What are some good indoor activities for 5-10 year olds when they are stuck inside, you ask? Unlike toddlers and preschoolers, 5-10 year olds will be able to keep themselves busy with their own interests, but let’s not pretend we don’t hear the old, “I’m bored,” excuse almost everyday. Side-note: Incidentally, if you have kids…
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Clock Solitaire Card Game: Keeps Kids Busy!
Single player games are one of the best way to keep kids busy and their brains engaged! After your kids are exhausted playing traditional card solitaire, teach them how to play Clock Solitaire, sometimes known as Clock Patience. Clock Solitaire is a simple one person card game in which the cards are arranged in the…
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Middle Grade Books with Muslim Characters
If we want the world to be a more compassionate place we need to foster inclusive communities. Middle grade readers love to learn about the world and others and this list of middle grade books with muslim characters features books that offer kids ages 8-13 a variety of role models. Some kids reading these books…
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Christmas Carolers Coloring Page
Get in the seasonal spirit with this adorable coloring page featuring a kind soul passing cookies through a window to a pair of delightful carolers. I love the indoor-outdoor theme of Melanie Hope Greenberg’s latest Christmas coloring page! Both sides of the window represent all that is cozy about the season. On one side of…
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Chicago Dice Game: Perfect for Large Gatherings
The perfect dice game for large gatherings has a few qualities: it’s fast-paced, super simple to learn and relies on chance instead of skill so everyone has an equal shot at winning. With those requirements, Chicago, sometimes known as Rotation, is the perfect easy dice game for your large group get together. But just so…
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Comic Strip Books: Cartoons Your Kids Will Love
Kids love comic strip books! Why? For the same reason grown-ups love them. Because they provide immediate satisfaction: comic strips are short, easy to read and funny. A collection of great strips bundled all together is reading material perfection and comic strip books are great to put in the hands of any child, whether they…
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Swedish Christmas and Holiday Picture Books
Growing up the grandchild of Swedish immigrants, Swedish illustrated picture books, and especially Swedish Christmas books, were a steady part of my reading diet. They remain some of my all time holiday books. (Note: Book covers and titles are affiliate links.) This list contains books for kids about Christmas, St. Lucia Day, which is a…
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Game of the Month: Farkle Flip
Ready to press your luck in a fun family card game? Our game of the month is going to make you do just that. Farkle Flip is a “The Card-Flipping, Risk-Taking Card Game” from PlayMonster. (Note: this post contains affiliate links that may earn commission.) Farkle Flip is the perfect size to stuff in a…
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Books Like Smile: Read These Next if You Love Raina Telgemeier
Raina Telgemeier is one of the most popular graphic novel author-illustrators. Readers love her books and the librarians tell me they get requests for books like Smile all the time! Whether you want more graphic novels like Smile, Guts, and Drama or want to inspire your kids to read non-graphic middle grade novels, this book…
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DIY Christmas Tree: A Creative Holiday Solution
Imagine a way to break out of your holiday funk and make family memories at the same time. Now, imagine that the solution will produce something to make you smile every day for the rest of the Christmas season. That’s right! You are about to learn how to make a Christmas tree! For real! It’s…
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