Toddler Activities from Familyeducation.com http://ift.tt/1r1IQQO Let your child help prepare a simple meal with you.
***** ToddlerActivities ******** Sponsored by: www.anycard.games No In-built rules. Play any card games just like holding cards in your hand with upto 10 players online!! Free to join and free joining in-game cash Bonus for limited time!!
Monday, August 31, 2015
Chocolate Spotted PB&J Puppy Sandwich
Kids Activities Blog http://ift.tt/1pME3n0 
Kids love fun food and this Chocolate Spotted PB&J Puppy Sandwich is sure to get even the pickiest eater excited about lunch. This adorable sandwich made out of white flat bread is filled with peanut butter and jelly and decorated with chocolate spread, but it could easily be made with your child’s favorite sandwich fillings. If you want a cute little treat to go along with the dog sandwich, you could surprise your kids with a Peanut Butter Puppy Cookie too.
I created this sandwich using white flat bread just so the puppy had a nice white face. White sandwich bread will work as well, and if you prefer using whole wheat bread, you can do that too. Your puppy will just be tan instead of white. Both will look equally cute. I know many kids have peanut allergies, so just make the necessary changes so that this can be served to your child. If you use meat inside the sandwich, you could use dark rye bread and pipe on white cream cheese spots. There are many possibilities.
Chocolate Spotted PB&J Puppy Sandwich
Ingredients:
2 pieces of white flat bread
2 tablespoons peanut butter (or any other spread you’d like to use)
2 tablespoons jelly
2 tablespoons chocolate spread
Instructions:
Cut two ovals out of the bread to be the puppies head. Then cut out two ears.
Spread peanut butter then jelly on one oval piece of bread. Press the pointed ends of the ears onto the PB&J so they stick.
Put the plain white oval piece of bread on top of the PB&J. Spoon chocolate spread into a zip top bag. Then cut off one tip of the bag. Pipe on the puppy’s eyes, nose and mouth.
Pipe on the puppy’s spots and cover the ears in chocolate spread.
Serve to a happy kid!
The post Chocolate Spotted PB&J Puppy Sandwich appeared first on Kids Activities Blog.
How to Make Paper Plate Masks
Kids Activities Blog http://ift.tt/1pUNSiU 
Paper plate crafts are so much fun!
We’ve made paper plate roses and other paper plate crafts with kids. But this time, we were inspired by imagination. Since my three-year-old pretends to be a fairy or a superhero almost every day, we crafted these quick and easy paper plate masks to help look the part!
I love paper plate crafts for kids. I particularly love making masks with them. We’ve made masks out of thinner paper before, but they rip easily. Since we don’t want to risk revealing anyone’s identity (wink, wink), we use paper plates!
Materials for Paper Plate Masks
- Paper Plate
- Watercolors
- Glue
- Glitter
- Toilet Paper Roll
- Pipe Cleaner or String
How to Make Paper Plate Masks
- Start by cutting out the shape. We tried a full mask, but my preschooler did not like the way that it felt, so we shortened it to a half mask.
- Cut two holes for eyes
- Let your child paint the mask with watercolors
- Once dried, have your child stamp the mask with a toilet paper roll and glue
- Sprinkle glitter on top
- Punch two holes on either side of the mask and thread pipe cleaners (or string) through the holes
- Connect the pipe cleaners to fit
There’s nothing better than seeing a child’s face light up over something that they have created. My superhero had “to fly” the second she put on her mask. Isn’t it amazing how a paper plate can spark creativity?
You might also enjoy these paper plate crafts to spark creativity in your house.
The post How to Make Paper Plate Masks appeared first on Kids Activities Blog.
DIY Lego Costume
Kids Activities Blog http://ift.tt/1pm3KL4 
Would your LEGO enthusiast love to wear a giant LEGO costume for Halloween this year? Let us help you with this fun idea – just one of our many homemade Halloween costumes. We at Kids Activities Blog just love costumes like this that are cheap and easy to make!
LEGO Costume
We try to make the kids costumes each Halloween. This year, Lowes inspired us to “think outside the box” and with the help of a giant appliance box (Thank you handy shopping assistant Doug!!) and a couple of cans of spray paint as well as several smaller boxes we had Legos. Human Legos.
Lego blocks are one of our favorite things to play with. All. Day. Long. The kids absolutely love building and creating.
Red is my son’s favorite color. He’s thrilled with his costume – and I was thrilled with how easy it was to create. All it took was a short trip to my local Lowes.
Homemade Halloween Costumes
How to Make a Lego Costume
- Spray paint your boxes. We needed to do about 5-6 coats.
- Cut out neck, arm and leg holes.
- Add “circles” and arm straps – and viola! You’re a Lego!
More Kids Activities
Have you been inspired by this awesome LEGO costume? I’d love to hear about a great homemade Halloween costumes that your kids will be wearing for Halloween this year! Here are some fun ideas for costumes and kids activities for Halloween:
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar No Sew Homemade Halloween Costume
- Kids Dress Up with Pipe Cleaner Disguises
- 10 Super Simple Home Made Costume Ideas
The post DIY Lego Costume appeared first on Kids Activities Blog.
Help Your Child Make Friends at Any Age
hands on : as we grow http://ift.tt/1hraaGG
Friendships are so important for children; friends not only offer a playmate, but they can become someone to help them solve problems, a trusted ally who will listen to their fears, and try out new ideas with them. When Gymboree offered to sponsor a post about the importance of friendship I knew I had to accept because…
We all want our kids to have friends!
One of the greatest joys in life is watching my kids develop deep and lasting friendships.
But the road to those friendships is not always smooth. My kids have been lucky; we lived in the same small city for most of their lives and they had grown up being friends with my friend’s children. Sure they made friends outside of those circles as well, but I never had to think much about helping them make friends.
Then we moved to another state!
We kept in touch with our friends back home (in this era of social media and video calls it was easy to do), however, I knew that my kids needed to make new friends too!
I have spent the last year thinking about friendship and helping my kids make new friends.
Two parts to helping kids make friends
All of which led me to realize that there are really two parts to helping kids make friends: giving them the social tools to play well with others and enter a group of kids who are playing, and creating opportunities to make friends.
To help your kids learn the social skills they need to make and keep friends try these strategies listed by age:
Introduce Prosocial Skills Toddlers and Preschoolers
Introduce prosocial skills such as sharing and turn taking. This doesn’t mean you have to immediately force your child to give up a toy just because someone else wants it, but you can help them understand that others want to play too.
Narrate what’s happening when another child wants a turn with an item.
“I see that Sara wants to play cars too. Can you choose a car to share with her?”
“Bobby wants to have a turn on the rocking horse can he use it when you are finished?”
Model empathy. Toddlers and preschoolers are not naturally empathetic, but they benefit from and learn empathy when it is modeled by caregivers.
Set up opportunities for parallel play such as duplicate tools in a sandbox, creating an opportunity to play side by side without the stress of collaborating.
Play with your child and their friends, guiding the play and helping to resolve conflicts as they arise.
Find opportunities for your child to play with kids who are slightly older and who have more well-developed skills for playing together.
Help your child learn to introduce themselves and ask “Can I play too?”.
Continue to Help 4-6 Year Olds Develop Prosocial Skills
Children at this stage may seem to have these skills one moment and completely lack them the next. Just keep gently reminding them, modeling the skills yourself when possible.
Introduce and model conflict resolution. Be wary of always solving their problems for them, instead offer possible solutions and let them choose what they would like to try. Then help put their solutions into action.
Help your child and their friends to come up with a plan for sharing toys and materials. Some examples might be each child plays with an item for a set amount of time and when the timer goes off they trade. Singing a particular song such as the ABC’s as a means for taking turns on the swing.
Teach some helpful scripts such as:
“I want to play too, can we find a way share?”
“Can I use that when you are finished?”
“Can we trade?”
Teach your child set boundaries with others. It is reasonable to want others not to hurt you.
Teach them to be specific. It is usually more successful to say “don’t push me” than simply yelling “STOP!”.
Show them how to join a group of children by asking what they are playing and if they can play too. Occasionally help them come up with prompts for entering another child’s play, for instance if a group of kids are playing astronauts suggest that your child ask if they can be an alien or mission control as a means of joining the game.
Celebrate Older Kids Interests and Friendships
Help your child celebrate their interests whether it’s dolls, trucks, fairies or dinosaurs, we all gravitate towards friends who share our interests.
Help them broaden their interests; you never know what you might like or who you might meet trying out something new!
Keep offering opportunities for them to meet new people.
When you see a friendship blossoming support it but don’t force it. Older children need to have ownership over their friendships.
Don’t meddle in their friendships (unless you suspect that there is something harmful going on). Keep asking questions and demonstrate your interest but don’t offer advice unless they ask.
You don’t have to be friends with the parent’s of your children’s friends, it’s great when it works out that way, but it’s okay to just be acquaintances.
You can support your children’s friendships by creating shared experiences; have their friends over for dinner, make a craft or play games.
6 Great Ways to Meet New Friends
Take advantage of public spaces such as parks, pools, and libraries.
If you have young children, join a playgroup.
Create or join a group of local parents on social media to create group outings such as trips to the zoo, playdates at the park, or movies at the theater.
Have your child participate in a sport, it doesn’t even have to be a team sport like soccer or baseball, martial arts and gymnastics work just as well for meeting friends.
Help your child join a club, whether it’s chess, sewing, robotics, or scouts; they will be bound to meet other like-minded individuals.
Go to community events where you can meet other families like Gymboree’s in store event, September, 12th 2015. Where they will be celebrating their new line of clothing featuring characters from DreamWorks new animated series Dinotrux!
Get a sneak-peek at Dinotrux and create your own Dinotrux world using DreamWorks COLOR app. You’ll also have a chance to enter to win a Dinotrux shopping spree at Gymboree.
RSVP now to join in the excitement.
Tell us your favorite way to make new friends!
Also comment below for a chance to win a $75.00 gift card at Gymboree.
Help Your Child Make Friends at Any Age on handsonaswegrow.com
Help Your Child Make Friends at Any Age
hands on : as we grow http://ift.tt/1hraaGG
Friendships are so important for children; friends not only offer a playmate, but they can become someone to help them solve problems, a trusted ally who will listen to their fears, and try out new ideas with them. When Gymboree offered to sponsor a post about the importance of friendship I knew I had to accept because…
We all want our kids to have friends!
One of the greatest joys in life is watching my kids develop deep and lasting friendships.
But the road to those friendships is not always smooth. My kids have been lucky; we lived in the same small city for most of their lives and they had grown up being friends with my friend’s children. Sure they made friends outside of those circles as well, but I never had to think much about helping them make friends.
Then we moved to another state!
We kept in touch with our friends back home (in this era of social media and video calls it was easy to do), however, I knew that my kids needed to make new friends too!
I have spent the last year thinking about friendship and helping my kids make new friends.
Two parts to helping kids make friends
All of which led me to realize that there are really two parts to helping kids make friends: giving them the social tools to play well with others and enter a group of kids who are playing, and creating opportunities to make friends.
To help your kids learn the social skills they need to make and keep friends try these strategies listed by age:
Introduce Prosocial Skills Toddlers and Preschoolers
Introduce prosocial skills such as sharing and turn taking. This doesn’t mean you have to immediately force your child to give up a toy just because someone else wants it, but you can help them understand that others want to play too.
Narrate what’s happening when another child wants a turn with an item.
“I see that Sara wants to play cars too. Can you choose a car to share with her?”
“Bobby wants to have a turn on the rocking horse can he use it when you are finished?”
Model empathy. Toddlers and preschoolers are not naturally empathetic, but they benefit from and learn empathy when it is modeled by caregivers.
Set up opportunities for parallel play such as duplicate tools in a sandbox, creating an opportunity to play side by side without the stress of collaborating.
Play with your child and their friends, guiding the play and helping to resolve conflicts as they arise.
Find opportunities for your child to play with kids who are slightly older and who have more well-developed skills for playing together.
Help your child learn to introduce themselves and ask “Can I play too?”.
Continue to Help 4-6 Year Olds Develop Prosocial Skills
Children at this stage may seem to have these skills one moment and completely lack them the next. Just keep gently reminding them, modeling the skills yourself when possible.
Introduce and model conflict resolution. Be wary of always solving their problems for them, instead offer possible solutions and let them choose what they would like to try. Then help put their solutions into action.
Help your child and their friends to come up with a plan for sharing toys and materials. Some examples might be each child plays with an item for a set amount of time and when the timer goes off they trade. Singing a particular song such as the ABC’s as a means for taking turns on the swing.
Teach some helpful scripts such as:
“I want to play too, can we find a way share?”
“Can I use that when you are finished?”
“Can we trade?”
Teach your child set boundaries with others. It is reasonable to want others not to hurt you.
Teach them to be specific. It is usually more successful to say “don’t push me” than simply yelling “STOP!”.
Show them how to join a group of children by asking what they are playing and if they can play too. Occasionally help them come up with prompts for entering another child’s play, for instance if a group of kids are playing astronauts suggest that your child ask if they can be an alien or mission control as a means of joining the game.
Celebrate Older Kids Interests and Friendships
Help your child celebrate their interests whether it’s dolls, trucks, fairies or dinosaurs, we all gravitate towards friends who share our interests.
Help them broaden their interests; you never know what you might like or who you might meet trying out something new!
Keep offering opportunities for them to meet new people.
When you see a friendship blossoming support it but don’t force it. Older children need to have ownership over their friendships.
Don’t meddle in their friendships (unless you suspect that there is something harmful going on). Keep asking questions and demonstrate your interest but don’t offer advice unless they ask.
You don’t have to be friends with the parent’s of your children’s friends, it’s great when it works out that way, but it’s okay to just be acquaintances.
You can support your children’s friendships by creating shared experiences; have their friends over for dinner, make a craft or play games.
6 Great Ways to Meet New Friends
Take advantage of public spaces such as parks, pools, and libraries.
If you have young children, join a playgroup.
Create or join a group of local parents on social media to create group outings such as trips to the zoo, playdates at the park, or movies at the theater.
Have your child participate in a sport, it doesn’t even have to be a team sport like soccer or baseball, martial arts and gymnastics work just as well for meeting friends.
Help your child join a club, whether it’s chess, sewing, robotics, or scouts; they will be bound to meet other like-minded individuals.
Go to community events where you can meet other families like Gymboree’s in store event, September, 12th 2015. Where they will be celebrating their new line of clothing featuring characters from DreamWorks new animated series Dinotrux!
Get a sneak-peek at Dinotrux and create your own Dinotrux world using DreamWorks COLOR app. You’ll also have a chance to enter to win a Dinotrux shopping spree at Gymboree.
RSVP now to join in the excitement.
Tell us your favorite way to make new friends!
Also comment below for a chance to win a $75.00 gift card at Gymboree.
Help Your Child Make Friends at Any Age on handsonaswegrow.com
15 Fun Braid Hairstyles for Girls
Kids Activities Blog http://ift.tt/1Esr8iA 
Now that school is back in session, we want to help our girls look their best. When they look their best they often times feel their best and that confidence goes such a long way. So today we have partnered with Conair Quick Twist to bring you 15 Fun Braid Hairstyles for Girls.
15 Fun Braid Hairstyles for Girls
- Just in time for winter, learn how to do this Elsa Braid hairstyle.
- Your little girl can feel like a princess with this Twisted Crown Braid.
- Bring out her sassy side with this Bohemian Braid.
- This Mini French Braid is simple yet fun.
- When the weather is hot, this Braided Bun makes for the perfect updo.
- When the hair locks are flowing, nothing looks better than this adorable Waterfall Braid.
- This Boho Braid will keep those bangs out of the eyes in a cute way.
- Planning a swim day? Give this Double Twist Beach Braid a try!
- This Twist-Back Pony will give you Rapunzel’s hair in no time!
- With the mermaid craze right now, this Fishtail Braid just seems to fit!
- Go to infinity and beyond with this Infinity Braid.
- Turn that frown upside down with this Upside Down Braided Bun.
- Pocahontas would be so proud of these Triple Braided Pocahontas Braids.
- Go nice and slow and before you know it you will have this Snail Braid completed.
- Hungry for a great hairstyle? Try this Hunger Games Katnis Braid.
How to Make Braids Effortlessly
- Lock ends of hair into place in the styler and pull tight.
- Slide the button up to turn on the twist to easily twist two strands all the way up.
- Turn the top of the styler to twist the strands together, making it as loose or as tight as you want it.
Braids just got a whole lot easier to do and just think of how much time you will save! It’s so easy to do I bet your daughter will be able to do her own hair too. With so many braids in such little time, you won’t know what style to do next!
To learn more about the Conair Quick Twist, visit http://ift.tt/1Esr8z4
For more beauty tips, tricks and giveaways,LIKE Conair on Facebook and follow them on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest!
This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation that contains affiliate links. I received the Conair Quick Twist™ Double-Stranded Braider for my own personal use. All opinions, text and experiences are my own.
The post 15 Fun Braid Hairstyles for Girls appeared first on Kids Activities Blog.
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Let's Move!
Toddler Activities from Familyeducation.com http://ift.tt/Y2uuoS Practice the following basic movement words and explore the variations with your child
Q-Tip Blow Dart Game
Kids Activities Blog http://ift.tt/1lwMPEA
I love fostering independence in my kids through activities, watching them problem solve and try things new ways. Brain Building through play!
There are two activities that are super simple and will keep your kids engaged for hours:
1) Building with plastic cups. They create towers, bridges, walls, forts, etc.
2) Blowing straws… I think the kids were four before they figured out on their own accord what a spit wad was… and the classic battle weapon of childhood was reborn in another generation.
Combine them and channel those fascinations… say no to spit by encouraging the kids to use cotton swabs. Add some cups and you have a target that is *not* mom… and hours of brain building fun.
Q-Tip Blow Dart Game
All you need are:
- Straws (narrow ones are best)
- Handful of Q-tips
- Plastic cups – the more the better
How to play:
Kids build a tower – if you have multiple kiddos who love competition you can have them each create towers and then “attack” the other team… my girls tend to get their feelings hurt easily, so they built their tower together, and then knocked it down together too!
Put a q-tip inside the straw and blow the straw at your target (aka, the wall of cups). It is harder than it looks – and hours of fun!
The cups do not fall down easily. Kids have to build the walls with gaps close enough that the tower is stable, but big enough gaps that the cups will fall down when the darts hit them.
What activities have kept your kids going for hours??
There is a variation of this blow-dart game that is perfect for younger preschoolers – or if you don’t want to sacrifice a ton of plastic cups (yes, they will be bent and ruined in the above activity). Check out the straw game over at That’s What She Said.
The post Q-Tip Blow Dart Game appeared first on Kids Activities Blog.
20 Monster Recipes & Snacks for Kids
Kids Activities Blog http://ift.tt/1CnWgvs 
It’s a fact that kids are more apt to eat something if it’s fun food. These monster recipes will have your kids chomping down and asking for more! Plenty of ideas in here, perfect for Halloween or a monster themed party.
20 Monster Snacks & Recipes the Kids Will Love
Whether you are looking for some healthy food to get your kids to eat more at lunch time, or you’re searching for some sweet treats just for fun, here’s a list of 20 great ideas to get them creating and munching!
Edible Monsters on the Healthier Side
Make a healthy Green Monster Smoothie from Spoonful
These adorable Veggie Monsters can be found at Kix Cereal
Make a big batch of Monster Sandwiches from My Own Road
We love these Mini Monster Cheese Balls from Hungry Happenings
Turn dinner time into fun time with these Monster Shells from Sprout Online
Edible Monsters on the Sweet Treat Side
Monster Cookies
These Blob Monster Cookies look so fun! Via Red Ted Art
These Chomping Monster Cookies from Pillsbury are super cute!
The Decorated Cookie shows you how to make these adorable Monster Cookie Sticks!
Oh my gosh, could these Gooey Monster Cookies be any cuter?! Found at Lil’ Luna
Monster Pops on a Stick
Find the instructions for these Fuzzy Monster Pops at The Decorated Cookie
Kix Cereal has instructions for these sweet Monster Cereal Pops
Who could resist these Monster Cookie Pops from Good Cook?
Kids will love making these Monster Marshmallow Pops from Multiples & More
Monster Snacks & Treats
These adorable Jello Jar Monsters are from Echoes of Laughter
We love these darling Rolo Monsters from cakewhiz!
I’m in love with these Cupcake Monsters from The Seven Year Cottage
Make these Monster Brownies using cereal for polka dots! Via Amanda’s Cookin’
This Monster Mash Candy Bark from In Katrina’s Kitchen is perfect for a party!
Edible Monsters – Healthy & Sweet
Make Monster Apple Faces with Kids Activities Blog
Make awesomely fun Apple Monsters with Parents Magazine
The post 20 Monster Recipes & Snacks for Kids appeared first on Kids Activities Blog.
Homemade Rubbery Goop Recipe
Learning 4 Kids http://ift.tt/1Kv6wHy
The kids are going to love this!!! Homemade Rubbery Goop is perfect for sensory play opportunities as it is safe and non-toxic using basic ingredients found in your pantry.
Rubbery Goop looks like basic play dough but it is textured differently. It is smooth, soft and slightly stretchy. Moulding it in the hands is very addictive as the texture is delightful. It is so much fun to play with, you can pull the goop apart and roll it back together to form a smooth ball. You can squeeze it and it will run through your fingers
How to make Rubbery Goop?
Rubbery Goop can be stretched and pulled apart into smaller pieces (not dry or crumbly) and it all rolls back up into a smooth soft ball.
Ingredients:
2 cups bi-carbonate soda (baking soda)
1 ½ cups water
1 cup of cornflour (corn starch)
Food colouring (optional)
Instructions:
- Combined all ingredients into a saucepan.
- Mix the ingredients together using a whisk to remove lumps.
- Heat on stove stirring with a wooden spoon.
- Bring the mixture to the boil continuously stirring.
- Small lumps will begin to appear, continue to stir until a thick mixture has formed.
- Turn out onto the bench. Be careful the Rubbery Goop will be very hot!
- Knead together to form a smooth ball of Rubbery Goop.
Let’s Play
Rubbery Goop can be played with much like play dough. It is soft, stretchy and easy to mould and shape.
Some Ideas:
- Play with Rubbery Goop much like play dough using rolling pins, play scissors and cookie cutters.
- Add gemstones, bottle tops, shells, toy cars, dinosaurs or any other nick knacks from around the house.
- Use descriptive language to describe the experience, how does the Rubbery Goop feel? It feels soft, smooth and stretchy.
Let’s Learn
Learning Opportunities
- Creativity and imagination
- Fine Motor Development
- Hand-Eye Coordination
- Sensory- Development of the sense of touch. Feeling and manipulating objects.
- Oral language development- using descriptive language.
Click here for more SENSORY activities & play ideas
Available in our online shop:
Please click on the product names to view product details.
Frilled Play Dough Wheels Pack of 10
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)