For a while I wanted to turn the illustrations I created for my alphabet animal puppets into a fun alphabet card game – that can be used for Memory Matching, Go Fish, or Old Maid! And it’s finally here! This post contains affiliate links.

Animals are such a fantastic way to teach kids a little more about the sounds that letters make and these animal alphabet drawings are fun, quirky, and include only real animals. Each one actually begins with that letter! I’ve turned it into a fun alphabet card game for you.

Table of contents:

• About the animal alphabet card game + how to play Old Maid, Go Fish, and Memory Match
• Get the alphabet animal card game
• What you get
• Here are previews of the individual files
• Get it here
• What you need to print and assemble your alphabet card game
• For hand assembly
• For Cricut Assembly
• For all
• How to assemble your alphabet card game
• Cricut Print then Cut
• Assembling by hand
• Assembling the box
• Haven’t grabbed it yet? Download your alphabet card game right here!

Here’s the full list of alphabet animals:

• A is for Alligator
• B is for Bear
• C is for Cat
• D is for Dog
• E is for Elephant
• F is for Fox
• G is for Goat
• H is for Horse
• I is for Iguana
• J is for Jellyfish
• K is for Koala
• L is for Lion
• M is for Monkey
• N is for Narwhal
• O is for Octopus
• P is for Peacock
• Q is for Quokka
• R is for Rhinocerous
• S is for Snail

• T is for Tiger
• U is for Umbrellabird
• V is for Vulture
• W is for Whale
• X is for X-ray Fish (X-ray Tetra)
• Y is for Yak
• Z is for Zebra

About the animal alphabet card game + how to play Old Maid, Go Fish, and Memory Match

This is a printable game for you to print as many times as you want (for personal or classroom use) and have fun playing!

It’s designed as an “Old Maid” game – with the “old maid” being the monster.

However, there is a lot you can do with a simple deck of cards!

If you remove the monster card, you can also play Go Fish or Memory Match!

• Old Maid Card Rules – in a nutshell, you need to match up the cards in your hand, and get rid of them all. Each kid takes turns picking cards from their opponent’s hand blindly. The Old Maid has no match so that’s the one you hope your opponent chooses from you.
• Go Fish game play – here, each kid will request a specific card from an opponent. They must have one of those cards, so other players can remember which they requested if they have the same. Read full game play rules here.
• Memory Match – This game is the simplest, for the youngest players. Simply flip them all over (besides the monster, of course) and flip them back up two at a time to match them up!

I designed these as a printable with rounded end cards (but if you’re short on time, just cut your cards as rectangles). You can also assemble the included box template if you want, or leave it out!

Print these and cut by hand, or use the Cricut-friendly files I included to Print then Cut for a beautiful, professional touch!

When you’re done, laminate them if you want.

Get the alphabet animal card game

The printable game is available as a PDF and PNG on Etsy or in my shop here. EU customers are requested to purchase form Etsy for VAT purposes.

What you get

It includes:

• PDF printable files:
  • Cards
  • Box
  • Game play instructions
• Cricut Print then Cut files:
  • Individual PNG cards
  • PNG cards laid out to fit max Print then Cut size
  • PDF of game play instructions to print separately
  • PNG box file with all markings. You’ll need to add score lines over the dotted lines in Design Space (instructions below)

Here are previews of the individual files

The PDF printables:

The PNG files:

Get it here

Or grab it in my Etsy shop

Get the full-color bundle (game + puppets) here!

Get the FULL bundle with all four alphabet animal crafts and activities here!

Or choose your alphabet animal craft and bundles from the gallery below:

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What you need to print and assemble your alphabet card game

For hand assembly

• Paper cutter
• Scoring tool (if assembling box)
• Ruler
• Scissors

For Cricut Assembly

• Cricut Explore Air 2 or Maker (for Print then Cut feature)
• LightGrip Mat (included)
• Fine Point Blade (included)
• Scoring wheel (Maker only) or Scoring Stylus (either machine)
• Basic Tool set – recommended – for the spatula tool

For all

• Color printer
• Card stock (use this to print your cards) – the heavier the better!
• Tacky glue, strong glue stick, or glue lines

How to assemble your alphabet card game

Cricut Print then Cut

Note: Images are from other projects but the instructions are the same.

1. Extract your files to an unzipped folder. On most newer PCs you can do this simply by opening your ZIP folder moving them to a new folder. Or right click on the folder and “extract”.

2. Open Cricut Design Space. Open a new project. Click “upload” and choose the first image from your computer. Choose “complex” as your image type then click “continue”. Don’t worry about erasing any part of the image (the background is already removed on these). Choose “save as a print then cut image” and save. 

3. Repeat this process for all the included images, select them all, and “insert images”.

4. Resize each image to a maximum of 6.75 inches wide or 9.25 inches high. The layout on each image was designed having in mind an ideal size for your playing cards and to make the project layout easier for you. If you want a different size (either smaller for more efficient assembly or larger for easier use with little hands) use the individual cards that I included as well.

5. Resize your card box as well. Make sure that all your cards are pretty much the same size, and that they fit in your box. To add score lines, click on shapes and choose score line. Lay them over your card box on the dotted lines. Make sure they don’t overlap outside your box or your design will register as too big for Print then Cut. Select the score lines and the box and click “attach.

6. Once your have your cards laid out, click Make it. Go through the print then cut process on card stock, following the machine prompts as you go along.

You’ll notice that your printer adds a black box around your cards. That’s “registration marks” that your Cricut scans to see where to cut.

Tip: use a spatula from the Cricut Basic Tool Set as well as the weeding tool to help you remove unwanted parts. Try pulling the mat away from the cards so that they don’t curl up (but if they do, it’s easy to flatten them.)

Assembling by hand

1. Cut out your cards by hand, preferably using a straight edge cutter. Cut around the rounded corners if you want. Cut out your box as well.

2. Score on the dotted lines of the box.

Assembling the box

1. Fold on the score lines.

2. Glue the tab to the opposite side.

3. Allow it to dry and insert your cards.

Haven’t grabbed it yet? Download your alphabet card game right here!

Or grab it in my Etsy shop

Get the full-color bundle (game + puppets) here!

Get the FULL bundle with all four alphabet animal crafts and activities here!

Or choose your alphabet animal craft and bundles from the gallery below:

[show_boutique_widget id=”975980″]

The post Alphabet Card Game – Printable Alphabet Animals appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

First of all, you can print out this whole list to have handy in a very compact, plain, purely functional format – intended to be user-friendly, skimmable, and customizable.

Just enter your email address in the form below and it’ll be delivered right to your inbox. Don’t want to sign up for updates? Just scroll through this post – I spelled it all out for you here!

Second, this is NOT a finished list – I will be updating it, adding more links, etc. in the following days. I just got way too tired and wanted it to be available already as a resource for parent who are already stuck at home with kids (friendly wave.)

How to use the free printable list of things to do at home:

Highlight those that are the best fit for your family and add your own ideas!

If you are alone, go for the more involved hobbies on this list. They can occupy hours. Switch on the music, and try to relax.

There are so many ideas here that can be done with the enormous amount of online resources available on Youtube, blogs, etc.

I’ll try to add in as many links to resources as I can. Most of these are being brain-dumped off the top of my head, so forgive me as I resource better for actual practical applications. But meanwhile, you’ll find this list extremely helpful.

Of course, screen time is always an option, but you don’t need my help with that – so this list is made up primarily of screen-free ideas for fun things to do at home with kids.

In this list, I do my best to make use of what you already have at home, budget-friendly ideas that cost within a few dollars, and things that are very easy to get online.

I also try to avoid using up things you might want to keep stocked so you don’t need to leave home unnecessarily, in case resources get scarce. For example, I wouldn’t recommend making salt dough because you may need your flour.

Creative fun things to do at home with kids:

Arts & Crafts ideas:

Focusing on things you already have is the way to go when stuck at home! A trip to the craft store probably isn’t on the agenda, and you might be budgeting right now – even if you don’t normally. These ideas were chosen for moments like these.

• Repurpose toilet paper tubes (before they go into the bathroom)
• Make clothespin puppets
• Take on adult coloring (great for big kids too!)
• Think of new uses and crafts for the following household items (links below are to idea lists for that item):
  • Clothespins
  • Nail polish
  • Balloons
  • Safety pins
  • Fabric scraps
  • Toothpicks
  • Old keys
  • Tupperware lids
  • Old toys
  • Bottle caps
  • Old crayons
  • Dry marker barrels
  • Drinking straws
  • Mismatched cutlery
  • Tissue boxes
  • Torn/unrepairable books
  • Junk mail
  • Paper clips
  • Old CDs
  • The business card magnets on your fridge
• Do a paint by number
• Make something with scrap wood
• Dig into your recycling bin and get creative
• Try a paper cut – it’ll help lots of hours pass!
• Color with chalk on dark paper (M’s long-time favorite as a toddler)
• Try ice painting

https://www.instagram.com/p/BeREljmAqEc/

• Try illustrating your own coloring pages!
• Illustrate a new (themed) set of playing cards – a great collaborative project! Think simple games like old maid or memory match.
• Create your own board game
• Build a pretend city out of boxes and other recyclables
• Create your own line of greeting cards
• Draw some mazes
• Design a new line of jewelry
• Then make it!
• Paint a plain t-shirt
• Googly-eye various items around your house just for fun
• Paint rocks
• Try any craft you typically make – but take it to the next level this time!
• Make your own stickers
• Try embroidering paper (tags, cards)
• Make your favorite friendship bracelet stitch big enough to be a necklace!
• Make masks or costumes and wear them just for fun
• Make your own musical instruments
• Paint plain wooden beads for jewelry
• Use up all those rainbow loom supplies (or perler bead…)
• Craft a kaleidoscope
• Make duct tape wallets
• Create paper flower bouquets
• Zentangle

Learn a new skill:

These are the hardest if you can’t get new supplies because if it’s a skill you don’t have yet, you probably aren’t stocked up yet. But they’re still worth a shout-out – and I avoided those that skew more expensive (such as resin, oil painting, etc).

Where I have a tutorial, resource or series, I linked it. Otherwise, seek out tutorials on YouTube, or on Bluprint.

• Learn a new friendship bracelet pattern
• Learn how to watercolor
• Learn how to make jewelry
• Learn crochet
• Learn how to make seed bead jewelry designs
• Learn calligraphy or brush lettering
• Learn Woodburning
• Learn how to make wire wrap pendants
• Learn Paracord

Book-Based Activities:

Give your books a new purpose with these ideas.

• Read a book or…
• Play Spaghetti and Meatballs. When reading a book, replace all S words with spaghetti and all M words with Meatballs. Missed one? You’re out – it’s the next person’s turn.
• Make a book-based craft
• Make puppets based on your favorite book
• Then put on a show
• Even better, repurpose boxes to make a theater for it!
• Record an audiobook just for fun (great for early readers!)
• Make a play based on a favorite book
• Read in the dark with a flashlight. My friend Susie of Busy Toddler shared this idea with me years ago when I was desperate and it was a WIN! She has LOADS more ideas for you as well.

Try a little STEM – it’s fun:

M begs me almost every day to do science experiments. There are so many different ways STEM can be fun, and Pinterest is your best friend for this, but here are some ideas off the top of my head.

• Do science experiments – our favorite is this color reveal one. It’s was a hit with a group of six-sevel year olds when we did it.
• Try building a Rube Goldberg machine. Start very simple and see how far you can go with it.
• Create a stop motion animation by photographing items such as paper cutouts, action figures, etc, at different intervals of activity and joining the images into a fast slideshow
• Film a family movie
• Chain together paper clips – how long can you make it?
• Collect various items from around the house and see if you can build a tower with them.
• Go on a nature hunt in your backyard and then make something pretty with what you find.
• Buildtoothpick and grape structures (and then hydrate by eating them!)
• Or switch this up by using balls of clay and straws
• Race toys cars and then discuss the different reasons one might be faster…
• Stack cups! Switch it up by adding bowls, using different size cups, etc
• Have paper airplane races. Try switching things up on your airplanes to make them fly differently.
• Make rock candy

Sensory Play is way cool!

While typically sensory bin fillers such as dyed rice and pasta might be worth holding onto for now, you can still do sensory play.

• Do sensory bins! Some idea starters:
  • Cereal-based bins for babies and young toddlers. Do this only if you have enough cereal in stock!
  • Water beads (Orbeez)
  • A cutting bin with different materials for your child to build cutting skills
  • Sensory “soup” with funnels, measuring cups, medicine syringes…
  • Add a color-mixing angle

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsedM0JjuZ6/

• Make fidget bracelets
• Make infinity cubes
• Have a texture walk. Remove shoes, and lay out different textures (felt, a rug, a metal sheet) . Blindfold each participant and have them guess what the texture is.
• Make discovery bottles
• Make a quiet book/sensory book
• Do “guess the smell” challenges

Want loads and loads of kids’ activities and craft ideas? Get the ebook!

Productive things to do around the home with kids:

Revisit the Kitchen:

Cooking can be fun, and you can turn it into an activity to do with kids. Here are some thought starters for keeping busy in the kitchen.

• Bake a cheesecake
• Decorate cookies
• Try cooking a new ethnic dish
• Invent some new Mocktails (stay hydrated!)
• Try making new flavors of popcorn
• Make ice cream sundaes
• Invent a new flavor pasta sauce
• Try baking your own bread
• Make dips to add flavor to the bread

Get Active:

Especially if you’re mostly staying indoors, you might need to be creative with staying active!

• Throw a dance party with the family – just turn on the music and go crazy
• Or make up an actual dance routine
• Have a pillow fight
• Play outdoor games indoors if you have the space! Jump rope, ball bouncing games, hopscotch, etc.
• If you have a private backyard and nice weather, fresh air is good for you! (Unless medical professionals in your area have advised otherwise – listen to them first!)
• Watch exercise videos
• Have crab walking races

Get the home & life in order:

• Pick a closet to declutter with the kids
• Paint a piece of furniture
• Start planning the holiday season – I KNOW it’s early but you’ll take the load off then and your kids will love getting involved with this:
  • Craft some gifts
  • Or some decor
  • Make a menu
• Label the items in your pantry
• Organize your art supplies
• Alphabetize or organize your books by color
• Prep the garage for Spring/Summer

Make the most of being at home with the kids:

Reinvent toys and games you already have:

Learning new ways to play with old toys is a great way to beat boredom – and will carry you over even once you’re back out and about!

• Invent a new LEGO build
• Or try one of the builds in Sarah Dees’s amazing books
• Build a house of cards
• Try the domino effect
• Invent a new card game for classic playing cards
• Think of new rules for board games you already have
• Have siblings find things they are ready to pass on, and create “stores” for their siblings to shop at using fake money.
• Paint and stamp with toys.
• Challenge new readers to write words with scrabble or bananagrams tiles (M is doing this as we speak!!)
• Make a chalk town to play with cars and figures.

Be a family:

So you’re stuck at home together? What a great chance to make memories! Here are some ideas!

• Make up a secret family language
• OR make up a family secret code
• Set up an at-home nail or hair salon for members of your household
• Write a kids’ book as a family
• Or be brave and try for a short novel!
• Ask “get to know you” questions
• Ask “would you rather” questions
• Make up a family anthem
• Review emergency escape plans, etc in a fun way
• Make a family tree as far back as you can
• Create mascots for each family member
• Make a family talent show
• Look at family photos
• Even better: order prints if you can budget for them!
• Look at home movies and maybe turn them into a family movie.
• Send the family movie to elderly relatives who may be isolated and lonely

So many more cool ideas:

• Call or video chat with grandparents or other lonely people who are afraid to go out
• Improve your makeup skills
• Make up some corny jokes
• Put those jokes on cootie catchers
• Start a journal/diary of this weird time
• Write a poem
• Write a limerick
• Make a list of self-soothing statements if you’re feeling anxious.
• Even better: letter them or make signs to hang around your home
• Or just color these
• Write an actual physical letter to someone
• Create a summer bucket list
• Make a rubber band ball

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Got any fun activities to do with kids at home to add to the list? Share in the comments below!

Print this list and keep it handy:

The post A Zillion Fun Things to Do at Home With Kids appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

When traveling with kids and finding airplane activities, quantity is a must – not just quality. That’s why cheap (and free!) options like this one can really help.

I actually downloaded printable activities from other bloggers as well when we traveled long-haul with two kids, even though I make and design my own.

This free printable cootie catcher template is bright, colorful, and travel themed.

And it was a family effort!

I reached out to my super corny siblings and they came up with jokes so painful, they could be Dad jokes.

I digitally designed the outside with “cut paper” designs.

And in case you don’t want jokes, or want more than the eight I shared, you get a blank one too to add your own “fortunes”.

Print your Cootie Catcher Template by clicking here or on the image below! It’ll take you right to the download form. Enter your name and email address, choose which topics you’d like to receive updates on, and it’ll be delivered right to your inbox. Scroll past the image for assembly and play instructions!

You get: One 2-page PDF file with two printable cootie catcher templates in full color. One has jokes on it, one doesn’t. the one without jokes has marks on it so you can know where to write your jokes or fortune.

To print the one you want, simply choose the correct page number (1 or 2) in your print settings.

How to assemble this Cootie Catcher Template:

1. Print on card stock paper. Cut out around the outer edge. If you’re adding your own jokes or fortune, do this before you fold your cootie catcher template.

2. Prefold your cootie catcher template to make assembly easy. First, bring one corner to the opposite corner (airplane to passport) and crease. Unfold. then bring location to suitcase, crease, and unfold again. Repeat folding it in half horizontally and unfolding and then vertically and unfolding.

3. Fold each of your corners to the center point of your cootie catcher.

3. Flip it over. Fold each corner in again. At this point, you’re going to want a bone folder or something similar to help you make those creases sharp.

4. Finish it up by folding your cootie catcher in half lengthwise, opening, and again widthwise so that the numbers are inside the fold both times. Open up the pointed corners with the pictures so that it can stand on its own.

How to play with this free printable travel activity for kids:

 
1. Put your thumb and index finger from each hand into the four picture points.

2. With the cootie catcher closed, have the second player choose a photo. Open your cootie catcher one direction at a time, spelling out the letters of the word. You’re switching directions once for each letter. So for airplane you’ll be switching directions eight times.

Next, have your player choose any four of the numbers that show. Open/close your cootie catcher that amount of times.

3. Finally, have your player choose a number again from those that show. Open it up and read the joke!

And that’s how you play!

I hope you enjoyed your free printable travel cootie catcher template! Find more travel activities for kids here and check out my travel journal for kids for more travel fun!

Do you love playing fortune teller? Do you prefer jokes or fortunes? Comment below!

Want more cool travel activities for kids? Check out the most popular travel printables below:

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The post Travel Jokes Cootie Catcher – Free Printable! appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

If you’re looking for an amazing activities book for kids, I have great news for you! Learn with Play is now available directly through the 90+ authors who co-wrote it, and I’m happy to share more about it with you! This post contains affiliate links.

A few years ago, me and over ninety of the top kid and craft bloggers out there got together and published a book.

Learn With Play is a compilation  activities book for kids with over 150 activities from kid experts in all walks of life.

We have sold it on Amazon for a few years, however, we have recently decided to discontinue the print book – it’s still available as of now for a short time only.

However, the PDF ebook is currently available directly through me on my Craft with Anything website. And it’s only half the price of the print book!

>>>>>Get Learn with Play in ebook format here!<<<<<

What you’ll find inside the Learn with Play Activities Book for Kids:

The PDF download includes two files:

1. A full ebook with all the ideas
2. A separate download with printables that go with a few of the activities.

In the book you’ll find:

• Science Projects
• Process art activities
• Sensory play crafts and recipes – sensory bins, play dough, slime,
• Simple play ideas

• Early childhood learning activities – alphabet, numbers, matching, etc
• Music and movement ideas
• Busy bag ideas
• Fine and gross motor activities
• Pre-writing activities
• Supplementary guides on related topics
• Simple STEM challenges
• Life skills Montessori-inspired activities and guides
• Inexpensive kid crafts – kid-made gifts, learning crafts, crafts using recyclables

• Play area organization, tips, and DIYs
• Seasonal and holiday ideas

>>>>>Get Learn with Play in ebook format here!<<<<<

Who is the Learn with Play Activities Book for Kids best for?

• Homeschoolers who are looking for lots of ideas for throughout the year
• Educators, teachers, and therapists who are looking to add more activities to their repertoire.
• Stay-at-home parents of young children who need frequent boredom busters
• Anyone looking for inexpensive, easy learning crafts to do during the week
• Any parents looking for play solutions and ways to supplement school time
• Relatives of children who like to find spontaneous activities to do with their loved ones.

The idea age levels lean toward the toddler through early grades, although they include activities suitable for toddler through preteen.

>>>>>Get Learn with Play in ebook format here!<<<<<

What people have to say about the Learn With Play Activities Book for Kids:

Review from an OT:

Love love love this book! I’m an occupational therapist working in schools and follow the authors blog. This book is well laid out with simple to follow directions for each activity. Great place to go for ideas, and everything you need can mostly be found in kitchen or around home so no need to spend a lot of money on supplies. This book is excellent for gross and fine motor development and my kids have really been excited about every game or activity I have used so far.

— J. Fischer on Amazon.com

Review from an Amazon Customer:

Lots of great ideas for play, only negative is I thought there would be more options for babies (mainly for toddlers and older). I will definitely be using this book as a resource for play time. Worth the price.

>>>>>Get Learn with Play in ebook format here!<<<<<

Find my full list of paper toy templates here.

The post Activities Book for Kids – Learn With Play appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

If you are like most parents, you have some great kids who enjoy relaxing indoors, in front of a screen. While a little screen time generally will not do much harm, sometimes you may feel that your little ones are spending a little too much time in front of the television or tablet. If this sounds like you, you are in luck.

I’m here to help you figure out how to limit screen time, and how to divert your kids from the screen when enough is enough.

Incorporate Screen Characters into Pretend Play

While your child will likely huff and puff when you say screen time is up for the day, there are some great ways to help ease them into another activity. One way is to incorporate their favorite characters they were just watching into pretend play or art!

If their show was only half over when it was time to shut it off, have them draw a cartoon for what they think would have happened next. If they were playing a video game like Minecraft, turn it into real life.

Make a cardboard pickaxe for your child to decorate and have them head outside to “chop” down various trees. Cut out apple and carrot shapes for them to munch or (or provide them with the real food) to help keep their “hearts” full. You can even have them plant seeds into the ground for a pretend wheat or carrot crop.

My boys could play Minecraft for hours, if I let them. Which is why incorporating screen characters into pretend play has been such a great thing for my kids.

While screen time is probably going to be a norm for kids in this day and age, it makes sense to help them use their imagination a little.

Have Loads of Fun Activities to Transition to

Find out what your kiddos love to do. Do they love being outdoors? If so, once screen time is over, head on out for a fun picnic at the park. Play in the sprinklers, or even set up a mini car wash for hot wheels cars. Go on a nature scavenger hunt.

Even if they are not outdoorsy, there are plenty of fun indoor activities like board games, craft time, and even baking cookies. The options are endless, but the key is to find things that your children love doing, other than video games and cartoons. Having something exciting waiting for them will make it a whole lot easier for your child to hit the power switch.

Additional activities are always a great diversion from wanting to do more screen time.

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Time Limits are Always Welcome

I’m the first to admit that screen time is nice because then I’m able to do a lot of my chores or work in peace. However, I know it’s not the best thing for my child all the time. Setting a timer has been an amazing thing for me! Instead of forgetting about my child being on the screen, a timer reminds us both that it’s time to move onto something else.

Think of how quickly time goes when we’re on Facebook or our favorite blog. The same thing goes for our kids, time flies when they’re on the screen and having fun.

Something I’ve been trying to do to divert my kids from screen time is keep the tablets and phones out of sight. I often forget they’re laying around, which makes it easier for the kids to grab anytime they want.

Figuring out how to limit screen time can be tough, but with the right tricks up your sleeve, you’ve got this!

Comment below with your tricks for diverting your  kids from screen time. Can you help your fellow moms learn how to limit screen time?  Got anything foolproof to share?

About the Author:

Jess Weaver has been a work at home mom for almost 8 years. She owns www.jessleewrites.com and specializes in copywriting and ghostwriting. She’s the mom of 3 boys and 1 girl. Her time gets filled with writing, baseball, teaching her kiddos, and exploring the world with the fam.

Loved these clever tips for how to limit screen time? Check out the helpful parenting tips below!

The post How to Limit Screen Time with Clever Diversions appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Birthdays are a special day and perfect for celebrating with friends. Your tween can celebrate by throwing a surprise party. It can be celebrated by making a DIY gift for teens. Whatever you do, you’ll definitely need to remember that date!

Print out these free printable calendars. You can either incorporate it into a school planner or binder, or give it its own mini binder with sheet protectors.

Encouraging your tween to keep track of friends’ birthdays is a great way to practice generosity and doing things for others. It doesn’t have to be a major deal or very expensive! A handmade card goes a long way…

I decided to offer you this adorable Tween birthday calendar with a fashion twist to keep track of birthdays. You can download it by entering your email address into the form below. Then, check your inbox for the download link. You will be subscribed for relevant updates but you can unsubscribe at any time.

 
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Here’s a sneak peek at what the actual pages look like:

This adorable tween birthday calendar was designed by another graphic designer special for you. She formatted it so that you can print two on a page – they are half-page calendars.

The calendar then features adorable fashion-centric pictures that tween girls are sure to love!

There are boxes to jot down names and dates so that no one will be missed or forgotten.

Print this out for your tween and encourage her to share these special moments with friends.

Package it nicely in a mini binder and give it as a gift – maybe with some cardmaking materials! Or just print it out and let her roll with it. Feel free to share it around as long as you’re using it for personal use. Sharing is caring…

Who will you be printing this tween birthday calendar for? What’s your best birthday memory from that stage of your life? Comment below!

Loved it? Find more like it!

Free Printable Progress Tracker and Countdown Calendar

Shadow Box Frames from Cardboard

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Educational screen time can be a sanity-saver for moms.

Granted, we try to limit it in our home too, but there are those times when you just need a break, and you know that the kids are simply pulled toward the screen.

Kids learning apps and other digital educational resources are a perfect way to upgrade screen time. I hope you enjoy these fun ideas – I know your kids will!

One thing I’ve found with quality kids’ apps – they’re not usually free. Looking at the App Store and Google Play, I was always frustrated that all the free apps were rated 3 stars or under, had poor graphics, were too device-heavy, etc. And there’s no way to “Try” an app on one of these websites.

That’s why I specifically looked for a solution to that problem, by pinpointing those that offer free trials (such as ABCmouse.com) , or that I have tried myself and can vouch for (such as the Little Scholar tablet below).

Tip: when you see the word “trial” it usually means that it auto-renews. Set an alarm for when you want to re-evaluate if it’s worth paying for to know if you should continue with it.

Below, you’ll find resources for kids of all ages – literally ages two to 18! Just choose what’s best for your kid…

Kids Learning Apps and Websites:

• An Online Curriculum that’s actually fun: ABCmouse.com – This early education website was something we fell in love with at the library near my parents. It includes a full curriculum for ages 2-8 – but it’s all fun! Your kids almost won’t realize they’re learning (well, the little ones at least).

• A Loaded Kid-Friendly Tablet: Little Scholar tablet – This kid-friendly device was a lifesaver for me postpartum. We gifted it to M as a big sibling gift when Baby Y was born. It comes loaded with plenty of apps – all educational – but some of them more so than others. It’s split into levels: Pre-k, Kindergarten, and 1st grade.

• Kids Learning Apps for Phones and Tablets: I put together this amazing list last year – I hope you enjoy!

• Ebooks: Download the free Amazon Kindle Reading app – because for some reason, reading on a screen is THAT much more exciting for kids. And reading is almost ALWAYS educational. Obviously, supervise this for young kids – you want to make sure they’re reading the right books! Try out Amazon Kindle Unlmited so that you have plenty of material. Another great resource for books and audibooks is Scribd – they have a section for kids and YA readers.

• You can also try audio books:  Audible  – Yes, they might not be AS educational as the written word, but they can still expand horizons and build vocabulary. Build your library and keep the books your get forever, even if you cancel your trial. If your kid loves to plug in the headphones, give these a go!

• Zap Zap Math: I was really impressed with this phone app – I collaborated with them on a post right over here, so you can check it out for more information.

• Amazon’s Actually Free Apps: Amazon Underground offers a huge selection of paid apps for free! You can start with The Boynton Collection – featuring some of Sandra Boynton’s top picks. Honestly, I wish these were less resource-heavy, but you’ll still find these apps take up plenty of space on your phone…

Regular Entertainment you can make educational!

If your kid isn’t about to play math games, these fun ideas can be turned educational… if you do it right! Make sure to be on top of your kids when using these apps, as they also contain non-kid-friendly content.

• Online Craft Lessons: Never underestimate the value of learning a new skill! Craftsy and CreativeBug are two of my favorite options for online craft classes and are perfect boredom busters. The online video format of classes make it more enticing for kids.

• Educational TV Shows: Apps and services such as Hulu  or Amazon Prime give you a large enough selection of shows to watch – you’re sure to find something educational. We’ve always used Hulu to show M episodes of Sesame Street.

• Educational Magazines: Texture gives you access to loads of magazines – encourage those like National Geographic and Popular Science for an educational screen-time activity for kids.

Do you know of any kids learning apps that are totally awesome?! Do you also believe in a moderate amount of educational screen time below? I’d love to hear your tips, advice, ideas below!

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I am a long-time fan of subscription boxes for different purposes, especially for gifting.

Some of the reasons I love subscription boxes for kids:

• Most boxes offer a better value per box than buying products individually
• They keep coming!
• Typically when you get a gift you have a rough budget in mind, right? Here not only do you get more for that budget (see my first point) but you can actually have options to fit your budget – by choosing the subscription length you want.
• As a parent buying it for your OWN child, it can provide continuous entertainment for Sunday afternoons, or throughout the summer. Quarterly boxes can be awesome to have for holidays and breaks.
• As a grandparent, you can get subscription boxes to your home for the grandkids to enjoy when they visit.
• I also love being able to split the contents as separate gifts or incentives for my child, friends’ birthdays, and more!
• Finally, many (but not all) of these are small businesses – so it’s a great way to support fellow moms, dads, and our economy.

As I go through the specific subscription boxes for kids below, I’ll keep the above in mind, highlighting the best use and purpose for each box. That way you will be able to choose what’s a best fit for you! I also tried to find some more obscure boxes that you may NOT have already heard about – and that help support smaller businesses!

Many of these offer a gift subscription option, or even the ability to choose from previous boxes, allowing you to try a single box first.

Educational Subscription Boxes for Kids

Education can be fun and that’s what these subscription boxes for kids provide! They are hands-on way to get your kids to “accidentally” learn!

Kiwi Crate/ Tinker Crate:
If your child is a tinkerer (like M is) you’ll love these! From the Kiwi Co family of boxes, these two include lots of STEM fun for two different age groups, 5-8, and 9-16+. These make awesome gifts and are super affordable.

History Unboxed:
Whether you are homeschooling or just have a child interested in history, this boxe teaches it in a fun way!

Learn about history with an interactive poster & timeline, crafts,worksheets, age specific coloring sheets, stickers and more!

I love the idea of turning a specific subject into something fun, and this one allows you to choose your time period. Since you can see which subjects you’ll be getting, you can actually build lessons around it.

My Garden Box:

This might not be categorized in the educational section by default, and it’s not even geared towards kids, but when I saw it I knew it was the perfect subscription box for kids!Growing plants is a hands-on educational experience and this monthly box keeps the gardening coming! Plus, it’s an awesome bonding activity to do with an adult, so if you’re looking for a box to provide “weekend activities with the kids” this is perfect!

Creative Subscription Boxes for Kids:

Get kids creating!

This really is no different than the educational list above (because crafting itself is an educational experience) except that it’s focused more on actual crafting – cutting, gluing, coloring, creating something. These creative subscription boxes for kids are available in every age level and are perfect for weekend crafting, afternoons with grandma, or just recurring gifts for creative kids!

Koala/ Doodle Crate:
These two boxes from Kiwi Co offer creative fun on different topics! Koala is for the younger crowd (geared toward ages 3-4) and is also educational – it’s the precursor to the Kiwi and Tinker crates mentioned above. Since it’s also more crafty, I put it here. Doodle Crate is for the 9-16+ crowd, and since it teaches cool new skills along the way, it’s great for grown-ups too! The crafts are totally doable and include everything you need  – down to that permanent marker. The air plant Terrarium below was made using a Doodle Crate.

Green Kid Crafts:
I like this box – it’s less targeted which means it’s more diverse, which can be a good thing if that’s what you’re looking for. It includes educational crafts on specific topics. With 5-8 crafts per box, and the option to get an extra set of supplies for a sibling, this box really gives you a month’s worth of weekend crafts.

Paletteful Packs

For the budding artist, this subscription box includes 4-6 artist grade supplies. I think it’s a great way to get kids to experiment with different media before going all out on a single one. The Young Artist option is designed for ages 8+ so this is definitely for slightly older kids.

Find a better list of the best craft subscription boxes for kids – with updated reviews and photos, and a more thorough outline!

Subscription Boxes for Kids Toys and Play:

Don’t underestimate the power of play! When you want a child to truly be delighted, a new toy is the way to go. And since kids learn best through play, these are developmentally-friendly for kids too! These are carefully curated so you know you get only the best.

I shared more of my favorite toy subscription boxes here but here’s a couple of good ones!

Sensory TheraPLAY:

Items encourage the development of important sensory motor skills and are calming/ therapeutic

Whether your child is on the autism spectrum, has sensory processing difficulties, or is just a normal child with normal sensory needs, this box addresses that! You get 5-8 sensory toys which make it perfect for incentives, to split between siblings, as gifts – or even just to keep your child interested!

Panda Crate:

If you’re looking for something for the littlest family members, you’ll love Panda Crate from the KiwiCo family! It has developmentally appropriate items, including some exclusives!. As a bonus, you get access to an online library of resources and printables.  It’s a perfect way to start stocking the play room, and is designed for babies ages 0-2 years old.

Kids Books Subscriptions:

To keep kids reading, keep the books coming! These options are PERFECT for gifting when you want to give more than a standalone book.

Moka Boka:

We are HUGE fans of personalized books, and this subscription gives it to you monthly. You can design your characters too! Children are encouraged to read more when they can identify with the story. Moka Boka allows you to design the characters’ appearance, and customize their names too.

Moka Boka offered a special discount for Moms & Crafters readers when they heard I will be including them in this list. Use discount code MOMSANDCRAFTERS to get your first book for only $9!!

Bookroo:

Bookroo sent me some sample boxes and my boys have been loving them! If you want books, only books, and just books, Bookroo is perfect for you! Choose from 3 board books or two regular books. What I have always loved about the board books we’ve gotten from Bookroo is the diversity and the interactive elements. Young kids can’t always sit through a story, so an interactive book gets them reading from a young age.

Bookroo finds those “hidden treasures” in the book world and sends them over.

Booklandia:

For bilingual families, Booklandia offers a variety of English and Spanish options to choose from .

Subscription Boxes for Kids Clothing:

Because kids are constantly outgrowing clothing, these boxes are the perfect way to keep new outfits coming! Find my list of the best kids monthly clothing boxes

FabKids:
FabKids offers exclusive outfits for boys or girls (you choose, of course!) Their options cover your child from head to toe and offer super cute outfits (check out their selection of shoes!) It’s a great go-to kids’ fashion source because their price-to-quality value is amazing.

What are your favorite subscription boxes for kids? Comment below!

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I know I do need to apologize for not sharing this entertaining AND educational activity perfect for preschoolers sooner. We did it back in January – or was it February? – when M was on mid-winter break and I still had to get work done.

We were still in the process of getting him evaluated and knew he can use some scissors practice so when we did our “pre-vacation dollar store run” this fun sensory bin came to be.

The idea is a combined sensory AND scissors practice activity. I included different textures in the bin to make it more fun. If you want you can hide little toys (trucks, plastic dinosaurs – whatever your child is into!)

M dug right in, but he also had fun handling the scissors. If your child is not yet ready for regular kids’ scissors, you can stick to easier-to-cut items and use safety scissors. Either way make sure you’re present and supervising! You’ll still be able to relax enough to drink that fuel (read: coffee) to take you through the day…

What we put in our scissors practice sensory bin:

I started with a plastic “shoebox” container  – use something larger like an underbed box if you want to upgrade this! I have cases of these containers that I use for organizing every closet in my home, so I just pulled out an empty one.

I placed it on our play mat to make for easy cleanup (just roll the thing up and pour the bits back in.) I placed his favorite scissors next to it.

Next, I added some shredded paper filler. This is the easiest for him to cut, so if you’re working with safety scissors, you can simply add this in different textures.

I threw in a bag of purple and silver tinsel to add a bit of sparkle.

And then tossed in some yarn and baker’s twine  scraps – which are a little more challenging to cut but that challenge is what encourages M to handle the scissor better.

I mixed it all together so that he can hunt and cut!

From here on, I let him at it. I did NOT give him any instructions, because that takes away the fun. He dug his scissors into the bin and cut. He pulled the pieces out of the bin and cut. He plowed his hands into the mix and enjoyed just feeling it – “Mommy, it’s cozy!”

I love an open-ended activity that grants me a few moments of sanity and this scissors practice sensory bin was perfect!

Cleanup was easier than most sensory activities, and the best part: M was happy.

When we were done, I simply covered the container and stored it away until the next time we needed an easy screen-free boredom buster.

I hope you enjoyed this scissors practice sensory bin! What are your favorite “sanity-saver” activities?

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I love encouraging outdoor play, but sometimes it can be hard to keep things fresh.

And while making art with chalk is a super inexpensive, easy idea, it’s nice to switch it up.  M also gets annoyed when his hands get too dirty, as they do with traditional sidewalk chalk.

Package this sidewalk paint into plastic squirt bottles and you have hours of endless fun!

When you’re done, just hose it down and start fresh!

This sidewalk paint foams up, making it super cool for little kids. It’s NOT washable, so make sure you are wearing junk clothing. But that just makes it more fun!

If you want to be sure it’s washable, you can try coloring it with washable paint – just don’t use a blender that you use for food too if that’s the case!

The blender is used to help get it nice and foamy – you can dedicate a cheap one for crafting and kids activities, use a blender bottle, or just shake it up really hard.

However you do it, it’s going to be lots of fun!!

What you need to make foamy sidewalk paint:

• 1 Tbsp. Dish Soap
• ¼ cup Water
• Food Colors
• Blender
• Plastic bottles

How to make foamy sidewalk paint:

1.Mix the water, soap, and a few drops of food color in a bowl.

2. Pour the mixture into the blender and blend for about 30 seconds until very foamy.

3. Pour the mixture into one of the plastic bottles.

4. Repeat these steps to make as many colors as you would like.

Squeeze out the foamy sidewalk paint to make your favorite pictures outside on the sidewalk or driveway.

What are your favorite outdoor art activities? What color will you be creating this foamy sidewalk paint in? Comment below!

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