Blokus: A Family Game Blokus was our choice for family game night this past weekend. It's a game I wanted for a long time and finally "Santa" brought it for the kids last Christmas. It totally lived up to the hype and since it also earned a Mensa select award I feel super smart when...
Game of the Month: Blokus
Trick-or-Treat Halloween Coloring Page with Preschool Rhyme Activity
Are your kids getting excited for Halloween? Do they have their homemade costumes all picked out? This month's free Halloween coloring page from children's illustrator and author Melanie Hope Greenberg is a darling trick or treat scene. Not only that, we created a cute preschool rhyme and stick puppets to extend the imaginative fun. Be...
7 Simple Tips for an Enjoyable Family Game Night
Having a peaceful and fun Family Game Night can feel a bit unattainable, or Norman Rockwell, to the modern parent. The following questions may pop into your head: How do you ensure the kids don’t fight about who goes first? How do we avoid crying over a loss? How do you maintain your sanity if...
Fall Window Art: Cellophane "Stained Glass"
I love when I can repeat a fun indoor activity with the boys, especially a craft project since it's been hard to get them interested in arts and crafts lately. When I first shared our cellophane faux stained glass window art project I mentioned that you could easily adapt the idea to a particular holiday...
Classic Easy Reader Books Like Dr. Seuss
Parents of kids learning how to read, or looking for more books like Dr. Seuss, will enjoy listening to their children read these classic early reader books. The wide variety of subjects in this list of easy readers means that all kids will find a book they enjoy. The titles include tales about animals, silly...
Game of the Month: Pengoloo
Finding the right game for preschoolers can be tricky. Pengoloo from Blue Orange Games is a memory-skills game that both my 4 and 8 year old enjoy playing. There are not a lot of games in our closet that they can both play equally well and Pengoloo is one of them; they like it so...
Practical Handwriting Practice: Kid-Made Cards
Handwriting practice is boring when it is always in the form of worksheets and repetitive exercises. Plus, handwriting in the real world has nothing to do with worksheets! There are many ways to practice writing in practical situations, and one of my favorites is to get kids writing letters and cards to friends and family...
Subway Train Maze and Coloring Page
This month's printable coloring page from Melanie Hope Greenberg is perfect for kids who love trains. As you know, that includes my kids, and probably yours as well. Color the subway train and help find its way through the maze to the A, 7 and N train stations. Download and Print: Subway Train Maze and...
Have a Yes Day with Your Child
Parents with more than one kid know how important it is to have one on one time with each child individually. Life so often gets in the way and we (or at least I do) sometimes forget to stop and take time out to get to know our children as individuals, not just as a...
Game of the Month: Tenzi
I've had my eye on the Tenzi dice game for a while now, and I finally broke down and bought it. I have a weakness when it comes to games, dontcha know. Tenzi markets itself as "The World's Fastest Game" and game play is quite rapid, making it a fun choice when attention spans are...
School and Pizza Parlor Template Coloring Page (Free Printable for Kids)
Do your kids like to set up elaborate scenes with their blocks and toy cars? This month's free, printable coloring page from Melanie Hope Greenberg doubles as items to include in a neighborhood playscape. Cut out this cute school and pizza parlor, color and add to your child's pretend play. My son loved making up...
12 Signs You're Raising a Reader
If you've been reading this blog for even 5 minutes then it's pretty obvious we are a family of book lovers. The other day I found myself laughing at an incident, which might cause most parents distress (a public temper tantrum), but for me was a clear indication that I was doing at least one...
Game of the Month: Bocce
This is an unusual Game of the Month post for me because not only am I sharing an outdoor game (a first), I am featuring a game we do not actually own: BOCCE. On our recent beach trip our hosts had a marvelous Bocce Ball set and the boys absolutely loved playing it. If we...
Ocean Coloring Page with Fish Puppets
This month's free printable coloring page is an ocean coloring page, part of our summer coloring page series and printable puppets collection. It comes with little fish you can turn into puppets! Melanie Hope Greenberg's sea life scene includes ocean animals like cute little crabs and turtles, and even a treasure chest. The best part? The...
Can't Knit Space Shoes? Make a "Summer of Fun" Tee-Shirt Instead
Here's a fun, easy summer activity: decorate tee shirts with fabric pens. We are calling these our "Official Summer of Fun T-Shirts." (I know, it's cheesy, but I'm putting on my brave get-through-the-summer face.) Making tees wasn't some grand idea I thought up and planned. It all came about because my son (age 4) recently...
Shell Activities for Kids
Do your kids like to look for shells at the beach? I've always found something so satisfying about looking for shells, finding them in the sand, turning them over and over, comparing them to the others I've already placed in the bucket. Prepare and Examine Even though kids don't necessarily need any shell extension activities...
Summer Literacy: 8 Easy Ideas to Build Phonemic Awareness
Have I ever mentioned that I can be a bit lazy when it comes to organizing elaborate and crafty learning activities? I think I have. Have I ever mentioned that I'm too cheap to buy "educational" electronics or apps? I think I have. (Also, I think they are annoying.) I present to you: "The Lazy...
Exploding Toy Car Wash
It's always been a bit surprising to me that our bubble bath toy car wash is by far — by far — the most popular indoor kid activity on this blog. It's so simple, right? Yet, oh-so-effective at keeping my boys occupied and out of my hair for a spell. Today I'm sharing a twist...
Paris Books for Kids {Chapter Books}
Last week I shared a list of Paris picture books. This week you can introduce your kids to the joys of France's famed city with a few très jolie chapter books set in Paris. Although the titles are fiction, they still offer opportunities to learn about Paris. These selections are for a variety reading levels, from...
Paris Books for Kids {Picture Books}
Reading a few books set in Paris will get you yearning for an overseas adventure. If your children are too young to appreciate a trip to the City of Lights, I recommend curling up with a few picture books featuring croissants, baguettes, macarons and crêpes (hmm, I may be a little hungry) and taking a little...
Game of the Month: Rat-a-Tat Cat
Rat-a-Tat Cat is a card game for kids from Gamewright that requires players to use simple strategy, mathematical and memory skills. It has won tons of awards, including the Mensa Select award. I love it when our favorite games are recognized by Mensa because that makes me feel super-smart. I mean, winning obviously proves I'm...
Cards to Color for Mom and Dad
This month children's book illustrator Melanie Hope Greenberg is offering up two darling printable coloring pages that serve as great little cards for mom or dad. This cute printable is cute for if you want a quick Mother's Day or Father's Day card to color at the restaurant while waiting for your traditional brunch. Alternatively,...
Postage Stamp Craft: Handmade Bookmarks
I combined my love of bookmarks and my affection for foreign postage stamps and the kids and I made these awesome (if I do say so myself) handmade postage stamp bookmarks! These would also make a lovely Mother's Day present or a gift for teachers. Sadly, the triumph of email over snail mail means fewer...
Life With No TV: Why We Gave Up Television
Several years ago I wrote an essay for a now-defunct online parenting magazine describing why we decided on a TV-free life and how life without television was a boon for our family and my personal sanity. Screen-Free Week starts in a few days, so I'm republishing my essay today. The word "television" now seems so...
Theater-themed Cards to Color that Double as Frames!
Everyone loves getting a handmade card and this month Melanie Hope Greenberg's printable coloring page is actually two theater-themed cards to color. This coloring page are great to give to a recipient who is performing in a play or just loves the movies. As a bonus, the cards will also double as frames. We'll give...
How to Help Backyard Birds Build Their Nests
My older son is quite the birding enthusiast and this backyard bird nesting ball was a great craft for him and a good addition to our homemade bird feeders. Birds start to build nests in spring and our urban feathered friends appreciate a little help finding good nesting material. My bird loving son was so...
Teaching Alphabet Sounds with a Puzzle
When children show interest in learning alphabet sounds, it is a sign that they are developing reading readiness. It's also a great time for parents to look for ways to encourage literacy development with alphabet activities likes teaching alphabet sounds with a puzzle. While my 4-year-old and I were putting together his alphabet puzzle I...
Game of the Month: ChickyBoom
This month our favorite game is perfect for preschoolers but my 8 year old loves playing it, too. Chickyboom is a balancing game with a simple, but brilliant concept. During game play, kids will intuitively develop their understanding of how balance works, exercise their fine motor skills and practice counting. It also teaches cause and...
Easter Chicks and Jelly Beans Coloring Page
This month's free, printable Easter coloring page from children's book illustrator, Melanie Hope Greenberg is so cheerful. It features Easter chicks floating in Easter eggs with their umbrellas open to protect them from the Easter candy raining down. Personally, I'd love to be caught in a jelly bean rain storm. But this coloring page is...
Fun and Nonsense with Dr. Seuss Activities for Kids
If you are looking for some Dr. Seuss Activities to celebrate Read Across America Day, you've come to the right place. Even though Dr. Seuss has never been one of my personal favorites, (sorry!) it's impossible not to appreciate an author who has inspired so many children to read! Take a look at these fun Dr....
Math Art Activity: Tessellations
If you're looking for a math art activity I highly recommend teaching your kids about Tessellations! Tessellations are repetitive patterns of shapes that fit perfectly together across a 2-dimensional plane of space (think of how floor tiles fit together, or the graphic artist M.C. Escher). Creating tessellations is the perfect project for someone like my 8...
Game of the Month: Scrambled States
This post contains affiliate links. Scrambled States of America Game Inspired by the popular picture book of the same name, Scrambled States of America is one of Kiddo's favorites. He's requested to play it more times than I can count! This is no dry and dreary educational game. It exercises kids' visual recognition and quick...
Free Valentines Coloring Page: Fish in Love
Have you been enjoying Melanie Hope Greenberg's free coloring pages? It's time to print out her latest Valentines coloring page featuring a heart-decorated whale and a couple of love-struck fish. Print out the pdf (By clicking on the following link you agree to our terms of service* see end of post) -->: Download pdf and...
Homemade Preschool Valentines in Under 30 Minutes!
If you are like me, you need last-minute, easy preschool valentines ideas for when your kid needs to take to school for his 18 friends and 4 teachers. We came up with this lighting-fast valentine card craft that any preschooler can make! How to Make Easy Valentines We made these simple, easy valentines in less than...
Kids' Stained Glass Window Art Project
The kids and I really love creating window art, especially on dreary days when we are stuck inside. This kids stained glass art project is my favorite one yet! Easy Stained Glass Art with Cellophane I have been wanting to make this colorful faux kids' stained glass window art project using cellophane shapes for a...
Game of the Month: Skippity
You may recognize Skippity as the game I used for my Games Gift Guide photo. It's made by one of my favorite game companies, Mindware. It is a variation of checkers, but much more fun. In fact, checkers is one of the few games I don't like, but I love Skippity. Skippity Game for Kids Players...
Multicultural Children Coloring Page
This month's multicultural children coloring page from children's book illustrator Melanie Hope Greenberg is absolutely delightful! I think it's the perfect coloring page for January when our country is celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., who worked tirelessly so that all children would have reason to smile just like the kids Melanie has...
How to Choose Early Chapter Books {Parent Tips}
Yesterday I started my new book list series, Early Chapter Books. This is an ongoing series to help parents fill the bookshelves of kids who have moved beyond easy readers but are not yet ready for middle grade chapter books. In many libraries, these books are labeled as "bridge" books, but there are also some...
How to Plant Paperwhites Indoors with Kids
Every year the kids and I plant paperwhite bulbs indoors. When the blooms open they fill the apartment with a heady fragrance. Many paperwhite enthusiasts time their plantings to bloom at Christmas, but I also like to plant them later. Their blooms are the perfect pick-me-up for droopy, gloomy January days. How to Plant Paperwhites...
5 Holiday DOs That I DON'T
Everyone has favorite holiday traditions. What are yours? Do you have a certain menu you must prepare? A tree lighting ceremony you always attend? A favorite Christmas book you always read? Is there something you must do or it just “wouldn’t be [insert holiday of choice here]"? We all have the list. It wouldn’t be...
