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Instilling gratitude in children is not an easy task and it doesn’t just happen by accident. While teaching kids to be polite and say “please” and “thank you” are important social norms, this will not necessarily help them understand gratitude or develop the internal motivation to be grateful.
The autumn season is the perfect time to instil the practice of gratitude among children. As Thanksgiving approaches, it is natural for families to reflect on what they are thankful for. Take time this year to make a gratitude wall and teach kids the value of thankfulness by bringing it to life.
Why gratitude?
Research continues to show that practicing gratitude is associated with increased happiness and better health in adults. Being thankful is a practiced discipline, one adults and children alike, must learn. For kids, they learn an attitude of gratefulness in their families by watching their parents.
What is a “Gratitude Wall”?
A gratitude wall is a daily family activity that helps everyone reflect on what they are grateful for. It is a dedicated space in the family home where everyone takes time together to reflect on the things they are thankful for and remember them visually. It can be as simple as a piece of poster paper or a large blank canvas decorated with words and hand drawn pictures. The visual representation of a gratitude wall is less important than the regular rhythm of practicing gratitude together.
Infuse autumn with thankfulness – make your own gratitude wall
What you’ll need:
Poster paper
Tape
Markers, pens or crayons
Scissors
Glue
Magazines or flyers
Set up your gratitude wall
Tape or tack poster paper or canvas up on a wall at home. Choose a location that is accessible and easy to interact with. The goal is to add a new reflection or idea every day.
A little thankfulness every day
Set aside time every day throughout the autumn months to discuss as a family what everyone is grateful for. Choose a time that works for the household. Supper time may work for some families while bedtime might be better for others. Then take time together to add a word, a short sentence of reflection, a sketched drawing, or a cut-out photo from a magazine, to the gratitude wall.
For younger children, their concept of gratitude will still be developing. They may be thankful for a pet or a special toy. The rhythm and practice of being thankful, and seeing other family members model gratitude, is more important than the specific content.
The gratitude walls of families of preschool-aged children may not look Pinterest-worthy. These may have a smattering of stick figures and jagged letters, and that is okay! The primary objective is to instil the practice of gratitude into normal family life.
After several weeks, each gratitude wall will have a collage of experiences, people, and objects that reflect what each person in the family is thankful for. And perhaps, there will be some newly established family rhythms that help everyone understand and practice gratitude regularly.
Instilling gratitude in children is not an easy task and it doesn’t just happen by accident. While teaching kids to be polite and say “please” and “thank you” are important social norms, this will not necessarily help them understand gratitude or develop the internal motivation to be grateful.
The autumn season is the perfect time to instil the practice of gratitude among children. As Thanksgiving approaches, it is natural for families to reflect on what they are thankful for. Take time this year to make a gratitude wall and teach kids the value of thankfulness by bringing it to life.
Why gratitude?
Research continues to show that practicing gratitude is associated with increased happiness and better health in adults. Being thankful is a practiced discipline, one adults and children alike, must learn. For kids, they learn an attitude of gratefulness in their families by watching their parents.
What is a “Gratitude Wall”?
A gratitude wall is a daily family activity that helps everyone reflect on what they are grateful for. It is a dedicated space in the family home where everyone takes time together to reflect on the things they are thankful for and remember them visually. It can be as simple as a piece of poster paper or a large blank canvas decorated with words and hand drawn pictures. The visual representation of a gratitude wall is less important than the regular rhythm of practicing gratitude together.
Infuse autumn with thankfulness – make your own gratitude wall
What you’ll need:
Poster paper
Tape
Markers, pens or crayons
Scissors
Glue
Magazines or flyers
Set up your gratitude wall
Tape or tack poster paper or canvas up on a wall at home. Choose a location that is accessible and easy to interact with. The goal is to add a new reflection or idea every day.
A little thankfulness every day
Set aside time every day throughout the autumn months to discuss as a family what everyone is grateful for. Choose a time that works for the household. Supper time may work for some families while bedtime might be better for others. Then take time together to add a word, a short sentence of reflection, a sketched drawing, or a cut-out photo from a magazine, to the gratitude wall.
For younger children, their concept of gratitude will still be developing. They may be thankful for a pet or a special toy. The rhythm and practice of being thankful, and seeing other family members model gratitude, is more important than the specific content.
The gratitude walls of families of preschool-aged children may not look Pinterest-worthy. These may have a smattering of stick figures and jagged letters, and that is okay! The primary objective is to instil the practice of gratitude into normal family life.
After several weeks, each gratitude wall will have a collage of experiences, people, and objects that reflect what each person in the family is thankful for. And perhaps, there will be some newly established family rhythms that help everyone understand and practice gratitude regularly.
Planting bulbs is a fun way to prepare for winter and learn the life cycle of perennial plants.
As summer wanes, the smells and sights of autumn are beginning to fill our minds. The leaves are turning, the weather is getting cooler, and pumpkin spice and apples and cinnamon are on the menu.The last thing we are thinking about is springtime, but spending a bit of time this autumn planting tulip bulbs will have its reward a few months down the road. After several months of winter weather, seeing the first tulips start to shoot up from the earth feels magical and hopeful.
Planting spring bulbs in autumn is a fun and tactile way for kids to learn about the life cycle of perennial plants. Plant a bulb now and wait for it to surprise you the spring!
How do tulip bulbs work?
Perennial plants have a unique life cycle that is different from annuals – their root systems can withstand cold winter months. While everything above ground dies in freezing weather, including the stalk, leaves, and flowers, the tulip bulb itself is alive and well, waiting to grow in the spring.
Tulips and many other springtime bulbs actually require a season of cold weather, called wintering over. Without this patch of cold, they won’t bloom! Tulips, daffodils, crocus and several other types of springtime bulbs need at least three or four months of near freezing temperatures. In colder climates, this is easy – simply plant bulbs in autumn.
If you don’t live in a cool climate, you can force tulip bulbs into a wintering over phase by keeping them in the fridge for several weeks prior to planting.
Choose your bulbs
The best time to purchase tulip bulbs is in late August or early September. For people living in a climate with cool winter that lasts several months, plant your bulbs between September and November. For those living in milder climates where the winter months are shorter, you can wait as late as December to plant your springtime bulbs.
Choose tulips that are large and firm and avoid bulbs that are soft, moldy, or missing their papery cover.
Now it’s time to get planting!
What you’ll need:
Gardening Trowel
Watering Can
Tulip Bulbs
Planting Time: Dig in!
Dig a hole roughly three times as deep as the bulb’s height, around 6-8 inches.
Plant the bulbs.
Place tulip bulbs pointy side up in the hole. If the bulb gets turned around, it can still grow but needs to turn itself around before it flowers in the spring.
Tulip bulbs can be planted in groups. Get creative with color combinations.
Scoop soil back over the bulbs until they are covered. Add a bit of mulch on top if you’d like to keep the soil moist.
Water your bulbs
Newly planted bulbs need a good drink of water to set in the soil and prepare for a long winter ahead. Now it’s time to wait! Over the winter months, the tulip bulbs will "winter over". Come spring, you can expect tulip flowers in your garden.
Planting bulbs is a fun way to prepare for winter and learn the life cycle of perennial plants.
As summer wanes, the smells and sights of autumn are beginning to fill our minds. The leaves are turning, the weather is getting cooler, and pumpkin spice and apples and cinnamon are on the menu.The last thing we are thinking about is springtime, but spending a bit of time this autumn planting tulip bulbs will have its reward a few months down the road. After several months of winter weather, seeing the first tulips start to shoot up from the earth feels magical and hopeful.
Planting spring bulbs in autumn is a fun and tactile way for kids to learn about the life cycle of perennial plants. Plant a bulb now and wait for it to surprise you the spring!
How do tulip bulbs work?
Perennial plants have a unique life cycle that is different from annuals – their root systems can withstand cold winter months. While everything above ground dies in freezing weather, including the stalk, leaves, and flowers, the tulip bulb itself is alive and well, waiting to grow in the spring.
Tulips and many other springtime bulbs actually require a season of cold weather, called wintering over. Without this patch of cold, they won’t bloom! Tulips, daffodils, crocus and several other types of springtime bulbs need at least three or four months of near freezing temperatures. In colder climates, this is easy – simply plant bulbs in autumn.
If you don’t live in a cool climate, you can force tulip bulbs into a wintering over phase by keeping them in the fridge for several weeks prior to planting.
Choose your bulbs
The best time to purchase tulip bulbs is in late August or early September. For people living in a climate with cool winter that lasts several months, plant your bulbs between September and November. For those living in milder climates where the winter months are shorter, you can wait as late as December to plant your springtime bulbs.
Choose tulips that are large and firm and avoid bulbs that are soft, moldy, or missing their papery cover.
Now it’s time to get planting!
What you’ll need:
Gardening Trowel
Watering Can
Tulip Bulbs
Planting Time: Dig in!
Dig a hole roughly three times as deep as the bulb’s height, around 6-8 inches.
Plant the bulbs.
Place tulip bulbs pointy side up in the hole. If the bulb gets turned around, it can still grow but needs to turn itself around before it flowers in the spring.
Tulip bulbs can be planted in groups. Get creative with color combinations.
Scoop soil back over the bulbs until they are covered. Add a bit of mulch on top if you’d like to keep the soil moist.
Water your bulbs
Newly planted bulbs need a good drink of water to set in the soil and prepare for a long winter ahead. Now it’s time to wait! Over the winter months, the tulip bulbs will "winter over". Come spring, you can expect tulip flowers in your garden.
It’s almost fall! You’re probably spending a little less time swimming, climbing, and playing outside and a little more time relaxing indoors – the perfect place for fall craft projects with your preschooler! Luckily, fall is ripe with inspiration for preschool crafts, like the three we’ve chosen below. So pour some cider, have a seat, and let’s get crafty!
Turning Leaf Scratchers
With less sun and shorter days, autumn weather suppresses chlorophyll production in many leaves, allowing their beautiful orange, red, and yellow colors to shine through. Demonstrate this process with a fun leaf scratcher!
Cut a large leaf shape out of a piece of card stock or other sturdy paper. You can find lots of printable templates online, if you need one.
Have your kids cover the leaf in red, yellow, or orange crayon (or all three), making sure to leave a thick layer of color over the entire leaf.
Next, have the kids cover their leaves in a layer of green crayon.
Using a penny (keep a careful eye on very small children), scratch off the layer of green to reveal the beautiful fall colors beneath.
Continue the foliage fun with a painting project depicting all the beautiful colors of leaves in the fall.
Let your kids scrunch three pieces of tinfoil into loose balls.
Squeeze blobs of orange, yellow, and red paint on three, separate paper plates.
Instruct your kids to dip their foil into one color of paint paint, then press onto a sheet of paper several times to make their “leaves”.
Repeat, printing the foil in different colors on top of the original colors and in different places on the paper.
When your foil prints are dry, use brown paint to fingerpaint a trunk and branches into your fall forest.
Don’t forget to print some fall foil leaves at the bottom of your page – as chlorophyll production decreases, the stems of leaves weaken, and the leaves fall from the trees!
Paper Plate Spider Webs
Fall trees aren’t just full of leaves – they’re also full of spiders! Garden spiders are most active in the fall so you’re likely to see more of their elaborate, beautiful webs in the trees in autumn, too. Join the fun and spin your own spider webs out of a paper plate!
Cut the center out of a paper plate.
Let your kids color the outer edge of the plate with beautiful fall colors like red, orange, and yellow.
Using a single hole puncher, punch 12-14 holes around the edge of the hole.
Tape one end of a length of yarn to the back of the paper plate and wrap tape tightly around the other to form a ‘needle’.
Demonstrate how to weave the yarn back and forth through the holes to create the web, then hand the plate over to your child.
Once, the web is spun, remove the pin from the end of the yarn and tape that end to the back of the plate, too.
Add a pipe cleaner spider for the perfect fall finishing touch – cut four black pipe cleaners in half and twist to create an eight-legged creepy crawly!
Fall is chock full of fun craft ideas and it’s so easy to slip just a bit of learning into the fun!
It’s almost fall! You’re probably spending a little less time swimming, climbing, and playing outside and a little more time relaxing indoors – the perfect place for fall craft projects with your preschooler! Luckily, fall is ripe with inspiration for preschool crafts, like the three we’ve chosen below. So pour some cider, have a seat, and let’s get crafty!
Turning Leaf Scratchers
With less sun and shorter days, autumn weather suppresses chlorophyll production in many leaves, allowing their beautiful orange, red, and yellow colors to shine through. Demonstrate this process with a fun leaf scratcher!
Cut a large leaf shape out of a piece of card stock or other sturdy paper. You can find lots of printable templates online, if you need one.
Have your kids cover the leaf in red, yellow, or orange crayon (or all three), making sure to leave a thick layer of color over the entire leaf.
Next, have the kids cover their leaves in a layer of green crayon.
Using a penny (keep a careful eye on very small children), scratch off the layer of green to reveal the beautiful fall colors beneath.
Continue the foliage fun with a painting project depicting all the beautiful colors of leaves in the fall.
Let your kids scrunch three pieces of tinfoil into loose balls.
Squeeze blobs of orange, yellow, and red paint on three, separate paper plates.
Instruct your kids to dip their foil into one color of paint paint, then press onto a sheet of paper several times to make their “leaves”.
Repeat, printing the foil in different colors on top of the original colors and in different places on the paper.
When your foil prints are dry, use brown paint to fingerpaint a trunk and branches into your fall forest.
Don’t forget to print some fall foil leaves at the bottom of your page – as chlorophyll production decreases, the stems of leaves weaken, and the leaves fall from the trees!
Paper Plate Spider Webs
Fall trees aren’t just full of leaves – they’re also full of spiders! Garden spiders are most active in the fall so you’re likely to see more of their elaborate, beautiful webs in the trees in autumn, too. Join the fun and spin your own spider webs out of a paper plate!
Cut the center out of a paper plate.
Let your kids color the outer edge of the plate with beautiful fall colors like red, orange, and yellow.
Using a single hole puncher, punch 12-14 holes around the edge of the hole.
Tape one end of a length of yarn to the back of the paper plate and wrap tape tightly around the other to form a ‘needle’.
Demonstrate how to weave the yarn back and forth through the holes to create the web, then hand the plate over to your child.
Once, the web is spun, remove the pin from the end of the yarn and tape that end to the back of the plate, too.
Add a pipe cleaner spider for the perfect fall finishing touch – cut four black pipe cleaners in half and twist to create an eight-legged creepy crawly!
Fall is chock full of fun craft ideas and it’s so easy to slip just a bit of learning into the fun!
Restlessness takes many forms – eyes start drifting to far-off corners of the room, notepads become canvases for impressionistic art, and fidgeting distracts students and teachers alike. What’s the best thing to do when faced with such challenges? Take a break!
It turns out that stepping away for a short period of time helps to break dulling cycles. The George Lucas Educational Foundation Edutopia explains that our brains are wired for novelty. “When presented with new material, standards, and complicated topics, we need to be focused and calm as we approach our assignments,” the article Energy and Calm: Brain Breaks and Focused-Attention Practices stated. “We can use brain breaks and focused-attention practices to positively impact our emotional states and learning.”
So, what are you waiting for?
Get Moving
A relaxed body put into motion clears the way for improved brain functionality. Let’s get those kiddos out of their chairs and moving – this will get them back in action and ready to learn, while better retaining information.
Dr. Justin Rhodes, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, told Scientific American, “Research shows that when we exercise, blood pressure and blood flow increase everywhere in the body, including the brain. More blood means more energy and oxygen, which makes our brain perform better.”
Taking a time out from scheduled learning can invigorate kids and help them to stay more productive in the classroom or while studying at home. Call it what you will: Brain Breaks, Energizers, Brain Boosters – these are just a few of the names for these much-needed physical activity breaks.
Check out these evidence-based resources that work in the classrooms - but also can be applied to your home school (hey, if it works for teachers...):
Instant Recess is designed to improve health and learning by Central Michigan University. These carefully developed 10-minute physical activity breaks can be done in the classroom as well as all-school activities at designated times.
Energizers are 10-minute classroom-based physical activities that integrate into academic concepts and can be used by elementary teachers to provide physical activity to students. They were developed as part of the North Carolina State Board of Education's Healthy Active Children Policy.
TAKE 10! ® is a classroom-based physical activity program for kindergarten to fifth grade students. The 10-minute curriculum integrates academic learning objectives (in language arts, math, social studies, science and health) with movement.
Tips for Engagement
Now you’re convinced that kids can benefit from these Brain Breaks. How do you get started?
First off, ask your child what they love doing in their gym class. Some of the activities kids do in P.E. class can also be done throughout the day as mini-breaks or in the backyard or basement.
But don’t stop there. Here are a few suggestions to get students moving:
Share physical break ideas – give each child a turn to be the Brain Break leader, and come up with fun or silly ideas for 5 minutes of ‘crazy time’ to let off steam
Integrate learning activities into the breaks. Likewise, get moving even when you’re focused on academics. For example, teach them the basics of coding while they step, hop, and turn.
Send them on a scavenger hunt! You can create your own, or try this adorable See ‘n Snap Picture Hunt that also teaches matching skills!
Set goals while looking at recommended activity. Kids should get 60 minutes of physical activity daily, while screen time should be limited to no more than two hours per day (this includes TV, gaming, mobile phones, and computer time).
Mix it up
The goal is to get kids into a free-flowing, calm yet focused, and joyful state of being. There is an array of fun-filled games to play with young students that are meant to boost learning.
Raffi’s song Shake My Sillies Out is a prime example. Encouraging youngsters to shake their sillies out nurtures imagination, wordplay, and last but not least, physical exercise.
Some tried and true may also be the answer after a hectic day of math or science. Classics such as Red-light-green-light or Follow the leader never grow old. You can also improvise as needed by turning up the volume on a favorite kid-friendly song and freeze dancing.
For parents who practice yoga, work that into the fun! Focusing on poses that are based on the animals kids love will further their interest.
These fun-filled breaks will bring life to school work and keep kids healthy, setting pace for years of healthy learning to come!
Restlessness takes many forms – eyes start drifting to far-off corners of the room, notepads become canvases for impressionistic art, and fidgeting distracts students and teachers alike. What’s the best thing to do when faced with such challenges? Take a break!
It turns out that stepping away for a short period of time helps to break dulling cycles. The George Lucas Educational Foundation Edutopia explains that our brains are wired for novelty. “When presented with new material, standards, and complicated topics, we need to be focused and calm as we approach our assignments,” the article Energy and Calm: Brain Breaks and Focused-Attention Practices stated. “We can use brain breaks and focused-attention practices to positively impact our emotional states and learning.”
So, what are you waiting for?
Get Moving
A relaxed body put into motion clears the way for improved brain functionality. Let’s get those kiddos out of their chairs and moving – this will get them back in action and ready to learn, while better retaining information.
Dr. Justin Rhodes, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, told Scientific American, “Research shows that when we exercise, blood pressure and blood flow increase everywhere in the body, including the brain. More blood means more energy and oxygen, which makes our brain perform better.”
Taking a time out from scheduled learning can invigorate kids and help them to stay more productive in the classroom or while studying at home. Call it what you will: Brain Breaks, Energizers, Brain Boosters – these are just a few of the names for these much-needed physical activity breaks.
Check out these evidence-based resources that work in the classrooms - but also can be applied to your home school (hey, if it works for teachers...):
Instant Recess is designed to improve health and learning by Central Michigan University. These carefully developed 10-minute physical activity breaks can be done in the classroom as well as all-school activities at designated times.
Energizers are 10-minute classroom-based physical activities that integrate into academic concepts and can be used by elementary teachers to provide physical activity to students. They were developed as part of the North Carolina State Board of Education's Healthy Active Children Policy.
TAKE 10! ® is a classroom-based physical activity program for kindergarten to fifth grade students. The 10-minute curriculum integrates academic learning objectives (in language arts, math, social studies, science and health) with movement.
Tips for Engagement
Now you’re convinced that kids can benefit from these Brain Breaks. How do you get started?
First off, ask your child what they love doing in their gym class. Some of the activities kids do in P.E. class can also be done throughout the day as mini-breaks or in the backyard or basement.
But don’t stop there. Here are a few suggestions to get students moving:
Share physical break ideas – give each child a turn to be the Brain Break leader, and come up with fun or silly ideas for 5 minutes of ‘crazy time’ to let off steam
Integrate learning activities into the breaks. Likewise, get moving even when you’re focused on academics. For example, teach them the basics of coding while they step, hop, and turn.
Send them on a scavenger hunt! You can create your own, or try this adorable See ‘n Snap Picture Hunt that also teaches matching skills!
Set goals while looking at recommended activity. Kids should get 60 minutes of physical activity daily, while screen time should be limited to no more than two hours per day (this includes TV, gaming, mobile phones, and computer time).
Mix it up
The goal is to get kids into a free-flowing, calm yet focused, and joyful state of being. There is an array of fun-filled games to play with young students that are meant to boost learning.
Raffi’s song Shake My Sillies Out is a prime example. Encouraging youngsters to shake their sillies out nurtures imagination, wordplay, and last but not least, physical exercise.
Some tried and true may also be the answer after a hectic day of math or science. Classics such as Red-light-green-light or Follow the leader never grow old. You can also improvise as needed by turning up the volume on a favorite kid-friendly song and freeze dancing.
For parents who practice yoga, work that into the fun! Focusing on poses that are based on the animals kids love will further their interest.
These fun-filled breaks will bring life to school work and keep kids healthy, setting pace for years of healthy learning to come!
Do your kids like to design cities or build towers? Building is one of my kids’ favorite activities. They love using a variety of materials to see what they can create. Today I’m sharing how we incorporate pretend play into our STEM building projects.
Engineer a City
We used the City Engineering and Design Building Set to begin our play. Aiden (age 7) started by building what was on the front of the box.
The set includes activity cards with design challenges and engineering problems to solve. Building a zip line was the first challenge Aiden selected. The activity card has you build two buildings. It states that you are at the wrong build and must quickly get to the other building. “Can you design a zip line to carry you across?” The back of the card includes possible solutions to the challenge. It also poses questions about the design. “Which of the solutions above would provide a faster ride?”
Aiden designed his own zip line after seeing the suggestions. He modified the ideas shown and came up with the zip line below.
Incorporate Pretend Play
Next, we added in the Snap-n-Learn™ Counting Elephants. I challenged Lily (age 3) to help the elephants get from one building to the other using the zip line. She thought it was a lot of fun watching the elephants zip down the line.
While she was playing with the elephants, I took the opportunity to ask her about the numbers on them. I asked questions like:
• What number is on your elephant?
• Can you find the number 7?
• What color is the elephant with the number 2?
• Can you count the elephants?
This activity was a great way for my kids to play together.The City Engineering and Design Building Set is recommended for ages 5 and up. Aiden built the city and then he and Lily played with it. They took turns moving the people and elephants around the buildings. They made up stories as they played.
Keep it Going
The next challenge Aiden undertook was to build a crane.
After he built the crane, he and Lily got to work lifting elephants.
There is so much learning going on along with their play. Building the set works on lots of STEM skills - problem solving, following directions, sequential thought, critical thinking, spatial relationships, creativity, and early engineering. Fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, number recognition, and counting are also being developed here.
What’s your child’s favorite building activity? How can you add in some additional learning to the play?
About the Author: Trisha
Trisha is a science educator and stay at home mom to three. She’s the creator of Inspiration Laboratories, a blog dedicated to encouraging learning through creativity and play.
Do your kids like to design cities or build towers? Building is one of my kids’ favorite activities. They love using a variety of materials to see what they can create. Today I’m sharing how we incorporate pretend play into our STEM building projects.
Engineer a City
We used the City Engineering and Design Building Set to begin our play. Aiden (age 7) started by building what was on the front of the box.
The set includes activity cards with design challenges and engineering problems to solve. Building a zip line was the first challenge Aiden selected. The activity card has you build two buildings. It states that you are at the wrong build and must quickly get to the other building. “Can you design a zip line to carry you across?” The back of the card includes possible solutions to the challenge. It also poses questions about the design. “Which of the solutions above would provide a faster ride?”
Aiden designed his own zip line after seeing the suggestions. He modified the ideas shown and came up with the zip line below.
Incorporate Pretend Play
Next, we added in the Snap-n-Learn™ Counting Elephants. I challenged Lily (age 3) to help the elephants get from one building to the other using the zip line. She thought it was a lot of fun watching the elephants zip down the line.
While she was playing with the elephants, I took the opportunity to ask her about the numbers on them. I asked questions like:
• What number is on your elephant?
• Can you find the number 7?
• What color is the elephant with the number 2?
• Can you count the elephants?
This activity was a great way for my kids to play together.The City Engineering and Design Building Set is recommended for ages 5 and up. Aiden built the city and then he and Lily played with it. They took turns moving the people and elephants around the buildings. They made up stories as they played.
Keep it Going
The next challenge Aiden undertook was to build a crane.
After he built the crane, he and Lily got to work lifting elephants.
There is so much learning going on along with their play. Building the set works on lots of STEM skills - problem solving, following directions, sequential thought, critical thinking, spatial relationships, creativity, and early engineering. Fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, number recognition, and counting are also being developed here.
What’s your child’s favorite building activity? How can you add in some additional learning to the play?
About the Author: Trisha
Trisha is a science educator and stay at home mom to three. She’s the creator of Inspiration Laboratories, a blog dedicated to encouraging learning through creativity and play.
Looking for summer activities that will help beat summer brain drain? Look no further than your backyard. Using materials from home, these fun science activities are practical and deepen each child’s experience with the natural environment.
Looking for summer activities that will help beat summer brain drain? Look no further than your backyard. Using materials from home, these fun science activities are practical and deepen each child’s experience with the natural environment.
From books about the tiny creatures to actually seeing one inch along the sidewalk, caterpillars always capture the imagination of creative little minds. This DIY clothespin caterpillar craft brings together sensory sensations, fine motor skills, and color recognition all in one cute and endearing activity. Little hands were just made for this craft!
You will need:
Glue
Clothespins
Craft pom poms
Goggly or candy eyeballs
Spill your pom poms all over your table so you toddler can clearly see all the color choices. Squeeze the glue along the length of the clothespin.
Drop the balls in any order you’d like. Challenge your toddler by suggesting a sequence. Quiz your toddler on the colors as he or she places them on the clothespin.
Gluing the eyes can be tricky, so fine motor skills (and patience!) are put to the test.
Ask your toddler to create a “snowman” caterpillar.
How about a rainbow one?
Before you know it, you have an entire caterpillar village. The creative process then takes a break as imaginative play takes over!
Children love this colorful activity. It’s also a craft that lasts – use your clothespin caterpillar for lists on the fridge or in the laundry room. Kids love to see their hard work around the house!
From books about the tiny creatures to actually seeing one inch along the sidewalk, caterpillars always capture the imagination of creative little minds. This DIY clothespin caterpillar craft brings together sensory sensations, fine motor skills, and color recognition all in one cute and endearing activity. Little hands were just made for this craft!
You will need:
Glue
Clothespins
Craft pom poms
Goggly or candy eyeballs
Spill your pom poms all over your table so you toddler can clearly see all the color choices. Squeeze the glue along the length of the clothespin.
Drop the balls in any order you’d like. Challenge your toddler by suggesting a sequence. Quiz your toddler on the colors as he or she places them on the clothespin.
Gluing the eyes can be tricky, so fine motor skills (and patience!) are put to the test.
Ask your toddler to create a “snowman” caterpillar.
How about a rainbow one?
Before you know it, you have an entire caterpillar village. The creative process then takes a break as imaginative play takes over!
Children love this colorful activity. It’s also a craft that lasts – use your clothespin caterpillar for lists on the fridge or in the laundry room. Kids love to see their hard work around the house!
Does your kiddo love crafting with play dough? Save money and have some fun by making your own crafting play dough, together, at home! There are so many versions to try – from scented to textured to edible, there’s the perfect play dough recipe for every crafty kiddo. Follow our easy instructions below and give it a go today!
Traditional Dough
Ingredients:
1 Cup water
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
½ Cup salt
1 Tbsp. cream of tartar
1 Cup flour
Food coloring
In a medium-sized saucepan, mix the water, oil, salt, cream of tartar, and a few drops of food coloring. Stir over medium heat until the mixture is warm and the salt is mostly dissolved, then remove from heat and blend in the flour. The better the flour is blended, the smoother the dough will be, so take your time. Then drop the mixture onto a sheet of wax paper and knead until smooth and soft. Now sculpt! This batch will last for several weeks, if not months. If it begins to dry or crumble, mix in a few drops of vegetable oil. Adding texture to your dough creates the perfect substance for tactile play. To make a textured dough, follow these Traditional Dough instructions, adding glitter, sea salt, or even sand to the saucepan before mixing with flour.
Scented Dough
Ingredients:
1 Cup water
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
½ Cup salt
1 Packet KOOL-AID in the scent you want
2 Tsp. cream of tartar
1 Cup flour
This version uses KOOL-AID to add color and scent to traditional dough. Whisk together the flour, salt, KOOL-AID, and cream of tartar in a saucepan, then mix in the water and oil. Heat over medium for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly. The mixture will start out really runny, but will begin to clump as it heats up. When the dough is mostly stuck together, dump the mixture onto a sheet of wax paper. Allow it to cool, then knead, play, and sniff your scented dough!
Silky Smooth Lotion Dough
Ingredients:
1 Cup hair conditioner or hand lotion
2 Cups corn starch
Food coloringlder text.
This simple, 3-ingredient recipe is totally kid-friendly – no heating on the stove! Pour the lotion into a bowl and mix in a few drops of food coloring. Next, blend in the corn starch with a little at a time, adding more corn starch until the mixture is silky smooth and not at all sticky. You may have to play with the ratios, adding more lotion to make the mixture less crumbly and then more starch to be less sticky, but this super soft, super smooth dough is worth the trouble. Added bonus – your hands will be silky soft after every session!
Edible Dough
Ingredients:
1 Bag large marshmallows
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 Cup cornstarch
Food coloring
Technically, all of the recipes we’ve shared so far are edible, they just might not taste very good. Made with marshmallows, this recipe is not only edible – it’s delicious! Don’t let the corn starch fool you – when finished, this dough tastes just like taffy. In a pan, warm your oil over medium heat. Add about 30 large marshmallows, stirring until they’re completely dissolved. Add a few drops of food coloring, then move the mixture to a bowl. Quickly add the cornstarch and knead until soft. If the mixture still feels sticky, knead a bit more corn starch in until it’s smooth. This may take a bit of back and forth work – knead, corn starch, knead, corn starch. But once you’ve got the consistency just right, it’s time to play – or eat!
Glittery Galaxy Dough
Playtime is out of this world! With so much in the news lately about NASA’s latest missions, not to mention the first ever image of a black hole recently released, space talk is certainly on the rise. How about making some play dough sure to spark otherworldly conversations about our galaxy?
What is the Milky Way?
Our home galaxy is called the Milky Way, and it contains hundreds of billions of stars that burn just like our own sun. That means there are most likely billions of solar systems out there just like ours. The Milky is believed to be 13.51 billion years old.
Just how big is the Milky Way?
The Milky Way is about 100,000 light years in diameter. A light year is the distance light travels in one year. But according to scientists, the Milky Way is small compared to other galaxies. M87, another elliptical galaxy, is 980,000 light years in diameter.
Ingredients:
2 cups of flour, plus extra to sprinkle on
½ cup of salt
1 ½ cups boiling water
2 tablespoons of baby oil
1 tablespoons of cream of tartar
5-7 drops of glycerin
Glitter colors of your choice
Adults only: get the water boiling on the stovetop. Have the kids mix the flour, salt, and cream of tartar Once your water is boiling, turn it off and remove it from the heat. Add the black food coloring. To get the deep, galaxy-black color, be prepared to use lots of food coloring, about half and ounce. The kids will love to see the food coloring billow into the hot water. Next, pour in the glycerin and baby oil. These two ingredients will prevent your dough from being too sticky. Adults only: pour the water mixture directly in to the bowl of the flour mixture and stir. Be aware of splashes since the water mixture is hot. Add glitter of your choice, and once again give it a good stir. Next, knead the dough for several minutes, really working it through. Dry hands work best. You might find that the dough is a little sticky. Throw the dough back in the bowl and sprinkle a little flour over the top and re-knead. This Milky Way dough is a blast to pull a part, twist, and pound out.
Does your kiddo love crafting with play dough? Save money and have some fun by making your own crafting play dough, together, at home! There are so many versions to try – from scented to textured to edible, there’s the perfect play dough recipe for every crafty kiddo. Follow our easy instructions below and give it a go today!
Traditional Dough
Ingredients:
1 Cup water
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
½ Cup salt
1 Tbsp. cream of tartar
1 Cup flour
Food coloring
In a medium-sized saucepan, mix the water, oil, salt, cream of tartar, and a few drops of food coloring. Stir over medium heat until the mixture is warm and the salt is mostly dissolved, then remove from heat and blend in the flour. The better the flour is blended, the smoother the dough will be, so take your time. Then drop the mixture onto a sheet of wax paper and knead until smooth and soft. Now sculpt! This batch will last for several weeks, if not months. If it begins to dry or crumble, mix in a few drops of vegetable oil. Adding texture to your dough creates the perfect substance for tactile play. To make a textured dough, follow these Traditional Dough instructions, adding glitter, sea salt, or even sand to the saucepan before mixing with flour.
Scented Dough
Ingredients:
1 Cup water
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
½ Cup salt
1 Packet KOOL-AID in the scent you want
2 Tsp. cream of tartar
1 Cup flour
This version uses KOOL-AID to add color and scent to traditional dough. Whisk together the flour, salt, KOOL-AID, and cream of tartar in a saucepan, then mix in the water and oil. Heat over medium for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly. The mixture will start out really runny, but will begin to clump as it heats up. When the dough is mostly stuck together, dump the mixture onto a sheet of wax paper. Allow it to cool, then knead, play, and sniff your scented dough!
Silky Smooth Lotion Dough
Ingredients:
1 Cup hair conditioner or hand lotion
2 Cups corn starch
Food coloringlder text.
This simple, 3-ingredient recipe is totally kid-friendly – no heating on the stove! Pour the lotion into a bowl and mix in a few drops of food coloring. Next, blend in the corn starch with a little at a time, adding more corn starch until the mixture is silky smooth and not at all sticky. You may have to play with the ratios, adding more lotion to make the mixture less crumbly and then more starch to be less sticky, but this super soft, super smooth dough is worth the trouble. Added bonus – your hands will be silky soft after every session!
Edible Dough
Ingredients:
1 Bag large marshmallows
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 Cup cornstarch
Food coloring
Technically, all of the recipes we’ve shared so far are edible, they just might not taste very good. Made with marshmallows, this recipe is not only edible – it’s delicious! Don’t let the corn starch fool you – when finished, this dough tastes just like taffy. In a pan, warm your oil over medium heat. Add about 30 large marshmallows, stirring until they’re completely dissolved. Add a few drops of food coloring, then move the mixture to a bowl. Quickly add the cornstarch and knead until soft. If the mixture still feels sticky, knead a bit more corn starch in until it’s smooth. This may take a bit of back and forth work – knead, corn starch, knead, corn starch. But once you’ve got the consistency just right, it’s time to play – or eat!
Glittery Galaxy Dough
Playtime is out of this world! With so much in the news lately about NASA’s latest missions, not to mention the first ever image of a black hole recently released, space talk is certainly on the rise. How about making some play dough sure to spark otherworldly conversations about our galaxy?
What is the Milky Way?
Our home galaxy is called the Milky Way, and it contains hundreds of billions of stars that burn just like our own sun. That means there are most likely billions of solar systems out there just like ours. The Milky is believed to be 13.51 billion years old.
Just how big is the Milky Way?
The Milky Way is about 100,000 light years in diameter. A light year is the distance light travels in one year. But according to scientists, the Milky Way is small compared to other galaxies. M87, another elliptical galaxy, is 980,000 light years in diameter.
Ingredients:
2 cups of flour, plus extra to sprinkle on
½ cup of salt
1 ½ cups boiling water
2 tablespoons of baby oil
1 tablespoons of cream of tartar
5-7 drops of glycerin
Glitter colors of your choice
Adults only: get the water boiling on the stovetop. Have the kids mix the flour, salt, and cream of tartar Once your water is boiling, turn it off and remove it from the heat. Add the black food coloring. To get the deep, galaxy-black color, be prepared to use lots of food coloring, about half and ounce. The kids will love to see the food coloring billow into the hot water. Next, pour in the glycerin and baby oil. These two ingredients will prevent your dough from being too sticky. Adults only: pour the water mixture directly in to the bowl of the flour mixture and stir. Be aware of splashes since the water mixture is hot. Add glitter of your choice, and once again give it a good stir. Next, knead the dough for several minutes, really working it through. Dry hands work best. You might find that the dough is a little sticky. Throw the dough back in the bowl and sprinkle a little flour over the top and re-knead. This Milky Way dough is a blast to pull a part, twist, and pound out.
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