and possible safety issues. What if the new pet bites? I’ve got to admit… we are pet people! We’ve owned a LOT of pets over the years… And I realized that since we have […]

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Muffin Tin Coin Counting Activity

Sarah — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 03:11:27 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I am always looking for ways to make school easier. I am homeschooling five kids (10th grade, 7th, 4th, 1st, and preschool), and it can be hard to keep everyone busy at the same time! This morning I grabbed a muffin tin, some cupcake liners, and our coin jar […]

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Power up your Planes with a Paper Airplane Launcher

Sarah — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 20:17:06 +0000

Build a simple device that propels paper airplanes really far! My kids love anything that can launch or fling items, and thishomemade paper airplane launcher really fits the bill! It’s easy to build and will take ordinary paper airplanes to a whole new level. Very fun for a stuck-indoors sort of day, and building and […]

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Review of the Turing Tumble – An awesome STEM toy!

Sarah — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 17:35:04 +0000

Several months ago, a video caught my attention on Instagram. It was a fascinating educational toy for kids that featured tiny marbles being “handed” down a track through a series of switches. Besides being interesting to watch, I could tell that the Turing Tumble was a toy that would develop higher-level thinking in kids. Well, […]

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Cats and Dogs Printable Valentine’s Day Cards

Sarah — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 23:52:24 +0000

Looking for a quick and adorable Valentines idea? These printable cat and dog Valentines are just the thing! Attach a Safari Toob cat or dog to the card, or attach a piece of candy. You can also use the cards just as they are – they don’t necessarily need a treat attached. This post contains […]

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Transfer of Energy Science Experiment

Sarah — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 00:40:28 +0000

Grab some marbles! This simple science experiment is such an easy and fascinating way to demonstrate how energy is transferred from one object to another. Energy is defined as the ability to do work. We learned about the difference between potential energy (stored energy), and kinetic energy (the energy of moving things). Our ping pong […]

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Cats and Dogs Themed Printable Letter Sounds Activity Book

Sarah — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 04:46:49 +0000

This printable cat and dog themed activity book teaches phonics skills and fine motor skills, but it’s also just FUN! My 4 year old (turning 5 soon) is so eager to do schoolwork, but she works through preschool workbooks faster than I want to pay for them. I’ve been working on creating some things that […]

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How to Build an EPIC LEGO Marble Run

Sarah — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 21:09:38 +0000

One of the best LEGO® building challenges EVER is to simply give kids a tub of bricks and some marbles. You’ll be amazed at the LEGO® marble runs they can create! It’s fun to build ramps, jumps, and all kinds of creative projects. In this post, I’m going to show you how to build a […]

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40 Old-Fashioned Skills that Kids Need to Know TODAY!

Sarah — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 03:31:43 +0000

Our world has gone digital, but there are so many analog life skills that our kids still NEED! It’s no secret that life has changed in the past 25 years. When I was in high school, we didn’t have internet either at home or at school. No one owned a cell phone, except for wealthy […]

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Science Demonstration: Air Takes Up Space

Sarah — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 00:12:28 +0000

Make water stay in a funnel, rather than flowing out the bottom and into the bottle! It totally seems like magic! But it’s actually just science, and this science demonstration does a great job of proving that air takes up space. (Definitely some good wow factor here!) First, I told the kids that air is […]

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Don’t Melt the Ice! Science Experiment for Kids

Sarah — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 01:57:41 +0000

Keep ice from melting! This is a fun science experiment for winter, but it works any time of the year. One of the reasons that I love science education is that it’s a total blast when kids make discoveries on their own and get completely excited about it! Kids will be amazed at how long […]

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Design Beautiful Perler Bead Snowflakes

Sarah — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 15:06:02 +0000

Kids of all ages will enjoy these Perler bead SNOWFLAKE PATTERNS! I’ve got several patterns for kids to make, and hopefully these will also inspire kids to design their own snowflakes. If you’re not familiar with Perler beads, they are small plastic beads that fuse together when you iron them. We’ve been fans of Perler […]

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Stained Glass LEGO Building Challenge

Sarah — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 05:37:18 +0000

Kids will love creating stained glass projects with LEGO® bricks! This is a fun spin on a LEGO® building challenge that kids will really enjoy, and there are so many ways to approach it. Build a castle with stained glass windows, or a beautiful butterfly with stained glass wings. These projects are like sun catchers […]

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Snowball Addition and Subtraction Math Games

Sarah — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 05:02:54 +0000

Get ready to hear some cheers – when your kids find out that math time is going to involve running and throwing snowballs, they’ll be jumping up and down! Seriously, the games in this post are perfect for burning off some energy indoors on a cold day, and kids will be learning their addition and […]

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Brighten up winter with colorful origami paper snowflakes!

Sarah — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 05:04:18 +0000

Cheer up a dreary winter day with this colorful paper snowflake project! Paper snowflakes are even more fun in bright colors. We used a pack of origami paper, which was perfect. The paper is just the right thickness for easy cutting, it’s already in a square shape, and the colors look great together. It would […]

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Build a Game Spinner with LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Fri, 28 Dec 2018 21:40:55 +0000

Here’s a fun LEGO® building idea! Construct your own board game with a working game spinner. This game spinner actually works better than many of the ones that come with board games! I love challenging kids to build a board game because there are so many ways to go about this project. It’s a great […]

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Llama Ugly Sweater Christmas Coloring Page

Sarah — Tue, 25 Dec 2018 23:24:23 +0000

Merry Christmas! We’ve been opening gifts, playing with new toys, and burning the Christmas dinner! But that’s another story… We’ve also been drawing pictures! Gresham and I decided that it would be hilarious to create a coloring page with a llama wearing an ugly Christmas sweater. He quickly drew me this llama with a blank […]

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Dine in Style with this No-Sew Felt Play Food Turkey Dinner

Sarah — Fri, 21 Dec 2018 16:12:45 +0000

Create your own adorable play food turkey dinner! We’ve been having so much fun making felt play food lately, and by “we” I mean me along with our good friend and babysitter! She has helped me make play food breakfast and now this adorable turkey dinner. The boys don’t care about making play food, and […]

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How to Cut and Fold Awesome Paper Snowflakes

Sarah — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 00:57:06 +0000

Cutting paper snowflakes is such a classic winter activity and fun for all ages! Figuring out how to fold the paper can be a little tricky, but it’s not hard at all once you know how. Here are some instructions for cutting and folding really awesome paper snowflakes! This post was originally published in January […]

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Free Christmas Printable Pack for Kindergarten and First Grade

Sarah — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 03:58:08 +0000

Work on language arts skills with these fun Christmas themed activities! This printable pack is perfect for kindergarten and first grade students, or ages 5-7. There are word cards, handwriting practice pages, story starter cards, and Christmas themed paper for writing stories. I created this pack because I needed more things for Janie to do […]

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These Nativity Painted Stones will Become a Christmas Keepsake

Sarah — Sat, 08 Dec 2018 21:40:59 +0000

One of the best times of the year is when we pull the Christmas storage tubs from the closet and begin unpacking the decorations inside! Everyone is so excited. “Look! I had forgotten about this music box!” “Here’s my stocking, and here is yours!” We don’t have a “matchy” tree… instead, our tree is trimmed […]

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Christmas Tree Hands-On Multiplication Activity

Sarah — Sat, 08 Dec 2018 05:05:32 +0000

Here’s a fun math activity that will help kids learn the concept of multiplication in a hands-on way. (If you’re looking for multiplication fact practice, I have some Christmas themed multiplication pages as well. There are even secret codes and Christmas word problems!) This game is simple, but effective. And all you need are the […]

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The Cutest Ever No-Sew Felt Woodland Animal Christmas Ornaments

Sarah — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 03:47:01 +0000

We’ve been having so much fun with Christmas crafting! Our latest project is these Woodland Animal Christmas ornaments. Felt is such a great material to craft with because it’s inexpensive and comes in so many fun colors. I’ve included printable patterns for each animal at the bottom of this post, and I think that kids […]

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Make Math FUN with Christmas Multiplication Pages

Sarah — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 05:10:14 +0000

Make math time more fun (and festive!) with these printable Christmas multiplication practice pages! These are perfect for kids who are working on learning their multiplication tables. This free printable pack has 5 pages of multiplication activities. Here’s what is in the printable multiplication pack: One page of Christmas secret codes. Match the answer to […]

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This Gingerbread House is the Most Adorable Christmas Craft for Kids!

Sarah — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 05:20:49 +0000

Here’s a fun Christmas craft for kids – create your own gingerbread house! You probably have most of the materials already, but if not, they are not difficult to get. Craft sticks, craft foam, paint, glue, and stickers… such fun things! Add magnets to the back of your gingerbread houses and display them on the […]

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Collaborative Art with Christmas Tree Tessellations

Sarah — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 03:38:51 +0000

Here’s another fun tessellation project that is perfect for the holiday season! Print the Christmas tree template in this post, and kids can create a collaborative work of art with beautifully decorated mini tessellating trees. Math and art come together in this fun STEM project. A tessellation is a shape that can be repeated over […]

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How to Build Five Festive LEGO Christmas Projects

Sarah — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 16:14:58 +0000

Use your LEGO® bricks to build an elf, a reindeer that really moves his legs, a puppy that comes out of a present, and more. We’ve been having fun designing new Christmas projects with LEGO® bricks for the holiday season! This post contains Amazon affiliate links. This year, we decided to create some mechanical LEGO® […]

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Run, Run, Rudolph LEGO Building Instructions

Sarah — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 16:07:09 +0000

Here’s a fun Christmas LEGO® building project! Build a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer whose feet run along when you push him! I’m calling him “Run, Run, Rudolph,” LOL. This is a neat little mechanical project that is not difficult to build. The key to making this little reindeer move is to build his leg joints […]

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A Puppy for Christmas! LEGO Building Project

Sarah — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 16:01:44 +0000

Wouldn’t it be fun to get a puppy for Christmas? Build a little puppy that comes out of a gift box when you turn the handle! This is an impressive mechanical contraption, but the mechanism is simple and it’s not difficult to build. This LEGO® project works sort of like a jack-in-the-box. Turn the handle, […]

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Save BIG on Melissa and Doug Toys

Sarah — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 14:30:36 +0000

Today is one of Amazon’s best holiday season sales! Save 35% (or more) on select Melissa and Doug toys! This is a Deal of the Day, so it’s good today only. We love Melissa and Doug puzzles, play food, building blocks, and more. Such high quality and open-ended toys. This post contains Amazon affiliate links, […]

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Marbles and Play Dough STEM Challenge

Sarah — Sun, 18 Nov 2018 04:13:47 +0000

Build a marble run with an unlikely material… play dough! There are actually two STEM challenges with marbles and play dough in this post, and they are both a ton of fun for a wide range of ages. Best of all, the materials are cheap and can be used again on another day. Here’s a […]

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How to Choose a Backyard Play Set

Sarah — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 18:41:20 +0000

When we moved last summer, we had to leave our swing set behind! Well, we actually left it out for the trash. It was rotting and falling down, and we had to dismantle it to sell the house. Our new backyard is twice as big and has some lovely trees, but until a few weeks […]

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Scrapbook Paper Turkey Crayon Holder and Placemat

Sarah — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 04:04:50 +0000

Make your Thanksgiving dinner table look adorable and festive with these turkey crafts! Scrapbook paper might be one of my new favorite crafting materials. There are so many fun colors, patterns, and designs. Kids can write directly on the paper placemats. Draw lines so that they can list things they are thankful for, or leave […]

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Sibling Gifts on Christmas Eve: A Meaningful Family Christmas Tradition

Sarah — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 04:16:22 +0000

One of our favorite family Christmas traditions happens on Christmas Eve when the boys (and now Janie too!) give gifts to each other that they purchase with their own money. We started this tradition when Aidan was 4 and Gresham was 18 months, and it worked so well that we have been doing it ever […]

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Awesome LEGO Giveaways to Celebrate Release Week!

Sarah — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 04:03:50 +0000

We are down to just ONE WEEK until the release of Genius LEGO® Inventions with Bricks You Already Have! The official release date is Tuesday, November 13th. I’m super excited about this book and all the cool gadgets and machines that kids are going to be able to build! I’m also excited that kids will […]

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Engaging, Hands-on DUPLO Math Games that Kids will LOVE!

Sarah — Sun, 04 Nov 2018 20:28:32 +0000

Here’s a collection of fun, engaging, and hands-on math games to play with LEGO® DUPLO bricks! These games are perfect for preschoolers and kindergartners. You don’t need a ton of bricks to play these games, or a bunch of special materials. Just grab a dice, some paper, and a marker or two, and you’ll be […]

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Craft for Kids: Handprint Dinosaurs

Sarah — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 01:04:09 +0000

Here’s a fun dinosaur craft for kids – make handprint dinosaurs! This project definitely is more of a “mom helped do it” project rather than an “I did it myself” project. In the early childhood education world, you can find some surprisingly hot debates on this topic! In my opinion, I like to do both […]

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75+ of the BEST Simple Activities for Busy Preschoolers

Sarah — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 02:02:44 +0000

More than 75 preschool activities, all in one place! We’ve got fine motor activities, sensory play, alphabet activities, counting, shapes, and MORE! I really love preschoolers. There’s just something about the curious and sincere nature of kids this age that is just fun and endearing! I love watching preschoolers play and learn. Preschoolers are not […]

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This LEGO® STEM project book is a must-have for future engineers!

Sarah — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 04:35:53 +0000

We are so excited to show you a peek inside our newest LEGO® project ideas book – Genius LEGO® Inventions with Bricks You Already Have! The purpose of this LEGO® book is to give kids both the inspiration and the skills they need to create all kinds of cool machines and gadgets with real […]

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Awesome Game Ideas for a Dude Perfect Style Birthday Party

Sarah — Sat, 20 Oct 2018 14:32:06 +0000

Gresham turned 12 last week, and we had an amazingly fun birthday party with several of his friends. All of our boys love to watch Dude Perfect videos, and we decided a few weeks ago that it would be fun to have a Dude Perfect birthday party! But then we had to figure out HOW […]

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LEGO Copycat Challenge – A TOTALLY Fun Cooperative Game

Sarah — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 17:35:30 +0000

Use LEGO® bricks to play a fun and competitive cooperative game that kids will love! This is perfect for a LEGO® birthday party or club, or really any venue in which you need to keep a group of kids busy. We’ll call it LEGO® Copycat or Duplicate the LEGO® Model… or choose your own name! […]

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Gorgeous Black Crayon and Watercolor Fall Leaf Art

Sarah — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 04:35:03 +0000

Create gorgeous fall leaf art – with just paper, black crayon, and watercolor paints! This project is fun for kids of all ages (and parents too!). Preschoolers may not be able to do the crayon rubbing part totally independently, but I have tip for making it easier at the bottom of this post. I have […]

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Printable Fall Word Cards

Sarah — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 03:46:18 +0000

These fall word cards were something that I put together quickly so that Janie would have more to do during our school day – ha! She loves to stay busy, and I don’t want to buy as many workbooks as she would like to fill in, so I’m on a quest for find and create […]

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Fall Five Senses Walk Fill-in-the-Blanks Poem

Sarah — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 03:02:46 +0000

After the heat of summer, the sights and smells (and tastes!) of fall are so very welcome. Apples, pumpkin pie, brightly colored leaves, crisp mornings, cider donuts, trips to the pumpkin patch, fuzzy sweaters… Well, to be honest, fall in Texas is really just an extension of summer with pumpkins added (which came from far […]

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First Grade Math with LEGO Bricks Printable Pack

Sarah — Sun, 07 Oct 2018 21:30:08 +0000

Use LEGO® bricks to teach math concepts! Here are three clever math activities that are perfect for first grade. I’ll describe the activities, and then you can find a link at the bottom of the post to download and print the pages. (Also, I know I’ve done lots of first grade stuff lately, and I’m […]

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200+ Printable Coloring Pages for Kids

Sarah — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 14:34:33 +0000

Here’s a collection of awesome free printable coloring pages that boys and girls will love! Whether it’s a rainy day, sick day, or too hot to play outside (hello, Texas!) these printable coloring pages will keep kids busy for hours. There are Disney coloring pages, Star Wars, animals, nature, preschool coloring, and more. I searched […]

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Spark an interest in early coding skills with LEGO Education!

Sarah — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 03:58:50 +0000

Wow, LEGO® really hit it out of the park with their newest Education set for preschoolers! We were given the opportunity to try out the new LEGO® Education Coding Express set, and I am thoroughly impressed. Preschoolers will be learning early coding skills, critical thinking, and problem solving, all through imaginative play with a train […]

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Pumpkin Launch! How to Build a Catapult with LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 22:00:48 +0000

Here’s a fun LEGO® building idea for fall! Launch candy pumpkins with this awesome LEGO® catapult. This is a great activity for a rainy day, and it would also be fun to do with a club or other group. Kids can create their own catapults and tinker with them until they find a design that […]

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How to Make an Absolutely Adorable Pumpkin Doll House (with Accessories!)

Sarah — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 13:15:14 +0000

Oh my, Janie and I are totally in love with this pumpkin doll house project, and the boys have been enjoying it too! I’m thinking of buying another pumpkin so that they can fill it with LEGO guys, but more on that in a minute… You know those carve-able foam pumpkins that the craft stores […]

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How to Make an ADORABLE No-Sew Felt Breakfast with Pancakes, Eggs, and Bacon

Sarah — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 04:16:51 +0000

We’re back with another no-sew felt play food idea! Make an adorable breakfast set complete with pancakes, eggs, and bacon. The eggs fit inside plastic eggs so that kids can pretend to crack them open and cook them. So fun. For this project, all you need is felt and hot glue, along with a tiny […]

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Our Home Renovation Before/After Reveal

Sarah — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 02:43:00 +0000

Well, this post is a departure from what I usually write about, but I thought that it would be fun to share about our new house! We are huge fans of the show Fixer Upper, but this past summer when we were in the market for a new home, I honestly was looking for something […]

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How to Build Pumpkin Lanterns with LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 04:32:57 +0000

Here’s a fun fall LEGO® project! Build some friendly jack o’lantern faces out of bricks and then illuminate them with battery powered tea lights. There are several ways to design the face! Kids will enjoy giving this project their own personal touch. I have included a parts list at the bottom of the post, but […]

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Build Working Gears out of Popsicle Sticks

Sarah — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 02:27:59 +0000

Here’s a fun STEM challenge: Build working gears out of plastic caps, popsicle sticks, and a cardboard box! This project demonstrates mechanical concepts using materials you probably already have. Kids will be able to explore how gears mesh together to create motion. We started our project with a sturdy Amazon prime box, an assortment of […]

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Superhero Math! A Printable Math Activity Pack for First Grade

Sarah — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 04:31:29 +0000

Do you have a child that is crazy for superheroes? Then I’ve got just the thing that will get them really excited about math! This printable activity pack contains 30 pages of first grade math activities, all with a fun superhero focus. Math practice doesn’t feel like work when it’s in the context of a […]

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Make your child’s day a whole lot funnier with these printable lunchbox jokes!

Sarah — Mon, 13 Aug 2018 02:43:35 +0000

Printable Lunchbox Jokes! Here’s an easy way to make your child’s day at school a little brighter! Tuck one of these lunchbox jokes into his or her lunchbox for a laugh at lunchtime. There are 40 joke cards to print, so that will last you 8 weeks of packed lunches! Some of the jokes for […]

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Super EASY (and Cheap!) DIY Castle Building Blocks

Sarah — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 03:44:29 +0000

Create your own castle building blocks set! This is such a fun and open-ended homemade toy that kids will spend hours with. It’s also extremely easy (even if you are not crafty!) and cheap to make. It would be fun to build a set of blocks with your kids’ help, or you can assemble it […]

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Do a LEGO Bridge Building Challenge!

Sarah — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 03:42:46 +0000

Here’s a fun STEM building challenge for kids! Set up this bridge building activity and challenge kids to construct a sturdy LEGO® bridge that spans the width of the river. I love activities like this because they are beneficial and engaging for a wide range of ages. In order to build a bridge, kids need […]

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Printable Alphabet Memory Game Cards

Sarah — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 22:06:14 +0000

Do your kids love the memory game? Mine do! We have a superhero version and a princess version. Here’s a printable version of the memory game that will teach letter recognition and sounds! Three Ways to Play Letter Sounds Memory Game – Turn the cards face over. Each player will turn over two cards. If […]

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25 Cool LEGO Projects with Instructions

Sarah — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 04:29:07 +0000

Do your kids have a big tub of LEGO® bricks? Turn those random parts into an afternoon of fun with some cool LEGO projects with instructions! This post contains links to several of our top favorite LEGO® building ideas. Build unicorns, an endless cube, silly monsters, puppies, and more. Click on the links to see […]

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Summer Scented Play Dough Recipes

Sarah — Sun, 08 Jul 2018 20:50:18 +0000

Celebrate summer with watermelon, lime, orange, and coconut scented homemade play dough! Sensory play that suits the season is so much fun for young kids and creates such happy memories. I made each scent using my favorite homemade play dough recipe. The watermelon is scented with Kool-Aid, and the others are scented with extracts that […]

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How to Build Plesiosaurs with LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Fri, 06 Jul 2018 04:18:33 +0000

Here’s a fun new LEGO® project – build a water dinosaur, or plesiosaur! Well, technically they aren’t actually dinosaurs – just very large marine reptiles that are now extinct. The definition of a dinosaur includes leg bones that support the animal walking on land. But still, these LEGO® marine reptiles are fun to build! Have […]

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Build a Powerful Popsicle Stick Catapult

Sarah — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 03:36:53 +0000

STEM challenge for kids – build a catapult out of popsicle sticks! Here’s a fun (and effective) catapult to build out of popsicle sticks, hot glue, and a few other basic household supplies. We’ve been having a blast with this little contraption! The catapult’s arm is attached to a segment of a straw that rotates […]

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Favorite STEM Toys for Creative Kids

Sarah — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 03:17:03 +0000

I am a firm believer that the types of toys we have in our homes greatly affects our kids’ creativity. The toy aisles at most big box stores are filled with total junk – brightly colored plastic toys with lights and sounds that break within a few days (or hours!) of purchasing them. Many toys […]

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Printable Dinosaur Coloring Pages for Kids

Sarah — Sun, 17 Jun 2018 22:32:33 +0000

Dinosaur fans will love these printable coloring pages! There are three designs to print and color – a tyrannosaurus rex, a diplodocus, and a triceratops. We’ve posted dragon coloring pages drawn by my second son (11 years old), and he drew these dinosaur pages as well! I simply traced his designs and smoothed out […]

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Let’s Taco ’bout these awesome EASY play food tacos!

Sarah — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 18:11:06 +0000

Use craft felt and dried pinto beans to create your own taco dinner play food set! Janie and I have been loving the pretend play age and having fun making our own play food sets. Who needs store bought when you can create something together for so cheap? First we made a play food yarn […]

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How to Build Puppies with LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 12:59:54 +0000

Build some LEGO® puppies with their own doggy bed and food bowl! These are such adorable little puppies. You can swap out the bricks in the legs to make them either lying down or standing up. Janie asked to have the puppies after I finished the photos, and she has been playing with them ever […]

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Watermelon Fine Motor Activities

Sarah — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 03:58:36 +0000

Who knew a watermelon could be so much fun? I don’t ever post activities on this blog that we did not truly enjoy, but my 4 and 6 year old’s especially loved these activities! Watermelon just feels like summer, doesn’t it? Here’s a collection of awesome hands-on watermelon activities that are fun and that will […]

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Watermelon Printable Math Activities for Pre-K and Kindergarten

Sarah — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 03:42:19 +0000

Here are some fun hands-on math activities with a summer watermelon theme! Print watermelon number cards and a Roll It, Write It, Count It mat. Below, you’ll also find a recipe for some amazing watermelon scented play dough. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the printable activities. First, I’ll tell you how […]

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How to Make Scented Lemonade Slime

Sarah — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 04:15:35 +0000

So we were trying to make scented watermelon slime today, which was a massive fail (I’ll explain more in a minute!). But in the process we made this awesome lemonade slime! It smells fabulous and it provides tons of stretchy, gooey fun! This was our first attempt at adding scents to slime. I know there […]

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How to Make a Letter Mosaic with LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Sun, 27 May 2018 20:18:08 +0000

Here’s a fun project that will look awesome in any LEGO® fan’s room! Make a LEGO letter mosaic to hang on the wall or display on a shelf. Kids can even build on it and attach their favorite bricks and minifigures. The bottom layer of bricks (well, plates – the flat pieces) are glued down, […]

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Make an adorable play food spaghetti dinner… out of yarn & felt!

Sarah — Thu, 24 May 2018 02:21:32 +0000

This easy DIY play food spaghetti dinner doesn’t require sewing, and the materials are super cheap. In fact, you might have most of what you need around the house! Make spaghetti (recycle a pasta box to store it in – so fun), spaghetti sauce, and a felt salad. This will inspire hours of pretend play! […]

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These pool noodle planes will really fly!

Sarah — Fri, 18 May 2018 04:36:30 +0000

Build an airplane out of a pool noodle and some simple craft supplies! This fun activity for kids combines fun with STEM learning as kids explore the best possible airplane design. There are two ways to approach this project. You can either copy our design, which we tested and which works. Or, let your kids […]

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Awesome Science Experiments with Hot Wheels Cars

Sarah — Thu, 10 May 2018 03:10:33 +0000

Let’s do some Hot Wheels STEM projects! These simple science experiments feel like play, but kids will actually be exploring the physics concepts of velocity, mass, momentum, and air resistance. There are two experiments in this post. I created recording sheets for both that include the full scientific method, and you can print them at […]

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Printable Star Wars Word Search

Sarah — Thu, 03 May 2018 03:56:33 +0000

Here’s a fun Star Wars activity! These printable word searches are perfect for a birthday party activity or just a boredom buster for a rainy day. There are two word searches to print from this post. The first has words from episodes IV, V, and VI, and the second has words from The Force Awakens. […]

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Star Wars Multiplication Practice Puzzle for Little Jedis

Sarah — Wed, 02 May 2018 15:25:51 +0000

Here’s a fun math activity that Star Wars fans will love! Solve the multiplication problems. Then look for the solution in the alphabet decoder box at the bottom of the page. Write the letter that matches the correct solution in the blanks. There are two funny riddles to solve on this page. Multiplication practice is […]

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You won’t need the force to make these awesome Star Wars painted rocks!

Sarah — Wed, 02 May 2018 03:40:22 +0000

Here’s a fun Star Wars craft to do with the kids for May the Fourth Be With You (Star Wars Day) or any day! We absolutely love rock painting over here, and we needed some Star Wars inspired rocks to add to our collection. These would be fun to make and hide if your city […]

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Make Your Own Cactus Play Dough Activity

Sarah — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 20:04:25 +0000

Cactuses (Cacti?) seem to be all the rage right now! Those and llamas. I don’t really know why either is so trendy, but I think do cacti are pretty awesome, especially after seeing saguaro cacti in Arizona on our road trip to California. Here’s a fun cactus activity – create a make-your-own cactus play dough […]

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How to Play Three Thirteen – A Family Card Game

Sarah — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 01:57:42 +0000

Here’s a new card game to learn that is perfect for your next family game night! This has been a favorite in our family for years. I played it with my grandparents and at family gatherings. My great uncle used to tease my great aunt that this game kept her mind sharp! Some of the […]

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Word Family Cups Phonics Activity for Kids

Sarah — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 03:05:26 +0000

Here’s a phonics activity that is both easy and fun! Use paper cups to create word family spinners. Kids can turn the bottom cup to change the beginning sound and then read the words. I don’t know about your kids, but my beginning readers have never been able to sit still. I don’t know if […]

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Printable Spring Activity Pack for Kids

Sarah — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 01:46:46 +0000

This post started as a nature scavenger hunt for our preschool co-op, and it kind of grew from there. I purchased some adorable spring clip art on Teachers Pay Teachers, and I just kept thinking of cute things to do with it. Jonathan and Janie demand sweetly request to do as much “school work” as […]

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Preschool Math with Number Houses

Sarah — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 03:19:37 +0000

Don’t you love it when you find something that is easy, educational, and the kids think it’s great? I made these number houses for my youngest two (ages 3 and 6) to go with a unit on the postal system and addresses. If you have a wooden train set, these wooden houses go perfectly with […]

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Pom Pom Bunnies Spring Craft

Sarah — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 21:02:19 +0000

Here’s an adorable spring bunny craft to make – pom pom bunnies! Grab the glue gun and transform a pile of pom pom balls and felt into some adorable bunnies. They are fun to play with, but also cute enough for a spring or Easter centerpiece! My 11 year old has always loved celebrating the […]

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Paper Plate Craft: Hatching Chicks!

Sarah — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 13:39:21 +0000

Here’s an adorable paper plate craft that is perfect for spring or for a unit on farm animals. Use paper plates to make a chick that “hatches” out of an egg. My preschooler and kindergartner loved this! We used felt to make the chick’s body and beak, but construction paper would also work well if […]

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LEGO Math Printable Challenge Cards

Sarah — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 20:47:43 +0000

Practice math concepts with LEGO® bricks! These printable math challenge cards will have kids exploring number concepts in a fun and hands-on way. Print them, add a basket of bricks, and you have an instant math center! I created them with 6-8 year olds in mind, or first and second grade. They will be too […]

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Printable Spring Doodle Book

Sarah — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 04:32:29 +0000

Here’s a fun spring activity for kids! This printable doodle book is kind of a combination of coloring and drawing. It’s designed to encourage kids to practice fine motor skills by making it fun to draw small things, like legs on a caterpillar or rain drops to water the garden. I made this (and my […]

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STEM Challenge: Build a Cardboard Box Ball Track

Sarah — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 04:29:16 +0000

Here’s a fun STEM challenge – combine cardboard boxes with Hot Wheels track to make a really awesome ball track! Elementary kids will enjoy this building challenge, and preschoolers will love it too, if someone older helps build the track. Owen and I had a great time transforming some cardboard boxes into this track. We […]

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Printable LEGO Multiplication Game

Sarah — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 04:34:09 +0000

Here’s a fun way to teach the concept of multiplication with LEGO® bricks! This is actually my second LEGO® multiplication activity, but I think this one is better. Ha! It makes it so easy for kids to grasp the concept of multiplication, and with a dice to roll and bricks to build with, it feels […]

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Painted Rock Printable Valentines

Sarah — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 04:31:16 +0000

Well, you know we’ve been into painted rocks lately. They are just so much fun! Here’s a fun idea for Valentine’s Day painted rocks, and there are even printable Valentine cards to go with them. Kids will enjoy making these and giving them to friends, and as an added bonus they are candy-free! As usual, […]

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Build Math Patterns with LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 21:07:30 +0000

Here’s a fun way to use LEGO® bricks – build some math patterns! And by patterns, I don’t mean just your usual preschool patterns. We’re moving beyond red-blue-red-blue here because math can be COOL! This STEM activity can be used with a wide variety of ages, and it will encourage kids to be creative. Challenge […]

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Coffee Filter Heart Snowflakes

Sarah — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 01:53:14 +0000

Here’s a fun craft for kids that is perfect for Valentine’s Day! Use coffee filters to make beautiful heart snowflakes. Even the youngest preschoolers will enjoy helping to color the coffee filters, while older kids can dye the filters and cut the snowflakes too. Dyeing coffee filters with markers is such a fun process, especially […]

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Awesome Science Experiment: Make Hot Ice with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Sarah — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 05:20:33 +0000

Here’s a fun science experiment that will definitely get a “wow” from the kids. Combine baking soda and vinegar to make sodium acetate, or hot ice! It crystalizes instantly when you pour it, allowing you to create a tower of crystals. Since the process of crystallization is exothermic, the “ice” that forms will be hot […]

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Snowman Addition Match-Up Printable Math Game

Sarah — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 04:07:58 +0000

Here’s a fun way to practice addition facts! This game is perfect for winter with the snowman theme. Kids can match up the addition facts on the snowmen with the correct sums. There are 12 total snowman addition mats. Setting out 12 mats with 48 total answers would be super overwhelming, though, so I […]

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LEGO Unicorn Building Instructions

Sarah — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 22:50:39 +0000

It’s a unicorn! And it’s so fluffy I’m gonna die! (Despicable Me reference, ha ha!) In our boy-heavy house, no one is into unicorns, actually. Janie loves all things girly, but she is not really a fan of unicorns. Maybe she’s too young? She’s 3. We do, however, love the unicorn in Despicable Me, and […]

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Build a LEGO Gnome Garden

Sarah — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 05:10:28 +0000

Here’s a whimsical project to build with LEGO® bricks – make a gnome garden! You can even build a little house in a tree trunk for your gnomes. I don’t know why, but garden gnomes have always cracked me up. These gnomes were inspired by some that I saw on the LEGO® Facebook page back […]

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Growth Mindset Bullet Journal Ideas for Kids

Sarah — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 22:17:41 +0000

Bullet journaling has become a popular way to record and journal life, and I’ve been enjoying looking at journaling ideas on Pinterest. Basically, bullet journaling is a way to organize information. You can keep of a log of accomplishments, to-do lists, thoughts, plans, goals, and more. Customize it to work for you! I thought it […]

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Design Your Own Hex Bug Playground

Sarah — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 16:33:41 +0000

My boys recently got some hex bugs, and they are so much fun! Aidan had one when he was younger, but somehow the other boys missed out on having one. Jonathan asked for one for his 6th birthday, and declared the $6 hex bug to be his favorite present, above a $40 LEGO set! (Hmm…) […]

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Adorable Penguin Craft for Kids

Sarah — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 04:38:25 +0000

Here’s an adorable winter craft to make with kids! Use wooden eggs from the craft store to make some friendly little penguins. The materials for this craft are simple. I would recommend this for kids of any age, but kids ages 8+ will be able to make the penguins almost totally on their own. What […]

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Build a New Year’s Eve Ball Drop with LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 23:04:01 +0000

Celebrate the New Year with this fun LEGO building project! Build a ball drop and celebrate when the clock strikes midnight. (Or celebrate with a different time zone and then put the kids to bed! We don’t usually make it to midnight.) This is such a fun project, but simple enough for kids to build on […]

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Play Ideas with LEGO DUPLO Bricks

Sarah — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 03:15:54 +0000

My 3 and 5 year olds have been obsessed with LEGO DUPLO bricks lately, so we thought it would be fun to share a few simple play ideas! Build a camera, a chain reaction with a DUPLO car, and a fun golf game with a ping pong ball and a straw. This post is not […]

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Make a DIY Popsicle Stick Snowflake Building Kit

Sarah — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 15:00:28 +0000

Here’s a winter STEM activity that kids of all ages will enjoy. Design snowflakes with a simple magnetic building kit. We used popsicle sticks and adhesive magnetic tape to make this snowflake kit, and it has been so much fun! There are so many different ways to design a snowflake. To make the snowflake building […]

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Decorate a LEGO Christmas Tree

Sarah — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 17:52:47 +0000

Here’s a fun mosaic project with LEGO® bricks that is perfect for the Christmas break! Build and decorate a LEGO® tree. The kids can decorate and re-decorate it. The bricks on ours have been rearranged several times! We have a whole collection of LEGO® Christmas projects to build, so check that out if you’re looking […]

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Printable Christmas Doodle Book

Sarah — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 04:57:42 +0000

Here’s a fun drawing activity with a holiday flair! This printable Christmas Doodle Book will keep kids busy drawing ornaments, designing stockings, decorating snowmen, and more. In the fall, I posted about the pencil practice books I have been creating for my kindergartner. They have been such a great way to strengthen his writing skills […]

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Snowman Painted Rocks – Build a Snowman!

Sarah — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 21:37:01 +0000

This year we have been all about painted rocks. Rock painting is just so relaxing and fun for a wide range of ages. Here’s a fun craft idea for winter – paint some snowman rocks! We chose to make each snowman consist of three rock sections so that we can mix and match the pieces […]

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Christmas Tree Addition – Free Math Printable

Sarah — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 22:18:12 +0000

Add a festive touch to math practice with this Christmas Tree Addition activity! Kids will enjoy decorating the tree while exploring number bonds and writing addition sentences. Print the Christmas tree mat and the tree trunks (labeled with the numbers 1-15). I laminated our mat for durability, and I also hot-glued velcro to the […]

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Christmas Projects to Build with LEGO® Bricks – Printable Building Guide

Sarah — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 02:29:31 +0000

Well, this past week I’ve been working hard on something I’ve wanted to do for awhile. I consolidated all (well, most) of the Christmas LEGO® projects that we’ve designed over the years into an ebook full of building instructions! I also added a new project – a minifigure-sized sleigh for Santa and an adorable reindeer […]

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How to Build a LEGO Santa and Stocking Ornaments

Sarah — Sat, 25 Nov 2017 03:09:39 +0000

Every year, we love to create new Christmas LEGO® projects! Here’s what we came up with for this year (in addition to our Build-it-Yourself LEGO® Advent Calendar) – a cute little LEGO® Santa and some stocking ornaments to build. Decorate your tree with LEGO® projects! Santa has an adorable polar bear companion! Build some stocking […]

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How to Make Adorable Wood Slice Christmas Ornaments

Sarah — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 22:44:33 +0000

I love the cozy feeling of homemade Christmas ornaments! I told my 10 year old that I wanted to come up with some new ornaments this year, and after a few minutes with our craft tub, he came up with the button Santa hat ornament. So cute! So that inspired us to create the rest. […]

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Desert Play Dough Pretend Play

Sarah — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 03:35:44 +0000

Build your own desert with this fun play dough activity for kids! We love adding interesting things to play dough – it makes it a whole new activity every time. This is perfect for a unit on desert animals. I mixed up some homemade play dough and added real play sand. You can find the […]

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How to Build an Awesome LEGO Advent Calendar (With doors! And candy!)

Sarah — Sat, 11 Nov 2017 16:54:52 +0000

Christmas is coming, and we are super excited about this awesome LEGO® advent calendar that you can build yourself! Create an epic Christmas countdown with 24 doors to open. Each space can hold a Hershey’s kiss or another similar candy. Designing the advent calendar is a fantastic LEGO® challenge for kids. Challenge kids to get […]

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STEAM Projects for Preschoolers with LEGO Duplo

Sarah — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 04:32:32 +0000

The best way to encourage learning with preschoolers is through play, and the best way to encourage play is to provide open-ended toy options that are durable and engaging! In 14 years of parenting, I have never been a fan of battery powered toys that can only be used one way. Not to mention how […]

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Easy DIY LEGO Wall & Play Board

Sarah — Sat, 04 Nov 2017 20:02:54 +0000

Woo hoo, this new LEGO® project is definitely one of our favorites! Here’s an easy way to make your own LEGO® wall (especially if you don’t have an actual wall to devote to this), and it doubles as a play board for creating large LEGO® scenes. This project started with me deciding to make some […]

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Bridge Building STEM Challenge with Craft Sticks and Wooden Cubes

Sarah — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 20:41:04 +0000

Craft sticks are definitely one of my favorite building materials for kids! They are so cheap, and you can use them in a multitude of different ways. In this STEM activity, challenge kids to construct the longest possible bridge using only craft sticks and wooden cubes. No glue, no tape, no adhesives of any kind! […]

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Fun with Math! Probability and Graphing with LEGO® Bricks

Sarah — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 04:18:04 +0000

Do some LEGO® math! Here’s a fun way to teach kids about probability and graphing with LEGO® bricks. Draw bricks out of a bag at random and record which colors are chosen. Then graph the results! How to Play We used a baseplate and some tan bricks to build a graph. Then, I told my […]

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Five Steps to Liking Your Kids Again (When You’re About to Lose Your Mind!)

Sarah — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 14:25:19 +0000

We’ve all been there, haven’t we? Our kids are adorable and precious. They really are. But after a day filled with bickering, whining, requests to find countless “lost” items, requests to not do what they were asked to do, burping on purpose, and complaining about what was served for dinner, it’s a bit of a […]

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Build an Endless Cube with LEGO® Bricks

Sarah — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 21:13:39 +0000

Grab the LEGO® bucket, because this is such a fun building project! Make an endless cube, also called an infinity cube, out of LEGO® bricks. This cube transforms shape over and over without an end. It’s such a neat toy to build, and it’s fun to play with! We did not design this project – […]

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Fall Tree Play Dough Activity (With Pumpkin Spice Play Dough… Mmmm!)

Sarah — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 22:04:11 +0000

Decorate a fall tree with play dough leaves in lovely fall colors! This preschool activity is perfect for building hand strength and fine motor skills, and the play dough has a wonderful pumpkin pie scent. Playing with it put us in such a fall mood! I made some tree play dough mats by drawing a […]

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Pumpkin Number Bonds Addition Activity

Sarah — Sun, 08 Oct 2017 02:52:51 +0000

Here’s a fun hands-on addition activity that is perfect for fall. Use real pumpkin seeds to explore number bonds. Simply put, the term number bonds refers to different ways to create the same sum. For example, you can make 10 by adding 3 and 7, or 6 and 4. This activity is perfect for kids […]

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Pumpkin Patch Addition and Subtraction Math Game

Sarah — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 03:46:00 +0000

Some days, it’s hard to get excited about making kids do their math. Can you relate? We have totally gotten in a rut here lately, so I decided we needed to spice things up a little. Here’s a fun printable math activity that kids will WANT to do! Practice addition and subtraction with this fun pumpkin […]

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How to Build a Paper Plate Spiral Marble Track

Sarah — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 13:41:56 +0000

Here’s a fun homemade toy that you can put together from stuff around the house – a spiral marble track! Drop marbles at the top and watch them spin around the spiral track of paper plates until they get to the bottom. It’s very relaxing to watch. It’s no secret that we love marble runs […]

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How to Build a LEGO® Candy Machine {Dispense One Candy at a Time!}

Sarah — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 20:35:42 +0000

If you’re a regular follower of Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls, you’ve probably seen our popular LEGO® candy dispenser. It dispenses a little handful of M&M’s or something similar, and it has been a top favorite project on our site. Well, for this year’s candy consumption season, we’ve got a new project for you! […]

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How to Make File Folder Pop-Up Nerf Targets

Sarah — Sun, 24 Sep 2017 21:56:49 +0000

Here’s a fun Nerf target game that you can put together in minutes! Make pop-up targets out of file folders. Kids can knock them down, and they pop back up again! The templates are available to print at the bottom of the post. Let the kids color them and cut them out, and then assemble […]

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LEGO® Monsters Building Challenge for Kids

Sarah — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 22:20:04 +0000

Here’s a fun LEGO® building challenge! Create silly monsters. We’ve got building instructions for two of the monsters in the post, which should jump start all kinds of creative constructions. The great part is that kids can build these monsters however they want with whatever pieces they have on hand. Great challenge for a LEGO® […]

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How to Build LEGO® Bats

Sarah — Sun, 17 Sep 2017 04:18:42 +0000

There are so many animals that I never had much appreciation for before having four sons. Bats are definitely in that category! The boys love them, along with snakes and tarantulas and other creatures like that. In fact, they discovered this summer that if you hang out in our back yard at dusk, there are […]

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Easy DIY Pencil Practice Book for Improving Fine Motor Skills

Sarah — Sun, 10 Sep 2017 21:14:17 +0000

Here’s an easy way to improve fine motor skills in kids while using materials you already have! My 5 year old could not be more excited about being a kindergartner. He has always loved to work hard and learn new things that make him more grown up. Although he has been eager to learn to […]

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Found Object Robots: A Beginning Woodworking Project for Kids

Sarah — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 02:44:51 +0000

The boys and I had a blast this week creating these adorable wood robots! This is a great beginning woodworking project for kids because exact measurement is not important, you can use glue instead of nails, and you can use whatever scrap wood and materials you have on hand. And it’s FUN! Total win. We […]

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Superhero Creative Writing Printable Pack

Sarah — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 03:49:45 +0000

Remember that magnetic poetry game that you stick on your refrigerator? That was the inspiration for this Superhero Creative Writing Pack! There are so many ways to use this resource to encourage creative writing skills in young children. This pack will increase vocabulary and encourage the use of strong verbs and descriptive language, all in […]

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Make Your Own LEGO® Book Printable Pack

Sarah — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 00:11:49 +0000

Challenge kids to create a story illustrated with LEGO® bricks! This printable pack is the perfect compliment to my LEGO® book Epic LEGO® Adventures with Bricks You Already Have although you can use it with or without the book. Kids can build story scenes, shoot photos, and write exciting text just like I did when creating […]

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Construction Truck Sensory Bin

Sarah — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 17:07:47 +0000

I love using sensory bins with preschoolers because it’s such a motivating way to develop fine motor skills through play! This construction truck themed sensory bin was a big hit with our preschool co-op this past week. The kids used little trucks to lift and load up beans, and we used cardboard to create some […]

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A Look Inside Epic LEGO® Creations with Bricks You Already Have

Sarah — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 03:49:21 +0000

Epic LEGO® Creations with Bricks You Already Have – Build Crazy Worlds Where Aliens Live on the Moon, Dinosaurs Walk Among Us, Scientists Battle Mutant Bugs, and You Bring Their Hilarious Tales to Life! I am so excited to show you our newest LEGO® book! This book has 38 new LEGO® projects with step-by-step instructions […]

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LEGO® Minifigure Painted Rocks

Sarah — Sun, 20 Aug 2017 22:18:22 +0000

Looking for rock painting ideas? How about painting rocks with the faces of your favorite LEGO® minifigures! This is such a fun project for kids of all ages. I would totally recommend this activity for an art class, a LEGO® birthday party, or a rainy day. It’s so fun to make the rocks match your […]

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How to Build a Fidget Cube with LEGO® Bricks

Sarah — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 13:06:00 +0000

Challenge kids to turn that pile of LEGO® bricks into a fun fidget toy with something to fiddle with on each side. This is fun for any age! We started working on a fidget cube at the same time we were building our super popular LEGO® Fidget Spinner, but we are just now getting around […]

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Alphabet Clothesline! Preschool Alphabet Activity

Sarah — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 21:17:22 +0000

This fun learning activity for preschoolers and kindergartners combines fine motor practice with learning the letters of the alphabet! My 3 and 5 year olds both loved this, and it’s a piece of cake to set up. Preschoolers love to use clothespins. Working a clothespin is also great for strengthening hand muscles and developing fine […]

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STEM Challenge: One-Piece-of-Paper Paper Chain Contest

Sarah — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 02:25:07 +0000

Here’s a fun STEM challenge, and the materials couldn’t be simpler! Challenge kids to build the longest possible paper chain with just one sheet of paper and tape. That’s it! This math activity will appeal to a wise range of ages. I’d recommend it for kids age 5 to 10. If they can safely cut […]

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Build a Terrier Dog with LEGO® Bricks

Sarah — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 04:11:21 +0000

Here are some building instructions for making LEGO® dogs! I patterned this design after a Jack Russel terrier, although it was difficult to make the ears flop over the way a terrier’s ears do. So it will just have to be a generic terrier type dog – ha! The coloring of the dogs doesn’t have […]

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How to Make a Duct Tape Endless Cube

Sarah — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 20:23:15 +0000

Here’s a fun craft project for kids, and it’s a great fidget toy too! Use wooden cubes and duct tape to make an endless cube that transforms shape again and again. It’s fun to watch and addicting to play with – for any age! Assembling this project takes some concentration, and it’s the perfect project […]

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Code a City! STEM Challenges for the Sphero Edu SPRK+ Robot

Sarah — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 14:48:26 +0000

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sphero. The opinions and text are all mine. Coding. Robots. STEM. As parents and teachers, we know that we need to incorporate technology and computer science into our kids’ education, but it can be a little overwhelming, especially for those of us who grew […]

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Build and Test Your Own Craft Stick Trebuchet

Sarah — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 23:25:01 +0000

Here’s a fabulous STEM activity for kids! Build a working Trebuchet out of craft sticks. You can construct and play with the trebuchet, or take it a step further by printing the recording sheets included in the post. There are two experiments to perform with the trebuchet, and students can record their results. This was […]

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Make Your Own Car Race Board Game

Sarah — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 21:05:12 +0000

Hold your own Grand Prix with toy cars and a homemade board game! My kids have been playing with all of their die cast Cars movie vehicles after watching Cars 3 in the theater. It’s always fun when old toys become new again, although we did buy a few of the new characters too. You […]

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How to Fold Origami Paper Cubes

Sarah — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 03:59:18 +0000

Here’s another fun paper folding project! Make some simple origami cubes. These cubes are built from six different pieces of paper that fit together perfectly. They hold together without any tape or glue! After learning how to make paper ninja stars, my 8 year old was excited to try this project. I found this project […]

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How to Make Easy Paracord Snakes

Sarah — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 21:09:34 +0000

Here’s a fun paracord project for kids – make paracord snakes! This would be a great craft project for a summer camp or nature club. Or make them on a rainy day! The completed snakes are fun to play with. This is an easy project for beginners. It may take a little while to learn […]

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Secret Codes! Write Coded Messages with LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 03:09:21 +0000

Oh my goodness, this is such a fun activity, and you can put it together with any LEGO® bricks you own! Use bricks to create a code. Then kids can build and de-code secret messages! Create Your Code The concept of this activity is quite simple – create a code using a different brick for […]

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Build a Working Conveyor Belt with LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 04:17:58 +0000

STEM Challenge: Build a conveyor belt with LEGO® bricks! Here’s a fun way to learn about machines while building with bricks. This working conveyor belt uses pulleys to move something, but not in the way that kids usually think of when they think of pulleys. My kids were pretty impressed. Jonathan (5) studied it and […]

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Simple Brick Birds Building Instructions

Sarah — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 03:35:15 +0000

LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize, or endorse this site. Here are some fun birds to build with LEGO® bricks! This is a great building project for beginners. We’ve got designs for a couple of owls, some ducks, a cardinal, and a peacock. The peacock is […]

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Build a Design Drawing Machine with LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Sun, 11 Jun 2017 22:43:00 +0000

This drawing machine creates incredible designs on paper! We’ve all been having a blast watching it draw patterns. The concept is similar to a Spirograph toy, but the way that it works is different. The motorized arm draws the same shape over and over, while the paper rotates underneath. Here’s a video of the machine […]

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Awesome Dragon Coloring Pages to Print

Sarah — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 21:52:36 +0000

Here are four printable dragon coloring pages for your dragon fans – big or little! In fact, I had fun coloring them myself! My 10 year old love to draw dragons. Every day. Stacks and stack of dragons! Our school table is constantly covered in artwork. Sometimes he draws birds and other animals, but mostly […]

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STEM Challenge for Kids: Build a Marble Track with Foil, Bamboo Skewers, and Duct Tape

Sarah — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 01:21:33 +0000

Here’s a STEM challenge that’s super fun, doesn’t require fancy materials, and can be completed in an hour or two. Build a marble track out of foil, bamboo skewers, and duct tape! The only other thing you’ll need is styrofoam to use as a base. We have a friend who receives shipments of medical supplies […]

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Fidget Spinner Challenge: GOOD Things for Kids to Do with a Fidget Spinner!

Sarah — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 19:05:43 +0000

Fidget spinners. Do you love them or hate them? Who knew a piece of plastic and metal could create such strong opinions? Ha! Well, kids everywhere seem to adore them, and while I don’t think they should be a classroom distraction, I do agree that they are fun little contraptions. So what can a kid […]

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How to Make a PVC Pipe Adjustable Hot Wheels Car Ramp

Sarah — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 12:50:26 +0000

This fun ramp will take your Hot Wheels race tracks to a whole new level – literally! The boys love building Hot Wheels tracks on the hard floor, but it’s challenging to keep a ramp from sliding across the floor. Here’s a simple solution that will get played with again and again! The design of […]

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75+ Screen-Free Activities and Crafts (Perfect for ages 8-12!)

Sarah — Wed, 24 May 2017 21:02:34 +0000

Here’s a HUGE collection of screen-free activities and boredom busters for kids! Projects, crafts, games, we’ve got you covered. There are so many interesting things to do in the world besides sit in front of a screen! The point of this post is to give you quick ideas that will inspire kids to get up […]

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Owl Painted Rocks

Sarah — Mon, 22 May 2017 02:34:15 +0000

The other week I bought a bag of Caribbean beach pebbles from Home Depot, and we have been having so much fun painting them! Janie had a blast covering her rocks with every possible color of paint, while Gresham painted little lighthouses on his. (I should take a picture of the lighthouse ones!) Gresham suggested […]

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Make Your Own Dollhouse Building Blocks Set

Sarah — Sun, 21 May 2017 04:00:45 +0000

Here’s a fun dollhouse set – instead of being limited to one configuration, this dollhouse can be built in many different ways! It can even be built into a fort or police station or whatever you child wants it to be. Fun STEM play for preschoolers! They will be exploring concepts of shape, length, height, […]

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Read and DO! A Collection of All the BEST Kids’ Activity Books

Sarah — Tue, 16 May 2017 03:32:29 +0000

Summer is coming, and the kids are going to need things to do! Are you ready for summer break? Here’s a collection of activity books that will keep kids busy and inspired for hours! Crafts, games, simple science, LEGO, and more – we’ve got you covered. Depending on the age of your child, adult help […]

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Kids’ Craft: Pipe Cleaner Monkeys!

Sarah — Thu, 11 May 2017 21:32:45 +0000

Here’s a fun monkey craft for kids of all ages! Grab some pipe cleaners and some wooden beads and transform them into a cute posable monkey. The monkey can even hang onto a pencil! I don’t know what it is about monkeys, but I have always loved them and the kids do too! Here’s what […]

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Build a Da Vinci Bridge with Popsicle Sticks

Sarah — Wed, 10 May 2017 01:01:03 +0000

STEM for Kids! This project is great for age 10 and up. Younger kids will love it too, but may need more help. Build a clever little popsicle stick bridge that holds together without glue, tape, or any other adhesive! This design for a self-supporting bridge was invented by the famous artist Leonardo da Vinci, […]

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How to Build a Fidget Spinner with LEGO Bricks

Sarah — Thu, 04 May 2017 17:01:30 +0000

Have you heard of fidget spinners? Originally introduced as a fidget tool for kids with ADHD or autism spectrum disorder, they have exploded in popularity with kids everywhere! My boys heard about them from neighbor kids and wanted one of their own, so we ordered one from Amazon. I’ve gotta say – it’s a fun […]

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LEGO Ewoks Building Instructions

Sarah — Thu, 04 May 2017 03:45:05 +0000

Here’s a fun LEGO® building project – construct some Ewoks! You can find step-by-step instructions below. These cute Ewoks fit well with the scale of our other Star Wars projects – R2-D2, C3P0, and Yoda. We chose to make tan and brown Ewoks, with lime green and brown for the hood colors. Build them a […]

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Build a Rain Gutter River for Running Water Play

Sarah — Tue, 02 May 2017 03:58:56 +0000

It’s no secret that my kids love water play – we have posted many water activities over the years! Kids are drawn to water like ants to a picnic, and I’ve found that a good water play activity will keep them busy for a long time. Running water is even more fun! Here’s a fun […]

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Adorable Egg Carton Turtle Craft (And a Caterpillar and Frog too!)

Sarah — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 04:37:56 +0000

Here’s a fun craft for kids! Recycle an egg carton into some adorable turtles, caterpillars, and frogs! We can’t decide which animal we like best. The turtles are my favorite, although it’s hard to decide between those and the caterpillar! For this project, you’ll need: Egg cartons Paint – we used acrylic, but tempera paint […]

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How to Build a LEGO Bald Eagle (with Eaglets!)

Sarah — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 03:02:26 +0000

Oh my goodness, when we saw a LEGO® bald eagle on Pinterest, we knew we had to build one! My boys love birds, especially birds of prey. We have many red tailed hawks and red shouldered hawks where we live, and we recently saw a pair of barred owls nesting at a local park. Although […]

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Weather Science: Build a Wind Turbine

Sarah — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 05:00:48 +0000

Study both weather and engineering with this wind turbine science project! We used a coffee can and other simple materials you can find around the house, and the kids were so impressed with how fast spins in the wind. While we were building our coffee can wind turbine, we weren’t 100% sure it would work. […]

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LEGO Minifigure Decorated Easter Eggs

Sarah — Sat, 01 Apr 2017 21:11:06 +0000

Make some Easter eggs into LEGO® minifigures! Like our Resurrection eggs and Star Wars eggs, we used wooden eggs for this craft project. I really enjoy getting out our egg collection each year, so I wanted these to last. You could definitely use real eggs, though! Blown eggs might be good for this project. We […]

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How to Build an Awesome LEGO Egg Decorating Machine

Sarah — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 13:57:19 +0000

Take Easter egg decorating to a whole new level with this fun LEGO® machine! The machine spins the egg so that all you have to do is hold the marker and it draws straight lines. (Well, relatively straight.) Oh my goodness, this was such a fun project! It would make a great engineering challenge for […]

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Kids’ Workbench Plans: Build Your Own Kids’ Woodworking Space!

Sarah — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 03:20:39 +0000

Move over plastic workbenches! This workbench is perfect for kids, but it’s not merely a toy. It’s a fully functional workbench with real tools – all on a kid-sized scale. My dad created this workbench for the boys, and he was kind enough to type up building plans which you can download at the bottom […]

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Egg Towers! Fine Motor Balancing Game

Sarah — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 03:50:52 +0000

My preschoolers have always loved playing with plastic Easter eggs! It’s fun to put little things inside them, and then open and close the eggs. We’ve also used them to make play dough dinosaur eggs and minions. Here’s a simple egg stacking game that provides a way to work on fine motor skills through play! […]

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Star Wars Painted Eggs, Part 2: The Force Awakens

Sarah — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 01:13:34 +0000

Last year, I painted wooden eggs with Star Wars characters, and the boys loved them! In fact, I’m pretty sure we left them out on the dining table until May or June. This year, they talked me into adding characters from The Force Awakens, and I’m glad they did because they were so fun to […]

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LEGO Multiplication Mats! Printable Math Activity

Sarah — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 03:53:14 +0000

Learn the Concept of Multiplication by Building with LEGO® Bricks! The other week, I posted a multiplication activity using a grouping approach to multiplication. Here’s an activity that goes about it from a slightly different angle – a geometric approach to multiplication. And it uses one of our favorite toys – LEGO® bricks! (If you’re […]

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Tips for Having Fun at Chuck E. Cheese’s!

Sarah — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 16:37:02 +0000

This post is sponsored by Chuck E. Cheese’s. The opinions and text are all mine. Our family loves Chuck E. Cheese’s! I loved going there as a kid, and it’s a great place to take my kids for some fun, especially since there are games for every age, and I enjoy playing the games with them. […]

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LEGO Addition Mats Printable Math Activity

Sarah — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 04:51:12 +0000

LEGO® + Math = Fun! Here’s a great way to work on addition with a fun LEGO® twist. Print these LEGO® addition mats at the bottom of the post. Math doesn’t seem like work when you add LEGO® bricks! (I have another printable mat coming for LEGO® multiplication, so stay tuned for that one as […]

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LEGO Gravity Rollers: A Fun Contraption That Propels Itself!

Sarah — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 17:38:16 +0000

Here’s a neat LEGO® project that will allow kids to explore the concepts of gravity, mass, force, and momentum, all while playing with LEGO® bricks! One day, Gresham build a little tiny LEGO® TIE Fighter (from Star Wars) out of little tiny pieces, and he discovered that when he would set it down on […]

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LEGO Mini Dragon Building Instructions

Sarah — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 05:11:53 +0000

Build some LEGO® Mini Dragons – instructions below! We’ve got a couple of fire breathing dragons and then a lizard type dragon. Cute and fierce! After you finish them, build a whole scene with a dragon lair and knights on a quest to seek the treasure – at the risk of their lives! We […]

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Kitchen Chemistry for Kids: Test for Acids and Bases with Red Cabbage

Sarah — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 04:11:11 +0000

Make your own acid/base indicator with red cabbage! Here’s a science activity that will have your kids saying, “Wow!” Did you know that red cabbage can be used as a pH indicator? Yep, you can tell if something is an acid or a base just by mixing it with red cabbage juice! It’s pretty cool! […]

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Marble Trampolines! A Fun Engineering Challenge for Kids

Sarah — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 04:38:00 +0000

Looking for STEM challenge ideas for kids? How about building some trampolines for marbles! Challenge kids to engineer a marble run that includes a super cool trampoline for the marble to bounce on. Can they bounce a marble off the trampoline and into a container? Then see if they can make the marble bounce off more […]

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Dirt Play Dough + Rocks Writing Tray

Sarah — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 05:04:48 +0000

A few weeks ago, we made some dirt play dough that has been a lot of fun for sensory play with construction trucks! We also used it for some literacy learning with this dirt play dough and rocks sensory writing tray. Jonathan has been dying to do things that he perceives as “real school work” […]

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Literacy Learning with a Cardboard Laptop

Sarah — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 14:48:53 +0000

Make a Cardboard Box Laptop Here’s a fun cardboard box project that doubles as both a toy and a literacy learning activity! Kids will love pretending to type on their own laptop, and they can carry it around and play with it at no risk to your actual computer. Big win! I made the laptop […]

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How to Build an Awesome LEGO Shark

Sarah — Sun, 05 Feb 2017 22:25:53 +0000

Build a LEGO® shark with moveable fins and a jaw that opens and closes! Then make him attack some minifigure pirates in their LEGO® boat – ha! See below for building instructions. Stick only the dorsal fin to a baseplate to make it look like the shark is swimming through the ocean… Then the shark […]

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Valentine’s Day Conversation Heart Play Dough

Sarah — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 04:29:25 +0000

Everyone loves those little candy conversation hearts! Well actually they don’t taste very good at all, but something about those little hearts makes it feel like Valentine’s Day! Here’s a quick Valentine’s Day activity that kids will love! Make conversation hearts with play dough. It’s a lot of fun and you can sneak in some […]

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Adorable Butterfly Valentines to Make

Sarah — Sun, 29 Jan 2017 05:09:35 +0000

Kids will love making and giving these adorable butterfly Valentine cards! Smarties candy makes the perfect butterfly body, and we used scrapbook paper in fun Valentines prints. They turned out SO CUTE! We were inspired by some butterfly Valentines that I saw on Pinterest. Gresham suggested that we change up the wings, and I loved […]

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Four Math Games with Magna Tiles

Sarah — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 05:18:50 +0000

Learn early math concepts with Magna Tiles! Magna Tiles are one of our favorite toys. When I bought them, I honestly wasn’t sure if they would be worth the money. Well, they have definitely been worth the investment. Janie and Jonathan both love them, and they get almost daily use. They build Magna Tile houses […]

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How to Make Dirt Play Dough

Sarah — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 14:30:22 +0000

This dirt play dough recipe is perfect for construction themed sensory play! My preschoolers have been loving it. Make some simple laminated play dough mats with roads and kids will have a blast bulldozing the roads and pretending to build! Give your play dough real grit by adding clean play sand. I didn’t want to […]

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How to Fold Paper Claws

Sarah — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 03:30:56 +0000

One thing that has cracked me up since the boys were small is their fascination with claws! I mean, I don’t think I have ever in my life pretended to have claws, but they do it all the time. At one point Gresham had a plastic Halloween type claw finger that was his FAVORITE toy. […]

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How to Get Kids to Clean Their Own Rooms!

Sarah — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 03:51:59 +0000

Today, I’m sharing our room cleaning plan for getting kids to actually pick up their stuff. A couple months ago, a friend asked me what our expectations were for our kids’ bedrooms because her child’s room was about to send her right over the edge! Oh yes. Bedrooms. Combine “treasures,” collections, stuffed animals, and […]

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Snoopy and his Dog House LEGO Building Instructions

Sarah — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 23:44:38 +0000

LEGO® Building Instructions – Make Snoopy and his doghouse, and there is even a Woodstock too! Oh man, this might be our new favorite LEGO® project! The boys have been arguing over who gets to display it in their room, so I solved that conflict by saying that it’s mine. 🙂 Gresham and I were […]

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Nerf Target Prize Game

Sarah — Tue, 27 Dec 2016 02:36:50 +0000

Here’s a fun Nerf target game – and this one has hidden prizes to discover when you hit the target! As far as targets go, this one is not the best for just playing because it’s not something that you’ll want to set up over and over. But it’s a perfect party game for giving […]

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Nerf Gun Game: Army Guy Shootout

Sarah — Mon, 26 Dec 2016 22:34:18 +0000

Turn a cardboard box into an army guy shooting gallery for Nerf guns! Plastic army guys are a great target to shoot. They’re fun to knock over, and the price is definitely right! In general, we prefer to use Nerf targets that are not people. Shooting army guys doesn’t bother me though – maybe because […]

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LEGO Building Challenge: Machines + Paper

Sarah — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 04:39:46 +0000

Here are two fun LEGO® machines to build – a paper crimper and a circle drawing device! Challenge kids to build these designs or invent their own. This is a great project for a LEGO® club! What other machines can you build to do something with paper? Maybe a folding machine? We found the paper […]

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Painting Christmas Lights with Corks

Sarah — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 15:42:37 +0000

Here’s another simple Christmas activity for kids! Use corks as stamps to paint Christmas lights. We have had some really cold weather here, and this was a perfect indoor activity to keep the younger ones busy! I set up this project for Jonathan to do after rest time in the afternoon. I drew houses for […]

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Sweet Manger Craft for Preschoolers

Sarah — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 21:39:08 +0000

Here’s a sweet manger craft that preschoolers will love! We missed church this morning due to extreme cold weather (well, extreme for Texas – it was 15 degrees!). Neither of our cars would start because of the cold, so we were stuck at home! It ended up being a great time to read the Christmas […]

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Wood Slice Penguin Ornaments

Sarah — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 22:15:25 +0000

Here’s an adorable penguin Christmas ornament to make from a wood slice ornament! We are just loving how these turned out. My 7 and 10 year olds made these with me. Gresham’s (age 10) is on the bottom left. Here’s what you need to make one: Wood slice ornaments – We got ours at Hobby […]

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Decorate (and Redecorate) this Adorable Velcro Gingerbread House!

Sarah — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 04:37:36 +0000

A gingerbread house is fun, but how about a cardboard box gingerbread house that you can decorate over and over?! This is a fantastic Christmas activity for preschoolers (and my 7 year old is enjoying it too)! Build a Cardboard Gingerbread House Rows of velcro on the house make it possible to stick and re-stick […]

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Sound Science for Kids: Make a Craft Stick Harmonica

Sarah — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 04:18:00 +0000

This craft stick harmonica is fun to play, and you can adjust the pitch by moving the straws! It’s a neat project, and a good one to make with a group because the materials are very inexpensive. You can fit in a little science learning too – see the bottom of the post for ways […]

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Five LEGO Christmas Ornaments to Make (With Building Instructions!)

Sarah — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 17:11:43 +0000

Let’s kick off the Christmas season with some LEGO® ornaments to build! Here are five fun ornament designs for trimming your tree. They don’t necessarily have to be ornaments, though. Use them to decorate your mantel or as a table centerpiece. Build a Nutcracker, a Penguin, a Gingerbread Man, a Candy Cane, and a Tree. […]

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How to Build a LEGO Nutcracker Christmas Ornament

Sarah — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 16:35:38 +0000

Here are some building instructions for a simple and adorable LEGO® Nutcracker Christmas ornament! Here’s what you’ll need to build one: 1 – 4 x 4 red plate 2 – 1 x 2 black plates 4 – 1 x 1 black round bricks 1 – 2 x 2 red plate 1 – 1 x 4 […]

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Knock the Balls Down Nerf Target Game

Sarah — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 04:50:01 +0000

Here’s a simple Nerf game that you can put together in 5 minutes from stuff in the recycling bin! I recycled the cardboard box from our Pumpkin Patch Counting game and made this fun Nerf target. Shoot the balls and make them fly off the cardboard tubes! We used our lightweight plastic ball pit balls […]

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Save on Hape Toys – Amazon Deal of the Day

Sarah — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 14:02:01 +0000

Today’s Deal of the Day is another one you won’t want to miss! Save big on Hape Toys! Hape toys are high-quality wooden toys, and today’s deal features several open-ended creative toys. This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you’re looking for a play kitchen, you’ll want to check out the Playfully Delicious Gourmet Kitchen! […]

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How to Make a Nerf Spinning Target

Sarah — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 15:00:52 +0000

Build a Nerf target game with spinning targets! This simple game is fun to make and does not require a lot of special materials. We used a dowel rod, cardboard from a cereal box, and a simple PVC pipe frame to build this target. The targets rotate on the dowel so that they spin when […]

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How to Build a LEGO Foosball Game

Sarah — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 04:20:54 +0000

Build a LEGO® foosball game that really works! This is a fun LEGO® project for all ages. We used a marble for the ball, and it works well. Those little blue LEGO® balls that come with Ninjago sets work well too. Players score by hitting the ball into their goal. So cool! It’s just like […]

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Pumpkin Boats Fall Sensory Play Idea

Sarah — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 21:12:45 +0000

Carve little pumpkins into boats that really float! On Sunday night, I was home with Janie (who had a cold) while the rest of the kids were at church. She was so grouchy, and we needed something fun to do! I saw several little pumpkins (they’re probably actually gourds) that we used for our pumpkin […]

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How Strong is Spaghetti? STEM Challenge for Kids!

Sarah — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 03:00:21 +0000

How strong is spaghetti? Challenge kids to invent a way to find out! This STEM challenge is a lot of fun, and you won’t need much in the way of materials! Here are the materials we used: 1 package of spaghetti 2 sheets of styrofoam – purchased at Hobby Lobby Books Wooden blocks We started our […]

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How to Build a Tissue Box Catapult

Sarah — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 04:27:19 +0000

Turn an empty tissue box into a fun catapult! This engineering challenge is a great rainy day project for kids, and great for STEM learning too. This fun little catapult can be built in just a few minutes, and it shoots 8-10 feet! Far enough to be cool, but not enough power to hurt someone. […]

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Fall Craft for Kids: Paper Plate Fall Tree “Snow” Globe

Sarah — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 04:18:18 +0000

Here’s a simple fall craft that kids will enjoy! Use paper plates to make a fall tree “snow” globe with leaves that really fall. Some of the fall leaves are glued to the tree, and the rest are loose. Tilt the fall tree globe, and the leaves fall! Here’s what you need to make one: […]

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Pumpkin Patch Fine Motor and Counting Game

Sarah — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 02:29:41 +0000

Grab a cardboard box, because preschoolers will love this fun fall pumpkin patch counting game! It provides some awesome fine motor skill practice as well. We used some pumpkin cupcake toppers that I found in the seasonal section at Hobby Lobby. To create the game, I used a hammer and nails to make holes in […]

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Five Awesome Fall Preschool Activities

Sarah — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 02:47:49 +0000

Celebrate fall with these fun learning activities for preschoolers! Fall is always such a welcome change after the heat of summer. Here in Texas, we won’t have any fall leaves until mid November, but in October it does at least start to feel a little like fall and not just a cooler version of summer. […]

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LEGO Spiders Building Instructions

Sarah — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 03:35:59 +0000

Here are some building instructions for making creepy and crawly spiders out of LEGO® bricks! While spiders are far from my favorite creatures, the boys love them. These spiders were created by Aidan (age 13) and Owen (age 7) with a few adjustments by me. In the instructions, I have used brick names as used […]

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Printable Roll it, Write it, Count it Mats

Sarah — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 03:48:28 +0000

Here’s a math activity that is guaranteed to be a hit! Print these Roll it, Write it, Count it mats – see the link at the bottom of the page. My 4.5 year old has been loving this, especially the marker part and the erasing part. And the M & M’s that we used for […]

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Fall Math for Kids: How Heavy is a Pumpkin?

Sarah — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 00:54:31 +0000

Here’s a fun fall math activity for kids! Build a simple PVC pipe balance that will allow kids to investigate the weight of a pumpkin. And really, there is nothing inherently “fall” about the balance, so if you build one you can use it all year long. We built a simple PVC pipe frame for […]

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Pizza Shop Fine Motor Activity for Preschoolers

Sarah — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 04:19:43 +0000

Pizza shop pretend play meets fine motor skills in this fun activity for preschoolers! This project requires very little preparation, and it kept my 2 and 4 year olds happy and busy for a long time while their older brothers did their school work. I count that to be a total win! Scissors Salad It […]

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Make a Ball Maze Hand-Eye Coordination Game

Sarah — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 04:48:34 +0000

Turn a cardboard box into a fun ball maze! This is a great hand-eye coordination game for kids, as well as an awesome boredom buster since you probably have all these materials on hand. This game is similar to our cardboard box labyrinth, but with a lower frustration level for young kids. Preschoolers will enjoy […]

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Make a Balloon Pinwheel Science Demonstration

Sarah — Sun, 11 Sep 2016 19:57:46 +0000

Here’s a fun science activity that demonstrate’s Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion, and it’s also a lot of fun! Use a straw and a balloon to make a spinning pinwheel. The pinwheel works by inflating the balloon and then letting it go. Air rushes out of the balloon through the straw, which causes the pinwheel […]

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Sensory Play with Funnels, Tubes, and Colored Beans

Sarah — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 21:30:05 +0000

Keep kids busy for hours with this simple sensory bin! They will love pouring colored beans through the funnels and watching them come out the tubes below. If you liked our PVC pipe sand and water table, you might enjoy this simpler option for indoors. We used PVC pipe that we had on hand to […]

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25 Awesome Star Wars Crafts That Fans Will LOVE

Sarah — Sun, 04 Sep 2016 04:23:38 +0000

Feeling crafty? Here are 25 of the best Star Wars crafts to make! These are not necessarily projects for kids, but more things that adults can make for kids (or really for Star Wars fans of any age). It’s so hard to choose a favorite, but the X- Wing blanket might be the one I […]

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How to Make Adorable Wood Slice Owl Ornaments and an Owl Tree

Sarah — Sun, 28 Aug 2016 20:40:40 +0000

Here’s an owl craft that is both simple and adorable! And if the kids don’t want to help with this one, it’s a fun and relaxing mom project. We used wood slice ornaments from Hobby Lobby to make owls with button eyes. Display your owls with a door hanging or an owl tree – see […]

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Hammer the Alphabet! Preschool Alphabet Activity

Sarah — Sat, 27 Aug 2016 03:50:35 +0000

Learning letters is easy with a preschool alphabet activity that kids are sure to love! Jonathan enjoyed this immensely and worked on it three days in a row. (And he’ll probably come back to it tomorrow too!) To set up this activity, you will need a toy hammer, a golf tee, a piece of corrugated […]

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Slithering Snakes LEGO Building Instructions

Sarah — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 03:38:07 +0000

Here are some building instructions for making LEGO® snakes! These are simple to build – great beginner project. My boys totally love snakes and find them regularly in the creek behind our house. I, on the other hand, wouldn’t mind if I never saw a snake again! Since we won’t *ever* own a pet one, […]

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Craft Stick Color Dominos Preschool Activity

Sarah — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 03:54:00 +0000

Here’s a fun color matching activity for young preschoolers that is so simple to set up! We are using this game as one of the many things up my sleeve for keeping Janie (age 2) and Jonathan (age 4) busy while we are doing homeschooling. For this preschool activity, all you need is some craft […]

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Boys and Their Egos: Wisdom for Helping Boys Replace a Critical Attitude with a Spirit of Encouragement

Sarah — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 14:03:38 +0000

Boys and their Egos! What’s a mom to do? If you’ve been around many boys in the 10+ age group, you’ve probably come across the over-confident child who knows everything and isn’t afraid to tell you about it. It seems that once boys hit age 10 (or somewhere around in there) they suddenly become all-knowing. […]

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Two Ways to Build a LEGO Paper Airplane Launcher

Sarah — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 03:41:03 +0000

Here are two ways to build a LEGO® contraption that launches paper airplanes! This fun LEGO® building challenge combines STEM learning and play. This would be a fun building challenge for a LEGO® club or a STEM club! LEGO® Paper Airplane Launcher #1: One day, Aidan came up with the idea of building a LEGO® […]

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Engineering Project for Kids: Build a Straw Roller Coaster!

Sarah — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 03:59:56 +0000

Build a roller coaster for a ping pong ball out of straws, hot glue, and a cardboard box for a base. This STEM challenge for kids is awesome because the materials are so simple and inexpensive! The track is surprisingly sturdy, and kids will have a blast creating a path for their ball. I would […]

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Recycle Broken Crayons into LEGO Crayons

Sarah — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 13:53:38 +0000

Make crayons in the shape of LEGO® mini figures! This is a fun craft project for kids, and the crayons also make great party favors, etc. It was hot this week in Texas. HOT. We took advantage of the hot sun by making some LEGO® crayons – outside in the heat! If you are not […]

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A Look Inside Awesome LEGO Creations with Bricks You Already Have (Our LEGO Book!)

Sarah — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 02:18:20 +0000

Awesome LEGO® Creations with Bricks You Already Have – 50 New LEGO® projects to build, with instructions and parts lists! We wrote a book! And it’s available for pre-order! I am so excited to give you a peek inside the book and answer some questions about what ages this book is best for and how […]

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The BEST Math and Literacy Learning Activities for Preschoolers

Sarah — Sun, 31 Jul 2016 21:22:53 +0000

Here is a huge collection of our favorite math and literacy learning activities for preschoolers (3 and 4 year olds). So many ideas for hands-on learning and play! Literacy Activities Go on a Detective Alphabet Hunt – Hunt for letters with a magnifying glass, and then check them off on your list. Alphabet Bingo Game […]

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Paper Plate BIG Alphabet Memory Game

Sarah — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 02:08:09 +0000

Here’s a fun preschool alphabet game that will have kids learning their letters in no time! Jonathan loves playing the memory game, so I thought why not combine it with learning the alphabet! Paper plates are such a handy craft supply. I grabbed a stack and wrote letters on them with Sharpies. I did pairs […]

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Homemade Carrom Game for Kids

Sarah — Sun, 24 Jul 2016 23:52:29 +0000

A homemade game is a great boredom buster for kids! Here’s how to make a simple Carrom game with materials from around the house. When I was young, I enjoyed playing my grandparents’ Carrom game during visits to their house. My parents now own a set, so my kids get to play at their grandparents’ […]

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Homeschooling: How do you know if you are covering enough?

Sarah — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 03:34:42 +0000

Homeschooling parents, do you wonder if you are covering everything that your child needs to learn? Do you worry about not doing enough? I know I do! This is something that I think all of us think about! I have been thinking about this post for awhile, but I was putting off writing it until […]

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DIY Pattern Building Blocks: An Awesome STEM Activity for Kids!

Sarah — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 03:57:47 +0000

These simple pattern blocks are easy to make, and they have been a huge hit with my kids! There are so many ways to learn and discover with this fun hands-on STEM toy. Every time we think that we have found all the patterns we find another one! Make these blocks with wooden cubes, paint, […]

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Build Some LEGO Nerf Targets!

Sarah — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 19:38:34 +0000

Build Nerf targets out of LEGO® bricks! This awesome building challenge combines two of our favorite things. I love thinking of Nerf target games for the boys because then they have something to shoot other than each other. Shooting each other always seems to lead to arguing and whining. A constructive challenge on the other […]

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Make a Ping Pong Ball Launcher!

Sarah — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 13:59:01 +0000

Shoot ping pong balls through the air with this fun (and simple!) homemade toy. You probably have everything on hand to make one, and it’s a great opportunity to learn about the transfer of energy also. Yay for STEM learning! We found this idea on arvindguptatoys.com, and it’s a brilliant idea! Pull the string back […]

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Build a Water Balloon Launcher that the Whole Family will LOVE!

Sarah — Mon, 04 Jul 2016 16:34:11 +0000

Build an awesome water balloon launcher – this allows you to convert a three man launcher into a one man launcher that is fun for all ages! We have been on a quest for the perfect water balloon launcher for several years now. In 2012, we built a sling shot out of PVC pipe. It […]

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Learn the Alphabet Bingo Game

Sarah — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 21:48:01 +0000

Here’s another fun alphabet activity for kids – alphabet bingo! This game is simple to make with materials you have on hand, and my preschooler loved it. I made bingo cards with 16 letters on each card. I wanted each card to have a nice assortment of letters, but not the entire alphabet so that […]

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Turn a Cardboard Box into an Epic Marble Run

Sarah — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 04:37:47 +0000

Use cardboard, craft sticks, and hot glue to create an epic marble run! The marbles land in paper cups at the bottom of the track. This is a fantastic engineering challenge for kids. How should we position the sticks? Which path will the marbles take? How many will land in each cup? As always, make […]

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How to Make Squishy Sand Play Dough

Sarah — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 03:51:13 +0000

Mix up some squishy homemade sand play dough for beach pretend play! This play dough is so easy to make, and it keeps well in an airtight container for a couple of months. We store ours in a ziplock bag. One afternoon, I set out a basket of shells for the boys to use to […]

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Science for Kids: Make Old Pennies Shiny Again!

Sarah — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 21:53:28 +0000

Here’s a simple chemistry project for kids to explore – make old pennies shiny and clean again with salt and vinegar! Why do pennies look dull and brown as they age? Well, the copper in pennies reacts with the oxygen in the air to form a new molecule – copper oxide. This is the tarnish […]

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Our Summer Learning Motivation Plan

Sarah — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 03:58:40 +0000

This year, we are home schooling through the summer. I hadn’t planned to, and I had even announced to the boys that we would be starting summer vacation right after our standardized testing the week of Memorial Day. But as that date drew nearer, I realized that Gresham still had two chapters left in his […]

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Four Simple Alphabet Games that Preschoolers will Love

Sarah — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 03:11:56 +0000

These alphabet learning activities require very little preparation, and my preschoolers loved them! For each of these games, we used a alphabet chart that I made out of a square piece of poster board. Super simple. I chose to do capital letters on the chart because they are easier for young kids to write and […]

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Tips for a Successful Visit to Magnolia Market with Kids!

Sarah — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 04:35:42 +0000

Thinking of traveling to Magnolia Market? Here’s what you need to know! We kicked off our summer break today with a trip to Magnolia Market in Waco, TX! Our family enjoys watching the show Fixer Upper, and we have been wanting to visit Waco for awhile now. It was SO worth the drive (an hour […]

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Fun Party Drink for Kids: LEGO Ice Coolers!

Sarah — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 03:39:02 +0000

Here’s a fun party drink that LEGO® loving kids will enjoy – LEGO® Ice Coolers! We made these special drinks for the kids to have at a cookout last weekend, and they were a big hit. This post contains Amazon affiliate links. The thing that makes this treat extra special is flavored LEGO® ice cubes […]

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Pokemon LEGO Projects to Build

Sarah — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 03:50:14 +0000

Here are some fun Pokemon LEGO® projects that kids will love building! Build a Pikachu, Squirtle, and pokeball. We found that looking an examples of pixel art makes it much easier to build characters like this. They are pretty challenging to build in 3D form, but the pixel art versions worked very well. If your […]

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LEGO Owl Building Instructions

Sarah — Tue, 31 May 2016 03:44:47 +0000

Here’s an adorable LEGO® owl to build – turn a knob on his back, and his head turns! Aidan and I built this owl by modifying a design that we saw in a LEGO owl project done by Rice University. Their owls also flap their wings when you turn the knob! We decided to simplify […]

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How to Make Oooey, Gooey, Stretchy Mud Slime

Sarah — Sat, 28 May 2016 03:33:59 +0000

Make homemade mud slime that is oooey and gooey and super stretchy! This stuff is fun to squish, and easy to mix up with clear school glue, liquid starch, and… mud! We had kind of a muddy day over here today. Owen went out to clean up the back yard, and it was taking forever. […]

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Muffin Tin Syllable Counting Activity

Sarah — Mon, 23 May 2016 21:00:45 +0000

Here’s a fun literacy game for kids – muffin tin syllable counting! Owen is new to this skill, and this game was a great way to learn. We found this game in the book 100 Fun & Easy Learning Games for Kids (affiliate link). This awesome new book was written by my blogging friends Kim and […]

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Things You Say When You Are a Parent of BOYS!

Sarah — Thu, 19 May 2016 00:24:09 +0000

I am privileged to be the mom of four sons and one little girl, so it’s a pretty boy-heavy environment around here! I never imagined that I would be the mom of so many sons, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. They certainly keep life exciting! Do you have sons? See if you can […]

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Awesome Water Table Play Ideas

Sarah — Tue, 10 May 2016 21:18:37 +0000

Here are some awesome sensory play ideas for your water table that will keep kids busy! Summer is not even in full swing yet, but we are getting a lot of use out of our DIY sand and water table. I love it because it’s the perfect height for the kids to easily access. You […]

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5 Engineering Challenges with Clothespins, Binder Clips, and Craft Sticks

Sarah — Mon, 09 May 2016 04:06:55 +0000

Five engineering challenges for kids – with wooden clothespins, binder clips, and craft sticks! It’s a simple STEM activity that kids of all ages will love. Move over, expensive building sets! These simple materials were a huge hit with my boys. The first time we got them out, Owen (almost 7) spent well over an […]

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What We Don’t Have: The Joy and Expense of Having Kids

Sarah — Sun, 08 May 2016 02:18:28 +0000

There is a lot of information floating around the internet and society in general about the cost of having children. For many, the financial drain of having kids plus the emotional toll and the disruption to one’s sleep and schedule is just not worth it. Alright. Fair enough. The numbers quoted in those articles are […]

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Star Wars The Force Awakens Perler Bead Patterns

Sarah — Wed, 04 May 2016 03:17:18 +0000

Here are some Perler bead patterns to make featuring characters from Star Wars The Force Awakens. If you’re not familiar with Perler beads, they are little plastic beads that you use to build designs and then fuse them together with an iron. We bought some last summer, and the boys love them! Great fine motor […]

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How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies

Sarah — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 22:02:16 +0000

Last summer, we had the worst trouble with fruit flies in our kitchen! It was a wet summer, and the boys tend to leave the back door open a LOT. Fruit flies love produce, especially half bananas left over from cutting one for the baby – something that we always seem to have around the […]

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Simple Machines Science Lesson: Lift Water with An Archimedes’ Screw

Sarah — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 02:23:30 +0000

This Archimedes’ screw is such a neat science lesson about simple machines! We use screws all the time to hold things together, but screws are also used to raise and lower things. In fact, a screw is actually an inclined plane (ramp) wrapped around a cylinder or a cone. Archimedes was a Greek philosopher who […]

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How to Make a PVC Pipe Sand and Water Table

Sarah — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 13:30:48 +0000

Use PVC pipe to make a sand and water table for kids! My 2, 4, and 6 year olds have been loving this sensory play table. I am loving the fact that you can change out the tubs and do either water or sand (or something else!) but not have both out at the same […]

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LEGO STEM Challenge: Wind Powered LEGO Contraptions!

Sarah — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 04:37:55 +0000

Here’s another fun LEGO® building challenge – engineering wind powered LEGO® contraptions! We wondered what (if anything!) we could build out of LEGO® bricks that could be powered with the wind from an electric fan. Surprisingly, we came up with some neat things – various wind mills and even a wind powered LEGO® car. Challenge […]

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Multiplication Football Game: Make Math Fact Practice Fun!

Sarah — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 03:19:13 +0000

Here’s a multiplication game that will make practicing those math facts a lot more FUN! I don’t know about your kids, but mine have not especially loved learning their multiplication facts. Back in the fall (when it was football season) we made an addition and subtraction baseball game. Unfortunately, the game didn’t work with multiplication […]

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17 Beginner LEGO Project Ideas with Classic Tubs

Sarah — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 02:48:36 +0000

Young LEGO® builders will be inspired to create with these 17 beginner LEGO® ideas! All of the projects in this post were built with one $29.99 set – the LEGO® Classic Creative Building Set (10702). Kids certainly don’t need to own that exact set – they can just use these ideas as a springboard for […]

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LEGO Minifigure Memory Game

Sarah — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 04:12:24 +0000

Got leftover plastic Easter eggs? Here’s a super simple memory game to play with LEGO® minifigures and plastic eggs! Jonathan is way into memory games of all kinds right now! He thoroughly enjoyed this version. First, collect some minifigures. Try to get an many different types of pants as possible. We had two guys with […]

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Spring Butterfly Wreath Craft for Kids

Sarah — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 04:28:13 +0000

These coffee filter butterflies are a perfect spring craft for kids! Fun for all ages. I used the finished butterflies to decorate a spring wreath that looks beautiful in our kitchen. We made the butterflies a couple weeks ago when Janie was sick and we needed to distract her with fun things to do. She […]

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Simple Machines for Kids: LEGO Pulleys STEM Building Challenge

Sarah — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 03:48:09 +0000

Combine science and LEGO® building in this fun STEM engineering challenge for kids! Can you build a LEGO® pulley system that makes it easier (less work) to lift a load of pennies? This post contains Amazon affiliate links. We lifted pennies in our LEGO® pulley system, but anything with some weight would work – marbles, […]

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DIY American Ninja Warrior Backyard Obstacle Course

Sarah — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 02:48:51 +0000

This American Ninja Warrior style back yard obstacle course has been a huge hit with our boys and with the neighbor kids too! I knew that the boys would like this, but I underestimated just how much they would LOVE it! They have been setting up obstacle courses and then doing them over and over […]

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Dinosaur Egg Play Dough Factory

Sarah — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 03:52:45 +0000

Here’s a fun play idea while plastic Easter eggs are in high supply! Set up a Dinosaur Egg Play Dough Factory. Kids will enjoy making eggs with little dinos inside of them. I set up our dinosaur egg factory with jumbo plastic eggs from Hobby Lobby (these are slightly larger than the regular ones), Safari […]

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How to Make a Duct Tape Star Wars Mandalorian Jetpack

Sarah — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 22:02:22 +0000

Make a Star Wars Mandalorian Jetpack out of Cardboard and Duct Tape! One thing that I did not anticipate with having so many boys is how much they would want to play dress up! My 4 year old is constantly dressing up like a fire fighter, police officer, or cowboy, and the older boys are […]

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Build a Simple Electric Motor (Homopolar Motor)

Sarah — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 03:22:37 +0000

Learn about electricity with this simple science project for kids – Use a battery, a magnet, and some copper wire to build your own electric motor that really spins! This post contains Amazon affiliate links. This is a project that I have been wanting to try for some time, so when it came up in our […]

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Alphabet Town: A Literacy Activity for Preschoolers

Sarah — Sun, 13 Mar 2016 20:20:57 +0000

Combine pretend play and alphabet letter learning in this fun literacy activity for preschoolers! Jonathan (age 4) has been interesting in that he is my first child to teach himself his numbers (1-7, without me doing anything), but he can’t remember the letters of the alphabet from day to day, even when we work on […]

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Engineering for Kids: Build a Changeable Pegboard Marble Run

Sarah — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 04:45:49 +0000

Yes, we love building marble runs over here! We’re back with another idea, and this is particularly a good one for kids to build themselves. It’s easy to rearrange the pieces in all different ways. I saw this idea on momtastic, and we decided to give it a try. Owen (age 6, almost 7) had […]

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Green Toys 50% Off on Amazon, Today Only!

Sarah — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 14:04:43 +0000

Green Toys are 50% off on Amazon – Today’s Deal of the Day! We love Green Toys because they are high quality and eco-friendly. We missed getting the tea set on sale at Christmas time, so we just ordered it for little sister’s birthday in April! This post contains Amazon affiliate links meaning that if […]

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Fizzing Hatching Dinosaur Eggs: Sensory Play with Bath Bombs

Sarah — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 20:46:33 +0000

Make your own fizzing and hatching dinosaur eggs! Kids will love this simple sensory play activity with bath bombs! This post contains Amazon affiliate links. These simple bath bombs are made with baking soda, citric acid, and oil. I followed the recipe on Fun at Home with Kids, and it worked really well. I made […]

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Make a CD Case Viewer for Magnets and Iron Filings

Sarah — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 20:43:28 +0000

Here is a fun little tip for containing the mess when using iron filings and magnets with kids! We have been studying about magnets in the middle boys’ science book. It’s always fun to use iron filings to see the lines of a magnet’s magnetic field, but with a 4 year old and a toddler […]

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How to Make Star Wars Painted Easter Eggs

Sarah — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 23:01:47 +0000

Make Star Wars painted Easter eggs – with wooden eggs! Decorate Easter eggs with the faces of your favorite Star Wars characters. It’s hard to decide which one is my favorite! This was a mom project, not a kid project, but honestly it was a nice relaxing break for me. I figured that if I […]

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The Best Star Wars Costumes to Make for Kids

Sarah — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 04:53:26 +0000

Do you have Star Wars fans at your house? Here are some of the BEST ideas for Star Wars costumes that you can make yourself! These ideas are perfect for dress up and pretend play. I have included ideas for little kids and big kids too – my 12 year old still likes to dress […]

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Three Awesome Card Tricks for Kids

Sarah — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 04:54:00 +0000

Classic card tricks make a great boredom buster for older kids! Here are three fun card tricks that kids will have fun mastering and performing for their friends and family. Trick #1: I Can Guess Your Card! We found this simple trick on Kidspot, although we did the trick in a slightly different way. Start […]

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10 Ball Games for Kids – Ideas for Active Play Indoors!

Sarah — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 05:27:45 +0000

Here are some active ball games for kids that are perfect for playing indoors! Save these ideas for the next bad weather day! This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Back in the fall, I bought a package of 100 ball pit balls on a whim on Walmart. They ended up being an excellent purchase. There […]

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Make a Star Wars Lightsaber Belt Clip

Sarah — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 03:46:40 +0000

This simple lightsaber belt clip will make your little Jedis jump for joy! Believe it or not, the boys did not own lightsaber toys until just a few months ago. Our first lightsabers were the electronic light-up ones that we reviewed in this post. The boys love them and play with them daily. They recently […]

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Magic Spinning Pen – A Magnet Science Experiment for Kids

Sarah — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 04:27:46 +0000

Make a pen balance on its point and spin – using the power of magnetism! This is a fun science experiment for kids. This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Magnets are just so fascinating! Playing and exploring with some fairly strong magnets is fun in itself. The middle two boys and I are studying magnetism […]

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Go on a Detective Alphabet Hunt! A Letter Learning Activity for Preschoolers

Sarah — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 19:12:46 +0000

This detective alphabet hunt is such a fun activity for kids who are learning their letters! Jonathan is currently working on identifying the letters of the alphabet. I set up this alphabet hunt for him that incorporates hiding letters, a clip board, a magnifying glass, and checking off letters after you find them. So much […]

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LEGO Star Wars Yoda Building Instructions

Sarah — Sun, 07 Feb 2016 20:28:23 +0000

We have posted a LEGO® R2-D2 and a C3PO, and Aidan decided that it was time to create a Yoda! He worked and worked on Yoda’s head, and I am pretty impressed with his final version. This Yoda is a great size to go with the R2-D2 that Aidan built. You can see our other […]

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Make Glow-in-the-Dark Arrows for Z Tech Bows!

Sarah — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 22:45:21 +0000

Make your own glow-in-the-dark arrows for shooting in the dark! This activity is almost guaranteed to earn you the title of “Mom of the Year!” The credit for this idea goes completely to my 12 year old son, and it was a big hit for everyone in our family. This post contains Amazon affiliate links. […]

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Hearts in Unusual Places! An Art Challenge for Kids

Sarah — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 02:23:39 +0000

This heart themed drawing project for kids is so simple and creative. It’s fun to see what each child comes up with! Great for Valentine’s Day, or really anytime. The Challenge: Draw a picture, and replace something with hearts! The idea is not so much to decorate an item with hearts, but to replace an […]

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IKEA Hack: Knagglig Wooden Crate Horse Stable for Toy Horses

Sarah — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 05:03:33 +0000

Here’s a fun (and easy) IKEA hack – Turn a wood crate into an adorable stable for toy horses! A couple weeks ago we went to IKEA in search of toy organization and furniture for our game room. I didn’t buy any furniture (yet!) but while I was there I picked up a few organization […]

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Star Wars Play Dough Imaginative Play!

Sarah — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 20:49:15 +0000

This is an imaginative play idea that kids won’t be able to resist! The boys have been having so much fun this week with Star Wars micro machines and play dough. We created three types of play dough: black galaxy dough, sand dough, and snow dough. Our snow dough is not exactly a “dough,” but […]

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Jumping Goop! An Awesome Static Electricity Demonstration with Cornstarch

Sarah — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 02:43:17 +0000

Make cornstarch goop jump with the power of static electricity! Kids will love this fun science demonstration! The middle two boys and I are learning about electricity right now, and I found this awesome static electricity demonstration on Steve Spangler Science. (A very handy website, by the way!) This static electricity demonstration is simple to do, and […]

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LEGO Guinea Pig Building Instructions

Sarah — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 03:58:41 +0000

Building Instructions for LEGO® Guinea Pigs! This project was inspired by our two pet guinea pigs. Guinea pigs make great pets for kids, but these LEGO® guinea pigs are even better! They won’t make a mess, and they don’t need food or water – ha! Build a simple cage complete with a food dish and […]

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LEGO Lizard Building Instructions

Sarah — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 22:24:38 +0000

Here are some building instructions for making a cute little LEGO® Lizard! My 9 year old son designed this LEGO® lizard, and I thought he did a great job! Here’s how to build it: Step 1: Start with a 1 x 2 – 1 x 2 inverted bracket (green), a 2 x 4 lime green […]

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STEM Building Challenge for Kids: LEGO Duplo and Pool Noodle Marble Run

Sarah — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 04:16:42 +0000

Build a marble track with pool noodles and Duple LEGO® bricks! This is the perfect engineering challenge for a rainy day, or use it with a group of kids because it’s fun for a wide range of ages. Duplo bricks create a very sturdy support structure for the marble run, which makes this project exciting and frustration-free. […]

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Make a Winter Touch and Feel Book for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Sarah — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 17:00:04 +0000

Make a simple winter touch and feel book that toddlers and preschoolers will love! I had planned for this book to be something that Jonathan and I made together during our school day, but he had no interest at all! So I just had fun creating it myself. However, he and Janie have both been […]

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Winter Learning Activities for Preschool

Sarah — Sun, 10 Jan 2016 02:36:19 +0000

Here’s a fun collection of winter themed learning activities for preschoolers! Work on counting, literacy, and fine motor skills. Explore some science concepts too! I have some links throughout the post with supplies that we used, and then check the bottom of the post for the supply links all in one place. This post contains […]

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Geoboard Snowflakes STEM Activity for Kids

Sarah — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 02:05:01 +0000

Math meets art in this simple winter snowflake STEM activity for kids! We have been using geoboards and leftover Rainbow Loom bands to create these beautiful snowflakes. It’s a great way to explore shapes and symmetry. We had some small geoboards that were cracked, so I decided to order some new ones. I found these […]

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Penny Spinners – Toy Tops that Kids Can Make!

Sarah — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 04:32:11 +0000

These simple spinning tops are a fun craft for kids to make, and you probably have all of the materials on hand at home! A few weeks ago, we went to our local science museum, and they had penny tops in the gift shop. They were made out of wooden disks and a penny, and […]

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Boys Will Be Boys! Tips for letting boys be boys, while raising them to be men.

Sarah — Sun, 03 Jan 2016 22:11:54 +0000

Boys will be boys… but what does that even mean? Is it a helpful thing to say, or not? As a mom of four boys, I can tell you without a doubt that my house is different than a house full of girls would be. Janie is only 20 months old, but her presence has […]

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Frugal Fun for Boys: The Top 15 Posts of 2015

Sarah — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 04:28:59 +0000

Looking back on 2015, it was an exciting year! Thank you ALL for reading, commenting, and pinning my posts. I truly appreciate you! The year ended with a bang as I submitted my first book manuscript to the publisher on Christmas Eve. The book will be released sometime in the fall of 2016 and will […]

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LEGO Star Wars C3PO Building Instructions

Sarah — Sat, 26 Dec 2015 15:48:09 +0000

The other day we posted instructions for making a LEGO® R2-D2, and I said that Aidan was working on a C3Po design. Well, he managed to come up with one! This C3PO is not the right scale compared to the R2-D2, but it was the closest we could get with the amount of yellow pieces […]

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How to Make Snow Slime

Sarah — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 04:28:32 +0000

Here’s a fun winter activity for kids – make some snow slime! We love making slime with liquid starch and glue, and this snow slime variation has a neat texture and really looks like snow. The boys went through our Safari Toob animals to find all of the arctic ones so that they could play […]

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Awesome Ideas for a FUN Holiday Break!

Sarah — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 20:22:14 +0000

If you’re looking for things to do with kids over the Christmas break, you’ve found the right place! While everyone at our house was ready for a break from school, the extra free time is not always a good thing, especially when it’s compounded with loads of excitement, extra sugar, and a disrupted routine. Here […]

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Build a LEGO R2-D2

Sarah — Sat, 19 Dec 2015 03:56:33 +0000

How to build a LEGO® R2-D2! Well, the boys have been into all things Star Wars this week, and Aidan built this LEGO® R2-D2. He looked at several options with a Google image search and then created this design. It should be fairly easy to put together if you have enough white and gray bricks! […]

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A Parents Guide to Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Sarah — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 22:30:07 +0000

A Parent’s Review of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. This review is purposefully vague, but if you’re not wanting to know anything at all before you step into the theater, you should probably skip this post! Today’s post is a guest post by my husband, Jordan. He took our 12 and 9 year old’s […]

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Boy Approved Christmas Ornaments for Kids to Make

Sarah — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 02:53:09 +0000

Here is a collection of 25+ Christmas ornaments to make that look awesome and are boy-approved! By this I certainly don’t mean that girls won’t enjoy making these or shouldn’t make them. But if you’re the parent or teacher of a bunch of boys, you probably know that it’s harder to find crafty things that […]

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Laundry Basket Skee Ball (With Ball Pit Balls!)

Sarah — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 02:41:40 +0000

We have a fantastic game to share with you – Laundry Basket Skee Ball! I’m especially excited about this game because it’s simple to set up and it’s something active to play indoors that will (hopefully) not involve breaking anything! And it’s not very loud either. A couple months ago, I bought Janie a pack […]

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Candy Cane Holiday Treats that Kids Can Bake and Give

Sarah — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 15:58:51 +0000

This post is sponsored by Betty Crocker™, Hershey’s®, and Tom Thumb stores. Here are two simple holiday treats that are great for kids to make and give! These simple sweets would be perfect for giving to a neighbor, a teacher, or a friend. One of my favorite parts of the Christmas season is Hershey’s kisses. […]

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Bringing Home the Christmas Tree Car Ornament for Kids to Make

Sarah — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 21:31:41 +0000

Here’s a fun Christmas craft that boys will go for – turn a Hot Wheels or Matchbox car into an ornament for the tree! The little car ornaments look absolutely adorable on our tree, and they were super simple to put together. Here’s what you need to make one: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. […]

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Sparkly Pom Pom Ball Christmas Ornaments for Kids to Make

Sarah — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 05:18:39 +0000

This Christmas ornament craft idea is simple enough for preschoolers to do, but kids of any age will enjoy making them! Jonathan (age 3, almost 4) and I enjoyed making these ornaments together. They turned out so cute! Here’s what you need to make them: 1.5 inch wooden balls (I found them at Hobby Lobby […]

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Felt Gingerbread Christmas Ornaments for Kids to Make

Sarah — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 21:00:36 +0000

Here’s a fun Christmas ornament for kids to make! Use felt to make some adorable gingerbread men. If you want, you can give your ornament a funny twist and create a gingerbread man with a BITE taken out of him! This is a fabulous beginning sewing project for kids! If your child is old enough […]

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Ideas for Celebrating a Christ Centered Advent Season with Kids

Sarah — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 20:56:12 +0000

Our family kicked off the Christmas season with some Christmas music last night after our Thanksgiving dinner. I’m a big stickler about waiting to celebrate until after Thanksgiving, but once we’ve left Grandma’s house, Thanksgiving is over, right? 🙂 Excited about advent! When we celebrate advent, we are celebrating the coming of the Messiah. And […]

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Gratitude When We Don’t Feel Grateful…

Sarah — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 14:35:05 +0000

Last week, we had a boy with an attitude. It started with something minor, but when I corrected him on it, the situation escalated. As my husband and I talked with this child about his attitude, we told him that we were concerned because it seems that lately he has developed a pattern of grumpy […]

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Five (More!) Christmas LEGO Projects to Build (With Instructions!)

Sarah — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 13:46:57 +0000

Five LEGO® Christmas Projects with Instructions! Last year, we posted five Christmas projects to build, and we’re back with new ones for the Christmas season! Honestly, I’m not a big fan of Christmas stuff before Thanksgiving, and we don’t start celebrating until the day after Thanksgiving here. But, I decided to go ahead and […]

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10 Minute No-Sew Jedi Costume and Toys R Us Lightsaber Review (And Giveaway!)

Sarah — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 14:07:38 +0000

This post is sponsored by Toys R Us and Duracell. As we get closer to the release of the new Star Wars movie on December 18th, the boys have all been obsessed with all things Star Wars. They were thrilled when we were given the opportunity to review some Star Wars Lightsabers from Toys R […]

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Learning Activities for Kids Who Love Cars!

Sarah — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 03:46:39 +0000

With four boys in our house, we have accumulated a lot of Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars! We have found that they make great manipulatives for all kinds of learning activities. Here is a collection of great ways to learn for kids who love cars! Most of these are geared toward preschoolers, but there are […]

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Math Facts Baseball (An Awesome Way to Practice Math!)

Sarah — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 15:54:11 +0000

Math Facts Baseball – Use this simple game to review addition and subtraction facts! Okay, so baseball season just ended, so this probably should have been a football game. But I randomly thought of this idea one afternoon, and the boys have been loving it. In fact, the day after we first played this game, […]

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25 More Homemade Gifts to Make for Boys

Sarah — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 21:39:15 +0000

Last year, I shared a post with gifts to make for boys, and I’m back with 25 more homemade gift ideas! Of course these are not meant to be *only* for boys. If your daughter would like these ideas, then go for it! This is just meant to be a resource for people who are […]

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How to Make a Cardboard Box Race Track for Hot Wheels Cars

Sarah — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 02:53:32 +0000

Convert a cardboard box (we used a Costco diaper box) into simple race lanes for Hot Wheels cars! This simple race track releases four cars at one time. The boys and Janie have been having fun playing with this race track, and it hasn’t broken yet. 🙂 This is a perfect project for a bad […]

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Sorting, Counting, and Graphing for Preschoolers

Sarah — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 14:45:22 +0000

Make a giant color graph, and sort, count, and graph toys or other objects! I’ve mentioned before that Jonathan (turning 4 in January) is always asking for more “school” to do. But like my other boys, he doesn’t always see the value in academic activities. For example, I have seen the idea on Pinterest to […]

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Science Experiment for Kids: Which food does my pet like best?

Sarah — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 03:13:43 +0000

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you’ve followed this blog for very long, you probably have noticed that we really love science. My oldest son loves engineering types of projects, and the middle two are really into animals. We were thrilled to get a review copy of my friend Asia’s newest book – The […]

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Fun Food Ideas for a Peanuts Birthday Party

Sarah — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 16:03:12 +0000

This is a sponsored post. Gresham turned 9 last week and since this was not a “party year” (we only do parties with friends when the kids turn 5 and 10), we planned to do dinner on his birthday with the grandparents and some family friends. With the new Peanuts Movie coming out on November […]

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Minute-to-Win It Family Game Night

Sarah — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 01:56:46 +0000

Here are some fun Minute-to-Win-It style games that the whole family will enjoy! For this post, we chose games that are easy to set up with simple materials and that appeal to a wide variety of ages. My boys love silly stuff like this! Game #1: Eat Like a Bird For this game, I used […]

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How to Make a Cardboard Box Marble Labyrinth Game

Sarah — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 03:53:30 +0000

Engineering Activity for Kids – Build a Cardboard Box Marble Labyrinth! Oh my goodness. You have to try this project! This cardboard box marble labyrinth game is simple to put together, and my kids have been fighting over turns on it. In a good way, though. It has been a huge hit! This post contains […]

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LEGO Activities for First Grade Math

Sarah — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 03:53:50 +0000

Here are some hands on ideas for learning first grade math concepts with LEGO®! Practice addition, greater than and less than, and measuring. My first grader really enjoys kinesthetic learning. We don’t do something like this every day (or even every week sometimes!) but he is much more engaged when we do. Greater Than/Less Than […]

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25+ Simple Carnival Games for Kids

Sarah — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 04:12:44 +0000

Here’s an awesome collection of carnival style games that kids of all ages will enjoy! Choose a couple games, add some simple prizes and you have a family game night! Or use these ideas for a carnival themed birthday party or a school or church carnival. Spider Web Frisbee Toss from JDaniel4’s Mom. This would […]

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Backyard Carnival Games: Spider Launch

Sarah — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 21:37:08 +0000

Here’s another simple backyard carnival game – Spider Launch! Launch little plastic spiders with a simple homemade catapult. A cardboard box makes a great target, and we decorated ours with duct tape to make it a spider web. There are very few crafts that can’t be improved with duct tape! 😉 The catapult is made […]

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Laundry Tips for Large Families

Sarah — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 11:35:38 +0000

This post is sponsored by Arm & Hammer. Ah, laundry. I have a love/hate relationship with laundry. Honestly, it’s my favorite chore because it’s not terribly hard work and it smells nice. But with seven people in our family, the laundry truly never ends! Everyone showers and puts on pajamas, and there’s another load… Here are […]

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Backyard Carnival Games for Kids: Sticky Tic Tac Toe

Sarah — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 13:06:41 +0000

This week, I’ll be sharing Backyard Carnival games here at Frugal Fun for Boys! (And you all know that I don’t mean Frugal Fun for *only* boys, right? Just like to clarify that every now and then.) These games will be things that you can do at home for a family fun night, or even […]

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Mario LEGO Projects with Building Instructions

Sarah — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 21:22:03 +0000

LEGO® Building Instructions – How to build Mario and Yoshi! Also a mushroom, question box, tunnel, flower, and Standard Kart S from Mario Kart! The boys and I have been having so much fun designing these Super Mario Brothers and Mariokart LEGO® projects to share with you. Yoshi is our favorite, but I put him […]

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Learn Your Name with Hot Wheels Cars

Sarah — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 02:33:15 +0000

As I’ve mentioned before, Jonathan has been doing a lot of name games because he LOVES to do school, and because he has a long name to learn! Here’s a simple way for kids to play and learn with the letters in their name. I made Jonathan this simple name parking lot with a Amazon […]

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Preschool Shape Scavenger Hunt

Sarah — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 21:11:22 +0000

This shape activity is one that preschoolers love, and it only takes a minute to put it together. Jonathan (age 3.5) has been desperate to “do school” when we are doing school. And one or two coloring pages won’t cut it! He colors something and then says, “Now what can I do, Mom?” I’m glad […]

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How to Build LEGO Star Wars Speeders

Sarah — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 03:05:31 +0000

Got Star Wars mini figures? Here’s a simple speeder to build for them! Sometime in the past few months we found black rocket thruster bricks at the pick-a-brick wall at the LEGO® store. The boys LOADED UP, and those bricks have seen a lot of use! Aidan designed these little speeders with them and built […]

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Halloween Perler Bead Patterns

Sarah — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 04:16:31 +0000

Here are some fun Perler bead patterns for Halloween! The boys and I have been designing ghosts, bats, and pumpkins. If you’re not familiar with Perler beads, they are little tiny plastic beads that melt together when you iron them. We just tried them for the first time this summer, and the boys love them! […]

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How to Create AWESOME Star Wars Pumpkins

Sarah — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 03:15:32 +0000

Make Awesome No-Carve Star Wars Pumpkins – Using a Drill! This project was so fun for our entire family. And while ours won’t last all the way until Halloween (we made them early to share with you all) we have some tips to offer for making your pumpkins look awesome and for keeping them fresh […]

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Star Wars Themed Nerf Games

Sarah — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 04:04:57 +0000

Star Wars Themed Targets for Nerf Guns This post contains Amazon affiliate links. So on Force Friday, (the first Friday in September when a ton of new Star Wars merchandise was released in anticipation of the new movie – smart marketing, Disney…) we went to Target and found a whole Star Wars display! I don’t […]

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Cardboard Box Ramps Race for Hot Wheels Cars

Sarah — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 15:50:42 +0000

Here’s a fun spin on a basic ramp for toy cars – build a cardboard box ramps race for Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars! There are two race laces. Start two cars at the top and see which one wins. This toy has been a huge hit! I saw this idea on Pinterest, but it […]

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I Live in a Studio, Not a Museum. {Thoughts on living with little ones.}

Sarah — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 02:07:29 +0000

If you’re a follower of this blog, you’ve heard me talk about mess. The inevitable mess that comes with having seven people living in one house can be overwhelming at times. Janie has just learned how to get into a chair and then onto the school table. Nothing is safe now – scissors, pencils, Sharpie […]

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The Ultimate Collection of Hilarious Jokes for Kids

Sarah — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 02:50:24 +0000

Do your kids love jokes? Here are plenty of hilarious jokes to keep them laughing! We’ve been collecting these for months… specially selected to be as non-annoying and actually as funny as kid’s jokes can be! 🙂 Links to more jokes at the end of the post. Q: Why is it dangerous to play cards […]

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Pipe Cleaner Dragons Craft for Kids

Sarah — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 04:06:12 +0000

Here’s a simple dragon craft that kids will love – Pipe Cleaner Dragons! These little dragons are pretty sturdy (for pipe cleaners, of course) and the boys have been having fun playing with them and posing them! We made several colors. Ready to make some? I adapted this idea from a pipe cleaner dragon bookmark […]

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10 Things to Know About Parenting a Middle Schooler (From a mother in the trenches!)

Sarah — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 02:11:02 +0000

Parenting a middle schooler can leave you wondering if anyone else experiences the things that go on in your house, and why you are SO tired! Throughout my life, I’ve had the opportunity to have lots of contact with middle schoolers (6th-8th grade, or age 11-13). Before we had kids, my husband and I worked […]

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Goldbug Preschool Games

Sarah — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 02:56:37 +0000

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Do you know who Goldbug is? Goldbug is Jonathan’s favorite character in Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things that Go. This is one of our very favorite preschool books! Each page has so much to look at, and they boys enjoy choosing their favorite vehicle off each page. […]

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Kid-Made Star Wars Planet Book

Sarah — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 03:36:35 +0000

We are so excited to show you this Star Wars book project for kids! Owen, Jonathan, and I really enjoyed this. We don’t post things that we didn’t enjoy, but this one was definitely a favorite. We made the Death Star (not technically a planet), Tatooine, Naboo, Endor, and Mustafar. (Mustafar is a more obscure […]

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Small World Planet Play for LEGO Star Wars Sets

Sarah — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 00:44:29 +0000

If you’ve been following this blog, you know that we love both LEGO® and Star Wars at our house! The boys (and Dad!) can’t wait for the new movie to come out later this year. Since there is still some time to wait before the new movie, we were thrilled to get the chance to […]

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The Best Water Gun Play Ideas

Sarah — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 02:17:57 +0000

It’s August, and it’s HOT. I would love to think about the fact that fall is right around the corner, but honestly it’s not right around the corner in Texas! Not until late October, anyway. If it’s hot where you live, here are some of the BEST ideas for cooling off with water gun play! […]

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Kids and TV: Questions to Ask Yourself as you Decide What to Watch, and How Much

Sarah — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 02:51:02 +0000

Several days ago, a friend asked me about a specific TV show. She wanted to know if I let my kids watch it because she had some concerns. It was a hard question to answer because I really don’t like to tell people which specific shows to watch or not watch! TV and movie choices […]

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Five Engineering Challenges with KEVA Planks

Sarah — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 03:34:43 +0000

Here are five fun engineering challenges for kids to do with KEVA planks! If you’re not familiar with KEVA planks (the brand is Mind Ware), they are small wooden building blocks. You can use them to build all sorts of amazing structures without glue or connections – just stack them! We purchased ours two years […]

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LEGO Learning: 25 Math and Language Ideas for Preschool through Third Grade

Sarah — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 02:45:34 +0000

It’s almost back-to-school time, and what better way to begin the school year than with a little LEGO® learning! Here is a collection of over 25 of the best math and language arts ideas from my site and around the web! Language Arts: LEGO Handwriting Mats – Read, Build, and Write! From This Reading Mama. […]

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Magnetic Cookie Sheet Games (For Travel or Learning Time at Home!)

Sarah — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 03:33:24 +0000

There are so many fun magnetic games to play with a cookie sheet! I picked up a basic one at Target one day, and it really came in handy on our recent road trip. These activities are great for traveling, but I will be using them for Jonathan and Janie to keep them busy during […]

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Frugal Fun for Boys Local Meet-up!

Sarah — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 19:31:43 +0000

Announcing… the first ever Frugal Fun for Boys local meet-up! (It’s not just for boys. It’s for boys, girls, moms, everyone!) If you happen to live in the Dallas – Fort Worth, TX area, come join us this coming Friday morning, August 7th, at 11:00 a.m. for a free craft at the Keller Public […]

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Learning with LEGO: Letter Puzzles

Sarah — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 03:33:52 +0000

Learn your letters with LEGO®! This idea is seriously so simple, and Jonathan thinks it’s the greatest thing ever! A few months ago, it dawned on me that Jonathan is pretty “average” in the fine motor skill department. Like many boys, he is more interested in gross motor activities than fine motor activities. He spends […]

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DIY Toy: Magnetic Eggs

Sarah — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 13:26:25 +0000

This fun toy is so simple to put together! We have all been enjoying playing with these magnetic eggs. Want to see how they work? This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Here’s what I used to make them: Ceramic Magnets Modeling Clay (non-hardening) Plastic Easter Eggs Each egg has a magnet in both ends, and […]

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Avengers Perler Bead Patterns

Sarah — Fri, 17 Jul 2015 21:29:30 +0000

It has been Perler bead summer at our house! We’ve made minions and Star Wars characters, and now here are some fun Avengers Perler bead patterns. Captain America Aidan adapted a pattern that he saw on Kandi Patterns to make this Captain America. He wanted it to have a shield. Here is the finished Captain […]

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DIY Minions Memory Game

Sarah — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 03:57:31 +0000

Have you seen the new Minions movie yet? It just opened here last week, and I’m not sure if we’ll see it or not. We almost never go to movies at the theater largely because of the cost. Once it comes out on video, we can own it for half the cost of taking our […]

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More LEGO Dogs! Dachshund and Mastiff Building Instructions

Sarah — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 23:03:47 +0000

We’re back with two more LEGO® dogs to build – a dachshund and a mastiff! (The mastiff could easily pass for whatever large breed you’d like it to be. 🙂 ) I can’t decide which one is cuter. Our first LEGO® dog post featured a beagle/hound type dog and a Westie. You can see those […]

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Salt Vibrations: Sounds You Can SEE!

Sarah — Fri, 10 Jul 2015 22:53:46 +0000

It’s easy enough to tell kids that sounds are caused by vibrations, but that can be a tough concept for them to really grasp! Here are two simple demonstrations that allow kids to actually SEE sound waves in action. This post is the final installment in the Summer STEAM Camp that we have been taking […]

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How to Make Floam (Foam + Slime)

Sarah — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 03:30:51 +0000

Have you ever played with floam? The first time I saw this bizarre toy was in the 1980’s – my brother got some Nickelodeon brand floam somewhere, maybe as a gift? Basically, it was slime with little pellets of styrofoam in it, and you could mold things with it. I have always loved things that […]

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Engineering for Kids: Build a LEGO Water Wheel

Sarah — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 13:50:32 +0000

Here’s a fun STEM project for kids that is perfect for warm weather – build a LEGO® water wheel and experiment with fluid dynamics. It was actually not shockingly hot over the July 4th weekend (we live in Texas), and we enjoyed playing outside with LEGO®! First, Aidan used duct tape to secure some base […]

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Wooden Crate Toy Storage

Sarah — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 03:19:03 +0000

When we made our Wooden Crate Hot Wheels Parking Garage last month, the family member that loved it the most was Janie! She is 14 months old, and the crate is the perfect size for her. She loves taking the cars out and putting them back in, but she’s not coordinated enough to do it […]

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More LEGO Minions to Build!

Sarah — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 03:16:05 +0000

We are back with more LEGO® minions to build! And these are some dressed up minions! If you missed our original LEGO minions post, you might want to start there. That post has step-by-step instructions for building both a one-eyed minion and a two-eyed minion. Once you have the basic design, it’s fun to start […]

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Four Awesome Tricks to Do with a Penny

Sarah — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 14:17:19 +0000

For the final day of our Craft Closet Boredom Busters series, here are four fun tricks to do with a penny and just a few other household supplies. One is a magic trick, one is a brain bender, and two are neat science demonstrations. All of them are fun to try, and kids will enjoy […]

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Craft Stick Marble Run

Sarah — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 04:15:05 +0000

Engineering for Kids – Build a marble run out of craft sticks! Last year, we showed you three marble projects to build with craft sticks and a cardboard box (maze, shoebox marble run, and a plink-o type thing – remember that on “The Price is Right?”). Here’s another simple way to build a longer and […]

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Car Race Counting Game!

Sarah — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 03:57:02 +0000

Here’s a game that preschoolers will love – Car Race Counting! My husband built this game out of a piece of poster board and a little bit of white duct tape. He cut the poster board into 4 inch wide strips (so each lane is 2 inches wide) and taped three strips together end-to-end. We […]

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Paper Roll Animals

Sarah — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 03:48:26 +0000

Get crafty with paper towel/toilet paper rolls and make some adorable animals! Just add scissors, paint, googly eyes, and hot glue. This is the perfect boredom buster for a rainy day! (Or a hot one – where we live, summer is not an outside season!) Three of the boys and I worked on this project […]

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25+ Crafts and Activities for Kids Using Everyday Materials

Sarah — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 20:37:56 +0000

Craft Closet Boredom Busters for Kids! A Week Long Blog Series Whether you’re looking for an activity for a group of kids, or just something to do at home on a rainy day, here is a collection of projects that will hopefully fit the bill. These crafts and activities use simple, everyday materials that […]

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Why it’s Good for Parents to Require Kids to Obey

Sarah — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 13:06:56 +0000

I have noticed a trend in parenting advice in the last couple of years. The word “obedience” seems to have become a bad word in modern parenting. I have seen parenting articles that recommend relaxing your standards for obedience (and even taking comfort in your child’s rebellion!) because obedience is not really a desirable trait […]

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How to Make a Balloon Yo-Yo

Sarah — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 03:47:51 +0000

This week we’re teaming up with several awesome bloggers to bring you a week of Craft Closet Boredom Busters for Kids! What are those, you ask? Basically, we’ll be sharing simple crafts and activities to keep kids busy using everyday materials that you probably already have at home. Here’s a fun homemade toy – a […]

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Seven Simple Ways to Help Kids Get Along

Sarah — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 20:55:29 +0000

It’s summer vacation time – are your kids fighting yet? 🙂 Since we homeschool, we pretty much fight year round. Seriously though, I think that sibling fighting is one of the most exhausting parts of motherhood. This is one of those areas where we are in it for the long haul. It helps me to […]

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LEGO Panda Bear Building Instructions

Sarah — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 03:28:08 +0000

How to Build LEGO® Pandas! This past weekend, my oldest son was on a trip with his grandparents, my youngest son had a cold, and the two middle sons were more quiet than usual. We dumped out the LEGO® bricks on the carpet and spent time building! I suggested a zoo. Gresham got right to […]

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Simple Science Experiment for Kids: What Melts in the Sun?

Sarah — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 02:59:28 +0000

Our rainy, rainy spring has finally ended and now it’s HOT! We hit the high 90’s yesterday (haven’t hit 100 yet, so that’s good). The younger boys and I took advantage of the hot sun and did a simple science experiment with melting. This is SO easy and really interesting for the preschool and kindergarten […]

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Take Along Construction Play Set

Sarah — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 12:53:23 +0000

Here’s a fun idea for the child who likes construction – a take along construction set for pretend play! One of the fun things about Jonathan is that he is very happy to be 3. Owen has always wanted to leave his age behind to do whatever his oldest brother is doing, but Jonathan is […]

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Easy Poster Board Play Mat for Hot Wheels Cars

Sarah — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 03:29:57 +0000

This simple play mat for cars has been a favorite activity for preschoolers at our house since my oldest son was three! I am always amazed at how long a preschooler can stay busy with a homemade car mat and some vehicles. I drew a basic design for our Hot Wheels town, and then let […]

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Minions Perler Bead Patterns

Sarah — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 16:40:46 +0000

How to make Perler bead Minions! This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase through the links, I will earn a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. This past week, we discovered crafting with Perler beads. My 8 year old has been wanting to […]

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Print and Color Tessellation Puzzles for Kids

Sarah — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 12:33:15 +0000

We’re back with another STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) series! This time it’s Summer STEAM Camp. We will be joining up with some other fabulous bloggers over the next few weeks to bring you simple STEAM projects centered around the five senses. This week’s theme is SEE. I decided to explore tessellations. A […]

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DIY Avengers Wooden Tic Tac Toe Game

Sarah — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 02:41:19 +0000

Here’s a fun game that the whole family will enjoy – Avengers themed tic tac toe! This game was so simple to put together, and almost any age can play! To make one, you will need: A slice of wood – we bought ours at Hobby Lobby. $6.99 I think? Good coupon item. Wood discs […]

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DIY Wooden Crate LEGO Minifigure Display

Sarah — Thu, 28 May 2015 13:36:33 +0000

Turn a wooden crate into a LEGO® minifigure display! Our Memorial Day weekend was RAINY and WET. In fact, almost every day has been rainy and wet for the past two months. We needed to mow the lawn, and we were supposed to go to a fun picnic, but since the rain prohibited basically every […]

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The Traffic Light Challenge: Keeping it positive when running errands with kids!

Sarah — Wed, 27 May 2015 20:49:59 +0000

The traffic light challenge is a game that I invented to help keep things positive when we have several errands to run. And it has worked! A couple months ago, we had several errands to run. In the afternoon. During nap time. The boys’ behavior had already been quite challenging that day with generous amounts […]

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DIY Wooden Crate Storage and Display for Hot Wheels Cars

Sarah — Tue, 26 May 2015 13:27:14 +0000

Here’s a fun way to store and display Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars – a DIY wooden crate parking garage! This was really easy to put together, and it looks great in our play room. We were inspired by this idea on Petit-On that I found on Pinterest. We own WAY too many Hot Wheels […]

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How to Make Minion Eggs

Sarah — Fri, 22 May 2015 03:20:07 +0000

Got plastic Easter eggs? We had fun turning some of ours into wobbling minion eggs that pop back up when you push them down! What a fun homemade toy. To make them, you will need: Blue and yellow plastic Easter eggs Black and gray duct tape Scissors Google eyes Hot glue Modeling clay Black Sharpie […]

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25 Awesome Projects for Tween and Teen Boys (Ages 10 and Up)

Sarah — Thu, 21 May 2015 19:01:42 +0000

Need craft or project ideas for older boys? My 11 year old (almost 12) helped me choose this collection of projects, so these are things that are “boy approved.” When we say this, of course, we’re not meaning that girls wouldn’t like these ideas or shouldn’t do them! It’s simply a collection of things that […]

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How to Make a Guitar Pick Necklace

Sarah — Wed, 20 May 2015 20:10:43 +0000

How to Make a Guitar Pick Necklace This simple project was all Aidan’s idea, and it turned out great! We bought some leather cord on clearance at Hobby Lobby once upon a time, and he wanted Dad to drill a hole in a guitar pick so that he could make a necklace. We weren’t sure […]

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Melted Crayon Rocks – Simple Art Project for Kids

Sarah — Fri, 15 May 2015 03:20:09 +0000

Here’s a simple art project for kids – decorate rocks with melted crayon! This morning, I needed something to keep three of the boys busy. We found this project on The Artful Parent, and it was perfect! We rounded up all of our broken crayons and peeled the papers off, which was a fun activity […]

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Create a Cardboard Box Car

Sarah — Thu, 14 May 2015 03:10:22 +0000

Turn a cardboard box into a pretend car – with a steering wheel that really turns! It started with finding a set of car keys to a car we no longer own. Daddy said that they could be Jonathan’s keys. A few days later, Jonathan found a cardboard box and wanted Daddy to make him […]

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DIY Minions Sand Buckets! (With a free printable pattern)

Sarah — Wed, 13 May 2015 22:31:40 +0000

Use duct tape to turn a plain sand bucket into a MINIONS SAND BUCKET! Fun summer craft for kids! We were in Walmart the other day, and Gresham found some yellow sand buckets that he wanted to turn into Minions! We already had black, gray, and white duct tape, so all we needed was pink […]

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How to Make a Star Wars X-Wing Starfighter out of Office Supplies

Sarah — Mon, 11 May 2015 03:10:36 +0000

Here is a fun Star Wars craft for kids that you probably have all the materials for. Make an X-Wing Starfighter out of office supplies! Aidan and I saw this idea on Instructables and thought it was so fun! We added duct tape to make ours look more like the real X-Wing. To make one, […]

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The Privilege of Being Tired

Sarah — Fri, 08 May 2015 04:06:08 +0000

I’m tired. I love being a mom, but there are some days in which the needs feel constant. Diapers to change, groceries to buy (if we could ever find everyone’s shoes and get out the door!), meals to prepare, dishes to wash, boo-boos to kiss, quarrels to mediate, homework to help with, lost toys to […]

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Build a LEGO Zipline!

Sarah — Wed, 06 May 2015 03:24:38 +0000

We’ve been having so much fun sharing LEGO® ideas this week as part of LEGO® Week over at Toddler Approved! Aidan (age 11) put together this zip line, but the boys who spent the most time playing with it were our almost 6 year old and 3 year old. Here is the design that we […]

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Star Wars Paper Crafts to Make

Sarah — Mon, 04 May 2015 03:58:57 +0000

All of our boys love Star Wars, and with the new movie coming out this year, we’ve been in a Star Wars mood! CUBE STAR WARS PAPER CRAFTS Aren’t these Star Wars characters fun? We printed them from Cubee Craft. You can print them in color, but we don’t have a black and white printer. […]

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LEGO Duplo Animals to Build

Sarah — Mon, 04 May 2015 03:08:27 +0000

Here are 8 LEGO® Duplo animals to build! This week, we are participating in LEGO® Week with several other awesome bloggers. I’ll be sharing fun LEGO® ideas on my Facebook page all week, so be sure to “like” us if you haven’t already! This post contains Amazon affiliate links. First up… We have posted many […]

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LEGO Dog Building Instructions

Sarah — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 15:48:47 +0000

How to build LEGO® Dogs! This week, I had fun building LEGO® dogs. Yes, it was me. Gresham did build the puppies to go with them, but I was mostly the builder on this project! (I find that LEGO®’s are strangely relaxing…) These dogs are not any particular breed, mainly because brown and tan are […]

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10+ Crazy and Silly Boredom Busters for Kids

Sarah — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 22:51:01 +0000

Summer is almost here, and I don’t know about you, but we are all tired of serious work and ready to play! Jump start your summer with these silly and crazy ideas for family fun. 1. Sumo Wrestling. Borrow some of Dad’s t-shirts, stuff yourself with pillows, and you’re ready to wrestle! (Better make them […]

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How to Make Sand Cloud Dough

Sarah — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 03:33:17 +0000

Have you ever made cloud dough? It’s easy and cheap to make, and it lasts forever. We decided to make a sand version of cloud dough, and I love the way it turned out! Unlike plain sand, this sand cloud dough does not dry out. The benefit here is that the kids do not go […]

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Wisdom and Parenting in the Middle School Years (A story about Instagram and how our world is getting larger, plus resources for parents!)

Sarah — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 13:45:26 +0000

I just bought him his first pair of shoes that are bigger than mine. Life used to be all about Thomas the Tank Engine and digging in the dirt, and suddenly (it seems), life has become a lot more complicated. The topic of conversation on the way home from school on Thursday was Instagram. This […]

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How to Build a LEGO Hookfang from How to Train Your Dragon

Sarah — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 16:34:53 +0000

Last week, we posted on how to make a LEGO Toothless, and we’re back with a LEGO® Hookfang (Monstrous Nightmare), inspired by How to Train Your Dragon! Building dragons out of LEGO® bricks has proven to be pretty challenging. We were thinking that Toothless was probably going to be our only dragon character. But then […]

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Finding Perspective in the Mess of Motherhood

Sarah — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 01:33:04 +0000

Moms, do you feel overwhelmed by the mess in your house? I know I do. We are at a stage where the amount of upkeep needed just to keep our household running is staggering. Five kids plus two parents equals a lot of daily living. If we all walk in the door and take off […]

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How to Build a LEGO Toothless (Inspired by How to Train Your Dragon)

Sarah — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 02:45:35 +0000

Toothless (Night Fury) LEGO® Building Instructions, Inspired by How to Train Your Dragon How to Train Your Dragon 2 came out on Netflix this month, which inspired a new round of dragon mania in my house! This LEGO® Toothless was an especially fun project because almost every member of our family had a part in […]

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Tell the Biblical Easter Story with a Salt Dough Tomb

Sarah — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 16:47:22 +0000

Well, here’s a first for this blog… I’m posting an activity that I took pictures of at someone else’s house! 🙂 Yesterday I was at a friend’s house, and she showed me this Easter activity that she is doing with her two children. I just love this idea! It is such a simple and meaningful […]

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Wobble Egg Ninjas

Sarah — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 22:42:15 +0000

Got plastic Easter eggs? Here’s a fun idea for a homemade toy! The boys and I enjoyed transforming some of our plastic eggs into wobbling ninjas that fall down and pop back up again. Here’s what you need to make them: Plastic eggs Modeling clay (non-hardening) Scissors Hot glue gun Googly eyes – for attaching […]

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Paper Plate Easter Basket Craft for Kids

Sarah — Sun, 29 Mar 2015 00:45:44 +0000

Here’s a fun Easter craft for kids! And you probably have all of the supplies on hand. We had fun creating paper plate Easter baskets this week. We filled them with construction paper eggs and paper grass – super simple! To make the basket, I cut a paper plate in half and then cut the […]

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How to Play the Game “Ninja”

Sarah — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 22:07:09 +0000

A couple weeks ago I wrote about how to play “Sticks,” and we’re back with another silly game to share! This one is called “Ninja.” Many of you are probably familiar with this game since it’s been around for a long time, but just in case I thought I’d post it. It’s great to find […]

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Digging for Salt Dough Dinosaur Bones!

Sarah — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 03:07:36 +0000

Here’s a fun dinosaur activity for kids – dig for salt dough dinosaur bones! Last year, I saw this fantastic idea on The Imagination Tree to make dinosaur bones out of salt dough. Salt dough is the perfect material for dino bones since it’s easy to make and very sturdy once you bake it. To […]

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How to Train Your Dragon Rainbow Loom

Sarah — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 01:43:44 +0000

Aidan has been making dragons from How to Train Your Dragon 2 on his Rainbow Loom! Aidan found a series called “How to Loom Your Dragon” on Youtube. These are awesome designs, but definitely not for beginners! The Stormfly/Nadder tutorial is 70 minutes long! These two dragons are the “baby” versions. The adult versions are […]

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How to Make a PVC Pipe Xylophone Instrument

Sarah — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 14:35:55 +0000

This week, we have been exploring the mathematics of music with a homemade PVC pipe xylophone! This was one of those projects that sort of evolved. The boys have been enjoying blowing into PVC pipe and making all kinds of crazy noises. They have noticed that longer pipes make a lower noise than shorter pipes. […]

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Simple Pegboard Marble Track

Sarah — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 02:16:31 +0000

Here’s an easy way to build a marble run – with pegboard, pipe insulation, and zip ties! My older boys really enjoyed the engineering challenge of our magnetic marble run, but this marble run was a better speed for our three year old (who is more likely to bump the pieces on the magnetic run, […]

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LEGO Baymax Building Instructions

Sarah — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 14:12:29 +0000

How to build Baymax out of LEGO®! If you are good, he will give you a lollypop. After watching Big Hero 6 again last weekend, Aidan and I thought it would be fun to create a LEGO® Baymax. Baymax is definitely a challenging character to build with LEGO® since he is so big and round. […]

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Hands-On Activities for Beginning Readers

Sarah — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 03:12:28 +0000

I am currently teaching my third son to read, and one thing that I have noticed about beginning readers is that they are WIGGLY! When my oldest son was learning to read, he would put the book on the floor and balance on his hands while he kicked his legs out behind him over and […]

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How to Build a Simple Electromagnetic Train

Sarah — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 14:31:29 +0000

Here is an interesting project for kids that explores both electricity and magnetism – build a simple electromagnetic train! This intriguing video has been making it’s way around Facebook… it’s a simple electric “train” made out of coiled copper wire and a train car comprised of a battery with magnets on both ends. It was […]

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How to Play Sticks (A Finger Counting Game for Kids!)

Sarah — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 23:08:31 +0000

How to play “Sticks” – A Finger Counting Game for Kids Aidan is in school for the first time this semester, and he brought home this simple game that he learned from his friends and taught it to his brothers. At first, my husband and I didn’t really get it… But the boys all think […]

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Clothespin and Button Car Craft for Kids

Sarah — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 05:30:14 +0000

Here’s a simple craft for kids who like cars! These fun cars are made out of clothespins and buttons. Now that we have big kids (the oldest two are 11 and 8), the younger two end up doing “big kid” stuff most of the time. It was fun to slow down and do this project […]

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Seven Spring LEGO Ideas! Projects to Build with Instructions

Sarah — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 17:51:13 +0000

Seven LEGO® Building Ideas for Spring We woke up to about 3 inches of snow, which is super weird for Texas in MARCH! So let’s think warmer weather with some spring LEGO® projects to build! Here are five ideas to inspire the little builders in your house. (Boys and girls both! We don’t intend for […]

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Colorful Chemical Reaction Experiments for Kids

Sarah — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 13:26:01 +0000

Here are three colorful chemical reactions to do with kids! This post contains Amazon affiliate links. We’ve been studying chemistry in our science book (Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics), and we have some very colorful chemical reactions to share with you as part of the STEAM Power blog series. Experiment #1: Change the color […]

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Does My Son Need to Toughen Up a Little? Raising Boys who are Courageous

Sarah — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 03:58:19 +0000

One topic that I see around the internet on a fairly regular basis is a concern over boys who might need to “toughen up a little.” More often than not, it’s the dad who wants his son to toughen up, and the mom is not so sure that it’s a problem – maybe her son […]

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Two Science Experiments with Density

Sarah — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 15:04:43 +0000

Here are two simple science experiments for kids that demonstrate the concept of density! This year we have been reading the newest book in the Young Explorers series from Apologia – Experiment #1: Turn a marble into a ping pong ball! (This is really a demonstration, not an experiment.) I saw this project on Steve […]

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20 Awesome Nerf Games to Make and Play

Sarah — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 16:22:03 +0000

At our house, we LOVE Nerf guns! Here are a collection of the most awesome Nerf games to make and play. This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Favorite Nerf Gear: The Nerf N-Strike Elite Firestrike and the Strongarm Blaster are both good guns to start with. The Firestrike is best for younger kids – my […]

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A Day in the Life of a Homeschooling Mom of Five

Sarah — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 22:24:29 +0000

Ever wondered what it’s like to homeschool five kids? How we get it all done? What a day looks like? I thought it might be fun to record an entire day at this stage in life… For reference, Aidan is 11 and in 6th grade. As of this semester, he goes to school two days […]

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Spinning Nerf Targets – DIY Cardboard Toy

Sarah — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 03:42:07 +0000

Here’s a new spin (ha!) on a Nerf target game for kids! We transformed a cardboard trifold display board into a spinning target shooting gallery for Nerf. It’s not necessary to buy the display board – you can just use whatever cardboard you have on hand. But I do think that the display board made […]

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Faithful Mothering: Encouragement for the Days When You Wonder if You’re Doing the Right Thing

Sarah — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 22:50:36 +0000

Do you ever worry if you are doing the right thing in parenting? If your kids are going to turn out okay, or if you are making mistakes without even knowing it? In life, we judge success by the results. If my garden doesn’t produce, something was wrong with the soil. Or I planted at […]

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LEGO Duplo Mini Golf

Sarah — Sat, 07 Feb 2015 17:22:53 +0000

Here’s a fun way for preschoolers to expend some excess energy on a day stuck indoors – Duple LEGO® Mini Golf! We used a ping pong ball for our golf ball – I didn’t want a real golf ball flying through the house! We used plastic cups for the “holes,” although Jonathan (age 3) was […]

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Cardboard Box Hot Wheels Car Garage with Ramps

Sarah — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 05:01:58 +0000

Here’s a fun cardboard box toy to make – a Hot Wheels parking garage with ramps! The great part about cardboard box projects is that the materials are free, and you can toss it in the recycling bin when the kids are done with it. 🙂 (We do NOT save all the projects we make!) […]

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Non-Mushy Valentine’s Day Card Ideas

Sarah — Sun, 01 Feb 2015 23:25:57 +0000

Are your kids looking to avoid lots of love and hearts and mushy stuff this Valentine’s Day? Here are some ideas for Valentines to make or print that have a very low mushy level. 🙂 I love these printable Lego Valentines from JDaniel4’s Mom. So many options for how to use them! Adorable mustache Valentines […]

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“You’re the Bomb!” Handmade Valentines

Sarah — Sun, 01 Feb 2015 21:39:50 +0000

Here’s a fun idea for a homemade Valentine to make and give – “You’re the Bomb!” candy Valentines! Aidan and I enjoyed making these for his friends at school. We originally saw the “You’re the Bomb” idea over at Heavenly Homemakers a couple of years ago. However, Aidan wanted to make some Valentines with Jolly […]

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“Toad-ally Awesome” Boy Approved Valentines

Sarah — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 21:52:08 +0000

Toad-ally Awesome Frog Valentines – Boy Approved! My boys are not into Valentine’s Day in the slightest, but when we saw these frog Valentines on Pinterest, Gresham wanted to make some to give to his friends! This post contains Amazon affiliate links. We saw the idea on this post on Crap I’ve Made. She has a […]

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20 Simple Projects for Beginning LEGO Builders

Sarah — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 21:54:15 +0000

Here are 20 simple LEGO® projects that are perfect for beginning builders! One question that we get from time to time is how to get started with LEGO® with young kids. What age, and what to buy? Well, LEGO® recently released some new Classic sets that we have been very impressed with. They have a […]

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Mini M&M Container Popper

Sarah — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 22:02:18 +0000

This silly idea is a family favorite! Turn a mini M&M container into a fun toy! It’s the perfect excuse to eat some mini M&M’s. Gresham demonstrates how it’s done: P.S. – This also works pretty well with Pringles cans, although they are louder and take stronger hands. And they scare the dog. But still […]

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How to Make Silly Putty

Sarah — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 05:17:17 +0000

How to Make Homemade Silly Putty with Glue and Liquid Starch This stuff stretches and oozes. If you give it a sharp pull, it will break. But if you hold it up, it oozes down. It’s thicker than slime and perfect for making prints with objects. We had fun mixing up several different colors of silly […]

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Simple Clothespin Catapult

Sarah — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 18:17:34 +0000

Here’s a simple way to make a catapult with items that you probably already have around the house! This catapult is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. To make this catapult, I used wood glue to attach a clothespin to a block of scrap wood. Then I glued a craft stick to the clothespin. I used […]

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How to Build LEGO Ninjas and Dragons

Sarah — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 23:48:30 +0000

Build Ninjas and Dragons out of LEGO® Bricks! If you have ninja fans at your house, they might enjoy building these fun LEGO® projects! The ninjas are pretty fun to pose. Our resident dragon fan built this dragon to go with them: Here’s how to build them! If you don’t have these exact pieces, hopefully […]

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Boys and Girls are Not the Same. And why that’s GOOD!

Sarah — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 04:55:57 +0000

One thing that I never anticipated when I started this blog was how much controversy the name would create. At the time, I had three boys. (Now I have four.) I never planned on being the mom of all boys, and it was kind of an adjustment to embrace the “boy-mom” role. (Now, God has […]

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Printable Dragon Coloring Pages

Sarah — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 01:24:34 +0000

Dragon Printable Coloring Pages! Gresham spends a lot of time drawing. And when I say a lot, I mean a LOT. He and Owen go through mounds of paper, and I have to wade through piles of drawings on the school table almost daily. But during the cold winter months, I can’t really complain! I’m glad […]

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One Thing I Will Seek: Simplifying Motherhood in a World of Information Overload

Sarah — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 22:24:59 +0000

A few weeks ago, I caught myself thinking about whether or not I am a “helicopter mom.” I thought about it a minute. And then I thought, “Does it even matter?” As moms, I think we like to know what we should be doing. At least, some of us are that way. We like to […]

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LEGO Marble Run

Sarah — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 04:23:34 +0000

Here’s a fun LEGO® building challenge – create a marble run! Aidan built this marble run with different types of moving parts. Here’s a demonstration: Update: We’ve added another LEGO Marble Run to this site! This one is super awesome! Aidan used four 10″ x 10″ baseplates. He attached them to each other with some […]

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Velcro Super Hero Cuffs

Sarah — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 02:21:27 +0000

Here’s a fun superhero craft for kids – turn plastic cups into arm cuffs that can be taken on and off! This craft was Jonathan’s idea (age 3)! The boys were cutting up plastic cups for something, and he took a cup with the bottom cut off and stuck it on his arm and asked […]

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40+ Activities for Preschoolers

Sarah — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 22:32:45 +0000

Whether you have one preschooler or several, here are some ideas for keeping preschoolers busy! For this post, I chose to especially focus on activities that preschoolers can do independently (well, as independently as a preschooler can be!) while Mom is getting something done or homeschooling older kids. This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Drawing […]

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Tips for Homeschooling When You Have a Baby or Toddler (Or Both!)

Sarah — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 21:20:33 +0000

Here are some survival tips for homeschooling when you also have a baby or toddler in the house. (Or both!) Little ones definitely make homeschooling more challenging. Babbling toddlers make it difficult to read out loud, and it’s hard to see the words on the page when someone is bouncing up and down on the […]

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Transitioning from Homeschooling to University Model Schooling

Sarah — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 21:05:18 +0000

This semester will mark a big change for our family – our oldest child is going to school for the first time! Since we have been homeschoolers forever and since we have blogged a lot about homeschooling, I thought I’d share a little bit about how we came to this decision. This post is not […]

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Superhero Sock Monkeys

Sarah — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 17:20:29 +0000

How to make Superhero Sock Monkeys Gresham and I have been dying to show you the gifts we made for his brothers this year, but I was afraid to post before Christmas just in case someone were to walk past my computer screen at the wrong moment and spoil the surprise! We have a tradition […]

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Create Your Own LEGO Wall Calendar

Sarah — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 00:18:31 +0000

Create your own LEGO® wall calendar! This weekend, my husband had the awesome idea of taking pictures of our LEGO®s and creating a wall calendar on Shutterfly. We had a blast building different scenes for each month! Then I put them all together in a 12 month calendar. Below are my favorite calendar pages. Maybe […]

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30+ Ideas for (Indoor) Family Fun

Sarah — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 15:50:10 +0000

Here are more than 30 ideas for indoor family fun! Whether the weather is bad or you just need to stay inside, there’s something for everyone on this list! Fun Family Games: Cardboard box bean bag toss – great for preschoolers! 40 Games to Play with a Deck of Cards How to Play Spoons – […]

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A Beginner’s Guide to Your DSLR Camera: How to Get out of Auto Mode and Start Taking Better Photos!

Sarah — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 03:27:43 +0000

A beginner’s guide to using your DSLR camera – start taking better pictures! This post contains Amazon affiliate links. I have always enjoyed photography, but after becoming a parent, I had a new desire to take good pictures. When our oldest was born, we had (gasp) a film camera! I still don’t know how we […]

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Getting Rid of Boy Bathroom Stink

Sarah — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 04:12:05 +0000

Neutralize stinky boy bathroom smell with a homemade cleaner! Are you embarrassed about the smell of your bathroom? Do you pray that guests won’t want to use the bathroom when they come over? Are you worried that your son’s bad aim (especially if you have a lot of boys like we do) has ruined your […]

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The Exhausted Mom’s Christmas Pledge

Sarah — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 13:55:01 +0000

I don’t know about you, but with 10 days to go until Christmas I’m already worn out! Gone are the days of sitting back, enjoying a couple of weeks off of school, and soaking up the Christmas magic. As moms, we don’t really get a holiday break! If anything, the holiday fun adds a lot […]

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Sibling Fighting and the Problem of Selfishness

Sarah — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 01:23:43 +0000

If your house is anything like mine, you are always on the lookout for ways to deal with sibling fighting. It can be exhausting, can’t it? It’s so easy to just get mad in return (and believe me, I have done that many times), which never accomplishes anything. The other day, we had quite an […]

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Candy Cane Scented Rice for Sensory Play

Sarah — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 01:45:48 +0000

How to dye and scent rice like peppermint candy canes – for play! Yesterday we had a Christmas themed play date, and I made some candy cane rice for the kids to play with. It was seriously a big hit – my almost three year old spent over two hours playing with it throughout the […]

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Five Lego Christmas Projects to Build (With Instructions!)

Sarah — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 05:34:28 +0000

LEGO® Christmas Projects with Building Instructions Here are some LEGO® Christmas projects to build – instructions included! Hopefully the builders at your house will have these pieces or something similar on hand. Or maybe these projects will inspire them to design their own! Looking for printable instructions? Find these projects and more in our E-book: […]

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How to Build Popsicle Stick Bombs

Sarah — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 05:11:45 +0000

Here’s another fun thing to do with popsicle sticks – build them into stick bombs! Popsicle stick bombs are quick to make and fun to throw. The boys thought it was cool that they are kind of like ninja stars, and they loved how the sticks fly apart in all directions when they hit something. […]

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Turn Toy Dinosaurs into Christmas Ornaments

Sarah — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 05:06:45 +0000

Early on in my boy-raising career, I had to embrace the fact that the boys’ taste in Christmas ornaments is different than mine. Each year, they get to pick out a new ornament for the tree. It’s a fun tradition, and they are each building their own collection of ornaments. One of our more memorable […]

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Gifts to Make for Boys

Sarah — Sun, 30 Nov 2014 22:56:37 +0000

Handmade Gift Ideas for Boys Whether you simply enjoy crafting or need to save some cash, it’s fun to give something that has a handmade touch rather than buying yet another toy in plastic packaging. Here are 24 ideas for homemade gifts that boys will go for. Of course girls will enjoy these ideas too! […]

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Simple Popsicle Stick Chain Reactions

Sarah — Sat, 29 Nov 2014 05:40:14 +0000

Popsicle/Craft Stick Chain Reactions – Herringbone and Clever Levers Of all the craft materials we have ever purchased, I have to say that we have gotten the most bang for our buck with a pack of 300 craft sticks that we bought a couple of years ago! Last year we posted about building an exploding […]

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Rainbow Loom Superhero Flingers

Sarah — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 15:56:02 +0000

Here’s a different spin on a Rainbow Loom project – an action figure that flies off your finger! These superhero flingers are a lot of fun. They work like a slingshot – pull it back and let it go! And since they’re made out of rubber bands, nothing gets broken, which is always a plus. […]

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Book Review: 150+ Screen Free Activities for Kids

Sarah — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 02:36:35 +0000

Last week, we found an exciting package by our front door! It was a new book written by my friend Asia. Her blog, Fun at Home with Kids, is full of awesome sensory play activities for kids, and her book did not disappoint! This gorgeous book would make a great gift this holiday season! The boys […]

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How to Make a Mailing Tube Ping Pong Ball Shooter

Sarah — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 17:55:01 +0000

Here’s a fun homemade toy that can shoot a ping pong ball, and the best part is that this one is safe enough to use inside! Pull back the inner cardboard tube, let go, and watch the ball fly! To make one, you will need: This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. One 2 inch diameter […]

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Rainbow Loom Christmas Stocking Ornament (And Other Christmas Loom Projects)

Sarah — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 02:45:33 +0000

Do you have LOTS and LOTS of little plastic rubber bands left around the house after the Rainbow Loom craze? Well, it might be fun to dig those looms out again and make some Christmas ornaments! Aidan has been having fun making stocking ornaments in different colors. These are cute enough that they would make […]

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Pipe Cleaner Calculator Addition and Subtraction Tool

Sarah — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 14:50:48 +0000

Here’s a simple math manipulative for kids who are learning to add and subtract! Owen is in kindergarten, but he wants to have a math assignment every day just like his brothers. He reminds me if I forget! I made him this “calculator” by stringing pony beads onto a pipe cleaner. Large beads glued onto […]

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LOUD: Staying Sane in the Midst of a Hectic Household

Sarah — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 04:48:13 +0000

Our house is loud. Almost all the time. It’s not that the kids are obnoxious (well, most of the time), but with five of them, it’s just busy and hectic and… LOUD. One night, I posted on Facebook, “My house is SO loud.” A friend responded with, “What? I can’t hear you because my kids […]

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Rainbow Loom Dogs: Beagle and Husky

Sarah — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 03:52:06 +0000

Aidan discovered Rainbow Loom dogs this week on Youtube, and he has been busy making beagle and husky puppies! They are sooooooo cute. As soon as he finished one, his younger brothers started asking for some, so he has made a whole litter. The difficulty level on these dogs is about the same as any […]

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Preschool Farm Unit

Sarah — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 02:28:26 +0000

After the heat of summer, I am so ready to get outside in the fall and enjoy going to the pumpkin patch and visiting the local farm! Fall, farms, and preschoolers just go together. I have been doing a simple farm unit with Owen (5.5) and Jonathan (2.5). Here are some fun farm activities that […]

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Lego Court: A Mock Trial Lesson with Legos

Sarah — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 02:19:47 +0000

Last week, we husband went to jury duty for the first time ever. He was actually kind of happy to be summoned as he has never received a jury summons. I think I’ve been summoned 3 or 4 times, so I was happy it was him this time and not me! (Although in our county […]

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Six Indoor Active Games for Preschoolers

Sarah — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 21:37:10 +0000

Nothing beats playing outside, but sometimes the weather just doesn’t allow for outdoor play. Here are some ways that preschoolers can be active indoors – without harming themselves or your furniture! 🙂 Game #1: Masking Tape Race Lane Make a masking tape “lane” on the floor. The boys enjoyed running down the lane and hopping […]

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Changeable Magnetic Marble Run

Sarah — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 14:28:46 +0000

Make your own components for a changeable magnetic marble run! Okay, here we are with yet another marble run, but this one is our favorite one yet! Actually, I’d say this marble run is equally as cool as the other one we posted recently. (I’ll discuss the strengths of each at the end of this […]

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Ping Pong Ball Nerf Targets

Sarah — Sun, 12 Oct 2014 20:45:33 +0000

You know what makes a simple and fun Nerf target? An empty plastic bottle and a ping pong ball! Ready, aim, fire! We covered the bottles with duct tape (just for fun) and added small rocks to each bottle for weight. You could also weigh them down with sand, but we didn’t have any on […]

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Pattern Activities for Preschoolers and Kindergartners

Sarah — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 03:26:07 +0000

Here are some simple pattern activities that are perfect for 4-6 year old’s. With each of these activities, I challenged Owen (age 5) to try more difficult patterns by creating one for him and then having him add on to it. We would check the patterns by saying them out loud (red, blue, yellow, red, […]

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The Three Little Pigs Pretend Play

Sarah — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 20:17:48 +0000

Jonathan (2.5) has been totally obsessed with the story of the Three Little Pigs lately. He discovered it through the classic Disney cartoon on Netflix, and then Aidan showed him that we have a storybook that has the Three Little Pigs in it. For awhile, we were reading the story multiple times each day, but […]

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The Reality of Life with Five Kids

Sarah — Sun, 05 Oct 2014 03:13:58 +0000

Right now, at this moment, my house is completely quiet. Well, except for the crickets chirping in the little cage that Gresham keeps them in until he feeds them to his pet bearded dragon. Three of the boys are at the hardware store with Dad, and Jonathan and Janie are napping. The washing machine has […]

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PVC Pipe Bow and Arrows

Sarah — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 00:40:05 +0000

All of my boys have been wanting to own a good bow and arrows! We have purchased plastic bow sets with suction cup arrows that have lasted a week or two before breaking. They have also tried making bows out of sticks and even Tinker Toys (not especially safe – ha!) Here’s an option that […]

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How to Make Sparkly Gold Slime

Sarah — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 21:58:58 +0000

We had some leftover supplies after making our gold playdough, so we decided to attempt some gold slime. It’s shiny, sparkly, and super stretchy! The boys like to stretch it out in thin sheets. Or hold it up and let is ooze. To make your own gold slime, you will need: This post contains Amazon […]

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Farm Sensory Play Activity for Preschoolers

Sarah — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 20:41:21 +0000

Create a farm sensory bin with a corn silo that really loads a tractor! Fall (and spring) are such fun times to learn about farms. We have had fun this week doing a simple farm unit with Jonathan (2.5) and Owen (5). This plastic tub has been recycled into all sorts of play scenes. For […]

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Building Character for Boys: Hard Work and Responsibility

Sarah — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 03:09:33 +0000

Welcome to a new series – Building Character for Boys (Printable Bible Study) Each post will include thoughts for parents and a printable Bible study for kids to do either by themselves or for you to do as a family. These character qualities are of course appropriate to teach girls as well, but my husband […]

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Swinging Nerf Targets

Sarah — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 20:37:35 +0000

Plastic cups make awesome Nerf targets, and when the cups are swinging, they’re even more fun! We have LOTS of random PVC pipe pieces in our house and garage from all of our many PVC projects, so Aidan built a couple of frames to hang the plastic cups from. Here’s the basic design: We taped […]

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Alphabet Bingo Game

Sarah — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 01:58:23 +0000

Here’s a fun game that is perfect for preschool or kindergarten – Alphabet Bingo! Add in a fun snack as a prize for people who get a bingo, and you have instant motivation! Owen started out his school career a little more interested in workbooks than the other two boys were, but that has waned… […]

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Rainbow Loom Baseball Player

Sarah — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 19:22:11 +0000

In case you haven’t noticed, Aidan has been on a Rainbow Loom kick lately! (Don’t worry, though, this isn’t going to turn into a Rainbow Loom blog! We do have Yoda and Princess Leia action figures coming, but then I think that’s all for now…) Anyway, he enjoyed making a baseball player, glove, bat, and […]

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Favorite Toys and Books for Dinosaur Fans

Sarah — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 04:09:33 +0000

Do you have a dinosaur fan at your house? Here are our favorite dinosaur toys and creation perspective dinosaur books. This post contains Amazon affiliate links which means that if you purchase through the links I will earn a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. Imaginext Dinosaurs We have broken […]

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Shimmering Gold Playdough

Sarah — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 01:23:59 +0000

This sparkly and shimmering gold playdough is perfect for some pretend play with treasure and jewels! We are just starting a unit on Egypt in our homeschooling, and I thought that the younger boys might enjoy making some gold playdough. I googled how to make gold playdough and didn’t find anything that was truly gold […]

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Rainbow Loom Han Solo and Luke Skywalker Star Wars Action Figures

Sarah — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 04:39:25 +0000

Han Solo and Luke Skywalker Rainbow Loom Tutorial When I came downstairs on Saturday morning, Aidan was so excited to show me that he had already created half the Star Wars cast out of Rainbow Loom bands! (For the record, I only slept in until 8:30… he’s a major morning person and type A personality!) […]

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Going Beyond “Just Ignore It:” Strategies for Handling Sibling Fighting

Sarah — Sun, 07 Sep 2014 21:03:52 +0000

“MOM! Make him get out of my chair!” “It’s my turn to be in this chair!” “No it’s not! You were in it last time! Today is my turn!” “You’re being a total liar. When mom comes back, I’m telling!” “No, YOU’RE the liar. Liar, liar, pants on fire!” “MO-OM!” Why do siblings fight SO […]

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Rainbow Loom Caterpillar

Sarah — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 15:45:30 +0000

These loom band caterpillars are simple to make, and they have so much personality! We used a tutorial from The Crafty Ladybug (scroll down for the video), but we added googly eyes with glue. We didn’t like the no eyes look of the caterpillars in the video. Add some real sticks and leaves, and you […]

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Craft Glue Window Clings

Sarah — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 01:56:58 +0000

Here’s a fun art project that only requires two supplies – colorful window clings made out of craft glue and food coloring! The boys really enjoyed this art process. I used some little disposable condiment cups to mix up different colors of glue. I love colorful projects! This one would be fun to cheer up […]

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Free Printable Books for Beginning Readers – Level 1 (Easy)

Sarah — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 03:43:24 +0000

I love the emergent reader stage! My kids have all been eager to learn to read, especially the younger ones who want to be able to do what the big kids are doing. It is often hard finding enough easy books for them to read, however. Here are two emergent reader books to print and […]

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IKEA Hack Lego Table

Sarah — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 04:06:53 +0000

There are SO many awesome ideas for LEGO® tables out there, and yet despite all the Legomaniacs in our house we have never had one! The boys mostly build with LEGO®s on the floor, but when I saw this idea on Pinterest to create a LEGO® table from IKEA Trofast shelves, I knew it would […]

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Waiting for the Season to Change

Sarah — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 13:14:35 +0000

It’s August in Texas. It’s hot and muggy and miserable. It’s the time of year when it’s not even pleasant outside first thing in the morning or late in the evening. During the month of August, we usually just hunker down and wait for the day when October breezes start to blow and the penetrating […]

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How to Make Glow in the Dark Slime

Sarah — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 02:27:28 +0000

We love a good slime recipe around here, and when we saw this idea on Pinterest for making glow in the dark slime, we had to try it! This slime is easy to make and really glows! This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase through the links, I […]

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Creating Playful Venn Diagrams about Animal Attributes

Sarah — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 01:20:44 +0000

One day this summer when we hadn’t really started school yet (but needed some order!) I got out our large acrylic sheet and showed Gresham how to make Venn diagrams. He is a fairly organized kind of guy, so I thought he might like this. I chose his favorite topic for the Venn diagrams – […]

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Build a Marble Run with Craft Sticks

Sarah — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 03:39:43 +0000

Of all the many marble runs we’ve built over the years, this is our new favorite! Simple materials and sturdy construction make it a WIN for a wide variety of ages. This would be great for a classroom STEM challenge. It all started the other day when we needed a break from homeschooling. It has […]

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Make a Duct Tape Backpack

Sarah — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 21:26:34 +0000

What’s almost as fun as a new backpack for back to school? An old backpack turned new with one of our favorite craft materials -duct tape! Aidan received this backpack at his gymnastics birthday party when he turned 10. However now that he’s 11, it’s not all that cool to be seen with an “I […]

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Family Game Night: Minute to Win It One Minute Challenges

Sarah — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 21:49:41 +0000

Several months ago, I ran across these fun posts on Housing a Forest about “Minute to Win It” style family games. We have actually never watched the Minute to Win It TV show, but the concept looked like a lot of fun! Basically, the idea is that players have one minute to complete a fun […]

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Letting Go of the Mom Guilt over Difficult Family Circumstances

Sarah — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 14:30:23 +0000

I don’t know about you, but as a mom, one of my major aims in life is to provide for my kids. I want them to be healthy, happy, and well educated. I want to be able to help them pursue whatever extra-curriculum activities they would like to pursue. I want them to be able […]

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Duct Tape Craft for Kids: Make a Zipper Pouch

Sarah — Sun, 10 Aug 2014 21:30:44 +0000

We’ve been crafting for back-to-school with duct tape, and when I saw this tutorial for duct tape zipper pouches on Skip to My Lou, I knew we had to try it! While the supplies for this project are certainly not expensive, I’m sure you could buy a zipper pouch for less. But we had fun […]

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Tin Foil River Outdoor Water Play

Sarah — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 01:21:39 +0000

One of the very first things I pinned on Pinterest was a tin foil river. I have often wondered if this activity would actually be worth it. Does this actually work? Would the tin foil hold up? Would the boys like it? So we decided to give it a try! Aidan was gone at basketball […]

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Duct Tape Desk Organizer

Sarah — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 18:32:32 +0000

Duct tape is such a great crafting material – we have kind of gotten hooked on all the fun prints and colors! Last weekend, the boys and I decided to do some duct tape crafting to get ready for back to school. Keeping our home school supplies organized is quite a challenge since we have […]

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Multiplication Snack Store Math Activity

Sarah — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 14:14:53 +0000

Practicing math facts is so much more motivating when you have an authentic reason to do so. Last week I decided to set up a snack store to practice multiplication, adding, and making change. While we were at the grocery store, I bought a few snacks that would work well for this activity. The boys […]

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How to Make a Skateboard Rainbow Loom Charm

Sarah — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 15:11:52 +0000

Aidan has been totally into skateboarding lately, so he decided to create a skateboard charm on the Rainbow Loom. Pony beads made the perfect wheels, and I was impressed with his final result! We decided to film a tutorial for this one. To make one, you will need: Two colors of bands Loom and hook […]

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Drawing Silly Faces!

Sarah — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 03:17:11 +0000

So a few weeks ago, we bought a large sheet of acrylic to use in our outdoor water wall. It’s the perfect surface for the water wall as we can stick things to it with suction cups and rearrange it differently each time. Well we’ve found several other fun things to do with our sheet […]

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Build a Nerf Dart Shooter

Sarah — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 13:53:38 +0000

Here’s a DIY toy that is a whole lot of fun! Turn PVC pipe into a super powerful Nerf dart shooter! We have been having so much fun playing with these Nerf dart shooters. The darts fly so fast that the whistling ones make a really great whistling sound. I would recommend these for ages […]

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Chores for Kids: Getting Started with a Family Chore System

Sarah — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 21:57:56 +0000

Chores for Kids Working together on chores is a necessary part of living in a family. The amount of mess we generate in a day is pretty incredible, but we are getting to the point where we are starting to see the fruits of our labors in teaching the boys to work. For years it […]

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Craft Stick People

Sarah — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 03:01:22 +0000

Last week the two oldest boys went to VBS, leaving me with time with just the younger three. While Jonathan and Janie were napping, Owen and I decided to do a craft together. It was a great time to get out my friends’ Rachel and Holly’s new book 101 Kids Activities that are the Bestest, […]

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Rainbow Loom Lightsaber Charm

Sarah — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 03:34:15 +0000

Aidan (11) is still totally into Rainbow Loom projects! Every now and then he makes a bracelet, but he mostly enjoys making action figures and charms. Here’s an idea for a simple charm – a lightsaber! They make great zipper pulls for a backpack. Making the lightsaber is very simple. First, choose the color of […]

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Make a PVC Pipe Water Shooter Toy

Sarah — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 03:40:32 +0000

Here’s a fun idea for a water shooter toy that can be made out of PVC pipe! We have had SO much fun playing with this homemade water shooter. It’s simple to build and packs a lot of power. You’ll definitely want to build more than one – Dad and I had as much fun […]

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Composing Music with Math Activity for Kids

Sarah — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 13:21:05 +0000

This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase through a product link, I will earn a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. Several weeks ago on the Curious George PBS Kids show, I saw a fun idea to create musical compositions with a mathematical […]

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Spills, Mess, and Keeping Your Calm as a Mom!

Sarah — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 12:36:47 +0000

Last night I arrived home from the grocery store and was chatting with my next-door neighbor while the boys carried in the groceries. Owen (age 5) grabbed a bag of groceries and immediately dropped it on the garage floor, breaking the glass jar of spaghetti sauce inside. I told the boys to leave the bag […]

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A Note to E-mail Subscribers

Sarah — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 20:50:12 +0000

New from Frugal Fun for Boys – Frugal Fun Fridays (Weekly Newsletter) Hello E-mail Subscribers! This week, I will be switching over to a new e-mail delivery service. I have also decided to send out a weekly newsletter instead of a separate e-mail every time a new post goes up. Starting this week, you will […]

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Paper Plate Word Family Wheel for Beginning Readers

Sarah — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 19:46:58 +0000

Here’s a simple phonics idea for beginning readers – turn paper plates into a word wheel! Owen (age 5) was pretty impressed with this. I decided to do two different word families on our wheel. To make a word wheel, you will need two paper plates, a paper fastener, scissors, and a pen or marker. […]

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How to Build a Wooden Rubber Band Shooter

Sarah — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 21:06:29 +0000

Here’s a simple toy that can be built out of scrap wood and a clothes pin! Aidan inherited this awesome pile of scrap wood a few weeks ago: So many possibilities with a pile of wood like that! I decided to do a basic wood working project with Gresham (age 7.5) and Owen (age 5). […]

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Make a Shoebox Foosball Game

Sarah — Sun, 29 Jun 2014 21:03:37 +0000

Upcycle a shoebox into a homemade foosball game! It’s World Cup time, so it’s a great time to make this soccer craft. In the interest of keeping things simple and creating a game that the younger boys could actually play (ages 5 and 7), we decided to make it one-on-one soccer. It would be fun […]

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Simple Ideas for Baby Play

Sarah — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 03:25:46 +0000

Today I am excited to share a post with you from my sister-in-law Leah who blogs over at Simple Home Blessings. Leah has two beautiful little girls and writes about home, faith, motherhood, and activities for young children. Be sure to stop by her blog and follow her on Facebook! Simple Ideas for Baby Play […]

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Geometric Art Project for Kids (With Printable Coloring Pages!)

Sarah — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 02:57:13 +0000

We have been having so much fun creating works of art by tracing simple geometric shapes! It’s quite relaxing, actually. It all started with tracing one of our Keva plank blocks and coloring in the spaces, like this: (There isn’t any reason why it would need to be a Keva block – trace whatever you […]

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How to Build a Changeable Water Wall

Sarah — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 01:23:04 +0000

This fun DIY water toy can be built and re-built again! After building a wall with tubes and funnels for playing with rice, the boys and I wanted to build something similar that we could use with water. We used a pegboard as the backing for our rice tube wall, but pegboard will deteriorate in […]

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Simple Boredom Busters for Summer Afternoons

Sarah — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 13:44:29 +0000

There’s nothing like a lazy summer afternoon… Lemonade and a good book on the front porch, playing in the sprinkler, riding bikes to the ice cream shop… Okay, we don’t have a front porch. And even if we did, 100+ degrees in the afternoon is way too hot to be reading on the porch or […]

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Does it React? Science Lab Play

Sarah — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 20:30:48 +0000

Impress your kids with some simple science play! Does it React? We’re on our summer break from homeschooling, but with four busy boys we still need some structure around here! The other morning, I told the boys that we were going to do a science experiment, and they were very interested. Since it’s summer I […]

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DIY Spelling Blocks Phonics Manipulatives

Sarah — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 00:58:24 +0000

Make your own spelling blocks to add a hands-on element to reading and phonics! Owen is getting ready to enter kindergarten in the fall (homeschooling), and he is very eager to learn to read and spell. One thing that I have noticed with homeschooling boys, though, is that many boys (not all, of course!) do […]

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How to Do a Boy’s Haircut with Clippers

Sarah — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 22:13:16 +0000

Even if you haven’t cut hair before, it’s not difficult to learn to cut boys’ hair at home with clippers, and it saves a lot of money! With a family of seven, we have to be thrifty. Let’s face it – big families cost money, and we’re always looking to do things the frugal way […]

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Activities for Learning Letters and Numbers with Duplo Lego

Sarah — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 12:39:18 +0000

We’re continuing our LEGO Week series with a few learning activities for preschoolers that you can whip together with Duplo bricks and a wipe-off marker! We used a Vis-a-Vis marker that wipes off with a damp towel, and it left behind a slight shadow on the yellow and white bricks when wiped off (not enough […]

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Build a LEGO Race Track for Hot Wheels Cars

Sarah — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 13:36:09 +0000

We are having so much fun being a part of LEGO® week hosted by Toddler Approved! LEGO® Race lanes for cars – Release all the cars at once! The boys have been into Hot Wheels cars for quite a while, and it seems like every day they are designing some new ramp for racing their […]

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Math with Legos: An Activity for Improving Word Problem Skills

Sarah — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 13:18:42 +0000

Word problems. Ugh. I used to hate word problems in math when I was growing up, mainly because it was often hard to figure out what to do. Isn’t that usually the challenge with word problems – figuring out what operations to use, and which numbers to use them on? We have been using Making […]

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How to Build a Water Balloon Launcher

Sarah — Thu, 29 May 2014 02:23:26 +0000

A water balloon launcher is a great project for a hot day! For a couple of summers we’ve been wanting to figure out how to make a really awesome water balloon launcher or catapult. Last year, we built a great catapult, but it does much better with sponge splash bombs and can’t handle the weight […]

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Photo Collage Art Project for Kids

Sarah — Sun, 18 May 2014 19:52:02 +0000

This art project for kids turns photos into a simple and fun boredom buster! We’re still adjusting to life with a newborn, and the other day I needed an easy way to keep everyone busy. While Janie was asleep, I took photos of each of the boys making silly faces. I printed their favorite […]

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How to Make Star Wars Tin Can Lanterns

Sarah — Sun, 04 May 2014 16:25:47 +0000

In honor of Star Wars day (May the 4th be with you), here is a simple Star Wars craft project. These Star Wars tin can lanterns are simple for bigger kids to make, and would be perfect for decorating at a Star Wars party. To light them up, use tea lights. Or to make them […]

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Dinosaur Activity for Kids – Ice Eggs Excavation

Sarah — Thu, 01 May 2014 23:06:29 +0000

Excavate dinosaurs from ice eggs! We did this fun dinosaur activity to help use up some of the boys’ restless energy the week before baby sister was born, and it worked really well. Simple set-up, not a lot of mess, and they were calm and busy for a good 40 minutes! To make them, […]

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Build a Lego Pinball Game

Sarah — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 00:43:50 +0000

Here’s a fun LEGO® building challenge – build a LEGO® pinball game! Aidan and I saw this idea on Pinterest from Crafts Ideas for Kids and decided to give it a try. He ended up modifying the design quite a bit, and this ended up being a fun building challenge that had him working for […]

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What to Buy for Baby (Products that are worth it, and which ones are not!)

Sarah — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 16:59:27 +0000

With four (now five!) babies, we have been through a LOT of baby items! Having a baby is going to require some gear for sure, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. Some baby items just aren’t worth it! For the ones that are, here are some ways to save. (This post contains Amazon […]

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What to Expect During a C-Section and Recovery

Sarah — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 20:36:51 +0000

In celebration of the birth of our fifth baby, I have some baby posts in the line-up this week! (Which I wrote ahead of time.) Baby Janie was my fourth c-section. Not really my first choice, but my second son was breech, and for various reasons we were not able to do a vbac when […]

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Welcome, Baby Girl!

Sarah — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 21:01:39 +0000

She’s here! Janie Elisabeth Born April 21, 2014 7 lb. 5 oz and 19 inches long Her four older brothers absolutely adore her! Jonathan (2) is so excited to have a baby around and to hold her. He has loved babies for a long time and is so glad we have our own. (And I’ll […]

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Motherhood and the True Value of Nose Wiping

Sarah — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 20:51:47 +0000

Several weeks ago, I had a couple different commitments outside the home. Both were ministry opportunities at my church – one on Thursday and one on Saturday. Late Wednesday afternoon, my preschooler came down with a fever, congestion, and an extremely irrational mood. So on Thursday, I had to call the church office and let […]

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Sand Box Play on a Budget

Sarah — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 02:02:44 +0000

I must confess, I have a love/hate relationship with sand boxes. My boys LOVE to dig. It’s one of the main things that they want to do outside, and they can entertain themselves for hours digging. At our old house, we had a really huge awesome sand box. Unfortunately, the boys fought over it constantly. […]

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Wooden Peg Ninja Craft (And Play Ideas to Go With Them)

Sarah — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 01:10:25 +0000

These wooden peg ninjas were such a fun craft to make! I’ve been on a crafting kick lately since I’ve been forced to slow down and do more sitting. I had some wooden pegs left over from our nativity set, and I decided to make them into ninjas for the boys. I’m sure that older […]

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Letter Sound Slap: A Phonics Game for Beginning Readers

Sarah — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 01:19:43 +0000

Here is a fun game for beginning readers that involves a great attention-catching element… slapping with a fly swatter! Owen (almost 5) has been very interested in learning to read lately, mainly to keep up with his brothers. He’s not quite developmentally ready yet, so we’ll be taking it very slow. He knows most of […]

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DIY Resurrection Eggs: Tell the Easter Story

Sarah — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 04:11:10 +0000

Are you familiar with resurrection eggs? They’re plastic Easter eggs that contain items that tell the story of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. You can buy them or make your own. My mom made her own when my brother and I were little – long before they had them for sale. Every year I think […]

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Easy Craft for Kids: Pipe Cleaner Animals

Sarah — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 01:18:43 +0000

Here’s a simple craft for kids – pipe cleaner animals. Pipe cleaners are such a frugal crafting material, and these animals held my kids’ attention REALLY well. This is a great project for a rainy afternoon! We are totally in survival mode over here at our house! I am 36 weeks pregnant, and I’m starting […]

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Rainbow Loom Chameleon Tutorial

Sarah — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 02:21:02 +0000

We have been into chameleons lately. Well, the boys are always into reptiles of various sorts! So Aidan designed a chameleon charm on his Rainbow Loom. We searched on Pinterest and could not find any other chameleons or similar lizards and so we decided to make a tutorial video. We made the tail curl by […]

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Living with Legos: Reality-Based Storage and Organization Ideas

Sarah — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 00:57:37 +0000

Oh, LEGO®. While I do love LEGO® (and the way it keeps the boys creatively busy!), I get weary of the little pieces everywhere. Both couches have LEGO® bricks under them, and I bet that at any given time I could find some type of LEGO® piece in every room of the house! We recently […]

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Homemade Moon Sand

Sarah — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 01:28:33 +0000

Moon sand is fun, but it’s much cheaper to make your own, especially if you want a lot. This is a fun sensory play material that you can put together with just cornstarch, shaving cream, and food coloring. We had so much fun with our homemade moon sand! It feels really soft and squishy, and […]

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Science Experiment: Extract the Iron from Breakfast Cereal!

Sarah — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 00:41:28 +0000

Impress young scientists with this simple experiment to extract the iron (yes, real iron filings) out of a fortified breakfast cereal such as Total! Aidan has been studying the nutrients our bodies need in his science book – Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology from Apologia. Iron is a necessary mineral as it is […]

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Playdough Bugs

Sarah — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 01:58:40 +0000

Last week, we had a great time creating playdough bugs! I put out playdough (I had fun making spring colors!), pipe cleaners cut into segments, toothpicks, straws cut into segments, and googly eyes. The boys got right to work making bugs and caterpillars! This one is Gresham’s spider. He asked for a whole white pipe […]

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Survival Guide for the Sick or Pregnant Mom: Activity Ideas for High Energy Kids

Sarah — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 21:45:18 +0000

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. One thing that has always been challenging with my crew is “days off.” If I’m sick or have things that need to get done, I’m fine with taking a day off of school. However, it doesn’t take long for the boys to be bouncing off the walls with the […]

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Seven Boy Approved Rainbow Loom Band Projects

Sarah — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 01:07:26 +0000

This post contains affiliate links. We have been on a major Rainbow Loom kick around here, which has worked well for me since I’m 33 weeks pregnant and can help with Rainbow Loom from a chair or the couch! Aidan (age 10) and I have been compiling our favorite loom band projects, and now we’re […]

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How to Make Loom Band Snakes

Sarah — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 02:14:12 +0000

Aidan and I have been branching out from loom band bracelets to animals and charms! These snakes have been a huge hit at our house. All of the boys love snakes and would love a pet snake, but Dad and I have not given in. These loom band snakes will have to do! Once you […]

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Construction Paper Number Creatures

Sarah — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 20:31:45 +0000

Here is a fun counting activity for kids – and all you need is construction paper, glue, and googly eyes! Owen and I used construction paper and googly eyes to make number creatures. Each creature has a number on its belly, and then Owen glued on that number of eyes. He made some of the […]

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Beginning Sounds Phonics Memory Game

Sarah — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 20:47:26 +0000

Here’s a simple activity for learning letter sounds – create your own memory game! I made this game for Owen out of index cards. The cards were a little thin and I didn’t want him to be able to see through the cards when they were face down, so I folded them in half and […]

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Build a PVC Pipe Play Tent/Fort

Sarah — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 13:16:12 +0000

PVC pipe is a great material for building a play tent or fort for kids! After we had fun playing with our marble run for a while, we recycled the PVC pipe into this fun fort: It’s the perfect spot for doing a little reading! Jonathan (age 2) has been really into having a little […]

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Should I Homeschool My Kids? Thinking through the school decision.

Sarah — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 04:11:28 +0000

Are you wondering if homeschooling would be a good option for your kids? This is the time of year when everyone seems to be thinking about school choices for next year! This spring, we are finishing up our 6th year of homeschooling. Next year, I will have a 6th grader, which is hard to believe. […]

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Toddler Craft: Construction Paper Bird’s Nest

Sarah — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 03:46:00 +0000

Even toddlers can enjoy this bird’s nest craft! The middle two boys are studying birds this semester with Exploring Creation with Zoology Vol. 1 from Apologia’s Young Explorers series (Amazon affiliate link). Jonathan (age 2) loves to do whatever his brothers are doing, and since he has also recently discovered how a glue stick works, […]

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Motherhood and Sacrificial Love

Sarah — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 04:13:08 +0000

A couple weeks ago, we had one of our worst homeschooling days ever. I am withholding most of the details of this out of respect for my children, but let’s just say it was bad. The plan actually had been to take the day off of school and go to the doctor (prenatal appointment) and […]

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Build a Marble Run with Pipe Insulation

Sarah — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 02:28:29 +0000

Homemade marble runs are one of our favorite things to build! Aidan and I recently built a marble run out of foam pipe insulation, cable ties, duct tape, and a framework of PVC pipe. The PVC pipe was Aidan’s idea. Because we have a 4 year old and a 2 year old who we knew […]

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Five (Active!) Activities for Practicing Beginning Word Sounds

Sarah — Thu, 20 Feb 2014 03:28:17 +0000

Here are five activities for practicing beginning word sounds for kids who like to be active! We have been practicing the beginning sounds of words with Owen (turning 5 in May). He’s desperate to learn to read (so he can play Scrabble on Daddy’s phone!), plus he has two older brothers that he wants to […]

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Race Car Math: Counting and Number Recognition Activity for Preschoolers

Sarah — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 01:56:46 +0000

Here’s a fun preschool math activity that teaches counting and number recognition through racing Hot Wheels cars! For preschoolers, often the most motivating way to learn to count and recognize written numbers is through play. The boys are STILL obsessed with Hot Wheels (if you’ve been following our blog, you’ll know that this has lasted […]

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Sensory Play with a Funnels and Tubes Pegboard

Sarah — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 22:33:42 +0000

Vinyl tubing, funnels, and a pegboard make a GREAT sensory play station! Owen (4.5) and Jonathan (2) adore any type of sensory play. Pouring, scooping, digging – they love it all. We recently made a pegboard with funnels and tubes for pouring rice, and it has been an absolute hit! Aidan (age 10) helped me […]

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Alphabet Hearts Match-up Game

Sarah — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 03:05:44 +0000

Here’s a super simple idea for a preschool alphabet game! I cut out several construction paper hearts and turned them into a matching game for practicing capital and lower case letters. I simply scrambled all of the pieces, and Owen put each heart together with the correct capital and lower case match. I didn’t make […]

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Duct Tape Practice Drum

Sarah — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 03:03:04 +0000

Aidan has been dying to get started on drumming, and unfortunately drums (or lessons) aren’t in the budget at the moment. However, I saw this idea on Journey into Unschooling on making a duct tape drum and decided that we could handle a project like that! To make our drum, we purchased a cardboard form […]

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Biblical Boyhood: Respect, Part 2. What Do I Do with My Disrespectful Son?

Sarah — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 22:47:59 +0000

Last week, I shared some thoughts on teaching boys to be respectful. I wanted to come back and add a second part to that post because I really didn’t get into a lot of practical tips last week. If you didn’t read it, you will want to start there, and then come back and read […]

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Family or Classroom Postal Service: Encourage Writing by Sending Mail!

Sarah — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 21:54:42 +0000

I am SO excited to share this idea with you because it’s such a fun way to develop writing skills while strengthening relationships and encouraging kindness at the same time! One of the fun parts of having four (soon to be five!) children is that we have enough people around to invent some fun games. […]

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Playdough Snow Goons

Sarah — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 02:14:10 +0000

We have had SO much winter this year, and it’s not over yet! In an effort to embrace the winter weather (rather than complain about it which is what I really want to do), I made some white playdough for making snowmen. Owen had a great time making snowmen for our Snowman Jars, but with […]

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Race to Fill the Cup! Counting Game for Preschoolers

Sarah — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 03:01:24 +0000

Here’s a simple activity for preschoolers that will turn counting practice into a game! Lately, Owen (4.5) has felt like he is “too big” for counting activities that we used to do, but he actually still needs practice on counting. I realized that he is much more motivated to count when it involves keeping score, […]

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Biblical Boyhood: Teaching Boys to Be Respectful

Sarah — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 13:40:38 +0000

Raising boys has been, in my experience, similar to raising puppies in many ways! We have constant muddy “paw” prints on the floor, boys are always tumbling over each other, we have balls in the house, and lots of things get broken. Joking aside, though, we have another problem similar to man’s best friend… the […]

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Activities for Learning about Adjectives

Sarah — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 03:11:37 +0000

We have been learning about adjectives in our homeschooling! So far this year, Gresham (2nd grade) has studied nouns, pronouns, and verbs. Adjectives proved to be a little more abstract, but a couple of hands-on activities helped quite a bit. Activity #1: Adjective Accordions When we first read about adjectives in Gresham’s book, he understood […]

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Two Ways to Build a Lego Catapult

Sarah — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 03:11:58 +0000

LEGO® Building Challenge: Build something that will launch a ping pong ball! For those of you who enjoy participating in our LEGO® Fun Friday building challenges, I apologize that we have not done any in a very long time! Unfortunately, I have hit the third trimester of pregnancy and really can’t commit to anything too […]

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100 Tips and Tricks for Homeschooling Moms

Sarah — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 21:34:11 +0000

We are in our 6th year of homeschooling, and I absolutely love it. Well, on most days that is! Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart. It is without a doubt a commitment of time, energy, money, and space inside your home. My husband and I believe that for our family, the benefits far […]

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Three Ingredient Snow Dough

Sarah — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 02:00:25 +0000

Late January and early February always feel like the blah part of winter, I think, and that has definitely been true this year! After a stomach bug and a head cold made the rounds in our house last week (well, they’re still circling but on their way out… ugh…), we needed something to improve the […]

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Tic Tac Toe Rainbow Loom Bracelet Tutorial

Sarah — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 01:14:40 +0000

Tic Tac Toe Rainbow Loom Bracelet Tutorial Difficulty: Medium. Definitely learn the basic chain bracelet first, but this is a good step up! This past Christmas, we joined the Rainbow Loom craze with Aidan receiving one from us as a gift! He LOVES it, and I love the fact that it builds coordination and creativity, […]

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Kindness in Action: Devotions for Families on Loving God and Loving People

Sarah — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 23:58:49 +0000

My boys are not really into Valentine’s Day – all the hearts and mushy stuff is not exactly up their alley! But as I was thinking ahead to February, I decided that it might be a great time to focus on learning to love others. I don’t know if it’s a result of the holiday […]

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“It Looked Like Spilt Milk” Cloud Shapes Craft for Preschoolers

Sarah — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 21:16:47 +0000

This post contains Amazon Affiliate links The book It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles Shaw holds a special place in my heart. One of my college professors introduced us to this book in our Foundations of Teaching Reading class. That professor and that class were instrumental in turning me on to teaching and to quality […]

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Learning Activities for Four Year Olds

Sarah — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 01:52:37 +0000

Four year old’s are so much fun! The new-found maturity of age four is so nice, especially after the challenges of ages 2 and 3. Owen is 4 1/2 and is starting to really enjoy drawing and writing. He loves learning new things and building things with his hands. It’s a challenge to keep him […]

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Math Activity for Kids: Learning to Make Change

Sarah — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 02:35:38 +0000

Learning to make change can be a difficult skill for kids to learn. Counting change is hard enough (why is a dime worth more than a nickel when the nickel is bigger?), but making change really seems abstract at first to many children. Gresham (2nd grade) and I worked on making change in the early […]

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Multiplication with Legos: Candy Store Math Problem

Sarah — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 01:27:16 +0000

This candy store math problem is a fun way to introduce 2nd and 3rd graders to the geometric model for multiplication, and kids really don’t need to know much about multiplication to benefit from this. The week after we built our Lego multiplication graph, I told Gresham that we were going to use the same LEGO® […]

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Lacing Mittens Craft for Preschoolers

Sarah — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 01:59:27 +0000

The house always seems so empty when we take down the Christmas decorations, and so this year, I decided that we would do a winter unit right after Christmas and make some new things to display. This lacing mittens craft is very thrifty and great for practicing fine motor skills! Before we made them, we […]

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Make a Launcher for Hot Wheels Cars

Sarah — Sun, 05 Jan 2014 20:32:22 +0000

We have been using plastic rain gutters as ramps for Hot Wheels cars for a while, and Aidan decided that he really wanted to build some type of launcher that would send cars spending down (or up!) the ramp. Dad helped him come up with a simple design using two bolts, two nuts, and a […]

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Hands-on Multiplication with Legos (A 3-D Graph!)

Sarah — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 21:01:08 +0000

This LEGO® activity is a great way to introduce the concept of multiplication to 2nd and 3rd graders in a very hands-on way. Math doesn’t feel like work when you’re building with LEGO®! And the best part of this activity is that you are actually introducing your child to grouping, multiplication, division, and the commutative […]

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Turn a Cardboard Box into a Car Wash for Hot Wheels

Sarah — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 21:35:22 +0000

Each of the boys received a new Hot Wheels car in their stockings this year, and Gresham had the idea to use a cardboard box to make a car wash to go with the cars. He thought that felt would make great brushes. My husband created this design to easily transform a shoe box into […]

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Make a Shooting Star Launcher

Sarah — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 23:32:17 +0000

Make a shooting star launcher! This is a simple toy that you can make with plastic cups, rubber bands, and a star that you can print at the bottom of this post. Adult help will be needed for younger kids, but my 4 year old had a blast launching this! For each star launcher, you […]

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Easy Wooden Peg Nativity Sensory Bin

Sarah — Sun, 15 Dec 2013 21:52:39 +0000

As we approach Christmas, here is an idea for a simple nativity that preschoolers can touch and explore. This project came together very quickly, and Owen and Jonathan (ages 4.5 and almost 2) have really enjoyed playing with it. The hay in the bottom of the tub is what really makes it fun for little […]

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Parachute Cord (Paracord) Candy Cane Christmas Ornaments

Sarah — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 02:49:47 +0000

This summer, Aidan and I got into crafting with parachute cord (paracord) and made several bracelets and keychains. We have plenty of cord left, so we experimented with a way to make Christmas ornaments out of parachute cord. With some cord and a piece of wire from a coat hanger, you can easily make this […]

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Celebrating a Merry Christmas When Money is Tight

Sarah — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 03:43:47 +0000

We never really have a whole lot of money to spend on Christmas gifts, but this year feels especially light. December and January are always slow months at my husband’s commission income job. We are also doing everything we can to save for a larger van by the time our baby girl arrives in April, […]

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Math with Legos: Grouping and Getting Ready for Multiplication

Sarah — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 03:38:24 +0000

We have been having a lot of fun using 1 x 1 LEGO® bricks for math! Owen (age 4.5) has been using them to play a roll and count game. Here’s an idea for using LEGO® for a pre-multiplication activity. Gresham is using Making Math Meaningful for 2nd grade math. Right now, he is working […]

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Biblical Boyhood: Putting an End to Pestering

Sarah — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 03:18:01 +0000

At our house, we have been dealing with pestering as a source of sibling fighting and conflict. This has been a challenge to deal with, because on a certain level, I just don’t get it! By nature, I am more of a people pleaser. I have never liked to think that someone was upset with […]

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Ninjabread Men Homemade Christmas Ornaments

Sarah — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 01:57:31 +0000

Earlier in the fall, the boys and I were out shopping when we ran across some cookie cutters called Ninjabread Men (Amazon affiliate link). I immediately thought of making Christmas ornaments out of them! The boys were thrilled with the idea. We modified our salt dough recipe and added gingerbread spices. Step 1: Mix up the […]

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Download and Print Advent Jesse Tree Devotions

Sarah — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 04:56:06 +0000

Download and print Advent (Jesse) Tree Devotions to use with the whole family! What are Advent devotions? The Advent season is almost here – my favorite time of the year! Children add so much joy to Christmas, but I don’t want my children’s joy to come merely from presents. The gifts are fun, but I […]

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A Tale of Two Critters (And how Mom learned that encouraging a love of learning sometimes involves saying yes)

Sarah — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 22:55:44 +0000

In our homeschooling, I really want our kids to have a love of learning. But sometimes, the mess gets in the way! It all started on a Sunday afternoon two weeks ago. The boys went to Grandma and Grandpa’s house after church so that they could go see a new model train exhibit that came […]

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Math with Legos: Preschool Roll and Count

Sarah — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 03:34:01 +0000

A few weeks ago, I shared two preschool math activities using Duplo Legos. Well, lately we have been using regular LEGO® bricks to create some more math activities, and I have planned a series of math posts! We’ll mainly be covering math concepts for 2nd-5th grade, but to start the series, I have a preschool […]

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Our Favorite Read-Aloud Books for Creating Family Memories

Sarah — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 03:14:14 +0000

One of my favorite things to do is to read out loud with my boys. We are on our fourth year of Sonlight history (this year we are doing Core F), so we have always had plenty of good literature around! We have discovered many new books books through Sonlight, and there have been very […]

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Hot Wheels Races with Rain Gutter Ramps

Sarah — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 03:19:11 +0000

We have had some sections of rain gutter around for a while – You may remember them from our post on how to turn a cardboard box into a jump for Hot Wheels cars. We’ve also used the rain gutter sections in the summer for backyard water play. Lots of cheap fun! Anyway, for the […]

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Thanksgiving Craft for Kids: Paper Bag Turkey Puppets

Sarah — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 03:36:17 +0000

This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Here is another fall idea from Gresham (age 7)! If you’ve been following our blog, you might remember that he came up with the idea to make fall tree “snow” globes earlier this fall. Last week, we were at Michael’s, and he asked if we could buy a bag […]

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Biblical Boyhood: Self Control Part 2 (Carelessness, Wasting, and Being Destructive)

Sarah — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 22:53:00 +0000

At the end of August, I wrote a post on teaching children, especially boys, about self control. The focus of that post was childish behavior vs. foolish (sinful) behavior. I received this extremely insightful comment on that post: “I often address self-control with my two children in terms of “taking care of people and things.” […]

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A Trick to Help Kids with Letter Reversals

Sarah — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 03:34:53 +0000

Owen is almost 4 1/2, and we have been working on two new skills with his name lately – to write it with lowercase letters (as opposed to all capitals, which is how I taught him at first) and to stop reversing capital N. The other day it dawned on me that I could use […]

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Two Preschool Math Activities with Duplo Legos

Sarah — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 01:31:36 +0000

I recently created two math activities for Owen (age 4.5) using Duple LEGO®’s. Duplos definitely make school more fun! Activity #1: Put the numbers 1-12 in order. Build Duplo towers to match. This was a challenging project for Owen, but not difficult enough to be frustrating. The first step was to put all the numbers […]

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Grace and Holiness in the Midst of Motherhood

Sarah — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 12:37:13 +0000

Today marks the end of the first trimester in my fifth pregnancy (well, sixth if I count our loss in June). It has been a rough first trimester, and while I’ve not been as sick as many are, it certainly hasn’t been pleasant. I’m not quite over the sickness yet, but I’m definitely enjoying not […]

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10+ Activities for Busy Toddlers

Sarah — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 02:00:08 +0000

This school year, it has been a challenge to keep Jonathan busy! He is currently 21 months old, and does NOT want to play with toys while we do school. He wants to be right in the middle of the action! Jonathan loves to empty out the pencil sharpener onto the carpet, unload all of […]

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How to Make a Marshmallow Blow Gun out of PVC Pipe

Sarah — Sun, 13 Oct 2013 18:32:12 +0000

One project that I had seen on Pinterest for ages but never tackled with the boys was marshmallow blow guns made out of PVC pipe. Well, I showed the idea to the boys, and they enthusiastically agreed that we should go for it! Constructing a marshmallow blow gun from PVC is super easy, and you […]

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Great Horned Owl Paper Bag Puppets

Sarah — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 02:35:59 +0000

Last week, I spent more time on homeschool planning, and it really paid off. Since I’m still in the middle of morning sickness, I didn’t worry too much about sticking to a theme for Gresham (2nd grade) and Owen (age 4). I just picked things that I knew they would like and that would encourage […]

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Learn About Animal Camouflage with Hidden Animal Art

Sarah — Fri, 04 Oct 2013 01:01:11 +0000

Gresham and Owen love to learn about animals. They are constantly browsing through books about animals, and they know facts about animals that I didn’t even know existed! Like bearded dragons. That word was not in my vocabulary until recently, but Gresham LOVES them. When I saw this post on Fireflies and Mudpies about camouflage […]

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Learn Preschool Math with a Homemade Board Game

Sarah — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 19:47:24 +0000

As I mentioned on Facebook, I’m attempting to do a little more planning ahead for our homeschooling, despite the fact that I’m still struggling with morning sickness. For the past three weeks, I have done almost nothing as far as planning goes, and boy have we paid for it! I honestly don’t mind if we […]

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Alphabet Beads Busy Bag

Sarah — Sun, 29 Sep 2013 20:33:37 +0000

Owen (age 4.5) has reached the point where he is really into learning letter sounds, and last week, I introduced him to three letter words for the first time (all “at” words – sat, bat, etc.). I’m not pushing him to read at age 4, but he really has a desire to explore literacy concepts. […]

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Fall Tree “Snow Globes” Craft for Kids

Sarah — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 00:56:52 +0000

The other day, Gresham (almost 7) told me that he had an idea – he wanted to make a snow globe, but instead of snow in it, we could put in a tree and fall leaves. I thought it was a great idea! After a trip to the craft store and a little trial and […]

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Preschool Activities for Learning the Letter M

Sarah — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 00:18:52 +0000

Morning sickness has really put the brakes on our letter of the week plan for Owen’s preschool time! We’re still plugging along, but it’s more like a letter every 2 or 3 weeks… Also, just to clarify, even though we are focusing on a letter each week (or two), we are also continuing to practice […]

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New Life

Sarah — Sat, 21 Sep 2013 14:15:32 +0000

In June, we went in for our first OB visit, and saw a blank screen… (If you missed our miscarriage story, you can read it here.) This past week, we were blessed to see a tiny beating heart! This baby is just over a centimeter long, and yet I watched its tiny heart pumping. Amazing. […]

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DIY Duplo Lego Monsters Building Set

Sarah — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 00:18:07 +0000

With some hot glue and googly eyes, you can upgrade your Duple LEGO®’s into a fun monster building set! Owen has been learning about the letter M, and we were getting ready to make monsters with construction paper and googly eyes. While I was looking (and looking and looking) through our craft supplies box for the googly […]

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Ninja Pumpkins

Sarah — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 01:58:17 +0000

As I mentioned the other day, we’re pretending that it’s almost fall! Today’s high was 97… Really makes you want to break out the sweaters! Gresham is especially ready to get on with fall because his birthday is in fall (October), so we decided to go ahead and decorate pumpkins. Daddy found these perfect little […]

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Craft for Kids: “Welcome Fall” Sign with Coffee Filter Leaves

Sarah — Sun, 15 Sep 2013 20:08:38 +0000

It’s mid-September in Texas, which is pretty much still summer. We’ve been having highs in the upper 90’s, but the long range forecast has a few days in the 80’s, so we’re pretending that fall is right around the corner! Owen and I used coffee filters and watercolors to make this sign to welcome the […]

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Teaching Siblings About Loving Each Other

Sarah — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 02:59:30 +0000

As I’ve written before, I think that sibling conflict is one of the most exhausting aspects of mothering. Some days, it’s relentless! And as I also said in this post, there is not an easy fix to sibling fighting. The way I see it, there are two aspects to our approach as moms. Sometimes, we […]

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Preschool Activities for Learning the Letter G

Sarah — Sat, 07 Sep 2013 13:34:03 +0000

Letter G is up next in our preschool letter of the week series! We found several ways to work on recognizing the letter G and its sounds through learning, playing, and living life! G is for Gluing Owen made a big letter G by cutting and gluing pieces of construction paper to a G that […]

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How to Turn a T-Shirt into a Ninja Mask {With no cutting or sewing!}

Sarah — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 01:40:42 +0000

Aidan has been pestering me diligently asking me how to make a ninja mask. Today he had the idea to cut the bill off a baseball hat and then add some felt with tape or glue. That sounded like kind of a disaster, so I broke down and googled “how to make a ninja mask.” […]

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Duct Tape Lightsabers Craft

Sarah — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 20:26:56 +0000

It seems like we always have pieces of PVC pipe floating around our house for various projects, with the most recent being our Nerf dart poppers. Several days ago, Owen (age 4) told me that he wanted to turn his Nerf dart popper into a handle for a lightsaber. It seemed like the perfect size […]

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Biblical Boyhood: Training in Self-Control

Sarah — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 02:17:28 +0000

A couple weeks ago, I was sitting in the living room during afternoon nap time. The two younger boys were napping, and the two older boys were riding bikes outside. Suddenly, the quiet of the afternoon was interrupted by a crash against the door that goes from the garage into the house. I figured that […]

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Ocean Tub Pretend Play

Sarah — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 00:36:00 +0000

A couple weeks ago, Gresham (age 6) had the idea to put a little blue food coloring in some water to make it look like an ocean for his toy dolphins. He has quite a collection of Safari Toob animals (well, actually it’s a small collection compared to how many we have purchased. It would […]

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Five Activities for Learning the Letter S

Sarah — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 01:25:32 +0000

We just started our fourth “letter of the week” for Owen, and I am so happy with how it is going! He is really retaining the letter names and sounds, and having a letter theme for each week makes it easier for me to quickly think of some school activities for him. Last week, we […]

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Build a Track for Hexbugs out of Legos

Sarah — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 01:14:50 +0000

Aidan really received some fun birthday gifts this year! Last week we made plastic out of milk and vinegar using a book he received, and this week, Aidan used LEGO® to build a maze track for his hexbug nano. This post contains Amazon affiliate links. We have seen hexbugs at the store, but we didn’t […]

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Make a Coconut Volcano

Sarah — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 01:39:59 +0000

Several months ago, I saw an idea on Parent Teach Play to use a coconut to make a volcano. I knew that Gresham would LOVE to make one to play with his little dinosaur toys. He has always loved dinosaurs and volcanoes. The other day, coconuts were on sale at the grocery store, and I […]

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Make Your Own Plastic Out of Vinegar and Milk

Sarah — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 02:26:03 +0000

Did you know that you can make your own plastic out of milk and vinegar?? For his 10th birthday, Aidan received the book Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things (affiliate link) from one of his friends. It’s a pretty awesome book. The book contains 42 different inventions to make out of household materials such as a homemade […]

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Letter “C” Themed Activities for Preschoolers

Sarah — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 02:35:25 +0000

Now that Owen is 4, we are getting a little more academic with our preschool efforts! He is interested in learning letters, and starting to understand that letters have sounds and make words. I decided that it would be fun (and easy) to do a “letter of the week” this year. Last week, we did […]

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How to Make Parachute Cord (Paracord) Zipper Pulls and Keychains

Sarah — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 23:38:13 +0000

Aidan and I have been having so much fun with parachute cord crafting lately! It’s almost as addicting as duct tape! While we were on vacation, we learned how to make parachute cord bracelets, and now we have some key chains and backpack zipper pulls to share with you. These would make a great back-to-school […]

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How to Build a Pencil Crossbow

Sarah — Sun, 11 Aug 2013 23:09:36 +0000

Back-to-school time is a great time to find pencils on sale, and what better use for them than to make them into a crossbow! And what better way to explore the laws of physics? (Actually, that is the opinion of my sons and not necessarily my opinion 🙂 ) A couple weeks ago, Aidan (age […]

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Make a Nerf Dart Popper

Sarah — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 21:07:03 +0000

Lately, the boys have been into anything that shoots, flings, or pops. I experimented and created this simple Nerf dart popper for them, and they were thrilled! To make one, you need: A piece of 3/4 inch PVC pipe, cut to about 4 inches long A balloon Scissors A rubber band Construction is simple. Cut […]

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Teaching Kids to be Teachable

Sarah — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 00:20:17 +0000

One of our desires for our children is that they will be teachable. Not impressionable – not changing to reflect whoever is around them, or influenced by whatever comes along, but teachable by God. We want them to have hearts that are soft toward the things of the Lord. We want them to have an […]

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Our Visit to Horn Creek Family Camp

Sarah — Sun, 04 Aug 2013 03:30:41 +0000

This summer, we took our first ever family vacation and spent a week at Horn Creek family camp. Horn Creek is a Christian retreat and conference center near Westcliffe, Colorado. I must say, after the challenges of the past winter and spring, it was really good to get away! This was our view for the […]

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Balloon Squishy Balls

Sarah — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 02:32:25 +0000

Here’s an easy way to create some squishy, squeezy fun! We mixed up some homemade playdough, and loaded it into balloons. In order to get it into the balloons, we used the same process that we did for our Ninja Stress Balls. The ninja stress balls are filled with flour, and ours are still going […]

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Magic Number Machine: A Math Game for Addition and Subtraction Practice

Sarah — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 02:32:40 +0000

It’s almost August, and time to start our homeschool year! We usually start the last week of July, but with our vacation last week and then needing this week to recover from vacation, we’re kind of easing into things. My plan is to start new math and language books this week. Next week we’ll begin […]

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How to Make Parachute Cord (Paracord) Bracelets

Sarah — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 21:49:50 +0000

In May, Aidan went on a trip with my parents, and came home with a bracelet made out of parachute cord (also called paracord). He happily announced to us that you can take it apart if necessary and have several feet of usable rope! Since then, we’ve been seeing these bracelets EVERYWHERE! All of the […]

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Group Play Activities for Toddlers

Sarah — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 14:40:45 +0000

This past week, I worked in the one year old class at my church’s Vacation Bible School. Well, at least I did for three days until my youngest two sons came down with colds! (What’s up with colds in the summer?) VBS runs from 9:00-12:30 each morning, and the toddler class is only open to […]

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You Might Be Suffering from “Mom-Brain” If…

Sarah — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 00:24:31 +0000

I can vaguely remember having it more “together” before I had kids. Somewhere back there, there’s a fuzzy memory of arriving places on time, having the mental acuity to remember a grocery list without writing it down, and not having a $30 tab for overdue books at the local library. I love my boys dearly […]

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Lego Fun Friday: Build a Landmark Building Challenge

Sarah — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 02:13:52 +0000

It’s time for LEGO® Fun Friday! The building challenge for this week was to build a landmark from your neighborhood or city. It could be a man-made landmark or building, or a natural landmark like a mountain or waterfall. We can’t wait to see what your kids built! Last time, we had several readers who […]

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Five (More!) Hands-on Ways to Learn the Alphabet

Sarah — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 01:53:16 +0000

Back in April, I posted 5 hands-on ways to learn the alphabet. Well, we’re back with more ideas! I’ve been collecting ideas over the past couple months. Since it’s summer, school is “out,” but we have been doing a little each week to keep from forgetting too much! I love to be able to give […]

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DIY Cardboard Box Skee Ball Game

Sarah — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 01:48:45 +0000

After we built our jump for hot wheels cars out of a diaper box, my husband had the idea to use the same basic design to make a homemade skee ball game! Aidan (turning 10 this month) thought that was a great idea. Over the July 4th weekend, they worked together to turn a computer […]

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DIY Rainstick Toy for Sensory Play

Sarah — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 20:06:49 +0000

A couple years ago, we made some really awesome rainsticks out of cardboard mailing tubes and a LOT of nails. They were fun to make, and we still have them and play with them. The other day, I was thinking that it would be fun to make a rainstick that was open at the top […]

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Preschool Play with Magnets and Pipe Cleaners

Sarah — Wed, 03 Jul 2013 20:26:25 +0000

This idea is so totally all over Pinterest, so this is definitely not a new concept. But this project is so easy to set up, and fun for little ones to explore! I got the idea from this post on Discovery Bottles at Pre-School Play – there are TONS of ideas for discovery bottles in […]

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Make Your Own “The Lone Ranger” Face Mask (with a free printable pattern)

Sarah — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 02:45:00 +0000

The boys decided this weekend that they needed Lone Ranger masks! We made some out of black craft fleece and black elastic, and the boys have been playing with them ever since. Disclaimer: Before sharing this craft, I have to say that I am not recommending the new Disney The Lone Ranger movie that will […]

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Under the Sea Artwork for Kids

Sarah — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 01:53:50 +0000

Even though we are not traveling to the beach, summer seems like a great time to do ocean type things. Gresham and Owen are really into sharks and fish and oceans right now, so we did some under the sea artwork! These paintings were SO easy to do, and any age child can get a […]

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When Vision Problems Hide

Sarah — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 01:37:26 +0000

In the winter/spring, we were without health insurance for about 6 months while my husband went through a job transition. Now we have insurance again, and it’s very fabulous coverage! I found out that our vision plan has a $15 co-pay for eye exams, and glasses are almost totally paid for, and so I made […]

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Game for Kids: Racing Pom Pom Balls

Sarah — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 02:53:06 +0000

Racing pom pom balls is a great activity for a bad weather day, or a day that’s just too hot to play outside! Today, I made two race tracks out of blue masking tape, and we had fun racing pom pom balls by blowing them along the track! This game was inspired by a post […]

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Creating Patterns with Paint Stamps

Sarah — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:31:05 +0000

The boys and I had a great time stamping with paint. This is always a favorite activity! For our stamps we used: Lego bricks Lego wheels – they make either circles or tire prints! Playdough stamps that came in our Melissa and Doug playdough set Drinking straws Celery DIY Wikki Stix stamps First, the boys […]

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Mom’s Comprehensive Guide to Grocery Store Behavior

Sarah — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 03:17:25 +0000

I don’t know what it is about the grocery store, but it seems to be the hot zone for bad behavior. I guess when I stop to think about it, it’s not hard to figure out why… All that waiting while Mom makes decisions, and nothing to do except look at shelves filled with things […]

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Cool Off with Iceberg Pretend Play

Sarah — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 19:28:53 +0000

It’s really heating up where we live, so I made Gresham some “icebergs” to use outside with his toy animals. This idea is so simple – just freeze water in various containers! Gresham got out his turtles and dolphins, but the polar bear looked the most comfortable on all that ice! We used a large […]

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The Stinky Sandal Solution

Sarah — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 01:42:17 +0000

My boys love sandals. And since we live in Texas, where sandal season is literally 7-8 months out of the year, they wear their sandals a LOT. Lots of sandals and lots of summer means lots of sweaty feet and lots of STINK! Last year, I really felt like the stink had gotten quite embarrassing. […]

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Castle Catapult Attack! (With fizzing dragons!)

Sarah — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 01:30:34 +0000

After we built our dowel rod catapult, I suggested to the boys that we could set up our castle and knights and shoot at our toy dragons. We made the game even more exciting by putting the dragons in a lair of baking soda “sand” and shooting vinegar soaked splash bombs at them! The game […]

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Art Binder: Contain Those Stacks of Drawings!

Sarah — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:46:43 +0000

All summer long, I am sharing ideas for screen-free fun (and learning) on the Frugal Fun for Boys facebook page! Yesterday, I shared this simple idea that has kept my boys busy for going on three days now. The idea is VERY simple: A stack of drawing paper. Plenty of colored pencils, crayons, or markers. […]

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How to Build a Catapult out of Dowel Rods and Rubber Bands

Sarah — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 01:54:54 +0000

Here’s a great summer project for kids – build a catapult out of pre-cut dowel rods and rubber bands! Over the years, we’ve done a lot of exploring with catapult making! We’ve built them out of Tinker Toys and tissue boxes, and even just used forks as catapults! Aidan and I have been on a […]

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Make a Duct Tape Sheath for Toy Swords

Sarah — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 02:09:53 +0000

When I made Owen’s duct tape belt, I also made a sheath for his toy swords that can go off and on the belt. This is so easy to make, and will work on any belt! I got the idea from some toys we bought. Last month, we went to a large homeschool book fair, […]

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How to Make a Duct Tape Belt

Sarah — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 02:18:00 +0000

What do you do when your 4 year old has the tiniest waist ever and doesn’t fit any belt? You make your own belt out of duct tape! I used this tutorial on Dukes and Duchesses for making a boy’s style duct tape belt. All you need to make one is duct tape, scissors, a […]

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When your kids just can’t be good…

Sarah — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 20:41:27 +0000

A couple weeks ago, I posted about dealing with sibling fighting and rudeness. Apparently I’m not the only one with children who struggle with bickering, because that post has been viewed many, many times, and I’ve received quite a few comments. One comment came from a mom who was wondering how to raise her children […]

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Make a Nerf Shooting Range

Sarah — Fri, 31 May 2013 01:08:26 +0000

Back in November, I used file folders to make some Nerf turkey targets for a fun activity for Thanksgiving week. This week I decided to revisit that idea with another Nerf game. This time, I used file folders to make a simple shooting range. The boys loved it, and the best part was that my […]

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Turn a Cardboard Box into a Jump for Hot Wheels Cars

Sarah — Wed, 29 May 2013 02:03:51 +0000

For several years, Aidan has been trying to figure out how to make a jump for Hot Wheels cars. He’s tried various methods, such as using books as a ramp, and I’ve tried to think of ideas, but we’ve never been able to build a really satisfying jump. The other day, I had the idea […]

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Five Activities for Scissor Practice

Sarah — Fri, 24 May 2013 01:52:39 +0000

Owen is now 4, and we’ve been working on perfecting those scissor skills! Cutting can be a tricky skill for preschoolers, and so I’ve been collecting scissor practice ideas to share with all of you. 1. Cutting playdough. This is an easy place to start. Cutting playdough doesn’t really require any accuracy, so it’s good […]

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A Lego Cake Fail (And how the most fun parties are not always Pinterest perfect!)

Sarah — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:58:08 +0000

This past Saturday, my third son celebrated his fourth birthday. We usually only do birthday parties with invitations and friends at age 5, and we’ve decided that they can have a party again at age 10, starting with Aidan who will be 10 in July. On the years with no parties, we celebrate with the […]

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How to Make a Duct Tape Wallet

Sarah — Tue, 21 May 2013 02:42:03 +0000

How to Make a Duct Tape Wallet – Step-by-Step Instructions! We’ve been really into duct tape at our house lately! First it was velcro duct tape bracelets, and now Aidan and I have moved on to duct tape wallets. There are a lot of tutorials out there for duct tape wallets, but I thought I […]

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Eight Real-Life Ways to Get Kids Writing

Sarah — Mon, 20 May 2013 02:25:06 +0000

Gresham is 6, and finishing first grade. His handwriting was so neat when he was learning to form the letters, but now that we are past learning how to write the alphabet and he can spell quite a few words, his writing has gotten faster and messier. He is also less interested in writing. I […]

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Dealing with Sibling Fighting and Rudeness

Sarah — Fri, 17 May 2013 02:55:18 +0000

Ah, sibling fighting… One of my least favorite parts of parenting! Lately, it seems like every word out of my boys’ mouths is rude. We have had everything from the standard fighting over toys and fighting over turns to bossing and parenting each other to showing NO grace for the most minor infractions. It’s enough […]

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Make a Water Scope for Viewing Pond Life

Sarah — Thu, 16 May 2013 00:42:55 +0000

A couple weeks ago, we found a book at the library called “The Kids Summer Handbook.” (Amazon Affiliate Link) Aidan was really excited about the ideas in this book! I kept finding him reading it in between school subjects. He tried building the cardboard canoe right away, but we didn’t have any wax to melt […]

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Mom vs. The Boys: How I do things, and how they do them!

Sarah — Sun, 12 May 2013 03:54:29 +0000

One day as we were loading up in the van, I was struck with the fact that the way I live my life is in great contrast to the way my children live theirs. I mean, when I get in the van, I just get in. I sit down. I buckle my seat belt. When […]

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Building Activity for Kids: Straws and Paper Towel Rolls

Sarah — Wed, 01 May 2013 01:40:35 +0000

Building activities are always a great way to spend an afternoon! I saw this idea on Almost Unschoolers to make homemade Tinker Toys with toilet paper rolls and pencils. We didn’t have a lot of pencils on hand, so I decided to use straws. I’ve been saving paper towel rolls for a few months, so […]

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Five Hands-on Preschool Alphabet Activities

Sarah — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 01:35:27 +0000

Interesting alphabet activities make learning more fun for preschoolers! Lately, I’ve been exploring ways for Owen (age 3, almost 4) to work on the learning the letters of the alphabet without me necessarily having to sit next to him. When Aidan was this age, Gresham was 9 months old, and life moved at a much […]

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Five Benefits of Memorizing the Bible with Your Kids

Sarah — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 02:13:50 +0000

I recently posted about making treasure boxes with the boys as a tangible way for them to think of God’s Word as a treasure. We are currently memorizing Proverbs 2:1-11 together, and before that, we memorized all of Psalm 19 (14 verses). If you have never memorized a larger chunk of scripture with your children, […]

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Ninja Bubbles

Sarah — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 02:04:09 +0000

Ninja Bubbles: Blow bubbles for your kids to hit with foam swords. They burn off energy, and you can sit in a patio chair while you blow the bubbles. It’s a win for everyone! My boys lasted with this for a good long time. If your family enjoys bubbles, you might also want to check […]

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Teaching Kids to Seek God’s Word (As for Hidden Treasure)

Sarah — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 02:05:57 +0000

Over the past couple of weeks, the boys and I have been working on memorizing Proverbs 2:1-11 during our morning Bible time. The first 6 verses of Proverbs chapter 2 say: “My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to […]

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Recipe for Giant Bubble Solution

Sarah — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 02:44:06 +0000

Many years ago, I mixed up a recipe for giant bubble solution that I saw on the PBS Zoom TV show. I was teaching science to homeschoolers at the time, and we had a blast making gigantic bubbles! The secret to big bubbles is glycerin. When I was re-organizing the pantry in January, I found […]

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Favorite Read-Aloud Books for Preschoolers

Sarah — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 01:46:33 +0000

Here is a round up of our favorite read-aloud books for preschoolers! Last month, I posted about how to get started with preschool at home. Teaching your child yourself is not difficult, and the expense is minimal if you keep it simple and take advantage of materials that you already have around the house! In […]

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Surviving Boring Errands with Kids

Sarah — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 20:36:28 +0000

They say that necessity is the mother of invention, and that is definitely true when it comes to this post! I am very thankful to have parents that live nearby, and my mom is great about helping with the boys during doctor appointments, etc. However, mom is not always available, my husband has often had […]

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Dispelling Any Potential Myths that I am Supermom

Sarah — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 01:28:26 +0000

Recently, I have gotten a couple of comments from people who are totally amazed at how much I get done with having four boys and all! I do post a lot of activities on this blog, and the main reason is that at the stage of life we are in, the boys must have something […]

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Lego Fun Friday: Balloon Powered Car Building Challenge

Sarah — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 02:22:40 +0000

It’s time for LEGO® Fun Friday! LEGO® Fun Friday is a twice-a-month feature on Frugal Fun for Boys. Each time, I share a LEGO® building challenge for kids and give you the opportunity to link up your LEGO® posts. If you don’t have a blog (or don’t blog about LEGO®’s) and your kids want to […]

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Set up a Crayon Rubbing Center for Preschool

Sarah — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 21:51:17 +0000

My preschoolers have always enjoyed doing crayon rubbings. We enjoy walking around the house doing rubbings of the texture of the floor and the wood grain on the interior doors, etc. However, while the bigger boys are doing their school work, I really cannot trust Owen (my current preschooler) to walk around the house with […]

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Monster Slime!

Sarah — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 01:57:22 +0000

Ok, so this idea is ALL OVER the internet and so this post is far from original, but if you haven’t tried making slime yet, you really should! It is super squishy fun, and not bad as far as the mess goes! We made our slime using a recipe from Teach Preschool. Just mix equal […]

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Five Number Activities for Preschoolers (Using materials you have on hand!)

Sarah — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:56:33 +0000

If you’ve been following Frugal Fun for Boys, you know that I am homeschooling a 4th grader and a 1st grader while also caring for their 3 year old and 1 year old brothers! It’s like a three four ring circus most days! I am always looking for ways to keep Owen busy while we’re […]

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Pipe Cleaner Ninjas

Sarah — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 01:54:10 +0000

The boys and I had SO MUCH FUN making ninjas out of pipe cleaners and beads this weekend! (Yes, it was Easter, but they didn’t want to decorate eggs!) I saw this idea for bead figures in the most recent Family Fun magazine, except that they did them as a girly craft with pink beads […]

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Make an Upcycled Xylophone Wind Chime

Sarah — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:10:10 +0000

We have had a broken toddler toy xylophone at our house for several years. I’ve never thrown it away because it still worked, but it had some sharp broken plastic edges. I saw an idea on Pinterest to recycle an old xylophone into a wind chime, and I knew we had to do it! I […]

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How to Make a Mold of Animal Tracks with Plaster of Paris

Sarah — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:20:08 +0000

One of my boys’ favorite things to learn about is animals! Our science book (Exploring Creation with Zoology Vol. 3 from Apologia – Amazon Affiliate link) does a great job of making learning about animals fascinating, and at the end of each chapter, there is a description of how to identify tracks from the creatures […]

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Yarn and Glue Nests for Easter

Sarah — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 01:49:54 +0000

A couple weeks ago, I saw this idea for yarn and glue nests on The Imagination Tree, and I knew that I wanted to do them! I am so happy with how they turned out, and this project was easy enough for my 3 year old to do with only a little help from me. […]

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Alphabet Egg Hunt

Sarah — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 21:00:53 +0000

Here’s a simple way to make preschool work more festive this week – set up an alphabet egg hunt! Simply fill plastic Easter eggs with alphabet letters, hide them, and give your preschooler a basket for hunting eggs! Owen had a great time hunting for eggs and saying the names of the letters inside each […]

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Teach Organizing, Graphing, and More with a Book Sorting Project

Sarah — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 01:44:58 +0000

Last week, my first grader and I completed a project that touched on so many different learning concepts – we organized all of the picture books on our shelf and graphed our results! Here are the concepts that we practiced during this project: Fiction vs. non-fiction Choosing attributes to sort by Tally marks Counting by […]

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How Big Were the Dinosaurs? Three Hands-on Ways to Find Out

Sarah — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 02:24:03 +0000

The boys were happy to arrive at the dinosaur chapter of our science book a couple weeks ago! We have been studying Exploring Creation with Zoology Vol. 3 from Apologia this year, and I love it. We started the book in July and will finish in April (we usually do science 2-3 days per week). […]

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10 Ways for Kids to Burn off Energy (Without Tearing Down the House!)

Sarah — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 21:36:01 +0000

With four boys, our house has a lot of noise and a lot of energy! (If you want a demonstration, just check out the video in this post!) I would say it gets better with age, but my oldest son (9.5 years old) has the most energy of all of them, so I think it’s […]

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Frugal Fun for Boys – Live Action!

Sarah — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 03:26:49 +0000

A few weeks ago, my church had a women’s retreat. The theme of the weekend was “Women Helping Women,” and it was all about mentoring. A friend of mine was given the task of putting together a humorous skit (well, “skit” really doesn’t do it justice – it was really well done) that would go […]

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Make Your Own PVC Pipe Swords

Sarah — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 01:41:13 +0000

Two summers ago, we got some PVC pipe and various connectors and let the boys build their own PVC sprinklers in the back yard. Gresham (age 4 at the time) turned some of the pieces into this sword design which he loved and carried around all the time! Most of the PVC pieces were lost […]

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Easter Cards with Marbled Coffee Filter Eggs

Sarah — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:04:43 +0000

These homemade Easter cards were easy to make, and I’m so happy with the way they turned out! We made the eggs by dyeing coffee filters with markers. To make these Easter cards, you will need: Coffee filters Markers A medicine dropper or similar tool for dripping water on the coffee filters Construction paper Scissors […]

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Vertical Bowling (With Plastic Cups!)

Sarah — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 01:00:52 +0000

Here is a fun indoor game for kids that creates a satisfying crash with (hopefully) no damage to people or furniture! My boys have always enjoyed building with plastic cups. Our original collection of building cups finally bit the dust – too many of them were cracked to make them worth saving. So they were […]

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Fun Science: What makes disposable diapers absorb water?

Sarah — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 03:02:16 +0000

A few months ago, our dog got into a diaper in the trash and ate part of it! I didn’t know that he had gotten into the diaper until I found the most bizarre looking dog throw-up on the carpet, and determined that it must be that gel crystal stuff that is inside a diaper. […]

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Pattern Towers for Preschoolers

Sarah — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 02:29:56 +0000

Yesterday, we had fun building pattern towers with bamboo skewers, playdough, and colorful drinking straws cut in pieces. I was inspired by my sister-in-law Leah’s homemade bead stacking toy that she made with bamboo skewers and floral foam. Since my kids are a little older (3 and 6), we used straws to make patterns for […]

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DIY Scratch Art with Crayon and Tempera Paint

Sarah — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 03:04:08 +0000

A few weeks ago, we were given a book called “My First Paint Book” from DK publishers (Amazon Affiliate link). One of the projects was to make scratch art with crayons and paint. The boys received some scratch art stickers for Christmas (which they went through quickly), and I knew they would enjoy making their […]

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Getting Started with Preschool at Home

Sarah — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 01:36:07 +0000

Are you thinking about doing preschool for your child at home? Let’s talk about what to cover and what materials we love and recommend! Owen is 3 (turning 4 in May), and this semester, he has been ready for official preschool work. Since he’s the third child, he has always “done school” with us, but […]

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Being a Happy Mom

Sarah — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 03:49:29 +0000

We are three months in to my husband working two jobs (one full-time and one part-time), and it has been a difficult stage. We’re not sure when the end of his double employment will be, but hopefully he’ll be down to one job within the next couple of months. Right now, his “extra” job takes […]

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Preschool Play with a Tub of Rice

Sarah — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 03:11:21 +0000

All of my boys have enjoyed sensory experience, such as digging in pinto beans, but my third son is the most tactile of them all! He has always been attracted to things that he can touch, feel, squish, and pour. In fact, if I don’t provide enough sensory activities for him, he will find his […]

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Mom’s Guide to Dinner Table Behavior

Sarah — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 02:53:11 +0000

Dear Boys, Our home doesn’t appear to me to resemble a barn, but somehow our mealtime manners might lead people to believe that we live in one. I’m not planning to start doing anything radical, such as requiring you to use a tablecloth and cloth napkins, but please take note of the following mealtime manners […]

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Exploring Volume in First Grade Math

Sarah — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 23:29:49 +0000

This year, Gresham is doing first grade math with Making Math Meaningful. We have finally landed on MMM after sampling several math programs. (If you’re interested, I wrote a comparison of first grade math programs.) This is my first time to do MMM first grade since I did not do it with Aidan, and I […]

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Build a Moving Target for Nerf Guns

Sarah — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 03:36:45 +0000

Over the weekend, my husband had the idea that it would be fun to build a moving target for the boys to use with their Nerf guns. He was envisioning something with the targets on a string where we could slide the string along and move the targets. The boys thought this sounded like a […]

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Teach Young Children to Clean with a Simple Game

Sarah — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 02:10:46 +0000

After posting a guide to cleaning with kids last week, I got to thinking that it might be helpful to share a quick idea that was given to me several years ago and that has been very helpful for our family. Our pastor’s wife shared with me when my oldest son was a toddler that […]

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Lego Fun Friday: Bridge Building Challenge

Sarah — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 04:23:18 +0000

It’s time for LEGO® Fun Friday! This is the building challenge for today (announced at the end of the last Lego Fun Friday post): Build a bridge out of LEGO®’s! Challenge your kids to build a bridge that can support the weight of 100 pennies in a small cup. Then, challenge them to increase the […]

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DIY Scrabble Photo Collage

Sarah — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 02:01:24 +0000

This year, I wanted to do something special for my husband for Valentine’s Day. We usually have a habit of letting holidays slide by without getting each other anything. Usually money is tight and we don’t know what to buy anyway! Well this year, Jordan has been working two jobs, and I wanted to do […]

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Turtle Activities for Preschoolers

Sarah — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 03:10:43 +0000

Last week was turtle week at our home school! Turtle Patterns Owen (age 3) had fun counting and making patterns with turtles. I printed three types of turtles – a box turtle, a snapping turtle, and a sea turtle. Then, I re-sized each turtle and made several copies on our printer. Owen practiced counting […]

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Egg Carton Turtle Craft

Sarah — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 03:14:49 +0000

Last week was turtle week in our homeschooling! The older boys had arrived at the turtle chapter in their science book (Exploring Creation with Zoology Vol. 3), and so I planned turtle activities for 3 year old Owen as well. Unfortunately, we started the week with the death of the boys’ hatchling box turtle, which […]

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Chores for Kids: A Guide to Cleaning with Kids by Room and Age

Sarah — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 23:38:42 +0000

Want to raise kids that are hard-working and responsible? Then it might be a good idea to let them clean that mess up themselves! According to a recent study, only 28% of parents require their children to do chores around the house (source). Kids are entering college unable to do basic household tasks, and it […]

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Learning about Reptiles with a Russian Tortoise

Sarah — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 13:22:48 +0000

For Christmas this year, we gave the boys a hatchling box turtle. We are studying land animals this year with Exploring Creation with Zoology Vol. 3 from Apologia (Amazon Affiliate link). I cannot say enough good things about this curriculum and its rich content! If you are looking for a science program that you can do […]

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Growing through Challenges {How tough experiences can build character in kids}

Sarah — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 04:02:04 +0000

I’ve mentioned before that the past few months have been a difficult time for our family because of my husband having to work two jobs for a while during a job transition. Having him gone so much has caused me to reconsider what’s truly important when it comes to homeschooling. The boys have also been […]

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Lego Math: How Many Legos Does it Weigh?

Sarah — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 02:35:39 +0000

Yesterday Gresham and I had so much fun with LEGO®’s and math! We made a balance using a clothes hanger (I saw the idea on Kids Activities Blog), but instead of using plastic cups to weigh items, we used Duple LEGO®’s! This was a great way to explore standard units of weight, estimating, making a […]

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Lego Fun Friday: Build the Most Durable Vehicle (And develop a way to test it!)

Sarah — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 03:47:00 +0000

It’s time for LEGO® Fun Friday! Last week, I announced our challenge – to build the most durable vehicle and develop a way to test it. One way to test LEGO® vehicles is with a LEGO® demolition derby! (See last week’s post for details!) Our younger boys were not quite coordinated enough for the LEGO® […]

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Preschool Counting Activities

Sarah — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 03:41:56 +0000

While Gresham was playing his math games this week, I needed a way to keep Owen (age 3) occupied. He hates to play by himself, so his favorite place to be is at the school table with us! Sometimes this is great, and sometimes this is rather distracting unless he has something to do. He […]

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DIY Marble Bowling Game

Sarah — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 21:04:15 +0000

DIY Marble Bowling with Pencil Eraser Pins Last spring, we sold our home and moved into a larger home, which we actually purchased from friends. Their kids are older than ours, and so as they cleaned out items and packed, they ended up leaving behind a few things for the boys, including the game room […]

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An Alphabet Lift-the-Flap Craft for Preschoolers

Sarah — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:24:13 +0000

Preschoolers love to keep their hands busy! It’s a constant task around here to find enough things to keep Owen’s hands busy while Aidan and Gresham are doing their school work. Owen LOVES to cut and glue, and yesterday I came up with a quick way for him to cut and glue while learning the […]

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Exploring Nature with Kids by Observing and Sketching

Sarah — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 01:45:57 +0000

After being more or less at home for 11 days in a row with sick children (we got out a few times to get library books and buy more tissues!) it was wonderful to go to the local nature center and do some hiking on Saturday. I’ve been inspired by The Usual Mayhem to do plenty of […]

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Bean Bag Knock Down Game

Sarah — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 16:04:24 +0000

Here’s an idea for active indoor play – a bean bag knock down game! What boy doesn’t like to knock things down? Last weekend, the boys were all sick, and we were starting to get a little antsy in the house. A friend from college had given me this idea for making a bean bag […]

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My Father’s Dragon – A Literature Unit for Ages 3-6 (Part 2)

Sarah — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 03:19:02 +0000

This is the second part of the unit I did with my first grader and 3.5 year old on My Father’s Dragon. In Part 1, I shared about how we ate tangerines, did a fun tooth brushing activity, and made a graph of the animals on Wild Island. We finished up our unit with a […]

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A Month of Valentines for My Sweetheart

Sarah — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 03:19:45 +0000

As I talked about in this post, it’s been a difficult few months at our house with my husband’s job loss and now working two jobs. Before he took on two jobs, it was hard enough to find time to spend together, and now it’s even more of a challenge! When he is finally home, […]

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My Father’s Dragon – A Literature Unit for Ages 3-6 (Part 1)

Sarah — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:29:16 +0000

When I was in college, my elementary reading professor gave each of us a copy of My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett (Amazon Affiliate link). I can’t remember if I read it when I got it or not, but it was the first chapter book that I read out loud to Aidan at the age […]

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The ABC’s of Parenting Babies

Sarah — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 03:38:02 +0000

This week, 60+ bloggers from the Kid Blogger Network are blogging about the ABC’s of all sorts of topics relating to kids such as the ABC’s of Toddler Activities and the ABC’s of Playdough Recipes. They are all extremely well done, so you’ll want to check out the full list of participating bloggers here. I […]

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Cereal Box Name Project for Preschoolers

Sarah — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 03:30:25 +0000

This name project was so simple, but it was Owen’s favorite out of everything we’ve done recently! He has been becoming increasingly aware of letters that he knows on books and signs and cereal boxes, etc. I told him that we could cut letters of out cereal boxes and spell his name, and he has […]

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Engineering for Kids: Build a Bridge with Straws and Straight Pins

Sarah — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 02:23:44 +0000

Last week, one of Aidan’s history lessons was about advancements in bridge building during the 1800’s. We are reading Landmark History of the American People as part of Sonlight Core E. I thought it would be fun to do a bridge building challenge to go along with our study of bridges. I found this idea […]

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Make a Felt Play Scene for Toy Animals

Sarah — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 14:25:28 +0000

My boys love to play with toy animals, especially Gresham who is our biggest animal fan. We’ve built up a pretty good collection of Schleich animals over the years, and those see almost daily use. The boys have also recently discovered Safari Toob animals – the ones that come in a clear plastic tube. Their […]

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Setting Goals for Homeschooling (Plus an idea for the unmotivated learner)

Sarah — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 23:12:41 +0000

This semester, I am setting goals for homeschooling for the first time, and I think it’s going to help me simplify and focus my homeschooling priorities. I got this idea from a homeschooling mom who successfully educated four children through high school. I am setting goals for the boys in three areas: academic, practical life […]

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Homeschooling During Difficult Seasons

Sarah — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 15:41:17 +0000

The start of a new semester is a great time to step back and assess how things are going with homeschooling. We’re in the midst of some challenges right now, and the Christmas break has provided a good opportunity to re-group. A Difficult Season Our lives were uprooted this fall when my husband found out […]

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Remember the Year Month by Month

Sarah — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 04:15:04 +0000

2012 was a really big year for our family! We welcomed a new baby on January 3rd. It’s been incredible to watch Jonathan grow from a newborn baby to crawling to first steps all in one calendar year. We also sold our house in the spring and moved to a wonderful (and much larger) house […]

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Three Days Before Christmas

Sarah — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 03:32:10 +0000

T’was three days before Christmas, and all through the house, ALL the creatures were stirring, and jumping on the couch. The ornaments were hung on the Christmas tree with care, And re-hung again (and again and again) until the branches were bare. Quiet games (like Legos) were dumped on the floor, While the boys dueled […]

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Indoor “Texas” Snowballs

Sarah — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 14:00:14 +0000

Well, we’ve made it to the point of the Christmas season where we are so close to the big day that the boys are completely wound up, and yet we have four more days to fill until Christmas day is here! Yesterday we had fun with a little active play indoors. I made the boys […]

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Construction Paper Poinsettias

Sarah — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:16:08 +0000

Yesterday we made construction paper poinsettias with Grandma as well as pipe cleaner snowflakes. Jordan’s mom brought over a few crafts to do with us, and this one was an idea from Better Homes & Gardens magazine. To make them, all you need is red construction paper, glue, and white pom pom balls. A stapler […]

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Salt Dough Christmas Ornaments

Sarah — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 04:08:22 +0000

In all the years that I’ve had children, we’ve never done salt dough ornaments at Christmas! Well, last week I decided to give it a try. The boys really enjoyed making the ornaments, and we’re very pleased with how they turned out. For the salt dough, we used 2 cups of flour, 1 cup of […]

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Getting Kids to Pick up After Themselves

Sarah — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 03:20:04 +0000

With four boys, the mess builds up pretty quickly around our house! If everyone takes off his shoes and socks and jacket upon entering the house and leaves them on the floor (or the kitchen table or the sofa), that’s a large mess right there. I am always finding socks in bizarre places and yogurt […]

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Easy DIY Christmas Candle Jars

Sarah — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 01:50:20 +0000

These Christmas Candle Jars are a great homemade gift that kids can make and give! The boys enjoyed making fall candle jars, and I bought a couple of extra jars to use as gifts, but we never got around to making them. Gresham remembered the extra jars and wanted to make some Christmas candle jars. […]

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How God provided a bicycle for a 9 year old boy who wanted one

Sarah — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 23:11:39 +0000

Aidan has been a growing kid lately! He now officially eats more than me. He would eat all the time if I would let him! Back in the summer, we noticed that his bicycle was getting to be too small, and Gresham’s bike was too small as well, and so we needed to purchase a […]

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Easy Science Experiments with Momentum

Sarah — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:41:04 +0000

Lately, I’ve been doing a unit on physics with my boys that I prepared years ago when I taught science classes for homeschoolers. Of all the physics experiments we did, these ones on momentum are some of my favorites! Momentum is a fairly easy concept for kids to grasp. Kids know that if they are […]

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Simple Science Experiment with Inertia

Sarah — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 05:10:44 +0000

We had a lot of fun exploring Isaac Newton’s first law of motion with a simple science experiment! Newton’s 1st Law of Motion states that an object at rest tends to stay at rest unless acted on by an outside force, and an object in motion tends to stay in motion unless acted on by […]

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Christmas Countdown Tree (for Jesse Tree Ornaments)

Sarah — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 04:19:31 +0000

The past two years, our family has enjoyed creating an Advent Tree (also called a Jesse Tree) to count down to Christmas. Actually, the first year we did a tree, sort of. We never could get our tree to stand up correctly, and then we fell really behind with making the ornaments! Last year, I […]

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Turn Catalogs into a Christmas Collage

Sarah — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 21:51:40 +0000

We can tell it’s the Christmas season, because lately our mailbox has been looking like this: Before taking a pile out to the recycle bin, I had the idea of having the boys cut them up and make collages! Who doesn’t enjoy a chance to cut things up? (I did not give them any toy […]

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Christmas Tree Math

Sarah — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 03:35:29 +0000

We made homeschooling a little more festive this week with some Christmas tree math! Gresham (1st grade) is working on learning his addition facts, so I made 6 trees with numbers on the trunks. I drew a line down the middle of the tree, and Gresham created math sentences by putting pom pom ball “ornaments” […]

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Friction is a Force Science Experiment

Sarah — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 03:32:47 +0000

We have been doing a unit on force and motion this month, and the older two boys have been enjoying the experiments! Our first experiment involved using marbles to study the transfer of energy. In our second lesson, we learned about friction. We learned that friction is a force that tries to keep one object […]

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F is for Fish Preschool Unit

Sarah — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 02:48:45 +0000

A few weeks ago, Owen learned that F is for fish is his preschool time. (In fact, I was trying to remember when exactly we did this fish unit, and upon investigating I discovered that we still have the fish library books and that they are overdue. Ugh. So that means that we did fish […]

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Happy Thanksgiving

Sarah — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 15:14:41 +0000

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His steadfast love is everlasting.” Psalm 118:1 We have so much to be thankful for this year. And on top of all that, the Lord just provided my husband with a new job after he lost his job with only a one week gap in […]

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Make a Silly Character Turkey

Sarah — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 17:45:08 +0000

We had some leftover blank turkeys from our Nerf Turkey Targets, and the other day I had the idea of turning them into funny characters! Aidan thought it was a great idea, and he made Luke Skygobbler and Han Solo: I made a Super Turkey: Daddy got it on the fun, and his turkeys were […]

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Make a Thanksgiving Book

Sarah — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 20:39:17 +0000

Here is something to do with little ones to keep them busy during the holiday week! I made these Thanksgiving books with Gresham (6) and Owen (3) last week over the course of three days, and I was really happy with how they turned out. We’ll definitely be saving these as keepsakes! To make one, […]

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Thanksgiving Creations with Duplo Legos

Sarah — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 02:08:28 +0000

Keep the little people at your Thanksgiving celebration busy with some Duplo building ideas! (We also have a some ideas for “big boy” Legos here!) Aidan and Gresham designed an Indian, Pilgrim, Mayflower ship, and a pumpkin. Hopefully these ideas will inspire the builders at your house! Here is how to build the Indian: First, […]

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Volunteering at the Institute for Creation Research

Sarah — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 03:09:53 +0000

Today, the boys and I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Dallas branch of the Institute for Creation Research. We found out about this volunteering opportunity yesterday evening, and I made a last-minute decision to scrap our school plans for the day and drive to Dallas. I was so glad that I did! The […]

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Nerf Turkey Targets (for a Thanksgiving Shoot-out!)

Sarah — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 02:28:01 +0000

Today we used file folders to make turkey targets for use with Nerf guns, and the boys had SO much fun! I found some printable turkeys and the boys colored them and cut them out. I can’t remember which site I got them from – but there are tons of options if you google “turkey […]

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Biblical Boyhood: Gratitude and Giving

Sarah — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 13:04:06 +0000

This November, just as all of America has been gearing up for a season of gratitude, my family has been facing some challenges that have threatened our security as far as our physical lives on earth are concerned (job challenges). There’s nothing like a good trial to remind us Who is in control! I’ve been […]

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Crazy Sock Ideas

Sarah — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 21:43:35 +0000

Does your child’s school or Awana club do crazy sock day (or night)? We have crazy sock night at Awana once each year, and I never have any good ideas. We don’t really own any novelty socks, since that tends to be more of a girl thing. Last week was crazy sock night at our […]

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You Might Be a Mom of Four (or More) Children If

Sarah — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 02:45:54 +0000

A couple weeks ago, I posted a list entitled “You Might be a Mom of (All) Boys If.” It was so much fun, and I had all these ideas that really had more to do with number of children rather than gender of children, so I decided to do another list! For the record, our […]

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Duct Tape Drums

Sarah — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 03:36:49 +0000

Several months ago, I saw this idea for duct tape drums on Journey into Unschooling, and tucked it away for future use. This past week, we did a preschool unit with the book “Berlioz the Bear” by Jan Brett, and after reading the story, we decided to make some musical instruments. I had been planning […]

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Lego Building Challenge: Build a Car that Rolls the Farthest

Sarah — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 02:32:31 +0000

It’s time for a new LEGO® building challenge! If you’re new to Frugal Fun for Boys, let me explain how LEGO® Fun Fridays work. This Friday, I’m announcing a new building challenge. Next Friday will be the LEGO® Fun Friday blog hop where you can come back and see what we built and link […]

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First Grade Math: Curriculum Comparison

Sarah — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 02:01:56 +0000

So, I’m homeschooling my second first grader (Did that make sense? My second son has reached first grade) and we’re on our FOURTH math curriculum. Actually, our curriculum-hopping spanned second grade as well. Kind of embarrassing considering that I was an education major and all! Along the way, I’ve come to a couple of conclusions: […]

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You Might Be a Mom of (All) Boys If

Sarah — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:47:24 +0000

Your purse has become a storage place for favorite rocks and acorns and sticks that must be saved because they look like guns. You know the difference between an excavator and a back hoe loader. You have ever pulled over to the side of the road to get out and watch construction vehicles at […]

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Make a Magnetic Duck Pond

Sarah — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 02:48:41 +0000

This week, Owen, Gresham, and I read “Make Way for Ducklings” by Robert McClosky. I love this book. The story is adorable and I love the illustrations. Plus, there are so many fun things to do with ducks! Unfortunately, we couldn’t go feed the ducks at the park because Aidan had a lot of fourth […]

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Teaching the Concept of Even and Odd Numbers

Sarah — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 02:46:50 +0000

Today, Aidan (4th grade) was learning about remainders in division, so I thought that it would be a good time to introduce even and odd numbers to Gresham (1st grade). Gresham has already mastered skip counting by two’s, but we haven’t done skip counting by two starting with the number 1 or discussed the difference […]

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Biblical Boyhood: Entertainment

Sarah — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 03:15:50 +0000

Aidan and Gresham playing Angry Birds on Dad’s phone – a coveted privilege! There are many issues to consider when it comes to electronic media (amount of time spent being entertained, etc.), but in this post I want to share with you one challenge that we have been dealing with at our house lately… The […]

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Preschool Shape Activities {To go with Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stoll Walsh}

Sarah — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 02:12:34 +0000

Last week, I did a shape unit for Owen’s preschool time. This was so simple, and a lot of fun. After the previous week where I never got around to planning any preschool for Owen, it was obvious that doing a few themed activities with him was actually helping. A LOT. He does a better […]

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Baby Play: Ping Pong Balls in a Container

Sarah — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:50:26 +0000

Wow, I had forgotten what a busy age 9 months is! Jonathan is now crawling, pulling himself up to standing, and CLIMBING THE STAIRS! EEK! I’ve been busy looking for ways to entertain him – especially things that keep him busy in the kitchen while I’m cooking so that he is not exploring the dog’s […]

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Exploring Seeds and Nature

Sarah — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 20:23:58 +0000

Last week, we spent some time exploring seeds after being inspired by this post on Teach Preschool. First, we went on a walk to see how many different types of seeds we could collect. We have a wooded area and a creek behind our house, so it was easy to find things to explore! Part […]

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Lego Fun Friday: Tallest Structure Challenge

Sarah — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 03:09:09 +0000

Did your kids have fun building tall LEGO® structures this week? We had a great time at our house. We ended up using Duplos exclusively because they offer the potential of so much more height. I helped Gresham and Owen build their tower, and we were able to build one that was 5 ft. 10 […]

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Fall Tree Art with Tissue Paper Leaves

Sarah — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 21:15:27 +0000

We’ve been having so much fun with fall crafts this year! The weather has turned cooler, and we’ve seen a few yellow leaves around. We’re in Texas, so it’s a little early for fall color, if we get any at all. It’s still fun to celebrate fall, even if our local trees don’t seem to […]

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Preschool Play: Pretend Clothesline

Sarah — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 00:31:43 +0000

Setting up a pretend clothesline is great practice for preschool fine motor skills, and it’s a constructive way to keep little hands busy! One morning last week, I tied a string to the backs of two chairs and gave Owen a pile of clothespins and the fabric squares from our pretend wipes toy! Owen had […]

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Baby Play: Pretend Fabric Wipes

Sarah — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 20:17:49 +0000

It’s amazing what fun you can have with scraps of fabric! When Jonathan was a tiny baby, I saw this idea on Counting Coconuts to make a fabric “baby wipes” toy so that baby can have the fun of pulling ALL of the wipes out of the container without the waste and expense. I knew […]

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Three Ways to Make a Fall Candle Jar

Sarah — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 03:41:51 +0000

The boys were in the mood to do some fall crafts this week after I started decorating for the season! We started with Fall Leaf Candle Jars from Kids Activities Blog. I saw this idea pinned on Pinterest, and our first attempt pretty much qualified as a pinstrosity! To make one, you need: A jar […]

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Paper Plate Clock Activity for Learning to Tell Time

Sarah — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 03:07:31 +0000

When I saw this idea on Pinterest (from Mrs. Dahl’s Classroom) to make a paper plate clock for learning to tell time, I knew we had to do it! Gresham is ready to learn how to tell time, and we have been needing to just sit down and work on it. Easier said than done […]

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Biblical Boyhood: Brothers as Friends

Sarah — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 01:09:27 +0000

“A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17 Jonathan will be nine months old this week! He has been crawling for about two weeks, and he just started pulling himself up to standing. The other day, he crawled under his highchair to eat the leftover cheerios down there, […]

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Pattern Block Art

Sarah — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 03:39:27 +0000

The boys and I made art with construction paper pattern blocks and had so much fun! To make them, I traced our pattern block shapes onto construction paper and cut them out. I used the same colors as the blocks so that the boys could design their art using the blocks, and then make the […]

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Preschool Unit: The Year at Maple Hill Farm

Sarah — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:26:05 +0000

Last week, we did a very simple unit using the book The Year at Maple Hill Farm by Alice and Martin Provensen. I have started choosing a “book of the week” for Owen (age 3) and then we do an activity each day that relates to the book. Gresham (turning 6 in two weeks) loves […]

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Interesting Imprints in Playdough

Sarah — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 13:24:41 +0000

Last week, we made some homemade playdough for a science project. (Our favorite recipe is here.) The science project was a total flop – we were trying to capture animal tracks by putting out a tray of playdough with some bait (peanuts) in the middle. Our science book suggested using cement in a throw-away baking […]

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Biblical Boyhood: Setting an Example of Biblical Speech Part 2

Sarah — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 02:56:23 +0000

Mommy and Jonathan – 8.5 months old Last week, I presented a challenge for us as moms to set an example for our children in godly speech. I was so encouraged by how many of you responded! So let’s check in – how did your week go? Mine was not as good as I would […]

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Preschool Exercises for Gross Motor Coordination

Sarah — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 23:23:03 +0000

After watching the Olympics this summer, my boys have been wanting to do gymnastics! Aidan (age 9) is the one who most needs a physical outlet, but when I found a gymnastics class for homeschoolers at a local gym, I enrolled Gresham (almost 6) as well. And since we were driving to the gym for […]

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Math Activity: Candy Survey and Graph

Sarah — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 02:55:08 +0000

Facebook can be such a useful tool for homeschooling! Last week, Gresham’s math curriculum, Making Math Meaningful from Cornerstone Curriculum, introduced the concept of a bar graph. I decided to take it a step further and have him make a graph of favorite candies. I posted a question on my personal facebook page, and within […]

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School Day Snack System

Sarah — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 02:28:11 +0000

Snacks have long been a problem area at our house! The boys want to snack all the time, especially in the afternoon. We would generally have one morning snack and one afternoon snack, but they would start asking for morning snack around 9:30 a.m. (after an 8:00 a.m. breakfast) and then ask for snacks all […]

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Biblical Boyhood: Setting an Example of Biblical Speech {A Challenge for Moms}

Sarah — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:56:34 +0000

We have these Willow Tree figures in our living room – I love the nurturing feel these figures convey! A few weeks ago, I posted Part 1 and Part 2 in our Biblical Boyhood series. I had intended to write Part 3 last week, but I got stuck. Not stuck on the content or ideas, […]

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A Preschool Mini Unit on the Five Senses: Part 2

Sarah — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 15:08:09 +0000

This past week, my 3 and 5 year olds studied about the five senses using The Magic Schoolbus Explores the Senses. You can find part 1 with our activities on touch and smell here. Hearing: Guess the Sound Game We had a LOT of fun with this simple game! Aidan (age 9) collected things that […]

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A Preschool Mini Unit on the Five Senses: Part 1

Sarah — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 03:21:00 +0000

Now that I’m homeschooling two boys this year (4th and 1st grades), it’s a challenge to keep three-year-old Owen from being lost in the shuffle. And when Owen has nothing interesting to do, he does things like color on the carpet and dig the glue out of our gluesticks with his fingers. Through other kid […]

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DIY Pottery Barn Kids Style Dinosaur Art

Sarah — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 20:24:17 +0000

Over Labor Day weekend, we did a re-do of Gresham and Owen’s bedroom. They are so excited about their new “dino” space! Here’s a “before” shot of the room: (To be fair, I probably should have cleaned up the clutter in the before shot, but even so, it’s pretty plain!) Here is what the room […]

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Angry Birds Beanbags and Activities

Sarah — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 02:39:24 +0000

Much to my children’s chagrin, we don’t spend very much time on video games at our house. This spring, however, I got my first smart phone and we downloaded Angry Birds to see what it was all about. While I am still maintaining my position that video games are largely a waste of time, there’s […]

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Biblical Boyhood Part 2: Fighting, Retaliation, and Bullies

Sarah — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 03:58:11 +0000

So, this is a big topic. And this post is just going to scratch the surface, but I have a few things I really want to say. Let me just say up front that I am not going to take the position that boys should not play with weapons. There is a biblical place for […]

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Make a Balloon Racquet Game

Sarah — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 21:51:34 +0000

We made a balloon racquet game yesterday that was a big hit for indoor active play! I saw the idea in Family Fun magazine – this month’s issue had several good ideas, and I’ll be posting how another one turned out later this week. Family Fun’s version of this game was very cute and crafty. […]

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Hide and Seek Alphabet Letters

Sarah — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 02:48:54 +0000

At our house, we have discovered many things to do with foam bathtub letters besides play with them in the bathtub! Obviously, they are very fun to stick to the side of the tub, but we have also used them as stamps for spelling the boys’ names in paint and as part of a game to […]

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Easy Lunch Idea: Corndog Muffins

Sarah — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 13:06:10 +0000

We are always looking for new lunch ideas! My boys are getting to the stage where they eat a lot, and Aidan is really starting to outgrow peanut butter and jelly. Aidan (age 9) made these corndog muffins for lunch today – mostly by himself! We decided that this recipe was a winner! I adapted […]

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Biblical Boyhood Part 1: The Heart of a Hero

Sarah — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 13:03:02 +0000

My husband and I have been working together to study the type of character that God wants our boys to have. After all, we have four of them! We are responsible before God to teach our sons to walk in His ways. This post is the first in a series on Biblical Boyhood. I’ll be writing […]

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Patterns for Preschoolers

Sarah — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 15:37:00 +0000

One great way to build thinking skills in preschoolers is by creating patterns! This week, I introduced the concept of patterns to Owen (turned 3 in May) for the first time. We made patterns with objects from nature – leaves from our yard and vase filler stones. (Rocks that can be found in our area […]

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American West Pioneer Activities: Part 2

Sarah — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 02:43:07 +0000

If you missed Part 1 in our Pioneer Series, you can find it here. Field Trip After learning about wagon trains and American frontier life, I wanted to find a way for the boys to experience it. Last week, I got up one day to find cloudy and cool weather (rare for Texas in August!), and I […]

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Our Chore System

Sarah — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 13:19:50 +0000

Recently, I visited with a friend about how to help boys grow into responsible men. I wrote down the wisdom I received in this post. Since then, we have changed the way we do chores at our house. Our boys have each started getting an allowance at age 5, along with some regular chores to […]

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American West Pioneer Activities: Part 1

Sarah — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:32:06 +0000

We’ve been having so much fun studying wagon trains and the American frontier in Aidan’s history this year (Sonlight Core E)! In fact, we are just about to start studying the Civil War, but I decided to linger a little longer on the American west before we start that. There’s so much excitement for little […]

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Managing toys with little parts when you have a baby in the house

Sarah — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 03:14:05 +0000

I thought while I was writing up this week’s Lego Fun Friday that I would also address how we are handling big boys with Legos (and other toys with teeny parts like Playmobil) while we have a baby in the house. Jonathan is now 7.5 months old. He is not crawling yet, but he can […]

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Remembering God’s Grace

Sarah — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 16:36:57 +0000

The other day, I was rocking my 7 month old son in his new room in our new house, and I started thinking… God’s grace to us has been pretty amazing. In January 2011, Jordan and I were talking about where we wanted to be long term. I told him that what I really wanted […]

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Teaching Kids to Sweep the Floor

Sarah — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:46:17 +0000

As I shared a few weeks ago, we are getting back to a regular chore routine at our house! I have a master plan of what I want to accomplish with chores. It’s a chart for each child with daily tasks to complete. However, in reality, we are just focusing on one new area at […]

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Homeschooling: The First Two Weeks

Sarah — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 03:56:41 +0000

So, we started our homeschool year last Monday. Yes, it’s very early! We’ve been having high temperatures around 108 degrees, and it’s just too hot to do anything else! I like starting early and having the freedom to take some time off when the weather cools down. Aidan is in fourth grade this year, Gresham […]

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Lego Activity: Earthquake Towers

Sarah — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 14:33:36 +0000

In February, we were able to visit the Legoland Discovery Center that is new to our area. One of the activities there was a table of Duplo base plates that could vibrate at the touch of a button. The idea was that the kids could build towers and then push the button to shake the […]

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Our Homeschool Curriculum Choices: First Grade

Sarah — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 03:28:07 +0000

The other day, I shared what is on our shelves for Aidan’s fourth grade year. Today I’ll share what we’re planning for Gresham this year. Gresham will be 6 in October, so he would be in kindergarten if he were entering public school. Gresham is one of those kids for whom homeschooling will be really […]

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Our Homeschool Curriculum Choices: Fourth Grade

Sarah — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 03:25:31 +0000

I cannot believe I have a fourth grader this year! Wow, how time flies! I want to share with you what’s on our shelves for this school year, but before I do, here’s a quick thought about curriculum choices: I really think that the most important factor in choosing a curriculum is whether you like […]

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Reminder to Myself: Don’t Coddle Your Boys!

Sarah — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 20:09:22 +0000

Now that my oldest son is approaching age 9 (this week, in fact!), I am starting to realize, slowly, that before I know it, I will no longer have four little boys at my house, but four men. What kind of men do we want them to be? Not the type that we saw at […]

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Pool Noodle Marble Run

Sarah — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 01:35:50 +0000

We had extra pool noodle ends left over from our pool noodle light sabers, so I thought the boys would have fun making marble runs with them. I’ve seen several of these floating around Pinterest, but we didn’t use one particular pattern for ours. I started by cutting the pool noodles in half length wise […]

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Musical Shakers – Three Ways!

Sarah — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 21:25:30 +0000

We’ve been making musical shakers today! And we ended up attempting three different types of shakers… #1: Cardboard Tube Shakers First, we made cardboard tube shakers. We made four and filled them with four different things: rice, pennies, jingle bells, and beads. Gluing construction paper over the ends of the tubes ended up being kind […]

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The “Do Something Hard” Challenge

Sarah — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 19:56:51 +0000

This week is the “Do Something Hard” challenge at our house! My husband and I want our boys to learn to work hard. We want them to be able to see the value in setting a goal and working to complete it. So, we decided that this week, we would challenge them with their violin […]

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Do Something Unexpected! (Your kids will love it!)

Sarah — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 00:59:31 +0000

I am a fairly color-in-the-lines type of person, and my kids are often, uh, not so much. Why walk down the stairs when you can jump? Why go around the puddles when you can splash through them? Every now and then, it’s fun to do something totally crazy, just to keep them on their toes! […]

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Is Social Media Making Biblical Issues Out of Issues that Aren’t?

Sarah — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 19:51:54 +0000

Okay, so this topic doesn’t fit with what I usually post, but it’s something that I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. And it has to do with parenting boys, so there you go! It’s hard being a parent these days. It seems that with all of the information available on the internet, there is […]

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Make Your Own PVC Pipe Sling Shot

Sarah — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 20:02:59 +0000

Aidan and I designed and built a PVC pipe sling shot yesterday! We had a lot of fun building a PVC pipe sprinkler last summer (the cool part is that you can rebuild it different ways!), and I thought that a sling shot or a catapult that could launch water balloons would be fun this […]

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Sibling Squabbles and the Kindness Car

Sarah — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 19:29:07 +0000

At our house, we struggle with sibling fighting. A lot. There are days when it seems that every word that comes out of everyone’s mouth is rude, selfish, or designed to provoke others. “Look at this rifle I built!” “That’s not a rifle. Rifles are longer. That looks like a pistol.” “Well I made it […]

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Make Your Own I Spy Book

Sarah — Sun, 20 May 2012 20:17:37 +0000

Owen turned 3 on Friday! I can’t believe how big he’s getting! For his birthday, Aidan and I worked together to make Owen an “I Spy” book. We had a lot of fun making it, and Owen really likes it! First, we chose a theme for each page of our book. Then we collected items […]

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Pretend Store Game for Multiple Age Levels

Sarah — Thu, 03 May 2012 20:09:53 +0000

Now that I’m homeschooling two boys and also have a baby and an almost 3-year-old, it has become obvious that I will not be able to survive without multi-tasking! There just isn’t enough time to teach each subject separately to each child and still have meals on the table and clean clothes for everyone to […]

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Resurrection Garden Centerpiece – The Procrastinator’s Version

Sarah — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 01:14:22 +0000

I saw this idea for a resurrection garden on We are THAT Family, and LOVED it, but I didn’t get started in enough time to make it the way they did with grass seed and actual grass growing. So here is the procrastinator’s version for anyone else who wants to make one but can’t get […]

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Easter Egg Word Match-up Game

Sarah — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:22:39 +0000

Here’s an idea for a quick and easy game for kids who are learning to read! I cut out Easter egg shapes from construction paper, and then cut them in half to look like broken eggs. I wrote parts of words on the egg pieces, and Gresham had to match them up to spell the […]

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Stamp Art with Foam Letters

Sarah — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 21:34:08 +0000

Today we used our foam alphabet letters (for the bathtub) to make some fun prints with paint! I did Owen’s for him – he’s almost 3, and this was too hard for him to do on his own. Gresham (age 5) did his name himself! We used Crayola washable paint, and it washed off the […]

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Electricity Experiments for Kids

Sarah — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 21:21:50 +0000

Spring fever, anyone? The end of the school year definitely calls for some high-interest activities to keep kids (and mom!) on board with the whole homeschooling thing! I announced to the boys last week that we were going to study electricity and magnetism, and they were thrilled! Before I had kids, I taught science to […]

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More Favorite Chapter Books for Boys

Sarah — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 19:12:12 +0000

A year ago, I posted about our favorite chapter books for boys in two parts. (You can find those posts here and here.) Now that Aidan is a year older and has read many more books, I thought I’d post some more titles that we recommend! Last week, Jonathan had a doctor’s appointment, and my […]

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Math Activities: Comparisons

Sarah — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 03:20:40 +0000

Our computer is back! Hooray! Not much time for writing at the moment, but I wanted to post a couple of quick math ideas for the kindergarten/first grade crowd. Gresham and I worked on comparisons today: Gresham made cube “towers” for the ages of our family members. This picture shows Dad (33), Aidan (8), Gresham […]

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Memorizing Scripture with Your Kids

Sarah — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:40:28 +0000

During some seasons of our life, it has been easier than others to do a well-organized Bible time with the boys each morning. This lesson on Elijah is a good example. Right now, however, is not a season where I can pull off very much, but I have been finding that it’s a great time […]

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Easy Ways to Keep Preschoolers Busy

Sarah — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:14:32 +0000

One of the most challenging parts of homeschooling (for us, anyway) is keeping 2 year old Owen busy while the other boys are doing their work! Now that a new baby is also claiming a large part of Mom’s attention, I have been looking for constructive ways to keep Owen busy. Otherwise, he finds things […]

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Our “Lego” Gift Plant

Sarah — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:35:55 +0000

Our church sent us this lovely plant while we were in the hospital with our new baby. Notice anything interesting about it? Here’s a closer look: The boys have invaded it with their Jedi knights and storm troopers! (Or clone troopers? I don’t keep them all straight…) Gresham spent well over an hour yesterday playing […]

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Baby is Here!

Sarah — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:55:09 +0000

Jonathan Henry Dees Born 5:42 p.m. on January 3, 2012 7 lb. 11 oz. and 20.5 inches long More pictures and details to come – we’re leaving the hospital today!

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Best of 2011

Sarah — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 14:52:42 +0000

Happy New Year’s Eve! 2011 really seemed to fly by for our family! Of course, I spent half the year expecting our fourth son, so that may have something to do with it! Hopefully we will be seeing our new little guy’s face in the next week or so! We spent most of January and […]

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Expectation

Sarah — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 18:09:42 +0000

The countdown has begun for the arrival of baby boy #4… Our other boys were born at 37, 38, and 38 weeks, so it could be as soon as next week, or as far away as the second week of January if this little guy decides to wait! It’s been a little different carrying out […]

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We tried to take a nice family picture…

Sarah — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:36:12 +0000

Hi, this is Owen. Mom doesn’t usually let me up at the computer, being as how I’m 2 and all, but since she’s folding laundry and not paying attention, I thought I’d share our family Christmas photos with you! The other night, we went to a Christmas party. Mom and Dad thought that this would […]

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Teaching Kids to Serve Others

Sarah — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:01:00 +0000

One of the things that my husband and I desire for our children is that they learn to serve others. We want them to consider others as more important than themselves (Philippians 2) and to realize that although He was God, Christ did not come to earth to be served, but to serve, and to […]

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Book Review: The Money Saving Mom’s Budget

Sarah — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:26:54 +0000

A couple months ago, I was selected along with several other bloggers to receive a pre-release copy of The Money Saving Mom’s Budget to review. I have enjoyed reading Crystal Paine’s blog, moneysavingmom.com, for the past three years, and I was excited to be able to read and review her new book! To give you […]

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Easy-to-Make Felt Snowman Toddler Activity

Sarah — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:03:22 +0000

Keeping Owen (age 2) busy while we do our home school work is a perpetual challenge… I am always on the lookout for things that keep him busy at the table or on the floor near us, but that don’t generate a ton of mess. Last night, I had the idea to make this quick […]

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Make an Advent Book

Sarah — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 03:24:09 +0000

I can’t remember what exactly got me thinking about the word “advent” – maybe it was the Star Wars Lego advent calendar I saw in the store, or the one filled with candy and decorated with pictures of Santa. Not that there’s anything wrong with either of those, but let’s call them “countdown to Christmas” […]

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How to Repair a Drywall Hole

Sarah — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:27:29 +0000

Thanks to our boys, we (until this past weekend!) had three lovely drywall holes in our home! When Owen was a baby, he went through a stage of taking the plastic caps off the door stops around the house – you know, the ones that make a fun twanging sound. We removed all the plastic […]

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Science Experiment: Solids, Liquids, and Polymers!

Sarah — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 02:46:27 +0000

Gresham and I learned about the states of matter today in his science book. We’re doing The Berenstein Bear’s Big Book of Science and Nature as part of Sonlight Core Pre-K 4/5. This link is to my amazon affiliate account – the book is out of print, which is why the price for a new […]

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Fall Tree Art Project

Sarah — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 21:05:32 +0000

I was inspired by Red Ted Art’s Blog to make fall tree paintings with the boys, and they turned out great! We did this project over two days. On the first day, we painted the sky, ground, and clouds. I took the boys outside to show them that the sky appears to go all the […]

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Science and Math Activity: Measuring the Length of Sea Animals

Sarah — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 02:02:21 +0000

This year in science, Aidan and I are studying Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day. We love Apologia science! So far, we have learned about whales, seals and walruses, sea reptiles, and fish. I have been wanting to do something to make the sizes of some of these amazing animals more […]

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Frugal Costume Ideas: Frontiersman, Zookeeper, and More

Sarah — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:54:40 +0000

Last night was our church’s annual fall fair! Our costumes were simpler than the Toy Story Army Guy costumes that we did last year, but we still had a great time! Gresham was a zookeeper. It was his idea to be one, and it totally fit his animal-loving personality! I borrowed the vest and hat […]

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Make a Plastic Cup Rocket Launcher

Sarah — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:32:55 +0000

When the most recent of issue of Family Fun magazine arrived last week, we did one of the activities right away! These rocket launchers made out of plastic cups were fun and very easy to make! To make one, cut 4 slits in the top rim of a plastic cup. They should be about 1/2 […]

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Pet Show Themed Birthday Party

Sarah — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 21:26:05 +0000

Gresham is 5 years old! At our house, we do the first “real” party with invitations and friends at age 5. Gresham loves dogs, and we came up with the idea several months ago to do a dog show party. Gresham wanted everyone to bring their real dog, but I was able to talk him […]

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Hot Wheels Math

Sarah — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:46:56 +0000

Gresham was thrilled when I announced that we were going to do math with hot wheels cars! This activity was similar to our counting scavenger hunt, but covered the skill of sorting as well as counting! I asked Gresham to choose how he wanted to sort the hot wheels cars. He chose to sort by […]

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Tinker Toy Star Wars Battle Droid

Sarah — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 19:26:12 +0000

This morning, Aidan and Gresham decided to build Star Wars droids during a break from school. We got a Star Wars book at the library yesterday, and I could hear Aidan saying to Gresham, “Here, you hold the book open to this page while I build!” I was impressed with Aidan’s battle droid! I wouldn’t […]

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Monarch Butterly Life Cycle

Sarah — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 19:28:41 +0000

This past week, we had the fun of observing part of the Monarch butterfly’s life cycle! We have a friend who teaches kindergarten, and she always raises Monarch caterpillars/butterflies with her classes in the spring. She decided after several years of buying the caterpillars that she would try attracting her own by growing milkweed (Monarch’s […]

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Counting Scavenger Hunt

Sarah — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:53:21 +0000

We’re on a roll lately with preschool/kindergarten math games! Here’s another one we created this week. It’s really simple – just a list of things to count around the house! Add a clipboard, and it’s an instant hit. Since Gresham is working on learning larger numbers, I gave him some harder things to count. One […]

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Things You Say When You Have a 2 Year Old in the House

Sarah — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 19:55:06 +0000

Get down off the table! You may not tell Mommy “No!” What’s in your mouth? Show me what is in your mouth!” We write only on paper. No, not on the table. Not on a book. Not on your hand. ONLY ON PAPER!!! We are not washing our arms right now, just our hands. You […]

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Masking Tape Watercolor Name Project

Sarah — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14:19:22 +0000

The day before Aidan’s surgery was really wild. Or I should say, the boys were really wild! As much as I wanted to get a few more things done, I decided that the only way to reign in the wildness was with some activities to keep them occupied. When afternoon nap time was over, I […]

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Favorite Picture Books for Toddlers

Sarah — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 19:35:21 +0000

It has been a long time since I posted our favorite chapter books for boys and our favorite picture books for boys – now I am finally getting to our favorite books for toddlers! I am linking to all of these books in board book format – we have not yet had a toddler that […]

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Embracing God’s View of Children

Sarah — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 20:02:17 +0000

Brothers Photo Attempt – July 4, 2010 Last night, my husband and I were watching TV when a Mirena birth control commercial came on. I watched it in awe. Awe of the content, and then of the side effects (like permanent infertility) that were serenely read in the background. The commercial depicted a frazzled mom […]

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Reflux Update: Almost Eating Like a Normal Kid!!

Sarah — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 20:29:15 +0000

My silly Owen… what a nut! It’s been 4 months since my last reflux update, mainly because things have been going well and I haven’t really given it much thought! However, I told myself when I started blogging about reflux that I wanted to make sure and include the happy ending (provided that we had […]

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Water Spray Bottle = Fun for a Buck!

Sarah — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 01:40:17 +0000

Owen LOVES spray bottles. The other day, I was washing dishes and noticed a funny noise going on in the background… It was Owen with the bottle of OxiClean! When I found him, he was spraying his legs, and he had already done the front of the dryer and the laundry room floor. At least […]

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Science Fun: A Mentos and Diet Soda Fountain!

Sarah — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 02:13:28 +0000

Get ready for your children to name you “Mom of the Year” after this activity! Aidan was amazed when I announced after dinner that we were going to create a soda explosion in the front yard. My husband and I saw this demonstrated on the TV series Numb3rs, but I had forgotten all about it […]

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Science Experiment: Blubber Keeps Whales Warm

Sarah — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 19:47:11 +0000

Before I had my boys, I taught science to groups of homeschoolers. We met one day a week for science (9:00-2:00), and it was so much fun! One year, we studied biomes, and this was an experiment we did when we learned about Arctic animals. I have no idea what book I got it from, […]

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Preschool Activity: Playing Restaurant

Sarah — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:43:48 +0000

Today in Gresham’s Sonlight Curriculum, we learned about the different jobs at a hotel in the book Things People Do. I decided to add an activity to go along with it – playing restaurant. I knew that Gresham would like to play this anyway, and by making it a school activity, I was able to […]

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Scrabble Spelling

Sarah — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 20:48:02 +0000

This is my first year with two kids officially in homeschooling! Although, I really have to plan like I’m homeschooling all three, because it’s unrealistic for the 2 year old to entertain himself all day! I am in the process of developing a list of “go-to” activities that Gresham (age 4, approaching 5) can do […]

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Build a Tinker Toy Catapult

Sarah — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 20:05:15 +0000

My boys LOVE a good catapult. Last year, we made this marshmallow catapult out of a tissue box, and it was a lot of fun! So when I saw this post on how to make a Tinker Toy catapult on Quirky Momma, I knew my boys would want to try it! In addition to Tinker […]

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Skateboard Birthday Cake

Sarah — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 02:22:17 +0000

I am awful at making birthday cakes. Somehow, the art of making a traditional two-layer birthday cake seems to elude me. One year, I forgot to put icing between the layers (I think that was Aidan’s first birthday). Another time, the top layer slid off the bottom layer as the icing melted in the Texas […]

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Chore Charts for Kids

Sarah — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 20:16:39 +0000

Now that I’ve made it through 2 months of morning sickness, it’s time to take back control of the children and the house! Actually, there were some areas that needed improvement even before I was sick… Owen (our youngest) is a pretty high maintenance child. Because of his reflux, eating is a very low priority […]

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Make a Felt Superhero Cape for a Toy

Sarah — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 21:53:06 +0000

This is our fourth day in a row to be stuck at home with a sick boy, and we’re starting to get a little restless! Gresham has been wearing Aidan’s superman cape constantly, and is pretty bored without his brother to play superhero with! Today, I decided to make a superhero cape and mask for […]

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Make a Super Long Picture

Sarah — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 22:04:52 +0000

Here’s a simple indoor idea for the hot days of summer! Make a super long picture! We happen to own a big roll of paper (I don’t know where it came from – we’ve had it since I was little and still not used it up!), but if you don’t have one, you can tape […]

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How to do a Boy’s Haircut with Clippers

Sarah — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 20:46:25 +0000

UPDATE: This post has been updated and improved – click below to view the new post with a better tutorial video! How to do a Boy’s Haircut with Clippers Over the past 10 years that we have been married, we have saved a LOT of money by doing my husband’s haircuts at home. How much […]

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Suzuki Violin for Kids

Sarah — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 19:38:53 +0000

Gresham (age 4) has been playing violin since January I thought it might be fun to post some pictures of the boys and their violins! Both of the older boys started violin at the age of 4 1/2. It was very natural for us, because I am a violin teacher! I have taught private lessons […]

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Cardboard Dinosaur Costume Feet to Make

Sarah — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 01:17:19 +0000

My little dinosaur fan and I made these great cardboard “feet” today! We got the idea from Family Fun magazine. To make them, you need two empty tissue boxes, duct tape, paint, and cardboard for the toes. (Family Fun used triangles cut from sponges for the toes. They were cuter, but we didn’t have any […]

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Dealing with Sibling Conflict: Tattling

Sarah — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 02:01:37 +0000

So, I haven’t been blogging much lately! Morning sickness has been getting the best of me lately, and not much interesting is going on at our house, unless you count sibling fighting, which has been pretty much constant… Back in December, I blogged about sibling fighting here and here, but I have a couple new […]

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Seasons

Sarah — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:07:13 +0000

Owen David on his 2nd Day of Life… It’s fun to look at pictures of newborns when I’m feeling yucky! I have hit the 9 week mark on this pregnancy, and this time around has been a doozy! I think that the Texas heat and air pollution makes the morning sickness worse. Bickering children also […]

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Make Your Own Sprinkler with PVC Pipes

Sarah — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 02:09:45 +0000

This month’s issue of Family Fun magazine had a build-your-own sprinkler toy out of PVC pipes, and we decided to make our own. We didn’t follow the Family Fun directions at all, but it did get me thinking about what we could do! I decided that instead of making a permanent structure, we would just […]

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Roly Poly (Pill Bug) Races

Sarah — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 19:42:42 +0000

When I saw this idea for roly poly races on Shared From Way Over Here, I knew it would be right up my boys’ alley! All three of them love to catch roly polies, or pill bugs, or whatever you like to call them! We used Duplo Legos to build the lanes for our races. […]

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More Love

Sarah — Mon, 30 May 2011 00:34:32 +0000

Almost 8 years ago, the Lord blessed us with Aidan – a bundle of energy and personality (as you can see by the large scab on his elbow…). He was an easy baby, but made up for it by being a strong-willed toddler. I remember that when I was pregnant with Gresham (and Aidan was […]

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Make a Changing Faces Man

Sarah — Thu, 12 May 2011 20:51:10 +0000

Gresham and I made this “changing faces” man yesterday! We got the idea from this post at A Little Learning for Two. Check out her post – her dolls are much cuter! To make one, you need: Two sizes of cardboard tubes – one needs to be able to fit inside the other Paper Markers, […]

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Reflux Update: We are OFF our meds!

Sarah — Mon, 09 May 2011 19:25:57 +0000

Owen is OFF of his reflux medicine! (Axid) Hooray! We went to see Owen’s GI doctor in late February, and he wanted us to try tapering Owen off of his medicine again. Our first trial was in December, and we were not able to reduce his dose at that time. In Feb., he was taking […]

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Make Your Own Wooden Blocks

Sarah — Mon, 09 May 2011 02:22:51 +0000

Owen’s birthday is coming up next week (He’ll be 2!), and Aidan worked with us to make him a set of wooden blocks! Aidan has been learning some beginning woodworking lately, and we thought that blocks would be a simple thing to make. Owen is hard to shop for. We already have plenty of boy […]

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Fun Activity: Take Photos of Your Legos

Sarah — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 19:57:56 +0000

Aidan and I have been enjoying the awesome LEGO® photos on A Lego a Day (This one is one of our favorites and also this one). We decided we’d try our hand at a little LEGO® photography of our own! In the middle of his hijack attempt, Thor suddenly got the feeling that he was […]

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Favorite Picture Books, Part 2

Sarah — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 03:21:57 +0000

Last month I shared some of our favorite picture books, and I have some more to add to the list! If you missed the first post on picture books for boys, you can find it here. My oldest son reminded me of this book today, because his Grandma and he had been quoting from it […]

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Sorting and Classifying

Sarah — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 20:45:12 +0000

Here’s an easy game for preschoolers through elementary age, and you can use it to cover multiple learning objectives at one time! For a busy homeschooling mom, that’s an important thing! We sorted items from around the house. I looked for a variety of shapes and materials, some toys and some not. We sorted by […]

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Favorite Picture Books for Boys

Sarah — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 02:08:40 +0000

Last month, I posted some of our favorite chapter books for boys in two parts (Here is Part 1 and Part 2). Here are some of our favorite picture books for boys! We love to read, and it would be impossible to post all of our favorites, but hopefully you’ll find something new to check […]

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“Label the House” Letter Sounds Game

Sarah — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:59:13 +0000

This morning, Gresham was immediately on board when I handed him a stack of post-it notes and a pencil and told him that we were going to do preschool with those! I asked him to go around the house and “label” things with the letters that they start with. To get him started, we labeled […]

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Living Water

Sarah — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 20:21:11 +0000

Lately we have been reading through the New Testament during our morning Bible Time. We are using the Child’s Story Bible by Catherine Vos, which is an excellent resource for elementary aged kids. She is very true to the text while making it easier to understand and softening some issues that young children may not […]

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Reflux Update: Feeding Self with Silverware, and a Speech Eval.

Sarah — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 03:23:35 +0000

Owen not trying his homemade chocolate pudding… dairy free – made with avocados! It didn’t turn out very well, but we’ll post the recipe once we get it right! It’s been a while since our last reflux update! Owen has definitely made some progress in the past month! We had a rough patch health-wise from […]

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Favorite Chapter Books for Boys, Part 2

Sarah — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 03:24:20 +0000

We have so many favorite books that it was impossible to fit them all in one post! Here are some more of our favorite chapter books for boys, and here is part 1 if you missed it. All links are Amazon affiliate links. Aidan enjoys reading books about history, and was excited when some friends […]

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Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Sarah — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 03:19:24 +0000

Today we did a last-minute cooking/baking day! I have never done very much freezer cooking, but I think I’ll have to do it more often! Cooking ahead is definitely more efficient! In about 4 1/2 hours, I made hard boiled eggs, sweet tea, pumpkin bread (a loaf for now and one for the freezer), chicken […]

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Make Your Boys into Superheroes!

Sarah — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 03:41:11 +0000

We did this quick and easy craft today while Aidan had a friend over! To make the pictures, I took photos of the boys and then printed them (we’re currently out of color ink, but they looked kind of cool in black and white!). We used cardboard cut from cereal boxes and aluminum foil, pipe […]

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Favorite Chapter Books for Boys, Part 1

Sarah — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 03:51:27 +0000

Jordan and I both enjoy reading, and we have been pleased that all of our boys love books as well! I decided to post some of our favorite books, and I thought I would start with chapter books. We are always looking for good books for Aidan (2nd grade) to read – he reads at […]

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Duct Tape No-Sew Beanbags

Sarah — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 01:49:36 +0000

Although we’ve tried sewing before, we were happy to get this idea for duct tape bean bags from a college friend of mine! All you need to make them is fabric, duct tape, and dried beans, and they are much faster to make since you don’t have to sew! We used some fabric left over […]

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Reflux Update: In Which Mom Has a Change of Heart

Sarah — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 03:22:34 +0000

December ended up being a big month for changes in reflux treatments! It’s a looooooonnnng story, so I’m going to try to be concise so that I can get on to the part that is most important… We took Owen to a chiropractor to see if that would help his reflux. We did not see […]

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Pinecone Bird Feeder

Sarah — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 04:18:56 +0000

We are studying birds in our science curriculum (which we absolutely love!), and when we came to an experiment in which we compare two different bird seeds, we decided to wait until winter when the birds are really looking for food! The book suggested using real bird feeders or making some out of two liter […]

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Owen in the Cheerios

Sarah — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 15:19:03 +0000

Part of having a toddler is training them not to get into food in the pantry. Aidan and Gresham both went through a phase of helping themselves to cereal, crackers, etc. It seemed like such an inconvenience at the time, but when Owen bypassed that stage (because he hates to eat), it actually made me […]

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Fruit of the Spirit Bible Study

Sarah — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 04:40:12 +0000

At the beginning of January, my boys and I began studying the fruit of the Spirit. They have memorized Galatians 5:22-23, and we are learning about one “fruit” each day. Comparing the results of a heart changed by God to fruit is pretty abstract for kids the ages of mine, but we have been able […]

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Preschool Alphabet Game: Matching Capitals and Lowercase

Sarah — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 22:05:55 +0000

Today, Gresham and I matched capital letters with lowercase letters using cards from an alphabet Go Fish game. I like this card set because the capital card has an adult animal that begins with the letter on the card, and the corresponding lowercase card has a baby of the same animal. You can also turn […]

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The Best of 2010

Sarah — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 03:54:41 +0000

I started Frugal Fun for Boys in August of 2010, and since that time, I have had 5,300 visitors from 80 different countries! This post on cleaning boy bathrooms has received the most number of page views. Hmm, I wonder why? Here are my favorite posts from 2010: A fun magic trick that elementary aged […]

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Year End Scrapbook Activity

Sarah — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 03:06:08 +0000

We had a New Year’s Eve party at home with the boys tonight! We fixed some family favorites – little smoked sausages baked in crescent rolls, green beans, cheese and crackers, apple slices, and Christmas cookies. We made it more fun by eating on a blanket in the living room while we watched Toy Story […]

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Sibling Fighting Cont.: Practical Ways to Survive It

Sarah — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 02:54:05 +0000

Last night, I posted about sibling fighting and some of the things that God has been teaching me about the heart issues involved. I do want to add, however, that I think that there is a time to instruct our children from the Bible and to plead with them to turn their hearts toward the […]

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Sibling Fighting

Sarah — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 04:42:08 +0000

This picture was my favorite of all the pictures I took this Christmas. We were in the middle of opening gifts at my parents’ house when Owen decided to find a nice little spot to sit on the fireplace. He discovered these pictures of himself and his brothers and sat there and smiled and pointed […]

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Felt Star Christmas Ornaments

Sarah — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 04:00:11 +0000

Today we were supposed to go to a GI appointment for Owen, but he woke up with a fever, so we had to cancel the appointment. After the week we’ve had, I was happy to not drive an hour each way to his appointment! Instead, we stayed home and made these cute ornaments, which involved […]

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Infant Reflux (GERD) Update: In Which Mommy Loses Her Mind

Sarah — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 01:53:50 +0000

Boy, oh boy, what a week we have had… If you aren’t interested in a reflux update, scroll down to the bonus story at the bottom! You won’t want to miss this one! Owen is now 19 months old, and eating food sporadically. (If you missed the beginning of our reflux saga and feel like […]

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How Big was Goliath?

Sarah — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 03:28:59 +0000

Today’s advent tree reading was about David and Goliath. (Well, when I say “today,” I mean the one we did today, which was the reading for December 11th. But if we do two tomorrow, we’ll be caught up!) The story of David and Goliath is by far my boys’ favorite Bible story because it includes […]

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Build a Bird Nest Science Project

Sarah — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 01:39:38 +0000

I’ve blogged about our science curriculum before because I absolutely love it! We are doing Exploring Creation Zoology Vol. 1: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day from Apologia. The first half of the book is about birds. We just finished the chapter on “Nesting,” and today’s activity was to build a bird’s nest. Nest building […]

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All We Like Sheep

Sarah — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 01:15:01 +0000

Ok, so I said I wasn’t going to post about all of our advent tree activities, but I just had to post this one… Tonight we read Isaiah 53:6 “All of us like sheep have gone astray; Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us […]

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Advent Tree

Sarah — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 01:48:01 +0000

We are doing an advent tree (or Jesse tree as they are also called) this year at our house! Basically, an advent tree is a way for families to celebrate advent by studying the story of Christ beginning with Genesis, the Fall, and the promise of a Savior and ending with the birth of Christ. […]

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Owen eats… not food!

Sarah — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 22:21:22 +0000

If you have been following me on facebook, you know that we have made a couple calls to poison control in the last week… Owen hates to eat food for the most part. However, he loves to eat paper, board books, toothpaste, etc., etc. It’s getting pretty frustrating, actually! If I buy a new box […]

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Our Reflux Story, Part 4: Switching from Formula to Solids

Sarah — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 21:15:03 +0000

If you want to get caught up on our infant reflux (GERD) saga, you can find earlier installments here: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 The title of this post is actually a little misleading, because Owen is still switching from formula to solid food – at the age of 18 months! We started solids […]

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Handprint Turkeys

Sarah — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 02:54:48 +0000

After I wrote the title of this post, I decided that these aren’t exactly handprints. But hand-outline turkeys didn’t sound very cute. So I’m calling them handprint turkeys. I guess if you really want a handprint, you can make them with paint, but colored pencils were more the level of mess that I was looking […]

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Baby? Or Puppy?

Sarah — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 21:08:40 +0000

… It was puppy. He has just discovered that if he grabs the end of the toilet paper and then runs out of the room, it makes a fun mess! Just what I needed… someone else in the house who is obsessed with eating paper!

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Tape Roadways for Hot Wheels Cars

Sarah — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 04:26:56 +0000

This afternoon, I needed to have a few minutes of peace while I ironed some clothes and got ready for a school fundraiser tonight. I remembered this fun activity on 4tunate, and knew it would be perfect! Aidan loves to use tape, and so he was very excited when I handed him a roll of […]

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Our Reflux Story Part 3: The EGD Test

Sarah — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 04:05:19 +0000

If you missed part 1 and 2 of our reflux saga and have interest in reading them, you can find them here and here. I mentioned last time that we had to feed Owen his bottles in his sleep (for some of his feedings) in order to get enough food in him for him to […]

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Make Your Own Board Game

Sarah — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 00:13:16 +0000

So, I was thinking about how many of our activities simply involve poster board and something to color with… And I found posts here and here and here! Anyway, our latest activity was to make our own board game out of poster board. We chose a dinosaur theme because we are currently obsessed with dinosaurs! […]

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Fun Things to do with Acorns!

Sarah — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 02:35:19 +0000

I have been wanting some acorns to decorate with (being as how fall has just arrived in Texas…), and so my boys and I went to the park last week to collect some! We were disappointed to find a zillion pecans, but no acorns! So when we found a great oak tree at church on […]

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Our Reflux (GERD) Story, Part 2: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Sarah — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 03:12:47 +0000

Tonight I am continuing our reflux saga… you can read part 1 here if you are interested! We’ll start with the bad and ugly and end with the good… I’m rewinding a little bit from the end of the last post. I realized that I didn’t really document what life was like trying to feed […]

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Frugal Toy Story Army Guy Costume

Sarah — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 01:56:04 +0000

The boys got to dress up last night for our church’s annual fall festival, and they had a great time! We usually try to do a more labor-intensive costume every other year or so. Last year, Aidan just wore his cowboy boots and hat and Gresham wore a costume from the year before, so we […]

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Our Infant Reflux (GERD) Story

Sarah — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 21:09:25 +0000

Disclaimer Part 1: This post is not about frugalness or fun-ness, but I’m hoping that people will be helped by reading our story. And hopefully, someone who has a child who refuses to eat will feel like they are not alone. Disclaimer Part 2: I am not a medical professional, and anything that I say […]

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Guess the Sound Game

Sarah — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 20:28:06 +0000

Today we have are having torrential rain in north Texas! The boys were getting rather wild, and I decided that they needed something to do. We got the idea for this listening game from the Curious George TV series on PBS kids. In between episodes, they always show a clip of a real class participating […]

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Elementary Math Bar Graph Activity

Sarah — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 02:33:04 +0000

I have found that one of the best ways to get Aidan engaged in math is to put away the worksheets and do something that relates to real life. He is learning about bar graphs in math right now, and so I thought it would be helpful to have him create a bar graph displaying […]

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Frugal Building Activity: Cup Stacking

Sarah — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:05:03 +0000

When we went to the science museum last weekend, they had one room devoted to building activities for older kids. Their activities were simple and yet genius – I was amazed at what one can do with basic plastic cups! We decided to try cup stacking at home. We got a large bag of 84 […]

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EASY Preschool Craft: Binoculars

Sarah — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 19:35:37 +0000

This quick and easy craft involves a few items that we have been using very often here on Frugal Fun for Boys – two toilet paper rolls, a stapler, hole punch, and string! My oldest son, Aidan, made binoculars like these in Sunday School when he was 3 (they were watching the sky for Jesus […]

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A Baby and Puppy Story

Sarah — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 03:06:09 +0000

Look, Puppy! There is some water left in the hose! Let’s drink it! Now let’s go get into trouble together… No, Puppy! You can’t have my shovel! No! It’s MY shovel! Puppy took my shovel!! And right after I took this picture, I rescued the shovel and gave it back to baby!

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Boys are a Blessing, Not a Burden

Sarah — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 20:46:51 +0000

Lately, I’ve been thinking about all the comments we get when we go out, and we only have three kids!! Somehow, though, all of them being boys brings out the comments in people (although, I’m sure that people say obnoxious things to all types of families…). “WOW, 3 boys! You must be really busy!” “All […]

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Dinosaur Birthday Party

Sarah — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 02:51:37 +0000

*Whew!* We made it through our 4 year old’s birthday party! Now, I have nothing at all against birthday parties, but my husband had surgery on Friday and the baby has a horrible fever/cold. When we found out about the surgery, I knew that this party was going to be really simple. And simple is […]

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A Glimpse of His Glory

Sarah — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 03:28:56 +0000

After we did this Bible study, and this Bible study, we continued reading through the Old Testament in the Story Bible by Catherine Vos. We read through Judges, King Saul, David, Solomon, and now we have arrived at the divided kingdom and the time of the prophet Elijah. Gresham has really ramped up his “I […]

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Cereal Box Parking Garage

Sarah — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 02:30:18 +0000

We made a fun parking garage for hot wheels cars today! This idea came from the October 2010 issue of Family Fun magazine. For this project, you need two cereal boxes, enough toilet paper or paper towel rolls to cut five 4″ lengths, tacky glue, scissors, and yellow construction paper. First, cut the front panel […]

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Make a Puzzle Countdown Calendar

Sarah — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 20:51:18 +0000

Gresham is turning 4 next Sunday!! He is so excited. He wants to have a dinosaur birthday party. I told him a little over a week ago that his birthday was in 3 weeks. He was SO excited to hear this, but as it turns out, it’s hard to count down three weeks time with […]

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A few thoughts on boys and weapons…

Sarah — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 22:27:32 +0000

Since I just posted about making a weapon, and I’m sure we’ll post about lots more weapons in the future, I thought that I would post our family’s thoughts on boys playing with weapons like guns, etc. Our position on this has developed as our boys grow and we are faced with new parenting situations, […]

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Making a Story with Digital Photos

Sarah — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 03:32:40 +0000

One thing that my boys enjoy doing (and that we really should do more often) is using their toys to make a story. We pose the toys and take pictures of them. It’s kind of fun, in sort of a Toy Story type way… This is a story that I did with my oldest son […]

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Helping Kids (and Parents!) Deal with Anger

Sarah — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 02:16:53 +0000

We did not work on any fun projects in the frugal house today… 🙁 We had some character issues and “training moments” come up today that delayed everything! Actually, I shouldn’t say “delayed everything” because the character development and spiritual training is the most important part of parenting! It’s just also very exhausting at times! […]

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Homemade Cleaner that Neutralizes Boy Bathroom Stink!

Sarah — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:25:22 +0000

For months, I have been embarrassed by the smell of our hall bathroom. It’s the only bathroom that the boys use, and the only bathroom that we have to offer guests. Even after I clean it, it still smells like pee. Well, actually, pee covered up by cleaning chemicals. Yuck! We started using a recipe […]

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Make Your Own “Brown Bear, Brown Bear” Book

Sarah — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 02:29:46 +0000

Today’s idea is courtesy of a college professor who really impacted my development as a teacher, Dr. Jimmie Russell. Dr. Russell taught future teachers at OBU until she lost her battle with cancer in 2002. She was one of those people whose enthusiasm for teaching was contagious. One of Dr. Russell’s recommendations was that we […]

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Homemade Silly Putty

Sarah — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:54:30 +0000

We got this recipe for homemade silly putty from Kids Activities Blog. What a great idea! This stuff is stretchy, squishy fun that leaves no residue behind. Here’s how to make it: Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon borax in 1/4 cup warm water. Mix together: borax/water mixture 1/4 cup cornstarch 2-3 oz. school glue (We had a […]

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Easy Puzzle Craft

Sarah — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 21:10:17 +0000

Here is another great preschool idea from the September 2010 edition of Family Fun Magazine! Tape seven craft sticks together with masking tape. (Or however many you want!) Flip over your puzzle, and draw a design on the other side. Gresham wanted a triceratops, so Daddy drew this one for him. After seeing how well […]

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Milk Jug Ball Game

Sarah — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 02:37:30 +0000

We made this fun “ball catcher” out of an empty plastic milk jug today. This is a simple idea – just cut the bottom off a milk jug! I can’t remember where I found this idea, but I first used it with some kids that I babysat during college… circa 1998. It was a success […]

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Marshmallow Catapult

Sarah — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 20:45:54 +0000

This weekend, we did a fun project from the May 2010 issue of Family Fun magazine – a marshmallow catapult! Actually, we didn’t have any marshmallows, so we have been launching cotton balls. This was a fun craft that was fairly easy to make, although it is definitely not one that kids can make all […]

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Game with LEGO Bricks: Timed Building

Sarah — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 21:00:12 +0000

I don’t know what your kids are like, but mine sometimes struggle with getting out bunches of toys and then not doing anything with them except acting wild. I have named this phenomenon “toy dumping.” Toy dumping is when they pour out bucket after bucket of toys looking for something fun to do. They get […]

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