Easy Harvest Craft

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Fall is the perfect season for kids to create an Easy Harvest Craft. This adorable craft helps develop fine-motor skills and is perfect for school, home, or daycare.

Easy Harvest Craft

This cute little fall ornament is perfect for the refrigerator.

To make this craft you will need:

• Yellow and green craft foam
• Corn
• Scissors
• Ribbon
• Glue Dots
• Pen
• Glue

After gathering supplies, draw 2 leaves on the green foam. Next draw a long corn shape on the yellow foam.

RELATED: No-Carve Pumpkin Ideas

Invite children to cut out the foam pieces. Next, show them how to spread glue onto the yellow foam and cover it with corn kernels.

Attach the green foam leaves to the corn on the cob with Glue Dots or tacky craft glue.

Cut off a strip of ribbon, then attach it to the back of the corn. Allow the craft to dry completely before hanging.

More Harvest Crafts for Kids

Click the images below for more creative ideas.

Free Printable Harvest Buddies Craft

Pumpkin Patch Pudding

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Paper Plate Letter Learning Activity

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Letters are a funny thing. They’re just a shape, a squiggle, a design… but they mean something.

Getting kids to recognize letters takes repetition. In the past, we’ve done an activity similar to this many times, this is a simplified variation.

This idea came during a recent 7 Day Challenge when a challenger suggested laminating a pumpkin to be able to redo it over and over with different letters.

I suggested to her to write four letters around a paper plate (several times) and just call out which letter to find and paper clip it.

This is another variation on that. Simpler because it doesn’t take the refined fine motor skills of using a paper clip or clothespin.

I wrote one letter on one side of a paper plate (e) and another letter on the other side (c).

Around the paper plate, I then wrote those two letters all around the edge (plus the letter ‘a’ for this plate, but that was to make it more advanced).

Then I cut between each letter.

Then I gave the plate to Louis. He laid it with the letter ‘e’ side up first.

Remember how I said that letters are just marks, squiggles and such? Well, that’s true to a preschooler that doesn’t know what they mean yet.

Your job while doing letter learning activities is to put meaning to the squiggles.

Before starting the activity, introduce those squiggles to your child.

I showed Louis the plate and said:

This is the letter ‘e’, can you find any letter e’s that look the same around the edge of the plate?

He found the letter e’s on the plate and folded them toward the center.

When he was done, he flipped it over and we did the same thing with the letter ‘c’ on the other side.

It’s so quick to prep, that I made another plate with the letters ‘s’ and ‘t’.

For this paper plate letter learning activity, I chose to have Louis work on lowercase letters. For no other reason then to introduce him to them.

You could make this paper plate activity with anything though! Numbers, shapes, sight words, you name it!

Maybe even quick addition/subtraction facts that my oldest could be working on. I would put the total, like 15, in the center of the plate and then he’s find all the problems that add/subtract to equal 15.

What would you  make this paper plate learning activity about?

Paper Plate Letter Learning Activity on handsonaswegrow.com

Paper Plate Letter Learning Activity

Hands On As We Grow http://ift.tt/2f4vSBj

Letters are a funny thing. They’re just a shape, a squiggle, a design… but they mean something.

Getting kids to recognize letters takes repetition. In the past, we’ve done an activity similar to this many times, this is a simplified variation.

This idea came during a recent 7 Day Challenge when a challenger suggested laminating a pumpkin to be able to redo it over and over with different letters.

I suggested to her to write four letters around a paper plate (several times) and just call out which letter to find and paper clip it.

This is another variation on that. Simpler because it doesn’t take the refined fine motor skills of using a paper clip or clothespin.

I wrote one letter on one side of a paper plate (e) and another letter on the other side (c).

Around the paper plate, I then wrote those two letters all around the edge (plus the letter ‘a’ for this plate, but that was to make it more advanced).

Then I cut between each letter.

Then I gave the plate to Louis. He laid it with the letter ‘e’ side up first.

Remember how I said that letters are just marks, squiggles and such? Well, that’s true to a preschooler that doesn’t know what they mean yet.

Your job while doing letter learning activities is to put meaning to the squiggles.

Before starting the activity, introduce those squiggles to your child.

I showed Louis the plate and said:

This is the letter ‘e’, can you find any letter e’s that look the same around the edge of the plate?

He found the letter e’s on the plate and folded them toward the center.

When he was done, he flipped it over and we did the same thing with the letter ‘c’ on the other side.

It’s so quick to prep, that I made another plate with the letters ‘s’ and ‘t’.

For this paper plate letter learning activity, I chose to have Louis work on lowercase letters. For no other reason then to introduce him to them.

You could make this paper plate activity with anything though! Numbers, shapes, sight words, you name it!

Maybe even quick addition/subtraction facts that my oldest could be working on. I would put the total, like 15, in the center of the plate and then he’s find all the problems that add/subtract to equal 15.

What would you  make this paper plate learning activity about?

Paper Plate Letter Learning Activity on handsonaswegrow.com

180 {Gorgeous} Fall Crafts

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We are gathering lots of fall crafts to keep us busy while we start to spend more time indoors.   Fall colors are so beautiful that it makes it really easy to come up with lots of crafts and art projects.

The other cool thing about fall crafts is that we get to bring nature inside and use it to create fun things.   Below you will find crafts that use apples, pine-cones, leaves and even rice.   What a fun way to celebrate Autumn!

180 {Gorgeous} Fall Crafts

Create fall leaves by following the free leaf template here and tissue paper in your favorite fall colors.

Decorate your own fall tree with this printable coloring page and add glitter or paint for a sparkly tree!

Use a paper plate and some construction paper to make a fun fall apple.

Go on a walk to collect leaves and then take them inside and dip them in paint to turn them into stamps.

Make a craft that looks like a rake with leaves from the yard and popsicle sticks.

Make this super cute turkey craft with carmel candy corn. Yum!

Use an old book to make this really festive fall pumpkin craft.

If you’re making fall themed sensory bins, here is the perfect way to make colored rice.

Use small sticks from the yard to make a twig photo frame to display your favorite family photo!

Here are 15 ways to make fall scented play dough for a fun indoor activity.

Make this Warhol inspired art using leaves, crayons and water colors.

Here  are the rest of the  fall crafts.  You can even add your own!   By linking up, you give other blogs permission to link back to your site and use one photo in a roundup post.   Family friendly links only, please.

An InLinkz Link-up

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Simple Kitchen Science with Green Kid Crafts

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Using the Green Kid Crafts subscription box is the ultimate savior for some of us moms who are either not natural born creatives or simply don’t have the time to think up the best educational crafts for our kids.

What is Green Kid Crafts?

Green Kid Crafts is a subscription box service that was made to educate your children with fun crafts. Each box has directions for crafts and the supplies that you need to do them.

Using a kid activity subscription box is the best way to cut down on the amount of time you spend preparing the activity and maximize the amount of quality time you spend with your kids learning.

Green Kid Crafts highlights STEAM activities (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) that help spark your kid’s imagination.

All of the materials that come with the subscription (and even the box!) are eco- friendly, which can help you as a parent ignite an educational conversation with your children about what it means to take care of our environment!

What we learned from Green Kid Crafts

Our box’s theme this month was based on kitchen science! We received enough materials to complete 3 kitchen science crafts and enough directions to complete 3 more bonus crafts.

The first science experiment we learned how to make soap. Green Kid Crafts provided all of the materials needed and the only adult help needed is to melt the bar of soap in the microwave.

After the soap was melted the kids were able to decorate the soap with glitter and erasers. It was fun for my daughter to see how once we poured the melted (and decorated) soap in to the star shaped mold it hardened and took the shape of the container it was in!

What a great lesson on the properties of liquids and solids!

The second kitchen science experiment we learned how to make fizzy bath bombs. We did have to have vegetable oil from home, but the rest of the materials are provided.

This experiment can help you facilitate a lesson on chemical reactions. What causes the bath bombs to fizz?

Don’t worry, in case you aren’t a science fanatic Green Kid Crafts tells you how to explain the process to your kids!

The third experiment was my daughter’s favorite. We used baking soda and colored tabs dissolved in vinegar to create bubbling volcanoes!

Using some vinegar from home, you dissolve the color tabs inside to make the volcanoes colorful. Once you drop the colored vinegar onto the baking soda you and your kids can watch the bubbling volcanoes come to life!

The Green Kid Craft subscription box is a great, easy to use, educational activity for both kids and parents. We will definitely be using this subscription box service in the future!

For more easy and fun science experiments that won’t feel like learning check out the 101 Coolest Simple Science Experiments book!

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30+ Thanksgiving Activities Toddlers Will LOVE

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I adore these 30+ Thanksgiving Activities for Toddlers! Even though Thanksgiving is packed in the part of the season when decorating and shopping is on my mind, there seems to be downtime around this holiday that is open for having a little family fun. Here’s several kids Thanksgiving ideas I’ve rounded up to help you get creating and making memories with your toddler.

Also check out these 25+ Thanksgiving Activities for 3 Year Olds. So many Thanksgiving activities to do with your kids!

30+ Thanksgiving Activities Toddlers LOVE

Thanksgiving Activities Toddlers Will LOVE

• Thanksgiving Coloring Pages – These simple shapes are great for toddler crayon skills.  The bonus is that they double as Thanksgiving placemats. -via Kids Activities Blog
• Play Pumpkin Pie – This preciously adorable felt faux food is seasonally perfect.  Little hands will enjoy playing with their food while we will all be glad it is mess-free. -via Mama Smiles
• Thanksgiving Tree – This is a family activity that can include everyone…including the little ones.  It is always a good thing to start the conversation of gratefulness. -via Kids Activities Blog
• Torn Paper Turkey Craft – Oh how I giggle when everything you need for a craft is in the craft drawer.  This is one of those simple things you can pull out and do within the next 3 minutes. -via Coffee Cups and Crayons
• Bottle Cap Turkey Magnets.  Go small.   Make fridge magnets with bottle caps. -via Crafty Morning
• Thanksgiving Headband – Inspired by the Native Americans who made the first Thanksgiving possible. -via Kids Activities Blog
• Thanksgiving Game – This simple game will have all the kids running with a grateful heart.  It can be modified for any level of play. -via Kids Activities Blog
• Fine Motor Turkey – This is a simple homemade toy that will challenge toddlers and their proprioceptive abilities! -via Twodaloo
• Cookie Cutter Stencil Tree – Using the cookie cutters in a kitchen drawer, your toddler can create art. -via Kids Activities Blog
• Fall Family Outings – Lots of ideas to get the entire family outside to enjoy autumn and the Thanksgiving air. -via Kids Activities Blog
• Thankful Hands – This simple craft involves hand tracing and a thankful spirit. -via Mama Smiles
• Handprint Feathered Turkey –    A fun, easy preschool craft. -via My Cup Overflows
• Coffee Filter Turkey – Using a salad spinner and some paint, this craft is sure to be a toddler hit! -via Kids Activities Blog

Tons of Thanksgiving Toddlers Activities

 

• Decorate a Turkey – I love how this simple activity can be made age-appropriate based on the materials you provide for turkey dressing (up). -via Blog Me Mom
• Native American Dolls – These simple play people are upcycled toilet paper rolls and can be personalized to a toddler’s specifications. -via Crafty Moms Share
• Handprint Ship – A toddler’s handprint is transformed into a pilgrim ship with a bit of paint and construction paper shapes.  It is something they will love to do and then send as a card. -via Kids Activities Blog
• Pumpkin from a plate  – This site has several easy preschool crafts. -via She Knows
• Pasta Turkeys – This silly sensory play is sure to be a hit with kids that adore their time to be filled with a tad of messy. -via 123 Homeschool 4 Me
• DIY Art Placemats – Get the entire family involved in creating custom placemats from their art for Thanksgiving dinner! -via Kids Activities Blog
• We are Thankful Display – Toddlers can get involved in the family thankfulness display. -via Kids Activities Blog
• Colorful Turkey Suncatcher – Transform a little tissue paper into a bright and happy turkey to hang in the window.  This post has a free printable so your turkey will resemble a turkey too! -via Learn Create Love
• Thankful Heart Tree – Another family thankful tree that makes a sweet holiday tradition. -via Kids Activities Blog
• Thanksgiving Centerpiece – This table centerpiece is easy enough that a toddler can be involved in the process. -via Kids Activities Blog
• Simple Thanksgiving Coloring Page – This simple design is perfect for baby’s first coloring page. -via Kids Activities Blog
• Geometric Turkey – With some shapes that require little adult skill to create, a toddler can assemble their own colorful turkey and decorate. -via Blog Me Mom
• Felt Turkey Assembly – If you are looking for a quiet activity, this is the perfect fit.  Felt cut into simple shapes that toddlers can make a turkey…or something else. -via Kids Activities Blog
• Handprint Turkey – This child craft Thanksgiving tradition is always lots of fun. -via Mama Smiles
• Footprint Turkey – This child craft Thanksgiving tradition has a twist! -via Kids Activities Blog
• Paper Plate Boat – Build a ship out of paper plates.  If you are brave, grab some paint too. -via Kids Activities Blog
• November Coloring Pages – This set of three free printable coloring pages can be used with crayons, paint or whatever a toddler thinks up! -via Kids Activities Blog
• Thanksgiving Books for Kids – A list of books that will get your family in the Thanksgiving spirit. -via Kids Activities Blog

How do you include toddlers in your Thanksgiving activities? Share with us on our Facebook page!

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DIY Busy Book for Kids

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Looking for a fun homemade gift to give to your little one? Check out this DIY Busy Book for Kids! It’s perfect for road trips, restaurants, and long waits. It’s small enough to keep in a diaper bag or purse, and if properly stocked (with new paper) will provide hours of fun for little ones!

DIY Busy Book for Kids

To make this craft you will need:

• 3 pieces of colored craft foam (5.5 in x 8.5 in)
• Index cards
• Glue Dots
• Scissors
• Ribbon
• Crayons

After gathering supplies, divide one piece of craft foam into 1/3 strips (horizontally). Cut the strips. Apply Glue Dots along the bottom of a second piece of craft foam.

Attach one of the strips to the bottom of the piece of craft foam. Place a few extra Glue Dots along the center of the strip to create 2 pockets inside of the book.

Fold the book in half, then wrap ribbon around the outside. Secure the ribbon with Glue Dots. If desired, cut small shapes (hearts, flowers, superhero symbols) from extra craft foam and attach them to the front of the book with Glue Dots.

Open the book and place small index cards in one pocket and a flat box of crayons on the other side. Close the book and tie with the ribbon to close.

More Fabulous DIY Gifts for Kids

Click the images below for more creative gift ideas for kids!

DIY Superhero Peg People

16 Ways to Upcycle Toys

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13 Gifts Tween Girls Will Love

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I’m excited to share with you some really fun gift ideas for the tween girl in your life. This is a really fun age and there are so many awesome gifts out there. Here are some of our most favorites. (affiliates included)

13 Gifts Tween Girls Will Love

Speaker Pets – This cozy bluetooth speaker with supersoft faux-fur is a convenient and snuggly way to listen to your favorite music.

Polaroid Snap – These instant cameras come in all sorts of fun colors and prints 2×3″ photos with a sticky backing so you can peel them and stick!

Unicorn Rainbow Earrings – These are so adorable! These unicorn and rainbow earrings are mismatched on purpose and are seriously cute.

Sparrow Bobby Pins – These sweet boppy pins are a cute accent to any hairdo.

Concert Tickets – Tickets to see one of your favorite musicians is a fun gift for anyone, but a young girls first concert is epic! If there is an upcoming show for one of their favorites, this is the perfect gift.

4 in 1 Styling Tool – This fun styling tool is a must-have. You can straighten, curl, crimp and wave all in one!

Doodle Diary – This is a fun way to journal and put your feelings on paper by drawing.

Orbeez Soothing Spa – Every girl loves a spa day! This at home foot spa uses squishy water beads.

Minnie Eyeshadow Palette – This Disney inspired eye shadow palette is the perfect starter for girls starting to wear makeup.

Pink Gold Happy Buds – These ear buds come in several sweet colors like these pink gold.

Ballerina Jewelry Box – Every little girl needs a jewelry box. I still have the one my dad gave me!

Gummy Bear Lights – These fun lights come un when you squeeze their belly. You can get lots of fun colors and light up your room.

Exploding Kittens – This hit game is really fun for all kids over seven. This was the most-backed project in Kickstarter history!

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