https://www.funlittles.com/Fun and easy kids activities — ready for home or the classroom https://www.funlittles.com/diy-room-boxes-kids-can-make/https://www.funlittles.com/diy-room-boxes-kids-can-make/ Sat, 15 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMTBuild a miniature room from cereal-box cardboard and craft-stash odds and ends: a painted wood floor, cork rug, bed with felt pillows, wire nightstand, bottle-cap swivel chair, design board and wall art. It is a low-cost first step into miniature crafts. https://www.funlittles.com/kids-wall-art-abstract-night-sky-on-canvas/https://www.funlittles.com/kids-wall-art-abstract-night-sky-on-canvas/ Sun, 17 May 2020 00:00:00 GMTKids criss-cross black-and-white washi tape on a black canvas, then add gold dot stickers at the intersections and gold star and moon sequins in the spaces. The result is a striking piece of night-sky wall art. It's easy process art that pairs well with learning about the night sky or constellations. https://www.funlittles.com/nature-play-for-kids-making-mini-flower-vases-with-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/nature-play-for-kids-making-mini-flower-vases-with-kids/ Tue, 12 May 2020 00:00:00 GMTKids snip backyard flowers, leaves and grasses, arrange tiny bouquets in their hands, and slip them into small water-filled bottles. The finished vases make a bright window-sill display. https://www.funlittles.com/mothers-day-cards-kids-can-make-using-stamps/https://www.funlittles.com/mothers-day-cards-kids-can-make-using-stamps/ Thu, 30 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMTKids press whole ink pads onto cardstock to stamp colorful squares stacked like a leaning tower of blocks. Then letters go in the squares to spell 'I LOVE U MOM'. A simple, arty card that toddlers and preschoolers can make. https://www.funlittles.com/mothers-day-crafts-upcycle-a-cd-for-an-out-of-this-world-gift/https://www.funlittles.com/mothers-day-crafts-upcycle-a-cd-for-an-out-of-this-world-gift/ Tue, 28 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMTKids decorate the shiny side of two old CDs. An adult hot glues them back to back with a leftover plastic Easter egg in the middle to make a little spaceship. Tuck it into a tissue-lined shoe box with an 'outta this world' note for a Mother's Day gift. https://www.funlittles.com/easy-mothers-day-card-with-process-art-and-free-mom-and-baby-silhouette/https://www.funlittles.com/easy-mothers-day-card-with-process-art-and-free-mom-and-baby-silhouette/ Mon, 27 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMTBlow colored bubbles in cups and press paper on top to make free-form bubble print art. Once it dries, fold it into a card and add a black mother-and-baby silhouette, either drawn by hand or from the free template. https://www.funlittles.com/10-mothers-day-card-ideas/https://www.funlittles.com/10-mothers-day-card-ideas/ Thu, 23 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMTTen easy handmade Mother's Day card ideas, including tulip and handprint painting, thumbprint gardens, pop-up hearts and blow-painted cards, plus a bonus gift for mom. Most are simple enough for younger kids to make. https://www.funlittles.com/art-projects-for-kids-chalk-blocks-with-liquid-chalk-markers/https://www.funlittles.com/art-projects-for-kids-chalk-blocks-with-liquid-chalk-markers/ Sun, 19 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMTPaint small wooden blocks with chalkboard paint, then decorate them with bright liquid chalk markers and plain white chalk. Use them for patterns, designs and cheery positive words, and stack them into a display. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-pond-life-sensory-play/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-pond-life-sensory-play/ Wed, 15 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMTFill a flat storage bin with green water beads, then let kids build a pond small world with foam lily pads, plastic plants and pond animals, using plastic eggs as scoops. It works as sensory play for little ones and storytelling small world play for preschoolers. https://www.funlittles.com/how-to-dye-pasta-for-art-projects/https://www.funlittles.com/how-to-dye-pasta-for-art-projects/ Sun, 12 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMTShake dry pasta in sealed bags with gel food coloring and rubbing alcohol, then dry it on a lined tray. Use the rainbow pasta for sensory play, threading, counting and craft projects. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-silky-soft-goop-recipe/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-silky-soft-goop-recipe/ Fri, 10 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMTMix cornstarch with liquid starch to make a free-flowing, silky smooth goop that oozes through fingers. Unlike regular oobleck, it doesn't turn solid when pressed, which makes it a great prompt for describing words and science questions. https://www.funlittles.com/watercolor-doodles/https://www.funlittles.com/watercolor-doodles/ Wed, 08 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMTPour, splash and blow runny watercolors onto good watercolor paper in a cookie sheet and let it dry overnight. Then use a fine tip black marker to turn the blobs and blended backgrounds into creatures, characters and scenes. https://www.funlittles.com/art-projects-kids-scented-string-art/https://www.funlittles.com/art-projects-kids-scented-string-art/ Sat, 04 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMTSoak white yarn in bowls of brightly colored Kool-Aid, then lay, press and pull the strings on thick paper to make sweet-smelling prints and coil designs. Kids also watch the yarn soak up color and the colors mix and swirl. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-winter-sensory-with-rainbow-snow/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-winter-sensory-with-rainbow-snow/ Fri, 03 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMTKids pour glittery colored water into scoops of Insta-Snow powder and watch it puff up into rainbow "snow." Then they scoop, pour and play pretend in a flat tub. An easy indoor winter activity for kids who don't get real snow. https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-crafts-kids-dinosaur-fossils-ornament/https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-crafts-kids-dinosaur-fossils-ornament/ Sat, 21 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMTPress dinosaur skeleton figurines into rounds of salt dough to make fossil prints, bake them, then paint and glitter around the impression to make Christmas ornaments. It's a simple way to start learning about fossils using mostly household supplies. https://www.funlittles.com/mess-free-art-projects-kids-rainbow-initials-art/https://www.funlittles.com/mess-free-art-projects-kids-rainbow-initials-art/ Sat, 21 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMTKids color wooden initial letters in rainbow stripes with solid tempera paint sticks (Kwik Stix) to make their own room decor. There's no water, brushes or drying time, so cleanup is almost nothing. https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-activities-kids-pattern-christmas-tree-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-activities-kids-pattern-christmas-tree-craft/ Thu, 29 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMTKids glue one-inch tissue paper squares onto a simple tree outline in a pattern or a riot of color, fill the gaps with markers, then add square presents with triangle bows. A holiday spin on pattern and fine motor practice. https://www.funlittles.com/easy-christmas-crafts-for-kids-elf-boots/https://www.funlittles.com/easy-christmas-crafts-for-kids-elf-boots/ Thu, 15 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMTCut elf boots from green cardstock using a printable template. Then decorate them collage-style with foil wrapping paper, gold stars, color dots, buttons, sequins, a red paper trim and a red pom pom. It's a simple, festive Christmas craft with plenty of cutting and fine motor practice. https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-christmas-cards/https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-christmas-cards/ Tue, 13 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMTKids press a painted rainbow handprint onto a folded card, then flip it into a tray of salt, glitter and sequins while the paint is still wet. The result is sparkly homemade Christmas cards. A coat of Mod Podge keeps the sparkle on. https://www.funlittles.com/recycled-christmas-ornaments-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/recycled-christmas-ornaments-kids/ Fri, 02 Dec 2016 00:00:00 GMTThirty kid-friendly Christmas ornament ideas from fellow bloggers that turn jar lids, puzzle pieces, old CDs, bottle caps, corks and paper into tree decorations. Pick an ornament to match the recyclables you have at home. https://www.funlittles.com/jingle-bells-bracelet/https://www.funlittles.com/jingle-bells-bracelet/ Sun, 20 Nov 2016 00:00:00 GMTCoil sparkly pipe cleaners around a pencil to make chunky beads. Thread the beads onto another pipe cleaner with two jingle bells to make a festive bracelet. It works as a quick handmade Christmas gift. https://www.funlittles.com/fun-christmas-lights-activities-for-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/fun-christmas-lights-activities-for-kids/ Wed, 16 Nov 2016 00:00:00 GMTA big collection of Christmas-lights-themed activities from fellow bloggers: art projects, crafts, sensory and small world play, simple fun for babies and toddlers, STEM experiments, printables and patterns. https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-crafts-for-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-crafts-for-kids/ Tue, 15 Nov 2016 00:00:00 GMTWrap a kitchen paper roll in sticky-side-up tape, then press on red and green paper hearts from small at the top to large at the bottom to build a Christmas tree. Top it with a paper cone and sequin ornaments for a table topper or pretend play. https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-crafts-for-kids-jingle-cars-ornaments/https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-crafts-for-kids-jingle-cars-ornaments/ Mon, 07 Nov 2016 00:00:00 GMTWrap a paper roll in shiny red paper, cut a car window, and hot-glue on four large gold jingle bells as wheels. Add gold star stickers and a gold thread loop to hang it on the tree. https://www.funlittles.com/fizzing-christmas-lights-art-project-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/fizzing-christmas-lights-art-project-kids/ Fri, 04 Nov 2016 00:00:00 GMTPaint card stock Christmas light cut-outs with baking soda paint, then drip or tap on colored citric acid and watch them fizz into bright, textured bulbs. Dry them and string them on twine for a festive garland. https://www.funlittles.com/thanksgiving-crafts-for-kids-spray-painted-turkey-art/https://www.funlittles.com/thanksgiving-crafts-for-kids-spray-painted-turkey-art/ Wed, 02 Nov 2016 00:00:00 GMTLay paper turkey feathers on thick watercolor paper and spray diluted liquid watercolors around them, then lift the feathers to reveal white negative-space feathers. Finish with a construction paper turkey body and googly eyes, and use the colorful removed feathers to make a second turkey. https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-crafts-kids-giant-christmas-trees/https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-crafts-kids-giant-christmas-trees/ Tue, 01 Nov 2016 00:00:00 GMTPaint a white poster board green (peppermint-scented if you like), sprinkle it with glitter and roll it into a giant cone tree. Kids then decorate it with tinsel garland, pom poms and foam stickers. https://www.funlittles.com/15464-2/https://www.funlittles.com/15464-2/ Wed, 26 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMTKids spread a thick coat of white glue over a jack-o'-lantern outline and pour or spoon on orange lentils, with green lentils for the leaves and black lentils or marker for the face. It's a simple fall or Halloween craft that builds fine motor skills. https://www.funlittles.com/turkey-crafts-kids-trivet-turkey/https://www.funlittles.com/turkey-crafts-kids-trivet-turkey/ Thu, 20 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMTPaint a cork trivet in bright feather sections, then glue on a cork coaster head, googly eyes and a construction-paper beak, wattle and feet to build a colorful turkey. This is an easy, low-mess Thanksgiving craft that also works on fine motor skills. https://www.funlittles.com/pumpkin-pasta-necklace-threading/https://www.funlittles.com/pumpkin-pasta-necklace-threading/ Sun, 16 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMTShake pumpkin-shaped pasta with orange gel food color in a zip-top bag. While the bottoms are still a little soft, kids thread the pasta on a needle and thread to make a wearable pumpkin necklace. It's great fine-motor, counting and patterning practice. https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-fine-motor-activities-build-spider-web/https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-fine-motor-activities-build-spider-web/ Wed, 12 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMTKids trace a marker-drawn spider web on sticky orange contact paper with black yarn, snipping pieces to length as they go. It builds fine motor and scissor skills plus a little estimation, and ends up as kid-made Halloween decor. https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-fine-motor-tray/https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-fine-motor-tray/ Tue, 11 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMTSpread black craft sand on a tray. Kids write sight words in it, then trace the letters with small stones, gems or gravel, or build googly-eyed monsters and faces. Switch to white sand to play again. https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-activities-for-kids-make-a-ghost-patch/https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-activities-for-kids-make-a-ghost-patch/ Thu, 06 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMTSet out a tray of craft sand with mini ghosts, smooth black rocks, glass gems, googly eyes and foil, and let kids build their own Halloween small world. They might make a spooky graveyard or a friendly ghost patch where ghosts hide and play. https://www.funlittles.com/fall-art-activities-pumpkin-fizzy-art-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/fall-art-activities-pumpkin-fizzy-art-kids/ Tue, 04 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMTPaint card-stock pumpkins with baking soda paint, then drip or splatter orange, yellow and red citric acid solution so they fizz into colorful textured pumpkins. Add googly eyes once dry. https://www.funlittles.com/easy-origami-kids-witch-fingers-halloween/https://www.funlittles.com/easy-origami-kids-witch-fingers-halloween/ Mon, 03 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMTFold squares of origami paper into pointy finger cones, tuck the flap into the pocket, and color the tips black for spooky witch fingers. It's an easy, low-mess Halloween craft that's great for parties or waiting at after-school activities. https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-crafts-kids-spider-medallions/https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-crafts-kids-spider-medallions/ Thu, 29 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMTPress homemade cornstarch clay into a spider ice cube tray to emboss 3D spiders, then let them dry and paint them. Thread them on ribbon for Halloween necklaces and bracelets that make a fun non-candy treat. https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-crafts-kids-bat-crafts-cat-crafts-jack-lantern-crafts-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-crafts-kids-bat-crafts-cat-crafts-jack-lantern-crafts-kids/ Fri, 23 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMTA roundup of Halloween crafts for kids, grouped into bats, black cats and jack-o'-lanterns, collected from fellow bloggers. Most use simple supplies like paper plates, egg cartons, cupcake liners, paper rolls, handprints and paper. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-painting-wood-cookies-watercolors/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-painting-wood-cookies-watercolors/ Wed, 21 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMTKids draw circles or lines on wood slices, then paint them with watercolors in light, blendable layers. The dried 'wood cookies' make colorful displays or stackable props for pretend play. https://www.funlittles.com/fall-crafts-kids-kid-fall-banner-burlap/https://www.funlittles.com/fall-crafts-kids-kid-fall-banner-burlap/ Mon, 19 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMTKids arrange strips of orange burlap into giant F-A-L-L letters, then glue on silk leaves, real leaves and plastic acorns to make a fall banner for the wall. It works well as a collaborative group project. https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-art-projects-kids-glitter-glue-resist-art/https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-art-projects-kids-glitter-glue-resist-art/ Tue, 13 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMTKids squeeze colorful glitter glue designs onto printer paper, let them dry overnight, then paint over everything with black liquid watercolor. Taped to a sunny window, the glue glows like a spooky sun catcher. https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-craft-kids-glowing-milk-carton-haunted-house-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-craft-kids-glowing-milk-carton-haunted-house-craft/ Sat, 10 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMTPaint empty milk cartons with black chalkboard paint, then decorate them as haunted houses with liquid chalk markers or chalk. Under a black light the bright colors glow as if the windows were lit from inside, and there's no cutting involved, so even toddlers can join in. https://www.funlittles.com/apple-tree-craft-yarn-apples-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/apple-tree-craft-yarn-apples-craft/ Wed, 07 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMTSnip red or yellow yarn, coil it around a finger into little apples, and glue them onto a painted green coffee-filter treetop with a craft-stick trunk. A simple fine-motor and scissor-skills craft for an apple theme. https://www.funlittles.com/fall-tree-crafts-sticky-fall-tree-toddlers-can-make/https://www.funlittles.com/fall-tree-crafts-sticky-fall-tree-toddlers-can-make/ Mon, 05 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMTDraw a tree on the sticky side of contact paper, then decorate it with snipped fall-colored yarn leaves, jute bark and fall decorations. Go big with a wall-sized tree for teamwork and pretend play. https://www.funlittles.com/fall-art-projects-kids-easy-fall-tree-toddlers/https://www.funlittles.com/fall-art-projects-kids-easy-fall-tree-toddlers/ Sat, 27 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMTDip plastic cups in fall-colored tempera paint and stamp rings and solid circles to build a bright treetop and a carpet of fallen leaves. It's simple enough for toddlers and still fun for older kids. https://www.funlittles.com/ingredient-treasures-play/https://www.funlittles.com/ingredient-treasures-play/ Mon, 22 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMTFill silicone ice cube trays with glitter glue and let them dry in the sun for about 3 days to make shiny, translucent gems. Use them for pretend play, open-ended art and learning. https://www.funlittles.com/kids-crafts-galaxy-bookmarks/https://www.funlittles.com/kids-crafts-galaxy-bookmarks/ Sun, 14 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMTKids splatter, brush and blend liquid watercolors on thick watercolor paper, then add silver glitter. Once dry, the painting is cut in half, hole-punched and tied with sparkly string to make two galaxy bookmarks. https://www.funlittles.com/fall-activities-kids-fizzing-apple-art/https://www.funlittles.com/fall-activities-kids-fizzing-apple-art/ Wed, 10 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMTPaint paper apple cut-outs with baking soda "paint", then dab on colored citric acid, Fun Dip or vinegar solution and watch them fizz into vibrant, textured art. A simple science experiment and art project in one. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-rooster-art/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-rooster-art/ Fri, 05 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMTKids drag paint-loaded plastic forks along a simple bird outline to fill it with colorful, feathery fork marks, then add an eye and a beak to finish their rooster. No paint brush needed. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-painting-on-burlap-cloth/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-painting-on-burlap-cloth/ Thu, 04 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMTKids draw big, simple shapes on burlap with a permanent marker, then fill them in with thick strokes of watered-down acrylic paint. The rough cloth makes a new kind of canvas and turns into colorful wall art. https://www.funlittles.com/colorful-play-doh-idea/https://www.funlittles.com/colorful-play-doh-idea/ Tue, 02 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMTRoll out brightly colored play dough into meadows and ponds, press in fresh flowers from your yard, and add little toy animals for an open-ended pretend garden. It needs only three things and no planning. https://www.funlittles.com/paint-a-tree/https://www.funlittles.com/paint-a-tree/ Sun, 31 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMTKids paint a backyard tree trunk with washable paint using foam brushes, toothbrushes and their fingers. Then they gather twigs, leaves and petals to build a nest for a stuffed bird and hang it in the branches. https://www.funlittles.com/oobleck-a-k-a-goop-di-goop/https://www.funlittles.com/oobleck-a-k-a-goop-di-goop/ Sat, 30 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMTMix cornstarch, water and food color into a borax-free oobleck goop. Kids squish it, pour it into patterns, and watch hand prints disappear on an outdoor table. Expect a big, happy mess. https://www.funlittles.com/10-ways-to-literally-hang-out-on-a-tree/https://www.funlittles.com/10-ways-to-literally-hang-out-on-a-tree/ Fri, 29 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMTTen simple ways to play on, around and under a small backyard tree: climbing, trunk painting, nest building, animal pretend play, picnics and more. A summer nature-play idea list from TurkeyMom's family. https://www.funlittles.com/simple-3d-bunny-craft-with-foam/https://www.funlittles.com/simple-3d-bunny-craft-with-foam/ Thu, 24 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMTTape together three precut foam bunny shapes to make a cute stand-up 3D bunny, then draw on a face and feet for pretend play. A second taping method makes a hopping bunny. https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-day-craft-valentine-mirror/https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-day-craft-valentine-mirror/ Sat, 23 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMTDraw a big heart on a dollar store mirror, then cover everything around it with cut-up glitter foam squares stuck on with water or diluted tacky glue. The finished mirror is a homemade Valentine's gift that frames the person looking in it inside a heart. https://www.funlittles.com/fall-activities-for-kids-fall-sensory-bags/https://www.funlittles.com/fall-activities-for-kids-fall-sensory-bags/ Wed, 09 Sep 2015 00:00:00 GMTKids fill zip-top bags with hair gel, glitter, food coloring and fall bits like leaves, acorns and cinnamon sticks to make squishy autumn sensory bags. Seal with duct tape, then squish them on a table or a sunny window. https://www.funlittles.com/diy-chalkboard-plaque-for-kids-rooms/https://www.funlittles.com/diy-chalkboard-plaque-for-kids-rooms/ Tue, 01 Sep 2015 00:00:00 GMTTrace a child's silhouette on a wooden oval plaque, paint it with colored and black chalkboard paint, and hang it as a little chalkboard. Kids can answer 'How was school?' or write down how they feel. https://www.funlittles.com/erupting-apple-experiments-for-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/erupting-apple-experiments-for-kids/ Thu, 20 Aug 2015 00:00:00 GMTMix baking soda with liquid watercolors and a little soap, mold it into colorful "apples" and freeze them overnight. Kids then squirt vinegar on the apples, guess what's inside, and watch them erupt into soapy, colorful fizz. https://www.funlittles.com/watercolor-apple-tree-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/watercolor-apple-tree-craft/ Mon, 17 Aug 2015 00:00:00 GMTSquirt green and yellow liquid watercolors onto coffee filters to make leafy treetops, glue on red pom pom apples, and stand them in brown-painted paper roll trunks. Arrange the trees in a tray of green lentils for an orchard pretend-play scene. https://www.funlittles.com/toddler-activities-with-apple-tree-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/toddler-activities-with-apple-tree-craft/ Thu, 06 Aug 2015 00:00:00 GMTTape contact paper to the wall sticky side up, draw an apple tree, and let toddlers fill it with real leaves and pom pom apples. Then play apple picking as the apples fall off into a basket. https://www.funlittles.com/back-to-school-art-for-kids-mixed-media-family-portraits/https://www.funlittles.com/back-to-school-art-for-kids-mixed-media-family-portraits/ Wed, 05 Aug 2015 00:00:00 GMTSpray paint old shoebox lids a light color, draw a family or self portrait on each one with a fine-tip permanent marker, then decoupage a tissue-paper background and decorate with glitter, sequins and beads. A recycled-art project for the first weeks of school that can run over several short sessions. https://www.funlittles.com/picture-frame-wall-art/https://www.funlittles.com/picture-frame-wall-art/ Thu, 30 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMTKids rule lines on the glass of a dollar-store picture frame with a black marker, then fill each section with bright nail polish. The result is colorful, hangable wall art for their rooms. https://www.funlittles.com/table-top-art-gallery-mini-easels/https://www.funlittles.com/table-top-art-gallery-mini-easels/ Tue, 28 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMTAn adult hot-glues craft sticks into mini easels. Kids then fill tiny papers like post-its, notepads or mini cardstock with drawings and paintings, and display them as an art gallery right on the table. https://www.funlittles.com/summer-activities-with-ice-blocks/https://www.funlittles.com/summer-activities-with-ice-blocks/ Thu, 23 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMTFreeze colored water in half-gallon juice or milk cartons, then line the giant ice blocks up on a play slide and send them sliding down one by one or all together in an avalanche. A simple outdoor summer game that can also become a melting observation activity. https://www.funlittles.com/kids-crafts-doll-pin-butterflies/https://www.funlittles.com/kids-crafts-doll-pin-butterflies/ Wed, 22 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMTKids paint wooden doll pins in bright colors, glue pom poms together in threes, and use pipe cleaners to make figure-eight wings and antennae. Then they stuff the pom poms into the wings for colorful 3D butterflies. It's a great finger-muscle workout of pulling, twisting and stretching. https://www.funlittles.com/illuminated-card-paper-circuit/https://www.funlittles.com/illuminated-card-paper-circuit/ Wed, 29 Apr 2015 00:00:00 GMTBuild a simple paper circuit from copper wire, LED lights and a coin cell battery on the back of a child's artwork so the LEDs shine through as glowing details, like the stars in a 'Starry Night' painting. https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-for-kids-inclined-plane-experiment/https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-for-kids-inclined-plane-experiment/ Fri, 10 Apr 2015 00:00:00 GMTPull a bag of rice up a stack of books with a rubber band, then up a wooden plank and a smoother foam board, and measure how far the band stretches. Kids see that a ramp needs less effort over a longer distance, which is the basic idea of simple machines. https://www.funlittles.com/spring-art-for-kids-spring-themed-diy-wall-art/https://www.funlittles.com/spring-art-for-kids-spring-themed-diy-wall-art/ Tue, 07 Apr 2015 00:00:00 GMTKids make textured papers by spraying, dropping and splattering liquid watercolors on heavy paper. Then they cut the papers into flowers, stems, leaves, a sun and bugs and arrange them together on a blue-to-green rainbow poster board for collaborative wall art. https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activities-mini-alphabet-eggs-hunt/https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activities-mini-alphabet-eggs-hunt/ Thu, 26 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMTKids use tweezers to hunt for mini foam eggs marked with letters in a bin of Easter grass, then sort each egg into a muffin tin cup labeled with the matching letter. It's a simple Easter fine motor activity with lots of literacy thrown in. https://www.funlittles.com/small-world-play-rainforest-box/https://www.funlittles.com/small-world-play-rainforest-box/ Tue, 24 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMTTurn a big cardboard box into a rainforest with taped-on branches, a painted floor mat, paper-roll trees and a poster-board pond. Then kids fill it with toy animals and make up animal stories. https://www.funlittles.com/earth-day-art-with-puffy-paint-earth/https://www.funlittles.com/earth-day-art-with-puffy-paint-earth/ Mon, 23 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMTMix equal parts white glue and shaving cream, tint it blue and green with gel food color, and paint a puffy, textured Earth on a paper plate. Once dry, the plates make simple Earth Day wall art. https://www.funlittles.com/math-activities-kids-exploring-volume/https://www.funlittles.com/math-activities-kids-exploring-volume/ Sun, 22 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMTFill a bucket with water one smaller container at a time, count how many fills each container takes, and record the numbers to compare volume and capacity. https://www.funlittles.com/save-the-bunnies-easter-science-experiment/https://www.funlittles.com/save-the-bunnies-easter-science-experiment/ Sat, 21 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMTFreeze bubble bath, baking soda, food color and small toys into colorful muffin-tin 'soap cakes'. Kids then rescue the trapped bunnies and fairies with vinegar, lemon juice and citric acid in a slow, long-lasting foaming fizz. https://www.funlittles.com/science-for-kids-easter-science-with-peeps-boats/https://www.funlittles.com/science-for-kids-easter-science-with-peeps-boats/ Wed, 18 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMTTurn marshmallow bunny Peeps into boats with toothpick sails, then float them in water. Experiment with sail materials, shapes and toothpick positions to explore floating, balance and wind. https://www.funlittles.com/easter-activities-kids-chalk-egg-art/https://www.funlittles.com/easter-activities-kids-chalk-egg-art/ Sun, 15 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMTKids draw patterns or faces on sandpaper egg cut-outs with fluorescent chalk, which glows under a blacklight if you have one. Then string the eggs on baker's twine for an Easter garland that looks bright in daylight too. https://www.funlittles.com/scavenger-hunt-for-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/scavenger-hunt-for-kids/ Fri, 13 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMTTape contact paper sticky-side-up onto colored paper to make sticky color cards. Then kids hunt outdoors for flowers, petals and leaves that match each color and stick them right on the card. https://www.funlittles.com/frozen-soapy-sculptures-sensory-play/https://www.funlittles.com/frozen-soapy-sculptures-sensory-play/ Thu, 12 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMTFreeze colored clear bubble bath in muffin, heart and ice-cube molds. Kids stack the fragrant soap cakes into towers and bridges, then smoosh them into a colorful sensory mush. https://www.funlittles.com/40-dramatic-play-ideas/https://www.funlittles.com/40-dramatic-play-ideas/ Wed, 11 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMTA roundup of pretend-play setups (school, library, post office, shops, cafés, clinics and more), grouped by what they build: reading and writing, math, vocabulary, and overcoming fears. Each idea credits its original blogger. https://www.funlittles.com/playdough-play-ideas-10-pasta-and-playdough-kids-activities/https://www.funlittles.com/playdough-play-ideas-10-pasta-and-playdough-kids-activities/ Tue, 10 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMTTen ways to combine two versatile materials, playdough and colored pasta: build structures and rainbows, make sculptures and dinosaur skeletons, play matching games, thread and trace letters. Each idea is credited to the blog that shared it. https://www.funlittles.com/kids-crafts-rainbow-craft-using-painted-foil/https://www.funlittles.com/kids-crafts-rainbow-craft-using-painted-foil/ Fri, 06 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMTScrunch seven sheets of foil into tubes, bend them into arches, stand the ends in matching play dough and paint each band a rainbow color. A simple 3D rainbow craft for St. Patrick's Day. https://www.funlittles.com/st-patricks-day-art-fizzing-color-mixing-shamrock-art/https://www.funlittles.com/st-patricks-day-art-fizzing-color-mixing-shamrock-art/ Fri, 27 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMTKids paint paper shamrocks with glittery yellow baking soda paint, then dab on blue vinegar. The shamrocks fizz and turn green. Dry them and hold them up against a sunny window. https://www.funlittles.com/engineering-for-kids-build-with-pasta/https://www.funlittles.com/engineering-for-kids-build-with-pasta/ Wed, 25 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMTKids engineer houses, towers, trucks and more from rainbow-dyed pasta in different shapes, using playdough as the "mortar" that holds the pieces together. A simple open-ended building activity about balance and choosing the right material for each part. https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activities-rainbow-pasta-playdough/https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activities-rainbow-pasta-playdough/ Tue, 24 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMTKids color-match rainbow pipe cleaners to balls of playdough, thread colored pasta onto them, then bend each one into an arch to build a rainbow. It packs in fine motor practice, color matching and a little engineering. https://www.funlittles.com/engineering-kids-build-rainbow-marshmallow-structures/https://www.funlittles.com/engineering-kids-build-rainbow-marshmallow-structures/ Mon, 23 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMTConnect rainbow-colored mini marshmallows with toothpicks to build 3D structures like cubes. A simple, colorful building and engineering activity. https://www.funlittles.com/colored-marshmallows-for-play-and-learning/https://www.funlittles.com/colored-marshmallows-for-play-and-learning/ Sat, 21 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMTDye mini marshmallows with water and gel food color, dry them overnight on wax paper, then dust off the stickiness. You get a rainbow of play pieces for counting, sorting, patterning and building. https://www.funlittles.com/math-games-for-kids-pot-o-gold-math-game/https://www.funlittles.com/math-games-for-kids-pot-o-gold-math-game/ Tue, 17 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMTKids count gold coins onto numbered pot o' gold cards to practice one-to-one correspondence. Then they use a 'sharing' leprechaun puppet to add and a naughty 'stealing' leprechaun puppet to subtract. Uses a free printable and is easy to adapt for preschool or kindergarten. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-green-gold-slime-play-recipe/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-green-gold-slime-play-recipe/ Sat, 14 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMTMix white glue, warm water, color and liquid starch into a stretchy slime. Make one green Shamrock Sparkles batch and one yellow Golden Sparkles batch, then add glitter, clover confetti and gold coins for St. Patrick's Day treasure play, counting games and slime art. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-painting-marshmallows/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-painting-marshmallows/ Fri, 13 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMTKids paint jumbo marshmallows in rainbow colors with liquid watercolors, let them dry on wax paper, then dust them with baking soda. The finished marshmallows are for building rainbows, sorting colors, patterning and math play. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-popping-putty-goo/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-popping-putty-goo/ Wed, 11 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMTMix clear glue, warm water, gel food color and liquid starch into stretchy rainbow silly putty. Then sprinkle on Pop Rocks and listen as the putty pops and melts into a colorful goo. https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-kids-10-science-experiments-jar/https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-kids-10-science-experiments-jar/ Sun, 08 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMTA collection of easy science experiments from fellow bloggers that can all be done in a jar, from a layered rainbow jar to rain clouds, tornadoes and a lava lamp. Grab your glass jars and pick one to try. https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-craft-sticky-pom-pom-hearts-garland/https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-craft-sticky-pom-pom-hearts-garland/ Sat, 07 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMTGlue clear contact paper hearts onto cereal-box hearts with the sticky side up. Kids press pom poms on, then the hearts are hole-punched and tied with Valentine ribbon into a garland. No glue for the kids to handle, so it works as a toddler Valentine craft. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-flower-pressing-valentine-art/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-flower-pressing-valentine-art/ Tue, 03 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMTPress garden flower petals in the microwave in under a minute, then brush on a little glue and arrange them on cardstock to make nature-themed Valentine cards. https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-for-kids-sunset-in-a-jar-science/https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-for-kids-sunset-in-a-jar-science/ Mon, 02 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMTIn a dark room, shine a flashlight through water clouded with more and more milk. The 'sky' turns pale blue, then yellow, then a deep orange 'sunset', a hands-on way to see how light scatters. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-homemade-rangoli-powder/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-homemade-rangoli-powder/ Mon, 26 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMTMix rice flour with drops of candy color and a little salt to make bright homemade rangoli powder. Then pinch and trickle it into patterns on a foil pie pan, or draw designs in it with a finger. https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-art-duct-tape-hearts/https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-art-duct-tape-hearts/ Wed, 14 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMTKids stick strips of red and pink duct tape onto a sandpaper or card stock heart, then trim the edges. They can turn the hearts into canvas art, gift tags or a mobile as homemade Valentine's presents. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-sandpaper-and-fabric-art/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-sandpaper-and-fabric-art/ Fri, 09 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMTPress felt, chunky yarn, lace, tulle and scrap fabric onto sandpaper, where they stick without glue, to build an open-ended collage scene. Kids can also test which fabrics stick and talk about why. https://www.funlittles.com/indoor-snowball-activity-150-screen-free-activities-book-review/https://www.funlittles.com/indoor-snowball-activity-150-screen-free-activities-book-review/ Wed, 07 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMTMix the 2-ingredient "Easy Dough" from page 50 of Asia Citro's book 150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids in a big bowl. Kids pack it into cold snowballs and stack them into a little snowman. https://www.funlittles.com/top-posts-2014-blog-mom/https://www.funlittles.com/top-posts-2014-blog-mom/ Mon, 05 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMTOur ten most popular posts of 2014, almost all of them sensory activities. Includes edible slime, silky goop, edible water beads, tulip painting, lemon eruptions, pretend snow and rainbow snow. https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activities-jingle-bell-drop/https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activities-jingle-bell-drop/ Tue, 09 Dec 2014 00:00:00 GMTWrap recycled paper rolls in holiday gift wrap, number them with foam stickers, and have kids count and drop that many jingle bells into each roll on a metal cookie sheet. It's a festive fine motor, sorting and counting game with a satisfying jingly sound. https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activities-jingle-bells-fine-motor-tray/https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activities-jingle-bells-fine-motor-tray/ Tue, 02 Dec 2014 00:00:00 GMTKids use tongs to pick up red and gold jingle bells and lay them along numbers traced in a peppermint-scented colored salt tray, then make patterns and their own designs. It builds on the author's peppermint writing tray. https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-toys-gift-guide-baby-toys-10/https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-toys-gift-guide-baby-toys-10/ Mon, 24 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMTA gift guide of about 20 budget-friendly toys for babies and younger toddlers, sorted by type of play: stacking, grasping, music, moving, sensory, and shapes and colors. Each toy was under $10 when the guide was published in 2014. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-sound-soup/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-sound-soup/ Thu, 20 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMTDrop lots of small jingle bells into a shiny metal bowl of scented, colored water. Kids stir, scoop and serve the noisy "soup" with tongs. It's a Christmas sensory bin that adds sound to the usual touch and sight. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-kids-peppermint-writing-tray/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-kids-peppermint-writing-tray/ Wed, 19 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMTShake salt with a drop of gel food color and peppermint extract to make a pink, Christmas-scented writing tray. Kids copy sight words into it with candy canes or pipe cleaner candy canes, then brush it smooth for the next word. https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-crafts-kids-homemade-ornaments-foam-cups/https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-crafts-kids-homemade-ornaments-foam-cups/ Mon, 17 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMTKids paint foam cups with cheerful acrylic colors and glitter, then thread a jingle bell onto a sparkly pipe cleaner and poke it through the cup to make a jingling ornament. Leave the pipe cleaner as a hanging handle or shape it into a heart. https://www.funlittles.com/holiday-gift-guide-for-kids-gifts-for-animal-loving-explorers/https://www.funlittles.com/holiday-gift-guide-for-kids-gifts-for-animal-loving-explorers/ Thu, 13 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMTA holiday gift guide for animal-loving explorers ages 2-5. It covers explorer tools like magnifying glasses, bug houses and binoculars, plus pretend-play animal sets, a vet kit and a homemade roly-poly terrarium. It ends with links to more gift guides from fellow bloggers. https://www.funlittles.com/edible-playdough-recipe-no-cook-marshmallow-playdough/https://www.funlittles.com/edible-playdough-recipe-no-cook-marshmallow-playdough/ Fri, 07 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMTMix 1/4 cup of marshmallow creme with a few drops of gel food color and 1/3 cup of cornstarch, then knead into a soft, almost stretchy playdough. It takes prints and cuts well and is taste-safe if accidentally mouthed. https://www.funlittles.com/thanksgiving-art-corn-rubbing-art-project/https://www.funlittles.com/thanksgiving-art-corn-rubbing-art-project/ Wed, 05 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMTTape white paper over an ear of Indian corn and gently rub crayons across it to reveal the bumpy kernel pattern. It's a simple, soothing Thanksgiving art project, and the rubbings can be framed or cut into corn shapes. https://www.funlittles.com/corn-crafts-for-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/corn-crafts-for-kids/ Fri, 24 Oct 2014 00:00:00 GMTA short and sweet roundup of corn crafts, corn-themed art projects and simple corn activities for fall and Thanksgiving, collected from fellow bloggers. It includes weaving, mosaics, printing and stamping, shakers, counting games, fine-motor tweezing, science and sensory play. https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-crafts-for-toddlers-spooky-wreaths/https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-crafts-for-toddlers-spooky-wreaths/ Fri, 17 Oct 2014 00:00:00 GMTToddlers paint the rim of a paper plate, then glue on googly eyes of all sizes to make a spooky Halloween wreath. An adult cuts out the center and adds a ribbon for hanging. https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-craft-for-kids-spooky-hands/https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-craft-for-kids-spooky-hands/ Fri, 10 Oct 2014 00:00:00 GMTKids trace and cut out their handprints from black paper, glue on orange triangle nails, then 'spookify' them with glitter glue and googly eyes. Add popsicle sticks to turn them into spooky hand puppets. It's great scissor practice. https://www.funlittles.com/50-halloween-activities-for-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/50-halloween-activities-for-kids/ Wed, 08 Oct 2014 00:00:00 GMTA big roundup of Halloween activities from fellow bloggers and our own posts: Halloween art, crafts, sensory play, and party games and ideas to keep you covered for the spooky season. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-halloween-scratch-art-project/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-halloween-scratch-art-project/ Mon, 06 Oct 2014 00:00:00 GMTPaint a foil pie pan with black washable acrylic paint mixed with a little dish soap. Once it's dry, scratch a spider web or any picture with a bamboo skewer so the shiny silver foil peeps through. https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-sensory-bin/https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-sensory-bin/ Wed, 01 Oct 2014 00:00:00 GMTFill a deep bin with black beans, creepy-crawly rings, garland, muffin liners and a pumpkin for open-ended scooping and pretend baking. Add simple color, number and pattern games along the way. https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-paint-melted-candy-watercolors/https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-paint-melted-candy-watercolors/ Wed, 01 Oct 2014 00:00:00 GMTUnwrap and sort leftover Laffy Taffy by color, then microwave 4 pieces with 2 tbsp water to make glossy, sweet-smelling homemade liquid watercolors. A handy use for Halloween candy. https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-crafts-kids-simple-ghost-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-crafts-kids-simple-ghost-craft/ Tue, 30 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMTFold a basket coffee filter into a cone, draw a cute ghost face with a black marker, then punch a hole and thread it to hang. Display the little ghosties on a fallen tree branch or string them into a banner. https://www.funlittles.com/fall-sensory-activities-for-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/fall-sensory-activities-for-kids/ Sun, 28 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMTA collection of fall sensory play ideas from fellow bloggers, grouped by type: dry rice bins, wet pasta bins, slimes and goops, water play, play dough and cloud dough, and small-world pretend play. Each idea credits the blog that created it. https://www.funlittles.com/pumpkin-crafts-for-kids-sparkly-pumpkins/https://www.funlittles.com/pumpkin-crafts-for-kids-sparkly-pumpkins/ Thu, 25 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMTBrush glue inside a printed pumpkin outline and scatter colored ice cream salt over it, section by section, for a shiny, textured fall pumpkin. Let it dry for a day or two before lifting. https://www.funlittles.com/fall-art-activities-kids-fall-tree-art/https://www.funlittles.com/fall-art-activities-kids-fall-tree-art/ Wed, 17 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMTKids paint a free-form background in red, orange and yellow liquid watercolors. Once it's dry, they blow drops of brown watercolor through a straw to grow a tree's trunk and branches. https://www.funlittles.com/fall-crafts-for-kids-and-art-projects/https://www.funlittles.com/fall-crafts-for-kids-and-art-projects/ Sun, 14 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMTA roundup of easy, practical fall art projects, crafts and learning activities from fellow kid bloggers, including leaf suncatchers, painted fall trees, acorn and pinecone crafts, leaf threading and nature play. Click through to each original activity. https://www.funlittles.com/fall-crafts-homemade-fall-maracas/https://www.funlittles.com/fall-crafts-homemade-fall-maracas/ Fri, 12 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMTKids fill empty plastic water bottles with crunchy dried fall leaves, twigs and pods to make shakers, then decorate them with silk leaves. It's a simple fine-motor, sound-exploring nature craft made from recycled materials. https://www.funlittles.com/unique-creative-engineering-toys-for-kids-with-a-kinetic-sand-giveaway/https://www.funlittles.com/unique-creative-engineering-toys-for-kids-with-a-kinetic-sand-giveaway/ Tue, 09 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMTKids slot together a paperboard city kit, decorate the houses with markers or paint, and use them for pretend play. Then they snap wheels, feet, spirals and propellers onto rubber-ball hubs to build creatures and machines. https://www.funlittles.com/play-recipe-homemade-rocks-gems/https://www.funlittles.com/play-recipe-homemade-rocks-gems/ Mon, 08 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMTMix colored rock salt into white glue to make sparkly, chunky play gems that dry in about 2 days. Kids practice measuring, pouring and mixing, then sort the gems by color, learn about real gemstones or use them as pretend treasure. https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-for-kids-apple-cider-experiment/https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-for-kids-apple-cider-experiment/ Fri, 05 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMTAdd a bit of baking soda and a few squirts of liquid watercolor to clear containers, then pour in apple cider vinegar for colorful, apple-scented fizzy eruptions. A quick fall science experiment about acids and bases. https://www.funlittles.com/fall-art-activities-fall-tree-art/https://www.funlittles.com/fall-art-activities-fall-tree-art/ Tue, 02 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMTKids squeeze homemade flour puffy paint onto paper to make a brown tree trunk with dotted fall-color leaves, or any picture they like. An adult then microwaves each picture for a few seconds so the paint puffs up into 3D art. https://www.funlittles.com/cupcakes-for-all-the-upcoming-holidays/https://www.funlittles.com/cupcakes-for-all-the-upcoming-holidays/ Sat, 30 Aug 2014 00:00:00 GMTSix festive cupcake ideas from around the web, one for each holiday from Labor Day through New Year's: hamburger sliders, eyeballs, pumpkin cream, a blue velvet menorah, Christmas tree swirls and champagne cupcakes. These are real baked treats, so an adult handles the oven and kids can help decorate. https://www.funlittles.com/apple-activities-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/apple-activities-kids/ Fri, 29 Aug 2014 00:00:00 GMTA roundup of apple crafts and art activities from fellow bloggers and Fun Littles, roughly grouped by skill level: toddlers, preschoolers and older kids. A good starting point for apple season and fall. https://www.funlittles.com/tips-for-first-day-school-jitters/https://www.funlittles.com/tips-for-first-day-school-jitters/ Thu, 28 Aug 2014 00:00:00 GMTSix parent tips for easing a child's first-day-of-school nerves: visit the school ahead of time, share happy school memories, stay close for the first few days, talk to the teacher, be on time at pickup, and read first-day books together. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-homemade-stickers-for-story-telling/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-homemade-stickers-for-story-telling/ Fri, 15 Aug 2014 00:00:00 GMTKids draw and paint tiny pictures on card stock squares, then brush the backs with dissolved Jell-O to turn them into homemade stickers. Once the stickers are dry, they dampen them, stick them onto heavy paper and build a scene to tell a story. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-easy-negative-space-art/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-easy-negative-space-art/ Mon, 11 Aug 2014 00:00:00 GMTLay household objects and toys on heavy paper, then spray liquid watercolors over them. Lift the objects off to reveal crisp white shapes in this simple resist art. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-sand-paper-art13169/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-sand-paper-art13169/ Fri, 08 Aug 2014 00:00:00 GMTUse super fine sandpaper as a canvas in three ways: paint it with homemade liquid chalk, rub regular chalk all over it, or make a white-crayon resist with liquid watercolors. It is open-ended, kid-centric art with lovely texture. https://www.funlittles.com/kids-sensory-activities-slime-play-food/https://www.funlittles.com/kids-sensory-activities-slime-play-food/ Tue, 05 Aug 2014 00:00:00 GMTMake a firm, putty-like glue and liquid starch slime in several colors, then let kids pull, cut and squish it into pretend pizza toppings and serve it at a pretend restaurant. This is play food only. The slime is not edible or taste-safe. https://www.funlittles.com/crystal-playdough-recipe13136/https://www.funlittles.com/crystal-playdough-recipe13136/ Fri, 18 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMTMake a small batch of glittery homemade playdough, then set it out with colorful pantry-made 'crystals' for kids to press in, pick up and build into shiny gem treasures. It is great for sensory play or for pretend play with dragons, pirates and castles. https://www.funlittles.com/save-toys/https://www.funlittles.com/save-toys/ Thu, 17 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMTNine practical ways for families to stretch the toy budget: swap, rotate, buy used and sell outgrown toys, and turn boxes, paper rolls and nature bits into playthings. Several ideas link to TurkeyMom's own box and paper-roll crafts. https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-puffy-paint-with-sparkle-sand/https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-puffy-paint-with-sparkle-sand/ Sat, 12 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMTMix a flour puffy paint with real play sand, color and fine glitter. Spread it on cardboard with spoons and cotton buds, then microwave it briefly so it puffs into squishy, gritty, sparkly art. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-archery-painting/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-archery-painting/ Tue, 08 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMTDip the rubber tips of toy arrows in kids paint, then shoot or press them onto a big sheet of paper taped to an outdoor wall for active, collaborative art. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-kids-edible-sand-dough-recipe/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-kids-edible-sand-dough-recipe/ Mon, 07 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMTMix flour, cornmeal, salt, oil, cream of tartar and Kool-Aid with boiling water to make a gritty, scented sand dough for little hands. Make one small ball per color, then press, cut and stack it into rainbow sand cakes. https://www.funlittles.com/edible-sand-recipe/https://www.funlittles.com/edible-sand-recipe/ Wed, 25 Jun 2014 00:00:00 GMTMix cornmeal with unsweetened Kool-Aid and a splash of water to make brightly colored, scented play sand that is taste-safe if accidentally mouthed. Keep it dry for scooping and pouring, or add a bit more water to make it moldable like damp beach sand. https://www.funlittles.com/science-activities-for-kids-mini-volcanones/https://www.funlittles.com/science-activities-for-kids-mini-volcanones/ Wed, 04 Jun 2014 00:00:00 GMTTurn a clear plastic egg carton upside down into a row of mini mountains, fill them with baking soda, and squirt in colored vinegar for lots of little pastel eruptions and a 'lava river'. https://www.funlittles.com/summer-fruits-playdough-recipe/https://www.funlittles.com/summer-fruits-playdough-recipe/ Fri, 30 May 2014 00:00:00 GMTMake soft, fruity-scented playdough in summer flavors: no-cook watermelon (liquid Kool-Aid), cooked pineapple (JELL-O) and no-cook coconut (coconut flakes and white food color). Compare the scents and pick a favorite. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-tropical-fruits-sensory-rice-recipe/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-tropical-fruits-sensory-rice-recipe/ Thu, 22 May 2014 00:00:00 GMTScent and color plain white rice with watermelon, mango, pineapple and coconut flavors, then set it in a bin with dollar-store luau props for scooping, pouring and pretend tropical drinks. The rice is scented, not food. https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-for-kids-floating-stone-experiment/https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-for-kids-floating-stone-experiment/ Mon, 19 May 2014 00:00:00 GMTKids predict whether everyday objects will float or sink, test them in a tub of water, and then meet a surprise: a pumice 'stone' that floats. Finish by sorting everything into labeled Float and Sink jars. https://www.funlittles.com/mango-playdough-recipe/https://www.funlittles.com/mango-playdough-recipe/ Fri, 16 May 2014 00:00:00 GMTAdd a mango-flavored powdered drink mix to your favorite homemade playdough recipe for a soft, sweet-smelling dough. Then roll, print, slice and build pretend mango pizzas, cakes and sandwiches. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-floating-art/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-floating-art/ Mon, 12 May 2014 00:00:00 GMTSquirt shaving cream onto a shallow container of water, then drip liquid watercolors on with pipettes to make colorful art that floats. When the art is done, kids swirl and mix it for sensory play. https://www.funlittles.com/kids-crafts-homemade-sun-dial/https://www.funlittles.com/kids-crafts-homemade-sun-dial/ Fri, 09 May 2014 00:00:00 GMTPaint a paper plate to look like the Sun, stand a paintbrush up through a hole in the middle, and trace its shadow every hour to build a simple sun dial. A fun craft that turns into a lesson about the Sun and telling time. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-bubble-wrap-stamps/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-bubble-wrap-stamps/ Wed, 30 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMTTape bubble wrap onto cereal-box shapes to make homemade stamps. Smoosh them into dollops of neon paint and press them onto white paper for vibrant rainbow prints. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-scented-fizzy-paints/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-scented-fizzy-paints/ Mon, 21 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMTPaint with sweet-smelling homemade Kool-Aid paints, then sprinkle baking soda over the wet art and watch it fizz into textured, scratch-and-sniff pictures. Or flip it: spread baking soda paint first and dab Kool-Aid paint on top. https://www.funlittles.com/outdoor-activities-for-kids-picture-book-hunt/https://www.funlittles.com/outdoor-activities-for-kids-picture-book-hunt/ Mon, 14 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMTHide favorite picture books among the bushes, trees and plants in the backyard, then give kids a list of riddle clues to find each book and check it off. A simple scavenger hunt that mixes outdoor play with a dash of literacy. https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activities-sticky-lady-bug-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activities-sticky-lady-bug-craft/ Fri, 11 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMTBuild a big ladybug from black poster board and sticky-side-up red contact paper wings, then let little ones press black paper spots onto the sticky wings. It is a simple fine motor workout even toddlers can do, and it ends up as window decor. https://www.funlittles.com/easter-egg-decoration-space-eggs/https://www.funlittles.com/easter-egg-decoration-space-eggs/ Wed, 09 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMTProp hard-boiled eggs on play dough, paint them black with acrylic paint, then decorate them with gold and silver glitter glue to make shimmering space eggs. A simple Easter egg decorating activity for young kids. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-rolling-pin-yarn-prints/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-rolling-pin-yarn-prints/ Mon, 07 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMTWrap rolling pins with yarn, roll them through neon paints, then roll across a big sheet of paper to make bright, stringy prints. This is process art for toddlers and preschoolers, and you get colorful yarn for more art as a bonus. https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-paint-recipes-glowing-puffy-paint/https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-paint-recipes-glowing-puffy-paint/ Tue, 01 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMTMix flour, baking powder and fluorescent paint into squeezable puffy paint. Kids squeeze and pour it onto cereal-box cardboard under a black light, then an adult microwaves the art for a few seconds so it puffs up. https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-play-dough-recipe-spring-and-easter-theme/https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-play-dough-recipe-spring-and-easter-theme/ Sun, 30 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMTMake soft, stretchy play dough from basic pantry ingredients in bright spring colors. Then let kids cut, shape and decorate Easter eggs, bunnies, flowers and creatures with beads, sequins and googly eyes. https://www.funlittles.com/40-easter-treats-for-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/40-easter-treats-for-kids/ Fri, 28 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMTA themed collection of Easter treat recipes from fellow bloggers: bunnies, carrots, chicks, sheep and lambs, cookies, bread and eggs. Pick a few to make with kids in the kitchen. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-spring-flower-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-spring-flower-craft/ Wed, 26 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMTKids drip liquid watercolors onto cotton rounds with pipettes and watch the colors spread and mix. Once dry, they arrange the colorful rounds into flowers, caterpillars, snakes or their own designs. https://www.funlittles.com/spring-crafts-for-kids-birds-and-butterfly-mobiles/https://www.funlittles.com/spring-crafts-for-kids-birds-and-butterfly-mobiles/ Tue, 25 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMTKids decorate foam butterfly and chick cut-outs with googly eyes, sequins, pom poms, gems, feathers and glitter glue. Once dry, the shapes are hung on a ribbon as a spring mobile. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-melted-crayon-art-for-easter/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-melted-crayon-art-for-easter/ Mon, 24 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMTDab or paint melted crayon onto blown or hard-boiled eggs. Once the wax hardens, paint over it with liquid watercolors. The crayon resists the paint, giving colorful, textured Easter eggs. https://www.funlittles.com/butterfly-arts-craft-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/butterfly-arts-craft-kids/ Sun, 23 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMTA collection of 25 butterfly crafts, art projects and learning activities from fellow bloggers. It runs from simple toddler and preschool crafts to more involved projects for school-age kids, plus a few creations parents can make for their children. https://www.funlittles.com/spring-activities-for-kids-sticky-garden/https://www.funlittles.com/spring-activities-for-kids-sticky-garden/ Sat, 22 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMTTape contact paper to a window, sticky side out, and let kids press fresh petals, flowers and leaves onto it to make mice, butterflies and other figures. It is a simple spring nature activity that also works indoors. https://www.funlittles.com/spring-crafts-with-word-flowers/https://www.funlittles.com/spring-crafts-with-word-flowers/ Mon, 17 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMTWrite feeling words and their synonyms in white crayon on card stock circles and petals. Paint over them with liquid watercolors to magically reveal the words, then add magnetic tape and sort the petals into synonym flowers on a baking sheet or the fridge. https://www.funlittles.com/building-engineering-activities-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/building-engineering-activities-kids/ Thu, 13 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMTA roundup of simple "invitation to build" ideas that go beyond blocks, sorted by the main material: Styrofoam, cardboard, paper, food and loose parts. Each idea is credited to the blog that shared it. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-cracked-wax-resist-art/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-cracked-wax-resist-art/ Tue, 11 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMTKids draw and color a picture in crayon on heavy construction paper, crumple it several times, paint over it with bright washable paint, then rinse the paint off. Paint stays in the cracks for a batik-like look. It's a good chance to talk about warm and cool colors. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-st-patricks-day-sensory-jars/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-st-patricks-day-sensory-jars/ Wed, 05 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMTKids pour water into jars, tint it green or golden yellow with liquid watercolors, then add coins, beads, confetti, glitter and pom poms while guessing what will sink or float. A simple themed sensory jar to play with and display. https://www.funlittles.com/st-patricks-day-activities-sensory-bin/https://www.funlittles.com/st-patricks-day-activities-sensory-bin/ Mon, 03 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMTFill a deep bin with green mung beans, yellow split peas, green and yellow Cheerios, gold ribbon and play coins, and tape paper rings of different sizes to the sides. Toddlers scoop, transfer and pinch, while preschoolers take on drop-through-the-ring challenges and build a pot of gold. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-color-mixing-grids/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-color-mixing-grids/ Sun, 02 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMTPaint rows of red, yellow and blue liquid watercolor on a gridded sheet of heavy paper, then paint the same colors across as columns while still wet so the secondary colors appear in the boxes. A simple, structured way to talk about primary and secondary colors. https://www.funlittles.com/crafts-for-kids-rainbow-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/crafts-for-kids-rainbow-craft/ Sat, 01 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMTKids brush glue between the lines of a rainbow outline and fill each band with small paint-card chips, then add cotton-ball clouds. It's a colorful fine motor collage that works one-on-one or as a collaborative group project. https://www.funlittles.com/flower-crafts-for-kids-20-spring-crafts/https://www.funlittles.com/flower-crafts-for-kids-20-spring-crafts/ Wed, 26 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMTA roundup of 22 flower crafts and flower-themed art projects for spring from Fun Littles and fellow bloggers. It includes tulip painting, fingerprint flowers, watercolor poppies, coffee filter and egg carton flowers, blossom branches and giant flower murals. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-texture-watercolor-projects/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-texture-watercolor-projects/ Mon, 24 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMTKids paint watercolor paper with liquid watercolors, then dab rubbing alcohol on the still-wet paint with cotton swabs. The alcohol pushes the color away and leaves 'fish eye' patterns, swirls and shapes. It is simple process art about observing cause and effect. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-fold-and-dye-tissue-art/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-fold-and-dye-tissue-art/ Wed, 19 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMTFold a paper dinner napkin into a small triangle, dip its edges in liquid watercolors, and gently unfold it to reveal a colorful shibori-style pattern. Every fold, napkin size and dip gives a different design. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-edible-slime-dinosaur-world/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-edible-slime-dinosaur-world/ Sat, 15 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMTKids cut homemade rainbow edible slime into pieces and build a small world of roads, tunnels and swamps for toy dinosaurs and warrior fairies. It's easy cutting practice and a big prompt for storytelling. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-1-ingredient-edible-slime-recipe/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-1-ingredient-edible-slime-recipe/ Tue, 11 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMTCook a spoonful of psyllium fiber supplement with water and food color for about 5 minutes to make a stretchy, borax-free slime that is taste-safe if accidentally mouthed. Make one batch per color for a rainbow. https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-for-kids-melting-hearts-art/https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-for-kids-melting-hearts-art/ Thu, 06 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMTSet heart-shaped ice blocks on heavy watercolor paper, sprinkle them with salt, then drip liquid watercolors with pipettes. Kids watch the color travel through the cracks and tunnels as the hearts melt into colorful art. It's science, art and fine-motor practice rolled into one. https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-sensory-jars/https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-sensory-jars/ Thu, 06 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMTKids tint water in a jar with liquid watercolor, then drop in pom poms, foam hearts, spangles, flower petals, glitter and bath salts to make their own shimmering Valentine's sensory jar. Along the way they explore what sinks and what floats. https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activities-matches-and-straws/https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activities-matches-and-straws/ Mon, 03 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMTKids poke colored craft match sticks into a Styrofoam board along traced letters, then slide cut-up straw pieces over each match for a *really* fine motor workout. Beads turn the board into a stick-world small-world play. https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-cloud-dough-recipe-gluten-free-cloud-dough/https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-cloud-dough-recipe-gluten-free-cloud-dough/ Sat, 01 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMTMix baking soda, cornstarch, vegetable oil and food color into a silky soft, moldable cloud dough with no flour, so gluten-sensitive kids can play too. Set it out in a sensory tub with baking cups, scoops and toy animals for scooping, molding and pretend baking. https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-art-tape-resist-toddler-art/https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-art-tape-resist-toddler-art/ Thu, 30 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMTKids tear masking tape and stick it along a heart outline on watercolor paper. They paint the whole sheet with liquid watercolors, then peel off the tape to reveal a bright resist heart. https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-art-crayon-transfer-art-project/https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-art-crayon-transfer-art-project/ Wed, 29 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMTKids color a heart hard onto fine sandpaper with crayons. An adult then irons it face-down onto a plain t-shirt to transfer the design. It makes a sweet wearable Valentine or a gift for grandparents. https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-cards-for-valentines-day/https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-cards-for-valentines-day/ Mon, 27 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMTTurn leftover painted heart cut-outs and heart stencils into homemade Valentine's Day cards by gluing them onto folded card stock. It's a super simple activity with gorgeous results. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-red-cabbage-art/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-red-cabbage-art/ Sat, 25 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMTSoak heavy paper in red cabbage water to make homemade "magic" pH paper. Kids then paint on it with vinegar, lemon juice and washing detergent to make colors appear, and outline the shapes they spot in their abstract designs. https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-activities-making-playing-fake-chocolate/https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-activities-making-playing-fake-chocolate/ Thu, 23 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMTMix cornstarch, cocoa powder, brown liquid watercolor and water into a gooey 'melted chocolate', pour it into heart molds and freeze. Then pop out the 'chocolates' and squish them as they melt. https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-art-sparkly-hearts-collage/https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-art-sparkly-hearts-collage/ Wed, 22 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMTCut hearts from folded aluminum foil, color them with permanent markers, then glue them onto black poster board for a shiny Valentine's collage. It cannot get easier than this. https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-art-hand-print-hearts-garden/https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-art-hand-print-hearts-garden/ Mon, 20 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMTKids make green handprints or trace their hands on a long paper-covered table, then top the fingers with heart stickers to grow a Valentine garden of heart flowers. It is simple, sticker-loving art that doubles as a fine motor workout. https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-activities-hearts-mobile/https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-activities-hearts-mobile/ Sat, 18 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMTKids decorate foam hearts with beads and spangles using a tiny squeeze bottle of glue. Then tape the hearts onto ribbon and hang them as a kid-made Valentine's mobile. It's simple, open-ended fine motor collage work. https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-crafts-kids-wrapped-hearts/https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-crafts-kids-wrapped-hearts/ Fri, 17 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMTTwist strips of aluminum foil into hearts, then wrap them with sparkly pipe cleaners, Valentine ribbon or yarn for a fine-motor workout. Tape the finished kid-made hearts to the wall as Valentine's Day decor. https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-art-heart-stencils/https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-art-heart-stencils/ Thu, 16 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMTFold and cut card stock to make heart stencils and heart cut-outs, then paint around them on thick paper in two ways: from the outside in with the stencils, and from the center out with the cut-outs. Combine them into a layered Valentine collage. https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-activities-sensory-activities-with-rose-goop/https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-activities-sensory-activities-with-rose-goop/ Wed, 15 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMTMix cornstarch, pink food color, rose body oil and water into a sweet-smelling goop (oobleck) that holds like a solid when squeezed and pours like a liquid. Add toy bugs for imaginative play. https://www.funlittles.com/10-valentines-day-crafts-and-art-activities-for-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/10-valentines-day-crafts-and-art-activities-for-kids/ Tue, 14 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMTA short and sweet roundup of 10 simple Valentine's Day art, sensory and craft activities from Fun Littles, from heart printing and sparkly cards to rose-scented doughs and heart butterflies. Each idea links to its original post for full instructions. https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-cards-for-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-cards-for-kids/ Mon, 13 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMTKids press two painted hand prints into a V-shaped heart on cardstock. While the paint is wet, the card is flipped onto a tray of salt, glitter and sequins for a sparkly homemade Valentine's Day card. https://www.funlittles.com/winter-activities-for-kids-fantasy-winter-world/https://www.funlittles.com/winter-activities-for-kids-fantasy-winter-world/ Sun, 12 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMTSet out a fake snow sensory bin with a sparkly tree, mini ornaments and favorite figurines, and let kids build and act out their own winter small world. This is child-led imaginary play that also works fine motor skills and vocabulary. https://www.funlittles.com/winter-crafts-kids-snow-jars/https://www.funlittles.com/winter-crafts-kids-snow-jars/ Fri, 10 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMTKids slather glue on clean glass jars, roll them through a sparkly Epsom salt 'snow' sensory bin, then fill them with more salt. Turn them into snowmen with craft foam features and buttons. https://www.funlittles.com/winter-activities-kids-pretend-snow-play-ideas/https://www.funlittles.com/winter-activities-kids-pretend-snow-play-ideas/ Wed, 08 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMTA short roundup of pretend snow made from common household ingredients (soap, baking soda, shaving foam, coconut and more), each with sensory bin and small-world play ideas. Perfect when there's no real snow. Each idea credits its original blogger. https://www.funlittles.com/snowman-crafts-kids-magnetic-snowman/https://www.funlittles.com/snowman-crafts-kids-magnetic-snowman/ Mon, 06 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMTPaint a round cookie tin lid white, then let kids build silly snowman faces with craft-foam features and accessories backed with magnetic tape. The pieces store inside the tin, so it doubles as a portable game. https://www.funlittles.com/winter-activities-for-kids-fake-snow-painting/https://www.funlittles.com/winter-activities-for-kids-fake-snow-painting/ Fri, 03 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMTAdd water to Insta Snow powder in a foil pan, watch it puff up into soft fake snow, then squeeze and spray colored water on it for a color-mixing sensory play. A snow day for kids who never see snow. https://www.funlittles.com/popular-posts-2013-blog-mom/https://www.funlittles.com/popular-posts-2013-blog-mom/ Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMTOur 10 most viewed posts of 2013, mostly sensory activities and art projects, with the ever-popular edible water beads topping the list. Each idea links to its full activity post. https://www.funlittles.com/winter-sensory-bin-i-spy-sensory-game/https://www.funlittles.com/winter-sensory-bin-i-spy-sensory-game/ Tue, 10 Dec 2013 00:00:00 GMTHide pom poms, gems, jingle bells and other small winter knick-knacks in a bin of sparkly pretend snow. Kids hunt for the items listed on index cards, then match their finds to the cards. Kids practice counting, number recognition and one-to-one correspondence along the way. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-kids-prewriting-pretend-snow/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-kids-prewriting-pretend-snow/ Sun, 08 Dec 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids write letters with a finger in a sensory bin of sparkly Epsom salt 'snow', then trace them with colorful pom poms. It's a winter invitation for letter practice, fine motor work and pattern making. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-winter-sensory-play-with-pretend-snow/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-winter-sensory-play-with-pretend-snow/ Sat, 07 Dec 2013 00:00:00 GMTFill a large tub with sparkly 'snow' made from Epsom salt and iridescent flakes, then let kids pour, bury and pretend with party-hat cones. Finish with a winter craft: roll glue-covered party hats in the snow to make snowy trees. https://www.funlittles.com/alphabet-activities-for-kid-bubble-wrap-letter-matching/https://www.funlittles.com/alphabet-activities-for-kid-bubble-wrap-letter-matching/ Wed, 04 Dec 2013 00:00:00 GMTWrite a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters on large-bubble bubble wrap with permanent markers. Kids find and pop each uppercase letter, then hunt for its lowercase match: a built-in I-Spy game for letter recognition. https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-ornaments-foil-wrapped/https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-ornaments-foil-wrapped/ Mon, 02 Dec 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids glue gold or silver foil around craft sticks, then glue the shiny sticks into a star or snowflake. It's a two-step homemade ornament that a 5-year-old can do with very little help. https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-crafts-for-kids-christmas-tree-hat-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-crafts-for-kids-christmas-tree-hat-craft/ Wed, 27 Nov 2013 00:00:00 GMTPaint green party hats with peppermint-scented green paint, add glitter, then decorate them like Christmas trees with sequins, gems, buttons, pom poms and a gold foil star. The finished hats can be worn on Christmas morning. https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-activities/https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-activities/ Tue, 26 Nov 2013 00:00:00 GMTTurn green-painted craft sticks, pom poms and pipe-cleaner snowflakes into magnets. Kids then build and decorate a Christmas tree right on the fridge, and can redecorate it as often as they like. It makes an easy open-ended busy play once the pieces are prepped. https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-crafts-for-kids-christmas-wreath/https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-crafts-for-kids-christmas-wreath/ Sat, 23 Nov 2013 00:00:00 GMTPaint the rim of a paper plate (center cut out) green, then dip colorful glitter pom poms in glue and stick them all around to make a hanging wreath. Simple enough for toddlers, and a nice chance to practice patterns. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-rainbow-writing/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-rainbow-writing/ Tue, 19 Nov 2013 00:00:00 GMTPaint rainbow stripes on a foil-covered baking tray, cover it with shaving cream, and let kids write, swirl and draw with their fingers to reveal the colors underneath. It is pre-writing practice for little ones and sight-word or spelling practice for older kids. https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-christmas-cards-gifts-airbrush-art-kit/https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-christmas-cards-gifts-airbrush-art-kit/ Sun, 17 Nov 2013 00:00:00 GMTCut Christmas shapes like candy canes and bells from thick paper, lay them on card stock, and spray over them with a marker-powered airbrush kit to make homemade holiday cards. Kids can also free-spray, layer colors, and use the kit's alphabet and picture stencils. https://www.funlittles.com/thanksgiving-crafts-kids-fine-motor-corn-art/https://www.funlittles.com/thanksgiving-crafts-kids-fine-motor-corn-art/ Wed, 13 Nov 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids dot paint onto cardstock with cotton buds, matching the colors of real Indian corn. Once the art dries, they cut it into corn shapes, tape on brown paper husks and string them into a Thanksgiving garland. https://www.funlittles.com/number-activities-kids-number-tunnel/https://www.funlittles.com/number-activities-kids-number-tunnel/ Sun, 10 Nov 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids line up foam numbers and match them to dominoes by counting dots. Then they poke pipe cleaners into a Styrofoam sheet, thread on the matching number of beads, and bend each one into an arch to build a car tunnel. https://www.funlittles.com/thanksgiving-craft-with-foam-shapes/https://www.funlittles.com/thanksgiving-craft-with-foam-shapes/ Fri, 08 Nov 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids glue feathers, buttons, sequins and other collage bits onto store-bought foam turkey cut-outs. It's an open-ended busy-play craft you can set up in under 5 minutes, handy for the kids' table or before the big Thanksgiving dinner. https://www.funlittles.com/thanksgiving-art/https://www.funlittles.com/thanksgiving-art/ Thu, 07 Nov 2013 00:00:00 GMTPaint each family member's palm and fingers in turkey colors and print a row of handprint turkeys on a canvas. Add a fingerprint-leaf fall tree, a sun, grass and an 'Our Family' caption for keepsake wall art. https://www.funlittles.com/alphabet-games-for-kids-memory-match/https://www.funlittles.com/alphabet-games-for-kids-memory-match/ Wed, 06 Nov 2013 00:00:00 GMTHide pairs of letters under cups and take turns lifting one cup at a time to find the matching letter. Once kids get the hang of it, switch to matching upper case letters with lower case letters. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-geometric-art/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-geometric-art/ Wed, 30 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids dip wooden and foam blocks (cubes, cuboids, triangles, cylinders) in bright acrylic paint and print with them on colored paper. They create any art they like using just basic shapes. It is open-ended process art that toddlers, preschoolers and grown-ups can all do together. https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-sensory-activities-spooky-eruptions/https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-sensory-activities-spooky-eruptions/ Tue, 29 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMTLine a shallow tub with black baking soda "sand" and black beans, fill Halloween test tubes and shot glasses with colored baking soda, then squeeze in lemon juice for fizzy spooky eruptions. When the fizzing ends, it becomes black spooky water play. https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-for-kids-red-cabbage-water-tie-dye/https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-for-kids-red-cabbage-water-tie-dye/ Mon, 28 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMTSoak a white t-shirt in red cabbage water and let it dry, then drip and pour acids and bases onto it and watch pink and blue-green patterns appear. This is process art: the colors fade within about a week and rinse out in water. https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-paint-recipe-pumpkin-gelatin-paint/https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-paint-recipe-pumpkin-gelatin-paint/ Thu, 24 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMTMix unflavored gelatin with hot water, orange food color and pumpkin pie spice to make a runny, strongly scented paint. Kids use it to paint pumpkin drawings or paper-plate jack-o-lanterns. https://www.funlittles.com/recycled-crafts-kids-snake-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/recycled-crafts-kids-snake-craft/ Tue, 22 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMTFlip over a cardboard apple tray from the grocery store to find ready-made snake outlines. Cut them apart, paint them with patterns inspired by real snakes, then add googly eyes and a forked paper tongue. https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-kids-rainbow-lemon-eruptions/https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-kids-rainbow-lemon-eruptions/ Mon, 21 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMTLayer Epsom salt and baking soda in a baking tray. Kids squirt and drop colored citric acid solution and lemon juice on it to make fizzing rainbow eruptions, then 'paint' the giant lemon bubbles with color. It's a hands-on way to introduce acids and bases. https://www.funlittles.com/easy-halloween-crafts-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/easy-halloween-crafts-kids/ Sun, 20 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMTThree simple Halloween crafts for kids aged 3-6 who are too young for haunted houses or pumpkin carving: egg carton spiders, footprint ghosts and Picasso-style collage pumpkins. Each uses basic craft supplies and works well at home or in a classroom. https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-beads/https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-beads/ Fri, 18 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMTRoll tinted homemade cornstarch clay into tiny beads, poke holes with a toothpick, and let them air dry for a day. Then kids thread their own beads into bracelets and necklaces for great fine motor practice. https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-crafts-kids-leaf-ghosts/https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-crafts-kids-leaf-ghosts/ Wed, 16 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMTPaint silk or real fall leaves, stones and driftwood white, then turn them into ghosts and monsters with markers and googly eyes. A simple Halloween invitation to paint that builds fine motor skills and leads into pretend play. https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-clay-recipe-pumpkin-pie-spice-ornaments/https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-clay-recipe-pumpkin-pie-spice-ornaments/ Tue, 15 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMTCook a fragrant baking soda and cornstarch clay scented with pumpkin pie spice. Kids cut it into leaves with cookie cutters, let it dry, then paint and glitter the shapes for a fall mantle garland. https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-crafts-for-kids-glue-mummy-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-crafts-for-kids-glue-mummy-craft/ Mon, 14 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids stick googly eyes on black construction-paper mummy cut-outs, then squeeze lines of glue across them to make bandages. It's a quick, artsy Halloween craft with a simple way to make it a keepsake. https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-art-projects-puffy-halloween-art/https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-art-projects-puffy-halloween-art/ Fri, 11 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids squeeze homemade puffy paint inside printed Halloween creatures, such as a cat, bat, ghost or pumpkin, on thick paper or cardboard. An adult then microwaves the art for 10 seconds and the paint puffs up. https://www.funlittles.com/pumpkin-activities-kids-candy-pumpkin/https://www.funlittles.com/pumpkin-activities-kids-candy-pumpkin/ Thu, 10 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMTPaint a small pie pumpkin in rainbow stripes, then let kids squeeze dabs of white glue onto it and stick on colorful candy bits, matching each candy to the stripe of the same color. Candy that won't stick turns into a fun glue slide. https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activities-learning-licorice/https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activities-learning-licorice/ Wed, 09 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids cut licorice strands into colorful bits with scissors, then lay the bits along printed letters, numbers and shapes. Older kids can also use them for free-form figures, candy sculptures, patterns and counting. It works as fine motor, color and pre-writing practice in one. https://www.funlittles.com/play-dough-play-candy-monsters-2/https://www.funlittles.com/play-dough-play-candy-monsters-2/ Tue, 08 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMTSet out Halloween-colored play dough, googly eyes and small candies (Tic Tacs, candy corn, Pocky sticks) in a divided tray. Kids build silly play dough monsters while working on fine motor skills. https://www.funlittles.com/pumpkin-crafts-for-kids-pumpkin-silhouttes/https://www.funlittles.com/pumpkin-crafts-for-kids-pumpkin-silhouttes/ Mon, 07 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids rip fall-colored tissue paper and glue-stick it behind black jack-o-lantern cut-outs. Then you tape each pumpkin inside a black paper frame on a sunny window and add cellophane bits around it for a stained glass effect. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-glue-resist-art/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-glue-resist-art/ Sun, 06 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids draw designs with white glue from squeeze bottles and let them dry overnight. The next day they brush a light watercolor wash over the page, and the dried glue lines resist the paint and show through. https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-art-projects-crayon-resist-spider-web/https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-art-projects-crayon-resist-spider-web/ Thu, 03 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMTDraw a spider web on white paper with a white crayon, then brush a light wash of black watercolor over it and watch the web appear like magic. A simple first resist-art project for Halloween. https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-crafts-kids-recycled-colorful-family-mummies/https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-crafts-kids-recycled-colorful-family-mummies/ Wed, 02 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMTGlue googly eyes on recycled cans, wrap them in toilet paper, then roll them in crushed sidewalk chalk for a colorful mummy family. Tall cans make the mommy and daddy mummies and small cans make the kids. https://www.funlittles.com/fall-themed-math-activities-for-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/fall-themed-math-activities-for-kids/ Tue, 01 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMTThree cornmeal sensory bins with a fall theme: dig up and brush off numbered leaves and acorns, sort numbered fall objects into matching baskets, and count leaves beside number blocks. Best for kids who are learning and practicing their numbers. https://www.funlittles.com/leaf-activities-kids-leaf-math-sculptures/https://www.funlittles.com/leaf-activities-kids-leaf-math-sculptures/ Mon, 30 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMTWrite numbers on collected fall leaves, punch holes in them, then have kids put them in order and thread them onto bamboo skewers stuck in a recycled Styrofoam block. Younger kids practice number recognition and counting, and older kids build leaf sculptures. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-kids-halloween-sensory-activities/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-kids-halloween-sensory-activities/ Sun, 29 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMTA collection of Halloween sensory activities from fellow bloggers, including glowing spider webs, squish bags, gak, jelly play, ice ghosts and pumpkin oobleck. Every idea is open-ended messy play for toddlers through kindergarteners. https://www.funlittles.com/play-dough-play-spices-play-dough/https://www.funlittles.com/play-dough-play-spices-play-dough/ Sat, 28 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMTSet out cardamom, cinnamon and clove scented play dough with whole cardamom pods, cloves and cinnamon sticks, and let kids smell, poke, build and create. It's an open-ended sensory and fine motor invitation you can put together in a moment's notice. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-citrus-stamping/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-citrus-stamping/ Thu, 26 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMTHollow out lemon and orange halves, let them dry, then dip them in paint and stamp colorful citrus prints. This open-ended art activity lets toddlers stamp freely and lets older kids make patterns, flowers and faces. https://www.funlittles.com/scented-sensory-activities/https://www.funlittles.com/scented-sensory-activities/ Tue, 24 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMTFill a wooden crate with cinnamon and rose potpourri, cinnamon sticks, artificial pumpkins, gourds, acorns and silk fall leaves. Kids touch, smell, scoop and pour, then pick items out to investigate with a magnifying glass. https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-playdough-recipe-cardamom-playdough/https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-playdough-recipe-cardamom-playdough/ Mon, 23 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMTMake a small batch of aromatic playdough with ground cardamom, then swap in cloves or cinnamon for a trio of warming fall spice doughs. Kids can help tap open cardamom pods for a fine-motor warm-up. https://www.funlittles.com/building-activities-for-kids-pipecleaners/https://www.funlittles.com/building-activities-for-kids-pipecleaners/ Fri, 20 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMTPoke pipe cleaners into a foam board and join them with packing peanuts to build houses, arches, animals and little figures. Then play pretend with the creations. An open-ended invitation for engineering, spatial thinking and fine motor skills. https://www.funlittles.com/nature-play-ideas-with-rocks/https://www.funlittles.com/nature-play-ideas-with-rocks/ Wed, 18 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMTDraw eyes, ears, noses and mouths on rocks and hands and legs on driftwood. Kids then lay the pieces on a big leaf face and build a whole person. Rocks in different sizes let older kids practice proportions. https://www.funlittles.com/alphabet-activities-alphabet-city/https://www.funlittles.com/alphabet-activities-alphabet-city/ Fri, 13 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMTBend pipe cleaners into letters, stand them up with play dough on a shower-curtain road map with LEGO buildings, then drive toy cars around the city, greeting and naming the letters. Older kids get fine-motor practice building the letters; younger kids get letter recognition and pretend play. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-color-changing-goop-science/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-color-changing-goop-science/ Thu, 12 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMTSet out five containers of cornstarch, each with a different 'special ingredient' (hand soap, baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, laundry detergent). Kids pour red cabbage water in, watch the white cornstarch change color, then keep pouring to make goop for messy sensory play. https://www.funlittles.com/fall-activities-fall-sensory-jars/https://www.funlittles.com/fall-activities-fall-sensory-jars/ Fri, 06 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMTFill clean glass jars with water, a layer of vegetable oil and yellow food color, then add twigs, real and silk fall leaves, pods and seeds for a fall 'tree in a jar'. Kids get an easy oil-and-water and sink-or-float science chat along the way. https://www.funlittles.com/fall-activities-homemade-scented-candles/https://www.funlittles.com/fall-activities-homemade-scented-candles/ Thu, 05 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMTMelt peeled crayon bits and pieces of unscented candles in tin cans in a double boiler, stir in fall spices, and pour into votive cups and shaped trays to make spice-scented fall candles. Kids peel, sort, add scents and place the wicks while an adult handles the heat and hot wax. https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-glow-dark-window-clings/https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-glow-dark-window-clings/ Wed, 04 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMTMix glow-in-the-dark glitter glue with a little water, dish soap and a drop of liquid watercolor, then fill in fall and Halloween outlines inside plastic baggies. Charge them with a blacklight or sunlight to see them glow, and once dry, peel them off and stick them on a window. https://www.funlittles.com/fall-activities-homemade-edible-apple-paints/https://www.funlittles.com/fall-activities-homemade-edible-apple-paints/ Tue, 03 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMTPurée a can of apple pie filling, tint it red, yellow and green, and shake in apple pie spice to make a sweet-smelling, taste-safe finger paint. Kids paint inside drawn apple outlines, squish with pretend apples, or print with real ones. https://www.funlittles.com/fall-activities-apple-dough-recipe/https://www.funlittles.com/fall-activities-apple-dough-recipe/ Mon, 02 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMTMix a classic cooked-style play dough with pureed apple pie filling and apple pie spice for a wonderfully fragrant fall dough. Shape it into red, green and yellow apples, then set up a pretend cupcake bakery. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-princess-snot/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-princess-snot/ Sat, 31 Aug 2013 00:00:00 GMTStir unflavored gelatin into hot colored, scented water, let it start to thicken, then add corn syrup to pull out stretchy, gooey snot strands. Add glitter for pink, sparkly Princess Snot and let kids squish, pull and pinch. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-active-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-active-kids/ Wed, 28 Aug 2013 00:00:00 GMTA collection of 50 art ideas for kids who love paint but need to move, not sit. Kids bounce, roll, swing, squirt, kick and stomp their way to big art, with ideas from TurkeyMom and fellow kids-activity bloggers. https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-kids-lemon-suds-eruptions/https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-kids-lemon-suds-eruptions/ Sun, 25 Aug 2013 00:00:00 GMTAdd baking soda and citric acid to bowls of colored soapy water to make long-lasting, cold, fluffy foam eruptions. A vinegar-free science experiment that turns into sensory play. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-magnetic-painting/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-magnetic-painting/ Mon, 19 Aug 2013 00:00:00 GMTDip metal nuts, bolts, washers and mini-wrenches in paint, set them on paper taped to an easel, and steer them with a heavy magnet held behind the board so they paint trails. It mixes art and magnet science in one open-ended activity. https://www.funlittles.com/play-dough-play-tie-dye-play-dough-recipe/https://www.funlittles.com/play-dough-play-tie-dye-play-dough-recipe/ Thu, 15 Aug 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids stick torn bits of color-bleeding crepe or tissue paper onto balls of plain white play dough and wet them with water. Once it dries a little, they peel the paper off to reveal bright, marbled tie-dye dough. https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-baby-food-toddler-meals-recipes/https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-baby-food-toddler-meals-recipes/ Wed, 14 Aug 2013 00:00:00 GMTA review of Zainab Jagot Ahmed's Indian SuperMeals: Baby & Toddler Cookbook, which offers nutrient-rich homemade baby food organized by stage, plus toddler meals with an Indian twist. TurkeyMom tried the simple Apple and Pear Jardo, a rice dish sweetened with fruit instead of sugar. https://www.funlittles.com/play-dough-recipe-paper-play-dough/https://www.funlittles.com/play-dough-recipe-paper-play-dough/ Mon, 12 Aug 2013 00:00:00 GMTFold mashed, water-soaked crepe paper into a batch of homemade play dough to make a smooth, colorful dough with a spongy, speckled paper texture inside. It works well as a follow-up to a crepe paper painting activity. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-crepe-paper-paint-homemade-liquid-watercolors/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-crepe-paper-paint-homemade-liquid-watercolors/ Wed, 07 Aug 2013 00:00:00 GMTSoak torn crepe paper in water overnight, then squeeze and wipe the soggy bits across paper for a sensory watercolor wash. Afterward, strain the colored water into cups for a second painting session with brushes. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-active-disk-painting/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-active-disk-painting/ Mon, 05 Aug 2013 00:00:00 GMTDip a squishy sensory ball in paint, then bounce it off a stretchy Ogo sports disk so it lands on butcher paper and leaves sun-like prints. It's an outdoor art activity that doubles as a hand-eye coordination game. https://www.funlittles.com/paper-mache-models/https://www.funlittles.com/paper-mache-models/ Mon, 05 Aug 2013 00:00:00 GMTSoak torn paper and fenugreek seeds overnight, then blend them into a squishy goop. Kids press the goop into sand box molds, dry the shapes in the sun, and paint them into models like fish, turtles and a crab. https://www.funlittles.com/art-projects-kids-shaving-cream-drip-art/https://www.funlittles.com/art-projects-kids-shaving-cream-drip-art/ Sat, 03 Aug 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids smear a thick coat of shaving cream on cardboard shapes and letters, then drip vibrant liquid watercolors onto it with pipettes. It's sensory play, fine motor practice and colorful process art in one. https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activities-sticky-yarn-learning/https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activities-sticky-yarn-learning/ Thu, 01 Aug 2013 00:00:00 GMTTape clear contact paper sticky side up over handwritten numbers, then have kids press pre-cut yarn along each number. It builds fine motor skills, number formation and length comparison, and can turn into open-ended shape and yarn art. https://www.funlittles.com/flour-homemade-finger-paint-recipe/https://www.funlittles.com/flour-homemade-finger-paint-recipe/ Tue, 30 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMTCook cornstarch and water into a clear, lump-free gel, stir in unflavored gelatin, then split it up and let kids color it with food coloring for a thick, glossy finger paint. A great process-art and sensory activity. https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-kids-scientist-dramatic-play/https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-kids-scientist-dramatic-play/ Mon, 29 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMTBoil red cabbage to make a purple 'magic potion' (a pH indicator), then let kids dressed as scientists pour it into cups of household acids and alkalis and watch it turn pink or bluish-green. A quick DIY lab-coat costume made from a white T-shirt adds dramatic play. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-epsom-salt-painting/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-epsom-salt-painting/ Fri, 26 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMTMix heaping spoonfuls of Epsom salt with liquid watercolors and a little water to make a grainy, sparkly paint. Kids brush or pour it onto paper, and it dries into shimmering, textured process art. https://www.funlittles.com/playdough-recipes-for-play/https://www.funlittles.com/playdough-recipes-for-play/ Wed, 24 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMTMix cornstarch, unflavored gelatin, water and food color (or Kool-Aid), then chill it in the fridge for 4-7 hours to make a cool, flour-free play dough. There's no cooking or hot water, so preschoolers can make a batch by themselves. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-kids-pretend-ice-cream-play/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-kids-pretend-ice-cream-play/ Tue, 23 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMTMix cornstarch, food color and unflavored gelatin water, then chill for 2 hours to make scoopable pretend ice cream. Set it up as an ice cream stand or let kids squish it into 'milkshake'. https://www.funlittles.com/puffy-paint/https://www.funlittles.com/puffy-paint/ Sat, 20 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMTGently fold equal parts shaving cream and white glue with a few drops of food color, or a little Kool-Aid for scent, to make an airy puffy paint. Kids dab it onto paper and it dries into raised, textured art. https://www.funlittles.com/art-math-activities-coin-rubbings/https://www.funlittles.com/art-math-activities-coin-rubbings/ Wed, 17 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids cover coins with paper and color over them with colored pencils to make coin impressions. They then match real coins to the rubbings in a simple math matching game. It needs almost no setup and makes very little mess. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-reviving-soapy-goop/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-reviving-soapy-goop/ Tue, 16 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMTLeave a tub of sudsy cornstarch goop to dry for a day, then crumble it into a fragrant, cloud-dough-like powder for scooping, molding and pretend play. It is a fun way to talk about wet and dry and how matter changes. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-with-sudsy-goop/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-with-sudsy-goop/ Mon, 15 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMTMix sudsy body-wash water into cornstarch until it reaches a pancake-batter consistency, then color and scent it with food color and Kool-Aid. The result is a bubbly, squishy goop that still behaves like regular oobleck. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-vehicles-painting/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-vehicles-painting/ Fri, 12 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMTTape long sheets of butcher paper down outside, dip toy vehicles' wheels in paint, and drive, drag and race them across the paper to make big tire-track art. A gross motor art activity that lets active kids burn off energy while they create. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-and-crafting-a-quill-pen/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-and-crafting-a-quill-pen/ Wed, 10 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMTUse an old toothbrush and a paper strip to paint realistic feathers, then cut them out and glue them to bamboo skewers. Kids dip the quills in liquid watercolor 'ink' to write and draw the old-fashioned way. https://www.funlittles.com/kids-craft-ideas-flip-flop-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/kids-craft-ideas-flip-flop-craft/ Sun, 07 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMTTrace your child's feet on glitter foam sheets, cut them out, and add glitter pipe cleaner straps, pearl beads and foam stickers to make flip-flop keepsakes. Display them as a summer garland or turn them into fridge magnets. https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activity-glow-dark-bead-maze/https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activity-glow-dark-bead-maze/ Thu, 04 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids poke neon pipe cleaners into a Styrofoam sheet and thread glow-in-the-dark beads onto them under a black light. They make patterns, beaded 'necklaces' and arching maze structures. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-a-lazy-day/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-a-lazy-day/ Wed, 03 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMTDip an old battery-operated toothbrush in liquid watercolors, set it face down on butcher paper, and watch its vibrating bristles paint circles and swirls almost by themselves. A low-effort art project for a lazy summer day. https://www.funlittles.com/july-4th-crafts-splatter-art-display-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/july-4th-crafts-splatter-art-display-craft/ Mon, 01 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMTSplatter red, white and blue kids paint onto black paper with an old toothbrush in three ways, from thumb-flicking to Pollock-style flinging, and add glitter. Once dry, cut stars from the art and string them on twine for a July 4th bunting. https://www.funlittles.com/ice-activities-colored-ice-blocks/https://www.funlittles.com/ice-activities-colored-ice-blocks/ Sat, 29 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMTFreeze food-colored water in shaped ice trays, popsicle molds and cups, then let kids stack, line up and build towers, trains and 'cupcakes' on a white towel outdoors. A cool, colorful summer building activity. https://www.funlittles.com/crafts-kids-ocean-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/crafts-kids-ocean-craft/ Fri, 28 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids cut blue tissue paper and stick it on a foam plate to make an ocean. Then they paint foam sea animal cut-outs, tape them to toothpicks, add googly eyes, and arrange them in the plate ocean or use them as tiny puppets. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-with-squirt-guns/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-with-squirt-guns/ Tue, 25 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMTMix powdered tempera with water, load it into squirt guns, and spray big, vibrant splatter art onto paper taped to an outdoor wall. You can add numbers, shapes or colors to the paper to make it a recognition game. https://www.funlittles.com/school-summer-projects-cork-board/https://www.funlittles.com/school-summer-projects-cork-board/ Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMTTurn a pre-framed cork board into a personal organizing board. Add diagonal ribbon strips, a moss-and-foam-flower garden along the bottom, and stenciled animals. It gives a new kindergartener a place to pin school papers, invites and pictures. https://www.funlittles.com/fresh-flowers-play-dough-play/https://www.funlittles.com/fresh-flowers-play-dough-play/ Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMTMix a classic cooked-with-boiling-water playdough with pink food color and a handful of fresh garden rose petals for a fragrant, speckled sensory dough. Then roll, squish, cut flowers and make little people. https://www.funlittles.com/summer-sensory-activity-beach-dough-creatures/https://www.funlittles.com/summer-sensory-activity-beach-dough-creatures/ Tue, 11 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMTMix play sand into a simple no-cook play dough for a gritty beach dough, then press in shells, sticks and stones to build little beach creatures. A summer sensory and fine motor activity for toddlers and preschoolers. https://www.funlittles.com/ice-activities-summer-ice-jewelry/https://www.funlittles.com/ice-activities-summer-ice-jewelry/ Fri, 07 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMTFreeze flavored or colored water in ice cube trays with a thread running through every cube, then pop out icy necklaces and bracelets for chilly, sticky sensory play. Dress up dolls with the jewelry and balance the melting cubes on a scale. https://www.funlittles.com/play-dough-play-tracing-and-coloring-with-playdough/https://www.funlittles.com/play-dough-play-tracing-and-coloring-with-playdough/ Thu, 06 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMTSlip coloring pages into clear plastic bags and let kids press playdough onto the pictures to trace and 'color' them. The bag keeps the dough off the paper, so kids can peel it off and start again or swap in a new picture. https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-churros-doughnuts-kizmos-kitchen-tools-giveaway/https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-churros-doughnuts-kizmos-kitchen-tools-giveaway/ Wed, 05 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids measure cinnamon sugar, brush a ready-made dough sheet with butter, then twist strips into churros and cut rings into doughnuts with kid-friendly tools before an adult bakes them for 9-11 minutes. A simple real-cooking activity that helps picky eaters try what they made. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-beach-small-world-play/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-beach-small-world-play/ Mon, 03 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMTBring the beach inside: build a blue play dough shoreline in a flat tub, with sand on one side and blue water and shaving cream 'sea foam' on the other. Then add little people and shells for story play. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-quick-play-idea-with-fresh-flowers-and-sand/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-quick-play-idea-with-fresh-flowers-and-sand/ Fri, 31 May 2013 00:00:00 GMTFill a bin with colored (or plain) sand, add fresh flower petals, aquarium gravel, a muffin tin and scoops, and let kids scoop, pour and make pretend sand cupcakes. It's a quick, open-ended nature sensory play idea for a warm day. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-edible-water-beads/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-edible-water-beads/ Thu, 30 May 2013 00:00:00 GMTCook quick tapioca boba pearls, tint them with gel food color, and float them in a shallow tub of water. They make a non-toxic look-alike for vase-filler water beads. https://www.funlittles.com/toddler-activities-summer-art-activity/https://www.funlittles.com/toddler-activities-summer-art-activity/ Tue, 28 May 2013 00:00:00 GMTFreeze unsweetened Kool-Aid in popsicle molds, then let a toddler paint big printed fruit pictures outdoors with the melting ice. It doubles as a color-and-fruit matching game. https://www.funlittles.com/outdoor-activities-spa-pretend-play/https://www.funlittles.com/outdoor-activities-spa-pretend-play/ Sat, 25 May 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids mix play sand, water, leaves, grass and garden flowers into mud pies and 'sand soup' with outdoor kitchen tools, then turn the brew into a pretend spa foot soak in take-out containers. It is open-ended sensory, nature and role play in your own yard. https://www.funlittles.com/glow-in-the-dark-play-quick-play-idea-in-a-box/https://www.funlittles.com/glow-in-the-dark-play-quick-play-idea-in-a-box/ Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 GMTFit a black light flashlight snugly into a hole in a big cardboard box, then let kids draw inside with fluorescent markers on white paper and watch their pictures glow. A quick, low-mess invitation to play with the lights dimmed. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-make-your-own-colored-sand/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-make-your-own-colored-sand/ Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 GMTColor clean sand three ways: with Kool-Aid for color plus scent, with powdered tempera for rich, vibrant color, or with food coloring. Then dry it and lay it out in a flat sensory bin for play. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activity-throw-ball-painting/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activity-throw-ball-painting/ Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 GMTDip balls and squishy sensory balls in watered-down paint, then throw them into a big paper-lined cardboard box so the paint splatters everywhere. It's a high-energy, multi-age outdoor process art activity that leaves you with a removable painting. https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-bubbles-recipes-and-play-ideas/https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-bubbles-recipes-and-play-ideas/ Sun, 19 May 2013 00:00:00 GMTA summer roundup of homemade bubble recipes, bubble art, bubble play and DIY bubble wands from fellow bloggers. Get those wands ready and turn your backyard into a giant bubble zone. https://www.funlittles.com/summer-party-ideas-strawberry-pops/https://www.funlittles.com/summer-party-ideas-strawberry-pops/ Sat, 18 May 2013 00:00:00 GMTPut chilled strawberries on craft sticks, dip them in melted chocolate or candy melts, and top them with sprinkles like a cake pop. It's an easy, less messy way for kids to enjoy chocolate-covered strawberries at a summer party. https://www.funlittles.com/quick-play-idea-with-colorful-oobleck/https://www.funlittles.com/quick-play-idea-with-colorful-oobleck/ Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 GMTMix cornstarch and water into oobleck, tint seven cups in rainbow colors (plus pink), and pour them into a clear bin for squishy, swirly messy play. When the colors turn muddy brown, add toy pigs for pigs-in-mud fun. https://www.funlittles.com/art-projects-clay-art-on-canvas/https://www.funlittles.com/art-projects-clay-art-on-canvas/ Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids pinch, roll and cut soft modelling clay into flowers, bees, butterflies and little people for a spring garden scene. An adult then hot-glues the pieces onto a canvas so the artwork can be framed and kept. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-desert-sensory-bin/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-desert-sensory-bin/ Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 GMTFill a bin with cornmeal, shape flat areas and dunes, and add rocks, wood chips and desert animal figures. Kids then build and play in their own American Southwest desert small world while learning about the habitat. https://www.funlittles.com/recycled-crafts-art-studio-in-a-box/https://www.funlittles.com/recycled-crafts-art-studio-in-a-box/ Sun, 12 May 2013 00:00:00 GMTTurn a big appliance box into a cozy, portable art studio. Tape the kids' artwork inside, set out supplies and paper, and let them create indoors or out in the backyard. https://www.funlittles.com/farm-in-your-backyard-quick-play-idea/https://www.funlittles.com/farm-in-your-backyard-quick-play-idea/ Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 GMTBring the toy farm animals outside to a dirt patch and let kids plan and build their own farm with gates, a pig pen, grazing fields and a vegetable garden. Finish by washing the animals in a tub of soapy water. https://www.funlittles.com/play-around-the-world/https://www.funlittles.com/play-around-the-world/ Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 GMTA collection of simple, old-fashioned games kids play around the world, from India's 5 stones game to Kabaddi, Sepak Takraw, Mancala, Dutch shuffleboard and Chinese ribbon play. It was gathered for a multicultural kid bloggers' carnival. Try a new game and talk about where it comes from for a little geography and world culture lesson. https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-for-kids-color-mixing-kids-activities/https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-for-kids-color-mixing-kids-activities/ Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids squeeze colored vinegar onto colored baking soda with pipettes and watch it fizz into new colors. It's a hands-on way to explore secondary colors and a classic baking soda and vinegar reaction. https://www.funlittles.com/gardening-with-kids-make-a-fish-tank-terrararium/https://www.funlittles.com/gardening-with-kids-make-a-fish-tank-terrararium/ Mon, 06 May 2013 00:00:00 GMTTurn an old fish tank or large clear container into a mini garden. Kids layer gravel and potting soil, plant small plants, decorate with shells, rocks and driftwood, then mist the soil and close the lid. https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activity-for-the-baby-stack-up-towers-quick-play-idea/https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activity-for-the-baby-stack-up-towers-quick-play-idea/ Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 GMTSlide cut and sticker-decorated toilet paper and kitchen rolls onto a kitchen paper towel holder to build towers of different heights. It's a cheap, low-prep stacking activity for fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and problem solving. https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-mothers-day-cards-pencil-shavings-flowers/https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-mothers-day-cards-pencil-shavings-flowers/ Thu, 02 May 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids glue pencil shavings onto folded construction paper or cardstock to make flowers, draw stems, leaves and bees, then paint the dried shavings. It makes an easy homemade Mother's Day card. https://www.funlittles.com/colored-water-play-ideas/https://www.funlittles.com/colored-water-play-ideas/ Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMTPlay tic-tac-toe on a board of nine clear cups filled with yellow water. Each player squirts in a different primary color to make their own secondary color (orange or green), and three in a row wins. https://www.funlittles.com/life-cycle-of-a-silkworm-and-a-book-review/https://www.funlittles.com/life-cycle-of-a-silkworm-and-a-book-review/ Sat, 27 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMTAfter reading the picture book Bijoy and the Big River, build a simple sensory bin showing the eri silkworm's life cycle. Use marshmallow caterpillars on sticks, cotton-wool cocoons wrapped around shells and paper moths. Kids touch each stage and act out the cycle with their own story lines. https://www.funlittles.com/quick-play-idea-with-rainbow-rice/https://www.funlittles.com/quick-play-idea-with-rainbow-rice/ Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMTColor small batches of rice by shaking them with a tiny drop of gel food color. Spread the rice in a shallow tub or on a cookie sheet with favorite small toys for calming, imaginative small world play. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-fruits-exploration-and-whole-fruit-vs-sliced-fruit/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-fruits-exploration-and-whole-fruit-vs-sliced-fruit/ Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMTSet up a bin of everyday fruits in four columns: whole fruit, a sliced piece, the skin, and chopped pieces to taste. Kids then explore with all five senses through touch-and-guess and taste-and-guess games, and talk about skins, seeds, colors and halves. https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-berry-basket-painting/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-berry-basket-painting/ Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMTCut the sides of a plastic strawberry basket into grid stencils, then fill in the little squares with watercolors to make colorful block designs. It's an open-ended art activity using only two major supplies: berry baskets and paint. https://www.funlittles.com/earth-day-crafts-trees/https://www.funlittles.com/earth-day-crafts-trees/ Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMTBlow drops of thinned brown paint through a straw to make tree trunks, dot on green fingerprint leaves, then add clouds, sun and grass for an Earth Day scene. It's an easy way to start talking with preschoolers about why trees matter. https://www.funlittles.com/earth-day-activities-sandbox-savannah/https://www.funlittles.com/earth-day-activities-sandbox-savannah/ Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMTGrow a mini grassland of mustard and fenugreek in a soil-filled sandbox over about two weeks. Then add plastic African animals for small world play and storytelling. It combines gardening and pretend play for Earth Day. https://www.funlittles.com/pom-poms-sensory-activities-for-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/pom-poms-sensory-activities-for-kids/ Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids scoop and transfer pom poms with a cookie scoop to build pretend ice cream sundaes in snow cone cups. They can run a play ice cream shop with homemade paper money. It works as sensory play, fine-motor scooping practice and role play. https://www.funlittles.com/play-recipes-using-cornstarch-for-art-activities-and-sensory-activities/https://www.funlittles.com/play-recipes-using-cornstarch-for-art-activities-and-sensory-activities/ Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMTA collection of 13 play recipes from TurkeyMom and fellow bloggers that use cornstarch (cornflour in the UK) as the main ingredient. They are grouped into art recipes (paints and clay) and sensory recipes (goop, doughs, snow and play sand). https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-tin-can-roll/https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-tin-can-roll/ Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMTGive tin cans texture with yarn or foam stickers, roll them in paint and then roll them across big sheets of butcher paper. This is an open-ended, whole-body art activity that works for toddlers and preschoolers side by side. https://www.funlittles.com/flower-crafts-kids-activities/https://www.funlittles.com/flower-crafts-kids-activities/ Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMTPrint on paper with a potato masher, scouring pad and sponges dipped in powdered tempera paint. Once the textured prints dry, kids cut them up to make free-form collages or patterned paper flowers on craft-stick stems, inspired by Kevin Henkes' "My Garden". https://www.funlittles.com/my-garden-sensory-activities/https://www.funlittles.com/my-garden-sensory-activities/ Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMTAfter reading Kevin Henkes' "My Garden," kids build their own whimsical garden in a bin of coffee-bean "dirt" with craft flowers, seashells, keys and toy butterflies. They then retell the story and invent new ones with a blindfolded story game. It is a dry sensory bin that doubles as a book activity. https://www.funlittles.com/spring-art-tulip-painting/https://www.funlittles.com/spring-art-tulip-painting/ Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMTPress a 3-pronged fork into paint and print it in two motions to make tulip blooms, then paint on green stems and leaves. Simple printmaking with a kitchen tool. https://www.funlittles.com/window-clings/https://www.funlittles.com/window-clings/ Sat, 30 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMTPaint a thick coat of colored white glue onto Ziploc bags, let it dry for a day, then peel the clings off and stick them on a window. Kids can trace spring printables slipped inside the bags and add details with a washable marker. https://www.funlittles.com/easter-activies-bunny-small-world/https://www.funlittles.com/easter-activies-bunny-small-world/ Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMTTurn a flat box into a spring bunny world, with a paper sky and grass, sticker flowers, and polka-dot cardboard roads. Kids fill it with their bunnies, fairies and tiny toys and hide pom-pom treasures under Easter grass. https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-cornstarch-clay/https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-cornstarch-clay/ Tue, 26 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMTCook cornstarch, baking soda and water into a soft white clay for squishing and cutting out spring shapes. Let the shapes dry for a day, then paint them, add glitter and string them into a garland. https://www.funlittles.com/spring-crafts-fine-motor-activity-jellybean-bush-inspired-by-my-garden-by-kevin-henkes/https://www.funlittles.com/spring-crafts-fine-motor-activity-jellybean-bush-inspired-by-my-garden-by-kevin-henkes/ Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMTAfter reading Kevin Henkes' "My Garden", kids glue fresh leaves and jellybeans onto a sturdy cardstock bush cut-out to grow their own jellybean bush. It's a 3-step toddler craft that builds fine motor skills and color naming. https://www.funlittles.com/easter-treats-for-kids-basket-cupcakes/https://www.funlittles.com/easter-treats-for-kids-basket-cupcakes/ Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMTBake rainbow-swirl cupcakes from a boxed cake mix, then frost them and top with green-tinted coconut 'grass', jelly bean 'eggs' and a licorice handle to turn each one into a little Easter basket. Kids can do most of the coloring and decorating. https://www.funlittles.com/easter-craft-fine-motor-activity-for-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/easter-craft-fine-motor-activity-for-kids/ Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids draw faces on cleaned, dried egg shells with permanent markers, add a flower sticker hat, then slip the puppets onto their fingers for pretend play. Holding the fragile shells builds marker control and a gentle touch. https://www.funlittles.com/easter-egg-ideas/https://www.funlittles.com/easter-egg-ideas/ Sun, 17 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMTColor eggs all over with bright crayons, paint them black, sprinkle on glitter, then scratch designs with a toothpick to reveal the colors underneath. An open-ended scratch-art twist on Easter egg decorating. https://www.funlittles.com/easter-craft-for-kids-chick-bunny-easter-basket/https://www.funlittles.com/easter-craft-for-kids-chick-bunny-easter-basket/ Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMTTurn a Styrofoam bowl into a little Easter basket with a pipe cleaner handle and a construction paper chick or bunny, then fill it with grass for an egg hunt. It is simple enough for younger kids to do almost on their own. https://www.funlittles.com/easter-activities-soap-eggs/https://www.funlittles.com/easter-activities-soap-eggs/ Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMTPuff up an Ivory soap bar in the microwave, blend it with toilet paper into a soap dough, and press it into plastic eggs. Kids then squirt liquid watercolors on the eggs with pipettes and turn them into Easter egg lollipops. https://www.funlittles.com/spring-activities-explore-outdoors-and-make-flower-potions/https://www.funlittles.com/spring-activities-explore-outdoors-and-make-flower-potions/ Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMTPick flowers on a spring nature walk, then set up a 'potions lab' at home. Kids tint cups of water with food color and mix in petals with sticks and spoons. This open-ended sensory and pretend play works for toddlers and preschoolers. https://www.funlittles.com/easter-craft-with-a-toddler/https://www.funlittles.com/easter-craft-with-a-toddler/ Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids smash eggshells with a toy hammer, glue the bits inside a hand-drawn egg outline, then paint the shells with acrylic colors to make an Easter eggshell mosaic. It's an easy way to 'paint an egg' with toddlers. https://www.funlittles.com/easter-craft-paper-weaving-basket/https://www.funlittles.com/easter-craft-paper-weaving-basket/ Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMTWeave colored paper strips through a slit construction-paper sheet to make a basket, then fill it with watercolor-painted paper eggs. A low-mess Easter craft that builds fine motor and patterning skills. https://www.funlittles.com/art-projects-for-kids-sponge-fingers/https://www.funlittles.com/art-projects-for-kids-sponge-fingers/ Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMTFasten small squares of kitchen sponge onto each fingertip with a small rubber band, dip them in paint and sweep them across paper to make patterns. Matching a chosen finger to a chosen color is a fun fine-motor challenge that works the weaker ring and pinky fingers. https://www.funlittles.com/spring-art-egg-carton-sheep/https://www.funlittles.com/spring-art-egg-carton-sheep/ Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMTDip cut-up cardboard egg carton cups in white paint and print fluffy wool onto a sheep outline, then finger-paint a cheery spring scene around it. Start with open-ended egg carton flower printing as a warm-up. https://www.funlittles.com/easter-activities-for-intentional-learning/https://www.funlittles.com/easter-activities-for-intentional-learning/ Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMTA roundup of Easter-themed math, literacy and science activities from fellow bloggers. Most use plastic eggs to practice counting, patterns, phonics, spelling and colors. Great as Easter centers at school or learning play at home. https://www.funlittles.com/spring-craft-color-matching-garden/https://www.funlittles.com/spring-craft-color-matching-garden/ Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMTSort foam flower and bug stickers by color, stick them onto matching colored craft sticks, then plant the sticks in matching play dough for an indoor garden. It's an easy toddler activity for colors, counting and fine motor skills. https://www.funlittles.com/kid-friendly-recipe-upma/https://www.funlittles.com/kid-friendly-recipe-upma/ Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMTA quick vegetarian stir fry: onion, ginger, carrot and peas are sautéed, then cream of wheat is cooked in boiling water until it swells and pulls away from the pan. The texture is close to couscous, cooked a bit like polenta. https://www.funlittles.com/spring-craft-abc-garden/https://www.funlittles.com/spring-craft-abc-garden/ Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMTToddlers paint cut-out letters A, B and C, glue colored gravel onto a Styrofoam plate, then 'plant' the letters, foam flowers and bugs on toothpicks to make a spring letter garden. Letter recognition gets reinforced while cutting, painting, taping and planting. https://www.funlittles.com/math-activity-play-dough-fingers-for-toddlers/https://www.funlittles.com/math-activity-play-dough-fingers-for-toddlers/ Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMTCover each finger with play dough, then sing a finger-number song and stick the matching number on each finger as it comes up. It's a playful mix of music, play dough and number recognition for toddlers. https://www.funlittles.com/tp-roll-craft-castle/https://www.funlittles.com/tp-roll-craft-castle/ Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMTPaint toilet paper and kitchen rolls, top them with paper cones and arrange them on a cardboard tray to build a castle with doors, windows and trees. Then add a few princesses and play pretend. https://www.funlittles.com/st-patricks-day-activities-shamrock-printing/https://www.funlittles.com/st-patricks-day-activities-shamrock-printing/ Sun, 24 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMTHot glue three heart cookie cutters into a shamrock shape, dip them in green paint and print shamrocks across butcher paper. Kids then fill in the shapes and add stems with a toothbrush. An easy St. Patrick's Day art activity even toddlers can manage. https://www.funlittles.com/snow-activities/https://www.funlittles.com/snow-activities/ Sat, 23 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMTSqueeze and spray colored water onto snow inside cookie cutters outdoors, then bring a tray of snow inside to make decorated snow cookies, a cookie-cutter snowman and muffin-pan snowcakes. Only simple household materials are needed. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-writing/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-writing/ Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMTSpread a colored cornflour-and-water paste over cardstock, then write, draw, make handprints and fork patterns in it with fingers or a decorated bamboo skewer. It's a fresh writing surface for toddler mark making and preschool pre-writing. https://www.funlittles.com/plate-rainbow-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/plate-rainbow-craft/ Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids paint seven Styrofoam plate strips in rainbow colors, then stand them up in play dough walls with cotton wool clouds and a pot of golden treasure. Calling out and counting the colors makes it a color, counting and fine motor activity for St. Patrick's Day. https://www.funlittles.com/paper-roll-craft-airplane/https://www.funlittles.com/paper-roll-craft-airplane/ Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids paint a toilet paper roll, add stickers for windows, and glue on construction paper strips for the wings and a pinch-folded tail wing. Then they fly their planes and talk about the parts of an airplane. https://www.funlittles.com/origami-for-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/origami-for-kids/ Sun, 17 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMTFold six simple paper models with your preschooler: a boat, airplane, house, bird, fortune teller and purse. Then decorate them with crayons and markers. Along the way, talk about shapes, symmetry and how a flat sheet becomes a 3-D object. https://www.funlittles.com/2-ingredient-homemade-facepaint/https://www.funlittles.com/2-ingredient-homemade-facepaint/ Fri, 15 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMTMix cornstarch, lotion, water and food color into a creamy paint that kids can brush or finger-paint onto their hands, arms and faces, or onto paper. One small batch makes one color. https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-craft-paper-creatures/https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-craft-paper-creatures/ Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMTCut paper hearts in different sizes and glue them together into a dog, a wiggly worm, a heart lady with pipe-cleaner arms and legs, and a folded mouse card. It is an easy Valentine craft that sneaks in shapes, fine motor work and problem-solving. https://www.funlittles.com/art-projects-for-kids-using-oil-paint-and-water/https://www.funlittles.com/art-projects-for-kids-using-oil-paint-and-water/ Sun, 10 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMTDrop thinned oil paint onto a shallow pan of water, blow or stir the colors with a straw, then float thick paper on top to lift off a marbled print. It's an easy take on suminagashi, the ancient Japanese 'floating ink' marbling technique. https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-activities-with-hearts-stickers/https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-activities-with-hearts-stickers/ Sun, 10 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMTOne bag of foam heart stickers becomes a week of Valentine's learning for toddlers and preschoolers: sorting, counting, matching, patterns, CVC words and addition. It also gives you a few simple crafts. Two more heart-sticker ideas from another blog close out the list. https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-art/https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-art/ Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMTCarve raised heart stamps from halved potatoes and print red and pink hearts all over white paper. Add heart cookie cutters to stamp outlines and make concentric hearts. https://www.funlittles.com/art-projects-for-preschoolers-and-toddlers-cotton-rounds-art/https://www.funlittles.com/art-projects-for-preschoolers-and-toddlers-cotton-rounds-art/ Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMTDrip, squirt, pour and paint colored liquids onto cotton rounds and watch the colors travel through the fibers. Compare liquid watercolors, watered-down tempera and food-color water, and different tools, in this open-ended color-mixing art activity for any season. https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-day-crafts-and-activities/https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-day-crafts-and-activities/ Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMTMake open-ended flowers from colored cotton rounds, painted coffee filters, muffin liners, curly paper and paper hearts on pipe-cleaner stems. Then set up a pretend flower shop with a cash register. The bouquets double as homemade Valentine's gifts. https://www.funlittles.com/cotton-rounds-snowman-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/cotton-rounds-snowman-craft/ Sun, 03 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMTGlue cotton rounds in three sizes onto blue paper to build a snowman, dress him with beads, pom poms and a felt scarf, then add shredded-cotton snow and glitter for a winter scene. Toddlers can make a simpler version. https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-gift-for-valentines-day/https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-gift-for-valentines-day/ Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMTWrite numbers in a heart shape on butcher paper taped to the floor. Kids then connect the dots with flip-flop stamp prints and hand prints to make a giant Valentine's Day surprise for dad. It doubles as number recognition practice and printing fun. https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-activities-valentine-brownie/https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-activities-valentine-brownie/ Sun, 27 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMTBake a boxed brownie mix in a heart-shaped pan with your preschooler, then decorate it together with powdered sugar, M&M's and a drizzle of melted chocolate. Measuring, color sorting and fine motor practice are built right in. https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-cards/https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-cards/ Sun, 27 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids drop scented food coloring inside a heart stencil and blow it around with a straw to make splashy patterns, then peel off the stencil to reveal a homemade Valentine's card. https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-crafts-hearts-butterflies/https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-crafts-hearts-butterflies/ Sat, 26 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMTWrap half a kitchen paper roll in tissue paper and add foam heart wings, pipe cleaner antennae, googly eyes and a smile to make a Valentine butterfly. Close off one end and tuck in a treat bag to turn it into a candy holder for classmates. https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-activities-sweet-smelling-cloud-dough/https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-activities-sweet-smelling-cloud-dough/ Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMTMix flour with rose-scented oil and red powdered paint into a pale pink, moldable cloud dough for a Valentine's sensory bin. Kids mold it with cookie cutters, cups and spoons, then dig for hidden gems and count them. https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-crafts-melted-crayon-hearts-art/https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-crafts-melted-crayon-hearts-art/ Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMTSprinkle grated crayon shavings onto foam hearts, then cover with wax paper and press with an iron to melt them into colorful art. Decorate with glitter glue and hang with a chenille stem to make a handmade Valentine's gift. https://www.funlittles.com/easy-art-project-for-kids-just-add-water-art/https://www.funlittles.com/easy-art-project-for-kids-just-add-water-art/ Sun, 20 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids tear bright crepe paper into bits, wet them on white paper with a brush, spray bottle or dropper, and watch the color bleed. Once it's dry they peel the paper off to reveal soft, watercolor-like art. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-green-goo-and-dinosaur-world/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-green-goo-and-dinosaur-world/ Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMTAdd far more water than recommended to green-colored Insta Snow to make a gooey, moss-like sensory material. Squash it, roll it into balls, then use it as the base for a dinosaur small world. https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-activities-rose-scented-playdough/https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-activities-rose-scented-playdough/ Sun, 13 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMTMix a basic boiling-water playdough with rose fragrance oil, rose water and glycerin, and red food coloring for a bright, very fragrant Valentine's dough. Kids roll it, cut hearts and flowers, and decorate them with sequins, sprinkles and dot stickers. https://www.funlittles.com/abcs-of-math-activities-u-z/https://www.funlittles.com/abcs-of-math-activities-u-z/ Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMTThe final part of a hands-on preschool math series, covering units, Venn diagram sorting, a number-wheel spinner, estimating unknown amounts, answering kids' "why" questions, and three simple ways to teach zero. Each idea uses everyday things like crayons, fruit, hula-hoops and paper. https://www.funlittles.com/abcs-of-math-activities-p-t/https://www.funlittles.com/abcs-of-math-activities-p-t/ Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMTSimple math play for P to T: Patterns, Quantities, Rhymes, Shapes and Time. It combines TurkeyMom's own activities with ideas from fellow kid bloggers. Each idea uses everyday materials like beads, shape blocks, cups, paper and songs. https://www.funlittles.com/abcs-of-math-activities-k-o/https://www.funlittles.com/abcs-of-math-activities-k-o/ Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMTPart 3 of our hands-on math ABC series: kitchen math, money, number lines, number bonds, number recognition and ordinal numbers. It gathers our own play-based activities with favorites from fellow bloggers for preschoolers and early grade-schoolers. https://www.funlittles.com/playdough-play/https://www.funlittles.com/playdough-play/ Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMTKids hammer, drill, saw and press pretend tools into play dough to make sun, flower and line prints. It's an easy fine-motor and hand-eye activity that turns into a math game when kids count prints and make patterns. https://www.funlittles.com/abcs-of-math-activities-f-j/https://www.funlittles.com/abcs-of-math-activities-f-j/ Tue, 08 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMTThe F-J part of an ABC math series: play dough fractions, homemade math games, simple ways to teach math and show it matters, and jumping games that mix counting with movement. It ends with two ideas from fellow bloggers. https://www.funlittles.com/abcs-of-math-activities-a-e/https://www.funlittles.com/abcs-of-math-activities-a-e/ Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMTThe first installment of an A-to-Z series of hands-on math ideas for toddlers to kindergartners: spotting shapes in fine art, math picture books, counting games, dominoes and egg carton math. Many ideas come from fellow bloggers, and many can be adapted for school-age kids. https://www.funlittles.com/math-games/https://www.funlittles.com/math-games/ Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMTA very simple egg-carton version of the age-old Mancala game. Players drop glass gems one by one into the slots and say how many are in each, which practices counting, addition and memory. https://www.funlittles.com/math-activities-2/https://www.funlittles.com/math-activities-2/ Sun, 06 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMTThe kickoff for a 5-day A-Z of math activities series covering books, games, concepts, hands-on fun and mathematical art for toddlers. It also lists the many bloggers who ran their own ABCs series at the same time. https://www.funlittles.com/fun-finger-puppets/https://www.funlittles.com/fun-finger-puppets/ Sat, 05 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMTCut fun pictures from old magazines, glue them to thick cardstock or cardboard, cut out the outline and punch two finger holes to make puppets that walk on your fingers. They make great story-telling props for pretend play and literacy activities. https://www.funlittles.com/math-activities-addition/https://www.funlittles.com/math-activities-addition/ Fri, 04 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMTAct out the picture book 'One More Bunny' with bottle-cap bunnies hopping between yogurt-lid meadows. Kids add one bunny at a time and flip number cards, then split groups of 3, 4 and 5 bunnies to discover number bonds. https://www.funlittles.com/best-kids-activities-from-2012/https://www.funlittles.com/best-kids-activities-from-2012/ Mon, 31 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMTA New Year blog hop where TurkeyMom and many fellow kids-activity bloggers each shared their favorite post from 2012. TurkeyMom's pick is Painting with Spaghetti Brooms. https://www.funlittles.com/holiday-baking-with-kids-cake-pops/https://www.funlittles.com/holiday-baking-with-kids-cake-pops/ Sat, 15 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMTKids crumble a baked cake, mix in frosting, roll balls or Santa hats, then put them on sticks, dip them in candy melts and add sprinkles. One 8-inch round cake makes about 12-15 cake pops for a festive holiday treat. https://www.funlittles.com/math-and-science-activity/https://www.funlittles.com/math-and-science-activity/ Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMTRoll two dice, add the numbers, then try to stick that many static-charged balloons to your head. It's a calm math-and-science game for a cold, dry winter day. https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-tree-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-tree-craft/ Mon, 10 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMTKids decorate green paper triangles with stickers and glitter glue to make craft-stick Christmas trees. The next day, the trees go into a sensory bin of Insta-Snow with toy trees, letters, a snowman and Santa for scooping, burying and making snow fall. https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-crafts-angels/https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-crafts-angels/ Fri, 07 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMTPinch a foam sponge into a head and body with a rubber band, add googly eyes and a fuzzy-stick halo, then attach painted, glittery handprint wings. Hang the angels on the tree as homemade ornaments or use them as puppets for make-believe play. https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-tree-crafts/https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-tree-crafts/ Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMTTurn sugar cones upside down and decorate them with M&M's and Twizzlers, using melted chocolate as edible glue, to make a Christmas tree treat. It's open-ended, so kids decorate on their own while an adult melts the chocolate. https://www.funlittles.com/twinkl-educational-resources/https://www.funlittles.com/twinkl-educational-resources/ Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMTPrint an advent calendar from Twinkl and turn it into a countdown to Christmas. Each day, write down your child's good deed on a slip of paper to build a display of all their little helping acts. https://www.funlittles.com/goop-on-pinecones/https://www.funlittles.com/goop-on-pinecones/ Mon, 03 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMTKids color cups of runny cornstarch goop (oobleck) and pour it slowly over pine cones in a baking pan. The colors run off into a marbled rainbow river at the base. https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-activities-christmas-tree-puzzle/https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-activities-christmas-tree-puzzle/ Fri, 30 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMTKids build three paper Christmas trees in small, medium and big sizes, then sort paper shape ornaments by size and glue each one onto the tree it fits. It combines shapes and proportions in one festive math activity, and it is easy to simplify for toddlers. https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-activities-2012/https://www.funlittles.com/christmas-activities-2012/ Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMTKids decorate a cloth Santa bag with sparkly pom poms, pipe cleaners and foam shapes. Then they dress up as Santa or a reindeer and go around the house collecting toys they no longer play with for a toy donation box. It makes giving fun and opens a conversation about gratitude. https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids/ Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMTFill a bin with cornmeal and add letters, scoops, cups and foam blocks for a toddler sensory bin. Use it for counting scoops, making letter-topped 'cupcakes', hunting for hidden letters and simple small-world stories. https://www.funlittles.com/weather-for-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/weather-for-kids/ Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMTMake a six-section weather wheel with paper clouds, sun, snowflakes and mittens, craft-stick labels and a magnet needle. Kids move the needle to today's weather and decide what to wear. https://www.funlittles.com/natureplay/https://www.funlittles.com/natureplay/ Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMTA collection of backyard nature activities for fall and late summer. Kids paint pine cones, build a milk-carton birdhouse, watch insects and mushrooms, and turn leaves, petals and maple seeds into crafts. https://www.funlittles.com/shapes-for-toddlers-with-contact-paper/https://www.funlittles.com/shapes-for-toddlers-with-contact-paper/ Wed, 14 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMTTape four sheets of colored contact paper to the wall sticky side up and draw a big shape on each. Toddlers then match and stick paper cut-out shapes, so they learn shapes while moving around instead of sitting at a table. https://www.funlittles.com/thanksgiving-books/https://www.funlittles.com/thanksgiving-books/ Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMTAfter reading the Thanksgiving picture book Run, Turkey, Run!, kids set up the four farm hiding spots from the story inside a painters'-tape floor maze. Then they act out the turkey's escape, first with toys and then by running the maze themselves. https://www.funlittles.com/paper-roll-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/paper-roll-craft/ Sat, 10 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMTWrap empty toilet paper tubes in contact paper with the sticky side out. Kids press on beads, buttons, discs, pipe cleaner bits and tissue paper, then shake glitter over the tubes to make shimmering creations. No glue needed. https://www.funlittles.com/thanksgiving-craft-with-gloves/https://www.funlittles.com/thanksgiving-craft-with-gloves/ Fri, 09 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMTPump air into a vinyl glove with a balloon pump, tie it off like a balloon, and paint it into a turkey with colorful finger feathers. Add a paper beak and googly eyes, then play or display. It is a quick, fun craft rather than a keepsake, because the glove deflates within a day or two. https://www.funlittles.com/thanksgiving-crafts-for-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/thanksgiving-crafts-for-kids/ Fri, 09 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMTTurn half a toilet paper roll into a little turkey with a brown paper body, googly eyes and a colorful fan tail folded from printing paper. Add a name label to the belly and use the turkeys as Thanksgiving place cards. https://www.funlittles.com/fall-art-use-leaves-as-glitter/https://www.funlittles.com/fall-art-use-leaves-as-glitter/ Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMTCrumble dried fall leaves and pull flower petals, then sprinkle them like glitter over shapes painted with watered-down glue on construction paper. A simple, open-ended, low-cost fall art project. https://www.funlittles.com/seasons-activities-guest-post-at-binspiredmama/https://www.funlittles.com/seasons-activities-guest-post-at-binspiredmama/ Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMTCompare and contrast fall and spring through art and printing: a fall tree with red, orange and yellow printed leaves, and a spring meadow of printed dot flowers. The full how-to was TurkeyMom's guest post at B-Inspiredmama. https://www.funlittles.com/thanksgiving-craft-for-the-toddler/https://www.funlittles.com/thanksgiving-craft-for-the-toddler/ Tue, 06 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMTToddlers glue a pre-cut paper oval, circle, diamonds and triangles onto matching traced outlines to build a geometric turkey, naming each shape aloud. Finish by color-matching craft feathers onto the diamond tail feathers. https://www.funlittles.com/3-messy-play-ideas-for-halloween/https://www.funlittles.com/3-messy-play-ideas-for-halloween/ Tue, 30 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMTThree easy Halloween sensory setups. Swirl frozen paint cubes around a paper-lined tray, hunt for plastic critters in shaving cream, then mush Halloween-colored Jell-O into a sparkly goop. They work just as well without the Halloween theme. https://www.funlittles.com/pumpkin-carriage-for-princess-pigsty/https://www.funlittles.com/pumpkin-carriage-for-princess-pigsty/ Sun, 28 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMTRead Princess Pigsty, then turn a painted pumpkin into a muddy carriage with Tinker Toy wheels. Set it beside a small dirt-filled pigsty for small world play and story retelling. https://www.funlittles.com/puzzle-on-a-pumpkin/https://www.funlittles.com/puzzle-on-a-pumpkin/ Sun, 28 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMTCarve simple geometric shapes out of a small pumpkin, add a toothpick handle to each cut-out piece, and let kids fit the shapes back into their holes. It's a Halloween shape-matching puzzle that builds fine motor skills. https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-outdoor-decorating/https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-outdoor-decorating/ Sat, 27 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMTPaint a simple face on a pumpkin for each member of the family, then line them up at your front entry as an easy, adorable Halloween outdoor decoration. https://www.funlittles.com/painting-pumpkins-for-halloween/https://www.funlittles.com/painting-pumpkins-for-halloween/ Sat, 27 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMTPaint three pumpkins, decorate them with marker-drawn shapes, add a paper-and-felt face and painted stick arms, then stack them into a Pumpkin Lady for the porch. All you really need is pumpkins and paint; the extras are optional. https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-craft-for-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-craft-for-kids/ Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMTCut spooky jack-o-lantern faces into toilet paper rolls, add cotton-ball hair or coffee-filter head pieces and red 'glowing' eyes, then light them from inside with mini LED lights. A simple, frugal upcycled Halloween craft. https://www.funlittles.com/apple-tart-pie-recipe/https://www.funlittles.com/apple-tart-pie-recipe/ Wed, 24 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMTToss apple slices with sugar, spices and a little flour, then let kids arrange them in rows on a sheet of puff pastry and bake for 15 minutes. It's a shortcut pie-filling-on-a-tart that kids can help with from start to finish. https://www.funlittles.com/addition-activity-for-preschoolers/https://www.funlittles.com/addition-activity-for-preschoolers/ Tue, 23 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMTChildren pick a green and a red numbered foam apple, add them up by counting stars, glass gems or fingers, then find the pumpkin with the total to finish the equation. A simple indoor fall math game for preschoolers. https://www.funlittles.com/math-based-turkey-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/math-based-turkey-craft/ Sun, 21 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMTPaint a mini pumpkin as the turkey's body, then write numbers on paper feathers and wings and attach them with toothpicks. It works as a craft, writing and math activity, and a Thanksgiving centerpiece. https://www.funlittles.com/ghosts-and-goblins/https://www.funlittles.com/ghosts-and-goblins/ Sat, 20 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMTKids draw friendly little ghosts on colored foam sheets and add faces with markers. An adult cuts them out, and kids tape them to a door for a not-so-spooky ghost party. It is a gentle Halloween craft for little ones who find the holiday a bit scary. https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-pumpkin-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-pumpkin-craft/ Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMTKids paint mini pumpkins and gourds with finger paint and jumbo brushes, let them dry, then turn them into silly pumpkin faces using leaves, hay, googly eyes, pom-poms, Cheerios and foam stickers. Frugal, easy to set up, and could work at a toddler or preschool Halloween party. https://www.funlittles.com/perfectly-pumpkin-contest/https://www.funlittles.com/perfectly-pumpkin-contest/ Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMTTwo of our pumpkin activities from October 2012: animal-pattern painted pumpkins and an easy pumpkin craft with egg cartons. Each idea links to its full post. https://www.funlittles.com/blow-pom-poms-through-buildings/https://www.funlittles.com/blow-pom-poms-through-buildings/ Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMTBuild little foam-block houses and arches, line them up into race tracks, then blow pom poms through the openings with a straw. It's a quick-setup indoor gross motor game that also gets kids matching ball sizes to openings. https://www.funlittles.com/13-easy-animal-activities/https://www.funlittles.com/13-easy-animal-activities/ Sun, 14 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMTA roundup of 13 animal-themed crafts, sensory bins, small world setups and games for toddlers and preschoolers, made for World Animal Day. Each idea links to the full Fun Littles post. https://www.funlittles.com/fall-decor-with-leaves/https://www.funlittles.com/fall-decor-with-leaves/ Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMTTake a fall-colors nature walk to collect leaves, then sort them into a Fall Book of Leaves and glue the rest inside a Model Magic frame to make a colorful table centerpiece. https://www.funlittles.com/candy-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/candy-craft/ Tue, 09 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMTTwist leftover candy wrappers into butterflies, then glue sugar candies into flowers on a picture frame, adding twig stems and yard leaves. A fine-motor Halloween-candy craft that uses up leftovers. https://www.funlittles.com/columbus-day-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/columbus-day-craft/ Sun, 07 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMTCut an egg carton into thirds for boats, then add a decorated foam sail on a craft-stick mast. It's a simple, recycled craft that opens up a chat about Christopher Columbus and why he sailed across the ocean. https://www.funlittles.com/pistachio-shells-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/pistachio-shells-craft/ Sat, 06 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMTTurn saved pistachio shells into art. Glue them onto a drawn flower and paint over them, or glue them around a favorite drawing as a frame. https://www.funlittles.com/birthday-cupcakes/https://www.funlittles.com/birthday-cupcakes/ Fri, 05 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMTBake a box-mix batch of vanilla and chocolate cupcakes with your child, make patterns with the two colors while they cool, then let the little artist frost and sprinkle them. Keeping it simple makes all the difference when baking with kids. https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-animal-activity-for-world-animal-day/https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-animal-activity-for-world-animal-day/ Thu, 04 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMTPaint mini pumpkins with acrylics to turn them into a tiger, a giraffe and a zebra, then look at them up close with a magnifying glass. A Halloween and animal mash-up made for World Animal Day, with an optional taped rainbow pumpkin. https://www.funlittles.com/fall-sensory-bin/https://www.funlittles.com/fall-sensory-bin/ Tue, 02 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMTFill a storage bin with birdseed, silk fall leaves, glass pebbles, mini pumpkins and kitchen tools for scooping, pouring and pretend play. Toddlers get hands-on sensory play, and preschoolers can turn the bin into a small world. https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-gifts-by-kids/https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-gifts-by-kids/ Sat, 29 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTKids paint Styrofoam balls and turn them into pipe cleaner flowers and a sun. Then they 'plant' the stems in plaster of Paris poured into a greased container to make a homemade gift. The project works best spread over several short sessions. https://www.funlittles.com/make-your-own-animal-face-mask/https://www.funlittles.com/make-your-own-animal-face-mask/ Sat, 29 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTDraw or print animal faces on construction paper, cut them out with eye holes, and let kids color and decorate them. Add an elastic string or a craft-stick handle, then play pretend with animal sounds and silly peek-a-boo. https://www.funlittles.com/preschooler-pattern-activity/https://www.funlittles.com/preschooler-pattern-activity/ Fri, 28 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTKids color small animal skin pattern printables (tiger, giraffe, zebra, jaguar, leopard) while comparing them to real animal photos. They spot the shapes, the colors, and the tricky difference between a jaguar and a leopard. https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-pumpkin-crafts/https://www.funlittles.com/halloween-pumpkin-crafts/ Wed, 26 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTCut a pumpkin from orange paper or foam. Then give it a personality with egg carton eyes, masks, noses and teeth, plus googly eyes and a paper moustache. A simple preschool Halloween craft packed with cutting, gluing and coloring. https://www.funlittles.com/fall-activity-for-preschoolers/https://www.funlittles.com/fall-activity-for-preschoolers/ Mon, 24 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTBring home a fallen branch, prop it up outside and tape on foam and paper leaves to make a fall tree. Then add stuffed-animal birds and watch the pretend play unfold. https://www.funlittles.com/pin-the-tail-on-the-animal/https://www.funlittles.com/pin-the-tail-on-the-animal/ Fri, 21 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTKids color printed animal outlines, an adult cuts the tails off, and then kids play matching rounds on a corkboard: tails to heads, name tags to animals, and bodies to tails. Afterwards, mix the heads and tails into silly new creatures. https://www.funlittles.com/make-an-apple-tree-the-toddler-way/https://www.funlittles.com/make-an-apple-tree-the-toddler-way/ Wed, 19 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTKids roll cardboard tubes in brown paint to make tree trunks, then squish cotton balls in red paint to make apples. Once dry, the apples go on green paper treetops for a counting game, and the trees stand up on their trunks as a little orchard. https://www.funlittles.com/propeller-seeds-bugs/https://www.funlittles.com/propeller-seeds-bugs/ Wed, 19 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTCollect maple propeller seeds on a nature walk and turn them into insect wings. Make tape butterflies, stick dragonflies and Play-Doh bees with toothpick legs and googly eyes, then display them in a homemade insectarium. https://www.funlittles.com/dosa-indian-crepe-creations/https://www.funlittles.com/dosa-indian-crepe-creations/ Tue, 18 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTLet kids order fun shapes like a leaf, flower, Mickey or spider while an adult ladles dosa, pancake or crepe batter onto a hot griddle to make them. Serve with a sprinkle of sugar or a Nutella face for a cheerful breakfast. https://www.funlittles.com/easy-clothespin-animals/https://www.funlittles.com/easy-clothespin-animals/ Mon, 17 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTToddlers clip plastic clothespins around a yogurt container and onto craft sticks for fine motor practice. Then an adult snaps them into simple animals like a dog, butterfly, giraffe and dragonfly. No gluing, cutting or glitter needed. https://www.funlittles.com/puffy-paint-fall-art/https://www.funlittles.com/puffy-paint-fall-art/ Sat, 15 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTMix a simple homemade puffy paint from flour, baking powder, salt, water and food color. Squeeze it onto black poster board and fresh leaves for bright fall art that dries puffy, with an optional quick microwave to puff it up more. https://www.funlittles.com/molding-seahorses-with-plaster-of-paris/https://www.funlittles.com/molding-seahorses-with-plaster-of-paris/ Fri, 14 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTCast a seahorse by pouring plaster of Paris into an oiled plastic sand-toy mold, pop it out once it sets, then paint it bright tropical colors. A good chance to chat about real seahorse facts while you work. https://www.funlittles.com/mud-soup-on-the-lawn/https://www.funlittles.com/mud-soup-on-the-lawn/ Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTKids cook up a pretend mud soup outdoors in a bucket, adding garden flowers as 'veggies' and matching each flower's color to a real vegetable. It's a quick, open-ended play idea that builds creative thinking and teamwork. https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-math-play/https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-math-play/ Wed, 12 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTStand foam numbers 1-5 behind flattened playdough discs, then have kids count out marbles and press them into each disc to match the number. Toddlers practice naming numbers and beginning to count; preschoolers count and match. https://www.funlittles.com/manatee-craft/https://www.funlittles.com/manatee-craft/ Wed, 12 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTPaint a poster board ocean blue, then add cotton-stuffed paper manatees, puffy cotton-backed sand dunes and real grass clippings for sea grass. It's a hands-on way to introduce an endangered marine mammal and talk about keeping waters clean. https://www.funlittles.com/reading-box/https://www.funlittles.com/reading-box/ Wed, 12 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTCover a cereal box with colored paper, cut a slot in the top and fill it with simple CVC word cards. Kids pull out words and read them aloud whenever they like, and the words change every few days. https://www.funlittles.com/animal-habitats/https://www.funlittles.com/animal-habitats/ Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTBuild simple play-doh homes for toy animals and insects (a bear cave, a barn, an ocean, a shore, leaves and an anthill), then talk about where each animal lives and what it eats. Kids make up short stories about each habitat, including prey and predator. https://www.funlittles.com/animal-resist-painting/https://www.funlittles.com/animal-resist-painting/ Sun, 09 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTGlue a paper animal cut-out onto half a sheet of cardstock, paint all over it with a fat brush, then peel the animal off to reveal a clean white silhouette. Once dry, draw in the animal's habitat and food, and talk about where each animal lives and what it eats. https://www.funlittles.com/home-made-maracas/https://www.funlittles.com/home-made-maracas/ Sat, 08 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTA preschooler decorates plastic cups with markers, fills them with (optionally colored) rice, pasta, oats or grits, then glues and tapes two cups rim to rim. The result is a rattle that a big kid makes for a baby sibling, or for themselves. https://www.funlittles.com/edible-zoo-for-world-animal-day-2012/https://www.funlittles.com/edible-zoo-for-world-animal-day-2012/ Fri, 07 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTKids plan and build a zoo on a tray from pantry foods: a blue Jello pond with goldfish crackers, chocolate rice crispies ground, broccoli trees and animal crackers stuck down with cream cheese. Then they play with it and taste their own creation. https://www.funlittles.com/animals-of-antarctica/https://www.funlittles.com/animals-of-antarctica/ Thu, 06 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTPuff up Ivory soap in the microwave, mix it with torn toilet paper and hot water into soap "ice," and spread it in a pizza box. Kids then use a picture list to collect Antarctic animals and set up a South Pole habitat for pretend play and food-chain talk. https://www.funlittles.com/cookie-creations/https://www.funlittles.com/cookie-creations/ Thu, 06 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTMix an egg, a stick of butter and a box of white cake mix into a dough, color it, roll teaspoon-size balls and bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes. The cookies come out soft, puffy and a little cakey, like sugar cookies with the volume turned up. https://www.funlittles.com/learn-math-with-safety-pin/https://www.funlittles.com/learn-math-with-safety-pin/ Wed, 05 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTFlick a safety pin or cardboard arrow spinning around a pencil on a homemade number wheel, then read the number and collect that many glass gems. Kids practice number recognition, counting, comparing more or less, and addition in a two-player game. https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-puzzles/https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-puzzles/ Tue, 04 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTPrint a favorite animal picture on card stock, trace puzzle pieces on the back using an ordinary puzzle as a template, and cut it into a one-of-a-kind jigsaw. Kids sort the pieces and rebuild the picture using a reference copy. https://www.funlittles.com/lets-make-pancakes/https://www.funlittles.com/lets-make-pancakes/ Tue, 04 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTYour little chef mixes pancake batter, splits it into three bowls and tints each one with gel food color. Then, with an adult at the griddle, you cook, flip, stack and slice a colorful layered pancake stack. It's a kitchen activity full of measuring, counting and new words. https://www.funlittles.com/strings-and-duplo/https://www.funlittles.com/strings-and-duplo/ Mon, 03 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTClamp strings, ribbons or cords between two snapped-together Duplo bricks to build trains, a handbag and a hanging zoo. It is a simple twist on everyday Duplo play that opens up new building ideas. https://www.funlittles.com/flash-cards-in-a-sand-box/https://www.funlittles.com/flash-cards-in-a-sand-box/ Sat, 01 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMTTake a pack of flash cards out to a dry sandbox and stand them in the sand to build walls, houses, shapes, race lanes and tents for toy animals. Kids get open-ended imaginative play with a side of word reading, shapes and animal sorting. https://www.funlittles.com/paint-with-spaghetti-brooms/https://www.funlittles.com/paint-with-spaghetti-brooms/ Thu, 30 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMTTie a bundle of spaghetti with a rubber band, cook it, and use the floppy 'broom' to swish, splat and drag paint across big paper. It's a less messy way to paint without brushes, good for kids who don't like paint on their hands. https://www.funlittles.com/easing-your-childs-fears-with-play/https://www.funlittles.com/easing-your-childs-fears-with-play/ Tue, 28 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMTBlow up balloons, draw monster faces on them, and throw the 'monsters' a pretend tea party with cups, cookies and stuffed-animal guests. It's a playful way to help preschoolers who are scared of monsters and the dark. https://www.funlittles.com/thumbelina/https://www.funlittles.com/thumbelina/ Thu, 23 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMTBuild a Thumbelina play scene in a wooden crate with construction paper, real garden flowers, leaves and play dough characters, then act out the story. Come back the next day to set up the toad kidnap scene and retell the whole tale. https://www.funlittles.com/build-an-island-in-a-sandbox/https://www.funlittles.com/build-an-island-in-a-sandbox/ Tue, 21 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMTPile the sandbox sand into a landmass, pour colored water all around it, then add little people, plastic trees, sea creatures and rocks for island small-world play. It's a hands-on way to introduce what an island is: land surrounded by water. https://www.funlittles.com/a-maze-ing/https://www.funlittles.com/a-maze-ing/ Sat, 18 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMTLay strands of Mardi Gras beads on the floor to make a maze, then guide a toy pet through it to a prize waiting at the end. Kids can rebuild it again and again in new combinations. https://www.funlittles.com/learning-at-the-grocery-store/https://www.funlittles.com/learning-at-the-grocery-store/ Fri, 17 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMTTurn a regular grocery run into quick, on-the-move learning: feeling fruit textures, spotting ripe produce, counting apple displays, weighing, checking prices and naming a new vegetable each trip. These are ideas to pick from, not a checklist for every trip. https://www.funlittles.com/frozen-paint-indian-flag/https://www.funlittles.com/frozen-paint-indian-flag/ Wed, 15 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMTFreeze orange, white and green paint, then let kids rub the melting paint blocks onto an old towel to make a homemade Indian flag. It's a cool, messy painting activity for a hot day. https://www.funlittles.com/lets-start-a-bakery/https://www.funlittles.com/lets-start-a-bakery/ Wed, 15 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMTTurn an empty toy box and scraps of cardboard into a bakery display case, decorate it with colored paper and thinned glue, then stock it with play cookies and cupcakes. Setting prices turns pretend play into a lesson on numbers and money. https://www.funlittles.com/duplo-creations/https://www.funlittles.com/duplo-creations/ Tue, 14 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMTOpen-ended DUPLO building: make a house for toy animals, then outline a lake beside it with string and add blue construction paper your child labels. It works as a simple pretend-play and early-writing activity. https://www.funlittles.com/make-your-own-play-food/https://www.funlittles.com/make-your-own-play-food/ Sun, 12 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMTKids mold their own bakery play food, like cookies and cupcakes, from Model Magic, decorate it with Dazzlers and glitter, and let it air-dry to keep for pretend kitchen play. https://www.funlittles.com/ant-mobile/https://www.funlittles.com/ant-mobile/ Sat, 11 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMTTie two leftover party balloons together, draw on a face, and you have an 'ant-mobile' to sit between, drive around and use as a puppet for pretend play. It's a fun way to use up balloons after a party. https://www.funlittles.com/patriotic-peacock-indias-national-bird/https://www.funlittles.com/patriotic-peacock-indias-national-bird/ Sat, 11 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMTPaint a child's hand in the saffron, white and green of the Indian flag and press it down with fingers spread to make a tri-color peacock, India's national bird. It's an easy way to talk about the flag's colors around India's Independence Day. https://www.funlittles.com/cloud-doh-play-doh/https://www.funlittles.com/cloud-doh-play-doh/ Fri, 10 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMTMix flour and baby oil into moldable cloud dough for messy outdoor sensory and pretend play. Kids build castles, cakes and ice cream cones, then top them with fake sprinkles made from crumbled dried-out play dough. https://www.funlittles.com/of-dirt-and-dots/https://www.funlittles.com/of-dirt-and-dots/ Tue, 07 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMTKids brush mud and dirt across a big sheet of paper, then add real paint on top. On a fresh sheet they paint with just a pointer finger to make bright dot paintings. It's simple outdoor process art where the fun matters more than a pretty result. https://www.funlittles.com/sweet-potato-bird/https://www.funlittles.com/sweet-potato-bird/ Fri, 03 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMTTurn a forgotten, bird-shaped sweet potato into a feathered bird by drawing eyes and wings with a marker, then gluing on feathers and googly eyes. It's a quick, child-led nature craft that saves an unlucky veggie from the back of the cabinet. https://www.funlittles.com/mix-those-colors-sister/https://www.funlittles.com/mix-those-colors-sister/ Thu, 02 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMTTwo kids cover their hands in different finger paint colors, hold hands and rub (and dance!) to mix a new color, then print each color side by side on taped-down butcher paper. Feet work too. https://www.funlittles.com/cake-mania-with-play-doh/https://www.funlittles.com/cake-mania-with-play-doh/ Thu, 26 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMTKids press bright play doh into cupcake and cake molds and decorate them with play doh frosting and roses. They then build a simple pretend bakery from tissue-wrapped crates and take turns playing baker and customer. https://www.funlittles.com/play-doh-jewelry/https://www.funlittles.com/play-doh-jewelry/ Wed, 25 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMTKids roll, shape and mold play doh into princess jewelry: tiaras, necklaces, rings, earrings, bracelets and a 'princess watch', then decorate them with beads and feathers. It's a kid-led, open-ended way to practice shapes and turning pictures into 3D models. https://www.funlittles.com/oobleck-fountain/https://www.funlittles.com/oobleck-fountain/ Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMTMix a batch of cornstarch oobleck, divide it into bowls and color each one, then pour handfuls over a standing pinecone. Colorful fountains drip down the scales. It's simple messy play with a built-in color-mixing lesson. https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-storybook/https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-storybook/ Sun, 22 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMTYour child makes up a story, you write it down word for word, then print it on cardstock with space for your child to illustrate each page. Bind it with ribbon or staples for a special Father's Day or Mother's Day gift. https://www.funlittles.com/rock-art/https://www.funlittles.com/rock-art/ Sun, 22 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMTColor oven-warmed rocks with crayons that melt into vibrant colors. Then build a rock person with googly eyes, feathers and play dough, and change its mouth to show happy, sad, worried and angry faces. https://www.funlittles.com/ocean-in-a-bottle/https://www.funlittles.com/ocean-in-a-bottle/ Sat, 21 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMTTint water ocean-blue in an empty plastic bottle, then add backyard 'ocean stuff' like stones, sand, grass and leaves, plus a sprinkle of glitter. Tape the lid shut for a mini ocean to look at, and decorate the outside with hand-drawn fish. https://www.funlittles.com/snowy-cones/https://www.funlittles.com/snowy-cones/ Sat, 21 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMTGlue small cotton balls onto pine cone scales to make little snowy pine trees, then stand them in pots or cups of mud. A bonus idea: paint the scales in every color. https://www.funlittles.com/no-frills-easy-birdhouse/https://www.funlittles.com/no-frills-easy-birdhouse/ Wed, 18 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMTTurn an empty milk carton and a bath-tissue roll into a foil-wrapped birdhouse with an entrance hole and a little bench, then hang it outside and watch for visiting birds. https://www.funlittles.com/arctic-zone-flat-caves-for-polar-bears/https://www.funlittles.com/arctic-zone-flat-caves-for-polar-bears/ Tue, 17 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMTBuild an icy cave for a toy polar bear out of blue Kool-Aid play dough, add cotton-ball snow and arctic animals, and let kids run their own arctic small-world play. Caves can be tall and hollow or flat. It's the child's idea that counts. https://www.funlittles.com/simple-beach-scene/https://www.funlittles.com/simple-beach-scene/ Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMTAn adult sketches a simple beach, ocean and sky on big chart paper. Kids color it in, glue real sand on the beach, splatter-paint the ocean with a toothbrush, add pom-pom clouds and ocean-animal stickers, then use the picture for pretend play. https://www.funlittles.com/how-can-a-whale-get-into-a-fish-tank/https://www.funlittles.com/how-can-a-whale-get-into-a-fish-tank/ Wed, 11 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMTAsk kids goofy, impossible questions that start with "How can a..." (like "How can a whale get into a fish tank?"). They spot what's wrong and invent a story that makes it true. It's a no-materials game that builds critical thinking and imagination, and it's great for long car rides.