Easy Magnet Block Ball Drop Activity for Independent Play

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Need a quick independent activity for your children? You’ll love this easy magnet block ball drop activity from Julie.

Some days my kids are stuck on me like glue.

In the laundry room? They’re there.

Sweeping under the rug? They’ve got to help.

Washing up the dishes? You guessed it.

My little helpers are right beside me!

While I love the help, sometimes I’ve just got to get things done without little hands in the mix.

Or try these amazing tips to keep baby busy in the kitchen.

We recently had one of those “stuck like glue” days, and I stumbled on this simple ball drop activity to keep my kids busy in the kitchen.

Try an Easy Magnet Block Ball Drop Activity for Fun Busy Play

Next time you need a quick busy activity to occupy your children, I highly recommend this super easy independent play idea!

For your magnet block ball drop, you’ll need just a few materials to get your child started:

• Magnetic blocks or tiles
• Small rubber ball or ping pong ball
• Refrigerator or large metal cookie sheet
• Net (optional)
• Magnet letters (optional)

DIY Your Own Magnet Block Ball Drop Activity

Since my children are smaller, I helped them get the ball drop started.

First, we set out a line of magnet blocks flat on the refrigerator.

After a while, my son experimented with placing blocks to form a 3D ball drop maze.

He had to try again quite a few times to make sure the maze was strong enough to hold the ball. After a few experiments, he discovered that a bottom support and side triangle support combined to create a super-strong structure.

Support your budding engineer with an idea to build towers without blocks!

To top off the fun, my children loved trying to catch the ball in a net below. This activity is a great solution for keeping big kids and small kids busy at the same time.

My older child dropped the ball, and baby sister loved chasing it if it escaped the net!

When you’re trying to entertain multiple kids, try these ideas for two (or more) kids under four.

Along with problem-solving, this simple activity also encourages fine motor skills, counting, and geometry.

I even added in a bit of reading practice by spelling out the word “drop” with our magnet letters! Sneaking in reading practice is so much fun, especially with games like these alphabet activities for preschoolers.

I’ll be pulling out this simple magnet block ball drop activity the next time I need to wash dishes for sure!

What are your favorite busy play activities? Share your favorites with us!

Easy Magnet Block Ball Drop Activity for Independent Play

Hands On As We Grow https://ift.tt/2Nq9W3k

Click here to read Easy Magnet Block Ball Drop Activity for Independent Play on Hands On As We Grow

---

Need a quick independent activity for your children? You’ll love this easy magnet block ball drop activity from Julie.

Some days my kids are stuck on me like glue.

In the laundry room? They’re there.

Sweeping under the rug? They’ve got to help.

Washing up the dishes? You guessed it.

My little helpers are right beside me!

While I love the help, sometimes I’ve just got to get things done without little hands in the mix.

Or try these amazing tips to keep baby busy in the kitchen.

We recently had one of those “stuck like glue” days, and I stumbled on this simple ball drop activity to keep my kids busy in the kitchen.

Try an Easy Magnet Block Ball Drop Activity for Fun Busy Play

Next time you need a quick busy activity to occupy your children, I highly recommend this super easy independent play idea!

For your magnet block ball drop, you’ll need just a few materials to get your child started:

• Magnetic blocks or tiles
• Small rubber ball or ping pong ball
• Refrigerator or large metal cookie sheet
• Net (optional)
• Magnet letters (optional)

DIY Your Own Magnet Block Ball Drop Activity

Since my children are smaller, I helped them get the ball drop started.

First, we set out a line of magnet blocks flat on the refrigerator.

After a while, my son experimented with placing blocks to form a 3D ball drop maze.

He had to try again quite a few times to make sure the maze was strong enough to hold the ball. After a few experiments, he discovered that a bottom support and side triangle support combined to create a super-strong structure.

Support your budding engineer with an idea to build towers without blocks!

To top off the fun, my children loved trying to catch the ball in a net below. This activity is a great solution for keeping big kids and small kids busy at the same time.

My older child dropped the ball, and baby sister loved chasing it if it escaped the net!

When you’re trying to entertain multiple kids, try these ideas for two (or more) kids under four.

Along with problem-solving, this simple activity also encourages fine motor skills, counting, and geometry.

I even added in a bit of reading practice by spelling out the word “drop” with our magnet letters! Sneaking in reading practice is so much fun, especially with games like these alphabet activities for preschoolers.

I’ll be pulling out this simple magnet block ball drop activity the next time I need to wash dishes for sure!

What are your favorite busy play activities? Share your favorites with us!

Cute Leaf People Fall Craft for Kids

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Click here to read Cute Leaf People Fall Craft for Kids on Hands On As We Grow

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This time of year, as the leaves start to fall, it’s fun to create a cute leaf people fall craft for kids!

Getting outside, walking through nature, and noticing the changing colors of the trees is an activity that the whole family can do together.

While you’re on your nature walk, collect some great leaves. Then, use them in a funny, cute, and memorable craft that your family will want to do year after year.

Here’s more ways to use leaves in crafts this fall.

Leaf People Fall Craft

You’ll need just three items for this creative craft (affiliate links):

• Real leaves (Try to get colorful leaves from different types of trees.)
• Googly eyes with adhesive backing
• Black marker

Make your own sweet and festive leaf people fall crafts with your kids!

Go out on a nature hike.

With your kids, notice the colors of the leaves on the trees and on leaves that have fallen.

Collect leaves of different colors and sizes. Try to find leaves from a variety of trees. Kids can notice the shapes of leaves and the trees they come from as they walk and collect leaves.

Be sure to grab a lot of leaves so you can also do activities like these leaf rubbings.

Later, pull out a sheet of adhesive back googly eyes.

You can use non-adhesive googly eyes and glue to attach them to the leaves, but using the adhesive back type makes this activity super simple and great for all ages.

My two year old loved this activity and was able to easily pull the googly eyes from the plastic sheet and place them right on the leaves.

Try these Fall Activities for Toddlers!

Show your kids how to stick the eyes onto the leaves to create eyes.

With the marker, add facial features such as eyes, nose, mouth, ears, or hair.

While you craft, talk about the facial features to help younger ones with naming body parts. Preschool-aged children can discuss emotions and how facial features indicate a person’s emotions.

You’ll want to use dry, but not crumbly leaves for this activity. Leaves that have recently fallen from trees should work well.

If your leaves are wet from being outside, use a towel to dry them before sticking the googly eyes on them.

Work on Fine Motor Skills with a Leaf People Craft

Working on these leaf people is a great way to incorporate fine motor skills into a fun and easy craft.

By pulling the googly eyes from its backing sheet, kids will develop and strengthen a pincer grasp while strengthening the intrinsic muscles of the hands.

These skills are needed for many tasks including pencil grasp and clothing fasteners.

Sticking the eyes onto the leaves work on eye-hand coordination skills that are necessary for written work and scissor use.

Try using this craft to develop fine motor skills in your little one!

This simple leaf garland is another fun way to develop fine motor skills.

My kids had SO much fun with this leaf people fall craft.

It was a great way to use colorful leaf collections in a craft that was perfect for all of my kids.

My two-year-old, four-year-old, seven-year-old, and nine-year-old all got into the leaf people making project. They couldn’t stop laughing as we created funny leaf people faces.

And that is it! With just a few materials, you can create a fun and memorable fall tradition that will bring on the laughs!

Have you ever made a fall craft out of leaves? Share your craft ideas with us!

Cute Leaf People Fall Craft for Kids

Hands On As We Grow https://ift.tt/2wPEaZc

Click here to read Cute Leaf People Fall Craft for Kids on Hands On As We Grow

---

This time of year, as the leaves start to fall, it’s fun to create a cute leaf people fall craft for kids!

Getting outside, walking through nature, and noticing the changing colors of the trees is an activity that the whole family can do together.

While you’re on your nature walk, collect some great leaves. Then, use them in a funny, cute, and memorable craft that your family will want to do year after year.

Here’s more ways to use leaves in crafts this fall.

Leaf People Fall Craft

You’ll need just three items for this creative craft (affiliate links):

• Real leaves (Try to get colorful leaves from different types of trees.)
• Googly eyes with adhesive backing
• Black marker

Make your own sweet and festive leaf people fall crafts with your kids!

Go out on a nature hike.

With your kids, notice the colors of the leaves on the trees and on leaves that have fallen.

Collect leaves of different colors and sizes. Try to find leaves from a variety of trees. Kids can notice the shapes of leaves and the trees they come from as they walk and collect leaves.

Be sure to grab a lot of leaves so you can also do activities like these leaf rubbings.

Later, pull out a sheet of adhesive back googly eyes.

You can use non-adhesive googly eyes and glue to attach them to the leaves, but using the adhesive back type makes this activity super simple and great for all ages.

My two year old loved this activity and was able to easily pull the googly eyes from the plastic sheet and place them right on the leaves.

Try these Fall Activities for Toddlers!

Show your kids how to stick the eyes onto the leaves to create eyes.

With the marker, add facial features such as eyes, nose, mouth, ears, or hair.

While you craft, talk about the facial features to help younger ones with naming body parts. Preschool-aged children can discuss emotions and how facial features indicate a person’s emotions.

You’ll want to use dry, but not crumbly leaves for this activity. Leaves that have recently fallen from trees should work well.

If your leaves are wet from being outside, use a towel to dry them before sticking the googly eyes on them.

Work on Fine Motor Skills with a Leaf People Craft

Working on these leaf people is a great way to incorporate fine motor skills into a fun and easy craft.

By pulling the googly eyes from its backing sheet, kids will develop and strengthen a pincer grasp while strengthening the intrinsic muscles of the hands.

These skills are needed for many tasks including pencil grasp and clothing fasteners.

Sticking the eyes onto the leaves work on eye-hand coordination skills that are necessary for written work and scissor use.

Try using this craft to develop fine motor skills in your little one!

This simple leaf garland is another fun way to develop fine motor skills.

My kids had SO much fun with this leaf people fall craft.

It was a great way to use colorful leaf collections in a craft that was perfect for all of my kids.

My two-year-old, four-year-old, seven-year-old, and nine-year-old all got into the leaf people making project. They couldn’t stop laughing as we created funny leaf people faces.

And that is it! With just a few materials, you can create a fun and memorable fall tradition that will bring on the laughs!

Have you ever made a fall craft out of leaves? Share your craft ideas with us!

Colorful Water Play Experiment for Preschoolers

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Click here to read Colorful Water Play Experiment for Preschoolers on Hands On As We Grow

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Mix up your next playtime with colorful water play experiment for preschoolers. Use Julie’s ideas, and add your own fun twists, too!

My preschooler loves water play! If your child enjoys pouring and mixing water, he’s sure to love this simple colorful water play experiment.

This play-based learning preschool activity teaches colors, fine motor skills, and lots of listening skills as well!

Colorful Water Play Experiment for Preschoolers

We were inspired by a simple water play idea and remixed it a bit. We wanted to add in some scientific thinking and hypothesizing for older children.

Our activity used just a few simple supplies that we usually keep stocked at home. To do this experiment, you’ll need:

• white paper
• blue, red, and yellow markers or crayons
• blue, red, and yellow food coloring
• water
• three bowls or buckets
• three empty spice jars

I took out three sheets of white paper and colored little squares on each one with the markers.

On each paper, I drew different combinations of colors. I drew squares of blue + red on one page, blue + yellow on another, and red + yellow on the last one.

We set one empty bowl on top of each paper.

Next, my son helped me fill each empty spice jar with a bit of food coloring and water. I put just one color in each jar: red, blue, and yellow.

He had fun shaking up the jars to mix in the color!

I explained that today we were going to explore colors.

“Blue, red, and yellow are called primary colors. This means that with only these three colors we can make any other color in the world!”

Amazing, right?

We used the colored squares on each page to guide our experiment and mixing. I had him point to the colored square on the paper and choose the correct jar of colored water.

Be a Color Mixing Scientist with Your Preschooler

Before my son poured any water into the bowls, I asked him to make a hypothesis, or guess.

Which color will we create when we mixed up the three colors we had?

After you make your hypothesis, you could “record” it by adding a third colored square, your guess, to your paper.

We started by mixing blue + yellow. He guessed that we would create green!

I like to make sure I let him do the thinking so I said, “That’s a good hypothesis, let’s test it and see what happens!”

For our first mixture, he poured in yellow, and then blue. And it made…green!

He was so happy he got it right, and quickly wanted to move on to the next step of the experiment.

Keep experimenting with your preschooler to discover what dissolves in water!

The next two combinations he did not guess correctly.

Can I tell you a secret? I was actually glad he didn’t!

It gave us a chance to talk about the way a scientist thinks.

Scientists don’t get upset if they guess wrong. They learn, make a new hypothesis, and keep trying.

We still had a great time watching the new color appear!

If you’ve added your “guess” color to the paper, and you are wrong, make a new square with the actual color. It’s a great way to keep track of your experiments, and is super scientific!

Keep making science exciting with 30 oh-so-cool science experiments for preschoolers!

This simple colorful water play experiment was such an easy way to combine the scientific process, sensory water play, and color theory as well!

Keep exploring colors with a fun color sorting activity that uses sticky window clings.

What’s your child’s favorite water play experiment? Share with us below!

Colorful Water Play Experiment for Preschoolers

Hands On As We Grow https://ift.tt/2oeInPD

Click here to read Colorful Water Play Experiment for Preschoolers on Hands On As We Grow

---

Mix up your next playtime with colorful water play experiment for preschoolers. Use Julie’s ideas, and add your own fun twists, too!

My preschooler loves water play! If your child enjoys pouring and mixing water, he’s sure to love this simple colorful water play experiment.

This play-based learning preschool activity teaches colors, fine motor skills, and lots of listening skills as well!

Colorful Water Play Experiment for Preschoolers

We were inspired by a simple water play idea and remixed it a bit. We wanted to add in some scientific thinking and hypothesizing for older children.

Our activity used just a few simple supplies that we usually keep stocked at home. To do this experiment, you’ll need:

• white paper
• blue, red, and yellow markers or crayons
• blue, red, and yellow food coloring
• water
• three bowls or buckets
• three empty spice jars

I took out three sheets of white paper and colored little squares on each one with the markers.

On each paper, I drew different combinations of colors. I drew squares of blue + red on one page, blue + yellow on another, and red + yellow on the last one.

We set one empty bowl on top of each paper.

Next, my son helped me fill each empty spice jar with a bit of food coloring and water. I put just one color in each jar: red, blue, and yellow.

He had fun shaking up the jars to mix in the color!

I explained that today we were going to explore colors.

“Blue, red, and yellow are called primary colors. This means that with only these three colors we can make any other color in the world!”

Amazing, right?

We used the colored squares on each page to guide our experiment and mixing. I had him point to the colored square on the paper and choose the correct jar of colored water.

Be a Color Mixing Scientist with Your Preschooler

Before my son poured any water into the bowls, I asked him to make a hypothesis, or guess.

Which color will we create when we mixed up the three colors we had?

After you make your hypothesis, you could “record” it by adding a third colored square, your guess, to your paper.

We started by mixing blue + yellow. He guessed that we would create green!

I like to make sure I let him do the thinking so I said, “That’s a good hypothesis, let’s test it and see what happens!”

For our first mixture, he poured in yellow, and then blue. And it made…green!

He was so happy he got it right, and quickly wanted to move on to the next step of the experiment.

Keep experimenting with your preschooler to discover what dissolves in water!

The next two combinations he did not guess correctly.

Can I tell you a secret? I was actually glad he didn’t!

It gave us a chance to talk about the way a scientist thinks.

Scientists don’t get upset if they guess wrong. They learn, make a new hypothesis, and keep trying.

We still had a great time watching the new color appear!

If you’ve added your “guess” color to the paper, and you are wrong, make a new square with the actual color. It’s a great way to keep track of your experiments, and is super scientific!

Keep making science exciting with 30 oh-so-cool science experiments for preschoolers!

This simple colorful water play experiment was such an easy way to combine the scientific process, sensory water play, and color theory as well!

Keep exploring colors with a fun color sorting activity that uses sticky window clings.

What’s your child’s favorite water play experiment? Share with us below!

Super Simple Cloud Dough Reading Activity for Preschoolers

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Click here to read Super Simple Cloud Dough Reading Activity for Preschoolers on Hands On As We Grow

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Try a simple and fun cloud dough reading activity with your child! Your preschoolers will build reading comprehension skills without even knowing it.

Working moms are super strapped for time! Our Member of the Month, Rachael, knows all about juggling work and parenting.

Rachael is a super busy working mom of four, ages 8, 3, 2, and 2 months. Her time is at a premium and she doesn’t have tons of time to hunt down activities or do tons of prep work.

The Activity Room helps her to create opportunities to connect with her kids and maximize their time together. The activity plans and easy directions help Rachael find fun activities that all her kids enjoy.

“Some days during the week, I do an older kid activity,” she explains. “Usually, it’s science-related so the girls can watch.”

Having easy ideas at her fingertips if a lifesaver! Rachael can quickly find a great activity in the monthly calendars just like that.

“I usually use The Activity Room (because) they’re easy activities to do,” Rachael says. “I usually already have the supplies on hand already. Or I can improvise with something else that’s easy.”

Rachael finds chunks of time in the evenings, after work and before bed, to do fun activities with her kids.

“I usually do it after work, while I’m making dinner, right after dinner, or right before bed,” she says.

Creating these bonding experiences is important to Rachael because of the time she misses during the day due to work.

“Being a working mom, having time with my kids is important because I feel like working moms miss so much,” she explains.

Let’s Meet Rachael

How many kids do you have and how old are they?

4 kids – 8, 3, 2, and 2 months

How long have you been in The Activity Room?

A few months

What is your favorite activity you’ve done in The Activity Room?

Anything with contact paper.

What’s your favorite thing to do with your kids when you get a few moments?

Games! We love Hoot Owl Hoot, Ladybug Game, and Ticket to Ride.

What’s your best tip for doing activities with your kids?

Don’t get stressed about it. If they aren’t doing it the “right” way that is okay.

If you were to tell a friend about The Activity Room, what would you say to them?

I love The Activity Room because it gives me quick and easy ideas to spend time with my kids.

Share your favorite quote

Done is better than not done.

Cloud Dough Reading Activity for Preschoolers

Connecting reading and play time is a great way to build a love of reading. Plus, it helps kids to work on reading comprehension skills.

We love the book Little Cloud by Eric Carle. My kids love reading the book and playing with cloud dough.

We love the cloud dough recipe from Hands On As We Grow’s week of sensory activities!

Cloud dough is so super simple to make, too. Plus, since it’s just cornstarch and oil, cloud sough is safe for kids of all ages.

Having something easy and quick that is also kid-safe is the best! You can also add glitter or food coloring to customize the cloud dough.

We love this cloud dough reading activity because it helps the kids “feel” a cloud. It makes the book come to life!

How do you connect reading to play? Share your favorite activities in the comments!

Super Simple Cloud Dough Reading Activity for Preschoolers

Hands On As We Grow https://ift.tt/2BLAlHn

Click here to read Super Simple Cloud Dough Reading Activity for Preschoolers on Hands On As We Grow

---

Try a simple and fun cloud dough reading activity with your child! Your preschoolers will build reading comprehension skills without even knowing it.

Working moms are super strapped for time! Our Member of the Month, Rachael, knows all about juggling work and parenting.

Rachael is a super busy working mom of four, ages 8, 3, 2, and 2 months. Her time is at a premium and she doesn’t have tons of time to hunt down activities or do tons of prep work.

The Activity Room helps her to create opportunities to connect with her kids and maximize their time together. The activity plans and easy directions help Rachael find fun activities that all her kids enjoy.

“Some days during the week, I do an older kid activity,” she explains. “Usually, it’s science-related so the girls can watch.”

Having easy ideas at her fingertips if a lifesaver! Rachael can quickly find a great activity in the monthly calendars just like that.

“I usually use The Activity Room (because) they’re easy activities to do,” Rachael says. “I usually already have the supplies on hand already. Or I can improvise with something else that’s easy.”

Rachael finds chunks of time in the evenings, after work and before bed, to do fun activities with her kids.

“I usually do it after work, while I’m making dinner, right after dinner, or right before bed,” she says.

Creating these bonding experiences is important to Rachael because of the time she misses during the day due to work.

“Being a working mom, having time with my kids is important because I feel like working moms miss so much,” she explains.

Let’s Meet Rachael

How many kids do you have and how old are they?

4 kids – 8, 3, 2, and 2 months

How long have you been in The Activity Room?

A few months

What is your favorite activity you’ve done in The Activity Room?

Anything with contact paper.

What’s your favorite thing to do with your kids when you get a few moments?

Games! We love Hoot Owl Hoot, Ladybug Game, and Ticket to Ride.

What’s your best tip for doing activities with your kids?

Don’t get stressed about it. If they aren’t doing it the “right” way that is okay.

If you were to tell a friend about The Activity Room, what would you say to them?

I love The Activity Room because it gives me quick and easy ideas to spend time with my kids.

Share your favorite quote

Done is better than not done.

Cloud Dough Reading Activity for Preschoolers

Connecting reading and play time is a great way to build a love of reading. Plus, it helps kids to work on reading comprehension skills.

We love the book Little Cloud by Eric Carle. My kids love reading the book and playing with cloud dough.

We love the cloud dough recipe from Hands On As We Grow’s week of sensory activities!

Cloud dough is so super simple to make, too. Plus, since it’s just cornstarch and oil, cloud sough is safe for kids of all ages.

Having something easy and quick that is also kid-safe is the best! You can also add glitter or food coloring to customize the cloud dough.

We love this cloud dough reading activity because it helps the kids “feel” a cloud. It makes the book come to life!

How do you connect reading to play? Share your favorite activities in the comments!

3 Fun Ways to Use an Egg Timer with your Kids

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Click here to read 3 Fun Ways to Use an Egg Timer with your Kids on Hands On As We Grow

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Add a fun twist to hands-on activities and chores when you use an egg timer! Use these three creative ideas from Francis to get started.

My kids had never seen an egg timer before! Can you even believe it?

They didn’t understand what it was at first, but they ended up loving it.

I explained that it shows how long it takes for 1 minute to go by.

Children have difficulty in getting a sense of time, so an egg timer is perfect to teach them. It helps them to visualize that the time is ending in a countdown.

Have a look at these great timed challenges for kids!

3 Fun Ways to Use an Egg Timer with Your Kids

We took our egg timer all around the house recently. Along the way, we came up with many ways of how to use it and these 3 were our favorites!

Get Active with Your Egg Timer

This idea was great to get the blood pumping after a long morning or when the witching hour was upon us at night.

My kids would take turns choosing which physical activity they would do. It could be to jump, hop, burpee or skip.

Anything, really!

Once the egg timer started, we would count together how many times they managed to complete the action in 1 minute. With harder ones like burpees, they just tried their best to make it to the end of the timer!

Make Tidying Up Easier with Your Egg Timer

Tidying up is an important part of family life and getting our kids to like it can be a challenge at times.

Using the egg timer was fun and it works! We used more than 1 minute to tidy, but no more than 5 minutes.

We would choose an area that needed tidying and they would organize as much as they could.

It was a great motivator because they were always checking to see what else they could tidy before the time was up!

Storytelling with Your Egg Timer

This is the one we enjoyed the most! We played this as a family and had a good laugh together.

Each person chooses a random object and sits in a circle together. With the timer in the middle, everyone has to create a part of the story using their object.

The aim of the game is to go around the circle telling a made-up story, from the beginning to the end. Everyone says a few words, making sure to work their object in somehow.

The story has to reach the last person in the circle for the ending before the timer finishes.

We had some crazy stories in the end!

What are your favorite ways to use a timer with your kids?