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Summer List 2011

We’ve been adding to our annual summer to-do list the past few days. Do you and your kids do something like this? Many of the things on our list appear every year – swimming, backyard camp-outs, going to the fair. I love that the girls remember these traditions as summer approaches each year – sweet [...]

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Ways to Play in June

Happy first day of June! We are ready for summer days – eating breakfast outside, ice cold lemonade, and backyard campouts. How are your summer plans shaping up? It’s time for another monthly play idea sheet. I hope this gives you and your kids some ideas for the warm (or rainy) summer afternoons. My idea [...]

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Birthday Party Activity Stations for Toddlers & Preschoolers

Maybe it’s the kindergarten teacher in me, but I love setting up activity centers or stations when we have kid parties. The kids can spend most of their time playing, and there are plenty of activities available to keep them busy. I usually plan four to six open-ended activities so the kids can play and [...]

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Ways to Play in May

Hello, May! Allergies aside, I’m ready for growing veggies, long walks to the park, and sunshine. Do you have any big plans for May? My idea sheet is ready to download! This month’s play ideas include fun with flowers, dinner-time doodling, and other ways to add a little spark to your everyday playtime. As usual, [...]

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Measure the House

Happy Friday! I know many of your kids enjoyed the Counting the House printable activity I posted a while back. So, I have another fun around-the-house math activity for you – let’s do some measuring! The printable is two pages – the first page includes items that can be measured with a ruler, and the [...]

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Fun with Kites and Wind

Use some of the wild energy a windy day brings and try some of these kid-friendly kite and wind-themed activities: Make a paper kite :: maya*made Create a brown paper grocery bag kite :: Rhythm of the Home Write a Kite Tail acrostic poem :: WritingFix Decorate your house with little origami kites :: Craft [...]

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Ways to Play in April

Well, we are already a few days into April, but there is still plenty of time to play! I’m so pleased that many of you are finding these monthly downloads helpful and inspiring. I sure have fun putting them together! My idea sheet is ready to download. This month’s play ideas include a fun family [...]

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Happy is…

Happy is morning reading marathons with a warm drink. We said goodbye to cable/satellite TV and couldn’t be happier with our decision. Happy is watching Natalie make air-dry clay fossils and set-up a guessing game for Dad when he came home from work. Happy is late-winter snow play at Grammy & Grampy’s house. Happy is [...]

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From Natalie’s Camera

We gave Natalie her own digital camera for her 8th birthday last fall. It is always a treat to load her photos onto the computer and see what she has been capturing lately. If you are looking for a beginner digital camera (for a child or yourself), I would highly recommend the Canon PowerShot A495. [...]

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Flashlight Fun!

{Originally posted at Blissful Kids, March 2009} Do your kids like to play with flashlights? Mine sure do! Spend a few minutes before bedtime playing a flashlight game or two. Flashlight Scavenger Hunt: Go on a night walk in a familiar area and see what you can find by the glow of a flashlight. Name [...]

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