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Tag: kids

  • Back To School: Easy After School Activities

    Back To School: Easy After School Activities

    Finding easy after-school activities can be challenging, especially if you’re a working parent or if you have several kids at different skill levels. Thankfully, activities don’t have to be complicated to be fun. Your child probably doesn’t want to think that hard after a long day at school anyway, so the easier, the better.

    The activity you choose should depend on the child’s skill level, age, and most importantly their interests. Easy after-school activities exist so you can keep your child engaged and so that they can explore their interests in a safe setting. They also help your child expand upon their school day. It’s up to you to decide what journey your child takes. 

     

    Combine An Activity With A Snack 

    Let’s start with a childhood classic, practicing math with food. You can teach almost all areas of basic math with food, so why not reinforce their education at snack time? You can use M&Ms, Skittles, cereal, or nuts, and dried fruit. Kill two birds with one stone by incorporating their math homework. If you can figure out how to use this technique with other academic areas, more power to you! 

    For an activity that your kids might enjoy a little more, have them decorate their snack before they eat it. Of course, this is easy to do with cookies or cupcakes, but you probably don’t want to give that to your children every day. So instead, try Jell-O, ice cream made of bananas, or something like that. Let them go wild with sprinkles, fruit, and whipped cream.

    You can also set up a snack bar and let them create their own snack mix for the day. Creating the snack bar and creating the mixes can be separate activities. You can set the bar up with a ton of nutritious food options for them to pick and choose from every day after school. The best part about this is that you don’t have to worry about their snack all week.

     

    Arts And Crafts Activities 

    One of the best activities your kid can do is artistically describe their day and what they’ve experienced. Give them paint, markers, pencils, or any other medium and some paper. Tell them to get their emotions about their day out on paper. It may spark an important and interesting conversation between the two of you that you usually wouldn’t have. 

    Drawing their interpretation of their day is their opportunity to express themselves honestly and authentically. It also allows you to see how your child feels after their day, which gives you a great way to bond. As a bonus, you can keep all of their masterpieces from the entire year and save them in a scrapbook to look back on. 

    Working with playdough or clay is also a great activity. The medium will allow them to create anything thing they want. They’ll also be able to destroy or transform it in a safe and healthy way. At the very least, it will give them something to keep their hands busy if they fidget a lot. That’s a win-win for both of you.

     

    Keeping Your Child Active

    One of the best parts of creating activities for your kids is being able to introduce them to the games you played as a child. Show them how to play hopscotch, H-O-R-S-E, or how to jump rope. If you sit down and think about it, you can probably come up with a ton of fun outdoor games. 

    On rainy days, it can be difficult to get your kids to be active. If you’re desperate to give your kids an athletic activity, YouTube has a ton of workouts aimed at kids. You can also have an indoor dance party. Put on the kid’s favorite playlist and encourage them to sing and dance along. They’ll be hungry for dinner and tired at bedtime!

    With any of these activities, you can give them a challenge or a goal. Push them a little farther every day. The challenge doesn’t have to be crazy. If they’re using the jump rope, tell them to get ten successful jumps in a row. Then, bump it up to 12 the next day. Make it challenging, but not impossible. 

     

     

    Academic Activities

    Reading should be at the top of everyone’s after school activities list. Having good reading comprehension skills will help your child throughout their life as students and into adulthood. Reading after school will show them that reading can be fun and that the library is not limited to educational books.

    If your child is tired of reading after school, have them write a story inspired by what they’ve read. Have them write a side quest for the main character or let them create an alternate ending. Not only will this improve their writing and creativity skills, but it can enhance their love of reading.

    When you want your child to spend more time outside, but they’re not into athletic activities, send them out on a nature hunt. Let them look in your backyard for birds, animals, and insects. Have them take photos of everything they find. Then, they can come inside and start identifying them and learning more about them. 

     

    Create An After School Activity Plan

    For all of these easy after school activities, it only takes a little bit of time to have one activity extend throughout the entire week. Start small on Monday and have them grow and build on their skills as the week progresses. That way, you can save time by focusing on one activity instead of creating a different plan for every day of the week. 

    You can also mix and match different activities on this list to incorporate different aspects of your child’s interests. Make sure you take other activities, homework, and available time into consideration when you’re creating your after school activity plan. Remember that you know your child best, and as long as they’re smiling and happy during the activity, you were successful. 

     

  • Outdoor Activities You Can Do With Your Kids

    Outdoor Activities You Can Do With Your Kids

    Summertime is prime time for outdoor activities. Unless you live in the South, summer might be the only time you can enjoy the great outdoors. So, now that the warm weather is here, you can capitalize on the sunshine and plan a ton of activities for you to do with your kids.

    After a long winter stuck inside, you and your child deserve to experience an exciting and active summer. Here are some ideas to stay active and have fun! 

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    Productive

    As adults, we know that warm weather isn’t all fun and games; we have responsibilities. Still, those responsibilities shouldn’t stand in the way of having a good time. There are easy and productive outdoor tasks that your kids can help you with. Not only will they be engaged in the activity, but they will also be helping you out.

    Kids love getting dirty, which means they’ll love helping you with gardening. Whether you’re planting fully formed flowers or starting them from seeds, getting your child involved is easy. This is an excellent opportunity to let them learn how gardening works and see their flowers and hard work grow. 

    They can also help you clean outside chairs and their summer toys like swing sets. Getting them to clean their toys and outdoor equipment will teach them responsibility while letting them have fun with the hose. Just don’t get mad when they spray you and leave your cell phone inside! 

     

    Just For Fun

    Sure, hard work and responsibilities can be outdoor activities, but eventually, your kiddos are going to want to do something fun, and so are you. Get back in touch with your childish side and break out the bubbles. 

    Bubbles are a simple outdoor activity that you can turn into something creative. Add food coloring to make different colored bubbles or fill a kiddie pool with the bubble juice and make giant bubbles with a hula hoop. There are tons of bubble hacks on the internet to make them even more fun. 

    When you’re in the mood to relax and chill out this summer, consider putting up a tire swing or a hammock. Even better, do both! Take a nap on the hammock while the kids push each other on the tire swing. It’s a win-win all around.

    Since it’s the summer, we can’t forget about water-related outdoor activities! Let’s be honest; some of the most fun you can have is spraying everyone with the hose. It’s simple, easy, and refreshing once the temperature hits the triple digits! If that ever gets boring, or you don’t feel like chasing your kids around, get a sprinkler. Sure, they’re made to water your grass, but as a kid, it’s so fun to run through them!

    The final water-related outdoor activity is perfect for kids of all ages. Everyone loves a competitive water balloon fight. Let them fill a tub full of water balloons in the backyard and go at it. You can also use this as a creative way to end silly fights between siblings.

     

    Keep Them Busy

    It can be hard to keep kids outside these days because they constantly want to run back to their phones, computers, and iPads, but if you create time-consuming activities that keep them engaged, it’ll be easier to keep them off their screens. If you do a great job, they might even lose track of how long it’s been since they checked their notifications. 

    One way to keep them occupied is with a scavenger hunt. You can create one in your backyard or get the neighborhood kids involved. If you want them to stay engaged, tell them that whoever wins gets a prize like choosing that night’s dinner. 

    You can get hours or even days of fun out of a big pack of chalk. It’s fun to get on the ground and be creative. Create designs and draw with your kids, and then once that gets dull, switch it up. Play tic-tac-toe, hang-man, hop-scotch, or come up with a whole new sidewalk activity. The possibilities are pretty endless.

    Here’s an obvious outdoor activity, sports! Playing catch, basketball, and throwing a football around can be a great bonding experience for you and your kids. The same goes for riding your bikes, jumping rope, and even learning how to hula hoop. Parents and kids bond over sports every day, and it’s an amazing way to keep your kids outside. 

    If you have kids who are too young to play sports or are not athletically inclined, they don’t have to miss out on the physical activity. Games like manhunt, freeze tag, and hide and seek are all classic childhood games that can be a lot of fun with an adult, especially if the adult is willing to always be the seeker.

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    Adult Supervision

    Of course, some of the best things in life can be dangerous, so these outdoor activities should have consistent adult supervision. It’s not that any of these activities are inherently hazardous or that you should be concerned, but some extra care and attention never hurt! 

    First, you can have a campfire or bonfire. This is a classic summertime activity that the whole family can get excited about. Tell your musically inclined kid to bring their guitar down and have a family sing-along. At the very least, make sure you have the supplies for s’mores. 

    Pools are also a classic activity. They’re a no-brainer! Everyone loves relaxing in a pool on a sunny day in July, and the small inflatable pools are getting more affordable every year. Maybe pools aren’t your thing, and that’s fine. Take the kids to your local creek or river and go searching for different types of wildlife. 

     

    Even if you take them to the park for a picnic or to climb a tree, it will be good for you and your family to go outside and enjoy the nice weather. The quality time you’ll spend together, and the memories you make will be priceless. So, get out there and enjoy some of these outdoor activities! 

  • How To Keep Your Kids Focused On Virtual Learning

    How To Keep Your Kids Focused On Virtual Learning

    The pandemic has been brutal on everyone, but it’s been the hardest on the children. Kids need a stimulating and structured environment to thrive in an educational setting, and they have not been given that setting in over a year now. While they’re great at adapting, staying focused on virtual learning will always be difficult. 

    Now that an entire year of virtual learning has passed, teachers and parents have come up with a few tips and tricks to keep kids focused on school during the day. Some of these ideas could work so well that you’ll continue using them once in-school learning is back in action! 

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    Brain Breaks

    Introducing brain breaks throughout the day can help your child get in the right headspace to learn and focus on school. You can give your child brain breaks throughout the day, but you want to make sure to get them in after lunch, physical activity, or a break like recess. After major stimulation, like after a non-structured break like recess, your child needs to refocus.

    That’s the purpose of a brain break. It shouldn’t act like another lunch break. It should be structured physical movement like light stretching, shaking it out, or Simon Says. It can also be calming or breathing exercises. Make taking brain breaks a habit. When they have a break for lunch or anything else while they’re at home, end it five to ten minutes early so they can take their brain break and get back in the zone before class starts. 

    Checklists 

    Preparing a daily checklist or to-do list that resets every day can help your child reach their academic goals. It will help keep them on track by showing them exactly what needs to get done that day. Lists also help release a lot of stress that comes with having a non-structured day. 

    Lists also allow them to feel like they have control over their day when they can choose the order in which some of the tasks get done. Your child can’t control the school day and virtual learning, but they can have some input about what happens before and after school. 

     

    Use A Timer

    As you’re going through that checklist or your daily activities, use a kitchen timer to track the activity.  Tell your child exactly how long they need to focus on that activity and set the timer. Using a timer does two things. 

    First, it will prevent your kid from worrying about whether the time is up or if they can stop because they will have a physical representation of the time independent from their parent. Second, it will keep the two of you accountable for how much time you’re spending on each task.

    After a while, you’ll have a better understanding of how quickly your child loses focus. You’ll also be able to tell what tasks grab their attention and what they lose focus on quickly. That will be a great help when you’re finding activities that will help keep them on task.

    Interactive Activities

    If you’re lucky enough to have any control in your kid’s school day, try to incorporate interactive activities. If you can’t do it during the day, try adding activities to their homework time. Make math practice physical by showing them how to add and subtract using objects instead of numbers. Do a science experiment with them to keep them engaged or read out loud to them. Twenty minutes of engagement can lead to a few hours of focus. 

     

    Create Connections

    Use the topic or subject that your child is learning to create a connection in your own life. Forming connections from the material to the real world will make them care about the subject more, increase their focus, and help them absorb the information. 

    This is also an excellent chance to use this time to create a deeper connection between you and your child. Sure, they’re doing virtual learning for school, but when they see how interested you are and how much you care, they’ll care too. 

    Connect With The Teacher

    If you notice your child is having difficulty focusing on the task at hand or the material, you should check in with the teacher to see what you can do. Ask them what you can do to help improve your child’s focus. They might have great activities or ideas for you to try outside of the classroom and on breaks. 

    They can also give you information on setting your child up for success before school and how to improve their virtual learning environment. Ask them for any recommendations on interactive activities and any advice they are willing to share. They’ve been doing virtual learning for a while now. They probably have some great tips! 

     

    Healthy Habits

    Eating the right food and getting a good night’s sleep can profoundly impact how your child performs while virtual learning. A tired and distracted kid will lose focus quickly, and when they are focused, they will not retain much information. Fuel them with a full eight hours of sleep and nutritious foods to keep them on task all day long. 

    Positive Reinforcement 

    Your child can’t know if they’re doing a good job if you don’t tell them, so don’t be shy when it comes to giving them praise and positive reinforcement. Compliment them when they do well or get a correct answer and provide them with praise when you can see they’re trying their best. 

    A lack of focus can stem from when a child is tired or about to give up emotionally or mentally. Nothing matters more to a child than having a solid support system. Encouraging words can boost a child’s confidence and have a positive impact on their level of focus. 

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    Test out these different techniques and mix them together. Every child learns differently, so you need to find the right combination of tricks to use for your child. It doesn’t happen overnight, but as long as your child stays focused, that’s all that matters. 

  • Fun Valentines Day Activities for Kids 

    Fun Valentines Day Activities for Kids 

    Valentine’s Day has to be one of the most satisfying days of the year to get crazy creative. As adults, we don’t usually have the time to sit at a table and create anything by hand, unfortunately. But with children, well…they have all the time in the world. When I volunteered part-time at a daycare center for children in high school, Valentine’s Day was the hype. Children would arrive wearing red or pink, holding little bags of heart candies for their friends, and so excited to get started with the crafts we had planned for them. 

    Related Article: Homemade Valentine’s Day Gifts

    If you’re planning activities for your class or your kids at home, I have one piece of advice for you: don’t hesitate to buy ALL the glitter. If you choose to, please do your part by purchasing only biodegradable glitter. Children tend to use it in surplus when it comes to this particular day. Without any further ado, here are our favorite activities for children on this artful and candy-filled holiday. 

    Sponge Heart Painting 

    Sensory activities are great for children of all ages. They keep them occupied and bring out their imaginative side. All you need for this activity is a sponge cut into a heart (or any shape you want), white construction paper, and red/pink paint. Glitter is optional, of course, but highly recommended because come on, it’s Valentine’s Day. You dip the sponge into the paint and stamp it on white construction paper. By including different size hearts (sponges), your child will have more options to play with and get creative. The result is a beautiful masterpiece by none other than…well, your masterpiece. When it dries, have them write out to whom they’d like to give their painting! 

    Handprint Heart Tree Craft

    The reason I love this 3D craft is that it can be used for any special day. It’s uncomplicated, requires supplies you probably have at home, and counts as quality time for you and your child. You start by cutting strips from pink construction paper (6x.5) and hold the ends together with a staple, like a heart. You will need to make 15-50 heart “leaves” for your tree. On a brown sheet of cardstock paper, trace your kid’s hand, cut it out, and glue it on a piece of blue cardstock paper. This will be your tree.  Place a generous amount of white glue on a paper plate, but before gluing your hearts on the tree, arrange them to get an idea of where they will go. Dip the bottom of each heart in glue and stick them on your tree! Frame it or present it to a friend. 

    Valentine’s Sensory Painting

    If you think your children will be the only ones to enjoy this activity, you are mistaken. It combines sensory play, process art, and is very therapeutic. This activity uses shaving cream and paints BUT if your child tends to put everything in their mouth, consider whipped cream and food coloring instead. It’s edible, and you won’t have to worry about them becoming curious and eating it. Fill any baking tray you have with whatever cream you’re using and squirt paint or several drops of red/pink food coloring over the cream. Edible glitter is also an option here. Lastly, with a pointer or stick, have your child swirl through the cream and watch the colors mix differently!

    Exchange Coloring Pages 

    Tell me these coloring pages are not the cutest thing you’ve ever seen. The characters are so lovable! If you want something super simplistic, yet will keep your kid’s head down and intrigued, then coloring pages are the best option. All you’ll need are coloring pages and coloring pencils. Boom, that’s it. The best part is you can print as many copies as you want, whether it’s in a classroom or the home. With so many different preferences, it’s a great calming activity for both young and older kids. When they complete a page, have them write a love note on the back, place it in an envelope, and exchange it with someone else!

    Valentine’s Marshmallow Pop

    Finally, something to eat, right? All that crafting gets exhausting eventually. Don’t worry; this is possibly the easiest dessert you can ever make with a child. All you’ll need is jumbo marshmallows, white chocolate, red/pink confetti sprinkles, and wood pop sticks. It’s pretty straightforward from there. You melt the chocolate according to instructions and assist your child in sticking the marshmallows onto the pop sticks. Dip half the marshmallow into the chocolate and let it move down the sides a bit, so it doesn’t melt downwards. Cover with sprinkles and place the sticks upright into a glass until the chocolate sets. Eat right away or refrigerate for later!

    Valentine’s Day Heart Toss

    Time to bring out your competitive side, kid! Well, not too competitive-crying isn’t what the result should be. This game can be played with two or more players, and its simplicity makes it a recurring activity in my home. You’ll need one 12×12 scrapbook paper, scissors, yarn, hole punch, tape, and three pieces of “junk” construction paper. You fold the scrap paper in half and cut out one heart shape and 1.5 inside that heart, cut out another heart. Punch two holes through the top of the heart on both sides and tie two long pieces of yarn through the holes. Tape the end of the thread above a doorway at a height where your children will be able to toss comfortably. Cut three pink construction papers into four pieces and have the kids scrunch them up. Hand them the scrunched “balls” and have them throw it into the heart! It’s an enjoyable activity to add to a delightful day!

     

  • Outdoor Activities To Check Off Your Summer Bucket List

    Outdoor Activities To Check Off Your Summer Bucket List

    Summer is great. The kids are out of school, the weather is hotter, there seems like there’s nothing to do yet for some reason, your to-do list keeps growing longer and the day seems never to end. 

    Unfortunately, nowadays, the majority of people would rather spend their days inside with the air conditioning blasting on high. If you’re not a parent, you might have your own plans on how to spend your summer days, and that’s ok, but for those of us with children…

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    Let’s just say it’s not the most spontaneous thing watching your kids spend the whole day watching TV and playing video games till their minds grow numb. 

    No matter how busy you are (parent or not), here are just a few activities to help you kick off the summer and keep you hustling.

    Go on a hike

    Why not, right? The weather is perfect for this particular activity, and your friends have been begging you to spare a day and join them on some new trail they discovered! 

    Fortunately, this is a beautiful family activity, as well. 

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    Even if you’re a fitness enthusiast, nature will always have the upper hand when it comes to getting a workout in. The best part (for me at least), you can include your dog. Not only that, but hiking requires little to no equipment! It’s an excellent experience for the little ones, the sights you’ll see are remarkable, and getting to be all around that greenery and fresh air is stimulating and very rejuvenating! 

    Set up a camping trip

    I remember as a child; I never had to think about planning a camping trip, because hello, ‘that’s what mom was for. 

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    But now, being a mom myself, I had to learn how to do all that myself. 

    First, acknowledge that camping is possibly the best thing in the whole world. You get away from whatever life ‘you’ve got going on; you get to spend quality time with your family and friends, you uncover new things such as fishing, setting up a tent, and even building a fire. If that’s not enough, you will also get your daily dose of Vitamin D, peace of mind, the sounds of nature, and of course, the second-best possible thing in the world…S’mores. 

    For more information on setting up your very own camping trip, click here.

    Spend the night at the beach

    By night, I do mean: get there in time to watch the sunset and the sky fill with orange, red, violet hues and gaze in awe at the jaw-dropping beauty that is our planet. 

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    If you thought meditation was good for the soul, try stargazing at a beach in the middle of the night. The sound of the waves coming and going, the crisp night air filling your lungs, and the smell of the ocean decluttering your mind. This is one of those spurs of the moment plans. You can bring a sleeping bag or set up a tent, and that’s it! 

    Visit an Amusement Park

    Growing up in SoCal, this was our thing. Our family would at least hit three amusement parks a week. Despite long lines and the expensive food (we eventually started sneaking in our own), the atmosphere encompassing an amusement park makes you feel giddy all over. If rides aren’t your thing, then that’s fine. You can still join in on the fun because now, several parks offer entertainment, plays/shows, and tours. 

     

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    If it’s too hot for roller coaster rides, then find the nearest water park in your area. Whether you’re going with friends, family, or by yourself, it’s a smart and exhilarating way to cool down.

    Build your very own waterpark

    Yes, you read that right, you can build a waterpark right in your backyard. If you’re looking to save money, invent something new, and be in the comfort of your own home, then this is the activity for you. The best part about this activity is that you can have your little helpers give you a hand so they can keep busy, as well. It’s all part of the fun experience before setting everything up and enjoying the ride. 

    If you need help getting started, click here.

    Learn something new

    I get it. School’s over, and we want to have fun only. I don’t mean to be that person-especially since it’s summer- but learning something new is fun. 

     

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    You don’t even have to sign up for a class or get up early or make it feel like a responsibility. Learning something new could be as simple as perfecting a recipe or as complicated as learning a new language. 

    Granted, you will not learn a new language in 3 months, but getting started is what counts.

    Seriously, it could be anything! Two summers ago, I learned how to rollerblade, and now I practice it religiously. My point being, you never know what your next addiction could be, so why not?

    For a list of fascinating and inspiring things to learn this summer, head on over here. 

  • DIY Activities for Kids This Summer

    DIY Activities for Kids This Summer

    It is finally summertime, my good folks, and temperatures this year have been record-breaking. It is hot, humid, and sticky! 

    Before giving birth to the most amazing kids in the world, my usual summer plans would be me in a bathing suit, stretched out in the backyard, getting a tan. 

    Now…well, now it’s just more fun (and noisier…and messier). Still, I wouldn’t change it for the world! 

    As if the rest of the year wasn’t hard enough for your typical stay at home parent, now the kids are on summer vacation.  So the little ones don’t get fussy, you need an idea on how to keep them busy, relaxed, and cool. 

    Well, have no fear, we’ve got the perfect compilation of easy DIY summer activities that will have you releasing your inner kid, too!

    Ice Block Treasure Hunt

    You think Summer; you’re going to think about large bodies of water (pools, lakes, beaches, etc.). But staying home and putting together these affordable and simple activities will be less of a headache and you will be in the comfort of your own home!

    For this activity, you will need a large container, children’s small toys (animals, shovels, bouncy balls), water, and a parent’s supervision since your child will be using heavy-duty tools. 

    The idea is to place all the toys in the bin, cover them with water, and freeze them overnight! Have someone help you turn the bin upside down the next day, and that’s it! 

    The Krazy Koupon Lady 

    Have your child wear safety goggles as they chip away on the ice with a small hammer to rediscover their toys! They can also use room temperature water over the ice to help it melt faster. 

    Another version of this activity is using a small container and freezing the toys in layers of ice. Click here to watch the super simple video! 

    Washing Farm Animal Sensory Bin

    Yes, another activity with a bin, because they are genuinely life-saving equipment when you’re a parent! Not only is this a great summer activity for your toddler and kids, but it’s an excellent activity for any time of the year. Its simplicity makes it a recurring favorite in our home. 

    Coffee Cups and Crayons

    All you need is a bin, dirt, dish soap, water, small farm animal, washcloths (brushes, sponges, etc.). Happy cleaning!

    Bubble Trucks (Bubble Foam!)

    Ok, if you don’t play with this foam more than your kids, get back to me!

    Will you need a bin or any other type of large container? Uhm, yes. 

    Let’s just get this out of the way right now. If you don’t own any large bins or containers and you are a parent, then you need to haul your butt to the container store right now and get to purchasing! 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Busy Toddler

    Bubble bath/ body wash, water, food coloring (optional), toy trucks, or any other types of vehicles (preferably small). 

    That’s it. Boom. Life changed. 

    Rainbow Ice Cube Painting/ Frozen Popsicle Chalk 

    For ice cube painting, you will need two ingredients: liquid watercolors and water. You fill your ice cube tray with ⅔ water and ⅓ paint and stir! The activity doesn’t call for it, but you can place foil over the ice cube tray and place popsicle sticks so it would be easier to hold when frozen. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Things to Share and Remember

    The frozen popsicles hold the same idea but use tempera paint and cornstarch for the recipe. Read more about the activity here. 

    Water Balloon Pinata/Water Balloon Volleyball 

    C’mon, you know this heat is just going to get worse, so why not tie up balloons filled with water, blindfold your kid, hand them a foam bat, and get to swinging! 

    Fireflies and Mudpies 

    If you want something a little more competitive, then grab some towels! Water balloon volleyball is a fantastic group summer activity where kids have to work together to get the water balloon from their sheet, over the net, and without popping it! 

    Toddler Fishing

    This one is for all my toddlers out there. They can’t do anything serious yet, so sitting in a pool of water is pretty much is as exciting as it gets. Please do not leave your child unattended while they are still in the pool. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I Can Teach My Child

    The idea is to fill your kiddie pool with water, dump a few bath (or any water) animals in there, and set them in. Give them a small net to attempt to catch the animals in the water. This is a great way to strengthen their fine motor skills, as well. 

    Spray Bottle Silhouette Art 

    Alright, so something that doesn’t have to do with water. You will need adult supervision with this activity because it does involve a spray bottle, and you don’t want your kid spraying the walls with paint. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    My Sister’s Suitcase

    The process is relatively simple and will result in a beautiful art piece that you could eventually frame. 

    Rainbow Spaghetti Sensory Activity

     Another great sensory activity for toddlers (and older kids as well!). 


    Little Learning Club

    All you need is spaghetti and food coloring. This is one of those activities that you can prep before the kids wake up on a busy day, and not worry about it for the rest of the day.