The boys allocate some of their allowance money towards a "give jar" but in addition, we teach them about giving with regular contributions towards a tzedakah box. Teaching Tzedakah to Kids As the resident shiksa in the What Do We Do All Day? household, I am constantly learning about my husband's Jewish faith. It is...
Teaching Kids About Giving: Tzedakah Boxes For Kids
Game of the Month: Rivers, Roads and Rails
One of the few games that my sons, ages 3 and 7, can play together is Rivers, Roads And Rails. Players work cooperatively or competitively, matching tiles to create a twisting, continuous network of rivers, roads and railroads. The kids get so into this game that sometimes the tiles end up branching out across the...
Free Interfaith Ornament Coloring Page
I am so pleased at the holiday coloring page kid lit author/illustrator Melanie Hope Greenberg has shared with us today! It's an interfaith ornament with symbols from Christmas and Hanukkah, plus a peace dove for good measure. Even if you only celebrate one holiday this season, no one can argue with peace, right? Instructions My son and I had...
Game of the Month: Rummikub
November's game of the month is Rummikub, which I'm happy to say is very affordable. Kiddo traded in his Halloween candy for this game and he agreed that he definitely made a wise decision. Candy for Rummikub? No contest! (Note: affiliate links included below) As in the classic Rummy card game, the object of Rummikub is...
If Your Kids Eat Too Much Halloween Candy Do This One Thing
If you are like me, the thought of your kids bringing a bag full of artificially colored and flavored sugar bombs into your house on Halloween makes you cringe! Never fear. You don't have to let them eat all that sickly, cavity-causing, hyperactivity-inducing glop. And you don't have to get guilted into it just because...
Free, Printable Halloween Skeleton Mask Coloring Page
Who knew a coloring page could be an integral part of your child's homemade Halloween costume? Our free, printable Halloween skeleton mask is our inaugural monthly coloring page from children's author-illustrator Melanie Hope Greenberg. Each month Melanie will be contributing a unique, free coloring page for readers of What Do We Do All Day. Kids...
Make a Cardboard Puppet Theater in 5 Easy Steps
You will love collaborating with your kids to make a cardboard box puppet theater for at-home play time. This DIY theater only takes 5 steps and uses materials you already have at home. Puppet play is an excellent creative outlet for kids. It helps them develop literacy skills through storytelling, it boosts motor skills through...
Game of the Month: Animal Bingo
If you are looking for a game that your differently aged children can play together, Bingo may be the right choice. We love our Animal Bingo game because it is designed by children's book illustrator Kevin Hawkes. Once the kids have stopped arguing over who gets what game board, this is a game they actually...
10 Parenting Books You Will Actually Use
When I became a new parent I thought that all the answers were to be found in parenting books. After all, I'd just spent more than 20 years of my life in school, earning an advanced degree so it seemed obvious that I should turn to books for knowledge. But now, after a full day...
Game of the Month: Colorku
My seven year old loves his giant sized color version of Sudoku called Colorku. It is a little pricey; he received it as a gift and it gets a lot of use. I love that he can play the game independently, so it keeps him busy while I'm doing other things. Note: this post contains...
Boredom Buster: Toddler Sensory Paper
If you're lucky your toddler will spend a bit of time exploring with these sensory materials. Have a cup of coffee and put your feet up. (Ha!) Toddlers love to explore different materials. I set up this simple station at the table for New Kid. I chose a number of differently textured materials such as...
Six Thinking Games for Kids
Thinking games for kids are some of the easiest indoor activities you can find. They also work when you are on the go! Ever been waiting in the doctor's office, with whiny kids and you need something other than "20 Questions" and "I Spy With My Little Eye..."? I thought so. Next time you are...
Drawing Seashells with Watercolor Pencils
During beach season your kids probably love to collect seashells! Here is a fun way to use seashells as inspiration for kid-made art. Plus, drawing seashells with watercolor pencils is a great art project for a summer art journal. Don't forget to save some of the smallest shells to use when you make this calming...
Game of the Month: Skip-bo
My son has declared Skip-bo to be one of his favorite games, demonstrating the timeless power of this classic card game. Skip-bo uses strategic thinking but in order to win you need to keep your powers of observation well tuned, which makes it a good game to help develop growth mindset skills. Best of all:...
Five Fun Farmers’ Market Learning Activities For Kids
Outdoor Farmers' Markets are wonderful places for learning with the kids. I have fond memories of going to the Farmers’ Market as a kid. Every week during the growing season my mom would take my brother and me to the market to fill our bags with fresh, delicious produce. These days I am dragging my...
5 Ways to Play With Ice this Summer
It’s summer. It’s hot. In fact, today the weather icon on my computer is a thermometer ON FIRE. It’s tempting to stay inside with the air conditioner on full blast. But parents know it’s not fun to stay cooped up inside with active children. Instead, stay cool outside by playing with ice.* *Remember small ice...
Ten Ways Kids Can Help in the Kitchen
Let's face facts: it is usually faster and easier for parents to get dinner on the table going solo than having their kids "help" them. Nonetheless, it's so important for kids to learn practical life skills and how to be capable and independent cooks. I do my best to leave extra time for meal preparation...
Game of the Month: Qwirkle
Qwirkle is a strategy came and we love playing it! Long time readers of this blog know our family adores playing games. I thought it was high time I began featuring our favorites on a regular basis. Hence, Game of the Month was born! My first selection is a strategy and logic game with a...
Games for the Airplane to Keep Kids Busy on Long Trips
Keeping kids busy on the airplane is no easy task, especially if you eschew a lot of screen time. We try not to rely on electronics to entertain our kids during long airplane trips, so it is essential that I stock up on some good games to play on the airplane (and a few new books)...
Cellophane Craft for Kids: Colored Glasses
Need a quick distraction or craft for your toddler or preschooler? These diy colored "glasses" are nothing fancy, but lots of fun. They will give your kid a new, colorful perspective on the world! For more quick ideas visit my Indoor Activities for Kids list. Note: this post contains affiliate links that may earn commission....
Bubble Bath Toy Car Wash
{Welcome! If you are visiting for the first time and don’t want to miss our all of our upcoming easy indoor activities for kids and reading suggestions, sign up to have emails delivered to your inbox.} Toy Car Wash This is the easiest idea, and it keeps my son busy every time I set it...
Math Game that Teaches Counting by 5s and 10s
In my post covering Tools for DIY Math Games I promised you another fun and easy math game you can do at home. Plus, my older son adores this math card game that practices counting by fives and tens, and wants to play it all the time. We call this math card game "fiverton," but...
Fibonacci Books for Kids
My child's sense of wonder regarding numbers has been very educational for me. Lately he has been enjoying Fibonacci books for kids. I'm not sure I'd ever heard of the Fibonacci sequence before he read about it, or, if I had, I'd forgotten about it. Since learning about the sequence, and its appearance in the...
Best Boredom Busting Restaurant Activities for Kids
Admit it. Before you had kids you shook your head at "those parents." You know, the ones who couldn't "control" their kids at restaurants? Ha ha ha ha ha. You know better now. And the free box of crayons and paper restaurant activity placemat just aren't cutting it anymore, right? But you don't want to drag...
Fun Toothpicks and Colander Fine Motor Activity for Kids
Sometimes the best preschool and toddler activities are the ones you overlook. This simple fine motor activity using a colander and toothpicks provided my preschooler with some much needed entertainment. While he explored the materials, I got to sit back, observe and supervise his busy work, and enjoy a much-needed cup tea. Materials: Colander. Any...
After School: What It's Really Like
After a week of having either no internet or no computer (our 7 year old computer finally gave up the ghost and now I compose this on my new laptop, which is sadly only 13 inches. instead of a luxurious 17. Boo.) I've decided that instead of chatting about some wonderful activity we did, I...
Fun Math Card Game: Make 10
Make Ten is an easy to play and fun math card game which teaches kids ways to make 10 with basic addition and subtraction skills. For this no-prep math game all you need is a standard deck of cards, which I bet you already have! Card games are a great, low stress way to practice...
DIY Magnetic Building Set for Engineering Play
Magnetic building block sets are so much fun but they can be really expensive! Don't fret because we have a very simple diy version of a magnetic building set using items destined for the recycling bin. The building set gives your kids lots of opportunity to develop their budding engineering skills to construct buildings or...
What's in the Art Cabinet? Kids' Art Supplies
In response to a previous post, a reader inquired what kids' art supplies we keep on hand. We can't keep a huge variety of fancy art materials at home since everything must fit in one small cupboard (closet space is at a premium in this city!) and one bin in the basement. There is nothing...
DIY Interlocking Disc Building Set
Parents know there is a lot of pressure to supply our children with expensive toys and amazing construction sets. Toy marketers are constantly telling us that their innovative toys boost brains! Inspire creativity! Ensure your children will have success beyond your wildest dreams! In truth, no toy has such magical powers. And we certainly don't...
How to Tame the Post-Nap Crankies
Do your toddlers wake up from their naps with what I call "the crankies"? Mine do and I've tried to develop some strategies to combat it, because my sanity suffers when my kids are whiny. Whether he has had a short or a long nap, New Kid almost always wakes from his nap with a...
EXTREMities: Fun Dot to Dot Workbooks
If you are like me, you can NEVER have too many ideas for boredom busters with the kids. NEVER. But not all boredom busters are created equal, which is why I only share ideas with you that A) Work; and B) Have staying power. I mean, what good is a boredom buster if it doesn't...
This Box Inspires Kids to Practice Writing
Sometimes it's difficult to inspire reluctant writers to pick up a pen and paper. Raising kids who find joy in writing, even if they don't become the next Shakespeare or Emily Dickinson, is important to me. Literacy is not just reading, it's writing, too. Too often, writing seems like a chore, associated with worksheets and boring...
Boggle for Toddlers and Preschoolers
I love to repurpose games as quick distractions for my toddler. If you have the game of Boggle in your closet, by all means bring it out. It is one of my son's favorite manipulatives. You might not think that a game meant for older children and adults can be just as fun for toddlers...
The Writing on the Wall: Getting Kids to Love Words
Do your kids love words? I've been working on ways to encourage my kids to explore vocabulary outside of reading books. Yes, we do read books, but literacy extends beyond that. Let's not forget about making sure our kids enjoy writing, too. I love finding new ways to encourage them to create on their own....
Why I Let My Kids Make Big Giant Messes
Are you a parent who prevents their kids from ever making a mess? Is it because you fear the clean up or do you want to make sure your kids "behave?" One of my favorite tips to new parents is: let your kids make a mess. The photo below gives a fairly accurate portray of...
Screen-Free Fun for Kids: Design Your Own Stickers
A very easy way to keep your kids entertained without the help of screens is to show them how to design their own stickers! This simple art project has two parts. First, kids will make the stickers. Then, they will use them. Double the fun! I came upon this idea spontaneously when I discovered a...
Why I Let My Child Read Books About Burping and Underwear
How much do you censor your child's reading? For the most part, I allow my son to choose and read whatever books he wants. I would like to introduce you to three of my 6 year old's favorite book series: (Note: This post contains affiliate links that may earn commission.) Stink --the main character is given...
Distracting your Toddler 101
As you know, it is very important to me to find EASY ways to keep my toddler busy and entertained! The other day he was whining, whining, whining so I handed him a few objects from the recycle bin and a bag of pom poms. Besides water play (which always entertains my kids), pom poms...
Awesome Intrepid Princess Book: Marigold and the Dragon
My absolute favorite book when I was a child was Fred Crump Jr.'s Marigold and the Dragon. It is such a shame that it is out of print. It was originally written in 1964 but there was a later edition in the 80s that updated the illustrations making the Princess Marigold African-American (I think because...
