Tag: big kid activities

8 Fun Monthly Subscription Boxes for Kids: Non-Toy Gifts for Kids

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date December 13, 2022
4 Comments on 8 Fun Monthly Subscription Boxes for Kids: Non-Toy Gifts for Kids

Instead of buying toys for special days, you can consider monthly subscription boxes for kids. These non-toy gifts for kids are fun and won’t clutter up your space as much as toys do.

Helping kids recognize and develop their skills at an early age can give them an advantage later in life. They are already scientists, explorers, cooks, bakers, artists, and many other things. The best thing you can do for your kids is to provide them with what they need to learn and grow in these areas.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Monthly Subscription Boxes For Kids

1. Green Kid Crafts

Green Kid Crafts is a nature-based STEAM subscription box for kids aged 2-10. The activities included in the box inspire creativity, discovery, and learning about the world. This monthly box can be the perfect arts and crafts gift for kids.

You can shop by theme on the Green Kid Crafts website, too. The themes include:

Arts and crafts kits and projects
Fun science experiments
Exciting animals and ecosystems

2. We Craft Box

We Craft Box is geared toward kids between the ages of three and nine. If you have a younger child, they’ll need more help. As kids do the themed monthly project, they’re experiencing creativity and making memories.

All of the materials the child will need, except water and scissors, are included in the box. My favorite part is that each kit comes with enough material for two kids, so it’s perfect for sharing.

Each We Craft Box comes with a story about the project, which helps get your child inspired and feeling creative. It also includes photo instructions that are easy to follow.

3. Bookroo

Bookroo is a monthly subscription book box for kids ages 0-10. It is super simple to sign up, and you can count on awesome books being delivered for your kids. There are three different book clubs you can join including:

Board Books (ages 0-3)
Picture Books (ages 3-6)
Chapter Books (ages 7-10)

Since March is reading month, you could consider starting the subscription box as a way to make National Reading Awareness Month even more exciting.

4. Coding Subscription Box

This monthly subscription box is best for ages six through 12. The child will receive monthly coding projects, learning how to make video games, simulations, greeting cards, and so much more.

One of the best parts is that each box comes with a guide for grownups and unlimited email support. You won’t have to worry about getting stumped when there’s help and references readily available.

5. Highlights Magazine Subscription Box

The Highlights subscription box is available for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and first graders. They offer a fun way to learn skills based on their age group and skill levels. Using this box for only 15 minutes a day can improve your child’s skills, and you can track the changes on included progress sheets.

6. History Subscription Boxes

Suitable for ages six through 11, this history box is perfect for kids who love history. Kids can learn about the world around them and other cultures with the included activities. Some of the skills it’ll help children improve are literacy, geography, STEAM, history, and vocabulary.

7. Monthly Subscription Box for Tweens or Teens

Many of the subscription boxes target younger kids, but tweens and tweens can enjoy this Strong self(ie) monthly subscription box. The tween box is geared towards eight to 12-year-olds, while the teen box targets 13-17-year-olds.

Examples of Tween Boxes

Examples of Teen Boxes

8. Baketivity Monthly Subscription Box for Kids

The Baketivity subscription box involves a monthly recipe and includes pre-measured ingredients. Each recipe is easy to follow and has illustrations to help the child along.

One of my favorite parts of this subscription box is that the kids can watch and follow a chef creating the recipe. It also comes with a chef hat and apron so your child can embrace every aspect of being a baker.

Monthly Subscription Boxes for Kids

Monthly subscription boxes for kids are the perfect solution to having too many toys. Birthdays and holidays don’t have to be all about toys, and these subscription boxes are the best gifts for kids.

What subscription boxes for kids do you love? Leave a comment and let me know!

If you want an adult subscription box, check out my post 10 Reasons to Try Bean Box Award-Winning Coffee.

Tags big kid, big kid activities, big kids, books, craft, Family Activities, Gift Guide, gifts, Holiday, kindergarten, little kid, Preschool, toddler activities

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3 Ways to Support Your Child’s Sports Hobbies and Encourage Physical Activity

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date July 27, 2021

It’s normal for children to fall in love with sports at a young age. While many children find themselves stuck indoors playing video games, there are plenty out playing sports and joining teams. If you want to encourage healthy habits like sports, you’ll need to support them throughout the entire journey. So, here are a couple of tips to help support your child’s sports hobbies.

How to Support Your Child’s Sports Hobbies

Accept The Type of Sport That Your Child Wants to Try

Your child is going to want to try a variety of sports. Whenever they see something cool on the internet or TV they’re going to want to try it. Or, when they see their friends playing something, they’ll want to check it out. Even if it’s something like boxing, swimming, or even car racing, there are going to be sports that you might be concerned about because it could put them at risk of an injury.

Whatever your child wants to do, support them and ensure they get the help they need to safely try it. Don’t force your child into a particular sport, either. If they suddenly don’t enjoy something, don’t question them too much because they can always return to it later.

Understand That it’s a Commitment on Your Side Too

When the sports season starts for our children, it’s important that you’re there to support them at all times. You must commit as much as your child is, and this often means attending all of their games.

You may have to choose between attending a work-related event and showing up at your child’s next match. In a situation like this, you should almost always choose your child over your work.

Prepare For Your Child to Get Hurt, Because Eventually They Will

Sports are physical activities, and that means your child will eventually get hurt. Many parents will do everything they can to prevent this from happening, but sooner or later, it’ll happen. Your child might get tackled, sprain an ankle, or they might even damage a muscle.

Whatever the situation is, prepare to support your children as they recover. Plus, we need to educate our children about safety in sports. You might want to look for specialists such as a podiatrist that understands sports injuries, and you might want to learn a few first aid skills yourself so that you can quickly deal with any potential injuries during practice.

Support Your Child’s Sports Hobbies

Supporting your child’s sports hobbies can be time-consuming, but these tips can give you do it confidently.

Leave a comment and share some other ways to support your child’s sports hobbies! 🙂

Tags big kid activities, big kids, How to, learning, Outside Fun, Parenting

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5 Easy Ways to Get Your Kids Outside in the Yard

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date March 24, 2021

Spending time outside is very beneficial for people of all ages. Sometimes children may lack interest in going outside, however, and be more into electronics and indoor games. If you’re finding it challenging to get the kids away from those screens and out in the fresh air, there are plenty of ways to get your kids outside.

Spring is the best time of year to plant a few vegetables or even welcome wildlife. You can create a sensory, exciting space outside that will entice even the most indoorsy children. Here are five easy ways to get kids out in the yard.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

How to Get Your Kids Outside

1. Yard Games

Invest in a couple of yard games. You can play these together as a family, or your children can invite friends over. Add a personal touch with these custom cornhole bags, for example, https://www.cornholeworldwide.com/products/cornhole-bags/custom-cornhole-bags/. You can have them personalized with the name or message of your choice. They make great gifts and just might incentivize kids to play more outside.

2. Grow Your Own

Growing your own vegetables is a fun way to get children interested in gardening as well as healthy eating. There are plenty of easy vegetables to grow with kids, such as carrots and potatoes, so you don’t need to be expertly green-thumbed. It’s one of the best ways to encourage kids to be productive and happy.

3. Start Seeds Inside

If you want to gauge your child’s interest beforehand, you could start seeds off inside. Plant seeds in glass jars so they can see the roots growing, which will engage their curiosity. You can then move the plants outside.

If you don’t have much yard space but would still like to get your kids interested in gardening, here are some low-maintenance indoor plants. You could even set up window boxes or a small balcony garden.

4. Welcome Wildlife

With a few quick upgrades, you can turn your yard into a wildlife habitat. The children will enjoy spotting and naming the wild visitors that come your way.

Create zones in your yard for critters to forage and hide. Let your lawn grow wilder, or build a rock garden. Add a water source and a bit of food and you’ll easily attract a variety of wildlife.

You could make your own bird feeders from recycled materials, or for a bigger project, build a bee hotel from old wood and bamboo. Another idea is to simply drill a few holes into some untreated wood for a basic home for insects.

5. Create a Sensory Space

Turn your garden into a treat for all the senses by adding plenty of textures, sights, and smells for your children to explore. Create a sensory garden by adding colorful and fragrant flowers which will also attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.

An amazing sensory space can be from a swimming pool that is specifically designed with little ones in mind. There is nothing more exciting than splashing in the water on a hot summer’s day. Work with a reputable company like CaliforniaPools.com, so you get the best pool for little water explorers.

You could even consider a water feature such as a pond or fountain. The sound of the water is incredibly relaxing and it will make a nice home for fish and amphibians. With sensory stimulation and fun activities, your children will love being out in the yard.

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Get Your Kids Outside

It is so important to get your kids outside, and it doesn’t have to be a struggle. By setting your yard up specifically for the kids, your kids will be eager to get outside every day.

What have you done to your yard to get your kids outside? Leave a comment and let me know!

Tags big kid, big kid activities, big kids, family, Family Activities, little kid, Outside Fun, Parenting

Classroom Family Activities Learning Toys and Games

5 Educational Board Games To Play With Your Kids

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date January 6, 2021

Playing board games with your kids can have many benefits. Board games can get your kids away from the screen and allow you to enjoy some family bonding time. On top of this, many board games can have educational benefits while still being very fun.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Best Educational Board Games to Play With Kids

Chess

Chess is one of the oldest board games that is still played today. It’s a great game for teaching problem solving and strategy skills. In order to win, you need to keep track of all the pieces on the board while planning your moves ahead.

On top of traditional chess boards, there are chess boards available in all different themes from Harry Potter chess boards to Disney chess boards. You can teach chess to kids as young as 6 as this guide explains, although older kids are likely to appreciate the game more. Chess is a 2 player game, making it better suited to one-on-one time.

*If you are looking for board games for younger kids, check out this post: 12 of the Best Games For Kids

Scrabble

Scrabble encourages players to earn points by forming words. On top of being a great game for expanding your child’s vocabulary, Scrabble helps kids to develop math skills through adding up points and forming patterns. Plus, it helps with teaching forward planning.

You can play Scrabble with up to four players. As with chess, older kids are likely to appreciate Scrabble more.

If you run out of word ideas, don’t worry. There are lots of tools online that can help you play scrabble better such as this word unscrambler tool.

Monopoly

Monopoly encourages players to buy property around a board until one person owns all the property. It’s a great game for teaching kids money management because in order to win, you need to be able to budget well and take calculated risks.

On top of the classic version of Monopoly, there are now many other versions themed around everything from Star Wars to Pokémon. You can play Monopoly with up to eight players, making it ideal for large families.

Qwirkle

Qwirkle is a game that involves matching colors and shapes using tiles. On top of helping to build logical skills through patterns, Qwirkle is a great game for teaching strategy much like chess or Scrabble (in fact, it’s a bit like a combination of chess and dominoes).

The game is easy to set up and can be played by all ages. Up to four players can play Qwirkle at a time.

The World Game

If you’re looking for a game to teach geography skills, The World Game is the perfect option. Players compete to find the strongest fact about a country and win.

In doing so, players learn trivia about various countries from capital cities to flags. The game also teaches map orientation, helping kids to work out exactly where countries are in the world. It’s suitable for players of all ages and can be played with up to five players.

Learning doesn’t have to be boring, and you don’t have to force it on your kids. By finding the right ways to help them learn, you can have fun and bond while doing it. Board games are the perfect thing for that because they are fun and educational.

What are your favorite educational board games to play with your kids? Tell me in the comments!

Tags big kid, big kid activities, family, Family Activities, games, learning, Parenting

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12 of The Best Board Games for Kids: Meaningful Gift Ideas

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date August 2, 2020
36 Comments on 12 of The Best Board Games for Kids: Meaningful Gift Ideas

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I don’t know about you, but I start my Christmas shopping in August. With five kids, it’s essential to begin early and to make sure all my gift plans are in place. My kids love games, so I have been researching the best games for kids.

While I know some of the games they would enjoy, there are so many games out there that I have never heard of. I like to buy games for kids that help develop their skills, and all of the games in this post are ones that do just that.

This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.

Best Games for Kids

1. Race to the Treasure

I love this game because instead of playing against one another, the kids work together to beat an ogre to a treasure. While playing Race to the Treasure, kids will learn strategy, math concepts, making decisions as a team, and cooperation.

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2. 5 Second Rule Jr.

This is a family-friendly version of the 5 Second Rule adult game. When playing 5 Second Rule Jr., kids will read a card and give an answer within 5 seconds. Since it involves quick thinking, funny answers are bound to happen.

With good laughs and light-hearted fun, this game is perfect for family bonding time. If the child can’t quite read yet, playing on teams is fun, too.

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3. Pie Face Showdown

Pie Face is such a fun game, even if it is a little messy. The original game involved players passing the whipped cream covered hand around the table and turning the crank, hoping to not get hit in the face with whipped cream.

Pie Face Showdown is an upgraded version of the original. This one requires two players to both have their faces in front of a whipped cream covered hand. The players have to push their buttons faster to make the whipped cream hit their opponent.

4. Guess Who?

Guess Who is a classic, and it’s one of my favorites. Each player has a card with a person on it, and their opponent has to figure out which character the other one has. The first to figure out their opponent’s character wins the game.

The way you eliminate characters is by asking descriptive questions. These questions can be “Is your person wearing a hat?”, “Does your person have a mustache?”, or anything else that can help eliminate characters and lead you to your opponent’s character.

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5. Buggaloop

This game features a Hexbug that crawls underneath the “backyard” (the game board). It can climb vertically, horizontally, turn corners, and go through loops and tubes. You have to try and get your game piece all the way across the board before the Hexbug appears and takes you out.

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6. Uno

This simple classic card game is perfect for kids because it teaches so many things at once. Color and number matching, taking turns, and paying attention are all skills they can develop while playing.

I play this game often with my 3 and 4-year-old, as well. The only change I make is that we can see each other’s cards so that I can help as needed.

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7. Rush Hour Jr.

To play this game, kids will shift vehicles out of the way to clear a path to the exit. There are 40 levels, allowing for endless fun and brain stimulation. Rush Hour Jr. can help improve logical and spatial reasoning, planning skills, and problem-solving.

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8. Operation

Another classic, the game of Operation has stood the test of time. Kids love this game, no matter which era they were born in.

It helps develop fine motor skills as kids use tweezers to remove ailments from the patient’s body. If the child misses and hits the side of the opening, the game buzzes, and the patient’s nose lights up. The player who can remove the most ailments wins.

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9. Ravensburger Labyrinth

I am so excited to get this game for my son for Christmas. The game changes each time you play it because the tiles move. This ensure that the child won’t get bored with it, since it’s pretty much a different game each time.

They will move their piece around the board, working their way to a treasure. On each turn, the child will also have the chance to change the path of the maze. It’s the perfect game to teach strategy.

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10. No Stress Chess

This game offers a chance to teach kids how to play chess with little frustration on their part. It comes with a deck of cards that teach the rules of the game and strategies that should be used.

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11. Skillmatics Educational Game: Brain Games

This is a game that is fun for the whole family, as the age range is from 6-99 years. It teaches thinking and reasoning, plus logic and problem-solving skills. As the game is played, the boards can be wiped off and done again.

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12. SpringFlower Sight Word Game

My son isn’t a huge fan of working on his sight words the traditional way. I’m always looking for new activities to help him learn them. When I found this game, I was so excited. I only wish I had come across it sooner!

The kids will use the fly swatters to smack the appropriate sight word when it is called out. It’ll help them recognize the word more quickly, and it’ll be fun, helping to commit it to memory.

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Final Thoughts on 12 of The Best Games for Kids

With as much as my kids love games, I always want to choose the ones that they will love. The best games for kids are the ones that offer a learning opportunity or help develop skills.

What are some of the games your kids love? Do you have any games for kids that you want to buy as a Christmas gift this year? Leave me a comment and let me know! I’d love to hear about it.

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Tags big kid, big kid activities, Birthday, Christmas, Family Activities, fine motor, funny, Gift Guide, gifts, Holiday, kindergarten, learning, little kid, numbers, Parenting, Preschool, sight words, toddler activities

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Can You Grow a Pine Tree From a Pine Cone? A Lesson In Sustainability For Kids

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date April 7, 2020
2 Comments on Can You Grow a Pine Tree From a Pine Cone? A Lesson In Sustainability For Kids

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I saw this picture being shared on Facebook and Pinterest where a pinecone was planted into soil. The photo showed that the pine cone was about half-buried in soil, with the top half sticking out. There were sprouts coming from the top of the pinecone, indicating that it’s possible to grow a pine tree from a pine cone.

This left me wondering… is it possible? Can you really grow a pine tree from a pine cone?

The Research About Growing a Pine Tree From a Pine Cone

I tried to find information about this, and couldn’t find a conclusive answer. Just when I thought I had, someone else had a different point to make.

I couldn’t find any accounts of someone successfully going a pine tree from a pine cone. Plus, many people did explain that it is pretty much impossible.

Some people thought it would work, though, and I just have to test the image that was floating around.

With that being said, I found literally no confirmed answer. I couldn’t even find a source for the image that was floating around social media. **Updated to add that the social media image can be found here**

The Information We Did Find

Before we tried this for ourselves, I assigned our teenager the task of learning a couple of things about pine trees. She had to share the information with the younger siblings before we went around the yard hunting for pine cones.

One of the things she shared was that there are male and female pine cones. Am I the only adult who didn’t know this?!

With that fun fact, we took all of the pine cones we collected and played a game. We made teams and worked together to sort the pine cones into two pines; male and female. We also learned that the female pine cones are the ones that carry the seeds.

Finally, we learned that trees produce oxygen and that oxygen is what we breathe.

Growing Pine Trees From Pine Cones

So, since I couldn’t find the actual answer online, we decided to figure it out for ourselves.

Materials

Empty 2-liter soda bottle
X-acto knife (or you can use a pocket knife)
Soil
Pinecone

This is the exact knife I used. I use it for pretty much everything, to be honest. LOL.

Yes, that’s an affiliate link, which means I’ll make a small commission at no additional cost to you. I truly do use this x-acto knife and stand behind it, however.

Instructions

1. Cut the soda bottle so that you only have the bottom portion left. Say, 1/4 of the bottle.

2. Add soil to the soda bottle bottom.

3. Create a hole in the soil that is big enough to fit 1/2 of the pinecone.

4. Fill dirt back in around the pinecone. Only the top half should be showing.

5. Water everyday and monitor the progress.

Did it work?!

Ok, so since we know that this method for growing a tree isn’t for sure going to work, just bear with me. I’ll update on the progress (if there is any) right away.

In the meantime, however, do this project with us!! Help your kids plant their pinecone so you can see for yourself if it is possible to grow a pine tree from a pine cone.

We’re all looking for ways to teach kids from home, so why not mix in a fun science lesson?

What do you think will happen? Is it possible to grow a pine tree from a pine cone?

I had the kids all draw pictures of what they think will happen. Nevaeh was the only one who thought we would have to remove the seeds from the pinecone to grow a tree. The others thought the tree would grow from the pinecone.

Lets be honest, I think Nevaeh is right. Tell me what you think.

Will a tree begin to grow out of the planted pinecone? Tell me the reason behind your answer! I can’t wait to see what everyone thinks!

Need another project idea?

Check out this paper mache diamondback rattlesnake! Using paper mache is so easy, and the post has a recipe to make it with ingredients you already have on hand!

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Tags big kid activities, Family Activities, Outside Fun, Preschool, sensory play, Teenager, tot school

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Leprechaun Finders – Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date March 16, 2020

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These Leprechaun Finders were a life-saver for me today as my kids desperately needed something to do. The school’s are shut down in our state because of the Corona Virus (Covid-19), and many public places have shut down as well. This includes our local indoor play places, restaurants, movie theatres and more. Unfortunately, all of this means the kids are already getting bored.

I want to keep them learning, creating, and engaging during this social-distancing time, so finding new activities to do each day is important. Along with practicing sight words for Sylas, letter recognition (capital and lowercase) for Josie, and name recognition for Liam, time for creativity has been essential.

With St. Patrick’s Day here, I thought it would be the perfect time to create Leprechaun Finders! They were easy, so much fun (they doubled as fine motor play!), and they kept the kids busy for quite some time.

How to Make Leprechaun Finders

Materials:

2 toilet paper rolls
green construction paper (green paint should work, too!)
pom poms
pipe cleaners
sequins
glue
scissors
tape

This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.

Directions

1. Cut the construction paper to fit perfectly around each toiler paper roll, then glue the paper in place. If you choose paint instead of paper, you would paint the tube green here instead.

2. Have the child decorate each of the green tubes with sequins, pipe cleaners, or sequins. You could also just have them decorate with markers or crayons. It can be as simple as you want it!

3. Hold the decorated rolls side by side and place a piece of tape starting on the inside of one roll and finishing on the inside of the other roll. Do this on both the front and the back of the toiler paper roll binoculars (or Leprechaun finders).

4. Now, you can add a piece of string to this so that the kids can wear it around their necks, but I didn’t do this for ours.

Where to Use Your Leprechaun Finders

We started out using them inside of the house, looking out windows. I think by the time they were done inside, they had spent at least 5 minutes looking out every window in the house.

When they didn’t find them outside of the windows, we took them out to the backyard. Then, eventually, we went on a walk around the neighborhood looking for Leprechauns.

Final Thought on Leprechaun Finder – Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars

This St Patty’s Day craft was so easy and so much fun. The kids loved it, and the prep and clean-up were easy for me. I’m a huge fan of toilet paper roll binoculars, and I foresee us doing more of these for future holidays.

Now, I have less than 24 hours to figure out how to trick the kids into thinking they found a Leprechaun using their Leprechaun finders! Any ideas? Let me know in the comments.

Tags big kid activities, big kids, craft, easy craft, Holiday, little kid, toilet paper roll craft

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5 Fun Ways to Celebrate National Reading Awareness Month

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date March 7, 2020
8 Comments on 5 Fun Ways to Celebrate National Reading Awareness Month

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National Reading Awareness Month is one of my favorite times of the year. I don’t know what it is, but it’s a good mix of many books with excuses to read. Plus, the weather is slightly warmer, so I’m feeling good all around. Then, the kids get to dress up in fun outfits each day for school, making the month that much more exciting.

Since the school celebrates so heavily and has the kids dress up for National Reading Month, I wanted some fun ways to celebrate at home, too. Participating outside of school ensures that our kids understand reading is important (and fun!) at home AND school. It’s also a way for younger children to participate if they haven’t started school yet.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Ways to Celebrate National Reading Month

1. Make it memorable and fun

Making the book and reading experience memorable is easy to do. You can do crafts related to the book, make snacks, or do any other activity that will help engrain that book into your child’s mind. Not only will they remember the book better, but they’ll have fun while doing it, encouraging more reading.

Other ideas to make a book memorable include acting them out or having your child re-tell the story. Drawing the story also helps and allows your child to get creative.

Check out these crafts based on books that my kids have done:

2. Make each book a learning opportunity

Try not to read a book and forget it right afterward. Find ways to help your child learn from the book. You can do this by discussing themes in the books such as kindness, trying again after failure, and others you notice or want to touch on.

Another simple way to make sure the learning aspect sticks is to talk to your kids about it. I like to do this while I’m tucking them in at night, but you can bring it up anytime. You can recall the ideas you learn from a story in any situation, and it helps your child make a connection and understand the lesson.

3. Read in different ways during Reading Awareness Month

Switching up the reading methods helps the story stick in their head. Some of the different ways to read include having the children read the book aloud or taking turns reading (I read a page, the child reads a page, etc.). Another fun method that kids seem to like is listening to the story on YouTube while seeing the words on the screen. Of course, it’s best to read with them as a bonding experience, too, but videos can be highly beneficial.

You can also build a fort with the child and then read books inside the fort. Another idea is to have the child read to a pet or stuffed animal. The possibilities for reading in different ways with your kids are endless.

4. Dress up as favorite book characters

This fun way to celebrate National Reading Awareness Month is probably my absolute favorite. Help your child pick out some clothes or accessories to dress up as a favorite book character or even as a character from a brand new book that you’ve just read together. You don’t have to have the exact costume, so be creative in making the look come to life.

Parents and older siblings can get in on this one, and it’s fun for everyone! I’ve been obsessively referring back to a blog post about a teacher who dressed up as a different book character every day. If you’re interested, check it out by clicking this link: PHraseD

5. Surprise your kids with a new book or two

As a kid (and even now, let’s be honest), nothing got me more excited about reading than getting a new book. My kids are the same way. You can take them to the store and let them choose their own, or you can surprise them with a new book that you picked out!

My kids and I are obsessed with Bookroo, a book subscription service for kids. They offer options for all ages and reading levels, including chapter books for middle grades. It’s so much fun and gives your kiddos something to look forward to even after reading month is over.

Best Books for Kids of All Ages to Celebrate National Reading Awareness Month

If you need some ideas, some of my favorite children’s books include:

For more ideas (specifically throwback books) that you and your child would love reading together, check out my post 10 Nostalgic Books to Read With Your Kids (or Alone).

Final Thoughts On Fun Ways to Celebrate National Reading Awareness Month

Reading month is so much fun for me, but I know that it doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Luckily, there are fun ways for everyone to celebrate National Reading Awareness Month, even those who don’t love to read.

With this month being all about reading awareness, it’s the perfect time to teach our kids the different ways they can make reading fun. What are you doing to celebrate reading month? Tell me about it in the comments!

Tags big kid, big kid activities, books, craft, Family Activities, little kid, Parenting, toddler activities

Big Kid Craft Free Activities Holiday How To Printables Toddler and Preschool Age Learning

Martin Luther King Jr Craft, Experiment and Quotes

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date January 12, 2020
26 Comments on Martin Luther King Jr Craft, Experiment and Quotes

MLK Day craft, Martin Luther King Jr Day Craft, MLD activity, Martin Luther King Jr Day activity, MLK day experiment, Martin Luther King Jr Day Craft

MLK Day is approaching and as I was planning a Martin Luther King Jr craft and activity, I decided to quiz my kids a little to see what they knew about him. My littles really had no idea and their answers were as follows:

5: I saw him at my school once.
Me: Like, a picture of him?
5: No, the real him.
Me: I don’t think that was him, kiddo, Martin Luther King Jr isn’t alive anymore.

4: Umm, I knew when I was a baby but I forgot now.

2: I see those M&M’s mom. Can I have an M&M, please?

With those kinds of answers, our 12 year old was on his own. He was the most knowledgeable, of course, and gave us the run down. In case your kids are still a little too young to already know, here is a run down you can summarize for them.

MLK Day craft, Martin Luther King Jr Day Craft, MLD activity, Martin Luther King Jr Day activity, MLK day experiment, Martin Luther King Jr Day Craft, Martin Luther King Jr Quote

Who is Martin Luther King Jr?

Reverend Martin Luther King Jr had a dream of equality and worked hard to make that happen in America. As a husband and father of four, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr wanted his children to live in a world where they wouldn’t be judged by the color of their skin.

To give his kids the life he dreamed for them, MLK lead the civil rights movement by leading peaceful protests, marches and bus boycotts. His most famous march was the March on Washington where he gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in front of 250,000 people.

He went on to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and, after he died, the Congressional Medal of Freedom. Since 1983, we celebrate MLK Day in honor of his birthday. While his birthday was the 15th of January, however, we observe MLK Day on the 3rd Monday in January.

Martin Luther King Jr Book

We started our MLK activities with a book called Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It focuses on the dream idea and kids in the book tell what their dreams are. I think it really helps kids understand that Martin Luther King’s Dream speech wasn’t about dreams when you’re sleeping because my littles struggled with that at first.

Martin Luther King Jr Day book by Robin Hill School — Click for the link

MLK Day Craft

Our craft, like the book, went with the dream idea.

Materials:

Blue cardstock or construction paper
White paper
Glue sticks
Markers
Glitter

Directions

1. Cut the blue paper in half

2. Cut out a cloud from the white paper.

3. Write the dream on the cloud

I wrote Josie and Liam’s for them. Syas insisted on doing his own and who am I to say no, so a translation is on the back. He dreamed that everyone would be nice. Liam was just not participating well and only wanted the M&M’s that we were going to use on the experiment.

4. Glue the cloud to the blue paper, leaving space at the top to write.

5. Write “I have a dream…” at the top of the blue paper, above the cloud.

6. Add glitter.

Martin Luther King Jr Experiment

I’ve seen so many of these experiments that use one brown egg and one white egg, but since my little guy has an egg allergy I needed a different option. We decided to use some Christmas M&M’s we had leftover. You could use any color M&Ms, and I honestly would have preferred using a regular pack with more colors.

In the first box of the printable, the kids laid out their different coored M&Ms and drew what they saw. Then, they took one bite of each M&M and put them in the second box where they drew what they saw on the inside.

Once they were done, we talked about how, like M&Ms, we all look different on the outside but the same on the inside. The kids loved this and really seemed to get it!

Heres the free Martin Luther King Jr printable that I created! Feel free to print it for personal use or to share.

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Final Thoughts On Martin Luther King Jr Day Craft and Activity

I feel like Martin Luther King Jr Day doesn’t get enough attention sometimes, so I want to ensure that my kids know and understand the sacrifices Martin Luther King Jr made and how much courage he had. MLK changed America for the better and left us with an amazing message to pass on to our kids.

What do you and your family do to observe Martin Luther King Jr Day? Tell me about it in the comments.

Tags big kid activities, craft, Family Activities, Holiday, learning, paper craft, Printables, quotes, toddler activities

Big Kid Big kid fun Family Activities Holiday How To Infant/Toddler Learning Sensory Play Toddler and Preschool Age Fun Toddler and Preschool Age Learning

DIY Easy Christmas Sensory Bottle

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date December 18, 2019

Christmas, Christmas sensory bottle, sensory activity, easy Christmas sensory activity, easy activity for Christmas, sensory play, discovery

Sensory bottle (also known as discovery bottles, calm down bottles, quiet time bottles, and many other names) are a must-have in our house. We make one for almost every holiday, and we pack them away with that holidays ornaments so that we’re sure to have them when the holiday rolls around the following year. Somehow, we have never made a Christmas sensory bottle, however.

I believe that we have at some point… but it must not have been worthy of saving or even taking pictures of. This year, though, our easy Christmas discovery bottle is perfect. So perfect, in fact, that I HAVE to share it with you!

Materials Needed for a Christmas Sensory Bottle

An empty, clear bottle
Lukewarm water
2 Containers of glitter glue, any color (I used silver and gold that I bought HERE)
Christmas glitter (I found mine in the dollar spot at Target or you can buy some HERE)
Hot glue and a hot glue gun, or just super glue

This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.

Directions to Make a Cute Christmas Sensory Bottle

Peel any paper from the bottle
Fill the bottle just over 1/2 way up with lukewarm water
Add the 2 bottles of glitter glue, put the lid on, and shake it up.
Open the bottle and add the glitter. Add as much of it as you want!
Fill the bottle the rest of the way up, leaving enough space for the water to still move.
Put hot glue around the ridges where the lid goes in order to keep it closed so your kiddos don’t accidentally open it.

Final Thoughts On Easy Christmas Sensory Bottle

Christmas activities don’t have to cost a ton of money, and if you’re doing Christmas on a budget or just want an easy Christmas activity for kids, a Christmas sensory bottle is the perfect way to go.

What are your favorite holiday activities to do with your kids? Tell me about them in the comments!

Tags big kid activities, Christmas, Family Activities, Holiday, learning, sensory play, toddler activities

Monthly Subscription Boxes For Kids

1. Green Kid Crafts

2. We Craft Box

3. Bookroo

4. Coding Subscription Box

5. Highlights Magazine Subscription Box

6. History Subscription Boxes

7. Monthly Subscription Box for Tweens or Teens

8. Baketivity Monthly Subscription Box for Kids

Monthly Subscription Boxes for Kids

How to Support Your Child’s Sports Hobbies

Accept The Type of Sport That Your Child Wants to Try

Understand That it’s a Commitment on Your Side Too

Prepare For Your Child to Get Hurt, Because Eventually They Will

Support Your Child’s Sports Hobbies

How to Get Your Kids Outside

1. Yard Games

2. Grow Your Own

3. Start Seeds Inside

4. Welcome Wildlife

5. Create a Sensory Space

Get Your Kids Outside

Best Educational Board Games to Play With Kids

Chess

Scrabble

Monopoly

Qwirkle

The World Game

Best Games for Kids

1. Race to the Treasure

2. 5 Second Rule Jr.

3. Pie Face Showdown

4. Guess Who?

5. Buggaloop

6. Uno

7. Rush Hour Jr.

8. Operation

9. Ravensburger Labyrinth

10. No Stress Chess

11. Skillmatics Educational Game: Brain Games

12. SpringFlower Sight Word Game

Final Thoughts on 12 of The Best Games for Kids

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Ways to Celebrate National Reading Month

1. Make it memorable and fun

2. Make each book a learning opportunity

3. Read in different ways during Reading Awareness Month

4. Dress up as favorite book characters

5. Surprise your kids with a new book or two

Best Books for Kids of All Ages to Celebrate National Reading Awareness Month

Final Thoughts On Fun Ways to Celebrate National Reading Awareness Month

Who is Martin Luther King Jr?

Martin Luther King Jr Book

MLK Day Craft

Materials:

Directions

Martin Luther King Jr Experiment

Final Thoughts On Martin Luther King Jr Day Craft and Activity

Materials Needed for a Christmas Sensory Bottle

Directions to Make a Cute Christmas Sensory Bottle

Final Thoughts On Easy Christmas Sensory Bottle

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