Art play is a great way to get your kids creating and expressing themselves. We love to try new painting techniques in our home preschool, and found two different way to paint with plastic wrap as part of a month long Painting Challenge. With this challenge, it is all about the process of kids creating art, not a Pinterest perfect finished product. We had so much fun and the kids really loved the reveal after peeling off the plastic wrap at the end. Read below to find out what we did, and visit the Painting Challenge page over at Messy Little Monster to find 34 other fun painting techniques to try with your kids.
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Rainbow Resist Art Painting ~ Creative Activities for Kids
In our home preschool activities we often focus on colors and letters. The Bear (3.5) knows all the basic colors and can identify most of his letters. We started working on color order and learning the rainbow. We sing a song from Mickey Mouse Club House that puts the colors in rainbow order, and I thought it would be fun to make a rainbow resist art painting in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. I’m hosting the Creative Activities for Kids Monthly Blog Hop here on Bare Feet on the Dashboard. You can see the full collection of monthly themed posts from my fellow Kid Blogger Network writers on the series page here, and check out all the other rainbow and St. Patrick’s Day activities at the bottom of this post.
Five Free Field Trips for Kids Under 5 + Fabulously Frugal
Sometimes you just need to get the kids out of the house, right?! With 2 little ones, cabin fever set in with this winter weather and our usual neighborhood walks and nature hikes become slightly less appealing. We have to get creative to get the kids out and doing something fun without the budget taking a hit. Here are five of our favorite free field trips for kids under 5 to give you some inspiration and get you out of the house. Bonus: If you are a blogger, link up your latest frugal post to the Fabulously Frugal Link Party at the bottom of this page. You can find more of our frugal living ideas here, and our fun for preschool kids here.
Taste Safe Chocolate Cinnamon Scented Sensory Dough
We love sensory play at our house, and we’ve been experimenting with new ideas for sensory dough. My daughter puts everything she plays with in her mouth, so I love making taste safe sensory dough so I don’t have to worry about her. Today I’m sharing a fun recipe for taste safe chocolate cinnamon scented sensory dough perfect for toddlers and up to engage your kids’ senses. This recipe is perfect for pretend play and sensory exploration. Find more fabulous Sensory Dough ideas at 12 Months of Sensory Dough.
Indoor Play Ideas: 10 Bad Weather Boredom Busters
We are blessed to have a few glorious sunshiny days during the winter here in Texas, but we still have our fair share of nasty weather that makes it impossible to play outside. With two very active kids I’ve had to get creative to keep us (me) from going stir crazy. Today I’m sharing 10 ideas we use as bad weather boredom busters. Hopefully they will help you keep your sanity, avoid cabin fever, and have fun with your kids.
Quick & Easy Indoor Play Ideas: Make a Simple Rice Sensory Bin
DIY sensory bins can be a really fun (and cheap) way to keep kids entertained while giving them sensory stimulation and practicing important skills. Your sensory bin doesn’t have to be fancy, and the one I’ll show you today can be made with things you probably have in your kitchen in under 5 minutes. This simple rice sensory bin is so fun and my kids are obsessed with it. Read on to find out how to set up your own and also find other great quick and easy indoor play ideas from my friends in the Kid Blogger Network.
Read & Play: Read “The Biggest Valentine Ever” and Create a Giant Valentine
In honor of Valentine’s Day, we read “The Biggest Valentine Ever” this week and worked together to create a giant Valentine, just like in the book. The idea behind our Read and Play series is to take a fun book for kids and encourage further learning through play. Check out our past Read & Play ideas here and find great Valentine’s Day Read & Play activities from other Kid Blogger Network bloggers here. Read on to find out how we used the ideas from the book for a fun and easy art activity with my toddler and preschooler.
Make a Heart Garland with your Child to Practice Patterns & Stringing
We’re practicing patterns right now in our home preschool, so I thought it would be fun to bring that practice in to practical use making a Valentine’s Day heart garland with the Bear. I found these felt hearts a few years ago on sale at Target, but your could easily make your own or grab felt hearts off Amazon and punch holes in them. We used red baker’s twine to string our garland, and the Bear also got great fine motor skill practice stringing and arranging his hearts.
Active Indoor Play: Mini Trampoline and Jumping Activities
Stuck inside with kids who desperately need to burn off energy? Yep, me too. We saw the long, cold winter ahead and bought our kids a mini trampoline for Christmas. It was the Bear’s big present and it has been a LIFESAVER. We were at my parents’ house for the holidays with 5 kids 5 and under, and we got our money’s worth that first week. The trampoline is super fun and helps the kids to be active indoors. The only issue we’ve run in to is that sometimes just plain jumping gets a little old. I’ve compiled a great list of fun activities to do on a mini trampoline (or on the ground if you don’t have one). Our mini trampoline has a support bar, which I’ve found is really helpful for kids under 5. If you want one for your kids, find great deals on mini trampolines here.
Active Indoor Play: Dance Through the Alphabet
The weather outside is frightful, and the indoors might not be so delightful if your kids are filled with pent up energy. My little ones are VERY active and when they don’t get to play outside we have to get creative. I’ve shared before about our dance parties and indoor obstacle courses. Today I’m sharing a new idea we tried this week as part of the Gross Motor Activities from A to Z Series with Still Playing School – lots of great ideas for active indoor play. We’ve been working on the alphabet as part of our home preschool, and the Bear can now identify all of his letters. To practice them while getting some exercise we had an alphabet dance party. With the whole body involved, simple silly dancing becomes a gross motor skill development tool. It was silly, fun, and both kids really got in to it. Best of all you don’t need anything except a little creativity and music. Bonus: Enter to win a Parachute Pack to take active play to the next level. (more…)